Census Sunday : Washington Abernathy household, 1850, Monroe County, Indiana

Washington Abernathy married my maternal fourth great-grandaunt Martha Ann Crockett on February 10, 1850 in Owen County, Indiana¹.  Martha Ann was the daughter of David and Mary Ann (Nosler) Crockett.  While working in my RootsMagic database I noticed that I didn't have a birth place or date for him, and began searching for him in the census.

1850 US Census, Monroe County, Indiana, population schedule, Bean Blossom Township, dwelling 507, family 507, ; digital images, Ancestry.com (www.ancestry.com : accessed 5 September 2015); National Archives, Washington, D.C..

According to the schedule, this census was enumerated on October 3, 1850, just a few months after their marriage.  They are in household 507 right next to the Eli Abernathy household.  They are the right age to be his parents.

Washington was a 22 year old farmer born in Indiana who couldn't read or write.  Martha was listed as being 18 years of age and born in Indiana.

Additional searches for information on Washington located a Washington M. Abernathy buried in the Chambersville Cemetery, Owen County, Indiana².  This Washington was born June 17, 1829 and died March 2, 1860, according to the memorial page.

I believe that poor Martha was left a young widow, as I have found a Martha Abernathy in the 1860 census as head of household in Bean Blossom Township, Monroe County, Indiana with three children : Mary Ann, age 8; Sarah E., age 6; and Laura M., aged 4 months.

If you have any additional information or are related to these individuals, I would love to hear from you.

Sources :

1. "Indiana Marriages Through 1850", Indiana State Library Genealogy Division .

2. FindAGrave Inc., FindAGrave.com (www.findagrave.com : accessed 5 September 2015), http://www.findagrave.com/cgi-bin/fg.cgi?page=gr&GSln=Abernathy&GSiman=1&GScid=84606&GRid=24766814&

Census Sunday is a daily blogging prompt used by many genealogy bloggers to help them post content on their sites.

State & Federal census sheets are filled with information for genealogists. Both the population & non-population schedules give us insights into the lives of our ancestors. What have you found that is Surprising? Reassuring? Bewildering? Census Sunday is a daily blogging prompt suggested by Colleen Pasquale of Leaves and Branches.

Family Milestones: February 10th

My maternal 4th-great grandaunt, Minerva P. PIERCE, was married on this date in 1829 to Jethro HATCH.  Minerva was born January 25, 1803, the daughter of Gordon and Thirsa (SMALLEY) PIERCE, and the older sister of my Francis S. PIERCE.  Jethro was born circa 1791 in New York.  They raised 5 children in Kane County, Illinois.  Jethro died February 7, 1875.  Minerva died after the 1880 census of Kane County, Illinois.  Nothing further known at this time.

My maternal 4th-great grandaunt, Martha Ann CROCKETT, was married on this date in 1850 in Owen County, Indiana to Washington M. ABERNATHY.  Martha was born in 1831 in Owen County, Indiana, the daughter of David and Mary Ann (NOSLER) CROCKETT, and the older sister of my Mary Ann CROCKETT.  I do not have dates of birth or death for Washington.  Nothing further known at this time.

My maternal 7th-great grandfather, Deacon John WRIGHT, was born on this date in 1717 in Freuchie, Falkland Parish, Fife Scotland..  John was the son of Robert and Elizabeth (HENDERSON) WRIGHT.  John married February 15, 1753 in Cambridge, Middlesex County, Massachusetts to Hannah FESSENDEN, daughter of William and Martha (BROWN) FESSENDEN.  Hannah was born August 15, 1732 in Cambridge, Middlesex County, Massachusetts.  They had 5 children.  John was a medical missionary, and served in the French & Indiana war as a surgeon's mate.  John died in a shipwreck in June 1772 near Anamaboo, New Guinea.  Hannah died December 9, 1800 in Cambridge, Middlesex County, Massachusetts.

My maternal 4th-great granduncle, William B. JACOBS, was born on this date in 1813 in Adams County, Ohio.  William was the son of James Thomas and Isabella (FEILY) JACOBS, and the younger brother of my Elizabeth JACOBS.  William married September 6, 1834 in Brown County, Ohio to Mary Polly EDWARDS.  I do not have dates of birth or death for Mary.  William died February 9, 1898 in Brown County, Ohio.

My maternal 5th-great granduncle, William J. JACOBS, was born on this date in 1800 in Fleming County, Kentucky.  William was the son of William and Sibell (LITTELL) JACOBS, and the younger brother of my James Thomas JACOBS.  William married September 27, 1821 in Brown County, Ohio to Zoa WILKS.  I do not have dates of birth or death for Zoa.  William died June 23, 1879 in Brown County, Ohio.