Line Traced Back to John Hays born in 1797!
Farmer John Hays was born in South Carolina about 1797. In 1820, he is listed as living in the little town of York in York County, South Carolina. He subsequently moved to North Carolina as the 1830 and 1840 censuses show him to be a resident of Mecklenburg County. In 1842, Union County was established from parts of Mecklenburg and Anson counties. Although John Hays may not have moved from his home, the 1850 Federal Census, lists him as a resident of the newly formed Union County, NC.
The 1850 US Census was the first to include names and ages of all residents in each household. Eliza is listed as the wife of John Hays, but their marriage could not have been John's first one. That is obvious because the 1850 census of Hays' household members lists Eliza's age as 30, while daughter Ellenda is 20, Jane is 18, and our direct ancestor (John) Nelson is 17. Eliza would have been 10 years old when Ellenda was born, 12 with Jane, and 13 with our (John) Nelson. Not possible. We may never find it, but we are still looking for the name of the first wife of John Hays and the mother of our John Nelson Hays.
In the 1878 Last Will and Testament of John Hays (below), he left his "tract of land containing about 200 acres" to his wife and four children, namely William Hayes, Mary Baker, Louisa Eubanks and Sarah A. Eubanks. Curiously, his Will designates nothing to his three oldest children, Ellenda, Jane and John Nelson who are listed on the 1850 census. We are also left to wonder who were the three Preslar children, Ellen (11), Sarah (12) and Hagar (6), living with 70 year old John Hays as recorded on the 1870 Census?
It is also interesting to note that John Hays was probably illiterate. Note the "X" as "His Mark" as a signature to his Last Will. Here is some of the documentary evidence for you to examine:
1850 UNION COUNTY CENSUS:
John Hays 53, Eliza 30, Ellenda 20, Jane 18, (John) Nelson 17, William 10, Elizabeth 10, and infant Israel. real estate $300, all born in SC.
John Hays 62, Eliza 42, Louisa 7, and Sarah A. 4. Real estate $500; personal $800.
1870 UNION COUNTY CENSUS – Buford Township, P.O. Monroe
John Hays 74, Eliza 50, Sarah 14, along with Ellen Preslar 11, Sarah Preslar 12 and Hagar Preslar 6. Real estate $700; Personal estate $300.
1878 WILL PROBATED
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