Willis William Slayden (1813 - abt. 1859)

Born 1813 in Pittsylvania, Virginia, United States

Ancestors

Died about 1859 at about age 46 in Tennessee, United States

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Biography

Willis W. as a son of Thomas Slayden is seen in the father's will, but William W. is witnessing an 1846 document seen at the presumed father's profile and in the guardianship cited below.

A man with a similar name married Mary Rowland, 2 Dec 1833, in Caswell County, North Carolina. ^{[citation needed]} It is unclear if he later married a Martha Jackson, as cited below.

Issue derived from census ^[1] and other sources are Thomas Henry, Elizabeth, Margaret H., Phoebe Jane, James, and Rachel Slayden.

Research Notes

The number of men in the environs of Dyer and Gibson counties, Tennessee with similar names, makes for a confusing trace, but it appears that the man at this profile probably died before 4 January 1859:

4 January 1859 - Abel (x) Slaydon, appointed guardian of Margarette H and Phoebe J, minor heirs of William W Slaydon dec'd. ^[2] This record can be compared to the 1850 census of Willis cited above.

It could be conjectured from the above citation that James and Rachel as conjectured children from census, might have died before 1859, while there is evidence in the 1860, 1870 and 1880 census that son Thomas Henry migrated to Pemiscot County, Missouri. Abel Slaydon mentioned above would almost certainly be Abel Cain Slayden a brother of the man at this profile.

As with much of this patriline, the surnames appear as Slaydon, Slayton, and versions without the "Y."

Same man? Different men?

Before the 4 Jan 1859 record of decease: a man named William W. Slaydon married Martha E. Jackson, 12 June 1856 in Gibson County, Tennessee. ^[3]

After the 4 Jan 1859 date of the record of decease: a man named Willis W, Slayton married a Jane Harris in 1860 Dyer County Tennessee. ^[4]

This is an example of the serial use of given names within a family nexus from Pittsylvania County, Virginia, shakes confidence in identifying the number of individuals and families. Dyer and Gibson are adjoining counties.

Possible Census Record

Census Year: 1840 ^[5]

Willis Sladen

Census Place: Pittsylvania County, Virginia, page 116

Category	No.	Comments & Conjectures
White Males - Under 5	2
White Males - 5 thru 9	0
White Males - 10 thru 14	0
White Males -15 thru 19	0
White Males -20 thru 29	1
White Females - under 5	0
White Females - 5 thru 9	2
White Females -10 thru 14	0
White Females -15 thru 19	0
White Females -20 thru 29	1
Slaves -	0

Sources

1. ↑ "United States Census, 1850," database with images, FamilySearch (https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:MCD6-8XS : 23 December 2020), Willis Slayton, Gibson, Gibson, Tennessee, United States; citing family , NARA microfilm publication (Washington, D.C.: National Archives and Records Administration, n.d.).
2. ↑ Gibson County Tennessee Wills & Bonds, Book H 1856-1865, page 251, Jan 4, 1859
3. ↑ "Tennessee State Marriage Index, 1780-2002," database, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:VNFM-QVG : 4 December 2014), William W Slaydon and Martha E Jackson, 1856; from "Tennessee State Marriages, 1780-2002," database and images, Ancestry (http://www.ancestry.com : 2008); citing p. , Gibson, Tennessee, United States, Tennessee State Library and Archives, Nashville, Tennessee.
4. ↑ "Tennessee, County Marriages, 1790-1950," database with images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:QKH3-JG4M : 10 March 2021), Willis W Slayton and Jane Harris, 20 Nov 1860; citing Dyer, Tennessee, United States, Marriage, p. , Tennessee State Library and Archives, Nashville and county clerk offices from various counties; FHL microfilm 833,217.
5. ↑ "United States Census, 1840" - Pittsylvania County, Virginia, page 116, online at "Pittsylvania, Virginia, United States records," images, FamilySearch (https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:33S7-9YTT-NRC?view=explore : Apr 19, 2024), image 1 of 184; United States. National Archives and Records Administration.