Have you ever been to the Henderson Community? In Pike County, Alabama? I lived thereabouts in 1970-1972.
Now I see some of my ancestral trails found their way to that location, also! But of course, well before that time...
So, on Page 33, Beat #9, on the 22nd day of June, in 1870, we will see what was going on with the 1870 Census in Henderson and why I care.
I am accessing it via "findmypast.com", today
.
Head of Household, (Line 20; Dwelling # 266; family # 266): HUGGENS (one of several variations for that name!)...anyway: Jas. J. HUGGENS is the head of this household. He is 37 years old and was born in Alabama. James is married to Lidia/Lydia, who is also age 37. Lydia is also a native of Alabama. Their son is John C. Huggens, age 14 and born in Alabama.
(Note to self: Don't forget to view this family in earlier and later censuses!)
James and Lidia/Lydia Huggens have a daughter, also: Elizabeth, age 13. [Look in other census records to find out if there were other children who may have passed away previous to 1870); Betsy/Elizabeth, was born in Alabama.
Living with the family, in the same household is John Stagner (line 24), age 83, a farmer, born in South Carolina. His wife, Betsy is age 73, also born in South Carolina.
Their daughter (we have to assume that this is a daughter...if she wasn't I think there would be a notation), Sarah J. Stagner is age 34 and was born in Alabama (line26) .
From this information, we can also assume that the Stagner's moved from South Carolina to Alabama about 35-37 years previous to 1870. There is no statement saying what relationship the Stagner's are to the family of Mr. Huggens, but we can hypothesize that James Huggen's wife, Lydia, is the daughter of John and Betsy Stagner. Nancy R. Stagner is their daughter, age 32, born in Alabama also (Line 27).
Before we go any further, where can y'all view this census page? I gave you the page number above or you can search using the Huggens/Huggins name. Get a free account at www.FamilySearch.org.
Choose "SEARCH", then pick "Records". Or to be more specific it would be "Search Historical Records", if you are prompted. I entered "Huggens" and in addition I specified, under Life Events, "RESIDENCE". The place is Pike, Alabama, United States and for the date, I entered 1870 because I want to see the Huggens family entry in the 1870 census in Pike County. Let's see if it works!
And yes, it does. When I hit the Enter button on my computer, the very first record to appear is the 1870 Census for the Huggens Family. Click on the link(s) and join me on this page (33)! Be sure to check the page and make sure that there aren't any other relatives. While you have the census page up on your screen, check at least 2 pages before and after that page 33.
I know from other census records and other "other" records that this family (Huggens, Stagner) has this relationship with me:
John Stagner was my 4th great grandfather.
His daughter, Rebecca Stagner, married Gray Jernigan Worley. In the 1870 Census, she is listed with her husband, while her parents and siblings are shown living with Mr. Huggens! She married in 1839.
In 1845, Rebecca Stagner Worley gives birth to my second great grandmother, Matilda Jane Worley, in, where else but Pike County, Alabama.
Matilda married Friedrich Nicholas Kolmetz. Mr. Kolmetz was born in Germany (Fehmarn).
They, Matilda and "Fritz", became the parents of my Great Grandmother, Alice Melissa Kolmetz who married William Sherman Givens.
They were the parents of my grandfather, Richard "Ludd" Givens, who lived in Niceville.
My mother, Opal, was his daughter! Verified, by the way with the DNA stuff that I've done!
I could just go and live in Pike County, Alabama and just research my family ties from that area! I have a feeling that it would be a long stay!
