Revisiting Census and Tax Records

Last year I was able to finally locate my 2nd Great Grandfather Wm C Cook in the 1840 US Federal Census for Dyer Co TN.  I've been reviewing that census this morning as well as looking at Tax lists for the area and researching his neighbors a bit more.  This is something I revisit periodically since finding the census entry.  I'm trying to determine what he and his family were doing so far out of place from where I'd expect them to be. 

1839 Dyer Co Tax List Civil District 6 contains the majority of the families who are around Wm C Cook in the 1840 US Federal Census of Dyer Co TN.  Something I hadn't noticed before for this tax list was that at the very end of that District is a list of abt 15 people(it continues to the next page) with a header that on says " The Following is listed by the commissioner for Double Tax".  There is a Cook name listed--specifically, Heirs of John W Cook.   These people are a continuation of District 6 because  immediately after their listing there is a Total for District 6 row.

While this could be another rabbit hole and be a Cook with no relation it must be checked out given before I can make a determination one way or the other.  This isn't something that just applies to census or tax list but is something we should be doing especially with the documents we have for our "brickwall" ancestors.  

An additional tidbit that I also found interesting while studying neighbor Hezekiah Gibson was that there is a Hezekiah Gibson listed on the 1836 Tax List of Henderson Co TN in the same district as Shim and Johnson Cook(Sons of James Roland Cook whose descendants are close in our YDNA line)

"United States Census, 1840," database with images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:33SQ-GYBJ-96TR?cc=1786457 : 18 July 2023), Tennessee > Dyer > Not Stated > image 37 of 42; citing NARA microfilm publication M704, (Washington D.C.: National Archives and Records Administration, n.d.).

"Tennessee, U.S., Early Tax List Records, 1783-1895" database with images, Ancestry(https://www.ancestry.com/discoveryui-content/view/12796:2883 : accessed 18 January 2023); citing Early Tax Lists of Tennessee. Microfilm, 12 rolls. The Tennessee State Library and Archives, Nashville, Tennessee.

Dad's Maternal 1st Cousins--1950 US Federal Census

In a blog post I made in April, I listed the citations of the 1950 census entries for Dad, his siblings and a number of his paternal 1st cousins. I am doing the same of his maternal 1st cousins for this post.  A link to the Enumeration Districts is also included after each citation.  I didn't hyperlink the web addresses so you will need to copy and paste the url into your browser. This will be a great help to me when I read thru the districts again. When no one was at home a revisit was required and those revisits are listed at the end of each enumeration district.  The sheet #s for the revisit sections start with 71 to set them apart from the initial walk thru.  See this informative post at HistoryHub.

Aunt Lula's Children

Dad's maternal 1st cousin James Morton Gibson & family
Morton & Martha Gibson with sons Granville & Darrell
1950 US Federal Census, Davidson Co. TN, Nashville, Enumeration District 99-271, sheet 77, Serial/Household #144, Lines 5-8( James M Gibson Family); U.S. National Archives, 1950 Census (https://1950census.archives.gov/search/).
Link to District 99-271 https://1950census.archives.gov/search/?county=Nashville%2C%20Davidson&ed=99-271&state=TN

Dad's Maternal 1st Cousin Telitha Aline Gibson Stevens  w/ her husband Andrew & Daughter Patricia.

1950 US Federal Census, Davidson Co. TN, Nashville, Enumeration District 99-278, Serial/Household #211, sheet 17, Lines 26-28( Andrew D Stevens Family); U.S. National Archives, 1950 Census  (https://1950census.archives.gov/search/).

Link to District 99-278 https://1950census.archives.gov/search/?county=Nashville%2C%20Davidson&ed=99-278&state=TN

Aunt Cora's Children

Dad's Maternal 1st Cousin Lillian Irene Gibson Wagster & Family
1950 US Federal Census, Butler Co. OH, Ross Township(West of Route 127), Enumeration District 9-114, sheet 73, Serial/Household #201, Lines 25-28( Huston I Wagster Family); U.S. National Archives, 1950 Census (https://1950census.archives.gov/search/).
Link to District 9-114 https://1950census.archives.gov/search/?county=Butler&ed=9-114&state=OH

Dad's maternal 1st cousin Thomas Lytle Gibson and Family
1950 US Federal Census, Bedford Co. TN, Civil Dist. 24, Enumeration District 2-39, sheet 8, Serial/Household #60, Lines 20-21( Tom L Gibson Family); U.S. National Archives, 1950 Census (https://1950census.archives.gov/search/).
Link to District 2-39:  https://1950census.archives.gov/search/?county=Bedford&ed=2-39&state=TN

Dad's maternal 1st Cousin Verna Gibson Wagster & her husband

1950 US Federal Census, Bedford Co. TN, Shelbyville, Enumeration District 2-10, sheet 13, Serial/Household #128, Lines 27-28( Paul Wagster Family); U.S. National Archives, 1950 Census (https://1950census.archives.gov/search/).
Link to District 2-10 https://1950census.archives.gov/search/?county=Bedford&ed=2-10&state=TN

Dad's maternal 1st cousin Bertha Eunice Gibson Stokes Osteen and Family

1950 US Federal Census, Butler Co. OH, Hamilton, Enumeration District 96-21, sheet 19, Serial/Household #227, Lines 25-27( John R O'Steen Family); U.S. National Archives, 1950 Census (https://1950census.archives.gov/search/).

Link to Dist 96-21: https://1950census.archives.gov/search/?state=OH&county=Hamilton&Butler&ed=96-21&scheduleId=4612534

Dad's maternal 1st cousin  Preston C Gibson and Family

1950 US Federal Census, Bedford Co. TN, Tourist Court, Enumeration District 2-4, sheet 77, Serial/Household #174, Lines 8-12( Preston Gibson & Family); U.S. National Archives, 1950 Census (https://1950census.archives.gov/search/).

Link to District 2-4 https://1950census.archives.gov/search/?county=Bedford&ed=2-4&state=TN

Dad's Maternal 1st cousin. Leone Gibson Uselton & 1st Husband

1950 US Federal Census, Bedford Co. TN, Shelbyville, Enumeration District 2-11, sheet 6, 210 Jefferson, Serial/Household #66, Lines 17-18(Fred Uselton & Leone); U.S. National Archives, 1950 Census (https://1950census.archives.gov/search/).

Link to District 2-11 https://1950census.archives.gov/search/?county=Bedford&ed=2-11&state=TN

Aunt Kitty's Children

Dad's Maternal 1st Cousin Mary Magdalene Bell Dye & Family
1950 US Federal Census, Bedford Co. TN, Shelbyville, Enumeration District 2-10, sheet 13, Serial/Household #125, Lines 16-21(Bernum B Dye Family); U.S. National Archives, 1950 Census (https://1950census.archives.gov/search/).
Link to District 2-10 https://1950census.archives.gov/search/?county=Bedford&ed=2-10&state=TN

Dad's Maternal 1st Cousin Zada Florene Bell McGregor & Family

1950 US Federal Census, Bedford Co. TN, Shelbyville, Enumeration District 2-10, sheet 26, Serial/Household #255, Lines 27-30(Florene Bell McGregor & Family); U.S. National Archives, 1950 Census (https://1950census.archives.gov/search/).

Link to District 2-10 https://1950census.archives.gov/search/?county=Bedford&ed=2-10&state=TN

Dad's Maternal 1st cousin Lawrence Melvin Bell & Family

1950 US Federal Census, Bedford Co. TN, Shelbyville, Civil Dist 7, Enumeration District 2-16, sheet 5, Serial/Household #49, Lines 6-8( Lawrence M Bell & Family); U.S. National Archives, 1950 Census (https://1950census.archives.gov/search/).

Link to District 2-16 https://1950census.archives.gov/search/?county=Bedford&ed=2-16&state=TN

Dad's Maternal 1st cousin Patra Bell

1950 US Federal Census, Davidson Co. TN, Nashville, Enumeration District 99-265, sheet 6, Serial/Household #60, Line 17(Living in Clarence Huffman Household but arrow drawn to Household of Lillie B Adams HH 59); U.S. National Archives, 1950 Census (https://1950census.archives.gov/search/).

Link to District 99-265 https://1950census.archives.gov/search/?county=Nashville%2C%20Davidson&ed=99-265&scheduleId=5649164&state=TN

Dad's Maternal 1st cousin. Tom Bell Jr & Family

1950 US Federal Census, Bedford Co. TN, Shelbyville, Enumeration District 2-10, sheet 22, 703 Elliott, Serial/Household #216, Lines 26-30(Tom Bell Jr. & Family); U.S. National Archives, 1950 Census (https://1950census.archives.gov/search/).

Link to District 2-10 https://1950census.archives.gov/search/?county=Bedford&ed=2-10&state=TN

Dad's Maternal 1st cousins, Pearl, J.B., and Olive Bell living in the household of their parents

1950 US Federal Census, Bedford Co. TN, Shelbyville, Enumeration District 2-10, sheet 14, 530 Oak,  Serial/Household #130, Lines 5-9(Tom Bell (Sr) &  Family); U.S. National Archives, 1950 Census (https://1950census.archives.gov/search/).
Link to District 2-10 https://1950census.archives.gov/search/?county=Bedford&ed=2-10&state=TN

Uncle John's daughter

Dad's Maternal 1st Cousin Hazel P Jakes Jetton & Family

1950 US Federal Census, Rutherford Co TN, Murfreesboro, Enumeration District 75-25, Serial/Household # 89, sheet 76, Lines 9-11(John M Jetton Family); U.S. National Archives,  1950 Census  (https://1950census.archives.gov/search).

Link to District 75-25 https://1950census.archives.gov/search/?state=TN&county=Rutherford&ed=75-25&scheduleId=5664180

Uncle Will's Children
Dad's Maternal Uncle Will B Jakes Sr. & Family

1950 U.S. census, Davidson Co., TN, Old Hickory Civil Dist 4, ED 19-19, sheet 10, 311 30th Street, Serial/Household #111, line 29-30 & sheet 11, lines 1-2 (Wm B Jakes Sr. Family);  U.S. National Archives,  1950 Census  ((https://1950census.archives.gov/search/).

Link to District 19-19 https://1950census.archives.gov/search/?state=TN&county=Davidson&ed=19-19

Dad's Maternal 1st Cousin Lula Pauline "Polly" Jakes Sams & Husband
1950 US Federal Census, Bay Co. FL, Parker, Enumeration District 3-38, sheet 22, Serial/Household #202, Lines 1-2(Tom B Sams & wife); U.S. National Archives, 1950 Census (https://1950census.archives.gov/search/).
Link to District 3-38 https://1950census.archives.gov/search/?state=FL&county=Bay&ed=3-38

James Jakes Death Notice(1941)

 

I'd written a blog post about finding my great grandfather's death notice in the Tennessean back in 2017(see post) Today I found a death notice in the Shelbyville paper.  The Tennessean had gotten several of the daughters names wrong.  Cora Gibson was printed as Mrs. Coy Gibson and Lula Gibson was shown as Mrs. Luke Gibson.  They also spelled my grandmother's married name as Cook instead of Cooke.  The Shelbyville paper got the names correct except for my Grandmother's married name.  They put Gibson instead of Cooke.  I think it's worth noting that this happens more than we realize.  I've even seen people who have been dead for almost 20 years listed as survivors in their sibling's death notice.  I've made a note on the image of the death notice below.  You should be able to identify these errors as you are researching because you will have multiple sources and you will need to evaluate the sources and the information contained in them.

Source:  "James Jakes, 84, Retired Farmer Dies in Nashville" The Bedford Co Times, 19 Aug 1941, p. 1, col. 2; digital images, Familysearch.org (https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:3QHV-B3T3-QZR9?i=706&cat=483088 : accessed 8 Jun 2022).

Dyer Co neighbors with Rutherford Co connections(TN)

Looking at a few of the families enumerated near Wm C Cook's 1840 Dyer Co TN entry I recognize surnames that have connections to Rutherford Co TN.  In 1840, Absalom Vickery(brother in law of Wm C Cook) and his family were the neighboring county of Lauderdale.  Wade H Carlton(another brother in law of Wm C Cook) and his family were in nearby Weakley Co. TN. It should also be noted that there appears to be some of the Rutherford, Williamson Co.-District 25 & Bedford Co. TN-District 10 folks living in the area near Wade H Carlton and family.  I believe our ancestors were a lot more mobile than we give them credit for being. 

Robert Henry Dyer(the namesake for Dyer Co) was in the War of 1812, Florida War and Natchez Expedition.  He also represented Bedford and Rutherford Counties in the General Assembly.

Henry Read-- a man by the same name and age group is in 1820 Rutherford Co TN.  I do not know if it's the same one.  In Nance's The History of Versailles, tenth district, and its people something very interesting in the section on the Read family which begins on page 194.  It says that Robert Read & Elizabeth Gentry Read's 8 children were born in Dyer Co TN where they had moved sometimes after 1817.[That area would have been Carroll Co. prior to 1823 when Dyer Co was formed] Elizabeth died in 1841 and Robert married Elvira Carson and the couple had 8 children together which were all born in Rutherford Co TN. This suggest that there is a connection between Rutherford County and Dyer County Read families but doesn't mention a Henry Read.  There may be more in the Eagleville history.

Hezekiah Gibson(age 50-60 in 1840) Married in 1817 Rutherford Co TN to Mary Ridgeway  In 1830 Rutherford Co TN

R A H McCorkle  (See link to previous post)McCorkle family was in Rutherford Co TN prior to Dyer Co and prior to that in Rowan & Iredell Co NC with connections to Gillespie and Brandon family.

Noah Putman (Wm C Cook's brother in law) is enumerated immediately after Wm C. Noah married Elizabeth Carlton daughter of Thomas Carlton and  Nancy Ann Wade.  

J B Harrison(b. 1800-1810) I believe this is John B Harrison brother of Rebecca Harrison(wife of Hiram Putman--brother of Elizabeth Putman Cook and Noah Putman.) 

Obituaries: Andrew Lee Gibson & Fannie Cora Jakes Gibson

I've been going thru folders and binders looking over copies of things I ordered when I first started researching my family history in 1990.  Around that time I sent a letter to the Shelbyville Time-Gazette or the library in Shelbyville(I can't remember which one and don't still have the envelope) and got a copy of the obituaries of my Paternal Grandmother's sister Cora Jakes Gibson and her husband, Andrew Lee Gibson.  The image I have included with this blog post is a side by side screenshot of the two copies of the obituaries.  The information within the two obituaries is included below.  

Andrew Lee Gibson Dies in Hamilton Ohio

Andrew Lee Gibson, 77, died this morning in Hamilton, Ohio following a long illness.
Funeral Services will be held Thursday at 4 pm from the chapel of he Gowen funeral Home. The Rev. Homer A Cate will officiate and burial will follow in Willow Mount Cemetery.

Mr. Gibson was a native of Bedford County and had lived in Shelbyville until he moved to Hamilton a year and a half ago.


He is survived by this wife, Mrs. Cora Jakes Gibson of Hamilton; 

Two Sons Lytle and Preston Gibson of Shelbyville
Four Daughter Mrs. Irene Wagster and Eunice Osteen of Hamilton
Mrs. Verna Waster and Mrs. Leona Uselton of Shelbyville
Four Brothers, Dee Gibson of Bell Buckle John Gibson of Normandy, Estell and Joe Gibson of Beech Grove and by 9 grand children and four great grandchildren.
The body was to arrived late today or tonight at the Gowen Funeral home.

Source:   Shelbyville Times-Gazette Wed. 17 Jan. 1951 Edition


Mrs. Gibson, 81, Dies. Services to Be On Thursday

Mrs. Fannie Cora Gibson, 81, died Monday night at her home on Hay Rd. after a long illness.
Funeral services will be at 4 p.m. Thursday at Gowen-Smith Chapel. Burial will be in Willow Mount Cemetery.

A native of Rutherford County, Mrs. Gibson was the daughter o he late James Jakes and Thelitha Ann Frizzell Jakes. Her husband Andrew Lee Gibson died in 1951. She was a member of the Hoover's Gap Baptist Church.

Surviving are 

Four Daughters, Mrs. Irene Wagster and Mrs. Eunice Osteen, both of Hamilton, Ohio
Mrs. Verna Wagster of Shelbyville(TN) and Mrs. Leone Whiteside of New Smyrna Beach, Fla.
Two Sons Lytle Gibson of the Flat Creek Community and Preston Gibson with whom she resided.
Two Sisters Mrs. Pearl Cooke and Mrs. Lula Gibson both of Nashville.
Two Brothers, Will Jakes and Euless Jakes, both of Old Hickory; 10 Grandchildren 16 Great Grandchildren and one Great Great grandchild.

Source:  Shelbyville Times-Gazette Wed. 7 Apr 1965 Edition

My Paternal Grandmother's Paternal 1st Cousins

I've been thinking about how family is or is not in touch much and I began wondering how many of my Paternal Grandmother's 1st cousins she knew or may have had contact with during her younger years..  Her Paternal 1st cousins were all born between 1864 and 1880  She was named Pearl Gray Jakes and was born in the spring of 1891.


This picture is Pearl Gray Jakes Cooke with her niece
Olive Bell Shriver and Olive's husband, Sam
Taken about 1975

• Ann Jakes Gibson's children:  John Thomas Gibson, Sarah C Gibson Shelton, Samuel B. Gibson, Joanna Gibson, Rollie Gibson, N.N. Gibson. (Joanna & N.N. died young with no issue)
• Parthenia Jakes McEwen's children:  Wm H. McEwen, Charles McEwen, Dallas McEwen, James McEwen, Hallie McEwen, Sydney McEwen, Thomas McEwen.
• Jane Jakes McEwen's child:  Brady Miller McEwen(died young no issue)

That's about 14 cousins from her Dad's side.  I have DNA matches showing in the Thrulines for descendants of  Sarah C Gibson Shelton and also Rollie Gibson.  There are likely a few other matches who descend from the Jakes / Morrow connection that don't have public trees or their DNA attached to a tree.  I'll check out her Maternal 1st Cousins in a future post.  There were many more of them. The Jakes lived in Bellbuckle and the Beech Grove area of Tennessee.

George W. Gibson's will written April 2nd 1887

George W. Gibson was a resident of Rutherford County's 25th District but his will was recorded in the Bedford Co TN Will books.  I think this happens more than we realize for an assortment of reasons.  The following is my attempt at transcribing the will.  Several of the male descendants of George W Gibson marry cousins from my Jakes/Frizzell and Jakes/Morrow lines.

George W Gibson's Will
In the name of God amen.
I George W Gibson of the 25th District of Rutherford County Tenn. being of sound mind and knowing the uncertainty of life, do make this my last will and testament.
1st I will and desire that all of my just debts be paid
2nd I desire and will that my executors who will hereafter be named, at my death will take possession of all my property that I may be seized and possessed of and that they sell all my property real estate and all other kinds for cash or on a credit publicly or privately as they may think best and I hereby empower my executor to deed away and convey my real estate to the purchase or purchasers as I would myself were I living.  I will that one half of an acre of ground including and around the grave yard be set apart and keep as a family grave yard and that it is reserved out of the sale of my land.  I will that out of the proceeds of the sale of my real estate and other property that I may have at my death that my executors pay to the heirs of my daughter Rachel Shelton dec'd, wife of Harvey Shelton and to the heirs of my son John Gibson and to the heirs of my daughter Manerva Gibson, wife of Wm F Gibson and to the heirs of my daughter Parmelia Crosslin dec'd wife of Andy Crosslin, the sum of one dollar and I will that the heirs of the above named children receive no more of my property than the one dollar.  And I will that the remainder of my estate be equally divided between my children here named and now living or to their heirs and that they share and share alike.   Henry Gibson, Joe F Gibson, Ed T. Gibson, Mary Eaton, wife of Harvey Eaton, Nancy Thornberry, wife of Steven Thornberry and Jennie Hoover, wife of John H Hoover and Jessie Eaton wife of James Eaton and I will that each of the above named children shall share alike.  I hereby appoint and nominate Henry & Ed T Gibson as executors of this my last will
this April 2nd 1887
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------  G W Gibson
Witnesses
Jno H. White
S. J. Mankin
J.D. Ensey

Attest--A true copy---Wm L. Fierson Deputy Clerk

Source:
Bedford County, Tennessee, Will Book 1: 622, Will of George W Gibson, 2 April 1887; imaged in "Tennessee, Wills and Probate Records, 1779-2008," Ancestry (http://www.ancestry.com ; accessed 4 August 2019) > Bedford > Wills Vol 1-2, 1861-1922 > image 344 of 832. 

1940 US Federal Census Findings

My shocker from the 1940 US Federal census.

Finding my Dad's maternal Grandfather, James Jakes. alive and living with my Grandparents in 1940. When I first began researching over 20 yrs ago I found a Date of death on microfiche for a James Jakes in the area in which he had lived and I incorrectly ASSumed it was him. The date was within 2 yrs of his wife's death and it seemed logical to me(the whole dying of a broken heart bit after losing a spouse). I knew where he was buried however his tombstone did not have a year of death. So I never really gave much thought to researching any more on him other than his children and his ancestors. After finding that he was still alive in 1940 I was able to search FamilySearch's online death records for TN and come up with the correct Death Cert and the correct date of death which happened the following yr. It also gave his birthdate. Prior to that I only had the yr from the tombstone and a month from census records which is off by one from what his Death Cert listed. The certificate also told his place of death-- Davidson Co. Hospital(TN). and gave M as his middle initial...something I'd never seen. Makes me wonder if it is Morrow which was his mother's Maiden name. The informant on the death cert. listed his father as James Jakes...which is probably an error. I have several records showing his father was George Jakes although I don't rule out the possibility that George's middle name might have been James.

Now I'm off in search of his 1930 census entry and also going to find out who Martha Gibson, the informant on his death certificate is. Two Gibson brothers married two of James Jakes' daughters and his Aunt Ann Jakes married a Gibson. Lots of possibilities.


I love learning :-)

Search for your family in the 1940 Census Records

1940 US Federal Census at FamilySearch


1940 US Federal Census at National Archives And Records Administration