John Casey, McMinn Cty, TN b. 1835 - Prison 1877

Question

My GGGrandfather, John Casey was born approx 1835.  He was married to Sarah A. Hicks on Nov 12, 1872.  In 1877, he was convicted of Robbery and sent to Tennessee State Penitentiary.  He was released on August 8th, 1885 and I can find nothing of his whereabouts after then.  I also find no birth records, parents or siblings for him.  I've been trying for YEARS to find out who this fella is.  Please help if you can!  P.S., it is NOT the John Casey in Arkansas.  

 

Thank you a bunch!

Answer 1

Becky, On the 1880 US Census, his family is shown living in Monroe County, Tennessee, but the name is shown as "Cazy."("United States Census, 1880," database with images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:MDWM-ZKT : accessed 16 May 2016), John Cazy, District 18, Monroe, Tennessee, United States; citing enumeration district ED 211, sheet 140D, NARA microfilm publication T9 (Washington D.C.: National Archives and Records Administration, n.d.), roll 1272; FHL microfilm 1,255,272.)

On the 1900 US Census, Sarah is shown as Sarah "Cazy," living in Monroe County, TN, with her family.  She shows that she is a widow.("United States Census, 1900," database with images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:MSCX-T4W : accessed 16 May 2016), Sarah Cazy, Civil Districts 11-12, McMinn, Tennessee, United States; citing sheet 5B, family 90, NARA microfilm publication T623 (Washington, D.C.: National Archives and Records Administration, n.d.); FHL microfilm 1,241,585.)

Also, some of his children were living and dying in Tennessee, in the 1900s. J.L. is shown dying in Bradley County in 1944 with the last name "Kazy".("Tennessee Death Records, 1914-1955," database with images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:NST3-S8Y : accessed 16 May 2016), John Kazy in entry for J.L. Kazy, 27 May 1944; citing Cemetery, Cleveland, Bradley, Tennessee, , State Library and Archives, Nashville; FHL microfilm 2,137,347.)

Have you started a profile for him?  That would help people find him and also see what you already know.  As a research strategy, I think I would follow the kids.

Comments

Hi...JL is my Great Grandfather, his siblings are Tennessee, Mary & John Washington Casey.  Their father John Casey was in Prison in 1880, not released until 1885.  No known whereabouts after his release & no known whereabouts of his parents or siblings.  Been searching for 10+ years & have had that census (1880) since the beginning of my search. (Whew!)

Sarah shows that she's a widow on the 1900 census, yes, but there is no mention of his death anywhere that I can find.  No tombstone, no grave, no death certificate...

While in prison, John Casey's cellmate wrote a letter to Sarah for John, as he couldn't read or write, and signed his name as John Cazy.  Prison records show Casey.  I have the letter, his court papers and his release papers.

I'll make the profile for him and hope that more can be found, as I feel as I'm at a perpetual brick wall.  Thanks :)