Census "Trick" Works Again

Matthew Boyers, who was probably born in the 1750s, was living in York District, South Carolina in 1810, and in Sumner County, Tennessee in 1830. Although quite a few people have Matthew Boyers on their Ancestry family tree, no one had located him in 1820. So, I used one of my "tricks" and searched for Matthew without his last name.

I specifically searched the 1820 U.S. federal censuses for the following:

• First name: "Matthew" with "sounds like," "similar," and "initials" checked
• Lived in (1st search): "York County, South Carolina" in the field and marked as "exact to this place"
• Lived in (2nd search): "Sumner County, Tennessee" in the field and marked as "exact to this place"

RESULTS:

For South Carolina, only 22 results were found. I looked at a Matthew Biggers to make sure it wasn't transcribed incorrectly, but it looks like "Biggers" to me. None of the others looked like good candidates.

For Tennessee, there were 36 results. Several looked promising: Mathew Bayne, Mathew Boyne, and Mathew Rogers. Both Mathew Bayne, listed as 16 to 25 years old, and Mathew Rogers, listed as 26 to 44 years old, were too young. Mathew Boyne, however, was marked as "45 and over" which would be the correct age for Matthew Boyers.

1820 U.S. census, Sumner County, Tennessee, population schedule, Gallatin Township,  p.140 [printed], 10th family, Mathew Boyers household; image, Ancestry (http://www.ancestry.com : accessed 18 September 2016), citing National Archives microfilm M33, roll 124.

After comparing the handwriting of the census enumerator to other entries, and comparing the household members to other years, I believe that the 1820 record transcribed on Ancestry as "Boyne" is actually "Boyers."

POSSIBLE RELATIONSHIP:

I do not know if Matthew Boyers is related to me or not. I am working on the hypothesis that he is the father of two of my direct ancestors:

• John M. Boyers (~1801 in SC - ~1875 in TN) who married Matilda Dickson (~1805 - ~1875) 
• Rachel Boyers (~1795 in SC - 1867 in Perry Co, TN) who married Joseph Dickson (1795 - 1898)

Both John and Rachel lived in Perry County, Tennessee for part of their lives. Perry County is where my Dickson ancestors lived.

Are you related to the Boyers family? Or do you have more information? I'd love to talk! Please leave a comment or email me at drleeds@sbcglobal.net

Money, Corn, & Flour To "Alleviate the Sufferings" in Ireland

In 1847, the people of Ireland were suffering from mass starvation during a time period we now call the Irish Potato Famine. As I am continuing to research my Boyers family, I came across a newspaper article that mentions Robert M. Boyers (1788 in SC-1871 in TN) who I believe is either a brother or first cousin of my ancestor, John M. Boyers (~1801 in SC-aft 1870 possibly in TN). (Both men were born in South Carolina and lived in Gallatin, Sumner County, Tennessee in 1830.)

The scene at Skibbereen, west Cork, in 1847. From a series of illustrations by Cork artist James Mahony (1810-1879), commissioned by Illustrated London News 1847. Image from Wikipedia - public domain. 

This newspaper article was a resolution to help "alleviate the sufferings of that famished country." The money, corn, and flour were to be delivered to Robert M. Boyers who would forward those supplies to Liverpool for distribution. It makes me proud that these Tennesseans were helping in such a concrete way. Here's a transcript of the article:

For the Republican Banner.
IRELAND.

At a meeting at Gallatin on the 6th instant, the following resolutions were adopted:-

   Resolved, That the heartrending accounts received from the suffering Irish are calculated to awaken sympathy in the coldest bosoms.

   Resolved, That we deeply sympathize with the poor of Ireland, inasmuch as her sons materially aided us in our great struggle for liberty, and have ever since been fighting in every clime for the same great blessing.

   Resolved, That it is the duty of the benevolent and charitable of every country to furnish whatever aid they can to alleviate the sufferings of that famished country.

   Resolved, That the following named persons are appointed to obtain and receive money, stacked corn, or barreled flour for the purpose of sending the same to Robert M. Boyers, who will forward the same to our kind hearted Consul, Gen. Robert Armstrong, at Liverpool, to be distributed to him at his own discretion - the Corn or Flour to be delivered at the Gallatin landing as early as possible.

[The article then lists the 19 districts naming the men in charge of each district.]

   Resolved, That the foregoing proceedings be published in the Nashville papers, and in the Gallatin Union, Gallatin, Sumner County.           -J. L. McKOIN, Ch'm.
   G. S. Gray, Sec'y.

Source: Ireland (Resolution), The Tennessean, Nashville, Tennessee, 12 March 1847, page 2, column 4, digital image, newspapers.com (http://www.newspapers.com : accessed 11 September 2016).

Do we share common ancestors? Are you related to Robert M. Boyers or John M. Boyers? I'd love to talk! Please leave a comment or email me at drleeds@sbcglobal.net