John Scalf, Jr.

John Scalf Jr., son of John Scalf Sr. and Edeah Carlisle Scalf was born 1790 – 1800. His date of birth estimates around 1795 from at least one census; however, this is debatable due to his age listed on various census records.

1) From the 1830 census of Russell County, Virginia, John’s birth date is estimated at 1790 – 1800.

2) From the 1840 census of Hawkins County, Tennessee, estimation reveals a date of 1790 – 1800.

3) From the 1850 census of Claiborne County, Tennessee his birth date estimates 1795.

4) From the 1860 Scott County, Virginia census, John’s birth is estimated at 1790. This is the last census record found of John Scalf Jr.

It is possible that John Jr. is one of the males in the home of his father in the year 1820 in Russell County, Virginia listed as 16 – 26 years old. This census estimates a birth date of 1794 – 1804 and could just as easily be William or Brittain. Since John Jr. does not appear to have been in the home of his father in 1810 in Floyd County, Kentucky, it is questionable that he would have been in his father’s home in 1820.

There is no male in the home of John Scalf Sr. on the 1810 Floyd County, Kentucky census estimating an age that would correspond to the birth of John Jr., and it is unknown where he may have been during this time but several suggestions are listed for research purposes.

Henry P. Scalf and Elmer Scalf suggested in their writings that John Jr. might have been working on a farm nearby his father in 1810 Floyd County. It should also be noted that John Jr. would have been old enough to marry by 1810 and could have been in Kentucky, Virginia or North Carolina.

Due to the fact that his father had previously gone to Russell County, Virginia 1806-1810, it is very possible that John Jr. married in Russell County and remained there when his father left for Kentucky. However, John Scalf, Jr. was not found on the 1810 Russell County tax list or as head of house on the 1820 Russell County, Virginia census.

If John Jr. was the young male in the home of Lewis Scalf in Edgecombe, North Carolina then he was most likely born 1790 and certainly would have been old enough to marry at the time his father passed through Russell County, Virginia the first time.

John Scalf, Jr. married Martha “Patsy” Counts believed to have been the daughter of John and Fanny Counts of Russell County, Virginia. It is confirmed by Patsy Counts Scalf in her deposition that she was the wife of John Scalf Jr.; however, her parents cannot be confirmed at this time. Correspondence with the Counts family has failed to confirm who Patsy’s parents were and a search of the Russell County, Virginia records have not been helpful in confirming the names of Patsy’s parents.

It is also stated that her surname might have been Couts but this is in doubt as Counts appears more often in Russell County and Couts could most likely be a misinterpreted spelling of Coats, which happens frequently due to the appearance of the letters in the old writings.

If Patsy’s father was John Counts, then he would have to be the older John Counts, Sr. One John Counts helped John Scalf, Sr. with the bond in Russell County, Virginia when John Jr. was charged with passing counterfeit money. We can safely rule out John Counts, Jr. as being the father of Patsy Counts for he was 20 – 30 years old in 1820 and might have been a brother to Patsy but not her father.

The census records of Russell County, Virginia list the families alphabetically and we cannot determine if the Couch, Counts and Scalf families were living in the same neighborhood in 1820 and 1830. It is not until 1840 that we find a Russell County census in original order, including the microfilm images.

On the 1820 census of Russell County, John Counts, Sr. was listed as 45 and over calculating a birth date of 1775 or before. In 1830, he is listed as 60 – 70 calculating a birth date of 1760 – 1770. He is listed in 1840 as 70 – 80 calculating a birth date again of 1760 – 1770. John Counts, Sr. owned two slaves in 1820, seven slaves in 1830 and six slaves in 1840. As can be seen below, it does not appear that John Scalf, Jr. and Patsy Counts Scalf were in the home of John Counts, Sr. in 1820.

We also learn from the census records that Patsy’s full name was Martha “Patsy” Counts. Patsy was often used for Martha as Polly was often used for Mary. The Counts families were very early settlers in Russell County, Virginia and some of these families were found in Wilkes and Ashe County, North Carolina when the Scalf family was living in Wilkes.

The family of John Jr. and Patsy are quite difficult to follow, possibly due to the lack of records in the area where John and Patsy settled. The Civil War, fire, floods and numerous things took place in these counties resulting in records being destroyed and/or lost. We may never know the facts concerning Patsy’s lineage or the names of John and Patsy’s oldest children. However, we have attempted to confirm and/or rule out the evidence concerning this family and anticipate the connecting evidence will eventually surface to complete this family. .

In Chronicles of the Scalf Family, Henry Scalf lists names of the older children of John and Patsy and believed that John had lived in Kentucky at several different intervals. A link to Henry’s writings is provided here concerning John Jr. and Patsy Counts Scalf. These names can be found in Chapter VI, Bitter Years.

These names can be found in Scalf Family History, Chapter IV, page 36, John Scalf, Revolutionary Soldier. A link to these writings is also provided.

Both Henry Scalf and Elmer Scalf list the names of the older children of John and Patsy; however, research cannot confirm these names. Attempts have been made to avoid repetition of census records of the families but it appears impossible to write some of these chapters without referring back to what has already been written. To avoid the census records stated previously would be avoiding the time-line and family relationship of these families, which would ultimately cause confusion; therefore, census records will often be repeated in these writings. .

Recall that John Scalf Sr. married Edeah Carlisle 1787 in Edgecombe County, North Carolina. His father, Lewis, was living in Johnston County, North Carolina at this time and John and Edeah are most likely living in the home of Lewis Scalf. Johnston County is a neighbor to Edgecombe. John and Edeah had two daughters, Nancy and Polly, born 1788 and 1789 respectively.

In 1790, John Sr.’s father Lewis is living in Edgecombe County, North Carolina and in all likelihood, John and Edy were living in the home of Lewis and his wife, Elizabeth. John Sr. cannot be found as head of house in 1790 and it is assumed this is the reason for the large number of people enumerated in the home of Lewis Scalf at this time.

One of the males in the home in 1790 (16 years of age and over) could also have been John Jr. However, due to the way the 1790 census is compiled, it would be difficult to determine. It is believed that Benjamin, brother of John Sr. was married at this time as well and had left the home. It is also possible that David had married and was living elsewhere as he should have been 21 at this time.

William Scalf was the only son of Lewis at this particular time that would have been under 16 years old. Due to the way this census reads, there could have been any one of the older sons of Lewis married and living in the home at this time. It is suspected that John Sr. and his wife, Edy, are in the home but this is speculation only based on the fact that John Sr. is not found as head of house and then appears near his father in 1800 Surry County, North Carolina.

2 males (16 years and up) including head of family - (Lewis and John Sr?)
3 males (under the age of 16) - (David, William and John Jr.)
5 females - (Elizabeth, wife of Lewis - Edy, wife of John Sr.- Nancy and Polly, daughters of John and Edy – one daughter of Lewis).

By 1800, Lewis and John are found in Surry County, North Carolina in separate homes. Only the census of John Sr. is presented here. See the chapter of Lewis Scalf for his enumeration in this year.

By 1806, John Scalf Sr. and his family have left the Surry/Wilkes County area and are next found on the1810 Floyd County, Kentucky census.

These names are listed according to estimation from the information concerning the ages listed in Scalf Family History page, 36; however, this may not be accurate.

The three males could be Brittan, William #2 and Berryman. Lee is listed on page 36 of Scalf Family History as being born in 1810. We do not know the month of Lee’s birth. Most of the early censuses before 1850 were enumerated August through December of the census year. If Lee was born before August, one of these sons could have been Lee; therefore, the lineup could read, William #2, Berryman and Lee with John Jr. and Brittan missing from the home. At least one older son appears to be missing on this census if ages are listed correctly and is most likely John Jr. but Brittan might be missing as well.

Note that the age categories change on the 1820 census. Males have an extra category that is not listed for the females. This census has caused many headaches for researchers due to the fact that a male aged, 16 – 18 will be listed in this category and then again in the 16 – 26 category. This often results in researchers counting one person twice. If you have more males in your family than can be accounted for, recheck your 1820 census.

John Scalf Jr. was not found as head of house in 1820. Although it is possible that one of the males born 1794 – 1804 could have been John Jr. and one of the females born 1794 – 1804 could have been his wife, Patsy Counts, it is also very possible that one of the males born 1794 – 1804 was the husband of one of the married girls living in the home and again, we are at a loss in confirming the family members in the home.

However, considering the fact that Nancy and Polly do not appear to be in the home at this time, it appears that John Jr. and Patsy could have been living in the home. It is doubtful that Dicey was one of the females listed in the home as well. If Dicey was born 1800, she could have been married at this time.

John Jr’s age was consistently the same on the census records with the exception of this one if this is John Jr. in his father’s home. It seems unlikely that his age would change here. At least one of the females should be Betsy born 1816, as she would have been four years old at this time. According to the estimated marriage date of Lydia, she should also have been listed here. We do not know the exact dates for the marriages for any of these girls so we have no way of knowing if they were married at this time or if they were living in the home of someone else.

The age categories change again in 1830 and John Scalf, Jr. now appears for the first time as head of house.

Males: (Under 5) (5-10) (10-15) (15-20) (20-30) (30-40) (40-50) (50-60) (60-70)

Females: (Under 5) (5 – 10) (10 – 15) (15 –20) (20 – 30) (30 – 40) (40 – 50)

In 1833 John Scalf Sr. and his son, John Jr. are listed on the Russell County, Virginia Personal Property tax list. Note that neither John Sr. nor John Jr. was listed in 1836.

Lee Scalf is the only Scalf shown on the 1836 tax list still living in Russell County. It was also in this year that an application for a marriage license was issued in Clay County, Kentucky for Thomas Hubbard to Ann Scalf.

By March of 1837 a John Scalf is back in Russell County and taxed again in 1838 but disappears afterwards. This is most likely John Jr. due to the fact that John Sr. was in Hawkins County, Tennessee making his first appeal for his pension.

Sharon Carter, a Trent descendent and researcher sent the following tax list to me. An explanation of the tax list is listed below to aid those who are not familiar with the tax lists.

The explanation given below is a very thorough explanation of the tax lists. Although the personal property tax lists of Russell County are pretty much self-explanatory, it always helps to understand exactly how the tax lists were structured. I am not certain, but I believe these notes were from Michael Dye who does a wonderful job with the Russell County website and has such helpful information.

“A few Notes about the Personal Property Tax Lists: The numbers following the names on the lists are the numbers of white tithable persons in the household. All males became tithable when they reached the age of 16. Males became responsible for paying tax when they reached the age of 21. On a few lists will be found 2 numbers following a name instead of 1. In those cases the first number represents the number of tithable persons above the age of 21 in the household while the second number represented the number of tithable persons 16 and above but under 21 years of age in the household. Occasionally a person will be found with the number zero (0) following their name. People could be exempted from paying tax due to age or bodily infirmities or when they were engaged in certain professions such as being a clergyman. Women will often be found with a zero (0) following their names. Women were not tithable and in those cases, no tithable males were living in the household.

Tax lists can be a good source for determining a person’s approximate year of birth. They can also help in determining a possible father - son relationship. When a persons name appears on a tax list you can figure that person is at least 21 years of age. If a person appears on a list with, for example, the number 3 following their name, then you can figure that person, besides themselves has two sons at least age 16, but under the age of 21 living with them. Also, as an example, say John Smith in one tax year has a number 3 following his name. Then the next year, John Smith now has a number 2 following his name and Bob Smith now appears on the tax list for the first time. This is a good indicator that Bob Smith was a son of John Smith and that in the year that he appears on the list he reached the age of 21. Sometimes the lists will actually identify a father - son relationship by saying something such as "William Smith, son of John". This is usually done when more than one William Smith is appearing on the list and they were trying to differentiate between them. Approximate death dates and wives names can also be determined from the tax lists. If John Smith has been appearing for several years, and then for example, on the 1798 tax list and future ones he no longer appears, then that is a good indicator that he died about 1798, especially if in his place the name, Mary Smith, for example appears. Often, a woman’s name will appear as "Mary Smith, Wife of John Smith dec'd" or something similar.

One last point, often you will find on a tax list, for example, the names John Smith Sr. and John Smith, Jr. This may indicate a father - son relationship, but not always. Sometimes an older person with the same name as someone younger was referred to as being a Sr. to differentiate the two. It is best when you find this to look at earlier tax lists to see if you can determine when John Smith, Jr. first appeared and if John smith Sr. or another Smith had a reduction in the number of tithables in their household at that time.” http://www.rootsweb.com/~varussel/census/index.html

From the 1834 tax list we know that neither John Sr. nor John Jr. had sons aged 16 or over at home.

From the tax lists of 1833 through 1835, it is difficult to determine exactly which son was in the home of John Scalf, Sr., but according to family legends, Jesse, Peter and Robert had left the area around 1833. We have nothing to confirm that all three had left the area at this time but we can confirm that Peter and Robert were in Kentucky by 1835 as they had married in that year in Clay County.

Legend states “three brothers left Russell County for Kentucky around 1833.” Robert was born 1818 and would have been around 15 years old in 1833. However, his age could have been listed incorrectly on the census records and he might have been a year or two older at this time.

If all three sons were in Kentucky at the time of the 1834 tax assessment of Russell County, then this son could have been William listed in 1833 and 1835 but is missing in 1834. William might have also gone to Kentucky after 1833 and returned to Russell County by 1835. John Scalf, Sr. had no tithables other than himself in 1834.

Patsy Counts Scalf stated that William II had died by 1845. We have no death date for William and he may have died earlier but it appears he died 1835 – 1840. John Sr. again has no children in the home on the 1840 Hawkins County, Tennessee census.

We know that William was living in October of 1820 when John was charged with assault for bringing William back home after he had been removed by the court of Russell County. We do not know if William remained at home when John Sr. took him back or if he was returned to John Smyth in 1820.

However, the court records of Russell County do not suggest that William was returned to Smyth. If he remained at home, then William appears to have died after the tax assessment of 1835. There are no children in the home of John Sr. in 1840 Hawkins County, Tennessee.

Patsy Counts Scalf states very clearly the children who were married in her deposition in Hawkins County. She does not state that William I or William II was ever married. It is assumed that if William II had ever been married, Patsy would have stated this. Her only statement concerning the two William’s was that they were both deceased by 1845. She also did not state a number of children for this William. Therefore, our only conclusion concerning William II is that he had died unmarried with no children by the year 1845 and most likely between the years of 1835 and 1840.

This is the last time John Scalf, Sr. appears in Russell County. He had sold his property in December of 1834 and the court minutes of Russell suggest he had left the area by July of 1835. The only Scalf families found in Russell County, Virginia on the tax lists after 1835 were Lee, Brittan and John Jr.

(This is John Jr. and he is taxed on himself only. No other males over 16 or under 21)

We pick John Scalf, Jr. up again from the 1839 – 1850 School Population, known as “The Squire’s Ledger” in Hawkins County, Tennessee. There is little doubt that this is John Scalf, Jr. Although Celia (Sela), daughter of John Sr., was of school age it is believed from the statement of Thomas Lockard in Hawkins County that he married Sela before 1840. If this is correct, there were no children of school age in John Sr.’s home in 1839.

This list reveals that John Scalf, Jr. moved from Russell County, Virginia after April 18, 1838 and is now in Hawkins County, Tennessee by the school year of 1839.

Sharon Carter sent this school population census to me. Sharon and Scott Trent, Jr. have been very helpful in sharing their Trent family research with me during the compilation of Alexander Trent and Polly Scalf.

The numbers following the names denote how many children were of school age in the home.

John Jr. is listed on the 1840 Hawkins County census, so he was most likely on this faded list as well. (M. Fleenor)

When the 1840 census is compared to the 1850 census, there is one more daughter in 1840 than there was in1850.

This daughter was born 1820 – 1825. John had five daughters and one son in 1840 and four daughters and two sons in 1850. The 1850 census reveals that the oldest daughter had left home by 1850.

1 male	10 – 15	1825 – 1830	(Richard)
1 male	40 – 50	1790 – 1800	(John Jr)
3 females	0 – 5	1835 – 1840	(Cristena, Catherine, Mary)
1 female	10 – 15	1825 – 1830	(Matilda)
1 female	15 – 20	1820 – 1825	(?)
1 female	30 – 40	1800 – 1810	(Patsy)

On the 7^th day of December 1842, John Scalf bought a parcel of land from Alexander Trent. It is believed that this John Scalf was John Scalf, Jr. Alexander Trent was the husband of Polly Scalf. This land was located on the South side of Clinch River in the county of Hawkins. In 1842 this land lay in Hawkins but by 1844, this land would have been in Hancock County, Tennessee. It was near Byrd’s Corner, which appears to have been located in what was previously called Puncheon Camp but was changed to Pumpkin Valley. It is now known as Clinch Valley. William Scalf and James Trent witnessed the deed. William is believed to have been a son of John Jr. or a son-in-law but the relationship of James Trent and Alexander Trent are unknown at this time. James might have been a son of Alexander and Polly.

John is listed again in the Squire’s Ledger beginning in 1843 through 1846 in Hawkins County but by 1847 is found listed in Hancock. This was probably due to the long drawn out legislative problems in the creation of Hancock County.

As noted, John Jr. was listed in Hancock County in 1847. Hancock was created in 1844 from Hawkins County; however, due to the slow legislation the county was not official until around 1846-1847.

*NOTE: Comparing the ages of John’s children with the information from the Russell County, Virginia Personal Property tax lists, we can see that John Jr. did not have any sons old enough during the 1830’s to be counted as tithables. Richard was born around 1830 and would not have been 16 until 1846. John Jr. was in Hawkins County during this time. Richard’s estimated birth also matches on both the 1840 and 1850 census.

This also reveals that if John Jr. had been the father of John Scalf of Putnam County, Illinois and Isaac Scalf of Iowa, these two sons would have been listed as tithables in the home of John Scalf, Jr. by 1838 with John of Putnam County being counted in 1831 and Isaac by 1838. Another interesting piece of information obtained from the tax lists and census analysis is that John Jr. did not appear to have any male tithables from 1833 through 1838. This certainly appears strange if John Jr. had any sons born before 1830 and if John and Patsy actually had 14 children as stated in Patsy’s deposition. If John Jr. had one son old enough to be counted in 1833, he would have been born around 1817.

This also suggests that the older children of John Scalf, Jr. were females, as females were not counted as tithables. This may be the reason the older children of John and Patsy have been difficult to confirm.

This also raises doubt that William Scalf who married Talitha Scalf was a son of John Jr. William was born about 1819 or 1820 and should have been counted as a tithable in the home of John Jr. in 1837 and 1838. William married Talitha in 1839 in Hawkins County, Tennessee. John Jr. moved there by the school year of 1839, which generally began in autumn. It is possible that John and Patsy had 14 children and some died but according to the above information, most of the children of John Scalf, Jr. and Patsy Counts Scalf were females.

In 1839 John Jr. had four children of school age. This apparently included an older unknown daughter from the 1840 census, Matilda, Richard and Cristena as Catherine was only three years old in 1839 and could not have been one of the four children of school age.

By 1841, John only had three children of school age. This would include, Matilda, Richard and Cristena. It appears that one of the older children was gone at this time.

By 1842, he now has four children of school age again and this was probably Matilda, Richard, Cristena and now Catherine as Catherine would have been six years old.

The same number of children exists in 1843 but by 1844, John now has five children in school. This would include, Matilda, Richard, Cristena, Catherine and Mary, as James was only three years old at this time.

The number remains 5 until the year, 1847 when he has six children in school. This includes all of the above children listed on the 1850 census unless Matilda was not going to school at this time and John and Patsy had another child which is doubtful since no children are found in the home in 1860. If they had another child, the child would have been at least 13 years old in 1860 and would have been enumerated in John and Patsy’s home in 1860. The children from the 1850 census are most likely the children in school in 1847. Matilda would have been 18 years old if her age was correct in 1850. Children in school at the age of 21 have been found in records during this time and it was not unusual so Matilda was probably still in school in 1847.

John’s father John Scalf Sr. died in 1848 in Greene County, Tennessee. This might be the reason John Jr. is not found on the school population census at this time. Another reason could be that the children were not in school. This was not a legal requirement during this time and many children were not able to go to school. We lose track of John Jr. in 1848 and 1849 but by 1850, John Jr. is in Claiborne County, Tennessee. His mother, Edeah Carlisle Scalf is in the home of John and Patsy (Patsy is listed here as Martha).

John Jr. is also listed on the 1850 Claiborne County Land Tax List in District 12. John owned 50 acres valued at $100. He was charged $.30. John is also taxed again in 1851 in the same district on the same acreage with the same value. This year his tax was $.25.

It has not been determined exactly when John Jr. left Claiborne County, Tennessee. However, his brother, Ira had sold his land by 1858 and probably moved over to Kentucky. It is believed by this researcher that John and Ira sold their properties around the same time with John Jr. moving to Scott County, Virginia and Ira to Kentucky; however, no deed of sale by John Jr. has been found.

An Edith Scalf was found on the 1853 Knox County, Kentucky tax list and is most likely Edy Scalf, wife of John Scalf, Sr. She is living near Peter Scalf who was also listed in this same year. This suggests that Edy Scalf Carlisle was living in Knox County, Kentucky near her son Peter Scalf in 1853 as head of house. Ira moved to Kentucky around 1858 or 1859 and Edy may have moved in with Ira at this time.

By 1860, John and Patsy are found living in Scott County, Virginia. No children are in the home and John is listed as 70 years old. John’s occupation is listed as “Miller.” It should be noted here that all the females on the 1860 Scott County, Virginia census were listed as “spinsters.” The reason for this is not known.

The fact that John’s occupation is listed as a “Miller” coincides with the story related from some of the marital lines of this family concerning John’s suit against the Gose-Bush families of Russell County.

The records do show that Valentine Bush owned a mill in Russell County, Virginia passed down from his father and that he lost this mill. Legend has it that John won his suit and became the owner of this mill. Although records have been found to establish that John did win his suit, no records have been found by this researcher to confirm that John Scalf, Jr. became the owner of the mill.

John Scalf Jr. and Martha “Patsy” Counts Scalf were not found after 1860 and presumed to have died 1860 – 1870. No death record has been found at this time. John Jr. might have died and Patsy survived him and remarried but no marriage record has been found at this date.

An effort is made here to present as much as is known, along with what has been found of the older children of John Jr. and Patsy. It is our hope that descendents will read this material and be able to fill in some of the gaps in these families.

A listing of the older children believed by Elmer Scalf to have been children of John and Patsy is listed here, along with the children found on the 1850 census of Claiborne County, Tennessee who are certainly the known children of John and Patsy.

An attempt will be made to present what is known of these folks and theories concerning them in relation to John and Patsy. The first eight children are the ones not listed on census records.

Scalf Family History, page 157-158 by Elmer D. Scalf states that John Scalf, Jr. and Patsy Counts Scalf had the following children:

1) Ann Scalf (b) 1811, married Thomas Hubbard April 6, 1826 in Clay County, Kentucky. (Marriage record shows 1836). (Not a proven child of John Jr. This could also have been Ceely Ann Scalf, daughter of John Scalf, Sr. as John Sr. is believed to have been in Kentucky in 1836).
2) John Scalf (b) 1814 Married 1) ____ 2) Eliza Tate. (Not a proven child of John Jr. Evidence suggests he was a son of Benjamin Scalf)
3) Rebecca Scalf (b)? Married Abijah Edwards 1860 Clay Co. Kentucky. (Not a proven child of John Jr.).
4) Fielding Scalf (b) 1816 Married Rachel _____. (Not a proven child of John Jr.).
5) William Scalf (b) 1819 Married Tabitha Scalf (Hawkins County, TN 1839).(Neither William nor Talitha are proven children. Talitha might have been a daughter or a daughter-in-law).
6) Isaac Scalf (b) 1822 Married Sarah J. _____. (Not a proven child of John Jr. Isaac Scalf of Iowa married Sarah Jane Smith, daughter of Jesse Smith. Other evidence points to the family of Benjamin Scalf).
7) Celia Scalf (b)? Married Thomas Jackson. (Not a proven child of John Jr).
8) Greenberry Scalf (b) 1827. Placed in home of Ransome Stewart in KY. (Appears to be son of Ira Scalf).
9) Matilda Scalf (b) 1827 Married Jacob Lay August 14, 1851 in Grainger Co. TN. (Proven child of John Jr. per 1850 census – Married in Grainger Co.TN).
10) Richard Scalf (b) 1830 Married Jane Perry 1852 Claiborne Co. TN. (Proven child of John Jr. per 1850 census – married in Claiborne Co. TN)
11) Christine Scalf (b) 1833 Married John Wood July 24, 1851 Claiborne Co. TN (Proven child of John Jr. per 1850 census -Claiborne Co Marriages).
12) Catherine Scalf (b) 1836 Married Miles Scalf (son of Ira) September 14, 1854 Claiborne Co. TN. (Proven child of John Jr. per 1850 census -Claiborne Co. Marriages).
13) Mary A. Scalf (b) 1839 married Ed Messer. (Proven child of John Jr. per 1860 census).
14) James Scalf (b) 1840 married _________. (Proven child of John Jr. per 1850 census -No information).

It is stated that Ann Scalf was the oldest daughter of John Scalf Jr. and Martha “Patsy” Counts Scalf. Ann is reportedly born 1811 and married Thomas Hubbard in Clay County, Kentucky in April of 1826. However, the marriage of Thomas Hubbard to Cealy Ann Scalf took place in April of 1836.

We cannot rule out the fact that ages and birth dates are known to be stated incorrectly on the records. Due to this knowledge, it is possible that Ann was a daughter of John and Patsy, but at this point only descendents of the Thomas Hubbard line can help solve this mystery. Records and family legend will need to be compared in order to sort this out. It is also possible that this Cealy Ann Scalf was the daughter of John Scalf, Sr. since John is believed to have been in the area at this time.

Analyzing what we know verses what we do not know concerning the older children of John Scalf Jr. and Martha (Patsy) Counts Scalf we find the following:

Fact 1: What is known. Scalf Family History, page 155 states the following:

“It is certain that John, Jr. and his new bride, Patsy Couts, had arrived in Clay County, Kentucky by 18 11 as this was the year their first child, Ann Scalf, was born. Ann Scalf later married in Clay County to Thomas Hubbard on April 6, 1826.”

Ann would have been 15 years old in 1826 but this was not uncommon for marriage during this time. The date for the marriage of Ann Scalf to Thomas Hubbard is actually 1836. The date listed by Elmer was probably a typing error. Ann would have been 25 years old in 1836 if she was born 1811 and she could have been born later.

The following is a response to a message posted on the Hubbard forum received from Gary Smallwood August 9, 2004

“Margaret: I don't know if you found your Thomas Hubbard or not, but from my records this Thomas is two different Thomas Hubbards. Thomas Hubbard b: abt 1804 was married to an Elizabeth and had four children and then there was this one; Thomas Hubbard b: abt.1776 was married to Cealy Ann Scalf plus two other women”

Fact 2: Ann Scalf married Thomas Hubbard - 04-06-1836 Clay Co. KY (Clay County Bride Index).

Fact 3: Around the latter part of 1835 and early 1836, the Scalf family was beginning to leave Russell County, Virginia and this would coincide with the marriage of Ann Scalf to Thomas Hubbard in Clay County, Kentucky in 1836 as there is evidence that some of John Sr.’s children were in Kentucky between 1836 and 1840. However, the families of John Jr., Ira, Polly Scalf Trent, possibly Nancy Scalf Collins, Lydia Scalf Painter and Cecelia Scalf Lochard were in Hawkins County, Tennessee by 1840 where they were enumerated on the 1840 census. William Scalf who married Talitha Scalf in 1839 Hawkins County was also there.

NOTE: This William was not the son of John Scalf Sr. The son of John Sr.; William No. 2 had died by 1845 according to the statement of Patsy Counts Scalf. Therefore, he could not have married Talitha Trent in 1839 Hawkins County. Her husband left his will in Union County, Tennessee in 1852.

Fact 4: Page 128 of the 1820 Clay County, Kentucky census lists a Thomas Hubbard as head of house. However, both the older male and female are listed in the category of 45 and over. This would not be Thomas and Ann Scalf Hubbard.

Males: (0 – 10) (10 – 16) (16 – 18) (16 – 26) (26 – 45) (45 – or above)

Fact 5: From the 1830 census of Clay County, Kentucky, we find a Thomas Hubbard age 20 – 30 with a wife the same age but this again is not Thomas and Ann because they married in 1836 and would not have been listed on the 1830 census.

A Thomas Hubbard was not found in 1840 as head of house but this could be due to the misinterpreted spellings of some names on census indexes.

Fact 6: By 1850 a Thomas Hubbard is found as head of house in Knox County, Kentucky. This may or may not be Ann Scalf who married Thomas Hubbard. If so, her name was Elizabeth Ann Scalf for she appears as Elizabeth here. However, this does appear to be the Thomas Hubbard and Elizabeth mentioned above by Gary Smallwood.

For research purposes, this family was followed through 1870 in the event that this is the correct Ann Scalf and Thomas Hubbard. Of course, the ages conflict from census to census as usual.

It appears that either Thomas had died before 1870 or they had divorced because Elizabeth is in the home of her son, James Franklin Hubbard in 1870. Her last daughter, Ellen, was also in the home. As can be seen on these census records, it is difficult to estimate Elizabeth’s approximate birth date due to the conflicting ages stated on the census records.

Speculation: Several clues might indicate this family to be Thomas and Ann Scalf Hubbard. There is a Messer family living nearby Thomas Hubbard in 1850. Ann’s sister, Mary, is reported to have married Ed Messer. In 1860, the Thomas Hubbard family is living just down the road from Peter Scalf, an uncle to Ann Scalf.

This is certainly not enough evidence to confirm this is Ann Scalf and Thomas Hubbard and has been offered only as an avenue of research. Again, we are left to wonder if John Jr. did have a daughter named Ann who married Thomas Hubbard in 1836 Clay County, Kentucky of if this could have been Cecelia Scalf, daughter of John Scalf, Sr. who married Thomas Hubbard and then Thomas Lochard. Descendents of the correct Thomas Hubbard may be able to add to this.

The only other explanation that can be offered concerning this matter is the fact that the records might have been confused between Lockard and Hubbard. The marriage bond for Thomas Hubbard and Cealy Ann Scalf would need to be studied closely to determine if the name Hubbard could have been Lockard.

John Scalf is listed as the son of John Scalf Jr. in Scalf Family History. Elmer states that this John Scalf moved on to Putnam County, Missouri where he married Ann Eliza Tate. However, a letter from the wife of the grandson of this John Scalf conflicts with this.

Fact 1: Mrs. Roy Scalf, wife of the grandson of John Scalf of Putnam County, Illinois states “I have heard my husband talk of his grandfather stating many times that he left home due to his step-mother.”

Fact 2: John Scalf of Putnam County, Illinois married first to Malinda Wood. He then married Ann Eliza Tate about 1858. This John Scalf left home around the age of 15 years old due to conflicts with his stepmother as stated by the wife of his grandson.

Fact 3: John Scalf Jr. was only married one time that we can find and this was to Martha “Patsy” Counts; therefore, there would have been no conflicts with a stepson.

Fact 4: John Scalf of Putnam County, Missouri could not have been the son of John Scalf, Jr., unless John Scalf, Jr. had married twice.

Fact 5: John of Putnam County, Missouri is first found in Van Buren County, Iowa on the 1838 territorial census with a female in the home presumed to be his wife, Malinda Wood Scalf. This couple was married in 1837 in Lewis County, Iowa. They were the parents of two sons, John Wesley and Benjamin Franklin Scalf. When Malinda died, (1845-1850) John left the boys in the home of William Young and was not found again until1860.

Fact 6: The William Young family can be found on the 1850 census of Wapello County, Iowa with these children in the home listed as Wesley and Benjamin F. This was John Wesley and Benjamin Franklin Scalf.

Although there is no documented proof at this time, it is believed that Jane was a sister of John Scalf of Putnam County, Missouri. Jane was born in Tennessee. It appears that this family had gone to Indiana and returned to Tennessee for several years then moved to Ohio, eventually moving over to Wapello County, Iowa.

Fact 7: John Scalf and Ann Eliza Tate Scalf were found on the 1860 census of Putnam County, Missouri with their children and the children of John and his first wife, Malinda. Wesley and Benjamin who had been found in the home of the Young family and also named by Mrs. Roy Scalf were listed on this census with their father and his second wife, Ann Eliza Tate.

It was stated by another descendent that John “sailed around the cape” after the death of his first wife. It was also stated that John had been boarding a train in Pennsylvania when he was drawn to an old man across the road sitting on the porch reading the paper. John thought of going over to speak to the man but the train pulled in and he had to leave. Later, he was telling “his brother Lewis “about this incident and was informed by Lewis that this man was his father whom John had not seen for many years. This elderly man could not have been John Scalf, Jr.

Fact 8: This statement specifically mentioned “his brother Lewis.” This statement alone would rule out the possibility of John of Putnam County, Missouri being the son of John Scalf Jr. Therefore, we can rule out this John as being the son of John Jr. and Patsy Counts Scalf.

Fact 9: John Scalf of Putnam County was living near his brother Lewis Scalf in 1860 as stated by Mrs. Roy Scalf.

Fact 10: This Lewis Scalf married first to Nancy Coziah (Keziah) in Washington County, Tennessee and moved to McDonough County, Illinois by 1840. Nancy died and Lewis remarried to the widow, Ruth Osborne. Lewis and Ruth moved over to Putnam County, Missouri by 1860 where they were enumerated on the 1860 census.

Fact 11: Lewis is known to have been a son of Benjamin Scalf of Washington County, Tennessee. The mention of “Pennsylvania” was most likely Elkhart, Indiana instead for this is where Benjamin Scalf was living during the time the descendent was speaking of.

Rebecca Scalf is reported to have been a daughter of John and Patsy Counts Scalf. It is reported that she married Abijah Edwards 1860 in Clay County, Kentucky. This may be correct but several questions arise concerning Rebecca.

1) Why did Rebecca not marry until 1860? Although the Scalf Family History does not give an age for Rebecca, it is safe to assume she was not born after 1827 because had she been born this late, she would have been listed on the 1850 census of Claiborne County, Tennessee after Matilda who was born in 1827.

2) Was Rebecca married prior to her marriage to Abijah Edwards in 1860? If Rebecca was the child on the 1840 census that was older than Matilda, she would have been around the age of 35-40 years old when she married Abijah. If she were older than this child on the 1840 census of John and Patsy, she would have been even older when she married Abijah.

3) If she was the unknown child in John Jr.’s home in 1840, why was she not listed on the census record of 1850 if she waited until 1860 to marry?

It is listed in Scalf Family History that John Jr.’s children were in various homes at various times but there is no explanation for this. It has also been stated that Berryman’s children were in various homes at various times but this also is questionable and cannot be confirmed.

If Rebecca Scalf who married Abijah Edwards was the daughter of John and Patsy she surely married someone else prior to her marriage to Abijah. If she was not their daughter, then she was the daughter of another Scalf family member, possibly one in Kentucky or to take the mystery a bit further, she might have been the wife of a Scalf who had died, divorced or she was illegitimate.

Whichever is correct, it does not seem logical that Rebecca who married Abijah Edwards was the daughter of John Scalf Jr. and Patsy Counts. Descendents of Abijah Edwards might be able to help us solve this mystery.

It is confirmed that a Rebecca Scalf did marry Abijah Edwards 1860 in Clay County, Kentucky by the Kentucky Marriages, (bride index).

Fielding Scalf is listed as a son of John Scalf Jr. and Patsy Counts Scalf and was born about 1816. Nothing has been found concerning Fielding at this time. His wife is listed as Rachel. The children of Fielding and Rachel are listed as taken from Scalf Family History, page 159.

The above names John R. Scalf, Robert, Davey, Harriet and Caleb have failed to surface in the Tennessee or Virginia records but may be in the Kentucky records. These folks cannot be confirmed as part of the John Scalf Jr. family at this time. Greenberry Scalf had a son John R. Scalf but he was born much later than this John R. Scalf. Greenberry himself was born 1841 or 1842.

It should be noted that a Daniel Scalf is buried in the same cemetery as Richard Scalf. Richard was a known son of John Scalf, Jr. and Patsy Counts Scalf. It is believed that Daniel was a son of John and Patsy and Daniel might have been a middle or first name for Fielding.

William Scalf was born about 1819 and is reported in Scalf Family History to have been a son of John Scalf Jr. and Martha “Patsy” Counts Scalf. This also cannot be confirmed. Although William lived in the same area that John and Patsy lived in, there is not enough evidence to confirm that he was actually a son. The tax lists of Russell County also deny that John Jr. had a son before Richard was born around 1830.

William’s wife, Talitha Scalf, could just as easily have been a daughter of John and Patsy. Talitha was born around the same time as the daughter listed on the 1840 census of Hawkins, Tennessee in the home of John and Patsy. This daughter is unknown at this time.

In studying the family of Lee Scalf it does not appear that Talitha belonged to Lee either. Lee Scalf had two daughters born 1830 – 1835 and one son born 1835 – 1840 on the 1840 Russell County, Virginia Census. Talitha was born earlier than the daughters of Lee Scalf.

This raises the question of whether or not Talitha was actually a Scalf before her marriage or whether she might have been the daughter of Brittan and his wife Talitha Couch.

William and Talitha are first found on the 1840 Hawkins County, Tennessee census.

There appears to be a female in the home that would have probably been a relative of either William or Talitha. William and Talitha married December of 1839 in Hawkins County, Tennessee so they would not have children this age in 1840.

By 1850, William and Talitha have moved over to Claiborne County near Scalf and Trent relatives.

William Scalf died within a couple of years after his move to Claiborne County. His will was found at the Union County Historical Society, Maynardville, Tennessee and is listed below. This will had been copied from the books by the Historical Society and may contain errors.

Recorded in Minute Book A, “Guardian Book” page 99 Union County, TN 1856 – 1877, microfilm roll 1. WGT.

I, William Scalf of the County of Claiborne and State of Tennessee, being in sound mind and disposing of my property both real and personal, I will and bequesth unto my beloved wife TIBITHA all the land and estate and all my personal estate that I am seized of and possessed of out of which I want all my just debts paid and the remainder to be kept or disposed of as she may wish to do.

No further records were found for William after this will and it assumed he died during the same fly cholera epidemic that took the life of Rosannah Gibson Scalf.

Interestingly, the will of Richard Scaff was also sent to me at the same time. I had not requested this but was certainly glad to receive it. This will be listed under the family of Richard Scalf and Jane Perry.

After the death of William, Talitha remarried to Cornelius Trent January 6, 1854 in Claiborne County, Tennessee.

Either Cornelius died or they divorced because Talitha is found living next door to John Scalf Jr. in Scott County, Virginia in 1860. The children in her home appear to be listed with the last name of Morton, however it is the opinion of this researcher that this was an error made by the enumerator. The names of the children appear to match the children in William and Talitha’s home in 1850 with the exception of an additional child.

On first observation of this census it appeared that all of these children were the children of William Scalf and Talitha but further study of this family reveals that Henry Morton was most likely the husband of Mary, daughter of William and Talitha who is listed last on this census. Henry, son of William and Talitha was listed as Henry P. Scalf on the 1850 census. This Henry in 1860 is listed as Morton. Although the age appears correct, this does not appear to be the same person.

It is of doubt that Rachel was the daughter of Henry and Mary since Mary was only 18 here and would have been 14 when Rachel was born but it is also possible that Mary did marry very young. Another explanation for Rachel would be that she was the daughter of Talitha from her marriage to Cornelius Trent since they married in 1854 and Rachel was born 1856. As so often happens on the census records, the enumerator could have gotten confused between the two families and listed Rachel as a Morton.

Review of the 1850 census reveals Mariah was only 3 years old in 1850 and should have been 13 here but is listed as 16. This is only a three year difference and not unusual for the census records.

Sarah was one year old in 1850 but is twelve years old here. She should have been 11. Not a significant difference.

There was no Jesse on the 1850 census but there was a John, age 5 and this could be the same person using different names on these census records. Jesse is listed as 15. John would have been 15 at this time and is likely the same person.

David was six years old in 1850 and is now listed as 18 and this again, is not a significant difference.

In all likelihood, these are the children of William and Talitha with the exception of Henry Morton who is Mary’s new husband. Rachel is most likely the daughter of Cornelius and Talitha. Due to the fact that Henry was a male and married at this time, he was listed under Talitha. His surname was Morton and the enumerator probably forgot what he was doing and listed these children with ditto marks under Henry when they should have been listed under Talitha. If names were stated as Scalf, Morton, Trent, this was probably confusing to the enumerator and he had no idea who was married to whom or which children belonged to whom.

Talitha Scalf Trent was not found after the census and is believed to have died or remarried. No further information is known of this family.

The family of Isaac Scalf has been researched very in-depth over the past twenty years by this researcher and others. Numerous trips to Claiborne, Hawkins, Grainger, Union, Hancock, Washington, Carter and Sullivan County, Tennessee as well as Russell, Scott, Lee and Wise County Virginia have been made in an effort to find some tidbit of information, which might connect Isaac Scalf to the family of John Scalf, Jr. No information has been found to either suggest or document Isaac as being the son of John Scalf, Jr. There is more evidence to suggest that Isaac was a son of Benjamin Scalf than the son of John Jr.

Correspondence with various descendents of the Isaac Scalf family has also failed to reveal the parentage of Isaac. The majority of the information concerning the Isaac Scalf family of Collin County, Texas has been contributed by Glenda (Bales) Mounger. Glenda is the great-granddaughter of Jasper Richard Scalf, son of Isaac Scalf and Sarah Jane Smith Scalf.

Over the past five years Glenda and I have corresponded and shared information concerning Isaac in an effort to establish his parentage. Many hours have been spent working on this family. Glenda and her aunt Betty made a trip to Tennessee several years ago to research and we were able to meet. Although I was unable to get off work at that time, we enjoyed the brief time we had discussing our Scalf family.

Two other descendents of this line, Carol Waldroup and Mary Beckham have also contributed to this research. Carol spent many hours searching the census records and tracking the family of Isaac Scalf as well as the other family lines. Carol and Mary are great granddaughters of Jesse Benjamin Scalf, son of Isaac and Sarah. Carol was diagnosed with bone cancer in 2003 and had to give

One male	10-16	1804 – 1810
One male	16-18	1794 – 1796
One male	16-26	1794 – 1804
One male	45 and up	1775 or before
One female	10-16	1804 – 1810
One female	45 and up	1775 or before

One male	60-70	1760-1770
One female	60-70	1760-1770
Six slaves

1st No.	-	free white males 16 years and upward and head of families
2nd No.	-	free white males under 16 years
3rd No.	-	free white females and heads of families
4th No.	-	all other free persons
5th No.	-	slaves

1 male	0-10	1790-1800	(John Jr.)
1 male	26-45	1755-1784	(John Sr.)
2 females	10-16	1784-1790	(Nancy and Polly)
1 female	26-45	1755-1784	(Edy Carlisle Scalf)

3 males	0-10	(1800-1810)	Brittan, William #2 – Berryman (?)
1 male	26-45	(1765 – 1794)	John Sr.
3 females	0-10	(1800 – 1810)	Dicey – Lydia – Sela
2 females	16-26	(1784 – 1800)	Nancy and Polly
1 female	26-45	(1765 – 1794)	Edy

Males:	(0 – 10)	10 – 16)	(16 – 26)	(26 – 45)	(45 and up)
Females:	(0 – 10)	10 – 16)	(16 – 26)	(26 – 45)	(45 and up)

5 males	0 - 10	1810 – 1820	Lee – Ira – Jesse – Robert and Peter
2 males	10 - 16	1804 – 1810	Berry – William
1 male	16 - 18	1802 – 1804	Brittan
2 males	16 - 26	1794 – 1804	Brittan and John Jr (?)
1 male	45 or over	Before 1775	John Sr.
2 females	16 - 26	1794 – 1804	Dicey and Lydia (?)
1 female	45 or over	Before 1775	Edy

1 male under 5	(b) 1825 – 1830	Richard
1 male 30 – 40	(b) 1790 – 1800	John Scalf Jr.
1 female under 5	(b) 1825 – 1830	Matilda
1 female 5 – 10	(b) 1820 – 1825	(?)
1 female 20 – 30	(b) 1800 – 1810	Martha “Patsy” Counts Scalf

1029	John	Scalf, Jr.	55	M	VA	(b) 1795
	Edy		87	F	NC	(b) 1762	(mother of John Jr)
	Martha		43	F	VA	(b) 1807	(Martha Patsy Counts)
	Matilda		23	F	VA	(b) 1827	(md. Jacob Lay 1851)
	Richard		20	M	VA	(b) 1830	(md. Jane Perry)
	Cristena		17	F	VA	(b) 1833	(md. John Woods)
	Catharine		14	F	VA	(b) 1836	(md. Miles Scalf)
	Mary		11	F	TN	(b) 1839	(md. Ed Messer?)
	James		10	M	TN	(b) 1840	(son)

Hubbard,	Thomas	45	1805	TN	Farmer
	Elizabeth	35	1815	VA
	Jane	12	1838	KY
	Franklin	3	1847	KY
	Emily	1	1849	KY

Hubbard,	Thomas	60	1800	KY	Farmer
	Elizabeth	40	1820	VA
	Eliza Jane	20	1840	VA
	James	14	1846	VA
	Emeline	7	1853	VA
	Ellen	5	1855	VA

Hubbard,	James	22	1848	KY
	Susan	20	1850	KY
	James F	4	1866	KY
	John W	2	1868	KY
Hubbard,	Elizabeth	56	1814	KY
	Ellen	14	1856	KY

William	Young	62	1788	SC
Jane		47	1793	TN
William M.		27	1823	IN
John B.		25	1825	TN
Mary L.		19	1831	TN
Elizabeth		17	1833	TN
Giles		14	1836	OH
Wesley	Scalf	8	1842	IA
Benjamin	Scalf	5	1845	IA

John	Scalf	45	1815	NC
Eliza		28	1832	MO
Jno. W.		16	1844	IA
Benj.		14	1845	IA
Arminda		3	1857	MO
Elizabeth		1	1859	MO
Elizabeth	Tate	53	1807	KY

One male	20-30	1810 – 1820
One female	10-15	1825 – 1830
One female	15-20	1820 – 1825

William	Scalf	31	M	VA	(b) 1819
Talitha		25	F	VA	(b) 1825
Henry P		9	M	TN	(b) 1841
Mary J		8	F	TN	(b) 1842
David		6	M	TN	(b) 1844
John		5	M	TN	(b) 1845
Mariah		3	F	TN	(b) 1847
Sarah		1	F	TN	(b) 1849

Talitha	Trent	40	1820	VA	Spinster
Henry	Morton	20	1840	VA	Farmhand
David	"	18	1842	VA
Mariah	"	16	1844	VA
Jesse	"	14	1846	VA
Sarah	"	12	1848	VA
Catherine	"	10	1850	VA
Rachel	"	4	1856	VA
Mary	"	18	1842	VA	Spinster