The below timeline tracks Thomas Morrow, born about 1814, and who married Winney Foster. He was likely married once before Winney, but that wife is unknown. If you have any information about this family, please contact me at downhomegenealogy@gmail.com.

Timeline

About 1814 – Tennessee – Thomas Morrow is born according to the 1850 census.

1820 – Giles County, Tennessee – Census – This census does not list the names of children. Thomas Morrow would have been about 6 years old. There are two heads-of-household in Giles County with the last name Morrow: Thomas (Sr.) and Polley. Both have children in their home the right age of Thomas. However, I think we can rule out Thomas Sr. from the 1836 tax list. There are multiple Morrows across southern Tennessee in 1820, and we don’t know where our Thomas was born.

15 Jun 1836 – Giles County, Tennessee – John Wesley Morrow is born to Thomas Morrow and unknown mother. Place of birth is listed in the Databases of Illinois Veterans Index. Date of birth is located on his tombstone in Morrow Cemetery, Hampshire, Maury County, Tennessee. The 1850 census and veterans index indicate his birth year may have really been 1835.

1836 – Giles County, Tennessee – Tax List – There is a Thomas Morrow Sr., Thomas Morrow Jr., and a Thos J Morrow. I believe our Thomas is listed as “Thos J Morrow” by Saml Morrow and Jesse Morrow.

Who were Thomas Sr. and Jr.?

Thomas Sr. was married to Elizabeth Keith. Their son, Thomas Jr., was born about 1803. These Thomases also lived in Giles County, Tennessee, which makes early records hard to pinpoint on either Thomas Jr. or the man called Thos J on the 1836 tax list. I believe Thos J was probably either a grandson of Thomas Sr. or a son of one of his brothers. Thos J had a son named Jesse and also lived by a Jesse Morrow in 1836.

About 1837 – Tennessee – William C Morrow is born to Thomas Morrow and unknown mother.

16 Sep 1838 – Hardeman, Tennessee – Thomas Morrow marries Winney Foster.

About 1839 – Thomas and family moves to Mississippi by 1839. This is based on the 1850 census which states son Jesse was born in Mississippi about 1839.

1850 – Lafayette, Mississippi – Thomas and his family are listed on the census.
Thos Morrow, age 36, born in Tennessee about 1814, works as a farmer
Winney Morrow, age 36, born in Kentucky about 1814
John W Morrow, age 15, born in Tennessee about 1835, works as a laborer
William C Morrow, age 13, born in Tennessee about 1837
Jesse D Morrow, age 11, born in Mississippi about 1839
Elizabeth A Morrow, age 9, born in Mississippi about 1841
Mark Morrow, age 7, born in Mississippi about 1843
Mary J Morrow, age 5, born in Mississippi about 1845
Julia C Morrow, age 1, born in Mississippi about 1849

1860 – By this year, Thomas and Winney have disappeared from the census. Where did their children go?

• John Wesley Morrow is now 24 and lives in Washington County, Illinois with John and Julia Foster.
• William, listed as “WC Morrow”, is now 22 and lives in Washington County, Illinois with James and Margaret Reed. Margaret’s maiden name is Morrow.
• Mark Morrow is now 16 and lives in Washington County, Illinois with Henry and Elizabeth Foster. Pheba Morrow, age 8, also lives in the household. Pheba may be an additional child of Thomas and Winney Morrow.

Between 1850 and 1860, did the Morrow family all move to Washington County, Illinois? Did Thomas and Winney die in Mississippi or Illinois? The children were staying with extended family members of the Morrow or Foster families. Some children I couldn’t locate past the 1850 census.

Children

With first wife:
John Wesley Morrow
William Morrow

With second wife, Winney Foster:
Jesse Morrow
Elizabeth Morrow
Mark Morrow
Mary Morrow
Julia Morrow

Originally posted Dec. 28, 2020