A to Z April Challenge: C is for Confusion!

 This is Day 3 of the A to Z April Challenge.

 is for Columbia and Cabel, two mysteries in my database.  

According to the 1870 Federal Census for Greene County, Virginia, Columbia A. was the fourth child of James Franklin and Lucy Ann Shiflett Jollett, making her my great grandaunt. 

1870 Greene County, Virginia

The chronological list indicates she was three years old, falling between sisters Laura and Mary.

Easy enough.  But look what happened just ten years later in 1880. 

1880 Greene County, Virginia

There is no Columbia.  While it would be easy to assume Columbia had died, there is a new name:  Leanna.  There was no Leanna in the 1870 census.  However, there she is in 1880 listed between Laura and Mary, just as Columbia had been, and she’s the same age that Columbia would have been had she been listed.

I have two theories to explain this mystery:

1. Census taker error:  Possibly Columbia and Leanna were twins, but with so many names to list, the census taker simply forgot to list both. 
2. Morphing of names:  A common nickname for Columbia was “Lum.”  MAYBE her middle name was Anna.  MAYBE people called her “Lumanna.”  MAYBE after awhile it simply morphed into “Leanna” and that name stuck.

Leanna Jollett Knight is the fourth sister from the left.
Victoria Jollett Breeden, Sallie Jollett Clift, Mary Frances Jollett Davis,
Leanna Jollett Knight, Laura Jollett Sullivan, Emma Jollett Coleman

This next mystery concerns Cabel or Cabell Slade who is either my second great grandaunt or second great granduncle. 

Yeah.

In the 1850 and 1870 census in Florida, Cabel is listed as a male.  

1850 Madison County, Florida

1870 Lafayette County, Florida

However, in 1874, there is a marriage record in Lafayette County, Florida, for Cabel Slade and Charles A. Ross.  

from FamilySearch.org

Did Stephen and his wife SAY Cabel was a male or did the census taker just assume so? 

And what about 1860?  No Cabel in 1860.  

1860 Lafayette County, Florida

However, there is a Louiza who is the same age as Cabel should be, but no Louiza in 1850 or 1870.  I wonder if Cabel was really Cabel Louiza Slade or Louiza Cabel Slade.   

It’s possible.

To “C” what others have Created, Carry yourself over to the A to Z Challenge.

© 2014, Wendy Mathias.  All rights reserved.