Searched Census To Identify Harriett And Her Three Children

Searching From What’s Known

Harriet’s future husband, Elias W. Bartlett Sr. was listed with his first wife, Rachel on the 1870 Missouri Census in Carroll County. Question: Where was Harriett and the other three Bartlett children who were born before the 1870 census was taken?

On November 7, 2022, I began to search for Harriett on the 1870 Carroll County Missouri census. I searched for every black Harriett born in Missouri around 1849 and one by one, I looked to see if there were key names in the same household. Those key names were her Grandmother Hannah and three children, Sallie, Charles, and Lucy.

The Newest Discovery
Actually, this is an old discovery that became new once I saw it again. I came across the household of HESLIN before. I didn’t see the connection then. But, the second time around, I was filled with joy when I saw the names Hannah, Harriett and Sally, Charles and Lucy. This was confirmation.

Harriett BARTLETT’s and her three children’s ages were similar to the 1880 census. However, Hannah was listed as born in North Carolina on the 1870 census at age 80. But on the 1880 census Hannah was born in South Carolina and her age was at 115. This is 35 years older in ten years.

I believe that this Harriet, her children and her Grandmother, Hannah are the ones that I’ve been searching for. They were listed with William HESLIN born in 1810 in Kentucky. He who was head of house. Hannah B. HESLIN born in 1790 North Carolina.( Note that Harriett had a grandmother by the name of Hannah HOOPER on the 1880 Missouri census in Carrollton County Missouri.)

It appears that Elias W. Bartlett Sr. was not the father of Sally, Charles and Lucy. This would make sense, if they weren’t listed with him on the 1870 Missouri census. It appears that the three children took the Bartlett surname. I wonder what were their surname?

What’s Next?
Ironically, I can’t locate the family with the Heslin surname on the 1880 census for Carroll County Missouri. I’m wondering. Is there another way to spell that surname? Could Helsin have been their enslaved surname? Also note that I have found Sally, Charles and Lucy were listed as mulatto on other records.

Sarah “Sallie’s maiden name was Shaw. This came from an Ohio 1919 marriage record of Myrtle Younger, daughter of Sarah “Sallie”. The Shaw name is something to look into.

Crop photo of the 1870 United States Federal Census For Harriet HELSIN, Missouri, Carroll County.

Questions And Wonder:
Who was Harriett ( BUFFINGTON / HOOPER BARTLETT?
She was my Great Grandmother, Harriett. My father’s David’s grandmother.
I wonder if Hannah could have been Harriett’s great grandmother.

The Mariah HELSIN was born in North Carolina in 1830. She was Williams’ daughter .
Was William HELSIN Hannah’s son?
Or if Williams’ wife was Hannah’s daughter?
Wonder if Sophiah, Harriett and Allen were siblings?

I wonder if Hannah’s surname was Buffington? Listed as Hannah B. HELSIN on the 1870 census. Harriett’s maiden name was listed as Buffington on her daughter, Lucy’s social security application in 1939.

Thanks for reading
Searched Census To Identify Harriett And Her Three Children #52Ancestors Week 8 In 2023

This was posted on February 22, 2023 by Susan Ann Blakley on my word press site.

God bless
S.A. Blakley

Week 8 ~ Amy Johnson Crow #52Ancestors in 52 Weeks ~ Generations Café

The theme for Week 8 is “I Can Identify.” Genealogy research is about identifying the correct people to attach to our family trees. Who have you worked hard to identify? Another way to interpret the theme would be to highlight someone like my grandfather, who could spot (and correctly identify all kinds of mushrooms. (My sisters and I never got the knack of doing that!)

Great Grandfather Elias W. Bartlett Sr. ~ Brick Wall #52Ancestors In Week 21

 During the 1980’s, I began searching for my family connections. While I was searching, I came across the name of my Great Grandfather Elias Bartlett listed as the father of my Grandmother Jennie (Bartlett) Lyles’ 1926 death certificate. I though, the name Elias, sounded like he didn’t have a first name.

As I continued searching, I made some inquires to the Carrollton County Genealogy Society about my Bartlett family. In reply, a lady from Carrollton, Missouri sent me copies of the 1870 and 1880 Missouri census records listing Elias’s household in Wakenda, Carroll, Missouri.

On the 1870 United States Federal Census,
Elias was listed with his first wife Rachel and their children who carried the Bartlett surname:
William born in 1852 and Warren born in 1854
John born in 1855 and Fanny born in 1859
Lena born in 1862 and Harriet born in 1865

On the1880 United States Federal Census,
Elias was listed with his second wife Harriett , children and a grandmother;
Sally born in 1865, Charles born in 1867, and Lucy born in 1869.
Elias Jr. who was born in 1879.
William (who was a widow on the 1880) was listed on the 1870.
Grandmother, Hannah Hooper was born in ca 1765 who living with the Bartletts.

In November of 2022, I located Harriett with her three children on the 1870 Missouri census.
Sally was born in 1865, Charles was born in 1867 and Lucy was born in 1869 and
Hannah was born in 1890.
They were listed in the HELSIN Household with the HELSIN surname.
I don’t think that HELSIN was the surname of Harriett and her children along with Hannah.

I’ve been back tracking the sources on Elias W. Bartlett Sr. his wife Harriett and children.
Records of Elias’ were from...
1870 and 1880 United States Federal Census For Carroll County in Missouri
The December 29, 1876 marriage recorded of Elias BARTLEY married Harriet HUGHES.

Daughters’ death records:
Jennie LYLES in 1926 , Juanita ARMSTRONG in 1929 and Lucy HORAN in 1940.
Lucy’s father was listed as Mr. Bartlett. However, he was her step father.

Crop photo of Juanita BARTLETT ARMSTRONG’s 1929 death certificate.




It’s still a mystery to what happened to Elias Sr. Could he have passed in 1900 in Carrollton, Missouri?

Some of the Bartletts moved to St. Joseph, Missouri. Unknown to what brought them there.
Lucy was married in St Joe in August of 1900.
Paul was living there around 1900 according to his 1956 obituary
Jennie was living there in 1902 according to her marriage record.

Even though the Bartletts were listed on the Missouri census in Carrollton, Missouri in June of 1900, they moved to St. Joseph sometime after the 1900 census was taken. There was a Elias Bartlett listed on the 1901 city directory in St. Joseph, Missouri. It didn’t stated if he was a Sr. or Jr.

There was an Elias W. Bartlett Jr. listed in the city directory in 1904.
Elias Jr. moved to Oklahoma City around 1906. He was listed in their city directory.
Harriet was listed as the widow of Elias Sr. on the 1905 city directory.
This was the first mention of Harriet in St. Joe.
I believe that Harriet was in St. Joseph the same time her son Paul was in 1900.

Hoping for information:
I believe that there is still hope in finding some things about Elias Sr. and Harriet. I’m waiting on information on the death notice of Elias Bartlett who passed on October 7, 1920 in Oklahoma. Also, I came across Elias Jr.’s name as Eli BARTLEY and Elias BARTLEY in the Oklahoma City Directories.

I wonder. Could the family surname have been BARTLEY or perhaps BARTLE?
Jennie’s maiden name was spelled BARTLE when she married John BLAKEY on July 28, 1902 in Excelsior Springs, Clay, Missouri.

Elias W. Bartlett Sr. life is still a brick wall, along with his family listed on the 1870 census.

I wonder. Was Elias, Alex Bartlett? This was the father’s name on Paul Bartlett’s 1936 social security application and claims index information. I’m hoping that there will be more clues in the years to come to uncover the Bartlett family mysteries. Someone may have the pieces to this mystery.

Even the maiden name of Harriett is a brick wall.
Was her maiden name HOOPER, HUGHES, HELSIN, FISHER, or BUFFINGTON? I’m thinking that it was BUFFINGTON source from Lucy’s 1939 social security application and claims index information.

Thanks for reading.
Great Grandfather Elias W. Bartlett Sr. ~ Brick Wall #52Ancestors In Week 21

S.A. Blakley

The theme for Week 21 is “Brick Wall.” ~Amy Johnson Crow #52Ancestors In 52 Weeks Challenge

Do you have an ancestor (or 4) who you can’t seem to make any progress on in your research? This would be a good week to write about that ancestor and really think about what you know about that ancestor, how you know it, and where you might look to fill in the gaps. Writing is part of the research process!