The Children of Ezra Mead and Tryphena Burton in the Census, 1790-1850
At the time when his estate was distributed, May 6, 1785, Ezra had thirteen living children: Isaac, Silas, Rufus, Ezra, Tryphena, Solomon, Michael, Lydia, Mary, Josiah, Dorcas, Peter, and Cynthia. I was able to find all of the children in at least some of the censuses, except for Michael and Cynthia. I may have found them, but it is hard to be sure. Peter turned up in only one census, 1830.
An Ancestral File at familysearch.org traces Michael Mead to Ovid, Seneca Co., NY, and I have found a Michael Meed of the right age in the 1820 and 1830 census in Romulus, five miles away. Living near Michael are many Purdys, a family that was connected to the Meads through marriage, and Michael's younger brother Peter selected Solomon Purdy as a guardian in 1797. Michael Mead is on a jury list for Romulus in 1804 at http://www.rootsweb.com/~nyseneca/rom1804.htm, but I did not see his name when I read through the 1810 census for Romulus.
Cynthia married S. Smith, according to Spencer Mead. Given the number of Smiths around, it is very difficult to be sure where she is. Another Ancestral File at familysearch.org gives Cynthia marrying Samuel Smith and shows them living in Pittsford, Rutland Co., VT, and both dying in the 1820s. There is a Samuel Smith and wife of the right age in Pittsford in 1810 and 1820. This may be Cynthia (Mead) Smith, but more evidence is needed.
Dorcas, who married Joseph Chapman, has also been tricky to follow in the census. Dorcas and Joseph Chapman are buried in Pleasant Street Cemetery, West Rutland, VT, Dorcas in 1825, and Joseph in 1859. It seems likely that they remained in the Rutland area. There is a Joseph Chapman in Clarendon, Rutland Co., in 1800. He is missing in 1810, but returns in 1820. The 1830, 1840, and 1850 census show a Joseph in Ira, Rutland Co. In 1850, he is 74, about the right age to have been the husband of Dorcas.
Following the other nine children in the census has been more straightforward. Isaac and Ezra2 moved to Cornwall, VT by 1790, but both later moved on, Isaac about ten miles north to Addison, and Ezra fifty miles north to Underhill. Josiah Mead and Mary (Mead) Thrall joined Ezra in Underhill. Josiah stayed there for the rest of his life. Ezra and the Thralls later moved west to Ohio, where Ezra died at age 90.
Rufus and Solomon were in Cornwall by 1800, and Silas by 1810. Silas and Solomon then moved to Niagara Co. in western New York. Tryphena (Mead) Smith remained in Rutland all her life.
Lydia married Robert Seaver and moved sixty miles north and east to Williamstown, VT, the only Mead sibling in that area.
1790
Four of Ezra and Tryphena's children are in the 1790 census (possibly six, depending on the dates of the marriages of Mary and Lydia Mead).
Ezra's oldest daughter Tryphena married Joel Smith and was living in Rutland in 1790. Silas was married to Huldah Kinney and also living in Rutland. Both the households of Silas Mead and Joel Smith have extra people, probably containing the younger children of Ezra Sr. and also the widowed Tryphena. Two of the brothers, Isaac and Ezra2, moved north to Cornwall in Addison Co., VT by 1790.
1800
Still in Rutland in 1800 are three of the children: Silas Mead, Tryphena (Mead) Smith, and Mary (Mead) Thrall. Joseph and Dorcas are in nearby Clarendon, Rutland Co., VT. Rufus and Solomon are in Cornwall, VT. Ezra and Josiah moved one county north to Underhill, Chittenden Co., VT. Lydia married Robert Seaver and they are living in Williamstown, Orange Co., VT. Isaac is missing from the census this year, but there is an Ira Mead in his place in Addison Twp, Addison Co., VT.
1810
In 1810, only Tryphena Smith is still in Rutland. Isaac, Rufus, and Solomon are all still in Addison Co., Isaac in Addison Twp., the rest in Cornwall. Silas has joined his brothers in Cornwall. Mary and Eliphas Thrall made the move north to Underhill, joining Ezra and Josiah Mead there. Lydia and Robert Seaver remained in Williamstown, VT. Joseph Chapman could not be found in the census this year.
1820
By 1820, Ezra2 Mead and Mary (Mead) Thrall were living as far west as Licking Co., OH. Two of the brothers moved to Niagara Co. in western New York, Silas and Solomon. Josiah Mead remained in Underhill, Rufus stayed in Cornwall, and Isaac in Addison, VT. Lydia and Robert Seaver remained living in Williamstown, Orange Co., VT.
Joel Smith died in 1815, and his widow Tryphena is probably the woman over 45 in her son Hiram's household in Rutland. Joseph Chapman is living in Clarendon.
1830
By 1830, three of Ezra and Tryphena's children are known to be dead - Isaac, in Addison Co., VT, Solomon, in Niagara Co., NY, and Dorcas, buried in West Rutland, VT. Rufus may be dead as well, since he does not appear in the census after 1820.
Still living are Eliphas Thrall and Ezra Mead in Licking Co., OH, Tryphena Smith in Rutland, VT, and Silas and Peter Mead in Somerset, Niagara Co., NY.
1840
In 1840, Mary, Ezra, Tryphena, Lydia, Josiah, and Silas are all living. Lydia is living with her son Ansel in Williamstown. Josiah is still in Underhill. Tryphena is living with her son Hiram in Rutland. Mary is living with her son Eliphas R. Thrall in Granville, OH. Ezra is living with his son Hiland in Wayne, OH. Peter I think may be dead since he disappears from Niagara Co. this year, and Silas may have married Peter's widow Sally (Kinney) Mead.
1850
Still living in 1850 are Ezra, Lydia, and Josiah. Lydia and Josiah are both in Vermont, and Ezra believed to be somewhere in Ohio. Silas probably died between 1840 and 1850, since he does not appear in the 1850 census. Lydia dies in Williamstown, VT in 1853, and Ezra in Ohio in 1856. Josiah's date of death is unknown, but he is not in Underhill in 1860, and probably died during the 1850s as well.
Census Records
1790, Rutland, Rutland Co., VT (census was in rough alphabetical order)
Joel Smith, p. 44
2 males over 16
5 females
Silas Meed, p. 44
2 males over 16
2 males under 16
6 females
Eliphas Thrall, p. 44
2 males over 16
2 females
1790, Castleton, Rutland Co., VT
Robert Sever
1 male over 16
1 female
Isaac and Ezra Jr. were in Cornwall, Addison Co., VT. Unfortunately the census is illegible, at least as posted on ancestry.com.
1800 census
1800, Rutland, VT
Eliphaz Trall
4 males under 10 (Joel, Oliver, Lyman, and ?Caroline may have been miscounted as a boy)
1 male 26-45 (Eliphas)
1 female under 10 (Orilla)
1 female 26-45 (Mary)
Joel Smith
2 males under 10
1 26-45
3 females under 10
1 10-16
1 26-45
Silas Mead
1 male 10-16
1 male 26-45
4 females under 10
1 female 10-16
2 females 26-45
1800, Clarendon, Rutland Co., VT, p. 35
Joseph Chapman
1 male 26-45
1 female under 10
1 female 16-26
Isaac is missing in 1800 in Cornwall and Addison. I read through the pages, and found only an Ira Mead, not there in 1790 or 1810.
1800, Addison Twp, Addison Co., VT
Ira Mead
1 male under 10
1 26-45
3 females under 10
1 26-45
1800, Cornwall, Addison Co., VT
Rufus Mead
1 male under 10
1 26-45
2 females under 10
1 26-45
Solomon Mead
2 males under 10
1 26-45
2 females under 10
1 26-45
1800, Underhill, Chittenden Co., VT
Ezra Mead
3 males under 10
1 26-45
2 females under 10
1 26-45
next to Levi and Josiah Mead (I am not sure how Levi is related)
Josiah Mead
1 male under 10
1 26-45
1 female under 10
1 26-45
1800, Williamstown, Orange Co., VT
Robt Seaver
6 males under 10
1 26-45
1 female 26-45
1810 census
Rutland, Rutland Co., VT
Joel Smith, next to Solomon Smith, 16-26, and John Smith, over 45, p. 76
1 male under 10
1 10-16
1 over 45
1 female under 10
3 10-16
2 16-26
1 26-45
Joseph Chapman is not in the census for Clarendon in 1810.
1810, Addison Co., VT
Addison Twp., p. 17
Isaac Mead
2 males under 10
1 16-26
1 over 45
2 females 10-16
1 26-45
Cornwall
p. 28
Silas Mead
2 males under 10
1 over 45
1 female under 10
1 10-16
1 26-45
Rufus Mead
1 male 10-16
1 16-26
1 over 45
2 females under 10
2 10-16
1 26-45
Solomon Mead
1 male under 10
1 10-16
1 26-45
2 females under 10
2 10-16
1 26-45
1810, Underhill, Chittenden Co., VT
Ezru Meed p. 173
2 males under 10
2 10-16
1 16-26
1 over 45
1 female 10-16
1 16-26
1 26-45
Eliphaz Thrall, p. 174
4 males under 10
2 10-16
1 16-26
1 26-45
2 females under 10
1 16-26
1 26-45
Josiah Meed, near 26-45 year old Martin Meed, p. 174
3 males under 10
1 10-16
1 26-45
1 female 10-16
1 16-26
1 26-45
1810, Williamstown, Orange Co., VT, p. 402
Robert Seaver
2 males under 10
2 10-16
1 26-45
2 females under 10
1 16-26
1 26-45
1820 census
1820, Rutland, Rutland Co., VT, p. 219
Hiram Smith
1 male 10-16
1 16-18
2 18-26
1 26-45
2 females 16-26
1 26-45
1 over 45
2 people in agriculture
1820, Clarendon, Rutland Co., VT
Joseph Chapman
1 male 10-16
1 16-18
1 18-26
1 26-45
3 females under 10
1 10-16
1 26-45
Joseph was also 26-45 in 1800. A mistake in the census, or are these two different Josephs?
1820, Addison, Addison Co., VT, p.25
There is also a 26-45 year old Burton Mead in Addison.
Isaac Mead
1 male 10-16
1 18-26
1 over 45
1 female 16-26
1 over 45
3 people in agriculture
Cornwall, Addison Co., VT, p. 77
Rufus Mead, near Rufus Jr.
1 male 10-16
1 18-26
1 over 45
1 female 10-16
1 16-26
1 over 45
3 people in agriculture
Underhill, Chittenden Co., VT, p. 140
Josiah Mead, near Martin and Zebulon Mead - also a Joel Thrall
1 male under 10
2 10-16
1 18-26
1 26-45
1 female under 10
1 26-45
2 people in agriculture
Williamstown, Orange Co., VT, p. 267, nearby Ansel Seaver, 26-45, and Cyrus Seaver, 18-26
Robert Seaver
2 males 10-16
2 18-26
1 over 45
2 females 16-26
1 over 45
3 people in agriculture
1820, Hartland, Niagara Co., NY
Silas Mead, next to 26-45 year old Ezra Mead, probably a son
1 male 10-16
1 16-18
1 18-26
1 over 45
1 female 16-26
1 over 45
Solomon Mead, next to his son Helan Mead
2 males under 10
1 18-26
1 26-45
1 over 45
3 females under 10
2 10-16
2 16-26
1 26-45
2 people in agriculture
1820, Granville Twp., Licking Co., OH, p. 8
Eliphas Thrall
3 males 10-16 (Worthy, Benjamin, and ?)
1 16-18 (Eliphas R.)
1 18-26 (Aaron, Lyman, or Joel)
1 45 and over (Eliphas)
1 female over 45 (Mary)
2 people in agriculture
Burlington Twp, Licking Co., OH, p. 44
Ezra Mead (next to Ezra3)
1 male 10-16
1 16-18
1 over 45
1 female under 10
1 over 45
2 people in agriculture
1830 census
1830 census, Rutland, Rutland Co., VT
Tryphena Smith, p. 167
1 female 20-30
1 60-70
Isaac Mead died in Addison Co., VT in 1825.
Rufus Mead is missing from Cornwall, VT in 1830 and later censuses.
1830, Underhill
Josiah Mead, near Josiah Jr, p. 284
1 male 5-10
1 15-20
2 20-30
1 50-60
1 female 5-10
1 10-15
1 50-60
Robert Seaver is missing from Vermont in the 1830 census index at ancestry.com.
1830, Somerset, Niagara Co., NY, p. 343
Silas Mead, nearby Silas and Ezra Mead, prob sons
1 male 5-10
1 15-20
2 20-30
1 60-70
1 female 20-30
1 40-50
1 60-70
Peter reappears in 1830
1830 census, Somerset, Niagara Co., NY, p. 348
Peter Mead, next to Ezra Mead probably a son
1 male under 5
2 5-10
1 50-60
1 female 10-15
1 40-50
Solomon Mead died about 1821, probably in Niagara Co., NY.
1830, Granville Twp., Licking Co., OH
Eliphas Thrall, p. 476
1 male 5-10
1 20-30
1 60-70
1 female 5-10
1 50-60
Burlington Twp, Licking Co., OH
Ezra Mead, p. 428
1 male 20-30
1 male 60-70
1 female 15-20
1 female 60-70
1840 census
1840, Rutland, Rutland Co., VT, p. 187
Hiram Smith, next to Elijah and Silas Smith
1 male 10-15
1 15-20
1 20-30
1 40-50
2 females under 5
1 5-10
1 15-20
1 20-30
1 70-80
1840, Underhill, Chittenden Co., VT, p. 13
Josiah Mead, nearby Josiah Jr., Martin, Seth and Hiram Mead
1 male 15-20
1 60-70
1 female 60-70
1840, Williamstown, Orange Co., VT, p. 271
Ansel Seaver, next to Stillman Seaver
1 male 5-10
2 10-15
1 15-20
1 40-50
2 females under 5
1 5-10
1 10-15
1 40-50
1 60-70
1840, Somerset, Niagara Co., NY, p. 152
Silas Mead next to Silas Jr.
1 male 70-80
1 female 50-60
1840, Granville, Licking Co., OH, p. 284
Eliphalus Thrall, near Elias Gates (husband of Sarah Smith, a dau of Tryphena (Mead) Smith)
2 males under 5
1 5-10
1 10-15
1 30-40
1 female under 5
1 5-10
1 10-15
1 30-40
1 60-70
1840, Wayne, Champaign Co., OH, p. 391
Hilan Mead, nearby 20-30 year old Hiram and 40-50 year old Ezra Mead
3 males 5-10
1 10-15
1 30-40
1 70-80
1 female under 5
1 10-15
1 30-40
1 60-70
1850 census
Ezra2 I did not find in 1850.
Williamstown, Orange Co., VT, p 276
176 176 Andrew F. Deefer 34 M farmer 2800 NH
Louis 32 F VT
Lucy A. 9 F VT school
Enoch B. 7 M Vt school
Andrew F, Jr. 2 M Vt
Rufus Gannis 16 M farmer Canada
Abel Deefer 73 M farmer NH
Hannah 70 F NH
Lydia Seaver 78 F VT
I don't know who the Deefers are or how they relate to Lydia.
Underhill, Chittenden Co., VT, p. 128
132 132 Josiah Mead 75 M
Euseba 73 M
Lucius 29 M farmer 900
Ann E. 22 F
Newton 2 M
No places of birth given
On same page, Hiram Mead and family, D P Mead and family, S W and family, Josiah Jr and family.