Census Tips

Census records are one of the first sources we use as beginning genealogists, but most of us read them just to find a particular name, age and place of birth. If this is what you are doing, you are not getting full benefit of these valuable records.

We all know that the 1790 - 1840 census records contain only the names of heads of household and the age categories of those in the household. We also know that Revolutionary War pensioners are listed by name and age on the 1840 census. But, have you looked on the right side of the 1840 census form to see if there were free persons of color in the household you are researching? Did you look even farther on right side of the form to see if there were people engaged in the following professions: Mining, Agriculture, Manufacturing and Trades, Navigation of Oceans, Navigation of Canals, Lakes & Rivers, Learned Professions & Engineers. Affirmative marks in these categories can lead you to additional records to search.

Be sure to read any notes written by the enumerator at the end of a district or in the margins. Some enumerators didn’t follow directions and listed more than the required information. On the 1850 Caldwell County, Kentucky census, J.H. Rackerby, enumerator in District 1, did us a favor when he listed the county in addition to the required state of birth. James W. Weller, District 2 enumerator, started to list the counties of birth, but stopped after the first family in his district.

Shady Grove District of the 1880 Crittenden County census was never microfilmed and, as a result, we do not have a complete list of the residents in that district. The few perope we can definitely count as residents in Shady Grove District are those who died between 1 June 1879 and 31 May 1880 and are listed on the 1880 Crittenden County Mortality Schedule. Unless that part of the census is found and microfilmed, we will probably never know the names of the residents of Shady Grove District in 1880.

The 1880 census is the first census that listed the relationship between household members and the head of household. It is easy to assume that younger people in the household were the children of the adult head of household, but this is not always true. The younger person might be an apprentice or a relative other than a child of the head of household.

Each census form is a little different from the pervious form. Reading every part of the census can open new avenues in your research.

Smithland Newspaper Editor Shot 1844

Copyright by Brenda Joyce Jerome, CG

May not copy without written consent

James K. Polk of Tennessee, a Democrat, and his running mate, George M. Dallas were engaged in a close battle for President and Vice President of the United States in 1844. Running against Polk and Dallas were Henry Clay and his running mate, Theodore Frelinghuysen, Whigs. The big issue was the annexation of Texas and a claim to the whole of Oregon. The Democrats favored it - the Whigs did not. These issues were hotly debated, even in small towns of western Kentucky. Those who opposed the annexation of Texas feared Kentuckians would all migrate to the new state.
Leonard Gibbon and his wife, Sarah, and daughter left their home in Louisville, where Gibbon had been editor of the Louisville Dime, and settled in Smithland, Kentucky, where he planned to publish the Smithland Bee, a Whig newspaper. They arrived in Smithland by July of 1844 - right in the middle of the presidential campaign - and settled in to start a new life, with Gibbon signing several promissory notes and mortgaging the printing press and equipment in order to acquire money to print the Bee.
Said to have been a mild, peaceable, quiet and inoffensive man, Gibbon, nevertheless, voiced - perhaps recklessly - his opinions of the presidential candidate favored by the Democrats. His comments offended at least one reader - Dr. Samuel C. Snyder, another recent arrival in Smithland. Not long after the article appeared in the Bee, Dr. Snyder happened to meet Gibbon walking down the street, holding the hand of his little daughter. A fight took place, pistols were discharged and Leonard Gibbon fell dead in the street.
The widow, Sarah Gibbon, was faced with no way to support herself and a young child to rear. Her only resource was the printing press and equipment. Sarah took another mortgage on the press and equipment and continued to operate the newspaper herself.
In the meantime, Samuel Snyder had been arrested, placed in jail and was indicted for the murder of Leonard Gibbon. There was a change of venue to Crittenden County, where the evidence was heard on the 29-30 of April and 1 May 1845 by a jury composed of the following men: Mickelberry Bristow, Jeremiah Lucas, Alfred Moore, William Ditterline, Thomas H. Wallace, William Clement, Lewis Saxton, Conrod Crayne, Robert Hale, John W. Jenkings, James Fowler and William Molsber. On the 2nd day of May, after all the evidence had been heard, Snyder was led to the bar in custody of the jailor to await his sentence. Finally, it was announced. “We the jury find the prisoner Not Guilty!” Samuel C. Snyder was acquitted and left the court as a free man.
Sarah Gibbon struggled on, trying to run the newspaper and care for her child. The last record of her in Livingston County was when she took out a mortgage in August in 1847. She also appeared on the 1847 Livingston County tax list with 1 town lot worth $50 and one child between the ages of 5 and 16. According to Through the Canebrake, a book on the Gibbon family and which fictionalizes the story of the murder in Smithland, Laura, the young child of Leonard Gibbon, was motherless when her father died and she went to live with relatives in Iowa.
Samuel C. Snyder owned property in Smithland also, does not appear on the Livingston County tax lists after 1846.
Even though Sarah B. Gibbon was still mortgaging the printing press and equipment as late as August 1847, a new editor had moved to Smithland. In September 1845, William Scott Haynes conveyed unto John W. Ross and Ezekiel Green all his right and title in the printing press, stands, types and all other fixtures belonging to the office of the Smithland Bee, his interest being an undivided interest in 3/4 of press, types, stands & fixtures belonging to said office. It was understood that Haynes had plans to print a newspaper called the Jackson Republican. I have three issues of the Jackson Republican from 1846 and was interested to see there was very little local news, but a fair amount of national news and quite a few advertisements for local businesses.
A couple of things have been noticed while researching and writing these articles on the early residents and events of Smithland. There were a lot of doctors for a small town and there were a lot of murders. In at least two cases, the murders involved doctors.

Sources:
Livingston County Clerk's Papers, Box 12 (1845-1847), County Clerk's Office, Smithland, Kentucky.
Livingston County Deed Book HH, pp 27, 335, 380, 456-458, 465.
Livingston County Circuit Court Order Book A, pp 159, 165, 167, 175.
Livingston County Tax Lists 1844 - 1847
"An Editor Killed," Boston Daily Atlas reprinted from the Louisville Courier, 21 September 1844, GenealogyBank.com

Elder - McFarlan Controversy 1833

James and William Elder of Livingston County established a ferry from their land on the Kentucky shore to the ferry landing of James McFarlan on the Illinois side of the Ohio river on the 29th of January 1829. William Elder and McFarlan formed a partnership to ferry people, horses and goods from one side of the river to the other, but that partnership turned sour. The reason for the dissolution of the partnership is unknown, but by 1833, the men were neither partners nor friends.

The Elder ferry was located in that part of Livingston County that would be in Crittenden County today and the McFarlan ferry was located at what is today Elizabethtown, Hardin County, Illinois.

On the 13th of August 1833, several people, including three children of William Elder, left the Kentucky shore in a skiff belonging to their father and headed toward the Illinois side of the river. In crossing the river, they drifted some distance below the landing place and, as they approached the shore, they saw James McFarlan, who walked along the shore, keeping opposite the boat until they got near the river bank. McFarlan then stepped aboard, grabbed the chain, declared the boat his property and ordered the occupants off the boat. When William Elder’s son, James, stated they would not give up the boat, McFarlan raised the tomahawk over his head and said if they did not he would split James Elder’s skull. McFarlan stepped on shore and with the chain, drew the boat toward a place to fasten the boat. At that time, James McFarlan’s son approached the boat and declared, “Well old man. You have found a prize.” James McFarlan replied that he had, indeed, and intended to keep it. The occupants of the boat were then taken back to the Kentucky shore, but McFarlan kept the boat, which was valued at $50.

Unhappy with the treatment of his children and the confiscation of his boat, William Elder filed suit on a charge of trespass in Livingston County Circuit Court against James and John McFarlan. Depositions were taken by both sides with the defendants’ witnesses claiming William Elder had been violating McFarlan’s ferry privileges by carrying passengers from the Kentucky shore to McFarlan’s landing in Illinois. McFarlan did not deny confiscating the boat, but did deny threatening to use a tomahawk.

On the 3rd of June 1835 returned the following verdict: “We of the Jury find for the plaintiff against James McFarlan, defendant, $304 in damages and against John McFarlan, $204 in damages.” The defendants’ attorney objected, but was overruled.

Sources:
Livingston County, Kentucky Circuit Court Order Book G, pages 365, 377

Livingston County, Kentucky Circuit Court Order Book H, pages 11, 171, 175, 256, 261

Livingston County, Kentucky County Court Order Book G, page 364

Elder vs McFarlan, Livingston County, Kentucky Circuit Court Case File September 1833, Kentucky Department for Libraries and Archives

Apprenticeship of Motherless Boy

I love the deed books! Have I said this before? Let me say it again - I love the deed books! You never know what will be found among all those transfers of land. So far, I have found marriage contracts, divisions of estate, agreements, wills, and indentures of apprenticeship. The following apprenticeship record comes from Livingston County, Kentucky Deed Book HH, page 121.

“Article of agreement and understanding made and entered into this 21st day of June 1845 between Joseph Caststeele of the one part and Peter Jones of the other part, both of Livingston County, Kentucky. Witnesseth that the sd. Joseph Caststeele is a Widower and has a son by the name of Samuel Caststeele who will be Thirteen years of age on the 6th day of August next and now in consideration of a house for the sd. boy Samuel and six months schooling to be hereafter given and furnished by the sd. Peter Jones to the sd. boy Samuel together with a decent new suit home made clothes and Twenty Shillings to be given by Peter Jones to the Boy Samuel on his arriving at Twenty one years of age, which will be the 6th day of August 1853, I the sd. Joseph Caststeele Do this day and by these presents Doth put and place and bind out Samuel Caststeele as an apprentice to live with the sd. Peter Jones to learn the art trade and mystery of a farmer, the sd. Samuel after the manner of an apprentice to dwell with and serve Peter Jones from the date hereof until the 6th day of August 1853 ... during which term or time the apprentice shall well and faithfully swerve his master keep his secrets and every where and at all times readily obey his lawful commands he shall do no damage to his master nor willfully suffer any to be done by others and if to his Knowledge any be intended to give his master reasonable notice thereof. He shall not waste the goods of his master no lend them unlawfully to anyone.

“He shall not play at cards dice or any other unlawful game. He shall not commit fornication, nor contract matrimony during the term or time. He shall not haunt or frequent Taverns ale houses or tippling shops or places of gaming. He shall not absent himself from the service of his master, but in all other things and at all times he shall carry and behave himself as a good and faithful apprentice ought during the whole time or term. And Jones on his part doth hereby promise covenant and agree to teach and instruct Samuel or cause him to be taught or instructed in the art trade and mystery of a farmer by the best way and means he can & to give him six months schooling and also to find and provide Samuel good and sufficient meat drink clothing and lodging and other necessaries fit and convenient for such an apprentice ... and at the expiration of his servitude give him a decent suit of new home made clothes together with Twenty Shillings in money.” /s/ Joseph (X) Caststeele, Peter Jones. Recorded 21 June 1845.

The Case of the Webb Brothers

If you are a fan of the tales surrounding James Ford of Fords Ferry Ohio in early Livingston County, Kentucky (later Crittenden County), you have heard the story of how Charles H. Webb and his brother, John Webb, escaped capture by bandits along the Ohio River in the 1820s. In the book, Satan’s Ferryman, it is stated that John Webb made his way to St. Louis, where he was joined by his brother. The story of John Webb stops at this point. Charles H. Webb met and married Cassandra Ford, daughter of James Ford. My goal is to find out what happened to John Webb and I think I know. In the meantime, let’s look at these brothers.

After his marriage to Cassandra Ford in 1827, Charles H. Webb lived in Caldwell County, where he was a prominent physician in Princeton. He had a number of children, including James, Nancy W., Augusta W., Charles and Cassandra. Charles H. Webb, along with a daughter and his young brother-in-law, James Ford Jr, perished from the results of the explosion of the steamboat Lucy Walker in October 1844.

Now, look at John W. Webb, whom I believe was the brother of Dr. Charles H. Webb and was also a physician. John W. Webb shows up first in Caldwell County in 1834, when he bought a lot in Princeton. He appears on the 1840 census as a white male between the ages of 30 and 40 with 3 young children and a woman age 20 to 30 in his household. By 1841, he had moved to Smithland and began buying land there, including several town lots. The Webb family was enumerated on the 1850 Livingston County with a wife, Augusta E., and children Charles H., age 15; John W., age 12; Mary E., age 5 and George W., age 7.

By the 3rd of December of that same year, Dr. John W. Webb was dead. His widow, Augusta E., was appointed administrator of his estate, which consisted of 10 slaves, a brick house and lot on Main Street in Smithland, a frame house on Level Street in Smithland, a brick house in Princeton, a farm on the Cumberland River plus a carriage and a large number of household furnishings. From the inventory and appraisement of his estate, it appears that Dr. Webb was well off. Included among the household items inventoried were 12 Windsor chairs, 1 settee, a brass clock, 1 secretary, maps and books, window blinds, plus a grass carpet - all items that many residents could only dream of owning. The inventory of his medicines and supplies included quinine, opium, cordials and a lot of empty bottles. Unfortunately, on Christmas night of 1850, Dr. Webb’s medicine and supplies were destroyed by fire.

About a year after the death of Dr. John W. Webb, his widow, Augusta E., married John Snyder, a Smithland Justice of the Peace. Snyder died before 1870 and Augusta died after the 1880 census.

Let’s look at the coincidences. Both Charles H. and John W. Webb were born in Fayette County, Kentucky - Charles H. in 1798 and John W. about a year later. Both lived in Caldwell County - Charles H. was there until his death in 1844, but John W. only from about 1834 until 1841. Both men were physicians. Charles H. named a daughter Augusta, which was the name of John W.’s wife. John W. named a son Charles H. Coincidence? I think not, but I am not certain.

So far, I have checked census records for Caldwell and Livingston counties, as well as tax lists, deeds, marriage records, county court order books and the inventory/appraisement/sale books for Livingston County. Each record has contributed to my knowledge, but nothing has shown up to indicate a relationship between the two men. So, the first thing I need to do is re-read every bit of information that has been gathered just in case I missed a clue, decide what records need to be checked and how to access them. That is my research plan and, if I follow it, perhaps I’ll reach my goal.

Lease of Morse Land

Not everyone was a landowner in early Kentucky - many people leased land. It is not easy to find a formal lease as so often they went unrecorded. The following lease was one of 3 or 4 found among loose papers in the Caldwell County Clerk’s Office, Princeton, Kentucky.

“This indenture Witnesseth that Bryant Nichols administrator of G.G. Morse Deceased hath this day leased unto John Sheraden for the term of Five years a certain farm and tract of land Situate and being in the county of Caldwell & State of Kentucky on the waters of Donoldson containing 180[?] acres, Known as the Jefferson Morse Survey, with the appurtenances thereunto belonging, or in any wise appertaining and doth in consideration of the covenants here inafter made and expressed on the part of the sd. Bryant Nichols convenants and binds himself that Sheraden shall hold, use and occupy the farm and tract of land for and during the term aforesd. without let or hindrance and in consideration thereof Sheraden on his part covenants and agrees to pay Bryant Nichols as administrator the Sum of Fifty one dollars per year as rent thereof to be paid by the end of each year from this date. Nichols agrees and binds him Self to take the rent in repairing [the] farm, Nichols is to allow John Sheraden two dollars per Hundred for every hundred rales[?] he the sd. Sheraden makes and putes up on the place, and at the end of the term to Surrender peaceable possession thereof in as good order and repair as it now is excepting the natural decay and usual ware and tare of the premises and unavoidable casualties. Witness the hands and Seals of the parties this 6th day of November 1865. [signed] John (X his mark) Sheraden, Bryant Nichols admr of G.G. Morse dec’d.”

Slave Mortgages

A good source for information on slaves can be found in the deed volumes in the county clerk's office of all Kentucky counties. Sadly, slaves were deemed personal property and, as such, were sometimes mortgaged to guarantee payment of a debt. Rarely is the word "mortgage" used, but by reading through the entire transaction, the meaning is clear. The following are abstracts of a few mortgages which can be found in Livingston County Deed Book GG (1841-1844).

12 September 1843: Samuel S. Barnett is indebted to James Pringle in the sum of $57.50 as evidenced by his note of this date and due 12 months after date. To secure payment, Barnett conveys to Pringle one certain negro girl named Eliza a slave for life about 13 years old, of a yellow complexion, the same now in possession of Barnett. If Barnett pays the debt when due, this obligation is null and void. [Page 576]

22 September 1843: B.O. Thrift of Smithland conveys to William Fellowes, Cornelius Fellowes and B.I. Adams of Louisville, trading under the firm & style of W. & C. Fellowes & Co., for the sum of $1, three negro girls, Celia about 38 years of age, Vina about 17 years of age and Louisa about 16 years of age. Thrift has executed his promissory note to W. & C. Fellowes & Co. for $547.48 dated Louisville 22 March 1843 with a credit of $100 paid 8 July 1843. If Thrift pays the debt plus interst, this obligation of Mortgage is void. [Page 578]

3 January 1844: Nehemiah Woodyard is indebted to James Pringle in the amount of $112.50 as evidenced by his note of this date. To secure payment, he bargains and sells a certain negro boy named John a Slave for life and about 21 years old, of a black complexion and the same now in possession of Woodyard. If Woodyard pays his debt, this obligation is void, otherwise to remain in full effect. [Page 610]