ANDREW TURNER: Case Study, Part I

© Kathy Duncan, 2014

Andrew Turner - Case Study - Part I

The search for Andrew Turner's father begins now. As I posted earlier, at the time of his death, the Patrons of Husbandry published a tribute to him which contained information on his birth and early life. According to the tribute, he was born in 1803 in York County, South Carolina, and as a small child moved with his father to Lincoln County, Tennessee.  Andrew Turner removed to Hardeman County, Tennessee in 1824.

A preliminary google search for Turners with sons named Andrew in Lincoln County, Tennessee, and in York County, South Carolina, turned up nothing.

My first step, then, was to look at all the Turner households in Lincoln County, Tennessee in 1820. I am guessing that since Andrew did not move to Hardeman County until 1824 that he was still living at home in 1820. In this step, I am looking for households with a sons who are Andrew's age - 17ish.

Lincoln County, Tennessee, 1820:

Turner, Jane 0013 - 0023101
Turner, John 21001-02101
Turner, John 001
Turner, White 1001- 0001
Turner, Woodson 0011

Of the households above, John Turner, White Turner, Woodson Turner, and Jane Turner have young men in the 17 year old range. Since John Turner is living alone, his household is ruled out. Since White Turner's household contains only himself, his young wife, and a son under the age of ten, his household is ruled out. That just leaves the households of Jane Turner and Woodson Turner. Since Jane Turner is evidently a widow, I am up against more of a challenge.

My second step was more involved. It required looking at the York County, South Carolina census beginning with 1800 through 1820 to see who, with children about the right age, disappeared.

The 1800 census was included in my search even though Andrew Turner had not been born yet because his family may have removed to Lincoln County, Tennessee before the 1810 census.

York County, South Carolina, 1800:

Turner, David 11201 - 2001
Turner, Thomas 00101 - 03101
Turner, John 001 - 1001
Turner, Samuel 3001 - 0211
Turner, Robert 03201 - 00101
Turner, David 2001 - 3001
Turner, Wilkinson 00201 - 00001
Turner, Pierce 2001 - 00 [page torn]
Turner, Thomas 00101 - 00101

York County, South Carolina, 1810:

Turner, James 1001 - 00021
Turner, Solomon 201 - 00011
Turner, John 1001 - 3101
Turner, Thomas (TC) 20001 - 10021
Turner, Jeremiah 2001 - 1001
Turner, Robert 00301 - 01101
Turner, John (CC) 1011 - 201
Turner, Christopher 2001 - 2001
Turner, Samuel 02101 - 00301
Turner, Elijah 1201 - 3001
Turner, Thomas (AC) 00011 - 00201
Turner, Wilkinson 3001 - 0001
Turner, Richard 2001 - 0001

In comparing the two census returns, both David Turners and Pierce Turner appear on the 1800 census, but not on the 1810 census. Since no widows appear on the 1810 census, I am guessing that all three families removed from York County. All of them seem to be reasonably young men with growing families, so they are all candidates.

York County, South Carolina 1820:

Turner, John 21001 - 1201
Turner, Christopher 2201 - 2101
Turner, Robert 200011 - 10101
Turner, Daniel 00001 - 2001
Turner, William 00001 - 2001
Turner, Wilkinson 421101 - 0101
Turner, Jeremiah 21001 - 02001
Turner, John 0001 - 10101
Turner, Thomas 100001 - 02011
Turner, Jeremiah 30001 - 1001
Turner, John 0001 - 12

In comparing the 1810 census to the 1820 census, there are four missing households: James Turner,
Solomon Turner, Elijah Turner, and Richard Turner. All four of these men are young with growing families, so they are all candidates.

Now I have seven candidates to look for in Lincoln County, Tennessee.

I tried going back to google to see what I could shake loose. I got lucky with a David Turner. There was a David Turner (ordained elder) who died in Lincoln County, Tennessee in 1817. He was a member of the First Presbyterian Church of Fayetteville, Tennessee which was organized in 1812. [Source: Lincoln County, Tennessee Pioneers, vol. 1 no. 1 Sept. 1970.] The Goodspeed history of Lincoln County, Tennessee reads as if David Turner may have been a founding elder of the church. It also notes that a founding member was Mrs. Turner. From that I conclude that David probably left a widow. Jane Turner who appeared on the 1820 census is a likely candidate.

There is an inventory for David Turner in Lincoln County, Tennessee's probate that was filed during the May term of 1817.

Right now, I am partial to David and Jane Turner as candidates for Andrew Turner's parents. The next step will be to check the Lincoln County, Tennesse records  that are in print. Fortunately, the Mesquite Library has a good selection of these materials, and I can go by there after work one day this week to see if there are any mentions of an Andrew Turner. Although I hope it will be that easy, I know it likely will not be.

ANDREW TURNER, husband of LAVINIA CHISUM

ANDREW TURNER: Case Study Part 2