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Author: JohnCathcart01
Surnames: Chestnut, Chesnut, Cathcart, McCreight, Hinton
Classification: queries
Message Board URL:
http://boards.rootsweb.com/surnames.chestnut/322/mb.ashx
Message Board Post:
Trying to solve the mystery of whether or not this William is a Cathcart or a Chestnut.
William first appears-the last person entered in the household, which normally indicates that he is not part of the family-as a Cathcart, aged 30 and "blind." The head of household is Thomas Chestnut (1806-1883) and his wife, Mary [Craig] Chestnut (1814-1856). The census is for the Cahawba District, Dallas County, Alabama.
However, in subsequent census enumerations for 1860 and 1870 (both in Dallas County, Alabama), William is listed as a Chestnut-but always "blind."
I've always assumed that William moved in with family or friends after his mother died in about 1847. As he was blind, I always thought that his father, Samuel Cathcart (born about 1784 in South Carolina), and his younger brother, Samuel (born about 1829), would not have been able to properly care for William, as they both would've been busy working on their farm. I have further assumed that Thomas and Mary eventually adopted William, giving him to Chestnut surname-as indicated in the 1860 and 1870 census enumerations.
I have no evidence or source for this supposition, and would greatly appreciate any hints or information anyone on this board might have.
Thanks very much,
John
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