My third-great-grandfather Henderson Aaron likely died young and didn’t leave many clues except a few random records of his existence. My goal is to find out who his parents were. My grandfather took a DNA test, which I hoped would lead to finding our Aaron kin, but I haven’t been able to connect the dots yet.

Henderson Aaron was born about 1822. On the 1850 census, he is 28, living in Stewart County, Tennessee, and married to Mary Ann “Sis” Rumfelt. They have three children listed with them. By the 1860 census, Henderson is gone, and Mary is listed under her maiden name with five children.

Henderson and Mary’s children:

Elizabeth Betsey Bettie Aaron Martin (abt. 1844 – 1914)
Elmira Catherine Aaron Fitzhugh (abt. 1846 – 1882)
Ebenezer John Aaron (abt. 1847 – aft. 1930)
Tennessee Aaron Green (abt. 1853 – unknown)
Eli “Hawk” Aaron (1858 – 1931) my second-great-grandfather

Sometimes there are clues in the children’s names. The oldest daughter, Elizabeth Betsey, was named after Mary’s mother, Elizabeth Betsey Jenkins Rumfelt. The oldest son, Ebenezer John, got his first name from Mary’s dad, Ebenezer Rumfelt. Elmira was nicknamed Elmiry, which was also Mary’s sister’s name. (She later went by Catherine.) Eli or Elijah was Mary’s oldest brother’s name. It’s possible there are clues in the other children’s names about who Henderson’s parents were.

Henderson is an uncommon first name. His mother’s maiden name could have been Henderson. It’s a common naming practice.

John may have been his father’s name. Ebenezer John could have had both of his grandfather’s names.

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Timeline and Records for Henderson Aaron:

1822: Birth year according to the 1850 census.

1830 Census: Unknown. Would have been 8 years old and living with parents.

1840 Census: Unknown. Would have been 18 years old. Likely still at home with parents.

1845: Henderson Aaron (Grantor/Seller) to Jonathan Skinner (Grantee/Buyer). Kind of instrument: mortgage. Page 15, Book 174. Description: personal property.

1850: Henderson Aaron (Grantor/Seller) to J.W. Wall. Kind of instrument: trust deed. Page 16, book 490. Description: various household property and livestock, in debt to J. R. Hooks

1850 Census: Stewart County, Tennessee. Living next door to in-laws (Mary’s parents: Ebenezer & Elizabeth Rumfelt). 28 years old. Wife is Mary, children are Elizabeth, Elmira and Ebenezer.

8 Oct. 1850: U.S., Selected Federal Census Non-Population Schedules, in “Stuart, Stewart County, Tennessee”, Schedule type is Agriculture. He’s listed underneath his father-in-law, Ebenezer Rumfelt.

1860 Census: Probably died before this census. Wife and kids are in one household without him.

12 June 1914: Daughter Bettie dies. Her death certificate lists parents as “Wm. Aron and Sis Aron”. The abbreviation Wm. means William. Was this a mistake or was this Henderson’s first name? Information was reported by Bettie’s son-in-law, Jake (Jacob) Coffel, who was married to her daughter Mary. Bettie lived with them for several years until her death.

20 Jan 1931: Son Eli “Hawk” dies. Death certificate lists his parents as “Henderson Aaron and Sis Rumfelt”.

Other Articles about the Aaron Family

Chronological Timeline: Aaron Records in Early Stewart County, Tennessee

John Aaron

Rachel Aaron

Originally posted January 18, 2017
Last updated January 24, 2020