Hi-

Several things to mention here, but first this is what I found on a preliminary search:

M-Mulatto; B-Black); (All below were heads of their own households- meaning that I did not list complete households everytime.)

*In 1800 there was a Joseph Hays listed in Cumberland County; In 1810 there was a Juda Hays listed in Cumberland County; and in 1820 there was a Charles Hays and a William Hays listed in Cumberland County. Below I listed the Black and Mulatto households only.

*There were White households too in all the censuses. I took a peek in the White households and did not see any Mulatto's or Blacks listed, however that does not mean a thing, as we know, (smiles).

I spelled the names as I saw them on the census, so if it looks misspelled, it's not me, it's the census taker. (smiles again)

1860 Cumberland County:
Adaline Hays 24 B
Betsey Hays 60 M
Carles Hays 60 M (male)
Catherine Hays 19 M

1870 Cumberland County:
David Hays 30 M

1900 Cumberland County:
Charlott Hays 45 B
Marshall Hays 35 B

1910 Cumberland County:
James Hays 28 B
Lou Hays 22 B
Mariah Hays 50 B
Sophia Hays 50 B
Charlotte Hays 48 B
______________
1870 Cumberland County:
Neill Hayes 25 B (listed as a servant in a Household with other servants)
*Below is a complete household of Hayes' in 1870 Cumberland Cty.
Susan Hayes 61 M
Charlotte Hayes M 15
Julia Hayes M 14

1900 Cumberland County:
*All below are seperate households
Daniel Hayes 61 B
Matilda Hayes 45 B
Salie Hayes 61 B

One Household in Cumberland County 1900:
Mary Johnson 33 B
John Johnson 10 B

1910 Cumberland County:
*All below are seperate households
David Hayes 73 M
Matilda Hayes 55 B
William Hayes 30 M

In 1910 a household with the following:
Mary Johnson 41 Widow (9 children born, 7 living), B
Alice Johnson 21 Widow (1 child born, 1 living), B
George Johnson 20 Son B
Theodo?? Johnson 17 Son B
Jefferson Johnson 15 Son B
Rowland Johnson 12 Son B
William Johnson 9 Son B
Richard Johnson 6 months Grandson B

1920 Cumberland County:
Sophia Hayes 59 B

In 1880 Cumberland County I found a "Maria Hayes, (Single, 28 B)" listed in the household headed by Rosetta Williams, (Widow, 45, B). Maria is listed as Rosetta's sister. Also in the house were: Winston Hayes, Brother, Single, 22 M; Charles Hayes, Brother, Single, 15, M; and Julia Hayes, Sister, Single 23, M.

In 1920 I found a "Mary Johnson," Widow, 41, B; in the home with her is a John McNeil, 12, nephew.

1920 another household in Cumberland County was:
Mary Johnson, Widow, 47, B
John D. Johnson, Son, 20, B
William Johnson, Son, 24, B
Richard Johnson, Son, 22, B
Odessa Johnson, Daughter-in-law, 22, B

Now questions:

1. What part of Cumberland County are we focusing on?
2. Names of Siblings?
3. Any other Surnames I should look for?
4. Did the family stay in Cumberland County or did they migrate to other places?
5. Did you know that some areas of Cumberland County are today known as Hoke County? Did they live close to what today is the Hoke County line, (i.e. Rockfish, Lumber Bridge, etc.)?
6. Do you have any relatives/friends here who would be willing to go to the library and look through the papers, as without an exact date of death you would have to go through the microfisches for 1956 or 1958 to find obits?
7. What evidence did you discover that let you know they were Free Persons of Color? Do you have the documentation, (anyone listed prior to 1870 in the Free Persons Censuses from 1790-1860 in Cumberland County)?

Will be awaiting responses. Hope some of this babbling has helped you, (smiles).