Elizabeth Mason vs. Elizabeth King

Which is the daughter of John & Sarah (Haynes) Evans?

Special Notice - This is based on the assumption that the John Evans listed in the 1810 Knox Co, KY Census is the same John Evans that appears in the 1820 Knox Co, KY Census on Log Mountain.

Research Notes:

Ø       Henry Harvey Fuson stated in his book, "History of Bell County, Kentucky -- Volume 1", that John Evans had a daughter named Eliza that married Wesley King.  Henry Fuson was also an Evans descendant thru John & Sarah Evans’ daughter, Lucinda.  Lucinda Evans-Fuson was his grandmother.  The exact source of his information is unknown but it is reasonable to assume he received it from any of the following: (1) an Evans ancestor or relative, or (2) his own personal knowledge and/or family history records.

Ø       It seems unlikely, but not impossible, that John & Sarah Evans would have two daughters named Elizabeth.  Elizabeth Evans-King went by the name Eliza and the only reference found showing her name as Elizabeth is her headstone.  It is reasonable to conclude that Eliza was short for her name Elizabeth.  Although it is unlikely that Eliza's name on her headstone is an error, it is a possibility.  John & Sarah Evans' daughter, Margaret "Peggy" Evans-Partin named one of her female children Elizabeth and another Eliza.

Ø       According to Elizabeth "Eliza" Evans headstone, she was born 24 Jan 1828.  John Evans' wife, Sarah, would of then been approximately 49 years of age when she gave birth to this Elizabeth.  Although most people may be hestitate, this is an acceptable age to born a child.  However, another suggestion [unproven] is that Eliza was their granddaughter.  But note that per the 1830 Knox Co, KY census (the first census year that Eliza would appear on), John & Sarah Evans had 1 female age 0-5 and 2 females age 5-10 & no male children.  None of these females could possibly be the mother of Eliza Evans because they were not old enough to born a child.  A possible explanation [unproven] is that one of the unidentifed daughters of John & Sarah Evans on earlier census records, gave birth to Eliza and then died shortly afterwards.  Consequently, John & Sarah Evans raised Eliza as their own and was considered by everyone as such.

Ø       John Evans, age 76, is living in Elizabeth Mason's household in the 1850 Knox County, KY census.  Relationship unknown.  This is the only connection to John Evans that can be found between him and Elizabeth Mason.

Ø       The 1820 Knox Co, KY census, page 286, Clear Creek division, shows that John & Sarah (Haynes) Evans had a female residing in their household in the age range 16-26.  We know Elizabeth (b. 1798) married William Mason BEFORE 1820 so that is NOT her.  The only other possibility of John & Sarah Evans having a daughter in this age range that would still allow Elizabeth (b. 1798) to be their daughter is that one of the 4 females that were marked in the 0-10 age range in the 1810 census was age 6, 7, 8, 9, or 10.  Thus, the 1820 female age range 16-26 birth year is now narrowed down to be between 1800-1804.   Obviously, this female did not marry before the 1820 census since she is still residing with her parents at this time.  This would be the only possible conclusion other than a hired hand that would allow Elizabeth (b. 1798) to be a daughter of John & Sarah Evans AND explain the 1 female daughter in the 16-26 age range on the 1820 census. 

Ø       In comparing John Evans household detail between the census years 1810 and 1820, we see that he went FROM having 5 female children in 1810: 4 born bet. 1800-1810 and 1 born bet. 1794-1800; TO 3 female children in 1820: 2 born between 1810-1820 and 1 born bet. 1794-1804.  One daughter is an addition; Lucinda Evans born on 15 Feb 1819.  Conclusion: At least 3 female children (4 is probably a more exact number) are now missing from John Evans' household in 1820 that were previously living in his household in 1810.  According to research done for the Mason Newsletter years ago, Elizabeth Mason's 1820 household includes an unknown female of the age range 10-16 and is thought to possibly be her sister.  This would support 2 of the 3-4 missing female children of John & Sarah Evans.

Ø       According to the 1810 Knox County, KY census, only 3 Evans families had a female marked in the age range 10-16 that would agree to Elizabeth Mason’s age range.  If Elizabeth Mason is indeed an Evans, then she has to be the daughter of one of the following households who had a female marked in the 10-16 age range.  Those households are as follows:

1.        Andrew Evans; page 73

2.        John Evans; page 76

Andrew Evans’ children has been established so he has been eliminated as a possible father of Elizabeth Mason.  That leaves us with just John Evans.  The assumption that Elizabeth Mason is an Evans is based only on the fact that John Evans was residing in her household in the 1850 census.

Ø       According to research done for the Mason Newsletter – Editor was Margaret Small, William & Elizabeth Mason named their first four children as follows:

First born – Daughter named Sarah, b. 04 Dec 1818

Second born – Son named John, b. abt. 1821

Third born – Daughter named Mary, b. abt. 1824

Fourth born – Son named Robert, b. abt. 1826

Looking this over, the first two children are named Sarah & John, the same names as Elizabeth’s alleged parents.  The next two children are named Mary & Robert, the same names as her husband, William Mason’s parents.  It was very common for couples to name their offspring after their parents.  This strongly suggests [but does not prove] that Elizabeth parent’s names were John & Sarah.

Ø       Research on children of Eliza Evans-King concludes the following names for her children in birth order:

(1) Lucinda Jane; (2) Andrew; (3) Mary; (4) Sarah Emaline; (5) James; (6) Letitia; (7) John Evans; (8) William; and (9) Amanda.  It is necessary to point out that she had children named John Evans and Sarah, the same names as her alleged parents.  Her husband, Wesley King, was the son of Andrew and Mary which they named two of their children after also.