Exploratory Data Analysis : Albert Moulton (1819-1864)

Albert Moulton (1819-1864) is my paternal 3rd-great grandfather.  What follows is an exploratory analysis of the biographical data I have discovered about him.

1. Vital Records

     Albert was born May 10, 1819 in Rutland County, Vermont, according to my database.  The record found in the 1860 census (if this is the correct Albert) states he was 31 years old born in Vermont.

     1.1. Birth Certificate

           I have not been able to locate a birth record for Albert in the vital records of Vermont at FamilySearch.  I have found records for other members of the family.  Will continue to search to see if I can locate the record.

          1.1.1. Birth Notice in Newspaper

               If Albert's birth was mentioned in a newspaper, I have not located it.  Will need to check with the state and local archives to see if they have newspapers of the time period.

          1.1.2. Bible Record

               I am not aware of any surviving Moulton family Bible that mentions Albert.  Will continue to reach out to extended family in hopes that one can be located.

          1.1.3. Baptismal Record

               I am not aware of any baptismal record for Albert.  I am not aware of the church affiliation of the Moulton family at this time.

          1.1.4. Adoption Record

               There is no indication that Albert was adopted.

     1.2. Marriage License

          Albert married Emeline Philbrick on August 30, 1847 in Knox County, Ohio¹.

          1.2.1 Marriage Notice in Newspaper

               I have not yet searched available newspapers of the time period to see if mention was made of Albert and Emeline's nuptials are mentioned.  Will add that to my list of "to-do" items for my next research trip.

          1.2.2. Anniversary Notice

                I have not yet searched available newspapers of the time period for mention of an anniversary celebration.  Albert is believed to have died in 1864, possibly in California.

          1.2.3. Divorce Decree

                I have not yet searched local court records for a divorce record for Albert and Emeline.  According to a biographical sketch for Clara Moulton, her father went to California during the Gold Rush and disappeared.

     1.3. Death Certificate

           Albert died May 18, 1864, according to my database.  This is an undocumented source.

          1.3.1. Obituary in Newspaper

               Once I can verify the exact date of death, I will be able to search available newspapers in the archives to see if there is mention of Albert's death.

          1.3.2. Funeral Home Records

               Until I have an exact date and place of death, I will be unable to research funeral home records for additional information on his death.

          1.3.3. Tombstone Photograph

               Once I can locate the precise location of his death and burial, I will be able to obtain a photograph of Albert's tombstone.

2. Census Records

     2.1. Federal Census Records

          2.1.1. 1860 Federal Census

               I have not yet been able to locate a census record in the 1860 census that matches the little information I know about Albert that gives me any confidence it is a match.  Will continue to search available records to test various theories.

          2.1.2. 1850 Federal Census

                There is an Albert Moulton enumerated on October 29, 1850 in Placerville, El Dorado County, California², as Albert Moulton, age 31, male, miner, born in Vermont.  He was a cash laborer working for $2 per day.
                This Albert fits the "family legend" that Emeline's husband left for California and disappeared during the Gold Rush, but I have no concrete proof that this is the same man.

     2.2. State Census Records

          No state census records for Ohio are known to exist.

          There is an Albert W. Moulton in California state census records in California, but he does not appear to be the same man as found in the 1860 census record above.

     2.3. Agricultural Census Records

          I have not yet examined these types of records to see what light they might shed on the Moulton family.

3. Military Records

     3.1. Draft Registration

          I have not yet located any military draft (Civil War) records for Albert Moulton that are a match.

     3.2. Pension Records

           I have not located any pension records that are a match for Albert.

     3.3. Service Records

          I have not yet located any military service records for Albert Moulton that are a match.

4. Land Records

     4.1. Deed Records

           Deed records need to be thoroughly searched in Knox and Licking Counties, Ohio to see what records might mention Albert.  Will add this to my list of "to-do" items for my next research trip.

     4.2. Plat map / county map

          Plat maps of Knox and Licking Counties, Ohio need to be searched to see what information can be gleaned that will be relevant to my research.

5. Supplemental Records

     Supplemental records to search for Albert include city/county directories, court records and will and probate records.  Will add these to my list of "to-do" items for my next research trip.

     According to a biographical sketch of daughter, Clara³, her father went from his home in Licking County, Ohio to California during the Gold Rush excitement and died there.  This biographical sketch gives her father's name as Charles.  I believe this to be an error - as Charles was the name of Albert's brother - both were children of Selah and Lydia (Finel) Moulton, who came with their families from Rutland County, Vermont to Licking County, Ohio in the early 1830s.  More research will need to be conducted on this family mystery.

Sources:

1. "Ohio, County Marriages, 1789-2013," database with images, FamilySearch(https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:XD5C-WZ2 : 8 December 2014), Albert Moulton and Emeline Philbrick, 30 Aug 1847; citing Knox, Ohio, United States, reference cn 16, p 43; county courthouses, Ohio; FHL microfilm 378,591.
2. Albert Moulton household, 1860 U.S. census, population schedule, Placerville, El Dorado Co., CA, page 280, family 16; National Archives micropublication M432, roll 34., Page 280.
3. "Biographical and Historical Record of Jay County, Indiana", Lewis Publishing Company, Chicago, 1887, p. 347.

This post was developed as part of the series relating to Building My 2011 Research Template, an attempt to systematically document and source the details of my ancestors' lives. Comments regarding this template and the conclusions drawn in this article are welcomed.

Marriage Record : Albert Moulton to Emeline Philbrick, 1847, Knox County, Ohio

While searching at Familysearch, I located the marriage record of my paternal 3rd-great grandparents, Emeline Philbrick and Albert Moulton on August 30, 1847 in Knox County, Ohio.

"Ohio, County Marriages, 1789-2013," database with images, FamilySearch(https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:XD5C-WZ2 : 8 December 2014), Albert Moulton and Emeline Philbrick, 30 Aug 1847; citing Knox, Ohio, United States, reference cn 16, p 43; county courthouses, Ohio; FHL microfilm 378,591.

Emeline was the daughter of Joel Philbrick and Sally Fox and Albert was the son of Selah Moulton and Lydia Finel.

I had previously believe they would have been married in Licking County, Ohio, as that is where both families had been located.  Licking County is just to the south of Knox County.

This find helps update my database but puts a bit of a kink in my family tree, which I will write about shortly.

Sidney Dewitt Ailes household, 1940, Shelby County Ohio

Located the 1940 census record of the Sidney Dewitt Ailes household in Shelby County, Ohio.  The enumerator listed him as "S.D. Ailes".  Sidney was my paternal 2nd cousin 3 times removed - our common ancestor was Phillip Young (1787-1850).

1940 U.S. Census, Shelby County, Ohio, population schedule, Pemberton, enumeration district (ED) 75-24, SD 4, sheet 10A, household 217, ; digital images, Ancestry.com (www.ancestry.com : accessed 18 December 2016); National Archives, Washington, D.C..

At the time of the enumeration, Sidney and his wife were living in Pemberton, Shelby County, Ohio.  He owned his home and it was valued at $1600.  Sidney was 52 years old and born in Ohio.  His wife, Lina, was 54 years old and also born in Ohio.  In 1935, they were living at the same residence.

The record shows that Sidney had completed 4 years of college and the Lina had completed the 8th grade.  Sidney's occupation was that of a teacher at a public school.

Also living in the household were son Wayne, age 26, born in Ohio who had completed 4 years of high school and was working as an inspector in a cast aluminum plant; son Ned, age 20, born in Ohio and had completed 4 years of high school and was working as a plater in a nickel plating plant; and son John, age 15, born in Ohio and had completed 2 years of high school.

Additional boarders were living in the household as well : Ray Pepper, age 25, born in Ohio, working as a plater in a nickel plating plant; Frances Newhouse, age 21, born in Ohio, a teacher in a public school; and Nettie Mendel, age 21, born in Ohio, a teacher in a public school.

I do not know of any family connections between these lodgers and the family - likely they were living there to help out the financial situation.

Sidney's two daughters, Clara and May are not in this census, likely they have married - will need further research.

If you have any additional information or are connected to this family, I'd love to hear from you.