William Day (21416221)
William R. Day Biography
William Richard Day was born in 1831 to Lucinda and Richard Day who were, at that time, lifetime residents of Virginia. The Day family was fairly large by the time William was born. According to the 1840 census, William might have had up to 3 older brothers and 2 older sisters and later would have 3 younger siblings. Shortly after the birth of his younger sister Mary (born in either 1836 or 1838), the family moved to Madison County Alabama. His mother Lucinda is named as the head of the household in the 1840 census, and his father must have died shortly before or after the family's arrival in Madison County. The census claims the family did not own any enslaved individuals but there were 10 "Free Colored Persons" under the age of 10 listed for this home.
In the 1850 census, 18-year-old William is listed as a farmer while his older brother Thomas is listed as a student. The 1850 Slave Schedule lists his mother as the owner of 4 slaves, 3 women between the ages of 20 and 65 and one male child. Records of these enslaved individuals do not appear again but there is a possibility that one woman remained in contact with William. In 1860, the 27-year-old William is listed as a student, but this conflicts with the 1880 census which claims he never attended any formal educational institutions and the 1870 census which claims he cannot read or write. The 1860 census lists a schoolteacher, Mildred Day, as a resident in the household, who is most likely William's older sister since neither he nor his brother were married at the time. It is possible that Mildred was able to provide William with some education at home which would not have interfered with his work on the farm. Whatever the case might be, the 1880 census does indicate that William was able to read and write and his signature on an 1867 probate record seems to confirm his ability to write but his discomfort with a pen is visible. Among the other residents mentioned in 1860 are Marcellus, Cyline, and Emmit Key. These were William's nephews and niece by his recently deceased older sister Martha.
At the start of the war, William would have been 29 years old and a prime candidate for enlistment. Though there is a record of William's service in the confederate army, the record is sparce. There is virtually no record of his regiment, Clanton's Battery Alabama Light Artillery, outside of the name itself. There is a possibility that he served as part of a military reserve and did not fight during the entirety of the war. By the 1870 census, William owned his own property in Limestone County but was still within close proximity to his remaining family members. His occupation remained as a farmer and the only other member of his household was his nephew Emmett Key. By 1880, the 48-year-old William was considered crippled and relied on laborers to help manage his farm. Interestingly, a 72-year-old black female housekeeper was also a resident of William's household. Her name was Fannie Day and, like William, was born in Virginia. Fannie might be the 42-year-old slave woman mentioned in his mother's records 30 years prior. Though it was not unusual for a white man to have an African American housekeeper, having the exact same surname and a similar place of birth might suggest a deeper connection.
In 1882, at 51 years William married the 20-year-old Monnie Lue Freeman in Mulberry Tennessee (now Lincoln county). It is unclear whether they ever had children together but in an 1898 probate record, a 14-year-old Walter A. Day was named as William's heir. William and Monnie's joint headstone reads "Father and Mother" indicating they had at least one child together. In 1895, William died and was buried close to his mother. Smith Family cemetery by this point was owned by John F. Smith.
Contributor: Jen Wright (51042536)
William R. Day Biography
William Richard Day was born in 1831 to Lucinda and Richard Day who were, at that time, lifetime residents of Virginia. The Day family was fairly large by the time William was born. According to the 1840 census, William might have had up to 3 older brothers and 2 older sisters and later would have 3 younger siblings. Shortly after the birth of his younger sister Mary (born in either 1836 or 1838), the family moved to Madison County Alabama. His mother Lucinda is named as the head of the household in the 1840 census, and his father must have died shortly before or after the family's arrival in Madison County. The census claims the family did not own any enslaved individuals but there were 10 "Free Colored Persons" under the age of 10 listed for this home.
In the 1850 census, 18-year-old William is listed as a farmer while his older brother Thomas is listed as a student. The 1850 Slave Schedule lists his mother as the owner of 4 slaves, 3 women between the ages of 20 and 65 and one male child. Records of these enslaved individuals do not appear again but there is a possibility that one woman remained in contact with William. In 1860, the 27-year-old William is listed as a student, but this conflicts with the 1880 census which claims he never attended any formal educational institutions and the 1870 census which claims he cannot read or write. The 1860 census lists a schoolteacher, Mildred Day, as a resident in the household, who is most likely William's older sister since neither he nor his brother were married at the time. It is possible that Mildred was able to provide William with some education at home which would not have interfered with his work on the farm. Whatever the case might be, the 1880 census does indicate that William was able to read and write and his signature on an 1867 probate record seems to confirm his ability to write but his discomfort with a pen is visible. Among the other residents mentioned in 1860 are Marcellus, Cyline, and Emmit Key. These were William's nephews and niece by his recently deceased older sister Martha.
At the start of the war, William would have been 29 years old and a prime candidate for enlistment. Though there is a record of William's service in the confederate army, the record is sparce. There is virtually no record of his regiment, Clanton's Battery Alabama Light Artillery, outside of the name itself. There is a possibility that he served as part of a military reserve and did not fight during the entirety of the war. By the 1870 census, William owned his own property in Limestone County but was still within close proximity to his remaining family members. His occupation remained as a farmer and the only other member of his household was his nephew Emmett Key. By 1880, the 48-year-old William was considered crippled and relied on laborers to help manage his farm. Interestingly, a 72-year-old black female housekeeper was also a resident of William's household. Her name was Fannie Day and, like William, was born in Virginia. Fannie might be the 42-year-old slave woman mentioned in his mother's records 30 years prior. Though it was not unusual for a white man to have an African American housekeeper, having the exact same surname and a similar place of birth might suggest a deeper connection.
In 1882, at 51 years William married the 20-year-old Monnie Lue Freeman in Mulberry Tennessee (now Lincoln county). It is unclear whether they ever had children together but in an 1898 probate record, a 14-year-old Walter A. Day was named as William's heir. William and Monnie's joint headstone reads "Father and Mother" indicating they had at least one child together. In 1895, William died and was buried close to his mother. Smith Family cemetery by this point was owned by John F. Smith.
Contributor: Jen Wright (51042536)
William Day (21416221)
William R. Day Biography
William Richard Day was born in 1831 to Lucinda and Richard Day who were, at that time, lifetime residents of Virginia. The Day family was fairly large by the time William was born. According to the 1840 census, William might have had up to 3 older brothers and 2 older sisters and later would have 3 younger siblings. Shortly after the birth of his younger sister Mary (born in either 1836 or 1838), the family moved to Madison County Alabama. His mother Lucinda is named as the head of the household in the 1840 census, and his father must have died shortly before or after the family's arrival in Madison County. The census claims the family did not own any enslaved individuals but there were 10 "Free Colored Persons" under the age of 10 listed for this home.
In the 1850 census, 18-year-old William is listed as a farmer while his older brother Thomas is listed as a student. The 1850 Slave Schedule lists his mother as the owner of 4 slaves, 3 women between the ages of 20 and 65 and one male child. Records of these enslaved individuals do not appear again but there is a possibility that one woman remained in contact with William. In 1860, the 27-year-old William is listed as a student, but this conflicts with the 1880 census which claims he never attended any formal educational institutions and the 1870 census which claims he cannot read or write. The 1860 census lists a schoolteacher, Mildred Day, as a resident in the household, who is most likely William's older sister since neither he nor his brother were married at the time. It is possible that Mildred was able to provide William with some education at home which would not have interfered with his work on the farm. Whatever the case might be, the 1880 census does indicate that William was able to read and write and his signature on an 1867 probate record seems to confirm his ability to write but his discomfort with a pen is visible. Among the other residents mentioned in 1860 are Marcellus, Cyline, and Emmit Key. These were William's nephews and niece by his recently deceased older sister Martha.
At the start of the war, William would have been 29 years old and a prime candidate for enlistment. Though there is a record of William's service in the confederate army, the record is sparce. There is virtually no record of his regiment, Clanton's Battery Alabama Light Artillery, outside of the name itself. There is a possibility that he served as part of a military reserve and did not fight during the entirety of the war. By the 1870 census, William owned his own property in Limestone County but was still within close proximity to his remaining family members. His occupation remained as a farmer and the only other member of his household was his nephew Emmett Key. By 1880, the 48-year-old William was considered crippled and relied on laborers to help manage his farm. Interestingly, a 72-year-old black female housekeeper was also a resident of William's household. Her name was Fannie Day and, like William, was born in Virginia. Fannie might be the 42-year-old slave woman mentioned in his mother's records 30 years prior. Though it was not unusual for a white man to have an African American housekeeper, having the exact same surname and a similar place of birth might suggest a deeper connection.
In 1882, at 51 years William married the 20-year-old Monnie Lue Freeman in Mulberry Tennessee (now Lincoln county). It is unclear whether they ever had children together but in an 1898 probate record, a 14-year-old Walter A. Day was named as William's heir. William and Monnie's joint headstone reads "Father and Mother" indicating they had at least one child together. In 1895, William died and was buried close to his mother. Smith Family cemetery by this point was owned by John F. Smith.
Contributor: Jen Wright (51042536)
William R. Day Biography
William Richard Day was born in 1831 to Lucinda and Richard Day who were, at that time, lifetime residents of Virginia. The Day family was fairly large by the time William was born. According to the 1840 census, William might have had up to 3 older brothers and 2 older sisters and later would have 3 younger siblings. Shortly after the birth of his younger sister Mary (born in either 1836 or 1838), the family moved to Madison County Alabama. His mother Lucinda is named as the head of the household in the 1840 census, and his father must have died shortly before or after the family's arrival in Madison County. The census claims the family did not own any enslaved individuals but there were 10 "Free Colored Persons" under the age of 10 listed for this home.
In the 1850 census, 18-year-old William is listed as a farmer while his older brother Thomas is listed as a student. The 1850 Slave Schedule lists his mother as the owner of 4 slaves, 3 women between the ages of 20 and 65 and one male child. Records of these enslaved individuals do not appear again but there is a possibility that one woman remained in contact with William. In 1860, the 27-year-old William is listed as a student, but this conflicts with the 1880 census which claims he never attended any formal educational institutions and the 1870 census which claims he cannot read or write. The 1860 census lists a schoolteacher, Mildred Day, as a resident in the household, who is most likely William's older sister since neither he nor his brother were married at the time. It is possible that Mildred was able to provide William with some education at home which would not have interfered with his work on the farm. Whatever the case might be, the 1880 census does indicate that William was able to read and write and his signature on an 1867 probate record seems to confirm his ability to write but his discomfort with a pen is visible. Among the other residents mentioned in 1860 are Marcellus, Cyline, and Emmit Key. These were William's nephews and niece by his recently deceased older sister Martha.
At the start of the war, William would have been 29 years old and a prime candidate for enlistment. Though there is a record of William's service in the confederate army, the record is sparce. There is virtually no record of his regiment, Clanton's Battery Alabama Light Artillery, outside of the name itself. There is a possibility that he served as part of a military reserve and did not fight during the entirety of the war. By the 1870 census, William owned his own property in Limestone County but was still within close proximity to his remaining family members. His occupation remained as a farmer and the only other member of his household was his nephew Emmett Key. By 1880, the 48-year-old William was considered crippled and relied on laborers to help manage his farm. Interestingly, a 72-year-old black female housekeeper was also a resident of William's household. Her name was Fannie Day and, like William, was born in Virginia. Fannie might be the 42-year-old slave woman mentioned in his mother's records 30 years prior. Though it was not unusual for a white man to have an African American housekeeper, having the exact same surname and a similar place of birth might suggest a deeper connection.
In 1882, at 51 years William married the 20-year-old Monnie Lue Freeman in Mulberry Tennessee (now Lincoln county). It is unclear whether they ever had children together but in an 1898 probate record, a 14-year-old Walter A. Day was named as William's heir. William and Monnie's joint headstone reads "Father and Mother" indicating they had at least one child together. In 1895, William died and was buried close to his mother. Smith Family cemetery by this point was owned by John F. Smith.
Contributor: Jen Wright (51042536)
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