Family Group Sheet
NameRichard J. Wells, 3C4R
BirthJan 1869, Elliott Co., Kentucky
DeathJul 1869, Elliott Co., Kentucky
FatherRichard F. Wells (1822-1912)
MotherEmily R. Cox (1828-1869)
Notes for Richard J. Wells
Richard’s dates of birth and death are problematic.
In the regular census, he is listed with the family, his age given as 5/12, with the notation that he was born in January.
In the mortality schedule, he is listed as having died in July, at age 5/12, of cholera.
The 1870 census year, including mortality schedules, is supposed to cover the year ending 1 June, 1870. So July of the census year is July 1869, whereas Jan of the census year is January 1870. He cannot have died before he was born!
If he was born in Jan 1870 and died in July 1870, his death should not have been recorded in the mortality schedules.
If he was born in Jan 1869 and died in July 1869, he should not have been recorded in the regular census, since he was not alive on June 1, 1870.
If that isn’t enough confusion, his presumed mother Emily is also listed in the mortality schedule, with the month of death given as August, and she is not listed in the regular census. That is consistent with her having died in August 1869. But if that were so, she cannot have had a child in Jan 1870.
I am entering the dates for him and Emily under the assumption that the error was in listing Richard in the regular census, that the “Jan” meant Jan 1869, and that he should have been listed only in the mortality schedules. But other possibilities are that Emily died in August 1870 and should have been listed in the regular schedule, with neither she nor Richard being in the mortality schedule, or that Richard had a different mother.
In the regular census, he is listed with the family, his age given as 5/12, with the notation that he was born in January.
In the mortality schedule, he is listed as having died in July, at age 5/12, of cholera.
The 1870 census year, including mortality schedules, is supposed to cover the year ending 1 June, 1870. So July of the census year is July 1869, whereas Jan of the census year is January 1870. He cannot have died before he was born!
If he was born in Jan 1870 and died in July 1870, his death should not have been recorded in the mortality schedules.
If he was born in Jan 1869 and died in July 1869, he should not have been recorded in the regular census, since he was not alive on June 1, 1870.
If that isn’t enough confusion, his presumed mother Emily is also listed in the mortality schedule, with the month of death given as August, and she is not listed in the regular census. That is consistent with her having died in August 1869. But if that were so, she cannot have had a child in Jan 1870.
I am entering the dates for him and Emily under the assumption that the error was in listing Richard in the regular census, that the “Jan” meant Jan 1869, and that he should have been listed only in the mortality schedules. But other possibilities are that Emily died in August 1870 and should have been listed in the regular schedule, with neither she nor Richard being in the mortality schedule, or that Richard had a different mother.
