The Langford Descendancy project continues with a look at Nancy Rebecca Harman (1855), the daughter of Martha Langford and John Harman. The FamilySearch listing for the John Harman and Martha Langford family had two daughters by the name of Nancy Rebecca Harman Are there actually two daughters named Nancy? Is there a mistaken link? Or could they be duplicates?
The potential duplication is quite complex as both FamilySearch profiles lack substantial sources. While one profile lacks a spouse, the other includes this information. Additionally, conflicting birth and death dates exist between the two profiles. To progress further, a thorough evaluation of the sources is necessary before determining the appropriate course of action.
Table of Contents
Evaluation
Here is a look at the two profiles side-by-side:
| Nancy Ann Rebecca Harman (KHH9-D5L) | Nancy Rebecca Harman (KFDQ-ZC9) | |
|---|---|---|
| Birthdate | 12 June 1850 | 17 June 1854 |
| Birth location | Lexington County, South Carolina | South Carolina |
| Death date | about 1906 | 8 May 1884 |
| Death location | Blank | South Carolina |
| Spouse | Blank | Martin Harrison Corley |
| Children | Blank | 10 |
| Source | 1860 Census | |
| Source | 1870 Census | |
| Source | 1880 Census | |
| Source | 1900 Census(?) |
Upon comparing the two FamilySearch profiles, notable disparities emerge in the birth and death dates. The Nancy Ann (KHH9-D5L) profile possesses a solitary source, whereas the Nancy Rebecca (KFDQ-ZC9) profile includes three sources. The sources for Nancy Ann may pertain to her childhood, while the Nancy Rebecca profile seems to represent Nancy as a married adult to Martin Harrison Corley. Although these profiles seemingly correspond to the same individual, further investigation is warranted.
Nancy Rebecca Harman in the 1860 U.S. Census
Each of the census records listed above needs to be carefully evaluated. If Nancy Rebecca Harman married Martin Harrison Corley, then perhaps a connection between the two or their families can be found in the census. The later censuses show Nancy as the spouse of Martin Harrison Corley. That leaves the 1860 U.S. Census where Nancy and Martin would be listed as children with their parents. Were the Harman family and the Corley family neighbors?
According to the 1860 U.S. Census, the John Harman family is listed as family number 70, while the Joel Corley family is listed as family number 79. Placed between them are additional Corley families, indicating a potential connection and association between the Harman and Corley families.1 It is possible, and quite likely, that Nancy Rebecca Harman and Martin Harrison Corley may have gotten married.
Martin Harrison Corley
Martin Harrison Corley’s FamilySearch profile contained numerous associated records. Martin was born in Lexington County, South Carolina on December 11, 1849, to Joel Corley and Judith Cauley. He passed away in Lexington County, South Carolina on November 17, 1934. His profile indicates that he had 4 wives and a potential of 24 children. Verifying the marriages between the wives and accurately organizing the children may require some effort.
Martin’s fourth wife is listed as Sarah “Sallie” Scarborough. There is a marriage record from Georgia that supports this marriage. The marriage was on 27 November 1899 in Mitchell County, Georgia. This means the 1900 U.S. Census attached to Nancy Rebecca Harman might need to be attached to Sarah Scarborough instead. It also means Nancy most likely died before 1899, and possibly even before 1885 if Martin’s second marriage to Annie Jane Sutton is accurate.
Future Research
It seems the two Nancy Rebecca Harman profiles are duplicates. One profile is for Nancy as a child and the other as an adult. It seems likely Nancy married Martin based on proximity. Merging the two profiles seems like a good first step. However, there is more work needed to ensure this is the right step:
- Search South Carolina marriage records for evidence of a marriage between Nancy and Martin about 1870.
- Search Find A Grave for evidence of the death of Nancy R. Harman or Nancy Corley.
- Review the children listed for Nancy and Martin to see if any records mention their parents.
- Create a timeline of events and places for Martin based on records. Identify other locations to search for Nancy.
Sources
- 1860 U.S. Census, Lexington County, South Carolina, population schedule, Lexington Village, Lexington Post Office, p. 9 (penned), dwelling 70, family 70, John Harman household; digital image, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org : accessed 18 July 2024); citing NARA microfilm publication M653; 1860 U.S. Census, Lexington County, South Carolina, population schedule, Lexington Village, Lexington Post Office, p. 9 (penned), dwelling 79, family 79, Joel Corley household; digital image, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org : accessed 18 July 2024); citing NARA microfilm publication M653 ↩︎
