Family lore states that George and Samuel Coleman Bandy, the first two children born to Andrew Bandy and wife Rebecca Wooldridge, were twins and that they were born on Christmas Day, 25 December with the year varying between 1816 and 1818.
What does the evidence say?
- The 1820 census for Andrew Bandy in Botetourt County, Virginia shows one adult male, one adult female and two males under the age of 5 in the household.
- George Bandy’s census records estimate his birth year as 15-19 in 1840, so born 1821-1825, which absolutely is wrong, as he married in 1838 and future censuses place his birth as much earlier. In 1850, his birth year was reported as 1817, 1817 again in 1860, 1816 in 1870 and 1818 in 1880, which is the last census in which he is found. The younger age in 1880 might, in part, be due to the fact that he was remarried to a 26 year old woman. 🙂
- George’s date and place of death is not known, other than he is not found in any records after 1880. No burial site has been found for him either.
- Samuel Coleman Bandy’s census records begin in 1850, as he married on 6 August 1840 to Sidney Nelson in Gallia County, Ohio, next door to Lawrence County. The fact that he married two years later than George might or might not indicate that he was a bit younger. Two years is not a big difference.
- Samuel Coleman Bandy’s 1850 census record interestingly estimates his birth year as 1819 and he is enumerated as seven years younger than his wife, Sidney, born about 1812. Samuel has already migrated to Peoria County, Illinois by this time. In 1860, his birth year is listed as 1819 and he is eight years younger than Sidney. In 1870, his birth year is reported as 1820 and he is now TEN years younger than wife Sidney. The last census in which he appears is 1880 and his birth year is given as 1819. Sidney is now only four years older than Samuel, which I think I kind of funny even though it’s not related to this twin issue.
- Samuel Bandy’s gravestone is found at Maple Ridge Cemetery, Peoria County, Illinois. It says, “S. Bandy died Dec. 2, 1892, aged 74 yrs., 11 Ms, 7Ds, which would place his birth at 26 December 1817.
I can see where the Christmas story came into play here, but my sense is that George’s birth year was reported as c1817 in two records, c1816 in one and, only in the last census after he had been divorced by his wife and remarried a 22 year old woman, did his age drop, giving a birth year of 1818.
I am inclined to believe that George was the first-born son, probably born about 1816 (not having had his birthday yet in the censuses that reported his estimated birth year as 1817) and probably NOT a twin to Samuel Coleman.
Samuel’s gravestone age is slightly older than given ages in the censuses, but it’s not unusual to find that people’s ages at death were older than their actual chronological age. I believe he was likely born in 1818 and, not having had his birthday yet that year when the census taker came around, 1819 was the year of birth deduced from his age at the time.
What do you think?
Interesting that we are both trying to nail down a birth year for possible twins today! My suggestion would be to look for baptismal records. Best wishes as you continue your search!
It is certainly possible. I don’t think most of this family was literate and some either didn’t know their exact age or chose to not admit to it for whatever reason. However, I have decided I don’t think they are twins.
George Bandy – 1882 Biographies;
George Bandy was born in the State of Virginia, Christmas day, in the year 1812. His parents,Andrew and Rebecca (Ulbridge) Bandy, settled in this county in 1831. George Bandy was married in Lawrence Co., Ohio to Elizabeth Cauly, who is a native of Lawrence Co., Kentucky. The children of Mr. and Mrs. Bandy are: Mary J. (Goff), born November 18, 1837, resides in Lawrence Co., Ohio; Lafayette, August 28, 1839, died May 6, 1871; Julia A. (Worthington), November 5, 1840, resides in Gallia Co., Ohio; Malinda A. (Brooks), September 20, 1842, resides in Lawrence Co., Ohio. Mr. Bandy has held several township offices—justice of the peace, school director, and others. Mrs. Bandy has been a member of the Missionary Baptist church for thirty-five years. Mr. Bandy is engaged in farming in Symmes township. Address, Roger’s post office, Lawrence Co., Ohio.
Lawrence County Historical Society, “Atlas of Lawrence County, Ohio; Hardesty – 1882; Lake – 1887”, H. H. Hardesty & Co., Publishers, Chicago and Toledo, 1882
George Bandy
Is the son of Andrew and Rebecca (Wooldridge) Bandy, and was born in Boditot county, Virginia, December 26, 1818. His parents came to Gallia county in 1828; his father died in 1867, and his mother in March, 1879. Mr. Bandy has been twice married. His first wife was Elizabeth Caully, born in Greenup county, Kentucky in 1819, and married in Lawrence county, Ohio, in 1839. Her parents were Allen and Mary (Siner) Caully. She was the mother of the following children: Lafayette, born in 1840, died in 1871; Julia A., in 1842, resides in Gallia county; Malinda A., in 1844, resides in Lawrence county, Ohio. Mr. Bandy’s son Lafayette, was a soldier in the late war, enlisting in 1861 in the 18th Ohio Volunteer Infantry, and served three years, after which he received his discharge and returned home. In 1871 he was killed by a tree, which he was cutting, falling on him. Mr. Bandy was married the second time in Lawrence county, November 16, 1876, to Emma Stein, who was born in Gallia county in 1854. Her father, Henry Stein, died in 1875, and her mother in 1857. Mr. Bandy has held the office of justice of the peace for twelve years at different times. He is a farmer, merchant, and also a charcoal manufacturer. He resides in Raccoon township, having come to this county in 1878. His postoffice address is Rio Grande, Gallia county, Ohio.
James P. Averill, “History of Gallia County”, H. H. Hardesty & Co., Publishers, Chicago & Toledo – 1882