Wright Floyd - The case for an Unknown first wife of Wright Floyd

Started by Susanne Floyd on Wednesday, February 28, 2024
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Wright Floyd is known for a wife by the name of Demaris Floyd nee Adams born about 1812 or 10 years later than Wright. It is problematic for the birth of the following attributed children:

1. Delilah Goodson Brantley b. 1818
2. John R. Floyd b. 1821
3. Wilson Floyd b. 1826
4. Sarah Jane Floyd

1830 Census Source Citation
Year: 1830; Census Place: Horry, South Carolina; Series: M19; Roll: 170; Page: 261; Family History Library Film: 0022504

"Right" Floyd has beside himself; one female - implied wife age range 20 - 30. and three male children - 2 between the ages of 5 - 10 and 1 under the age of 5.

In 1830, Wright lived next door to his brother-in-law Isaac Mincey (Anna Jane Floyd).

From 1840 census (citation below):

1 Male 30 - 40 ("Wright" Floyd)

1 Male 15-20 (Unknown son of Wright Floyd - Correct age to be son John R. Floyd)

1 Male 10-14 (Unknown son of Wright Floyd - Correct age to be son Wilson Floyd)

1 Male 5-10 (James Floyd)

1 Female 30-40 (wife of Wright Floyd - too old to be Demaris if she was born in 1812)

1 Female under 5. (Sarah Floyd)

"United States Census, 1840," database with images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:XHYL-4F4 : 19 August 2017), Right Floyd, Horry, South Carolina, United States; citing p. 325, NARA microfilm publication M704, (Washington D.C.: National Archives and Records Administration, n.d.), roll 512; FHL microfilm 22,509.

It was only in 1850 that we have a named wife Demaris and she appears 10 years younger than Wright. Can we deduce that 1st wife Unknown died between 1840 and 1850 perhaps when daughter Martha was born in 1841 or right after as childbirth was a common death?

Something to ponder. Demaris must have been well-thought of for Delilah named a daughter "Demaris or Demie" for the elder about 1850. I am searching to see if Demaris had any children of her own, but if the dates are correct, I don't think the children of Wright's were her biological children - but those of his first wife Unknown at this time. More digging is needed.

I will leave this up a week for comment, but I can't find any evidence for Demaris as mother of any but possibly Martha and more evidence of the Goodson family of Delilah's living with brother John and brother James in different censuses before she moved to Florida and married her second husband.

That is a different, Demaris Floyd Cynthia Curtis, A183502, US7875087 who was born in the upstate of SC and maiden name of Rains. Wright Floyd's wife was on the coast in Horry County and reputedly an Adams. Thanks for bringing that up, but it isn't really relevant here - but we probably need to MP and lock them once we can figure out if Demaris of Horry had any children. I just can't decide about it. If I can find any descendants who know anything, I am going to try.

Calling out the troops. :-) Going to Find a Grave and Riverside Cemetery to see who might be left.

I know

I have added what I can find of reputed parents of Demaris of Marion County. Check for a descendant for some confirmation. I am making a trek down in a few weeks and may catch up with someone who may possibly know something more.

Abner Adams and Jane Unknown are always seen as parents of Demaris, but I can't find a source. It may just be one of those oral tradition things. They did exist as I have proven with census data, but there may be more courthouse records or something that could help that are not online.

Wright had a good deal of property, and have been one of the only ones that did not sell his share of Frederick Hardee's estate to Frederick II. I suspect Frederick II purchased all the shares of the sisters, Mary, Catherine, and brothers Hardy, William Everett, Samuel, and James, who all moved west. I think from what I can tell, that Frederick II purchased shares of sister Nancy Lewis who stayed in the area and perhaps shares of Patience Gerrald as both lived in other parts of the township, but sister Avy Jane Mincey lived nearby (almost next door) with her husband. "Next door" could be a mile down the road or more given the size of land plots.

FYI, according to SC Archives posted on Abner's profile that I found, their property was on the Marion County side of "Drowning Creek" or the Little Pee Dee River. Just for geographic reference.

This Abner Adams is not the Abner Adams who is the Revolutionary Patriot from Colleton County.

Well, sometimes the search engine on Geni yields gold. Found an existing match that had not shown up to Abner Adams and Jane Adams Also added another Floyd link to them. Apparently Demaris sister Sarah Floyd married a 1st cousin of Wright's Samuel Floyd, III It is wonderful when pieces start fitting together.

Wikitree https://www.wikitree.com/wiki/Adams-12490 has Demaris Adams as born in 1807 and includes the 1830 census for her but making her 23 at the time of that census

Sources
Year: 1850; Census Place: Horry, Horry, South Carolina; Roll: M432_854; Page: 55B; Image: 114
Year: 1870; Census Place: Green Sea, Horry, South Carolina; Roll: M593_1499; Page: 104B; Family History Library Film: 552998
1830; Census Place: Horry, South Carolina; Series: M19; Roll: 170; Page: 261; Family History Library Film: 0022504
----------------------------------------
your research note above:
"1 Female 30-40 (wife of Wright Floyd - too old to be Demaris if she was born in 1812)"
------------------------------------------
Wikitree attaches three children to her:
Mother of
James Ervin Floyd b ~ 1832
Sarah Jane Floyd b 1835
Martha A. Floyd b 1841
-----------------------------------
Profile manager for her is a Floyd but no relationship path showing between them and no DNA on the profile.
Doesn't look like much work has gone into her
---------------------
1840 census at FamilySearch: https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:33S7-9YBM-K7?view=index...
I like looking at the originals! It's how I have found many of my folks that were not indexed or indexed incorrectly so no clues/hints when name searched the records

I know the Wikitree manager Ron Floyd and he has done extensive work on the Floyd lines, is considered my got o person there. He doesn't attach anyone to another without sourced material due to the nature of Wikitree's lack of ability to discuss and flesh out that we have on Geni.

I like working on both platforms and once something gets sorted here, I generally transfer data to there and try to update Family Search and Find a Grave if I can. Family Search trees are hopeless sometimes, but I try. I have always thought that James Ervin, Sarah Jane, and Martha were Demaris' children, but the age of the wife noted in the 1830 census gave me pause. She would be the same age as Wright more or less and too young to have all those children, I think. Course the band is 30-40. She wouldn't have been 30 in 1830. Had to be a 1st wife Unknown, I think.

She is attached as daughter of Wright Floyd at FS with no mother but married to a Joseph George Washington Dewitt
1870 Kershaw, Horry, SC census
Dog Wood Wick Township
https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:S3HT-65Y3-9TK?view=inde...

34 year old William Floyd living with them

Susanne Floyd , yes
I saw your relationship is not correct there either. I have pretty much abandoned Wikitree except for profiles that have a ton of work and documentation which is so wonderful

Reminder, you and my maternal uncle are a near full DNA match and I except the relationship to show once you have the Floyd connected

( I do respond to most messages there and I try to make my known lines correct at Wikitree too, I should add)

Oops--- sorry. A full match with Mason but it is your Ancestry and his 23&me. I wish I could compare company to company. He only tested at 23&me.

21 17,774,533 42,106,705 45.4 3,120 236 141 0.21

Largest segment = 45.4 cM

Estimated number of generations to MRCA = 4.2

Susanne Floyd , is there a reason you have not yet added an unknown 1st wife for Wright? Makes sense!

Yes, it is pretty clear, isn't it? The 1830 census makes it appear that way. I suspect that Wright's oldest children - John R., Delilah, Wilson are the first wife's for sure. The three you mentioned may be children of Demaris. if born after 1830 census and Wright's marriage to Demaris who was 10 years younger.

I will make the change. Thanks, Cousin for helping talk me through this. Uncle Wright has been a mystery to most for so long. It all goes back to the census, every time, doesn't it?

Adding. the "female under the age of 5" in the 1830 census may not have been Sarah who reputedly was born after 1830. If so, that was perhaps a deceased child. Sadly, a more common event than not.

What about Demaris who married Dewitt?
Seems a family name and census for 1870 is just the earliest one on the FS page

It could be a second husband for Demaris. Will check. Have been working on splitting the family and making

Unknown 1st wife of Wright Floyd

Check to see that work so far. Have to put notes on Delila and Wilson, and other profiles, but got something down so far for Wright and John R.

I am leaving the children James, Sarah and Martha attached to Demaris, but I am really not convinced that James and Sarah are hers.

Checking into the Dog Neck connection. Maybe the William Floyd listed is another son of Wright's????

Well, wonder if Demaris Floyd Dewitt could be the female 1-5 in the 1830 census that I considered deceased? She could have married by 1840 or let me check the ticks there.

I still do not think she is a daughter of Demaris Adams, who would have been too young, but hey. It was a popular name at the time. Still a name used there.

I have added Demaris Floyd Dewitt as a daughter of Wright and unknown 1st wife. Makes sense. Also means that Delila could have named her daughter for her sister, not her stepmother. Whatever the answer, it is interesting.

:D

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