Rowe, Solomon, age 40, born Alabama

Rowe, Julia Ann, age 34, born South Carolina

Rowe, John J. age 14, born Alabama

Rowe, Amelia, age 13, born Alabama

Rowe, Martha, age 11, born Alabama

Rowe, Ann, age 7, born Texas

Rowe, Matilda, age 5, born Texas

Rowe, Julia, age 3, born Texas

Rowe, Jane, age 1, born Texas

 

I'm sure if you have read this far, you have already noticed that there are children missing from this enumeration as compared to the 1850 census.  Where are Patience and Harriet?

 

Doing quick math here - in 1850 daughter Patience was shown to be 2 years old.  In 1860, daughter Amelia was shown to be 13.  Only a one year difference in age between the two of these names.

 

The same with Harriet - in 1850, she is shown as 8/12 in age.  In 1860, daughter Martha is shown to be 11 years old.

 

It is most likely these are the same people.  Why the difference in names is anyone's guess - it could be an enumerator error, the children could have been listed by a middle name or a nickname.  Or, it could be a simple fact of the children had their names changed at some point.

 

This occurred with a son of Solomon and Julia also. In the 1880 census for Harrison County, Texas we find two additional children: Solomon, age 19; and Bulah A., age 14.  Let's take a quick look at this son Solomon.

 

He was born in Texas in abt. 1861.  In the 1900 census for Hunt County, Texas, Solomon is found living in a home where the head of household is listed as Jefferson D. Roe.  Jefferson was born in 1861 in Texas.  The elder Solomon is now 82 years old and is listed as his father.

 

If this is what it appears to be, Jefferson D. is the son that was once named Solomon.  And I have a handed down family story from my mother that seems to back this:  "there was a Roe that was named something else at birth.  But when the Civil War broke out, the child was renamed Jefferson Davis Roe to honor the great man, while his father was off fighting for the Confederacy."

 

The problem with this story was - my mother did not seem to know which Roe it was that had his name changed.  So, I never fully believed it, until I ran across this 1900 census that seems to lend proof to the story.

 

This story also had another clue in it that was also recently proven - Solomon did indeed fight in the Civil War, and was on the Confederate side.  (Paperwork is currently being sent to back this information.)

 

Now, let's take a look at the remainder of the family information as I currently have it: (next page, please)