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Author: coltnwoods
Surnames: Cason
Classification: queries
Message Board URL:
http://boards.rootsweb.com/surnames.cason/364.1/mb.ashx
Message Board Post:
I suspect that my ancestor, Jehu Glascow Cason, is the son of the Benjamin Cason you
mention. That is, I suspect that he is the older brother of Elihu Cason who appears with
Benjamin Cason in the 1850 Census of Meriwether GA. But it is conjecture at this point.
I will put my theory and evidence here so it might be found by others researching this
line.
According to Civil War records found at
fold3.com, my ancestor Jehu Glasgow Cason enlisted
early in the CSA on 20 Jun 1861 at Fort Barrancas in Pensacola FL for a 9 month term. His
discharge papers of March 1862 are detailed and lists Jehu's place of birth as
Edgefield Disrict SC, his age as 45 (1817 birth), and his occupation as shoemaker.
This places Jehu as in infant in Edgefield SC in 1817 or so. In the 1820 census there are
only two Casons listed who have sons the right age to be my Jehu, and the first of these
is Benjamin Cason. When I track Benjamin Cason through the census records I have him:
1820 in Edgefield SC, 1830 in Elbert GA, and 1840 and 1850 in Meriwether GA. The 1850
census has Benjamin with wife Sarah and four children: Elihu, Jane, Benjamin, and Francis
(Female).
The name Jehu is an unusual name, and when I saw the name Elihu as the son of Benjamin
that really made me think that Jehu could very easily be Benjamin's and Sarah's
son as well.
The earlier Benjamin Cason census records indicate likely older siblings of these Casons
found in the 1850 census. I think my Jehu fits in nicely. For example, the 1830 census
has 2 males age 5-9, one of which is Elihu and the other unknown, and 1 male age 10-14
which would fit with Jehu (who would be 12 at the time). In 1840, I believe my Jehu is
found as head of household in Marion GA, a bit south of Benjamin's home in Meriwether
living with a woman 50-59 (an aunt?).
This Jehu Cason has been a nightmare for me to trace. His name is almost always
transcribed as John Cason as script Jehu and John look similar (identical!). He is often
listed as J. G. Cason. But his civil war record is quite legible as Jehu (and that is
consistent with the pronunciation recalled by our family). Further complicating the
research is the fact that he moved around a lot between Alabama and Georgia.
Here is what I have for him. I have him in the home of Benjamin Cason for the census
records indicated above, 1820 and 1830. In 1840, age 22, I have him in Marion Georgia as
"J. G. Cason". There is an older woman (an aunt?) age 50-59 living with him. I
have an 1843 marriage (age 25) in Stewart Georgia for a "John" G. Cason to Sarah
Ann Martin. In 1855 I have him in an Alabama state census (age 37) as "J G
Cason" with five kids in Tallapoosa Alabama. The ages of the kids fit well with the
names and ages provided in the 1860 census.
In 1860 (age 42) I have "Jehew Cason" still in Tallapoosa with seven kids: Lucy
A, Andrew W, Theodore J, Sarah E, Caly F, Oscar F, and William. The last of these is
William Shephard Cason and is my ancestor. Jehu is listed as a shoemaker. Further, the
birth places of his kids are GA, AL, GA, AL, AL, AL, AL, which indicates to me that he
bounced back and forth between the two states.
In 1861 and 1862 I have the CSA military records mentioned above.
The last record I have for him is an 1864 GA census for a "J G Cason" in
Muscogee GA for organizing a militia which has his age correct and I would guess to be
him. Another move across the state line?
I have his wife Sarah Ann Martin widowed in 1880 living in Barbour County AL working a
farm with a couple of the sons. From 1889 to 1911 there are confederate pension payments
to
Sarah, the last occurring on 1 Apr 1911 with her residing in Dale County AL. Dale County
AL is where all my ancestors are from.
I hope this helps someone out there. Feel free to contact me to share information. Jehu
Cason is my mother's great grandfather and my mother has had autosomal DNA testing
done. It would be great to find descendant of Elihu Cason with DNA testing to see if we
get a match, and, indeed, Elihu and Jehu are brothers. Also, we have a Cason cousin who
is a direct male descendant of Jehu who has taken the Y-DNA test, but the results are not
expected for a few weeks.
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