Census Fact vs. Residence Fact — Caroline M. A. Pankey Howell (1811-?)

I was recently reading the Genea Musings Blog by Randall J. Seaver where someone asked him why he uses “Census Fact” instead of other categories of Residence, Occupation, and other facts. His response got me to thinking. Why do I use Residence, Occupation, and Education facts instead of “Census Fact?” I came to the conclusion it was mostly because when Ancestry.com creates a fact based upon a census record it automatically makes the fact a Residence Fact. Afterwards I typically add Occupation, Education, and other facts based upon what I think of as important for that particular person and their census data. I agree with Randall’s reasons for using Census Fact. It is a snapshot event, information told by one person to another person regarding a family at one given time. The data may, or may not, be accurate because it must be considered secondary information. Anyway, I like it and plan to use “Census Fact” for my future entries. That will then keep all the information together regarding the instant in time known as the Census. Thank you Randall Seaver for the suggestion.

Bio – Caroline M. A. Pankey Howell (1811-?)
Caroline must have been something of a surprise to her parents, Thomas A. and Martha (Cannon?) [Liggon] Pankey. In the 1810 Census Thomas is over 45 and it appears that his wife Martha is as well[1]. It appears that some of their children were in there 20s and possibly married when Caroline was born in 1811-12[2]. That would explain the household of at least eight other white people living there. They had to have been fairly well off financially as the family had four slaves.

Some researchers indicate that Caroline was also known as Margaret, some as Martha; however, all of the documents I have found indicate her name as Caroline. I concede that the “M” in her name probably stands for Margaret or Martha.

Marriage permission clearly written by one person and then signed by Thomas Pankey. Thomas died about a week after signing this document. Source: Cumberland County (Virginia) Marriage Bonds, 1822-1830, Library of Virginia, Reel 42. 1829 – Peter M. Howell & Caroline M. A. Pankey

Nothing is known of Caroline’s childhood. The 1820 Census is very confusing. The Pankey’s appear to have three children living at home but the 8-9 year old Caroline doesn’t appear to be enumerated[3]. We do know that when she was “about 17” her sick father gave permission for her to marry Peter M. Howell[4]. On 11 June 1829, they were married in Cumberland County, Virginia. We also know that her father died about a week later[5]. If Caroline was the youngest of Thomas’ children, it would make a lot of sense that he wanted to assure that Caroline would be taken care of after he departed.

In 1830, Caroline is identified in a lawsuit. Those documents indicate that she had at least 6 siblings:[6]

Frank
Thomas
Mary
Henrietta
Nancy B & 
Elizabeth

In 1830, Caroline had the first of five known children. Her known children are:

Name	Born	Married Surname
Lousianna	(abt 1830)	Pair
Philip C	(1833)
Elizabeth	(abt 1836)	(unk if ever married)
Peter Fletcher	(1842-1924)
Lorenzo Dibrell	(abt 1845)

In The Life &
Travels of Peter Howell[7], Peter
Howell describes his ministry as a itinerate preacher in detail. Although
Caroline is seldom mentioned, it is clear that during the 1840s she spent much
of the time with him gone on the road.  When
he was home, many times he only stayed there long enough to recover from
illness or injury then went back on the road preaching.  So, she must have had a difficult time
raising the children with Peter gone so much.  In addition, they moved frequently. 

 I am sure of the following moves.

1829 – They lived with Peter’s mother in Cumberland County,
Virginia.
1830 – Lived in Cumberland County near Farmville, Virginia.
1832 – Lived near Willis’ Mountain in Buckingham County,
Virginia.
1837 – Lived at “Deep Bottom” on Gideon Howell’s Land in
Buckingham County.
1844 – Moved back to Cumberland County and rented from Samuel
Garrett.
1848 – During the cold of January, 1848, they moved to Murfreesboro,
NC.
1848 – Then in December, 1848, he loaded up the family and
moved to Halifax, NC.
1850 – They relocated to New Bern, Craven County,
1850 – By the June 1st, they returned to Western
District, Halifax County, NC.[8],
where they appear to have settled down as they were also there in the 1860
Census[9].

I can find no evidence of Caroline nor her husband Peter in
the 1870 Census so I presume they must have died by then.   There is no known markers or death
information regarding Caroline or Peter either.

Further Actions:

·      Research Peter & Caroline’s children searching
for clues to their life.

·      Research Caroline’s siblings for clues to
Caroline’s life.

List of Greats

1.    
Peter
Fletcher Howell

2.    Caroline M.
A. Pankey

3.    
Thomas A.
Pankey

 ENDNOTES

[1] Ancestry.com, 1810 United States Federal Census
(Provo, UT, USA, Ancestry.com Operations, Inc., 2010), Ancestry.com, Year: 1810; Census Place:
Cumberland, Cumberland, Virginia; Roll: 68; Page: 143; Image: 00282; Family
History Library Film: 0181428. Record for Thomas Pankey.

[2] Peter Howell, The
Life and Travels of Peter Howell:  In
Which will be seen some Marvelous Instances of the Gracious Providence of God
(Newbern, N.C.,:  W. H. Mayhew, 1849),
Page 14. Archive.ORG.

[3] 1820 United States
Federal Census, Ancestry.com, 1820 U S Census; Census Place:
Cumberland, Virginia; Page: 106; NARA Roll: M33_130; Image: 204. https://search.ancestry.com/cgi-bin/sse.dll?db=1820usfedcenancestry&h=20245&indiv=try.

[4] Cumberland County
(Virginia) Marriage Bonds, 1822-1830, Library of Virginia, Reel 42. 1829 –
Peter M. Howell & Caroline M. A. Pankey

[5] Peter Howell, The
Life and Travels of Peter Howell:  In
Which will be seen some Marvelous Instances of the Gracious Providence of God
(Newbern, N.C.,:  W. H. Mayhew, 1849),
320 pages. Archive.ORG.

[6] Enquirer Article,
Genealogy Bank, 12 Mar 1830 – Pg 4. Pankey   

[7] Peter Howell, The
Life and Travels of Peter Howell:  In
Which will be seen some Marvelous Instances of the Gracious Providence of God
(Newbern, N.C.,:  W. H. Mayhew, 1849),
320 pages. Archive.ORG.

[8] 1850 Census, Ancestry.com, 1850; Census Place: Halifax,
North Carolina; Roll: M432_633; Page: 37B; Image: 80.

[9] 1860 Census,
1860; Census Place: Western District, Halifax, North Carolina; Roll:
M653_899; Page: 471; Image: 323; Family History Library
Film: 803899. Ancestry.com