Re: Thomas, Caroline Goodrum, 1800s, N. GA

Thomas and Caroline married in NC apparently. By 1840 they were in Habersham CO., GA, (NOTE: This is the part that was formed into White Co. about 1856. This is the Cleveland, GA, area.)

By 1860 they moved to Blairsville, Union Co., GA, where they were hotel keepers. Their daughter Carrie married James Allen Butt, Jr., a noted lawyer. [The Butts were early pioneers of Union Co., and very prominent in business and professions.]

By 1880, Thomas and Caroline moved to Dahlonega, Union Co., GA, where they were boarding house keeepers. That is the last they appear on the US Census, since the 1890 is unavailable.

I have spent a lot of time trying to figure out where Thomas came from. The 1850 Census says SC, but all later ones say NC.

Here are my general notes on Thomas and family:

1830CENSUS:

There is a Thomas Goodrum in Fairfield Co., SC, on the 1830 Census, but he is too young: He is listed in the 15-19 year old range, when actually he would have been more like 25.

Other Thomas Goodrums in 1830 include one in MS, one in VA, and one in Maury Co., TN. The one in TN is in the 20-29 year old range, and could be him, though it is a good distance away in Middle TN. Still, it could have been him, but it would require migrating eastward rather than westward, which was generally rare.

Although the one in Greensville Co., VA, seems too far away, it is in fact situated on the NC border, (albeit far way in the N. E. corner of NC). Also, there are too many adult males in the home to determine what is going on with respect to Thomas, if indeed it is our Thomas.

The best hope for finding his ancestry would be to find a will, land deed transfer, family Bible record, etc., mentioning him. Or a marrige record for he and Caroline.