Michael John Neill's genealogy website. Things that cross my path, general research suggestions, and whatever else ...with a little bit of attitude. I don't post "news" just to post it, never post a press release (edited or otherwise), don't feign excitement, and pretty much say what I think.
17 August 2010
What's Wrong with This Picture?
I'm working on this family for an upcoming issue of Casefile Clues. This 1860 census enumeration comes from Macon County, Missouri. There has got to be something wrong with it.
Hmmm. Jane (age 26) shows same last name "Jones" but also "Married within the Year", so either a 2nd wife (doubtful) or a daughter-in-law (also doubtful). Can't be a daughter (Wesley & wife woulda both been 13y/o at her birth--highly doubtful). Could Wesley & wife be Uncle/Aunt, and Jane is a boarder/roomer? Same with Mathilda (age 20). Perhaps these are sisters-in-law of Wesley & wife. At any rate, probably not daughters or wives. And Infant "J", age 5/12, is quite a break from next previous child (age 5)... could infant belong to one of these other two women? Or could there have been that many children of Wesley & wife who either died or miscarried in between 5y/o and 5-mo-old? Hmmm.
3 comments:
I see lots of problems, but I am going to guess you are going to say they are polygamists, so there is no clue to which mother.
Don't think they are polygamists. Looks like there might be an easier answer centering on a couple of possible errors in the enumeration.
Hmmm. Jane (age 26) shows same last name "Jones" but also "Married within the Year", so either a 2nd wife (doubtful) or a daughter-in-law (also doubtful). Can't be a daughter (Wesley & wife woulda both been 13y/o at her birth--highly doubtful). Could Wesley & wife be Uncle/Aunt, and Jane is a boarder/roomer? Same with Mathilda (age 20). Perhaps these are sisters-in-law of Wesley & wife. At any rate, probably not daughters or wives. And Infant "J", age 5/12, is quite a break from next previous child (age 5)... could infant belong to one of these other two women? Or could there have been that many children of Wesley & wife who either died or miscarried in between 5y/o and 5-mo-old? Hmmm.
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