Deciphering the 1880 Census Schedule

The below digital images have been extracted from the Ancestry.com website so that we may examine one particular family listed on this page.

On the full Census page we are interested in lines 16-21; Dwelling 136, Family 151



The A. T. Powell family information for lines 16-21; Dwelling 136, Family 151 is shown in these two images.



Powell Household - Line 16-21



Ancestry transcribers have transcribed this family as the A. T. and M. W. T. Powell family.
The problem is that there is no A. T and M. W.  T.  Powell family. For many years I have looked and re-looked at this family in an attempt to determine exactly who the member are with this household.

Recently, I was in touch with another Powell researcher, Marilyn, and our correspondence triggers a thought/memory that has finally solved the mystery of this Powell Family and how they connect with other Powell's in Chesterfield and Marlboro County, South Carolina.

First, Ancestry has transcribed this Census entry as A. T. Powell. Close examination of line 16 shows that the initials are W. T. Powell.

Thus my correction of this Census record is: 
*  Head of household:  W. T. Powell  [William Thomas Powell, son of Richard Thompson Powell].
*  Wife M. W. T. Powell is Mary W. Dixon Powell
*  W. T. Powell is William Thomas Powell [Son of William + Mary]
*  M. W. Powell is [un-identified Daughter of William and Mary]
*  Ellen Powell is [Sister of the Senior Wm. T.; daughter of Richard T. Powell]
*  S. E. Powell is Sallie Emerson Powell [Sister of the Senior Wm. T.; daughter of Richard T. Powell]


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[1] 1880 CENSUS: Cheraw, Chesterfield, South Carolina; Roll: 1225; Enumeration District: 003, Page: 297C(stamped); Lines 16; Dwelling 136, Family 151; W. T. POWELL, male, age 35, born in SC; M. W. D. POWELL, Wife, age 25, born in SC; W. T. POWELL, Son, age 4, born in SC; M. W. POWELL, Daughter, age 2, born in SC; Ellen POWELL, Sister, age 18, born in SC and S. E. POWELL, Sister, age 23, born in SC.