Asa L. Sanford, the oldest child of Jacob Thomas Sanford and Sarah 'Sally' White, was born August 7, 1825 [1], probably in Tuscaloosa County, Alabama.
Asa married Sarah Jean [spelled Gean in the marriage record] on May 20, 1846 in Lincoln County, Tennessee [2]. Sarah died, likely in childbirth and Asa married her older sister, Martha Ann Jean, on April 30, 1850 also in Lincoln County, Tennessee. [3].
Asa and Martha were enumerated for the 1850 census in Lincoln County Tennessee. The household, in addition to Asa and Martha, included her two younger siblings, David C. and Elizabeth A. - spelled Jane in this census [4].
Asa and Martha moved to Tuscaloosa County at least by 1857. Although the 1860 Federal Census, listed all the children as born in Alabama, later census records indicated the first two children were born in Tennessee and the third child in Mississippi. Mary 'Mollie' Sanford was the first child whose records mostly indicate an Alabama birth. The children listed in the 1860 census were: Sarah Emeline (1851), William R. (1853), Joseph Larkin (1855), Mary M. (1857), and John W. (1859). Asa's occupation was listed as Hatter, which was a family business. Although it was a little unusual, Martha was also listed as a Hatter. The census enumerator could have been generous in dropping ditto marks down the page, or everyone in the family may have been expected to contribute to the family business. [5]
By the early part of the 1860s, Asa was maintaining a relationship with Ruhamie Oswalt concurrently with his marriage to Martha. Asa and Ruhamie had three children: Sarah Jane Oswalt [1864-1939], John Thomas Oswalt [1868-1913], and Celia Ann Oswalt [1870-1939] [6].
The 1870 census lists Asa and Martha as well as the five children listed for the 1860 census. In addition there are three additional Sanford children: James (1864), Jessee (1868) and John (1868). This census does not list family relationships and it is unclear if these are Asa and Martha's children or not. A child named John would seem unusual since they already had a son John born in 1859 who was still in the household. It is also possible this John is actually John Oswalt who would have been two in 1870 and supporting the 'common knowledge' aspect of the relationship between Asa and Ruhama. [7].
The 1880 census for Moore's Bridge in Tuscaloosa County lists Asa and Martha along with three sons: John W. 'Tippy', James and Jesse. In this census, the three boys are listed as sons; however, while John and James are listed as born in Alabama, Jesse is listed in that field as 'Native.' I have no interpretation for that field - only questions. Did it mean Jesse was a Native American child or did, perhaps, native indicate he was a natural child not born in a marital relationship? [8].
The 1900 census for Reese in Tuscaloosa County lists Asa [spelled Aze], Martha and their oldest daughter Sarah. Martha is listed as the mother of 8 children, 7 of whom are living. The identities of the eight children is a little fuzzy. The known and clear children are Sarah Emeline, Joseph Larkin, Mary Monroe 'Mollie', John W. 'Tippy', James and Jesse. There is a William R. listed as born in 1853; however, there is also a William R. born in 1847 who would perhaps be the child of Martha's sister, Sarah. It is feasible that since Martha would have raised a son of Sarah that she always counted him as her own son. On the other hand, he was not enumerated with the family in the 1850 census. The John that is listed might be the eighth child but, again, the duplication of the name seems odd. Further research on Martha's eight children is needed [9].
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Asa is 25 degrees from Herbert Adair, 21 degrees from Richard Adams, 18 degrees from Mel Blanc, 25 degrees from Dick Bruna, 17 degrees from Bunny DeBarge, 30 degrees from Peter Dinklage, 17 degrees from Sam Edwards, 18 degrees from Ginnifer Goodwin, 18 degrees from Marty Krofft, 16 degrees from Junius Matthews, 16 degrees from Rachel Mellon and 20 degrees from Harold Warstler on our single family tree. Login to find your connection.