Brothers, Neighbors and Friends

John Wright household, 1850  U.S. census, population schedule, Washington Township, Brown County, Ohio, USA, dwelling 1555, family 1560; National Archives micropublication M432, roll 662.

The John Wright household was enumerated in Washington Township, Brown County, Ohio in the 1850 census on September 18th.  They were dwelling 1555 and family 1560, nestled in between the families of John Robbins and George Wright.  George Wright was John's father, John Robbins has not yet been identified, but may be John Wright's uncle.  John Wright was my maternal 4x great-grandfather.


In 1850, John Wright was a 35 year old farmer, born in Ohio.  The census lists no real estate, so he may have been renting from his father.  John's wife, Anne, was 34 years old, could not read or write, and was also born in Ohio.  The couple's children were listed as Elizabeth, aged 14 born in Ohio; Joseph, aged 12 born in Ohio; Nancy, aged 9 born in Ohio; Mary, aged 7 born   in Ohio; and Maxamila, aged 4 born in Ohio.  Elizabeth, Joseph and Nancy had all attended school within the year.


Right next door was John's father, George Wright.  In 1850, George Wright was a 69 year old farmer, born in Pennsylvania.  The value of his real estate was listed at $ 2500.  George's wife, Elizabeth, was 68 years old, and was also born in Pennsylvania.  Also in the household was the Samuel P. Wright family - son of George and brother to John, above.  Samuel was a 33 year old farmer, born in Ohio, with real estate valued at $ 20.  Samuel's wife, Rebecca R., was 24 years old and born in Ohio.  The couple's children were listed as Elizabeth S, aged 4 born in Ohio; George H, aged 2 born in Ohio; and John R., aged 8 months born in Ohio.


The makeup of these families was known to me for several years, as I've had them in my database, yet until today I hadn't entered source data from the census and looked at the family dynamics.  By 1853 and 1857, respectively, both George and Anne [or Anna] Wright would have passed away.


Next door to George Wright was the household of John T. Reeves.  In 1850, John T. Reeves was a 38 year old farmer, born in Ohio.  The value of his real estate was listed at $ 800, and he could not read or write.  John's wife, Elizabeth, was 39 years old and was likewise born in Ohio and could not read or write.  The couple's children were listed as Frances, aged 17 born in Ohio; William R., aged 16 born in Ohio; Rebecca, aged 14 born in Ohio; and John R., aged 4 born in Ohio.  A boarder, Daniel Smith, aged 19 born in Ohio and a laborer was also listed in the household.  Finally, Sybil Jacobs, aged 81 born in Virginia was also listed.  Sybil (Littell) Jacobs was my 6x maternal great-grandmother.


The next two families are the Calvin families, which I believe to be related to the Wardlow/Wardlaw families - another line from which I am descended.


It is interesting to see how these families and neighbors were close together.  Though the Wright's and Jacobs lines were not related, a few years later when Joseph Wright [listed in the John Wright household above] married Rebecca Heaton [Sybil Jacobs' great-granddaughter], the two families were connected.  Joseph and Rebecca were my 3x great-grandparents.