The Georgia death index lists Sam Pettit, age 77, died 14 May 1947 in Whitfield Co.

I have not been able to find an 1880 census entry for this Samuel. (He should be listed as 5 to 8 years old.) I’m listing him tentatively as a son of John Link and Lizzie Pettit primarily because his great-grandson John G. Pettit of Fairborn, Ohio, wrote that his grandfather James H. Pettit had an uncle named Preston Pettit, who is almost certainly the Preston Pettit born Nov 1873 who was living with the John Link family in 1900. (James Pettit married Icey Lewis, daughter of Gardner Lewis & Lucretia Link.) Also, in 1910 this Samuel Pettit was listed on the same page as John Tom Pettit, who is known to be a son of John Link and Lizzie Pettit from his death certificate.

The annual report of births to the Kentucky state auditor lists Elisabeth J. Roberts, born 22 April 1878 in Rowan Co., father Clark Roberts born in Grayson Co., Ky (should be Virginia), mother’s maiden name Sarah Sorrell born in Rowan Co., Ky (should be Bath, Rowan did not exist when Sarah was born.)

Her death certificate records Mrs. Beddie Petit, age 43, birthdate unknown, born in Ky, married, wife of S. P. Petit, father Clark Roberts, mother’s maiden name Sarah Sarach, cause of death gastric ulcer, informant S. P. Petit, Dalton, Ga, burial in Deep Springs.

Morgan Co., Ky, marriage records list Samuel Pettit m. Bettie Roberts on 29 Aug 1896.

Also, Rowan Co., Ky marriage book A, p. 105, records marriage of Samuel Pettit and Bettie Roberts on 30 Aug 1896, at Henry Hall's by W. T. Hall, witnesses Jessie Johnson and Ann Hall.

1900 census of Morgan Co., Kentucky, district 6, enumerated 18 June, lists on p. 15B as family #
Petit, Samuel, 27, b. June 1872, farm laboer; Bettie, wife, 21, b. Mar 1879, married 3 years, mother of 2 children, 1 living; Chester, son, 10/12, b. July 1899. All born Ky Ky Ky.

1910 census of Morgan Co., Ky, North Fork precinct, enumerated 21 April, lists on p. 2B as family #19:
Petitt, Sam, 35, farm laborer; Betty, wife, 30, first marriage for both, married 14 years, mother of 7 children, 5 living; Jim Will, son, 15; Lilbern, son, 8; Flossy, dau, 6; Auty, son, 4; Carmie, dau, 2. All born in Ky Ky Ky.

I do not know whether “Jim Will” here is the same person as their son James H. Pettit, nor why he was not listed with the family in 1900. It is also curious that he is recorded as 15, when Sam and Bettie had only been married a couple months shy of 14 years. So it is very possible that he was adopted sometime between 1900 and 1910.

1920 census of Whitfield Co., Georgia, 9th district, enumerated 29 Jan, lists on p. 13A as family #120/131:
Petitt, Samuel, farmer, 47; Bettie, wife, 38; Lilburn, son, 17; Autie, son, 13; Carmie, dau, 11; Murvil, son, 8; Olive, dau, 4 2/12. All born Ky/Ky/Ky.

Their oldest daughter Flossie is four households below at #124/136, with her husband William Manis.

1930 census of Whitfield Co., Georgia, district 5, enumerated 21 April, lists on p. 6A as family #113/122:
Petit, Sam, 55, age at first marriage 21, b. Ky Ky Ky; Mattie B., wife, 35, age at first marriage 33, b. Georgia Georgia Georgia; Olive, dau, 14, b. Ky Ky Ky; Avenell, dau, 9, b. Georgia Ky Georgia; Edna L., dau, 7, b. Georgia Ky Georgia; Clyde J., son, 10/12, b. Georgia Ky Georgia.