I seek information on Sarah Rothwell from Menifee County KY, who may have married my great grandfather, Harrison Elswick

Question

My great grandfather, Harrison Elswick, evidently married a woman named Sarah Rothwell in late 1870s. Harrison was born in Pike County KY in early 1850s and moved with his family to Lawrence County KY. They appear together in the 1880 census but I can find no marriage record for them.

I have found census records in 1860 and 1870 for a Sarah Rothwell who was born in a part of Bath County, which later became Menifee County. She is exactly the right age as Harrison's wife, but I can find no other record that exists to say for certain that she was. Another clue that she might be the right person is that she named one of her daughters Agnes, which is the same name as the mother of Sarah Rothwell from Menifee County.

My questions are two:

1. Does anyone out there have any information about Sarah Rothwell and the Rothwell family in Menifee County?

2. Does anyone have suggestions for places to look, esp.online?  I have checked FamilySearch.org and Ancestry.com.so far with no luck.

Thanks for any help I might get

Comments

On the 1880 census is listed a Mary L. Elswick. Have you investigated her? She is one year old with Harrison and Rothwell Elswick.

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Here is that record.

Mary L. Elswick

 in the 1880 United States Federal Census

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Name:	Mary L. Elswick
Age:	1
Birth Date:	Abt 1879
Birthplace:	Kentucky
Home in 1880:	Big Sandy, Kanawha, West Virginia, USA
Dwelling Number:	139
Race:	White
Gender:	Female
Marital Status:	Single
Father's Birthplace:	KY.
Mother's Birthplace:	Kentucky
Neighbors:
Household Members:	Name Age Mary L. Elswick 1

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This shows William as son of Sarah

H Elswick

 in the West Virginia, Births Index, 1804-1938

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Name:	H Elswick
Gender:	Male
Spouse:	Sarah Elswick
Child:	Wm Elswick
FHL Film Number:	584755

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This shows Sarah as spouse.

Leonard H Elswick

 in the U.S., Social Security Applications and Claims Index, 1936-2007

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Name:	Leonard H Elswick
Gender:	Male
Spouse:	Sarah Rothwell
Child:	John Elswick

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I know about Mary L. I can find nothing else about her other than the 1880 Census.

Of more interest to me is the record you show for Leonard H Elswick in the Social Security Index. That seems to show the connection between him and Sarah Rothwell. I don't know what else it might show b/c I cannot find this record when I do a search of the Index. How did  you find it?

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That is an acestry.com document. I found it there. Hopefully, you can find it in the Social Security database.

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Yes, I have included Mary but she doesn't help me answer the question of which Sarah Rothwell that Harrison married.

Thank you.

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That social security record for Leonard H Elswick does not answer the question I asked, but it does show that Harrison also used the name Leonard since both names are tied to Sarah Rothwell.

Thank you very much

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My research hints strongly that the Sarah Rothwell (Rothwell-543) that married my great grandfather, Harrison Elswick, was the same person as a Sarah Rothwell born in Bath County (later Menifee County), Kentucky in 1859. Here are the clues:

1. [Sarah] Rothwell appears in the 1880 Census as Harrison's wife. The Census indicates she is 20 years old and born in Kentucky. This is consistent with the birth record of the Sarah Rothwell born in Bath County, KY, on 9 December 1859.

2. Sarah and Harrison Elswick name two of their children William and Agnes. The Sarah Rothwell born in Bath County has parents named William and Agnes.

3. Family remembrance is (and records confirm) that Harrison moved frequently in his adult life, no doubt in search of work. He moved back and forth between Kentucky and West Virginia and it is quite conceivable that one of his earlier wanderings brought him to Menifee County where he could have met Sarah.

So ... my question: At what point can I/should I conclude that the earlier records for Sarah Rothwell refer to the Sarah Rothwell of the later records?  If not, where can I look for further data? I have exhausted FamilySearch.org and Ancestry.com for online sources. 

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For those who may have taken an interest in the question of whether or not Sarah Rothwell b. in Menifee County, KY, is the same person as Sarah Rothwell who married Harrison Elswick ...

The will of Agnes Rothwell dated 14 October 1916 (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:33S7-9P3B-93KB) gives her residence as Rothwell, Menifee County, Kentucky, and names a Sarah Elswick as her daughter and heir. This convinces me that the two Sarah's are the same person.

Answer 1

Have you looked for marriage or death certificates for Agnes or her siblings, that might name parents?

ETA - Yes, it looks like you thought of that already.  :)