Halloween or Samhain is said to be the day where the boundary between the worlds of the living and the dead became blurred. As such, it is an important time to remember those who have passed. Although I try to remember all my ancestors who have passed, this Samhain I want to remember three people who were not ancestors but had a profound effect on my life. Their passing touched me deeply.
First, is my first close friend to die. Steve Plowman was a close friend while I lived in North Minneapolis. He lived about a block away – down the hill to the corner then left a half a block to his house on 24th that adjoined the alleyway between Aldrich and Bryant avenues. On Tuesday, November 24th, 1964, Steve and a mutual friend, Gary Dorf, were crossing Lyndale Avenue in North Minneapolis while a bus was stopped. Gary stopped walking while in front of the bus, but Steve ran out trying to beat a car that was coming. Steve was hit by the car and died before getting to the hospital. He was the first close friend I had to die, and one of only a few I’ve known that have died due to a car accident. Steve was only 15 when he died. To this day, I am ultra-careful when walking past a bus into traffic and cringe when I see someone step past a bus without using super-great caution.
Sadly, I was in Minnesota a few weeks ago and at the Fort Snelling National Cemetery, where Steve is buried, and didn’t realize he was there. So, visiting his grave will be on my list of things to do during my next visit to Minnesota.
Marker – Alvina B Kirks – photo by Don Taylor
Next, is my best friend’s mother, Alvina Kirks. She was a really nice woman. Hers was the first, and only, funeral where I was a pallbearer. It was difficult for me to say anything that would help my friend or the rest of his family. I recall making a conscious decision to do my absolute best to fulfill the honor my friend and his father bestowed upon me asking that I be a pallbearer, at only 16-years of age. Alvina was only 47 when she passed. From her, I learned that even when cancer is taking your life, you can be strong and dignified during the process. She was. I was able to visit her burial site at Fort Snelling National Cemetery when I was last in Minnesota. She is buried next to her husband, Charles N. Kirks.
Gravesite: Mary E. (Raidt) Taylor – Photo by Don Taylor
Finally, is my first wife, Mary. She was an exceptionally good woman and mother to my first child. She was very tolerant and in so many ways amazing. I was married to her for over ten years and don’t rue a day of it. We were so young when we were married and tried very hard to make it work. But the separations of Navy life took their toll on our relationship. She passed away last spring (June). I was able to visit where her cremains are buried at Saint Mary’s Cemetery in Minneapolis. I was saddened that there wasn’t a stone monument there. Cemetery records indicated where she was buried. She is resting with her grandparents, John & Marie (Hawley) Langford. Although she doesn’t have a stone marker at the cemetery, I did create a virtual monument for her on Find-a-Grave. May her life in heaven be more joyous than she ever imagined.
The father of Patience Anna (Marshall) Dean Roberts continues to elude me. I’ve never heard of a wall growing, but the brick wall regarding Patience’s father seems to become more and more solid. I know virtually nothing about him.
Patience was born on 30 Dec 1843, so we can assume his father was alive in March 1843 in order to father Patience.
Patience and her mother are living with Jane’s brother in the 1850 Census. Additionally, a search for anyone with surname Marshall in Jefferson County, Illinois in the 1850 Mortality Schedule, yielded no one with the Marshall surname listed for Jefferson County or the surrounding counties. This leads me to believe that Patience’s father died before 1 June 1849.
1850 Census showing Thomas Lawson with Jane & Patience Marshall.
Jane (Lawson) Marshall was about 22 years old when she conceived Patience, so, I’m guessing that her husband was at least 18 and probably under 32 when they were married. That suggests a birthdate somewhere between 1810 and 1822.
Even though the 1850 Census indicates that Patience was born in Tennessee, all other records indicate she was born in Illinois. I believe the Tennessee entry is in error. Patience’s mother was born in Tennessee and Jane’s younger brother Thomas was born in Illinois in 1829, suggesting the Lawson’s moved to Illinois before that. Additionally, it appears that Jane’s father is Jacob Lawson and Jacob appears in the 1840 Census as a family head of household. That suggests Jane lived in Illinois prior to meeting and marrying Patience’s father.
With this in mind, I speculate, Patience’s father was:
Born: 1810-1822 – Probably Tennessee.
Marr: 1842-1843 – Probably Illinois – Probably Jackson County.
Died: 1843-1949 – Probably Illinois – Probably Jackson County.
Newspapers are often a great source for death information. Chronicling America indicates 3 newspapers have been published in Jefferson County, Illinois. The earliest is the Sentinel beginning in 1856. Likewise, Find-a-Grave is an excellent source for death information and clues; There are no entries for anyone with the surname Marshall before 1864.
I’ve also looked closely at The History of Jefferson County, Illinois by William Henry Perrin (1883) and have found nothing relating to the Marshalls of interest in that book.
Further Actions / Follow-up
The 1840 Census indicates no families with the Marshall surname in Jefferson County.
The 1850 Census indicates there were only two households containing individuals with the Marshall surname. First, Jane and Patience were living with Jane’s brother. Second, was a family consisting of seven individuals, apparently Gabriel Marshall, age 45 from Tennessee, his wife, Frances, and five (apparent) children. Based upon the birthplaces of his children, it appears they came to Illinois between 1834 and 1838. This is about the time that Patience’s father may have come to Illinois as well. As such, my next effort with the Marshalls is to attempt to find Gabriel Marshall family and see if Gabriel had a brother that would fit as Patience’s father.
A visit to the Jefferson County Historical Society may help find additional resources.
Meredith didn’t follow the typical “go west young man” life of so many of my ancestors. Meredith was born in Virginia about 1802. He went west as a young man to Bath County, Kentucky, where he married. He then moved west to Missouri. After several years in Missouri, he moved back east to Boone County, Indiana. He returned east again and settled in Carter County, Kentucky. Finally, he appears to have died in Bath County after returning to the place of his youth.
The Mannin family bible clearly indicates that Meredith Mannin was born on 12 June 1802. Sadly, that family bible isn’t a contemporary source record. The bible record is from the Civil War record file of Meredith’s son Zachariah. The record appears to be written by one person at one time. It was clearly written after 1838 and probably not until the 1860s. The 1850 and 1860 Census records indicate he was 48 and 58 years old respectively, suggesting the birth year of 1801. The 1870 and 1880 census records re-establish his birth year as being 1802, consistent with the Bible record.
It is unclear who his parents were. Some sources suggest that his mother, Catherine Barnett, married both John Bosel Mannin and his brother Meredith Mannin. I’ve accepted his father being John Bosel Mannin and know that I need to do much more research in this area.
In any event, I believe his siblings to be:
Charles
b. 1796 in Virginia
Martha
b. 1798 in Virginia
John
b. 1799 in Virginia
Tubal
b. 1800 in Virginia
Meredith
b. 1802 in Virginia
Samuel
b. ca. 1804 in Kentucky
Tarleton
b. 1811 in Kentucky
John Bosel
b. 1915 in Kentucky
Mary
b. 1826 in Kentucky
Childhood
Nothing is known of Meredith’s childhood. Sometime in 1803 or 1804 the family relocated to Kentucky.
Marriage
Meredith and Rachel Fugate’s father signed a marriage bond on 14 February 1825. It is unclear if they married on that date or three days later, on February 17th. See: Marriage of Meredith Mannin & Rachel Fugate. Enoch was born on 3 January 1823, two years before Meredith and Rachel were married. While Rachel was 4-months pregnant with Isaac she and Meredith married.
Meredith and Rachel had 12 children. Their first three children, Enoch, Isaac, and Thomas were born in Kentucky. About 1828, the family moved to Missouri and had three children while in Missouri – Tubill, Reuben, & Katharine. About 1835, the Mannin’s moved 250 miles back towards the east to Boone County, Indiana. There they had four more children, John, Mahala, Sarah, & Elizabeth. Finally, about 1841, the family moved back to Kentucky where their two youngest children, Zachariah & Tarlton, were born.
Adulthood
1830 Census indicates the family is in St Ferdinand, St Louis, Missouri:
3 Males under 5, One presumed to be Isaac, Age 5 One presumed to be Thomas Hillry, Age 3 One presumed to be Tubill, Age 1 1 male 5 to 10 Presumed to be Enoch, Age 7 1 male 20 to 30. Meredith Mannin, Age 28. 1 Female 20 to 30 Presumed to Be Rachel Fugate, Age 26.
Map showing Meredith’s land.
In 1837, Meridith Mannin owned 40 acres of land about four miles north of Lebanon, Boone County, Indiana, in Washington Township, the SE ¼ of the NE ¼ of Section 12.
1840 Census indicates the family is in Boone County, Indiana:
2 Males 5 to under 10 – Presumed to be John (age 5) and Reuben Calloway, (Age 9) 1 Male 10 to under 15 – Presumed to be Thomas Hillry OR Tubill (Age 13 or 10)[1] 2 Males 15 to under 20 – Presumed to be Enoch (Age 17) and Isaac B. (Age 15) 1 Male 30 to under 40 – Presumed to be Meredith Mannin (Age 38) 3 Females under 5 – Presumed to be Mahala (Age 2), Elizabeth (Age 1), and Sarah Jane (a newborn) 1 Female 5 to under 10 – Presumed to be Katharine Susan (Age 7) 1 Female 30 to under 40 – Presumed to be Rachel Fugate Mannin (Age 36)
The 1850 Census indicates the family is in Carter County, Kentucky
Meradith Mannen – 48 – Farmer 250 VA Rachel “ 47 KY Tubal “ 20 Laborer Mo Reuben “ 17 Laborer “ Cathrine S “ 15 “ John “ 13 Ind Mahala “ 12 “ Sarah “ 10 “ Zachariah “ 8 Ky Tarlton “ 6 “
The 1860 Census indicates the family is in Bath County, Kentucky. Only four of their children are still with them:
Meredith Manning – 58 Farmer – Born Virginia Rachel “ 57 Kentucky Zachah “ 18 Farm Hand – KY Mahala 21 KY (Apparent Error) Sarah 19 KY (Apparent Error) Tarlton 16 KY
Rachel died on 7 May 1870.
The 1870 Census finds Meredith in Carter County again. Living with him are his daughter Sarah Jane, her husband and their three children. Also, with them are two of Meredith’s grandchildren. One more person, Rodeth Richard, probably Sarah Jane’s sister-in-law, is also living with them.
Merideth Mannin M 67 Virginia Farmer Jane Richardson F 26 Kentucky Keeping House James Richardson M 26 Kentucky Farmer Rachel Richardson F 7 Kentucky James Richardson M 4 Kentucky William Richardson M 2 Kentucky Rodeth Richardson F 17 Kentucky Ruben Tapp M 15 Kentucky Farm Laborer Evaline Tapp F 13 Kentucky
The 1880 Census now finds Meredith living in the household of his daughter Sarah Jane, her husband and their six children now in Tanyard, Bath County, Kentucky:
James Richardson Self M 43 Kentucky, Farmer Sarah Richardson Wife F 41 Indiana, Keeping House Rachal Richardson Dau. F 17 Kentucky James Richardson Son M 15 Kentucky, Laborer William Richardson Son M 13 Kentucky, Laborer Meridith RichardsonSon M 8 Kentucky Charley RichardsonSon M 6 Kentucky Melvin Richardson Son M 2 Kentucky Merideth Mannon F-I-L M 77 Kentucky (Widowed)
Death & Burial
I have been unsuccessful finding any death or burial record for Meredith. Several researchers suggest he died after 15 Jul 1885, several others suggest 15 July 1885.
Further Actions / Follow-up
Find out the sources for the suggested death date for Meredith.
1850 Census, Com, 1850 Census – Meradith Mannen [Mannin] – District 1, Carter, Kentucky. Online publication – Provo, UT, USA: Ancestry.com Operations, Inc., 2009. Images reproduced by FamilySearch.Original data – Seventh Census of the United States, 1850; (National Archives Microfilm Publication M432, 1009 rolls).
1860 Census, Family Search, 1860 – Meredith Manning – Bath, Maine – Page 131.
1870 Census (FS) (NARA), Family Search, 1870 Census – Merideth Mannin – Precinct 3, Carter, Kentucky. “United States Census, 1870,” database with images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:MX7P-1PB : 12 April 2016), Merideth Mannin, Kentucky, United States; citing p. 1, family 4, NARA microfilm publication M593 (Washington D.C.: National Archives and Records Administration, n.d.); FHL microfilm 545,953.
1880 Census, Family Search, 1880 – James Richardson – Tanyard, Bath, Kentucky. “United States Census, 1880,” database with images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:MCCM-LQ1 : 12 August 2017), Merideth Mannon in household of James Richardson, Tanyard, Bath, Kentucky, United States; citing enumeration district ED 7, sheet 362D, NARA microfilm publication T9 (Washington D.C.: National Archives and Records Administration, n.d.), roll 0402; FHL microfilm 1,254,402.
Find a Grave, Find a Grave, Thomas Hillry Manning – Memorial 41718613 [No Image]. Find A Grave, database and images (https://www.findagrave.com : accessed 15 September 2018), memorial page for Thomas Hillry Manning (8 Mar 1827–4 Oct 1924), Find A Grave Memorial no. 41718613, citing Manning Chapel Cemetery, Carter, Carter County, Kentucky, USA ; Maintained by Norm Nelson (contributor 47026217).
Kentucky, County Marriages, 1797-1954, Family Search, Meredith Mannon and Rachel Fugate, 14 Feb 1825 – Bond. Bath, Kentucky, United States, Madison County Courthouse, Richmond; FHL microfilm 273,003. https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:V5ZH-L12.
Mannin Family Bible, Copy, Mannin Family Bible – Family Records – Births. Bible Records found in Civil War record file of Zachariah Mannin, son of Meridith and Rachel Fugate Mannin. Zachariah died of smallpox Jan. 7, 1864 at Knoxville, Tennessee. Meridith Mannin applied for Zachariah’s pension and received it. From https://boards.rootsweb.com/surnames.mannin/159.1.1/mb.ashx.
Endnotes:
[1] NOTE: The family should include both Thomas and Tubill, however, it appears that only one of the two is enumerated.
Following families in the early census records is always difficult and when a census’s information is completely unexpected, it makes things really difficult. Such is the case concerning Burket Vincent and the 1830 Census.
Burket died about 1847 and the 1850 Census shows his (apparent) widow[i] and daughter living in Halifax County, North Carolina. Next door to the widow is his oldest (Known) son, John, John’s (apparent[ii]) wife and three children.
Going through the census records for Burket, I have found the following:
1840
The 1840 Census is very straight forward. Burket’s surname is Vinson in this Census, and most of his children appear to be enumerated.
Males – 60 thru 69: 1 – Presumed to be Burket Vincent
Males – 20 thru 29: 1 – Presumed to be either John or James, Age 23 or 22. (b. 1816 or 1817). John is not seen living next door, so this is most likely John, but it could be James.
Males – 15 thru 19: 1 – Presumed to be Burket (Jr.?), born about 1824.
Females – 50 thru 59: 1 Presumed to be Elizabeth (wife)
Females – 15 thru 19: 1 Presumed to be Nancy, age 15 (b. 1825).
Elisha would be 20; I assume she was elsewhere; likewise, 18-year-old Susan appears to be moved out by then.
William, who would be about 13 is not enumerated, I believe he passed before the 1830 Census.
1830
In the 1830 Census, all of the children seem incorrect. Burket and his wife seem to be there just fine. However, the children are NOT as I would expect. It seems that they are all 10 years too old. Certainly, it is possible the Census Taker got it very wrong, but I don’t think so.
What I see in the 1830 Census:
1830 Census – Burkett Vincent – Males
1830 Census – Burkett Vincent – Females
Males
Under 5 0 William Appears Missing.
5-10 0 Burket Appears missing.
10-15 0 John & James appear missing
15-20 1 Unknown
20-30 2 Unknown
30-40 1 Unknown
50-60 1 Presumed to be Burket b. 1770-1780 – Right Age.
Females
Under 5 0 Nancy appears Missing
5-10 0 Susan & Elisia appear missing.
10-15 1 Unknown
15-20 1 Unknown
20-30 1 Unknown
40-50 1 Presumed to be Burket’s first wife.
For a while, I thought I might have the wrong family, the surname change between Vinson and Vincent occurred several times for this family line and maybe this wasn’t one of those times. However, a look at the neighbors during the 1830 Census found several of the same people are still neighbors in the 1840 Census, so I’m sure it is the right family unit. That and Burket is such an unusual name.
1820 Census
The 1820 Census[iii] shows the family as I would expect to see them based upon the 1830 Census results.
Males:
under 10 2 Unknown
26-45 1 Presumed to be Burket (1775-1795)
This census entry indicates Burket’s birth to be between 1775-1780 (vs 1770-1780 that I had previously).
Females:
under 10 2 Two unknown females
10-16 1 Unknown
Over 45 1 Unknown (Elizabeth should be 35)
To me, these census records suggest a first wife much closer in age to Burket. With her, it is possible that they had three daughters, and two sons all born before the 1820 Census. One of the daughters might be Elisia and the two sons are possibly John and James.
The 1830 Census only makes sense if Burket had a first wife who died sometime after 1830 and his new wife, Elizabeth, had Burket, Nancy, and Susan with a previous husband. This would also suggest that Burket and Elizabeth had no children together.
1810 Census
The 1810 Census supports my two wives theory. It shows:
Males: 26 to 45 Clearly Burket Born 1765-1784
Females Under 10 1 Unknown Female born 1800-1810 (This would be the same unknown female over 10 years old during the 1820 Census.)
Females 26 to 45 1 Appears to be his wife born 1765-1784
Hypotheses
I have the following hypotheses:
Burket Vincent (of Halifax County, NC) was born between 1775-1780.
Burket had two wives Unknown and Elizabeth.
With wife 1, Burket had 5 children, two males and three females none of whom are the names known.
Elizabeth had 7 children when she married Burket. They were John, James, Elisha, Susan, Nancy, Burket, and William. (None of those children appear to be in the 1830 Census but all appear to be enumerated in the 1840 Census.)
Conclusion
The biggest ramification of this hypothesis is that the father of John Vincent, my wife’s 2nd great-grandfather, may not be Burket Vincent as I’ve believed for many years. Rather, it would appear that John’s mother was an unknown woman who had John during a previous marriage.
Follow-up
Do a complete family unit study and determine if this hypothesis is correct.
Search for probate and land records for Burket and see if those records provide insight into the relationships.
I should further research Burket’s 2nd wife, Elizabeth, further and determine her first marriage.
Sources
“United States Census, 1840,” database with images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:XHTJ-T71 : 24 August 2015), Burket Vinson, Halifax, North Carolina, United States; citing p. 2, NARA microfilm publication M704, (Washington D.C.: National Archives and Records Administration, n.d.), roll 362; FHL microfilm 18,094.
“United States Census, 1830,” database with images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:XH59-67P : 22 August 2017), Brkett Vincent, Halifax, North Carolina, United States; citing 321, NARA microfilm publication M19, (Washington D.C.: National Archives and Records Administration, n.d.), roll 121; FHL microfilm 18,087.
“United States Census, 1820,” database with images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:XHGS-FNW : accessed 18 September 2018), Perkit Vincent, Halifax, Halifax, North Carolina, United States; citing p. 168, NARA microfilm publication M33, (Washington D.C.: National Archives and Records Administration, n.d.), roll 85; FHL microfilm 162,801.
“United States Census, 1810,” database with images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:XHLM-2NW : accessed 22 September 2018), Burpet Vincent, Halifax, North Carolina, United States; citing p. 121, NARA microfilm publication M252 (Washington D.C.: National Archives and Records Administration, n.d.), roll 38; FHL microfilm 337,911.
Endnotes
[i] The 1850 Census does not indicate widows or widowers.
[ii] The 1850 Census does not indicate relationships.
[iii] Neighbors are undeterminable because there is an alphabetical arrangement of entries in the 1820 Census.
For this week’s Treasure Chest Thursday, I’m looking at two clippings from the Donna Darling Collection concerning “The Fox Washington – Washington Blvd at Clifford.”
