Nancy Jane Stafford and Enoch Males

46. Nancy Jane Stafford ⁴ (William¹, Robert² Benjamin²) was born about 1836 in Indiana¹ to Benjamin and his second wife, Margaret Price.²  Although, Noah J. Major writes that she married a Mr. Woods,³ there is some evidence that she may have married Enoch Males [sometimes spelled Mills in the records].⁴ No marriage record has been found in Indiana for a Nancy Jane Stafford and a Mr. Woods.  In addition to the marriage record, Enoch and Nancy Males are found in the censuses in 1860⁵ and 1870.⁶  

The fact that their 1870 census enumeration showed they had 3 other adult men living in the household suggests they rented rooms possibly to increase their income.  Listed in their household were 25-year-old Robbert Yocum, a day laborer from Indiana; 52-year-old Samuel Wheeler, a blacksmith from Ohio; and 22-year-old Charles Morgan, a day laborer also from Ohio.

Further evidence suggesting that Nancy Stafford married Enoch Males was her brother William M. H. Stafford's obituary, which stated that at the time of his death in 1900, his only full sister, Mrs. Nancy Jane Mills lived in Brazil, Clay County, Indiana.⁴  The 1900 census record for Nancy Jane Males in Brazil, Indiana lists her in the William H. Hudson household.  She was listed as "mother-in-law", which indicates she is the wife of Laura Hudson, who was born in October 1865 in Indiana.⁷  The one fact listed that is contrary to the other evidence for this woman is that she reportedly had only 1 child born to her. The other census records for Nancy Jane Males show that she had at least 7 children.  Also, supporting the conclusion that this is the correct family is the marriage record for Laura Males and William H. Hudson, who married in Clay County, Indiana on 21 December 1887.⁸   Nothing more is known about Nancy Jane Stafford or her husband.

Suggestions for additional research:

• There is a marriage record for Nancy J. Stafford who married Enoch Males on 27 October 1853 in Morgan County, Morgan County Marriage Record Book C:80.  She should be investigated further.

• In 1870, Enoch and Nancy J. Males were enumerated in Brazil, Clay County, Indiana.

• In 1880, Nancy and her children are in Donaldsonville, Clay County, Indiana.

• Benjamin Stafford's probate file or will may tell who Nancy Jane Stafford married.

• Biographical information may be available for Males families of Morgan and Clay Counties in Indiana.

NOTE:  This information needs additional work to provide evidence one way or the other to support the conclusions made above!!  

i.

Sarah Males

b. 1858 in Indiana;⁵ d. [?]; married Milton B. Phillips on 31 October 1872 in Clay County, Indiana⁹

ii.

Lewis M. Males

b. 1859 in Indiana;⁵ d. [?]; 

iii.

Benjamin Males

b. 1860 in Indiana;⁵ d. [?]; married Katie Fisher on 24 August 1881 in Clay County, Indiana¹⁰

iv.

Magurette Males

b. 1861 in Indiana;⁶  d. [?]; married Calvin Rush on 31 August 1878 in Clay County, Indiana¹¹

v.

Henriette Males

b. 1863 in Indiana;⁶  d. [?] m. John C. Fisher on 24 December 1883 in Clay County, Indiana¹²

vi.

Laura Males

b. October 1865 in Indiana;^6,7  d. [?]; married William H. Hudson on 21 December 1887 in Clay County, Indiana⁸

vii.

Letha Males

b. October 1869 in Indiana;⁶  d. [?]; married John Wimsey on 15 May 1889 in Clay County, Indiana¹²

Nancy Jane Stafford

Census

• 1850 - Clay Township, Morgan County, Indiana

• 1860 - Clay Township, Morgan County, Indiana

• 1870 - Brazil Township, Clay County, Indiana

• 1880 - Donaldsonville, Clay County, Indiana 

• 1900 - Brazil, Clay County, Indiana

Marriage Records

• Need record for Males - Stafford marriage

Newspaper clipping

• Obituary for brother, William M. H. Stafford, published 16 January 1900 - lists his sister, Mrs. Nancy Jane Mills of Brazil, Indiana.

Land Patents 

• Have not researched in land patents

Deed Records

• Have not researched in deed records 

Will

• Have not researched will records