Can you explain my cousins ancestors race to me. His name is Edward Newman. He is listed in the 1850 and 1860 census as Edward Newman. In the 1870 census, he is listed as Ed Newman and is Mulatto. In 1880, he is listed as Edward Newman again and is Mulatto. It appears that his mother is white. I don't understand the race change from the two earlier census, to the last two.

Thank you.