Re: Vaughn Hilbun>Laurens Co GA
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In reply to:
Re: Vaughn Hilbun>Laurens Co GA
Kathie Marynik 6/11/01
I am not a 100% sure, but what follows is part of an essay I have been working on:
In the oral history, Madge Hilburn Methvin stated the father of our Vaughn Hilbun was John Hilbun. She told the story that the family moved onto Mississippi while Vaughn stayed in Georgia. At some point, he rode a horse to Mississippi to visit his mother one more time. We searched Mississippi records to see if anything was there. We had already found the Woodward Hilburn in Pontotoc County. We had also found the Frederick Hilburn in Copiah County. Therefore, we began to search records backward in time from the Frederick Hilburn in Copiah County first because we knew less of him than the other one. The results turned up some interesting facts.
First, let’s start with original land records in Copiah County. There is one dated 14 Jan 1826 and the name appears to be John Kilburn. When the land sold in 1838, the name of the seller is John Hilburn. The significance of this is the timing. Remember the oral history says that the family left for Mississippi when Vaughn Hilbun was around 18 years old, or about 1824.
In the same group of sections of land are original land transactions by Frederick Hilburn in 1835-1837 whom we had found in the
1850 Census for Copiah County. Between Frederick and his sons, and John and his son, there were land transactions in five sections of land.
Let us go back to the 1850 Census for a moment. Listed with Frederick in that 1850 Copiah County Census was a John Hilburn, and he was listed as a cripple. He was 50 years old, which was too young to be the father of our Vaughn. When you go back into the land records of the area, though, you will discover the mentioning of a John Hilburn, Senior and a John Hilburn, Junior. By looking at all the evidence we found, it would appear that John Hilburn, Sr. died before the 1840 Census. He was found in the 1830 Census but not the 1840 Census. One gets the impression from the land records and the 1850 and 1860 Censuses that John Hilburn, Jr. was not self sufficient, and that Frederick Hilburn and, later, his children, took care of him till he died.
Is this the John Hilburn of the oral history passed down? It could very well be. The only three links are the oral history, the North Carolina connection, and the timing at which a John Hilburn seems to appear in Mississippi. Is that enough to prove John Hilburn of Mississippi is our John Hilburn? Not really, but it is enough to keep the story alive on the chance that some day more evidence will surface.
More Replies:
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Re: Vaughn Hilbun>Laurens Co GA
Laurie Seneca 9/25/01
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Re: Vaughn Hilbun>Laurens Co GA
Kathie Marynik 6/14/01