W. Lane -- Bennett connection (Guilford County, NC 1800s)
I have been researching my ancestor Isaac Franklin "Frank" Bennett, who was born in Guilford County, NC in Apr 1854.
This is an excerpt from Frank's marriage license on 21 Dec 1876:
Isaac F. Bennett having applied to me for a LICENSE for the Marriage of himself of Guilford aged 22 years color white, the son of W. Lane and Sarah Bennett the father now living the mother now living resident of Guilford...
I have found Frank in the 1860 and 1870 censuses living with his mother Sarah or Sallie Bennett, but there is never a father listed in the census entries.Those censuses list Frank's siblings as:
Tho. A. Bennett b: ABT 1847
William Simpson Bennett b: ABT 1851
Samuel Preston Bennett b: ABT 1855
Roxana V. Bennett b: ABT JUN 1857
I have not been able to find the family in the 1850 census, when Thomas would have been alive, nor have I been able to locate the marriage or death certificates of any of Frank's siblings to see if they share the same father.Frank's death certificate did not list the names of his parents.
As I find it highly unlikely that Sarah Bennett divorced W. Lane and was granted full custody of her children and permission to change their names, my current theory is that Frank Bennett was illegitimate, and his siblings might or might not have shared the same father.
I have no idea where else to look to find information about the mysterious W. Lane.Does anyone have any suggestions??
Thanks,
Karen