Re: William J (?) McCarty/ McCarta, b Ms? or VA?
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In reply to:
William J McCarty/ McCarta b Ms
6/30/99
Bob descends from William McCarty/McCarta through his daughter, Mary Jane McCarty Dampier.How do you know that William's middle initial was "J" and that he was born in Mississippi?We had thought that William was born in Louisiana; however, if you look closely at the 1860 Catahoula Parish, LA census, it looks as if he was born in Virginia.We see a "Va".It definitely does not resemble the other "La's" or "P's" on the page.
Also, if you look at the names of the families listed near him, you see Jesse Peace and Ambrose Peace.That is very close to Pearce.William's youngest son's name was Jesse Eli. (Did William name his youngest son after his father-in-law?)We believe that William is living next to or among his wife's people.Based on family names, sisters and their families may have lived between Jesse and Ambrose.Jesse Peace/Pearce was born in North Carolina, per the census.His wife in Georgia.We cannot find this couple in 1850.We cannot find William McCarty, born c. 1825, prior to this 1860 census.There may or may not be any connection between William and his wife's people prior to their marriage but, the possibility does exist.Could be that if you find one then you will find the other.Unless Sarah Ann Pearce was his second wife (we believe she was the first-no children listed as being born before 1850), then he would not likely have been a head of household in 1850.It will be a piece of luck finding him working for someone somewhere in 1850 at 25 years of age.
We have also considered naming patterns that were popular during William's time.His oldest son's name was Robert Jefferson.Could his father have been a Robert?The Jefferson probably comes from a county name (originally)and/or his middle name if you know for certain that it was Jefferson.
We are just looking for clues at this point that might help us solve the mystery of who W. McCarty in the 1860 census was.The above are possibilities to consider.