My great-grandfather is a mystery.

Question

My great-grandfather, Cicero Hardee, was born in 1857. In the 1860 census, his last name is Gaffin. In 1870, Jordan. In 1880, Hardee. The only proof of his existence is the mentioned census reports, his marriage certificates, and his name on the death certificates of his children. There seems to be no proof of when he died or who his father was. I assume he was a bastard, but can find no conclusive evidence. This has stumped me for years and I would appreciate any help that anyone may be able to offer. I have tried all of the obvious places, including court records. I would love to know who I am!  Thanks.

Comments

Martha Jordon

 in the 1860 United States Federal Census

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Name:	Martha Jordon
Age:	28
Birth Year:	abt 1832
Gender:	Female
Birth Place:	North Carolina
Home in 1860:	Eastern Division, Halifax, North Carolina
Post Office:	Heathsville
Family Number:	792
Value of Real Estate:	View image
Household Members:	Name Age Titus Jordon 25 Martha Jordon 28 Cicero Gaffin 3

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Looks like Martha had Cicero out of wedlock and gave him her last name: Gaffin.

After that he took the names of his step-fathers.

Betty

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Pretty much what I have come up with, as well. Although, there is no evidence that Martha ever married anyone who had the last name, Hardee. Titus Jordan, was his step-father and died in the Civil War.

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And thank you for the response, Betty. :)

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Martha Gaffin

 in the 1850 United States Federal Census

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Name:	Martha Gaffin
Age:	20
Birth Year:	abt 1830
Birthplace:	Halifax
Home in 1850:	Halifax, North Carolina, USA
Gender:	Female
Family Number:	1044
Household Members:	Name Age Betsy Gaffin 35 Frances Gaffin 18 Martha Gaffin 20

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Her mother Betsy was named Hardy

Betsey Hardy

 in the North Carolina, Marriage Records, 1741-2011

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Name:	Betsey Hardy
Gender:	Female
Marriage Date:	6 Jan 1831
Marriage Place:	Halifax, North Carolina, USA
Spouse:	Thomas Gaffin
Spouse Gender:	Male
Event Type:	Marriage

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That's just weird. He took his grandmother's maiden name?

Betty

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Welcome to my mystery, Betty!  :-)

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Eliza Gaffin

 in the North Carolina, Index to Marriage Bonds, 1741-1868

Index-only record

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Name:	Eliza Gaffin
Gender:	Female
Spouse:	William Moohorn
Spouse Gender:	Male
Bond Date:	7 Aug 1830
Bond #:	000063505
Level Info:	North Carolina Marriage Bonds, 1741-1868
ImageNum:	002811
County:	Halifax
Record #:	02 135
Bondsman:	J J Daniel
Witness:	John H Harwell

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Looks like time travel to me.

Betty

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It's enough to drive you to drinking. It's fun, I will admit, but also quite frustrating. The crazy part is that I am only 35. My grandfather was born in 1889 and he is the son of Cicero. Makes it difficult to ask, as he (my grandfather) would be 127 if he were alive today. Ha!

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Looks like William Moohorn backed out of the bond and she married Thomas Gaffin.

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I would investigate Moohorn and see if he impregnated Eliza and ran off.

 

Betty

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Wait that doesn't make sense.

Let me think some more. I am thinking that maybe incest was involved and Cicero found out about it?

I don't think it's possible to find his father as his mother listed "Unknown" under father's name on Cicero's marriage license. If she don't know, who does?

Betty

Answer 1

Cicero Hardee
United States Census, 1880
birth:    1857    North Carolina, United States
residence:    1880    Enfield, Halifax, North Carolina, United States    
other:    Betsy Gaffin, Thos K Jordan, Martha Jordan        

Cicero Hardee
Father of groom
North Carolina Marriages, 1759-1979
spouse:    Fammie Hardee
child:    Charlie Hardee
other:    Ethel Holland, Rebecca Holland        

Cicero Hardee
Father of groom
North Carolina, County Marriages, 1762-1979
spouse:    Fannie Hardee
child:    Raynor E Hardee
other:    Mary Jones, Frank Jones, Lugenia Jones

Cicero Hardee
Father
North Carolina Deaths, 1931-1994
spouse:    Fannie Hamill
child:    Arthur Alexander Hardee
other:    Louise Dixon        

Cicero Hardee
Father
North Carolina Deaths, 1931-1994
spouse:    Fannie Hamill
child:    Charlie Butler Hardee
other:    Ethel Holland        

George Ferdinand Cicero Hardy
Father
North Carolina Deaths, 1931-1994
birth:        Lenoir County    
spouse:    Argen Cornelius Dawson
child:    Fred Hutchens Hardy        

Cicero Mcharty
Alabama Marriages, 1816-1957
marriage:    12 August 1901    Hartford, Geneva, Alabama    
spouse:    Ella Andrews        

Cicero McHarty
Alabama, County Marriages, 1809-1950
marriage:    12 August 1901    Hartford, Geneva, Alabama, United States    
spouse:    Ella Andrews        

Cicero F Hardy
Father of bride
North Carolina, County Marriages, 1762-1979
spouse:    Argen Cornelia Hardy
child:    Annie Dare Hardy
other:    Benjamine Tongue, Harry McPherson Tongue, Agnes Green Tongue        

Cicero Hardy
Father
South Carolina Deaths, 1915-1943
spouse:    Katie Thurlknight
child:    John Hardy        

George Cicero Hardy
Father
North Carolina Deaths, 1931-1994
spouse:    Argen Dawson
child:    Argen Hardy Nobles
other:    Joseph Edward Nobles        

Isahia C Hardee
Head
United States Census, 1910
birth:    1857    South Carolina
residence:    1910    Bayboro, Horry, South Carolina, United States    
spouse:    Martha Hardee
child:    Julias B Hardee
other:    Ella Hardee        

J C Hardee
Head
United States Census, 1880
birth:    1857    North Carolina, United States
residence:    1880    Pleasant Grove, Johnston, North Carolina, United States    
spouse:    Delia A Hardee
child:    Benjamin P Hardee

Comments

Thanks, Frank. This is all I have ever been able to find, as well. He has stumped me for nearly a decade.

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Would there be a genealogical society, or a county organization, or similar resource in NC that might be helpful to pinpointing an answer?

Answer 2

You have his Y chromosome and particular Y-DNA signatures are often associated with different surnames.   I recommend you order a Y-DNA37 test from Family Tree DNA.  If you are close match with others at 37 markers and those matches have tested 67 or 111 markers then upgrade (using your existing DNA sample (which would then be in storage at the lab) to their level of testing to see if the match holds.