In the Census–52 Ancestors, Week 5

I am participating in the 52 Ancestors in 52 Weeks challenge hosted by Amy Johnson Crow. The topic this week is “In the Census.”

This 1850 census record shows both my 2nd great-grandparents–Silas  McCullock (McCULLOUGH) & Sarah Jane WILLIAMS–and my 3rd great-grandparents–Nehemiah WILLIAMS & Esther (Hester) PICKERING. They’re living on neighboring farms in Bay Township of Ottawa County, Ohio. Silas and Sarah Jane were married in 1847.

When I searched census records for Nehemiah I found him and his family quite easily, but finding Silas McCULLOUGH was more difficult since it’s spelled McCullock in this census record. When I found Nehemiah’s record I noticed Silas’ name along with Sarah Jane’s. I wonder if Nehemiah and Hester gave or sold some of their land to Silas since Sarah Jane was their daughter.

Bay Township, Ottawa County, Ohio 1850 census record showing both Nehemiah Williams and family and Silas McCullock and wife

Seeing this census record quite early in my genealogy research taught me to look at the entire census page and sometimes the pages before and after to look for familiar names. It also showed me one of the many ways that the McCullough name was (and is) spelled. Our branch of the family settled on McCullough for the spelling, but another branch decided on McCullaugh. And we probably have other branches of the family who still spell the name McCullock. I just have never found any evidence to tie them to our family tree.

…………………………..

Source Info:

Year: 1850; Census Place: Bay, Ottawa, Ohio; Roll: M432_719; Page: 163A; Image: 62