Parents historically have named their children either for famous individuals or beloved family members. Some famous names become woven into the family naming convention. A few examples include such names such as Mary, Elizabeth, Ann or Victoria as well as Andrew Jackson, George Washington, Benjamin Franklin and others. Christian names like John, Solomon, Nehemiah, Ezekiel, and so on, are especially found woven into family naming conventions. The British naming convention commonly saw the first son named after the paternal grandfather, the second son named after the maternal grandfather, the third son named after the father, and so on. Each child was named to honor those family and extended family members who had gone before. However, in our modern era naming conventions have all but lost relevance. DNA has become a useful tool in breaking through the “stone walls” and dead ends encountered when seeking proof of lineage. We will describe the great stone wall I encountered in determining which line of Causeys led to my 2nd Great Grandfather James Solomon Causey. Was it through Philip I or Thomas I? DNA has begun to break through that wall.
My paternal grandfather is John S. Causey; his father James O. Causey and his father James S. Causey. When I began studying my family history one of my first questions was, “What is Grandpa Causey’s middle name?” No one seemed to know. I continued for years searching documents, family histories, all those kinds of document listed above and more. There was never a mention of the middle name of either John S., Jim O. or James S. Causey. I began my family search about 1983 when a cousin Ernest Vaughn and his wife Willa Dean Carter Vaughn presented me a copy of the Mozingo Family Tree, (Jack Mozingo is my maternal Great Grandfather on my father’s side). Only one of my grandfather John S. Causey’s siblings was still living back then, Aunt Ella Pallie Causey Bly. I visited to ask her about her family including where they were from and what the middle names of her brother John S., father James O. and grandfather James S. Causey. She remembered many stories about growing up in Alabama and that her grandfather James S. Causey was, “From up north.” But, did not know what the S., O., and S. middle names were. Part of this story is how I came to discover those middle names. It is also about finding connections in an era before government documentation of vital records and national and state census.
While analyzing the 1880 US Census for Franklin County, Alabama, I found that living next door to James S. and Elizabeth Causey was their daughter Mary Elizabeth and her husband John Marion Roberts. They had a son listed on the census named Solloman J. Roberts. I found no “Solloman” names in John M. Roberts extended family and this made me curious. Was Solloman J. Roberts named partly after his maternal grandfather, James Solloman Causey? [WC1] Was my grandfather John S. Causey also named after his Grandfather? Or more importantly, based on the English naming convention, was James Soloman Causey named after his Grandfather who might have been John Soloman Causey? The first answer was a result of military history research. It was a significant discovery, My Uncle Leander Carles Causey, my
father’s oldest brother, listed his father as JOHN SOLEMAN CAUSEY on his WWII Draft Registration Card.
My 2nd Great Grandfather James S. Causey first appeared in Alabama in a marriage to Elizabeth Goodwin in Tallapoosa County, Alabama in 1849. In that same county were sons of Absalom Causey of Craven County, North Carolina. Absalom Causey was buried in Chamber County just to the east of Tallapoosa. Based on the geographical proximity of the sons of Absalom Causey in Tallapoosa County with James S. Causey’s marriage there and the fact that Absalom had a son named James, a conclusion was made several years ago that my 3rd Great Grandfather must be Absalom Causey b. 1762. But now with the recurring name Solomon (Solomon, Solloman, Soleman, Soloman, etc) as well as James, I was motivated to extend research to see if there may be connections between James Solomon Causey b. 1812 in North Carolina and the Randolph/Guilford County, North Carolina Causeys. Another question was, “Are we also kin to the Bibb-Tuscaloosa County Causeys.” There was in 1837 a marriage of a Solomon Causey to Miss Susan Prichard in Bibb County, Alabama. His descendants now live in and around Tuscaloosa, Alabama. Furthermore, I found in Tuscaloosa County a Kimbrue Causey b. 1882. This is the same name given to my father’s brother Kimbrue Causey born 1917. My grandfather John Soleman Causey b. 1882, born in Fayette County, just north of Tuscaloosa County. I also was able to get a copy of my grandfather John Solomon Causey’s Death Certificate listing his full name as John Solomon Causey.
My great grandfather is James O. Causey. His father is James S. Causey who married Elizabeth Goodwin in Tallapoosa County, Alabama in 1849. However, there was no proof that the James Causey who married Elizabeth Goodwin was the James S. Causey on the 1860 US Census in Morgan County, Alabama who listed his children including James, aka Jim O. Causey. The proof came with the death certificate for Jim O. Causey, found in the Alabama Deaths, 1908-1974,” database, at FamilySearch.org, on which is listed his mother Elizabeth Goodwin.
Name: Jim O. Cansey (Causey)
Event Date: 27 Dec 1931 | Event Place: Winfield, Fayette, Alabama | Gender: Male | Age (Original): 75y 7m 24d | Birth Year (Estimated): 1856 | Spouse’s Name: Mildred R. Cansey (Causey) | Mother’s Name: Elizabeth Goodwin
Reference ID: cn 28463, GS Film number: 1908495, Digital Folder Number: 4194918, Image Number: 471
Citing this Record
“Alabama Deaths, 1908-1974,” database, FamilySearch
(https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:JDGB-X2G : 15 February 2018), Mildred R. Cansey in entry for Jim O. Cansey, 27 Dec 1931; citing reference cn 28463, Department of Health, Montgomery; FHL microfilm 1,908,495.
The Death Certificate shown above helps bring to light the reason I have found it difficult to come to a final conclusion in answering the question, “Who is my 2nd Great Grandfather?” Notice that my grandfather John S. Causey is listed as the “Informant”. While he listed his grandmother Elizabeth Goodwin, he listed his grandfather as “UNK”… unknown. The only reason that I can come to is that he decided not to list him is that he did not want to acknowledge James Solomon Causey as his grandfather. It would also indicate that Elizabeth Goodwin Causey was still alive and known to my grandfather well into the 1890s. Remember that James S. Causey, wife Elizabeth Goodwin, and four daughters were living only 48 miles north of my my Great Grandfather Jim O. Causey when my grandfather was born in 1882. Furthermore, John S. Causey’s three aunts who were living with his grandfather James S. Causey and grandmother Elizabeth at the 1880 US Census were all married in Fayette County where their brother Jim O. Causey lived. There was a close relationship between Jim O. Causey and his mother Elizabeth and his siblings. By 1880 James S. Causey was legally blind and probably in poor health. It is probable that he died soon after that 1880 census. Elizabeth and the three remaining daughters probably moved from Bear Creek in Franklin County, Alabama down to live with or close to her son Jim O. Causey near White Springs Methodist Church near Hubbertville, Alabama where she died sometime before the 1900 US Census.
DNA:
Backtracking our Causey lineage from myself, Windle Ray Causey, back to a 3rd Great Grandfather begins with my father Clifton Tilford Causey b. 1923, then my Grandfather John Solomon Causey b. 1882, son of my Great Grandfather James Orlando Causey, (Jim O.) b. 1857 son of my 2nd Great Grandfather James Solomon Causey b. 1812 in North Carolina. This section presents evidence leaning toward naming as my 3rd Great Grandfather one Solomon Causey b. say 1774, son of Zebulon Causey b. say 1739, both born in Dorchester County, British Colonial Maryland. The Zebulon Causey family had moved to Guilford County, North Carolina by 1795. James S. Causey was likely born 1812 in Guilford County, North Carolina. (On the 1880 US Census, James S. Causey listed his father as being from Maryland.)
Solomon Causey b. 1774, d. 1847, elder son of Zebulon Causey-I.
A recent Y-DNA test linked me to a cousin I’ll Lewis Causey who was born in the next county south of my birthplace. I was born in Fayette County, Alabama, he was born in Tuscaloosa County, Alabama. Based on our common paternal Y-DNA Haplogroup T-CTS6507, we have a common grandfather, probably the 3rd great grandfather. Lewis’s 2nd Great Grandfather was Solomon Royal Causey. Solomon Royal Causey is listed on the death certificates of both his sons as being from Tennessee. James Solomon Causey listed on his 1880 US Census his birthplace as North Carolina. However, living next door was his oldest daughter Mary Ellen. Interestingly, like her DNA first cousins Lewis and William Causey of Tuscaloosa County, Alabama, she listed her father as being from Tennessee. This is an important link in that Mary Ellen Causey lived with her father and mother for 26 years. She knew their family history better than the other children. So, I believe James Solomon Causey was born in Guilford County, North Carolina but accompanied his father or other relatives while in his young adulthood to Tennessee. One of James S.’s 1st cousins Zebulon Causey-III moved to Maury County, Tennessee around 1825. Coincidentally, Indian lands in Alabama were opening up in the latter part of the 1820s decade leading many young folks from Tennessee to move on to Alabama. James Solomon Causey probably joined kinfolks and friends in Tennessee as they migrated south.
The Causey line in Bibb and Tuscaloosa Counties, Alabama and those in Fayette County, Alabama are branches of the same ancestor, most likely our 3rd Great Grandfather. Bibb and Fayette counties adjoin Tuscaloosa County. There are numerous common names in the two lines including Solomon, Kimbrue, William, and John. These facts together with DNA kinship provide near conclusive evidence of that common ancestor, probably Solomon Causey, son of Zebulon.
Geographical proximity alone is often a “red herring” in determining lineage. It is not prima facie evidence. Documents plus DNA are far better. And, Y-DNA clearly links James Solomon Causey and Solomon Royal Causey as sons of a Y-DNA 3rd Great Grandfather, probably named Solomon Causey. The following information is from my 23AndMe.com DNA Relatives:
Paternal Haplogroup
Paternal haplogroups identify ancient lines of men that all trace back to the same common ancestor.
You: (Windle Ray Causey)
T-CTS6507
Cousin (XX) Causey
T-CTS6507
“It is possible that you are recently related through a direct line of male ancestors, but it is also possible that you match because you share much older roots in the same part of the world. Your genetic relationship is predicted as Fourth Cousin and may share a set of 3rd-great-grandparents.”
________________________________________________________________
The information below is derived from the death certificates of the two sons of Solomon Royal Causey.
Name: Lewis Causey
Event Type: Death
Event Date: 1925
Event Place: Hagler, Tuscaloosa, Alabama, United States
Event Place (Original): Hagler, Tucaloosa, Alabama
Sex: Male
Age: 87
Marital Status: Widowed
Ethnicity: American
Race: White
Occupation: Farmer
Birth Year (Estimated): 1838
Birthplace: Tennessee
Burial Date: 1925
Burial Place: Cedar Grove Church, Bibb Co.
Father’s Name: Royal Causey
Father’s Birthplace: Tenn.
Mother’s Name: Pritchett
Spouse’s Name: Martha Ann Causey
Source Details: 15087
GS Film Number: 1908272
Digital Folder Number: 004025920
Image Number: 01087
Indexing Project (Batch) Number: B01879-8
Citing this Record
“Alabama Deaths, 1908-1974”, database, FamilySearch (https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:JDK9-16Y : 11 January 2021), Lewis Causey, 1925.
Name: William R. Causey
Event Type: Death
Event Date: 1923
Event Place: Hagler, Tuscaloosa, Alabama, United States
Event Place (Original): Hagler, Tuscaloosa, Alabama
Sex: Male
Age: 75
Marital Status: Widowed
Ethnicity: American
Race: White
Occupation: Farmer
Birth Year (Estimated): 1848
Birthplace: Bibb Co.
Cemetery: Liberty Church
Father’s Name: Solomon Causey
Father’s Birthplace: Tenn.
Mother’s Name: Susanna Causey
Mother’s Birthplace: Tenn.
Source Details: cn 2449
GS Film Number: 1908246
Digital Folder Number: 004026374
Image Number: 2450
Indexing Project (Batch) Number: B01890-6
Citing this Record
“Alabama Deaths, 1908-1974”, database, FamilySearch (https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:JD25-2XX : 30 March 2021), William R. Causey, 1923.
Other documents including US Census prove their relationship. In Lewis Causeys record his father is listed as Royal Causey born in Tennessee. In the 1840 US Census for Bibb County, Alabama Lewis’ father is listed as Solomon Causey. In William R. Causey’s record his father is listed as Solomon Causey. Solomon Causey and Susanna Pritchard (Prichett) were married in Bibb County, Alabama in 1837. (See Marriage License below)
In tracing James and/or Solomon Causey, (born 1812 probably grandson of Zebulon Causey b. 1739), I will make several speculations about his movements. We know he was born in Guilford County, North Carolina. He was not listed on the 1830 US Census by name. In 1832 he married Elizabeth Ozment in Guilford County. I base this on the near identical signatures on the two marriage bonds shown above. Between 1832 and 1837 Solomon Causey moved west into Tennessee along with his Causey and Tucker cousins to Stewart, Montgomery, Giles, Maury and another Tennessee county. (During this same period Native American tribes of the Five Great Nations living in northern Alabama had become part of the sovereign Cherokee Nation, which was then headquartered in New Echota, Georgia. By 1835, a splinter group of Cherokees signed the Treaty of New Echota that, although signed by a minority of Cherokee leadership, forced the Cherokees to give up their native lands and move to 160,000 acres in Oklahoma. This opened up North Alabama to settlement.) I speculate that Solomon Causey b. 1812 had left his wife Elizabeth Ozment in North Carolina or in Tennessee to pursue adventures in Alabama. Somewhere along the way he met Susanna Pritchard and married her in Bibb County, Alabama in 1837.
Solomon Royal Causey disappeared from Bibb County, Alabama before 1848, leaving no estate files or any other suggestion of death nor any other documentation. By 1860 sons Lewis and William were living with foster parents and wife Susan had moved to Tuscaloosa city.
James Solomon Causey, Solomon Royal Causey’s alleged brother, first appears in Alabama when he married Elizabeth Goodwin in Tallapoosa County, Alabama in 1849. This presents a mystery and here is why: A Solomon Causey b. 1812 in North Carolina, a school teacher in Fayette County Alabama was tried convicted and sentenced to 4 years in prison for Polygamy. He was incarcerated 23 October 1845. The only remaining evidence of this is a full page newspaper article published in The State Guard on 25 May 1847. He was 33 years old when incarcerated on 23 October 1845 establishing his date of birth as 1812 and listing him as being from North Carolina. He was probably released on good behavior in 1847 or early 1848. The name, date of birth, place of birth match that of James Solomon Causey our 2nd Great Grandfather. This coupled with the disappearance of Solomon Royal Causey just before the appearance of James Solomon Causey in 1849 present the mystery, “Could they be the same person?” We will probably never be able to find out for sure since the Courthouse in Fayette County, Alabama burned and many records were damaged in 1866. Then the courthouse and much of the business section of Fayette were destroyed by fire on March 24, 1911. Many more county records lost. A paid search of the Alabama State Archives found no record of the trial in Fayette County of Solomon Causey in 1844-45. See the following:
(For the complete page see: The State guard. [volume I NO.21.] (Wetumpka, Ala.) May 25, 1847
Image provided by University of Alabama Libraries, Tuscaloosa, AL
Persistent link: https://chroniclingamerica.loc.gov/lccn/sn86050185/1847-05-25/ed-1/seq-1/ )
=========================================================
Zebulon, Solomon and the Tuckers. Recently I discovered a DNA connection to the Tucker family. Primary source documents provide the following information: Levi Tucker, 1755-1816, was born in Sussex County, Delaware (formerly part of Dorchester County, Colonial Maryland) and died in Guilford County, North Carolina. He married Margaret Causey, also known as Peggy, a daughter of Zebulon Causey who is likely the oldest son of Thomas Causey Jr.-II d. 1775. Levi Tucker and Margaret, were married sometime around 1780 in Caroline County, Maryland, then moved to Guilford County, North Carolina by 1785, (See the Guilford County, North Carolina Deed Grantee Index). Peggy is named in Levi Tucker’s Will, “to my beloved wife Peggy Tucker” and in Zebulon Causey’s Will of 1809 where he lists his daughter Peggy Tucker.
My Ancestry® (Ancestry.com) offers the autosomal DNA test, which produces a comprehensive snapshot of one’s ethnicity and living relatives. A tool available with Ancestry DNA is ThruLines™. This tool uses the family tree linked to my (Windle Ray Causey) Ancestry DNA test to search for people who appear in both my tree or other Ancestry member trees. ThruLines then uses this information to illustrate how my DNA matches might be related through common ancestors.
I found my DNA matches to five 1st Cousins (4 times removed) in five separate trees of descendants of Levi and Margaret Causey Tucker daughter of Zebulon Causey-I. In all there are 16 living DNA cousins linked back to my Great Aunt Margaret Causey Tucker in their separate family trees. Furthermore, I have found this Tucker lineage very well documented.
There is little doubt that Zebulon Causey-I is my 4th Great-Grandfather. The DNA connection between James Solomon Causey and Zebulon Causey, while valid via DNA, is not well documented in historical records. Zebulon Causey b. 1739 had at least one daughter, Margaret, and three sons: John b. c1765, Zebulon Jr. b. c1767, and Solomon b. c1774. One of these would be my 3rd Great-Grandfather. I have eliminated John who remained in Guilford County, North Carolina and died in 1841.
.
The list of insolvents above shows four Causeys: Solomon, John, Zebulon Sr. and Zebulon Jr. As stated on the page, “Genealogists often find that able-bodied insolvents have already moved away, or will soon do so.” It is quite possible that all four brothers migrated to Tennessee. This was posted eight years after the death of Zebulon Causey-I b. 1739 d.1809. Therefore, Zebulon Causey Sr. and Jr. are in fact Zebulon Causey-II and III. The two Zebulon Causeys listed would therefore be Zebulon Causey-I’s son and grandson and who were both present at the 1830 US Census in Guilford County, North Carolina. Zebulon Causey-I and Levi Tucker-I families were apparently close, probably neighbors. Below is the Zebulon Causey-I Family Tree including the Levi Tucker line:
Zebulon Causey b: Abt. 1739 in Dorchester Co., MD d: March 13, 1809 in Guilford County, NC wife: Diana Shepard Kimmey m: 1765 in Dorchester Co., MD …….
2 Zebulon Causey b: Bet. 1780 – 1790 ……………..
3 Unknown Causey male b: Bet. 1795 – 1804 ……………..
3 Unknown Causey female b: Bet. 1795 – 1804 ……………..
3 Unknown Causey male b: Bet. 1802 – 1804 ……………..
3 Unknown Causey female b: Bet. 1805 – 1810 ……………..
3 Unknown Causey male b: Bet. 1805 – 1810 ……………..
3 Unknown Causey female b: Bet. 1811 – 1820 ……………..
3 Unknown Causey male b: Bet. 1811 – 1820 ……………
3 Unknown Causey male b: Bet. 1811 – 1820 ……
2 John Causey b: Bet. 1776 – 1794 ……………..
3 Unknown Causey female …….
2 Margaret Causey b: Abt. 1765 d: 1810 in Kent Co., DEL. AKA (2): Peggy ……….. +Levi Tucker d: March 1816 ……………..
3 Nancy Tucker b: Abt. 1785 d: in Guilford County, NC AKA (2): Polly ……… +Charles Causey b: 1785 m: Bef. 1816 d: Aft. 1850 Occupation: brick mason
4 Peggy Causey b: Bef. 1809 ………………………
4 Polly Causey b: Aft. 1809 ………………………
4 Levi Tucker Causey b: May 07, 1810 in Guilford County, NC d: April 20, 1887 in Guilford County, NC location: Gilmer Store, Guilford County, NC …………………………. +Margaret Whitley b: 1814 m: August 10, 1837 in Guilford County, NC ………………………………..
5 Alphanso G. Causey b: October 30, 1838 in Guilford County, NC d: October 19, 1864 in Winchester, VA ……………………………….
5 Rufus M. Causey b: August 08, 1840 in Guilford County, NC d: August 19, 1864 in Guilford County, NC ………………………………..
5 Sandra Pauline Causey b: November 26, 1842 in Guilford County, NC d: February 02, 1919 in Guilford County, NC ……………………………….
5 Draefus M. Causey b: January 10, 1845 in Guilford County, NC d: July 24, 1911 in Guilford County, NC : AKA (2): Adorphus M. location: Gilmer Store, Guilford County, NC ……………………………….
5 Nancy M. Causey b: March 05, 1847 in Guilford County, NC d: June 24, 1921 in Guilford Co, NC ………………………………..
5 Mary Anne Causey b: 1848 in Guilford County, NC ……………………………….
5 Martha Jane Causey b: 1850 in Guilford County, NC d: February 20, 1929 in Guilford County, NC ……………………………….
5 Charlotta R. Causey b: February 17, 1854 in Guilford County, NC d: October 28, 1867 in Guilford Co., NC ……………………………….
5 Cyrus R. Causey b: July 23, 1856 in Guilford County, NC d: March 14, 1863 in Guilford County, NC ………………………
4 Jonathan Causey b: December 15, 1816 d: October 05, 1879 Occupation: carriage maker …………………………. +Sarah Hockett b: 1816 m: December 25, 1844 in Guilford County, NC ……………………………….
5 William Causey b: January 13, 1846 in Guilford County, NC d: August 10, 1880 in Guilford County, NC ……………………………….
5 Robert Causey b: 1849
………………5 Isabel C. Causey b: 1856 in Guilford County, NC d: February 15, 1950 in Guilford County, NC
3 Anderson Tucker ………………… +Stacy Story m: August 09, 1805 in Guilford County, NC
2 Soloman Causey b: Bet. 1774 – 1784
This Solomon son of Zebulon Causey-I, I have determined to be the most likely link to our present Fayette County, Alabama Causey line. The connection between Solomon b. c1774 son of Zebulon Causey and the Solomon Cossey who died 1847 in Johnson County, Tennessee is somewhat tenuous. But, I believe, the evidence strongly suggest this Solomon Causey late of Guilford County, North Carolina did move about 100 miles west to what was then (before 1836) Carter County, Tennessee where he was granted land the location of which landed him in Johnson County after new lines were drawn in 1836.
Clue #1. The 1830 US Census Guilford County, North Carolina lists a Solomon Causey
Free White Persons – Males – 15 thru 19 – 1 ( Possibly James Solomon Causey b. 1812 or Solomon Royal Causey)
Free White Persons – Males – 50 thru 59 – 1 (Which would be Solomon (This age matches the timeframe of son of Zebulon)
Free White Persons – Females – 20 thru 29 – 1 (Daughter)
Free White Persons – Females – 50 thru 59 – 1 (wife Margaret ?)
(Note: Also listed same page is Wm. Causey 30-40)
Source Citation
1830; Census Place: Guilford, North Carolina; Series: M19; Roll: 121; Page: 153; Family History Library Film: 0018087
The 1840 US Census Johnson County, Tennessee lists a Solomon Cossy age 60-70 e.g. born between 1770 and 1780, say 1774. This Solomon Cossey matches the previous US Census from Guilford County. Furthermore the age of the daughter and wife match that previous census. Distance from Guilford Co NC to Johnson Co TN less than 100 miles. Conclusion Solomon Causey Guilford NC is probably the same as Solomon Cossy Johnson Co. TN.
Source Citation: Year: 1840; Census Place: Johnson, Tennessee; Roll: 526; Page: 274; Family History Library Film: 0024546
Free White Persons – Males – 60 to 70 1 (Solomon)
Free White Persons – Females – 30 to 40 1 (Daughter)
Free White Persons – Females – 60 to 70 1 (wife Margaret ?)
As stated earlier, Solomon Royal Causey of Bibb County, Alabama is listed as being from Tennessee on his sons’ death certificates. And, remember James S. Causey’s oldest daughter, Mary E. Roberts, listed on the 1880 US Census that her father was born in Tennessee. Note also that she lived next door to her father even after her marriage and would have had many conversations regarding him and her grandfather Solomon Causey, (She named her son Josiah Solomon Roberts).
I have found no way as yet to determine whether Solomon Causey b. 1774 or his son James Solomon Causey received the following Land Grant but probably Solomon Sr. But, it does verify the name Solomon Causey receiving this land grant as an assignee. (An assignee is the recipient of a title when a deed is signed to confer ownership of property in a transaction. A tenant might choose to transfer their property rights to an assignee who would assume duties for paying rent and tending to the property.)
Detail: Tennessee State Library and Archives; Nashville, Tennessee; Early Tennessee/North Carolina Land Records; Roll: 82; Book: 25; Source information: Title: North Carolina and Tennessee, Early Land Records, 1753-1931; Author: Ancestry.com; Publisher: Ancestry.com Operations, Inc.; Publisher date: 2013; Publisher location: Provo, UT, USA; Repository information: Name: Ancestry.com; LINK: https://www.ancestry.com/imageviewer/collections/2882/images/33118_290667-00398?pId=53024
Solomon Causey b. c1774, son of Zebulon Causey-I, received this grant in 1834 and lived in a part of Carter County, Tennessee that became part of Johnson County, Tennessee in 1836. His place was on Roane Creek near the current county line between Carter and Johnson counties. By the early 1770s a settlement was on Roane Creek near the confluence with the Watauga River and by the date of Solomon Causey’s land grant in 1834 settlements had moved farther up the creek. We know he lived on Roane Creek in Johnson County. His Estate was probated in Johnson County.
Solomon Causey, son of Zebulon Causey of Guilford County, North Carolina, died sometime before the first Monday in April, 1847 in Johnson County, Tennessee. The following Estate file document is the only record of his death I’ve been able to locate.
In conclusion, let us outline the sparse evidence supporting the thesis that Solomon Causey who died in Johnson County, Tennessee in 1847 is the Great Grandfather of John Solomon Causey b. 1882 in Fayette County, Alabama.
- DNA provides substantial evidence that Zebulon Causey-I is in fact the great-grandfather of John Solomon Causey b. 1882 in Fayette County, Alabama.
- The 1830 US Census Guilford County, North Carolina lists a Solomon Causey age say 56 with a male age 15 to 19 years old. James Solomon Causey b. 1812 would have been 18 years old in 1830.
- That same 1830 census lists Solomon Causey age say 56, the son age say 18, wife age say 55, and a daughter age say 25. The 1840 US Census in Johnson County, Tennessee lists Solomon Cossey age say 66, wife age say 65, and daughter age say 35 but no other males. A Solomon Causey married Elizabeth Ozment in 1832 in Guilford Co. NC.
- The different spelling of the name Causey on the 1840 census and on the appointment of the Administrator of the Estate of Solomon Cossy in 1847 was clarified with the recent discovery of the land grant to Solomon Causey in 1834 in a part of Carter County, Tennessee which became a part of Johnson County, Tennessee in 1836.
- The name Solomon does not appear in the lineage of either of the other two sons of Zebulon Causey-I., John and Zebulon Jr. And, no other Solomon Causeys were found on the 1840 US Census for Guilford County, North Carolina.
Taken individually none of the above bits of information provide conclusive evidence that Solomon Causey d. 1847 in Johnson County, Tennessee is the great-grandfather of John Solomon Causey b. 1882 in Fayette County, Alabama. However, taken together, it points directly to him. I consider these circumstantial evidences taken as a whole to be Prima Facie evidence the two Solomons are in fact the same person.
Then there is the Solomon Causey, Jr. Bible page. I received this photocopy of the Family Record page from Deborah Evans a descendant of Solomon Causey, Jr.
Transcript: FAMILY RECORD______________BIRTHS_____ Solomon Causey Junior was Born January 3d day 1812 Susanah Causey his wife was born Juli the 10 Day in the year 1821. Detailed Hand written entry of dates of birth of Solomon Causey, Jr. and Susannah his wife. Web addresshttps://www.ancestry.com/mediaui-viewer/collection/1030/tree/177847431/person/372312392792/media/e8d15bc1-3b49-415f-a365-662b9f12daaf?_phsrc=tXl295&usePUBJs=true
The document above not only provided the birth dates of Solomon Causey, Jr. late of Bibb County, Alabama and his wife Susannah (Pritchard) Causey, but the autograph of Solomon Causey, Jr. himself, as evidenced in the following handwriting comparisons:
Furthermore, when the signature comparisons include the marriage of Solomon Causey to Elizabeth Ozment in Guilford County, North Carolina in 1832, a final connection can be made to Guilford County and the Zebulon Causey family line.
Post Script: This chapter presents the DNA and documented lineage from Zebulon Causey of Guilford County, North Carolina to John Solomon Causey of Fayette County, Alabama. Solomon Causey who in 1832 married Elizabeth Ozment in Guilford County, North Carolina and Solomon Causey who in 1837 married Susannah Pritchard in Bibb County, Alabama are very likely the same person.
POST SCRIPT: Since the first posting of this blog chapter I have updated my Y-DNA tests at Family Tree DNA.org (FTDNA.org). What I have found is that the vast majority of our American Causey line can be traced back to Old Kent County, Maryland. Old Kent was chopped up into several smaller counties in the 1760s one of which was Dorchester, another Worcester. The male Causey descendants springing from these two counties of Colonial Maryland all belong to the Y-DNA Haplogroup T-M70. Several of us have dug deeper into what are called “subclads” which are more specific. In particular we are finding subclad T-CTS6507 and myself a more specific “terminal” subclad T-CTS6280. I am an exact match with one 4th cousin who is a surname Cossey. All of us, so far, fall in the overall T-M70 haplogroup.
Leave a Reply