Wife Wives of Sylvester Marcum
I am trying to get information on the wife of Sylvester Marcum( b. 1835, in Wayne Co. Virginia (now - West Virginia)). The 1860 West Virginia births, for “Melissa Marcrum” (yes, the misspelling), the parents are listed as “Sylvester Marcum” and “Sarah Ann Marcum”. Kentucky death records list the death of “Malissa Jobe” as 1916, Place: Twin Branch, Lawrence, Kentucky; Father's Name: Sylvester Marcum, Mother's Name: Sarah Elswich. In the 1880 Cross Roads, Jefferson, Kentucky, census, Sylvester Marcum is listed with his wife’s name as Sallie, with age of 34, and an adopted son: Joseph Marcum, age 1 (my grandfather). The 1900 Lincoln district, Wayne, West Virginia, census lists “Sylvester Marcum” with his wife “Sarah Marcum” and adopted son Joseph H. Marcum. This census also indicated that “Sarah Marcum” had no children. With this information, “Sarah Marcum” would have been 14 years old when “Melissa Marcrum” was born, so “no children” makes sense.
I knew my grandfather (Joseph Herbert Marcum) and I have a picture of him with his older sister “Lizzie” in their 60 - 70’s. I wonder if anyone has information that would help me determine if “Sallie Marcum” is the same “Sarah Marcum” married to “Sylvester Marcum” who is the father of both “Melissa Marcrum” and adoptive father of “Joseph Herbert Marcum”?
Before trying to work back is this the correct family for your g/father ?
1900 United States Federal Census
Name: Sylvester Marcum
Age: 64
Birth Date: Nov 1835
Birthplace: West Virginia
Home in 1900: Lincoln, Wayne, West Virginia
Race: White
Gender: Male
Relation to Head of House: Head
Marital Status: Married
Spouse's Name: Sarah Marcum
Marriage Year: 1870
Years Married: 30
Father's Birthplace: Virginia
Mother's Birthplace: Kentucky
Sylvester Marcum 64 Father's Birthplace:Virginia Mother's Birthplace: Kentucky
Sarah Marcum 54 Father's Birthplace: Kentucky Mother's Birthplace: District of Columbia
Joseph H Marcum ** 21 Father's Birthplace: Kentucky Mother's Birthplace: Ohio
** adopted son
on above census
both Joseph and Sarah's Birthplace is : Kentucky
1880 United States Federal Census
Name: Silvester Marcum
Age: 44
Birth Year: abt 1836
Birthplace: West Virginia
Home in 1880: Cross Roads, Jefferson, Kentucky
Race: White
Gender: Male
Relation to Head of House: Self (Head)
Marital Status: Married
Spouse's Name: Sallie Marcum
Father's Birthplace: West Virginia
Mother's Birthplace: Kentucky
Occupation: Farmer
Silvester Marcum 44
Sallie Marcum 34
Joseph Marcum 1
Looking at the above post and this census I would say in the 1900 and 1880 census Sarah and Sallie are the same person. It was common to call someone named Sarah Sally/ Sallie. In the 1900 it also states married 30 years (1870)
I assume this is the Melissa/Maliesa you refer to:
1860 United States Federal Census
Name: Malissa Marcum
Age in 1860: 18
Birth Year: abt 1842
[Abt 1860]
Birthplace: Kentucky
Home in 1860: Wayne, Virginia
Race: F
Post Office: Twelve Pole
Sylvester Marcum 24
Sarah Marcum 22
James Vinson 17
Malissa Marcum 18
Solomon Straton 3/12
I also looked on the death cert which shows her parents as Sylvester Marcum and Sarah Elswich. What it does not show is the age for Melissa/Maliesa or a birth date so you cannot do a cross check. You could look for a marriage between Sylvester Marcum and Sarah Elswich which would give an approx year for Melissa birth.
Going on the ages for Sylvester Marcum and Sarah / Sallie in the 1880 and 1860 census the they are not the same people. Sylvester Marcum could be the same father only if he married twice to a Sarah ?????. You could try looking for a death for Sarah Eliwich befor 1870.
Thank you for this information. The answer to the question you asked in your first post is yes. That is my grandfather, and his parents. I was told that Sarah was listed somewhere as divorced, and living with Melissa. I haven't checked that out, yet, but I'm excited to research that piece of evidence. Thank you again for the help!