Scholefield Family Tree
The table from the last post points to the fact that I need to locate Abigail in 1850. This is another instance where we have to try name variations to get the needed source. This time she is listed under the name “Abigal Schofield.”
George B. Schofield, 28, M, Farmer, 960, New York
Abigal Schofield, 62, F, Connecticut1
She is still living in Smithfield, Madison, New York, and the head of household is George age 28. It appears, therefore, that George was enumerated twice in 1850 — once with his brother in a hotel two months after the first — and once with what can now be reasonably assumed to be his mother. These additional bits of evidence help to prove the relationship. The other evidence includes the fact that Abigail’s father was George,<sup2 Charles named his first son “George,” apparently after his grandfather and brother. Futher, it is my speculation that George B. is short for George Burnham — his mother Abigail’s maiden name.
Naming patterns can be used to bolster additional findings. Many times, first sons were named after their father’s father and second sons were named after their mother’s father (which seems to be true in this case). However, it is too early to determine that Charles was possibly named after Arnold’s father — but it might give me another possible direction to look.
1. 1850 U.S. census, Madison County, New York population schedule, Smithfield, p. 519 (handwritten), 260 (stamped), dwelling 119, family 119, George B. Schofield household; digital images, Ancestry.com (http://www.ancestry.com : accessed 16 Jun 2009); citing National Archives and Records Administration microfilm M432, roll 526.
2. See post dated 19 May 2009.
Actually, Abigail says that her son’s name was George Bowen Scholefield. George for his grandfather; Bowen after a Methodist Minister friend.