Varied search entries get results

I typed his name into the search engine several times before, along with the name of his wife and the county where, I had strong reason to believe, he was born.

Nothing.

I added an estimated date of birth.

Nothing.

Death.

Nothing.

I eventually moved on and sought information pertaining to other members of my tree. Earlier this week, however, I typed his name — Jethro WARREN — into the engine again and instead of including the name of his wife and the county in which I had strong reason to believe he was born (Harnett) — I simply selected “North Carolina.” Imagine my surprise to see the yielded result.

Excerpt, 1930 U.S. Federal Census, Ancestry.com

Using Ancestry.com, I found my great-great-grandfather listed in the 1930 U.S. Federal Census. I received his name from my living grandfather (my mother’s father) who also revealed the name of his late mother, Sarah.

The census shows Jethro, at that time, living in the township of Mingo, located in Sampson County, not far at all from Harnett. Also in the home is his wife, Sarah, an adopted son Jenkins, and Sarah’s mother (Jethro’s mother-in-law), Clara SMITH.

My mother confirmed the listing was indeed of our family as she recalled hearing stories, growing up, of the adopted son.

Birth/Ages

Jethro’s age, at the date of the taken census (April 1, 1930), was listed as 52; Sarah, 44; Jenkins, 16; Clara, 66. The eldest person in the household then was born around 1863, ‘64. With that information I will attempt to find that branch of my tree in the 1870 U.S. Federal Census. Before then, however, I would like to further confirm that Clara was indeed my great-great-great grandmother.

Neighbors

Also according to the census, my great-grandfather Roy and his wife Bertha, along with one daughter and one son (my grandfather at the time was not yet born) lived next door to Jethro and his family on a farm. It’s probable they all lived on the same farm, I suppose. I would like to look more into that matter.

Occupation and Industry

Jethro was listed as a farmer. Jenkins and Roy were listed as farm laborers. The space under occupation for the women reads “none.”

Lessons learned

Through this experience I have learned to vary the amounts of information provided in database searches to ensure something you may not have calculated (like the county you suspect a family member was born and grew up in) does not hinder your yielded results. Also, learn the databases, the collections you are searching.

With this find, there are a lot of areas now that I wish to venture further into. For one, how did my family get to Sampson County and, after Sampson, why did they venture to Harnett?

In other personal genealogical happenings, following the suggestion of a fellow family historian, I sent a letter to the Harnett County Register of Deeds requesting uncertified vital records (15) copies of several members of my family (only $.10 a copy, wow!) I also sought assistance from a funeral home, known to have performed many of my family’s burial rites, in tracking some of their records.