Ancestor Biography – Amanda Jane Haley (1861-1889)

Roberts-Brown-2017 Research
Roberts-Scott-Haley Line

By Don Taylor

Photo of Don Taylor with cat Nasi.

One of the reasons I went back to Family Tree Maker for Mac 3 is the way it handles and sources multiple names for individuals. FTMM3 allows multiple names and allows applying different sources to each name.  I find this feature important when an individual’s name is unclear and I want to track where I got each specific name. Rather than an alias or a nickname, I use multiple names as a means to help determine which name is the actual correct name. I want to understand the various potential names and the sources for them until I can decide which name is correct for the individual and if the other names are aliases, nicknames, or mistakes. Such is the case for the father of Amanda Jane Haley whose father I accept as A. J. Haley. The “A.” probably stands for Andrew but it might be Adrico. I will need to do more research to be certain. Such is the way of genealogical research. I’ll take the safe way and say her father was A. H. Haley. I’ll research and sort out his name in a subsequent biography project when I explore his life more.

List of Grandparents

  • 4          Grandfather: Bert Allen Roberts
  • 9          1st Great-grandmother: Clora Dell Scott
  • 19       2nd Great-grandmother: Amanda Jane Haley
  • 38       3rd Great-grandfather: A. J. Haley

Ancestor #19 – Amanda Jane Haley (1861-1889)

Birth

Drawing of Amanda Jane (Haley) Scott

Amanda Jane Haley Scott
From the Chris H. Bailey family photo collection.

Amanda Jane Haley was born in Tennessee (probably Coffee County) to A. J. and Martha Malinda (Montgomery) Haley. The date of her birth is somewhat confusing.

The 1870 Census indicates she was 10 years old, suggesting a birth between 2 June 1859 and 1 June 1860.

Her marriage in May of 1879 at the age of 19 also suggests that she was born in 1859 or 1860.

The 1880 census, suggests she was born in March of 1859 by indicating her age as 19 and 2/12.

So, pretty much everything I’ve found suggests her birth to be in 1859 or 1860, except for the 1860 Census.  In 1860, her parents were in Coffee County, Tennessee, and the Census record there shows her older sister Mary (May) in the household but not Amanda Jane. If she were born in 1859 or 1860 before the census was taken, I would expect to see her in the record. I do not, so I believe she was born later. Another researcher, whose research I respect, indicates her birthday as being in April, 1861. So, I’m going to accept that date for now and see if I can find out his source.

Childhood

Amanda had a sister, Mary F who was two to three years older. She also had a younger sister, Serena who was about six years younger.  She would have been a young child during the Civil War.  Sometime between her birth (in 1861) and 1867, the family moved from Tennessee to Franklin County, Illinois.

The 1870 Census finds 10-year-old Amanda living with her parents and an older sister, Mary, in Township 5S, Franklin County, TN.[1]

Her sister Mary married Theodore Edward L. Curry on 26 February 1878 in Franklin County, Illinois.

Marriage

Amanda married Samuel Vaden Scott on 24 May 1879 in Goode Township, Franklin County, Illinois.[2] Samuel was 19 and Amanda was, most likely, 18-years-old.

Adulthood

In December 1879, the first of their four children, Clara Maybelle Scott, was born.[3]

The 1880 Census found the Scott family living in Barren Township, Franklin County, Illinois.[4]

Clora Dell Scott was born on 6 February 1883 in Goode Township and Laura Wells Scott was born on 27 July 1888 In McGlasson.[5] A fourth, unnamed, child was born and died as an infant.

Death

Amanda Jane (Haley) Scott died in 1889. I have been unable to find burial information.

Further Actions / Follow-up

  • Follow-up with researcher to learn the source of his entry for Amanda Jane Haley’s birth.

————- Disclaimer ————-


Endnotes

[1] 1870 Census (FS) (NARA), Family Search, 1870 Census – A. J. Haley – Township 5, Franklin County, Illinois. https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:M671-4YZ.

[2] Illinois, County Marriages, 1810-1940, Family Search, Illinois, County Marriages, 1810-1940 – Samuel Scott & Amanda Haley. https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:KFKW-85D.

[3] As the saying says, “The first child can come anytime, the rest take nine months.”

[4] 1880 Census (FS), 1880 Census – Samuel Scott – Barren, Franklin, Illinois – ED 11, Page 8, Line 10. https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:MXJN-MBG.

[5] Illinois, County Marriages, 1810-1940, Family Search, Illinois, County Marriages, 1810-1940 – James Vaughn & Laura Scott. https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:KFK4-9C7.

 

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