Life History

Notes

• 1860 Federal Census, York County, South Carolina, 12 September, PO Harmony, North Carolina, page 233, Hse/Fam #106
  R B Withers 50 M Farmer $250 Personal Estate No Carolina [abt 1810]
  Virgil Withers 18 M Asst Dam b So Carolina [abt 1842]
  Robert P Withers 9 M Asst Dam b So Carolina [abt 1851]
  John M Withers 9 M Asst Dam b So Carolina [abt 1851]
  
  Note that the middle initial of Robert in 1860 was P.  In 1870, a Robert W is living next door to his brother Virgil, working on the farm of Henry P Thomason, and living in Henry's household.  This Robert W is of the same age as Robert P in 1860.  This would appear to be Virgil's brother Robert.
  
  1870 Federal Census, Arkansas County, Arkansas, 4 July, Prairie Township, PO St Charles, page 15, Hse/Fam #116
  Thomason, Henry P 40 M W Farmer $4600 Real Estate $2000 Personal Estate b Alabama (b abt 1830)
  Thomason, Nancy E 33 F W Keeping House b Arkansas (b abt 1837)
  Wethers, Robert W 19 M W Laborer on Farm M W b South Carolina (b abt 1851)
  
  It would appear that this is Virgil's brother Robert.  But in 1870, I find Robert, who is also reported as a twin of John, age 20, enumerated in his father's household near Arkansas Post.
  
  1870 Federal Census, Arkansas County, Arkansas, 9 July, Cypress Bayou Township, P O Arkansas Post, page 7 (scan 38A), Hse/Fam #62
  Wethers, Robert B 60 M W Farmer $150 Personal b South Carolina [abt 1810]
  Wethers, Jane 24 F W b South Carolina [abt 1846]
  Wethers, George 22 M W b South Carolina [abt 1848]
  Wethers, John 20 M W b South Carolina [abt 1850]
  Wethers, Robert 20 M W b South Carolina [abt 1850]
  
  Thus I am uncertain about these 1870 records for Robert and Robert W Weathers.  One possibility, besides the difference of middle initial, is that Virgil's brother's primary residence is with his father in Arkansas Post, but he is working during the week at the Thomason farm (or staying there and working on Virgil's farm next door), and he got enumerated twice.  There are other instances of double enumerations, more than one that I myself have found in various Arkansas County censuses.

Sources

• 1. 1870 Federal Census, Arkansas County, Arkansas
  • 9 July, Cypress Bayou Township, P O Arkansas Post, page 7 (scan 38A), Hse/Fam #62
• 2. 1860 Federal Census, York County, South Carolina
  • 12 September, PO Harmony, North Carolina, page 233, Hse/Fam #106
• 3. 1870 Federal Census, Arkansas County, Arkansas
  • 4 July, Prairie Township, PO St Charles, page 15, Hse/Fam #116