William Cornett (c. 1817 – c. 1861) was an American farmer and cattle rancher in Hempstead, Texas.

William Cornett was born in South Carolina around 1817. His parents are unknown. Sometime before 1841 he immigrated to Austin County, Texas where he married his wife Nancy Smith on November 18, 1841. The following year, he purchased 160 acres of land the for the sum of $324.

There is a 1790 Edgefield, South Carolina entry for Arney Cornett; family members were not listed by name in that census; the only 'Cornett' found so far in that time period to have possibly been related to William's parents. According to Federal census history, the columns of persons are "Free White males of 16 years and upward (to assess the country's industrial and military potential)", "Free White males under 16 years", "Free White females", "All other free persons", "Slaves". Arney's entries are 2 / 1 / 2 / 0 / 0. Based on dates, 'Arney' may be possible grandfather, with the male child <16 as possibly William's father.

• Reference: 1790 SC census-Edgefield

By 1800 SC census, there was a Hardy Cornet (1800 Hardy) with 6 children <10 and 2 women (1 older than 45). There was also a John Cornut (1800 John) with 5 children and 1 woman. Both were in Edgefield, S.C.

In the 1810 & 1820 Censuses for SC, there was a Yearbin Cornett with a number of young children; if William was his son, he'd have been one of those in the 1820 census. (1810 Y. Cornett, 1820 Yearbin Cornett)

By 1830 Census, when William would have been ~13, there were 7 "Cornett" families listed in South Carolina, so conjecture becomes just that (as to which family William might have been a part of, even if they hadn't moved west by then).

Notes

In 1880 Census son J.W. lists mother as Roberts -- but census form is not clear -- she may have last name Roberts, initials S. H.

However, 1860 Census has Nancy as wife of family with W.E. at age 12 and S.H. was 6-year old daughter on that 1860 census, so by the 1880 Census would have an age of 26 for S H .

1860 Census lists children as: J.R. (or J.K.] (M-17); S.E. (F-14), W.D. (M-12); M.M. (F-7); S.H. (F-6); and N.L. as N.J. [which is as likely as L, from hand-written census record).

Thus, it may be that J.W. was born to a 2nd wife, Roberta.

This is most probably NOT the 1817 William J. Cornett documented in a Missouri Cemetery.

Sources

1. Texas, Marriages, 1837-1973; Groom's Name: William Cornett; Bride's Name: Nancy Smith; Marriage Date: 18 Nov 1841; Marriage Place: Austin, Texas; Indexing Project (Batch) Number: I01529-5; System Origin: Texas-EASy; Source Film Number: 1019273.
2. Texas Census, 1820-90; Name: William Cornett; State: TX; County: Austin County; Township: No Township Listed; Year: 1841; Database: TX Tax List Index, 1840-1849.
3. Texas County Tax Rolls, 1846-1910; Name: Wm Cornett; Year: 1842; County: Austin; State: Texas.
4. Texas County Tax Rolls, 1846-1910; Name: Wm Cornett; Year: 1843; County: Austin; State: Texas.
5. Texas Census, 1820-90; Name: William Cornett; State: TX; County: Austin County; Township: No Township Listed; Year: 1846; Record Type: Tax list; Page: NPN; Database: TX Tax List Index, 1840-1849.
6. Texas County Tax Rolls, 1846-1910; Name: Wm Cornett; Year: 1846; County: Austin; State: Texas.
7. Texas County Tax Rolls, 1846-1910; Name: Wm Cornet; Year: 1847; County: Austin; State: Texas.
8. Texas County Tax Rolls, 1846-1910; Name: Wm Cornet; Year: 1848; County: Austin; State: Texas.
9. United States Census, 1850; Name: William; Event: Census; Event Date: 1850; Event Place: Austin County, Austin, Texas, United States; Gender: Male; Age: 32; Birthplace: South Carolina; Estimated Birth Year: 1818; Dwelling House Number: 421; Family Number: 421; Line Number: 37; Nara Publication Number: M432; Nara Roll Number: 908; Film Number: 24887; Digital Folder Number: 004191102; Image Number: 00141.
10. Selected U.S. Federal Census Non-Population Schedules, 1850-1880; Name: William Cornett; County: Austin; State: Texas; Enumeration Date: 7 Nov 1850; Schedule Type: Agriculture.
11. Texas County Tax Rolls, 1846-1910; Name: Wm Cornett; Year: 1850; County: Austin; State: Texas.
12. Texas County Tax Rolls, 1846-1910; Name: Wm Cornett; Year: 1851; County: Austin; State: Texas.
13. Texas County Tax Rolls, 1846-1910; Name: Wm Cornett; Year: 1852; County: Austin; State: Texas.
14. Texas County Tax Rolls, 1846-1910; Name: Wm Cornett; Year: 1853; County: Austin; State: Texas.
15. Texas County Tax Rolls, 1846-1910; Name: Wm Cornett; Year: 1854; County: Austin; State: Texas.
16. Texas County Tax Rolls, 1846-1910; Name: Wm Cornett; Year: 1855; County: Austin; State: Texas.
17. Texas County Tax Rolls, 1846-1910; Name: William Cornett; Year: 1856; County: Austin; State: Texas.
18. Texas County Tax Rolls, 1846-1910; Name: Wm Cornett; Year: 1857; County: Austin; State: Texas.
19. Texas County Tax Rolls, 1846-1910; Name: Wm Cornett; Year: 1858; County: Austin; State: Texas.
20. Texas County Tax Rolls, 1846-1910; Name: William Cornett; Year: 1859; County: Austin; State: Texas.
21. Texas County Tax Rolls, 1846-1910; Name: Wm Cornett; Year: 1859; County: Austin; State: Texas.
22. 1860 United States Federal Census; Name: Wm Cornett; Age in 1860: 43; Birth Year: abt 1817; Birthplace: South Carolina; Home in 1860: Hempstead, Austin, Texas; Gender: Male; Post Office: Hempstead.
23. Texas Census, 1820-90; Name: William Cornett; State: TX; County: Austin County; Township: Hempstead Pct; Year: 1860; Record Type: Slave schedule; Page: 037; Database: TX 1860 Slave Schedule.
24. 1860 U.S. Federal Census - Slave Schedules; Home in 1860:Hempstead, Austin, Texas; Name of Slave Owner:William Cornett.
25. Texas County Tax Rolls, 1846-1910; Name: Wm Cornett; Year: 1860; County: Austin; State: Texas.
26. Texas County Tax Rolls, 1846-1910; Name: Wm Cornett; Year: 1861; County: Austin; State: Texas.

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• Residence: 1860 - Hempstead Precinct, Austin, Texas, USA
  • Updated from 1860 United States Federal Census via S E Cornett by SmartCopy: Oct 14 2015, 13:41:49 UTC
• Reference: FamilySearch Family Tree - SmartCopy: Jun 8 2016, 17:10:22 UTC