Early census and tax records from Wilkes & Ashe counties

Here's another list I compiled to help me figure out who's who of the early Caudills. Guess what? I'm not sure I've figured anything out yet! As I said we need someone with a really analytical mind to go at these lists and see if they can figure anything out. Anyone out there??? You don't have to be a descendant of Jesse P! Please feel free to chime in at any point. That's why I'm posting this information, so there can be a discussion. So far the traffic on this blog has been...well not very heavy. LOL

Click on image to enlarge:

Early property records from Wilkes, Ashe and Surry counties

Below is a listing of deeds I created back in 2001 from information collected by Steve B (a descendant of Jesse P.) Steve lives in the area spent many hours in the courthouses listed and I think he also visited the state archives in Raleigh.

My next posting will be spreadsheet showing Caudill listings on the early census records for Wilkes and Ashe counties along with some Caudill listings on some Wilkes county tax lists.

Someone with a good analytical mind needs to sit down and see if it's possible to determine what generation each of those listed might fall into. Is it possible to figure out any close family relationships?

Click on image to enlarge:

   

What's the first evidence of Jesse P using P as his middle initial?

The first records I can find with the middle initial "P" are a deed from Ashe county dated 1 Aug 1838 and  the 1840 US census. That census record can be found on a recent post. I'll be posting a listing of Caudill deeds on my next post later today.

Jesse P Caudill on the US Census 1820 - 1880

1820 Ashe Co, NC

1830 Wilkes Co, NC

1840 Ashe Co, NC

1850 Ashe Co, NC

1860 Alleghany Co, NC

1870 Alleghany Co, NC part 1

1870 Alleghany Co, NC part 2

1880 Alleghany Co, NC

Jesse P most likely lived on the same piece of property when he was canvased for each of these census. His property sat near the county line of Ashe and Wilkes counties so this is probably why he's shown in Wilkes county in 1830. Also the part of Ashe county where he lived became Alleghany county in 1859.

North Carolina county development 1912 to present

Can anyone get us a cleaner image?

North Carolina county development up to 1800

Marriage bond posted by Jesse P to marry Sary Roberts

Below is a copy of the 1817 marriage bond Jesse P Caudill posted to marry Sary Roberts.

What state was Jesse P's father born?

As I said most people list James Caudill Jr as Jesse P's father. We know from James affidavit to obtain a pension for his service in the War for Independence that he states he was born in Lunenburg Virginia. On the 1880 US Census shown below Jesse P's parents are both listed as being born in North Carolina. You always have to acknowledge that the census data might be inaccurate. 

Jesse Jr? Yes JUNIOR!

In 1830 there are still 2 Jesse Caudills listed in western North Carolina. This time both are in Wilkes County. My guess is the younger Jesse has either actually moved back into Wilkes County or the census taker who entered his data didn't know what county they were in due to the closeness of the county line between Ashe and Wilkes.

This listing below for the younger Jesse has Junr after the first name. I think this listing is more conclusive than a book which mentions two possible fathers for Jesse P. 

1830 US CENSUS (click on image to enlarge)
Wilkes Co, NC (M19/125/345A-345B)
Head of household: Jesse Caudill, Junr.
Males: Under 5yrs(2), 5-9yrs(1), 10-14yrs(1), 30-39yrs(1)
Females:  Under 5yrs(1), 20-29yrs(1)

1830 US CENSUS (click on image to enlarge)
Wilkes Co, NC (M19//)
Head of household: Jesse Caudill
Males: Under 5yrs(0), 5-9yrs(2), 10-14yrs(2), 15-19yrs[0], 20-29yrs[0], 30-39yrs(0), 40-49yrs[1]
Females:  Under 5yrs(0), 5-9yrs(0), 10-14yrs(2), 15-19yrs[1], 20-29yrs[0], 30-39yrs(0), 40-49yrs[1]

First time two Jesse Caudills are listed on the US Census in western North Carolina

There was a Jesse Caudill & family listed on the 1800 & 1810 US census in Wilkes County North Carolina. These listings cannot be Jesse P because he would have been 5 years old in 1800 & 15 years old in 1810. I think Jesse P was residing in those households in 1800 & 1810 but the head of household would be his father. (The 1830 census is what I think proves Jesse P's father was also named Jesse.)

In 1820 there are two Jesse Caudills listed, one on the Ashe County North Carolina and one in Wilkes County North Carolina. The property where Jesse P lived most of his life and where he's buried sits very close to what would have been the county line between Ashe and Wilkes in 1820. 

Jesse P married Sara Roberts in 1817. Below on this copy of the 1820 US Census is  the first time Jesse P (age 25) and family are listed on a census:

1820 US CENSUS (click on image to enlarge)
Ashe Co., NC (M33/81/25)
Head of household: Jese Cauddle
Males: 0-9yrs(1), 10-15yrs(0), 16-18yrs(0), 16-25yrs(1), 26-44yrs(0), 45+yrs(0)
Females: 0-9yrs(0), 10-15yrs(0), 16-25yrs(1), 26-44yrs(0), 45+yrs(0)

The Jesse Caudill below is listed in 26-44 year old column. He was most likely in the upper part of  that age range from looking at the ages of the other occupants listed.

1820 US CENSUS (click on image to enlarge)
Wilkes Co., NC (M33//)
Head of household: Jesse Caudle
Males: 0-9yrs(2), 10-15yrs(1), 16-18yrs(2), 16-25yrs(2), 26-44yrs(1), 45+yrs(0)
Females: 0-9yrs(3), 10-15yrs(1), 16-25yrs(2), 26-44yrs(1), 45+yrs(0)
Agriculture [3]

James Caudill Jr & wife Mary Adams

The first question I always ask when I find parents listed for Jesse P Caudill is where did the researcher come up with them? What's their source?

I would guess for those who list James Caudill Jr and Mary Adams as Jesse P Caudill's parents the most likely source would be this snippet from Clayton Cox's book:
 
BOOK - APPALACHIA CROSSROADS - VOLUME 2 - THE CAUDILL FAMILY - COMPILED BY CLAYTON R. COX - GATEWAY PRESS, INC. , BALTIMORE MD - 1993
CHAPTER 37 JESSE P. CAUDILL
Jesse P. Caudill, by tradition a son of James Jr. and Mary (Adams) Caudill, see Chapter 4, born April 24, 1795, Whitehead, Alleghaney County, North Carolina, died in Alleghaney County, North Carolina, Apr 23, 1891, married first in Wilkes County, North Carolina, Oct 11, 1817, Sarah Roberts, daughter of Malachi Roberts. Jesse married second in Whitehead, North Carolina, June 25, 1842, Biddie Bledsoe, born April 10, 1826, daughter of Tyrell and Nancy (Reeves) Bledsoe. Jesse and Biddie are buried in the family cemetery on the Lonnie Edwards farm two miles southeast of Whitehead, North Carolina.

I have questioned Jesse as being the son of James Jr, but the old timers disagree with me. I think he is probably the son of Jerimiah, but I have no proof either way. My main questions are: (1) Why if his family lived in Wilkes County was he born in Alleghaney County? (2) Why did he stay in North Carolina when his family moved to Kentucky, if he was only 10 to 15 years of age, or why would his parents permit this? (3) Why didn't he go to Kentucky? -END-

As you can see even Clayton had doubts about James Caudill Jr. He suggests Jesse P Caudill is the son of Jerimiah Caudill.

Invitation

Let's have a discussion on what we know and don't know about Jesse P Caudill and other early Caudills in the Virginia, North Carolina and Kentucky area.

I'm a direct descendant of Jesse P Caudill (1795-1891) and his first wife Sarah Roberts (1801-1841) through their son Hugh B Caudill (1826-abt1900) and his wife Elizabeth Blevins (1827-aft1879).

There's much information that can be documented but some information such as who were Jesse P's parents has yet to be proven. I for one do not believe Jesse P's parents are James Caudill Jr and Mary Adams as many people have listed on their linage. I'll explain what evidence I think exists that's points elsewhere in my following posts.

Feel free to jump in at any time! You don't have to agree with my findings but please give the details when you don't. Also, this blog is not limited to the topic of who Jesse P's parents are. I hope to cover many more topics over time. 

Note: While I use the CAUDILL spelling for the last name because that's what my line of the family settled on, the name has been spelled many different ways over the years and still today. Some of the lines using other spellings have been proven to be related via DNA testing. Have you had your DNA tested?