Several
of the ways I analyze genealogical data are by geographic location and clustered groups of names. I am still trying to break the 1870 brick wall. Edmund signed the labor contract in May 1865. The next area I investigated was the census
records.
In
the 1870 Federal Census for Pike County, Mississippi a Edward Downs is enumerated with Courtney Downs and children. Edward and Edmund are the same individuals. An important fact to remember is that in the
1870 census, individuals' relationship to each other is not identified.
 |
| 1870 Federal Census Pike County, Mississippi Township 2 Range 8 Dwelling 193 family 194 |
Name
|
Age
|
Sex
|
Race
|
Occupation
|
Place of birth
|
Edward
|
24
|
male
|
black
|
Farm hand
|
Louisiana
|
Courtney
|
26
|
female
|
black
|
Keeping house
|
Mississippi
|
Richard
|
4
|
male
|
black
|
“
| |
Ann
|
3
|
female
|
black
|
“
| |
Thomas
|
10/12
|
male
|
black
|
“
| |
Jesse
|
15
| male
|
black
|
“
|
1870 Federal Census Pike County, Mississippi Township 2 Range 8 Dwelling/family 193/194870 F
The children listed were not born in 1865 except Jesse
who would have been 10 years old. In the
labor contract, 7 male and 8 female children without names are listed. These children may have been related to Edmund Downs.
In the 1880 Federal
Census for Pike County Mississippi, Edmun Downs is listed with Caroline Downs as wife and additional children. Courtney Downs who was enumerated in 1870 with children Jessie, Richard, Ann and Thomas (Tom) probably died. Jessie in 1880 would have been 25 years old and possibly living elsewhere or dead. Edmund has three children enumerated as step-children. Caroline was probably married to Mr. Buckhalter. Mary Downs and Jerry Buckhalter are both 6 years old and Willis Buckhalter is 3 years old. The age of these three children suggests that Courtney Downs and Mr. Buckhalter died 3 years previously approximately 1877.
 |
| 1880 United States Federal census Pike County, Mississippi SD 3, ED 37 page 29 dwelling 40 family 41 |
|
Name |
Age |
Sex |
Race |
Relationship |
Occupation |
Place of birth |
|
Edmun Downs |
36 |
male |
black |
|
Farming |
Louisiana |
|
Caroline Downs |
27 |
female |
black |
wife |
Keeps house |
Louisiana |
|
Francis Downs |
18 |
male |
black |
son |
Field hand |
Mississippi |
|
Richard Downs |
14 |
male |
black |
son |
Field hand |
“ |
|
Annie V. Downs |
12 |
female |
black |
daughter |
At home |
“ |
|
Tom H. Downs |
11 |
male |
black |
son |
“ |
“ |
|
Mary Downs |
6 |
female |
black |
daughter |
“ |
“ |
|
Edmun Downs Jr. |
1/12 |
male |
black |
son |
“ |
“ |
|
Melford Buckhalter |
11 |
male |
black |
step-son |
“
|
“ |
|
Jerry Buckhalter |
6 |
male |
black |
step-son |
“ |
“ |
|
Willis Buckhalter |
3 |
male |
black |
step-son |
“ |
“ |
More information on Edmund Downs will be in Part 3
----The Tree Gardener
Post updated February 9, 2022
