Does anyone have any information on parents of?

historycox

William Gump

Birth: 7-4-1842 Greene County, PA

Death: 2-25-1897 Franklin Township, Greene County, PA

Marriage: Margaret Thomas

Children: Ida Eveline, Emma Frances, Elizabeth E., Lydia, George Moss, John Linzy, Sara Jane, Lottie, Deborah Nora

Gail Swihart Watson

So if you assume the birth date of 1842 is wrong (because it is wrong, he was born in 1848), you will find his parents are John and Sarah Gump, living in Green co PA in 1850 and 1860 with William in their household, William being 1 in 1850 and 12 in 1860. John and Sarah were both born in PA. In both censuses William has older siblings and in fact has an older brother born 1843/42. I think there are 2 things going on here.

First, in 1870 census William of PA self reports the new age and has a wife. He should be 22 yet he reported being 27. Since we don't actually know when William and Sarah were married that means we don't know if he was 21 yet. Another issue for him might have been Margaret's age. Margaret is indicated as born in 1844, which means she is 4 years older than husband William. So, perhaps he began taking on an older persona at the time of their marriage and perhaps chose 1842 so he would be one year older than her. In the 1880 census this couple has most of the children you list.

There is also something else going on which may contribute to the mix up. Another William Gump existed at the same time who WAS born in 1842. He served in the Ohio volunteers during the Civil War and his birth date in the military records is also 1842. He enlisted in the union army in 1864 at Camp Denison, Ohio. When I looked at the 1860 census there he is living in Miami Ohio, born in Ohio and THAT William is likely the one who fought in the civil war, not YOUR William. In the 1870 census, William Gump is still living in Ohio, but a different county. In both censuses his age is consistent with a circa 1842 birth year.

Both William Gumps have been confused and lumped into one person in L2DX-QLN, so you need to clean that up. The William Gump in Ohio married a wife Sarah, received the Civil War Pension, and died in the 1920s, yet I find many of his records associated with YOUR William Gump who married Margaret Thomas.

By the way, in the 1880 census both William Gumps lied wildly about their ages. William of Ohio with wife Sarah reported being born 1835. William Gump of Pennsylvania with wife Margaret reported born 1839. With age comes wisdom and respect. Oh for the good old days when you didn't carry your birth date around in your wallets or purses.