52 Ancestors in 52 Weeks – Week 5: Census

I am working on this year-long prompt, hosted by Amy Johnson Crow. I will write each week in one of my two blogs, either Mam-ma’s Southern Family or at My Trails Into the Past. I’m looking forward to writing about my children’s ancestors in new and exciting ways.

In 1840, Ellis W. Lancaster was heading his own household in Lewis County, Missouri.[1] He had three young sons under five years old, one daughter over five but under ten, and his wife, Elizabeth who was between twenty and thirty.

1840 Lewis Co, Missouri, p. 186
These children would have been:
  • Sarah A. Lancaster, born 11 Apr 1832, so she was about 8.
  • James R. Lancaster, born Sep 1835, so he was about 5.
  • William T. Lancaster, born 1 Sep 1837, so he was about 3.
  • George Wilson Lancaster, born 3 Apr 1839, so he was about 1.

This census also shows neighbors. Above Ellis, we can see Joseph Bourne. His son, Reuben Bourne would marry Ellis’ daughter, Sarah sometime before 1850. He was born 24 Jun 1827 and was about thirteen. You can see his tick mark in the third column designating the over 10 but under 15.

Below Ellis was George Neal. This is likely George H. Neal who was the brother of Ellis’ wife, Elizabeth.

There was an additional page, showing the slaves. Ellis had either two females under 15 or one female under 10. The total number in the household was seven, so the six Lancasters and on slave would be 7 total. Since the digit one looks darker, perhaps he tried to scratch it out.

Ellis' line is the one with the total in the household as 7
The family would live in Lewis County another ten years or so before moving to Kaufman County, Texas.
[1] 1840 U.S. census, Lewis Co, Missouri, pop. sched., p. 186, Ellis Lancaster, digital image, Ancestry (http://www.ancestry.com : accessed 20 Jan 2011), citing NARA M704, roll 225.

Copyright © 2018 by Lisa Suzanne Gorrell, Mam-ma's Southern Family

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