Research & Notes
After questioning Grannie about what she knew of Papa's family, I began my research by searching census records. Interspersed along the way came Cousin Notes, when word got around the grapevine that I was doing research.
On this page I'll list my own researching notes, thoughts, and theories.....but when I need to reference a separately listed record or note I will include a link to the page where the record or note can be found.
In order to try to lessen the confusion somewhat, I am trying to list the info in date order as much as possible. It's not neccessarily the way I found the information, so if I reference something in "the future", that's why.
~*~
Given that the Blufird Mason had children all under the age of 10 in the 1880 census, I went on the assumption that he might not have yet been married in 1870, and might have still been living at home with his parents or with a sibling.
Therefore, I checked every Mason name and in every (white) Mason household in both Georgia and South Carolina for 1870.
Otherwise I found these:
1870 Wake County, NC (I'm thinking Not)
B.B. Mason age 25
Sarah 28
Isabell 8
Caroline 6
Will 2
1870 Texas County, MO (I thought not, but taking in consideration the Civil War records, where Bluford swore oath of allegiance in Louisville, KY then was taken to be released north of the Ohio River, it could be possible.)
Edward Wheeler age 27 b. GA
Mary 20 NC
Geo 7 or 2 IN
Isabel 2/12 MO
B.B. Mason 30 SC
~*~
The first I find a census record for a Blufford Mason of approximately the correct age is in the 1880 Jackson County, GA census. I have no idea if this *my* Blufford Mason or not, but fits according to info gleaned from Cousin Notes.
1880 Jackson County, GA Newtown 253 Dist GM June 24, 1880
#596? 60??
Blufird B. Mason W M age 39 Works on farm GA/GA/(blank)
Phebia C. 28 Wife *Index reads Phylis C.
R ? E. 7 Daughter *Index reads Frances E.
Mary L. 6 Daughter
Eliza C. 4 Daughter
Ada C. 2 Daughter *Index reads Ida C.
Annie (M? W?) 1 Daughter
~*~
No 1890 Census
~*~
I found *a* Silvey Mason in the 1900 Cherokee County, GA census, listed as James H. Mason's sister-in-law. Very confusing!
Until Cousin Notes told me she was first married to a nephew of Bluford's.
Since she was James H. Mason's sister-in-law, we can conclude James H. was also a nephew of Bluth's.
(Need Census Copy) 1900 Cherokee County, GA Census M 1015 GM District June 20, 1900
#219/292
James H. Mason b. Jan 1870 age 30 m'd 5 years GA/GA/GA
Martha J. Apr 1872 28 Wife 3 children-3living GA/GA/GA
Maryl J. Jan 1897 3 Daughter GA/GA/GA
Dolly Sep 1897 2 Daughter GA/GA/GA
Louisa Apr 1900 2/12 Daughter GA/GA/GA
Silvey Jun 1864 35 Sis-in-law Single 1 child-1 living GA/GA/GA
Anne (or Anna) M. May 1896 4 Neice GA/GA/GA
Also in the 1900 Cherokee County, GA census I found a Bluford Mason and a few other Masons of interest:
Crossroads Dist.
Benjamin Howard age 70
Loucie Jane 64 Wife
Annie C. 42 Daughter
Bluford Mason b. July 1840 age 59 Laborer Widowed GA/GA/GA
Also in the Crossroads Dist (next door to Mariel Mason)
Frank Dowda age 35
Bell 38 Wife
(and assorted children)
Bluth Mason b. Dec. 1880 age 19 Laborer Single GA/GA/GA
(WWI Draft Registration card lists Blufford Burns Mason, born Dec. 2, 1881, of Ball Ground, Cherokee Co, GA. Cousin Notes has it that Addie, my Bluford's known daughter, had a cousin named Bluth. This Bluth lived in a h/h next door to Merrill, so he could have been Merrill's son. I think what is throwing me off is that this Bluth is living with another family, rather than his own, the same as Blufford and all his daughters are living spread out with other familys. So he could have been Blufford's son. Except he is only 6 months younger than Jane, living with her sister and brother-in-law Turley. We pretty much know she's the daughter, so I guess that means he's pretty much not Blufford's son.)
(This Bluth, born Dec. 1880, could be a different Blufford altogether.)
Also in the Crossroads Dist
Margrett Pruitt age 52 Widowed
Odis 22 Son
Ida Mason b. July 1878 age 21 Servant Single GA/GA/GA
Also in the Crossroads Dist
Mariel Mason b. May 1838 age 62 m'd 34 years SC/SC/SC
Sarah A. Feb 1851 49 Wife 11 children-9 living
Dora Feb 1883 17 Daughter
Hugh Apr 1888 12 Son
Sealig? June 1890 9 Daughter
*Merrell Mason married Sarah Thackston on November 25, 1866 in Cherokee County, GA.
*Sarah I believe was the daughter of Banister B. and Phebe Thackston.
*Banister and Phebe Thackston were the parents of Charles Thackston, who married Terracy Martin.
*Charles and Terracy Thackston were the parents of Banister Thackston and Silvey Thackston.
*Sarah had a sister named Phebe C. who was 17 years old in 1870 (could she be the same Phebia as Blufird's wife in 1880 Jackson Co, GA?).
****HOLD UP! ACCORDING TO FAMILYSEARCH, PHEBE THAXTON, DAUGHTER OF CHARLES, MARRIED OSCAR CROFT!!!!!!!!!!!!!!*****MORE RESEARCH NEEDED!!!***
Little River District
William I. Woods age 53
Malinda C. 63 Wife
Addie Mason b. Nov. 1883 age 16 Boarder Single GA/GA/GA
In the 1015 GM Dist (same area as Silvey Mason in the h/h of James H. Mason)
James H. Turley b. Apr 1874 age 26 m'd 5 yrs. GA/GA/GA
Eliza Nov 1875 24 Wife 2 children-2living GA/SC/GA
Betty Aug 1896 3 Daughter
Pearl July 1899 11/12 Daughter
Jane Mason Jun 1880 19 Sis-in-law Single GA/SC/GA
*Being James Turley's Sis-in-law most likely means Jane is Eliza's sister, therefore Eliza is nee Mason. I figure these are Bluford's daughter; the only confusion coming from them listing their father as having been born in SC.
Although James H. Mason lists his parents as having been born in GA, we might figure he is the son of Mariel/Merrell Mason because he named his daughter Maryl.
Backtracking to the 1880 Cherokee County, GA census, Little River Dist., we can see Merrell Mason's family as listed:
Merrell Mason age 40 SC/SC/SC
Sarah 39 Wife
Martha C. 12 Daughter
James 10 Son
William 8 Son
Mary V. 6 Daughter
Sarah J. 1 Daughter
Phebie Thaxton 64 Wife's Mother
In 1900, Sarah claims to have had 11 children, and 9 were still living. If James is their son, then we know James' brother is one of the deceased children of Merrell and Sarah. (Right?)
There are 5 children listed in this census, and 4 in the 1900 census, leaving 2 unknown to us children.
We see in the 1900 census that Sylvie is 5 years older than James. James was the oldest son, at age 10...Silvey would have been 15-16 at this point. William is the next oldest son at age 8...a difference of 7-8 years between him and Silvey.
Any more sons would have been born after 1880, which would make Silvey at least 15-16 years older. I see several fellows marrying older women, but not usually that much older.
So, my theory at this point, was that Silvey's first husband was William Mason, son of Merrell and Sarah Thackston Mason.
~*~
I knew my Papa was born in 1905 in Whitfield County, GA, so hoping they didn't move from the area too quickly, I began my search in 1910 Whitfield County, GA.
1910 Whitfield County, GA Census for Silvey L. Mason
Silvey L. Mason age 43 widowed 4 children - 4 living GA/SC/SC
Lou G. 8 daughter GA/GA/SC
James B. 4 son GA/GA/SC
Ula G. 2 daughter GA/GA/SC
|
