My great great grandmother was Mary Elizabeth Newbern. She
first appears on the census in 1850. She is listed with her parents and
siblings in Madison County, Florida.
1850 census in the
11th Division, Madison County, Florida
Thomas Newbern 45
Martha 40
Mary 19
Sarah 5
William 6
Thomas 2
All reported Georgia
as their state of birth.
Next to this family is the oldest Newbern daughter:
Nancy (Newbern) Lamb
23 and her children Thomas 5, Henry 4, Elizabeth 2, Nancy 1
Going forward it is easy to follow this family and prove
their connection on my family tree. Nancy and Mary moved around north Florida,
usually living near each other. Their
grandchildren confirmed they were sisters. William was killed in the Civil War
in 1863. The other brother Thomas, married and stayed in the same Florida area.
No trace of what happened to Sarah has been found. Tracing their ancestors
though is another matter.
1830
Since Mary’s father, Thomas was born about 1805, the first
census he would be listed on as head of household is 1830. There is a Thomas
Newbern living in Lowndes County Georgia in the 1830. There is one male 20-29,
one female 20-29, and one female under 5.
I believe this could be my Thomas
with Martha and their oldest child Nancy Newbern, who would have been about 4
at the time.
Two other Newbern’s are living in Lowndes County in 1830, namely
William and Dread. It is possible that Thomas is related to one or both of
them. Dread Newbern is Etheldred Newbern a known son of Thomas Newbern born
1770 in Edgecombe County, North Carolina. Some family trees have shown our Thomas as
being part of this family. At present there isn’t enough evidence for that
assumption.
1840
In 1840, a Thomas Newborn is listed in Middle Florida,
Madison, Florida Territory. The family is listed as:
1 Male 20-29, 1 female 20-29, 1 female 5-9, one female under
5.
This listing is could be the young Thomas from 1830 Lowndes
County, Georgia. There are two female children which could be Nancy and Mary
even though the ages aren’t exactly right.
There is another Thomas Newbern listed in Lowndes County,
Georgia in 1840, however, this Thomas is age 60-69. Also listed with him is a
female age 60-69, male age 15-19, female age 15-19. This Thomas wasn’t listed
in 1830 in this county. Is he from another county or state?
Thomas and Martha’s first child, Nancy was born about 1825.
Nancy always reported she was born in Georgia. Since Thomas was born in Georgia
(as was reported in the 1850 census), it is possible Martha was born in Georgia
also. Her maiden name is unknown.
I am hoping DNA will provide some clues to the ancestors of
both Thomas and Martha.
