Thomas Pittman and Elizabeth Moore

 We're still looking at Thomas Pittman, my 2nd great grandfather. Early in 1850 his wife Rebecca died from typhoid fever. Her 4 month old boy, Thomas, also died around that same time (cause unknown, according to the Census). 

Aside: the nine-page "Mortality Schedule" for Monroe County, Ohio, 1850, is full of interesting commentary by the Census taker. Each page contains his remarks concerning the quality of the soil (limestone or clay or black loam) and the types of timber present in the area. On page 5 he mentions the "almost entire failure" of the previous year's wheat crop, it having been struck with rust. On page 8 of this listing of deaths he records this strange comment: "Perhaps the most interesting phenomena I can record is if I may judge from the number of children enumerated this must be a fruitful soil."

Cause of death on most often old age, consumption, whooping cough, typhoid, croup, among others. On the bottom of page 9 we have the following comment: "As for disease or malady there has been no prevailing disease through my district. The typhus or erysipelas fever has prevailed to some extent in some parts of the district, cause I no not (sic), it most generally attacks after long exposure in rains or wet knight air (sic), long fasting, etc."

As was common in those days, a rural farmer, having lost a wife, married again quickly. In Thomas' case, he would marry Elizabeth Moore within the year. She was 15 or 16 years younger than him (about 26 at the time of her marriage). Thomas and Elizabeth would have eight children together over the next 16 years. All told, Thomas then was the father of 16 children who survived to adulthood, and one who died in infancy.

Here are the children of Thomas and Elizabeth:

  • Clark, 1851
  • Eli, 1852
  • Delilah, 1854
  • Perninah, 1856
  • Francis Marion, 1858
  • Rachel J., 1860
  • Mary Iva, 1864
  • Susana, 1866
Somewhere between the census of 1860 and the birth of their 7th child, Mary Iva, in 1864, this large family picked up everything and moved on to Brown County, Indiana. Why this move, and why at this time, are questions I'd like to delve into in the next installment.


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