Asa Williamson

Asa Williamson Records

Born October 1845, in Kentucky. Son of Shadrack & Sarah (West) Williamson.

Controversy here, records below -

Some websites I've seen list this Asa Williamson as the son of Elias Williamson & Malinda Marcum. While Elias may have had a son named Asa the same age, I still believe this Asa is the son of Shadrack. After looking at the census records, it seems so clear. This Asa is shown with his parents Shadrack & Sarah up until he married Elizabeth. After which he is living one house away and that one house is where his brother Amos lived. It just seems unlikely that Shadrack & Sarah's son Asa would disappear the same time that a different Asa appeared next door! Asa was the only child of Shadrack & Sarah who stayed in Kentucky, when the rest moved to Kansas & Arkansas. I believe that Shadrack & his family were left out of the book, "The Alden Williamson Genealogy" by Joseph W. Alley, because Shadrack died in 1859 and the rest of the family moved away. This is where many researchers have read that Asa was a son of Elias Williamson. "The Alden Williamson Genealogy" is a great book, but I believe there is a mistake on this Asa's parents. Researcher's of the Williamson's didn't know where to place this Asa, it would be only natural for them to try to fit this Asa in with one of the other families there in Kentucky.

The Elias & Malinda Williamson family lived in West Virginia through the years, not Kentucky, although I've not found them for sure in the 1840 census.

The 1850 Census of Logan County Virginia, the Elias & Malinda Williamson family is shown with these children - (all born in Virginia)
James age 17, Elizabeth age 14, Eda age 13, Aly age 10, Minirva age 8, Malinda J. age 6, Gideon age 5. The oldest daughter Emma is married to Nathaniel Perry and living four homes away.
There isn't an Asa with the family and the Aly age 10 that is listed would be Elias II.

The 1860 Census of Wayne County Virginia, the Elias & Malinda Williamson family is shown with these children - (all born in Virginia)
Elisha (Elias II) age 20, Minerva age 15, Malinda J. age 17, Gideon age 13, Moses age 9, Polly age 7. The married children are living nearby.
There isn't an Asa with the family in this census.

The 1870 Census of Lincoln County West Virginia, the Elias & Malinda Williamson family is shown with these children -
Gideon age 22 b. in VA., Moses age 19 b. in VA., Malinda Jr. age 16 b. in KY. This isn't the same Malinda unless she's ageless.
But still no Asa with or near this family.

In 1880 Census Elias is age 71 & Malinda age 67, they are living with their son Moses & his family in Grant, Wayne Co., West Virginia.

I have not found an Asa with the Elias & Malinda (Marcum) Williamson family. Through the years Elias's children are shown born in Virginia. The census records for the Asa Williamson that married Elizabeth Ward shows he was born in Kentucky.
If you have any information on Asa I would love to hear from you about it.

CENSUS

Records for Shadrack & Sarah (West) Williamson's child named Asa -

1850 Census Lawrence County, Kentucky Asa is shown age 4, living with is parents Shadrack & Sarah Williamson.

1860 Census Lawrence County, Kentucky 1st page & 2nd page Asa is shown age 16, living with his widowed mother Sarah & his other siblings, except brother Amos who is married and living next door.

1870 Census Lawrence County Kentucky Asa is shown age 24, married to Elizabeth, he has two children, George W. age 3, & Cena B. age 1. He is living next door to his brother Amos, who lives next door to their widowed mother Sarah. Sarah has the three youngest children still living with her, Joseph, Abisha, & Mary. Other son Jasper, is married & living at the next home after their mother Sarah.

1880 Census Martin County Kentucky Asa & Elizabeth are shown with the six children born to date. I can't read Asa's age in this census. But he is shown born in KY.

1900 Census Martin County Kentucky Asa is shown age 54, born Oct 1845 in Kentucky. It also lists him as black ? His wife Elizabeth age 52, born June 1848 in Kentucky. She is the mother of 7 children with 6 living in 1900. They are shown married 32 years.
Daughter Dosha age 15, born Sept 1884 in Kentucky is living with them. Also shown is a Marion ? (can't read last name) white, male, age 27, born May 1873, born in KY., single, Boarder.
Also with the family is Ema Ward, mother-n-law, age 74, widowed, born Apr 1826 in Kentucky.
Asa's son Joseph, is living next door with his wife & children.

1910 Census Eden, Martin County Kentucky Asa is age 64 widowed, b. KY, his father b. KY, & his mother b. VA. He has living with him daughter Doshie age 21, & 2 granddaughters, Vashie Dingus age 20, & Virdie Dingus age 10. (These may be Asa's daughter Cena's children.)

1920 & 30 Census I haven't found Asa Williamson in 1920 (or 1930) and I assume that he died sometime between 1910 and 1920. Asa's daughter Doshie & her husband Elsworth "Ebb" Mills are still living in Eden, Martin County, Kentucky in 1920 & 1930. Asa is probably buried in or near this town.

The town Eden had to change its name after finding that there was already a town by that name, the new name became Inez.
Inez, the seat of Martin county, is located near the center of the county at the forks of Rockcastle Creek. The site has been known as Arminta Ward's Bottom and Eden. The Inez post office opened in 1874 and may have been named for the daughter of the first postmaster. The town eventually became known by the same name.