Surname Saturday
Howell/Vinson
By Don Taylor
During Part 1 of this study, I followed the Vinson family through the 1880 and 1870 Census records. In doing so, I established four Vinson family units in Halifax County during the 1880 Census.
1870-1880 Family Units
Looking at the 1870 and 1880 Censuses together I previously identified the following families:
Widow Elizabeth Vinson (b. 1815-1817)
- Littleburg Vinson (b. 1857-1858) Married J. D. Unknown (b. 1858-1859)
- Unnamed Vinson girl (b. 1879 – d. April 1880)
- William G. Vinson (b. 1858-1959)
J. Robert Vinson (b. 1847-1848) – Wife, L. N. Vinson (b. 1853-1854)
- R. Vinson, (b. 1871-1872)
- Fannie Vinson, (b. 1872-1873)
- H. Vinson, (b. 1873-1874)
- Emmett Vinson, (b. 1876-1877)
Robert Vinson (b. 1824-1825) – Wife, Martha, (b. 1828-1829)
- John H. Vinson (b. 1850-1851)
- Thomas L, (b. 1853-1854)
- Albert L. Age 14 (b. 1855-1856)
- Laura E “Lizzie” Vinson (b. 1865-1866)
Littlebury Geo Vinson (b. 1815-1816)
1860 Census
The 1860 Census again shows the names of individuals in a household; however, it does not provide relationships. The following individuals were identified, the relationships are either guessed by me or come from subsequent Census records:
Littleberry Vinson
Halifax County, North Carolina.
There were three Vinson families during the 1860 Census. The Elizabeth Vinson of the 1870 Census is with Littleberry Vinson during the 1860 Census. This seemed extremely strange to me. Upon further investigation, it appears that the Littlebury and Elizabeth Vinson were enumerated on two separate pages during the 1870 Census and were not noted as such. That suggests that Littlebury of the 1870 Census was still with his wife and children and Elizabeth was not widowed until after 1860. With that in mind I have consolidated the Littleberry (b. 1815-1816) entries. The 1860 Census adds two more children to the Littleberry and Elizabeth Vinson family.
A second connection is also apparent from the 1860 Census. Robert Vinson, age 12 appears to be the same person as J. Robert Vinson of the 1870 Census.
Littleberry Vinson 44 Connected
+ Elizabeth Vinson 44
- Laura Vinson 14 New
- Robert Vinson 12 Connected
- Littleberry Vinson 2
- William Vinson 11/12
Robert Vinson
The Robert Vinson Family adds Turner Vinson as a youth. It appears that Turner may have died before 1870. Another interesting entry for the family is that a Susan Wilson is living with them. Her age is 22 and she is a seamstress. Her relationship is unknown. She might be old enough to be a sister of Robert. Hopefully, the 1850 Census will shed light on her place in the family. The Robert Vinson family unit is:
Robert Vinson (b. 1824-1825)
+ Martha, (b. 1828-1829)
- John H. Vinson (b. 1850-1851)
- Thomas L, (b. 1853-1854)
- Albert L. Vinson (b. 1855-1856)
- Turner Vinson (b. 1858-1859) – New
- Laura E “Lizzie” Vinson (b. 1865-1866)
John Vinson
This family group is the really important group for my research. John Vinson is my wife’s 2nd great-grandfather. None of the individuals in this 1860 Census appear in the 1870 or 1880 Census records for the Vinson surname in Halifax County, North Carolina. The 1860 Census indicates the following:
John Vinson 43
+ Ellenior Vinson 35
- Virginia Vinson 14
- Elizabeth Vinson 13
- Susan Vinson 12
- James Vinson 8
- Benja Vinson 5
- Barkhead Vinson 2
Elizabeth Vinson 75
This family unit appears to be a husband, wife, six children, and John’s mother. The question is where are they in the 1870 and 1880 Censuses?
The family unit is “Vincent” in the 1870 Census. The 1870 Census shows the head of the household is Leanora living with five children,
- Elizabeth, Age 23
- James W., Age 17
- Benjamin I, Age 14
- Joseph B., Age 12
- Ellen B., Age 9.
With that in mind, the new John Vinson/Vincent family consists of
John Vinson (b. 1816-1817)
+ Ellenior/Lenora [Vinson] (b. 1824-1825)
- Virginia Vinson (b. 1845-1846)
- Elizabeth Vinson (b. 1846-1847)
- Susan Vinson (b. 1847-1848)
- James W. Vinson (b. 1851-1852)
- Benjamin I. Vinson (b. 1854-1855)
- Joseph Barkhead Vinson (b. 1857-1858)
- Ellen B. Vinson (B. 1860-1861) (from 1870 Census
(It is also likely that John is the son of Elizabeth [Vinson]. I will pencil that in for now.)
Elizabeth Vinson (b. 1784-1785)
Conclusion
I was able to reduce the Vinson Family lines in Halifax County from four to three in the 1860 Census. My wife’s Elizabeth/John/Susan Vinson line (bolded below), A Robert Vinson line. Robert is the correct age to potentially be a brother to John. Thirdly, a Littleberry Vinson line which is also potentially a brother to John. Next time, I’ll roll the 1850 Census into the study.
Vinson Families in Halifax County 1860 thru 1880.
Elizabeth Vinson (b. 1784-1785)
- John Vinson (b. 1816-1817)
+ Ellenior/Lenora [Vinson] (b. 1824-1825)- Virginia Vinson (b. 1845-1846)
- Elizabeth Vinson (b. 1846-1847)
- Susan Vinson (b. 1847-1848)
- James W. Vinson (b. 1851-1852)
- Benjamin I. Vinson (b. 1854-1855)
- Joseph Barkhead Vinson (b. 1857-1858)
- Ellen B. Vinson (B. 1860-1861)
- Robert Vinson (b. 1824-1825)
+Martha, [Vinson] (b. 1828-1829)- John H. Vinson (b. 1850-1851)
- Thomas L Vinson (b. 1853-1854)
- Albert L. Vinson (b. 1855-1856)
- Turner Vinson (b. 1858-1859)
- Laura E “Lizzie” Vinson (b. 1865-1866)
- Littleberry Vinson (b. 1815-1816)
+ Elizabeth [Vinson] (b. 1815-1816) - Laura Vinson (b. 1845-1846)
- J. Robert Vinson (b. 1847-1848)
+ L. N. Vinson (b. 1853-1854)- C.R. Vinson, (b. 1871-1872)
- Fannie Vinson, (b. 1872-1873)
- B. H. Vinson, (b. 1873-1874)
- Emmett Vinson, (b. 1876-1877)
- Littleberry Vinson (b. 1857-1858)
- William Vinson (b. 1859)
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