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SOUTHERNS IN NORTH CAROLINA IN THE 1790 FEDERAL CENSUS: STOKES COUNTY, N.C.

The first Federal Census shows William with four sons. Gibson seen in the 1784-87 state census has moved to Greenville County, SC by this year. Younger sons Boaz and Ford appear with their own households this year.


Name White Males
Over 16
White Males
Under 16
All White
Females
Other Free
Persons
Slaves Total
William 2 - 3 - - 5
Rubin 1 4 4 - - 9
Ford 1 - 1 - - 2
Boas 1 1 2 - - 4
William (II) 1 - 3 - 1 5


Descriptions:

Name White Males
Over 16
White Males
Under 16
All White
Females
Other Free
Persons
Slaves Total
William 2 - 3 - - 5

William Southern, probably in his late 60s, and Magdalen on Hewins Creek with son John, daughter Judith, and another woman (daughter?) who has not been identified. According to information from other sources, John and Judith are both about 16 this year, and it is possible they were twins. This is William's last census; he died in 1794. His will leaving his estate to wife Magdalen, daughter Judith, and son John (and witnessed by Ford) is dated May 13, 1794.

Name White Males
Over 16
White Males
Under 16
All White
Females
Other Free
Persons
Slaves Total
Rubin 1 4 4 - - 9

Reuben next to his father William on Hewin's Creek with wife (not identified, though other researchers have suggested she was Polly Davis), three daughters, and four sons under 16. The sons here are Joshua, Reuben Jr., Stephen, and perhaps Daniel, though Daniel may have been born as late as 1792 and the fourth son here may be another who did not survive to maturity. Reuben was bondsman for Anny Southern's 1807 marriage to John Brown and she may have been one of the daughters here.

Name White Males
Over 16
White Males
Under 16
All White
Females
Other Free
Persons
Slaves Total
Ford 1 - 1 - - 2

Ford, age 25, known son of William (I) and Magdalen, with a woman, no children -- a first wife? This is four years prior to his recorded marriage to Catherine Zimmerman. Ford first appears as a separate householder in the 1789 tax list, with no land. William and Magdalen gave "their son" Ford 155 acres out of William's 315 acre tract in 1790.

Name White Males
Over 16
White Males
Under 16
All White
Females
Other Free
Persons
Slaves Total
Boas 1 1 2 - - 4

Boaz, likely in his mid to late 20s, probable son of William and Magdalen and perhaps one of the men in William's 1784-87 household, with wife, son, and daughter (none identified). Boaz first appears in the records with the 1789 tax list. He entered two state grant tracts of 50 acres each on Town Fork, one in 1790 and one in 1796; both were issued in November 1797. He remained in the county on Town Fork Creek until 1807; then apparently moved to Kentucky and later Tennessee.

Name White Males
Over 16
White Males
Under 16
All White
Females
Other Free
Persons
Slaves Total
William (II) 1 - 3 - 1 5

William (II) the veteran on Snow Creek, now 31 or 32, apparently with a wife and two daughters and one slave.