Abt 1822 - 1891 (~ 69 years)
-
Name |
John M. McLemore |
Birth |
Abt 1822 |
North Carolina |
Gender |
Male |
Death |
Jan 1891 |
Jasper County, Texas [1, 2] |
Burial |
Zion Hill Cemetery, Jasper, Jasper County, Texas |
Notes |
- It is assumed that since John McLemore, at a relatively young age, was married to Sarah Morgan of Sampson County, NC that he was also almost certainly a native of Sampson County, NC himself. It further appears, based on the 1840 head of household census, that he was probably already living with the Morgan family by 1840, when he would have been just 18. It is not known if he and Sarah were already married, or if he was simply a farm hand. Furthermore, an analysis of all the McLemore families in Sampson County, NC (both through and examination of census enumerations and land transfer deeds) indicate that if John McLemore was indeed from Sampson County, he would almost certainly have to be a son of Tobias McLemore. There is no other family into which he would fit. This relationship is therefore based on circumstantial evidence, and is not absolutely certain. Any additional information, which would either help prove or disprove this relationship, is most welcome. Please email: strong@texas.net
In a letter written by Johnnie Mae Speights, she recounted a story told by her Uncle Ira "...his father ran away from home at age 14 in the dark of night because he was smoking in the barn and set it on fire and it burned up, horses and all." Henry McLemore heard a slightly different version of this story. As told to him by Ira's son, DeFord "...the father was a mean drunk. He came home with a group of men after a night of heavy drinking. He woke him up in the middle of the night and ordered him to go tend to the horses. He stumbled out in the dark to the barn to do this. As he was working, one the horses kicked over a lantern, and the barn started on fire. Scared to death of his facing his father's wrath, he jumped onto a horse and took off, never looking back."
According to Nan McCoy Kittell of Jasper, a descendant of John McLemore, it was actually John McLemore (our common ancestor), and not his son John Finn, "who ran away after burning down the barn." Nan also thinks John may have had the middle initial "M", but does not know what that stood for. Nan's mother, who also did much research on this branch of the McLemore family, noted that "John left S. C. (sic) with an older brother when he was 16 years old."
Jim White, also a McLemore family researcher,stated that a databse he had access to noted a Philadelphia Insurance company (Pioneer) which had records of a claim on a Barn owned by Tobias McLemore for $203 around 1830. He also referenced the Draper papers for this claim.
John and Sarah McLemore can first be positively identified on the 1850 Decatur County, Georgia federal census. John McElmore, a 28 year old Farmer born in North Carolina, is shown with wife Sarah (age 24, also born in North Carolina) and children William (age 5), James (age 3), and Sarah (11 months), (household #516-516). All the children were shown on this census as being born in Georgia. Based on the relatively young ages of John and Sarah at the time of the birth of their eldest son William, it was likely a first marriage for them both. It is not known if they married in North Carolina, Georgia, or elsewhere. It further appears they were in Georgia by about 1845, based on William's age. No other McLemore's were found on the Decatur 1850 census.
Just a few homes away from them in 1850 were Sarah's parents, Daniel and Mary Morgan. The Morgan family can be found in Sampson County, North Carolina at the time of the 1830 and 1840 census. Additionally, when the 1840 Sampson County census was taken, Daniel and Mary Morgan had an otherwise unaccounted for "male between 15-20" living with them. It is presumed this was their son-in-law/son-in-law to be, John McLemore, who was said to have "run away from home" circa 1836.
John McLemore and family followed the Morgan family from Decatur County, Georgia to Newton County, Texas sometime after 1850. Sarah died either enroute, or shortly after arriving to Texas.
Per a marriage license on file in Jasper County, "John McLemore married Sarah Ann Boit (Boyett) on July 26, 1859". Based on the ages of the five children listed with them on the 1860 Newton County, Texas Census, they would have all been his from his first marriage to Sarah Morgan. The children shown on the 1860 census were William H (age 14), James H (age 12), John F (age 7), Daniel F (age 3), and Mary A (age 2). William and James had both appeared on the earlier 1850 Decatur County, GA census. Sarah, who had been shown as an 11 month old toddler in 1850, but not on this subsequent census, had apparently died.The family was located in adjacent Jasper County, Texas at the time of the 1870 census.
Nan Kittell located the following land record from Newton County:
No. 79, Vol. 29 In the Name of the State of Texas. To all to whom these presents shall come, know ye, I Sam HOUSTON, Governor of the State of Texas aforesaid by virtue of the power vested in me by law and in accordance with the laws of said State in such case made and provided do by these presents grant to John MacLAMORE assignee of James A. WALTERS his heirs or asigns forever, 160 acres of land situated and described as follows. In Newton County on the waters of Slaydons Creek a tributary of Sabine river 17 mile S.16 degree W. from Newton by virtue of Premption Certificate No. 5 issued to John MacLEMORE as assignee of James A. WALTERS by the Chief Justice of Newton County 20th day of December 1858. Beg. at a stake on the W. line of H. KELLY's 160 acre survey...and on the N.line of L. DONAHOS 1/2 league survey..... Hereby relinquishing to him the said John MacLEMORE and his heirs or assigns forever all the right and title in and to said land, heretofore held and possessed by the said State, and I do hereby issue this Letter Patent for the same. In testimony whereof I have caused the seal of the State to be affixed as well as the seal of the Genral land office. Done at the City of Austin on the 6th day of February 1860. Francis M. WHITE, Comm. G.L. Office Sam HOUSTON, Gov. Filed--Sept 24th, 1860 at 2 p.m. Recorded--Vol. "C" p 534
On October 7, 1874, John sold this same 160 acres of land to James R. RICHARDSON for $1 an acre. John apparently could not write, as he signed the land conveyance with his mark. His name on this document was spelled as "McClemore."
Even after his second marriage to Sarah Ann Boyett, there continued to be a close connection between John McLemore and the Morgan family. Robert Lee McLemore sent me copies of deeds from the late 1860's in which Malichi Morgan, Kizzie Kelly, and John McLemore transfered property they jointly held to Dunkin and Eliza Morgan. Furthermore, J.F. and Mary Ann McLemore were mentioned by name as grandchildren of Daniel and Mary Morgan in a deed dated January, 1889. Dorine Speights also wrote that "Aunt Julie Morgan was closely related to Pap (Finn McLemore). He and mother used to go by buggy to Jasper to see her." From Jasper Cemetery records, it appears numerous members of both the McLemore and Morgan family are buried near each other at the Zion Hill Baptist Church Cemetery in Jasper. The Zion Hill Baptist Church is the oldest Protestant Church in Jasper County.
John McLemore died in January 1891. In 1899, Sarah Ann applied for a Widow's Pension, based on John's service in the C.S.A. Her application stated that John served in Co K, Speights Regiment, 21st Texas from the fall of 1864 to the Spring of 1865.
The War Department indicated, however, that there were "no rolls on file in this office of Company K, 21st Texas Infantry, C.S.A., and no record has been found of the service, capture or parole of a man named John McLemore, as a member of this organization." Sarah's original application (File No. 2267) was rejected on September 28, 1899. Sarah reapplied for a pension almost 10 years later, in October of 1907. On this application she indicated that John served for about 3 years, from April 1862 to 1865. Both J. W. Claud and M. Morgan testified that they had served alongside him. This application (File No., 13383) was approved in March, 1908. Sarah Ann died sometime shortly thereafter.
In Zion Hill Cemetery is a double tombstone reading simply: McLemore
John Sarahan E.
Father Mother
Age 70 Age 70
Written by Melinda McLemore Strong, circa 1998 and revised periodically
- (Research):Census Information:
1830 Census (p 186) Tobias MacLemor
Sampson County, NC
2 males under the age of 5 <---Maybe Redden and Tobias, Jr.
1 male between 5-10 <---(Appears to have been the John McLemore b. ca 1822 who married Sarah Morgan of Sampson County and later moved to Texas with the Morgans)
1 male between 15-20<---Could be either Amos (b ca 1813) who married JEMIMA SIMMONS or Raiford (b ca 1815) who married Polly UNDERWOOD
1 male between 40-50 <--Tobias (born between 1780 and 1790)
1 female under 5 <---Sarah?
2 females between 5-10
2 females between 10-15
1 female between 15-20
1 female between 40-50 <--his wife (born between 1780 and 1790)
1840 Census, Sampson County, North Carolina
(p. 9) Danl Morgan
1 male between 5-10 (Owen)
1 male between 10-15 (James)
1 male between 15-20 (This appears to have been JOHN McLEMORE, son-in-law of Daniel, who married his eldest child, Sarah. The date of their wedding is not known, so John may have actually been living with the family prior to his marriage to Sarah)
1 male between 40-50 (Daniel)
2 females between 5-10 (Dorcus, Elizabeth)
1 female between 10-15 (Sarah)
1 female between 40-50 (Mary)
Why isn't there a listing for a male, under the age of 5? (Daniel/David, born ca 1838)
1850 Census
Georgia, Decatur County, District 22
Enumerated 28 Aug 1850
Stamped 63
576-576
John McElmore 28 M Farmer N. ca.
Sarah McElmore 24 F N. ca.
Wm. McElmore 5 M Ga
James McElmore 3 M Ga
Sarah McElmore 11/12 F Ga
577-577
G. and Martha Boyet, Occ Miller, both born in Georgia
578-578
Daniel and Mary Morgan (the parents of John's wife, Sarah Morgan)
1860 Census
Texas, Newton County, Post Office Newton
Enumerated 3 July 1860
Page 25 Stamped 258
159-159
McLemore, John 37 M Farmer $470 $400 North Carolina
McLemore, Sarah A 23 F Alabama
McLemore, William H. 14 M North Carolina (?)
McLemore, James H. 12 M Georgia
McLemore, John T(F?) 4 M Georgia
McLemore, Daniel F. 3 M Georgia
McLemore, Mary A. 2 F Texas
1870 Census
Texas, Jasper County, Subdivision 23
Enumerated by T.J. Carraway on 9 July 1870
Page 16
#116-118 McLamo, John 48 M W Farmer $250 $100 North Carolina Can't read or write
" , Sarah E. A. 33 F W Keeping House Georgia Can't write
" , John F. 16 M W Farm Laborer Georgia Can't write
" , Daniel F. 14 M W Georgia Attended school, Can't write
" , Mary A 12 F W Texas Can't read or write
" , Thomas E 9 M W Texas
" , Samuel M 7 M W Texas
Enumerated by T.H. Carraway on 8 and 9 Aug. 1870
page 56
#428-430
" , Earnest E 6 M W Texas
" , Noah 4 M W Texas
" , Martha A 3 F W Texas
" , Julia 1 F W Texas
Note: The family was listed in two separate households, as shown above. It appears that this was simply a transcription error.
1880 Federal Census Census Place:Precinct 3, Jasper, Texas
Source:FHL Film 1255313
National Archives Film T9-1313 Page 14
RelationSexMarrRaceAgeBirthplace
John MCLEMORE Self M M W 61 NC Occ:FarmerFa: NC Mo: NC
Sarah Ann MCLEMORE Wife F M W 44 GA Occ:Keeping HouseFa: SC Mo: SC
Daniel MCLEMORE Son M S W 23 GA Occ:Works On FarmFa: NC Mo: NC
Thomas MCLEMORE Son M S W 19 TX Occ:Works On FarmFa: NC Mo: GA
Samuel MCLEMORE Son M S W 16 TX Occ:Works On FarmFa: NC Mo: GA
Earnest MCLEMORE Son M S W 15 TX Occ:Works On FarmFa: NC Mo: GA
Julia Ann MCLEMORE Dau F S W 11 TX Occ:At SchoolFa: NC Mo: GA
Eliza Jane MCLEMORE Dau F S W 9 TX Occ:At SchoolFa: NC Mo: GA
George W. MCLEMORE Son M S W 8 TX Occ:At SchoolFa: NC Mo: GA
Josephine WILSON Other F S W 14 TX Occ:At HomeFa: GA Mo: LA
(Josephine is a niece of John's first wife, Sarah Morgan)
- (Medical):Y DNA Results, FTDNA Haplogroup:
R1b1c (R-M269)
A direct male descendant volunteered to have his DNA tested. The results can be found at www.ysearch.org, under the user ID #4E4HJ. The FamilyTreeDNA kit number is 33104.
A direct male descendant of John McLemore was a participant in the Morrison DNA study. This DNA was a high definition match to two other McLemore's (not previously proven to be related), as well as to a McElmurry from Kentucky. See the results for Group O at the following website:
http://www.geneticousins.com/morrison/
The McLemore's that he matched were (1) a descendant of Keton Jones McLemore, whom in 1850 lived just across the border from Sabine County, Texas, where some of John's descendants later settled and (2) Wright McLemore, born in North Carolina and living in Arkansas, next to Keton Jones McLemore, at the time of the 1830 census. The two matches are one-step and two-steps removed, respectively, at twenty five markers. The differences in both cases are on rapidly mutating markers.
According to FamilytreeDNA in Houston, the probability that the two DNA donors share a common ancestor, is as follows:
In comparing 25 markers, the probability of sharing a common ancestor within the last...
4 generations is
27.54%
8 generations is
58.22%
12 generations is
78.24%
16 generations is
89.3%
20 generations is
94.93%
24 generations is
97.66%
In addition to this above matches, the Wright McLemore, John McLemore, and Keton Jones McLemore descendants were also 12 marker Y DNA matches to a proven descendant of Abraham Macklemore, the immigrant, thought be a brother to James Macklemore, immigrant. This 12 marker match was through the line of Robert McLemore, born 1769 in North Carolina, a grandson of Abraham's.
Each of these matches, including the McElmurry, can be found indexed in these files.
The members of R1b are believed to be the descendants of the first modern humans who entered Europe about 35,000-40,000 years ago. Those R1b forebearers were the people who painted the beautiful art in the caves in Spain and France. They were the contemporaries (and perhaps exterminators) of the European Neanderthals. R1b is the most common Y haplogroup in Europe - more than half of men of European descent belong to R1b. Fourteen of the 30 most common haplotypes in the YSTR.org database are typical of R1b.
Edwin Holcombe writes that "the marker values...are close enough to modal values for Haplogroup R that there are matches to this family in Scotland, Ireland, England, and other locations in Europe even at 67 markers. The family's haplogroup is projected in the project Results listing to be R-L21, but this has not been confirmed by a SNP test. With the common values that this group has for its STR markers, SNP testing may be the key to learning more about the origins of this family through DNA research."
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Person ID |
I1988 |
Strong Family Tree |
Last Modified |
12 Aug 2023 |
Family 1 |
Sarah Morgan, b. Abt 1826, North Carolina d. Bef 1859, Texas (Age ~ 32 years) |
Marriage |
Bef 1844 |
- In a letter that Edythe McLemore McCoy wrote Sam McLemore in June, 1982, she indicated that "Your information was most helpful in that I went to the Genealogical Library in Beaumont and researched the 1850 Census in Decatur County, Georgia, where I found John McElmore (sic) and his wife, Sarah. They had three living children and may have had another one who died in infancy (before Finn was born in 1853). That would account for seven children including Dan and Mary Ann (the three that came to Texas). I will look for marriage records around 1844-1845 in Alexandria, La. Also, I plan to get in touch with a man in Crossett, Ark., who says his great granddad may have been a brother of John Mclemore who came to Texas."
|
Children |
| 1. William McLemore, b. Abt 1845, Decatur County, Georgia d. Yes, date unknown |
| 2. James H. McLemore, b. Abt 1848, Decatur County, Georgia d. Bef 1870, Jasper County, Texas (Age ~ 21 years) |
| 3. Sarah McLemore, b. Abt 1849, Decatur County, Georgia d. Bef 1860 (Age ~ 10 years) |
| 4. John F. "Finn" McLemore, b. 28 Dec 1853, Decatur County, Georgia d. 12 Feb 1924, Sabine County, Texas (Age 70 years) |
| 5. Daniel F McLemore, b. Abt 1856, Decatur County, Georgia d. Aft 1880, Jasper County, Texas (Age ~ 25 years) |
| 6. Mary Ann McLemore, b. 12 Dec 1857, Newton County, Texas d. 12 Jan 1923, Magnolia Springs, Jasper County, Texas (Age 65 years) |
|
Family ID |
F64 |
Group Sheet | Family Chart |
Last Modified |
4 Jul 2014 |
Family 2 |
Sarah Ann E. Boyett, b. 22 Jan 1836, Lowndes County, Alabama d. Abt 1916, Jasper County, Texas (Age 79 years) |
Marriage |
26 Jul 1859 |
Jasper County, Texas [3, 4] |
Children |
| 1. Thomas Eugene McLemore, b. 15 Jan 1861, Jasper County, Texas d. 17 Dec 1923, Sabine County, Texas (Age 62 years) |
| 2. Samuel McFarland McLemore, b. 22 Oct 1862, Erin, Jasper County, Texas d. 5 Jul 1924, Jasper County, Texas (Age 61 years) |
| 3. Earnest E. McLemore, b. Abt 1865, Jasper County, Texas d. Yes, date unknown |
| 4. Noah McLemore, b. Abt 1866, Jasper County, Texas d. Between 1870 and 1880, Jasper County, Texas (Age ~ 4 years) |
| 5. Martha A. McLemore, b. Abt 1867, Jasper County, Texas d. Between 1870 and 1880, Jasper County, Texas (Age ~ 3 years) |
| 6. Infant McLemore, b. Abt 1868, Jasper County, Texas d. Bef 1870, Jasper County, Texas (Age ~ 1 years) |
| 7. Julia Ann McLemore, b. 20 Apr 1869, Jasper County, Texas d. 19 Sep 1936 (Age 67 years) |
| 8. Eliza Jane McLemore, b. Abt 1871, Jasper County, Texas d. 1889 (Age ~ 18 years) |
| 9. George Washington McLemore, b. Jul 1871, Jasper County, Texas d. 7 Jun 1950, Gregg County, Texas (Age ~ 78 years) |
|
Documents |
| Boyett, Sarah Ann and McLemore, John 1859 Marriage License Issued 13 July 1859 in Jasper County, Texas, marriage performed 26 July 1859 |
Family ID |
F1300 |
Group Sheet | Family Chart |
Last Modified |
9 Dec 2007 |
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Documents |
| yDNA results for Direct Male Descendant of John McLemore, born 1822, North Carolina, first row, m038 The main purpose of this study was to prove that the immigrant founders of this family in America, James Macklemore and Abraham Macklemore, were brothers. If brothers, then the y-DNA of the direct male descendants of both men would match. However, instead of confirming this, it appears that we have AT LEAST two distinct yDNA groups, with three additional potential lines. The first cluster of matching yDNA has ten members, who are part of the R1b1a2 haplogroup (highlighted on the spreadsheet in salmon). The R1b DNA haplogroup, is the most common in Western Europe. Two of the ten participants can trace their lines back to the immigrant Abraham Macklemore, the husband of Mary Young. Another member (m268) can trace himself back to Moses McLemore b. ca. 1738 who is thought to be a son of Wright McLemore, grandson of William Macklemore, and great-grandson of the immigrant James Macklemore. If both these members are correct in their paper trails, AND if Amos can be proven to be a great-grandson of James Macklemore, then the assumption that James and Abraham have a common paternal ancestor is correct as descendants of both men share the same yDNA. The other seven members of this first cluster all have the McLemore surname, and all can trace their lineages back to McLemore men who predate the Civil War, but have not conclusively linked themselves back to either James or Abraham.
The second cluster in the study have three members to date (this group is highlighted on the spreadsheet in green). They are all in the E1b1 Haplogroup, which is rare in Western Europe. All of them match each other, but do not match any other McLemores yet tested. All three of these members can trace their ancestry to John Macklemore of Virginia, the husband of Faith. Two of them descend from his son Burwell, and the third from his son Joel. But, as discussed above, IF we have also proven that the immigrants Abraham and James Macklemore are brothers, then it follows that John Macklemore could not be the biological son of the immigrant James, as the yDNA of these two clusters is very different.
Our current thinking is that John was likely a son of Fortune?s and a stepson of James Macklemore, who raised him as his own. Alternatively, it may still be proven that James and Abraham were not brothers. They may share the same surname, but not the same paternal ancestry. More proven descendants of James and Fortune Macklemore will need to be tested to confirm or refute either theory.
As an interesting side note, it had long been assumed that the Revolutionary War Soldier John McLemore, who lived for a time in North Carolina and died in Tennessee, was a son of Burwell MacLemore and Amy Gilliam. However, current DNA evidence indicates this could not be correct. This is because two descendants of Archibald McLemore of Knox County, TN, a son John McLemore the Revolutionary Soldier, are both part of the larger R1b1a2 cluster (highlighted in salmon). They do NOT match the DNA of Burwell?s other descendants in the E1b1 cluster. Therefore, it is evident that the John McLemore who moved to Tennessee and was the father of Archibald McLemore CAN NOT be the same John McLemore who was a son of Burwell McLemore.
In addition to the two groups discussed above, there are three McLemore DNA volunteers who don?t match any of the McLemores in either of the first two groups, OR match each other. One of these men (highlighted in purple on the spreadsheet) is a descendant of Hiram McLemore of Lee County, VA and later Breathitt County, KY. Hiram has been speculated to be a son of John McLemore and Ruth Steelman, a grandson of Ephraim McLemore, and great grandson of the immigrant James. However, if James and Abraham Macklemore are brothers, then Hiram could not be a biological descendant of James. He would have to match the group of ten McLemore?s in the first group. Although Hiram McLemore's descendant is also part of the R1b1 Haplogroup, he is more than 10 markers removed (based on 25 markers tested) from being a match to any of the other R1b1 McLemore?s, and therefore could not share a common ancestor in a genealogically significant time period.
The second unmatched volunteer (highlighted in blue) is a direct descendant of the McLemore family that moved from North Carolina to Jones County, GA and then onto Montgomery County, AL. He is part of the R1a haplogroup, common in many parts of Eurasia and Scandinavia. He can trace his line back through four generations of James McLemore?s to James Macklemore Jr, thought to be the son of James and Fortune. But again, if James and Abraham are brothers, then he could not be a biological descendant of James Macklemore, the immigrant.
The third unmatched volunteer (highlighted in brown) descends from James Madison McLemore born 1861 in Louisiana and died & buried 1918 in Van Zandt County, Texas. He is thought to be a son of William Kearney McLemore b. 1825 and d. 1889, also buried in Van Zandt County, Texas. He is in the I1 haplogroup, which is the most common group in Scandinavia.
It is currently not known why these McLemores do not yet match any other study members. It is possible that there were several founding McLemore lines, instead of just one as has been long assumed. Or another possibility could be that undisclosed adoptions have occurred through the generations of descendants of both James and/or Abraham.
Please help us to continue to unravel these DNA mysteries by volunteering to take part in this study. Email me for more details (stxstrong@gmail.com), or you can enroll directly at this websites listed below.
http://www.geneticousins.com/morrison/
or here
http://www.familytreedna.com/project-join-request.aspx?group=Morrison
Also, if you have had your yDNA tested outside of the Morrison group, please let us know. We would be glad to add your results to the spreadsheet.
If you have trouble viewing this spreadsheet, email me at stxstrong@gmail.com and I can send you an excel spreadsheet or PDF.
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| Land Deed, Newton County, Texas, 6 Feb 1860 John McLemore
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Headstones
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| McLemore, John and Sarah Ann E. (Boyett) John McLemore with his second wife, Sarah Ann E. Boyett, taken ca 1998, while monument still standing |
| McLemore, John-Footstone Contains his C.S.A. Service Information |
| McLemore, John and Sarah Ann E. (Boyett)-fallen The weight and uneven balance apparently caused this headstone to fall, and this is how it appeared in September, 2007. The grave could be identified only due to the footstone for John McLemore, who served in the C.S.A. Fortunately, a photo had been taken of the upright marker some ten years earlier |
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Sources |
- [S163] Kittell, Nan McCoy--Samuel McFarland McLemore and Descendants, Living Family History (Unpublished typescript ca. 1984, updated periodically).
- [S512] Confederate Pension Application, Widow's Application.
- [S98] 1860 United States Federal Census [Ancestry.com database on-line]. Provo, UT, USA: The Generations Network, Inc., 2004., (Original data: United States of America, Bureau of the Census. Eighth Census of the United States, 1860. Washington, D.C.: National Archives and Records Administration, 1860. M653, 1,438 rolls. This database is an index to individuals enumerated in the 1860 United States Federal Census, the Eighth Census of the United States. Census takers recorded many details including each person's name, age as of the census day, sex, color; birthplace, occupation of males over age fifteen, and more. No relationships were shown between members of a household. Additionally, the names of those listed on the population schedule are linked to actual images of the 1860 Federal Census.).
- [S391] State of Texas, Certificate of Holy Union of Matrimony.
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