Charlie Harrison Corley is the youngest child listed with the family in the 1880 U.S. Census. Like his siblings, direct evidence connecting Charlie to his parents Martin Harrison Corley and Nancy Rebecca Harman is scant or non-existent. A close look at the records attached to his FamilySearch profile provides indirect evidence. The evidence analysis also reveals a mystery!
Charlie Harrison Corley was born on 11 March 1878 in Edgefield County, South Carolina. He married Nancy Arnetta Draughon on 25 January 1900 in Dale County, Alabama. They had nine children, 4 girls and 5 boys. Charlie died on 28 April 1928 in Newton, Dale, Alabama.
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Middle Names
Names and naming patterns can provide hints or clues to family relationships. Caution is needed to avoid assigning a name to a middle initial without evidence. This happens on FamilySearch profiles from time to time. A review of records can find evidence of middle names. If the middle name is not explicitly stated, the initial rather than an assumed name should be included in the profile.
Martin Harrison Corley has been listed with the middle name of Harrison on FamilySearch. However, a review of the sources attached to his profile shows only his middle initial of H. None of the records spell out his full middle name. There may be evidence his full name is Martin Harrison Corley, but it is not clear the source of that information. In this case, someone may have assumed Martin’s middle name is Harrison, which may or may not be true.1
Charlie Harrison Corley’s middle name seems to match his father’s middle name. Charlie’s World War I draft card spells out his full middle name and provides evidence for his birthday and wife.2 This record is important because Charlie would have filled out and signed the card himself. If anyone would know their full name, it would be the person filling out a form themselves.
Charlie Harrison Corley in the census
The only direct evidence connecting Charlie to his parents Martin Harrison Corley and Nancy Rebecca Harman is the 1880 U.S. Census.
| Census | Location | Name | Birth year | Birth place |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 18803 | Edgefield, South Carolina | Charlie Corley | 1878 | South Carolina |
| 19004 | Dale, Alabama | Charly Corley | 1879 | Alabama |
| 19105 | Houston, Alabama | Chas H Corley | 1878 | South Carolina |
| 19206 | Houston, Alabama | Charley Corley | 1878 | South Carolina |
The 1900 U.S. Census is interesting because it ties Charlie to his father Martin. Both were located in Dale County, Alabama. Charlie was in Daleville and his father Martin was in the neighboring town of Newton, just 8 miles apart.7 This connection helps clear up any confusion with other Charlie Corleys from South Carolina born around 1878.8
The census records are consistent except for the birth location of Alabama. This was likely a reporting or recording error. Otherwise, the census records show that Charlie was born in South Carolina and moved to Alabama, most likely with his father. He then stayed in Alabama after his marriage.
A Mystery
The 1910 U.S. Census contains a mystery for Charlie Harrison Corley. He is listed in the census with his wife and 4 children. The household also has nieces and nephews with the last name of Corley. However, a quick review of Charlie’s siblings shows these children do not belong to any of his siblings or step-siblings. The nieces and nephews also do not seem to belong to any of the Corleys one generation back.
These children are:
- Noma Corley, age 13
- Robert H. Corley, age 11
- Porter C. Corley, age 8
- Susie Corley, age 4
- Stella Corley, age 3
The children may be Corleys, but it is not clear where they fit in. It is also possible the children are not Corleys and the enumerator gave them that last name by mistake. The children could also have come from Nancy Arnetta’s side and were misidentified. Either way, it’s a mystery!
Regardless of how the children came to be in the household, there is probably a story there. Charlie and his wife Nettie had been married 10 years most likely just barely making it as farmers. They already had young children. Taking in these extra children would have been difficult. It makes you wonder what happened. The children are not in the next census, so they were there for a short time.
Sources
- I have maintained the use of the middle name of Harrison for Martin, even though the evidence is lacking. ↩︎
- “U.S., World War 1 Draft Registration Cards, 1917-1918”; digital images, FamilySearch (http://familysearch.org : accessed 7 September 2024), Houston County, Alabama, Dothan, Local Board, entry for Charlie Harrison Corley; citing NARA microfilm publication World War 1 Selective Service System Draft Registration Cards, 1917-1918, M1509. ↩︎
- 1880 U.S. Census, Edgefield County, South Carolina, population schedule, Huiet Township, enumeration district (ED) 54, sheet 216C (stamped), p. 43 (penned), dwelling 401, family 401, Martin Corley household; digital image, FamilySearch (http://familysearch.org : accessed 7 September 2024); citing NARA microfilm publication T9. ↩︎
- 1900 U.S. Census, Dale County, Alabama, population schedule, Daleville precinct no. 3, enumeration district (ED) 59, sheet 10B (penned), dwelling 205, family 206, Charly Corley household; digital image, FamilySearch, (http://www.familysearch.org : accessed 7 September 2024); citing NARA microfilm publication T623. ↩︎
- 1910 U.S. Census, Houston County, Alabama, population schedule, Wicksburg precinct no. 1, enumeration district (ED) 131, sheet 1B (penned), dwelling 17, family 18, Chas H Corley household; digital image, FamilySearch, (http://www.familysearch.org : accessed 7 September 2024); citing NARA microfilm publication T623. ↩︎
- 1920 U.S. Census, Houston County, Alabama, population schedule, Precinct 1, enumeration district (ED) 134, sheet 14B (penned), dwelling 284, family 289, Charley Corley; digital image, FamilySearch, (https://familysearch.org : accessed 7 September 2024); citing NARA microfilm publication T625. ↩︎
- 1900 U.S. Census, Dale County, Alabama, population schedule, Daleville precinct no. 4, Newton, enumeration district (ED) 61, sheet 177A (penned), dwelling 210, family 212, Martin Corley household; digital image, FamilySearch, (http://www.familysearch.org : accessed 7 September 2024); citing NARA microfilm publication T623. ↩︎
- See the youtube video on Charlie Harrison Corley to see how he was mixed up with another Charlie Corley born in 1878 in South Carolina. ↩︎
