Hi,

Vance County was formed in 1881, from Franklin, Granville, and Warren. So it isn't in the 1870 or 1880 census.

The spelling "Saunders" was usually Sanders in earlier census periods in NC.

Give your self a wider time frame for his date of birth - search with a 5 year window, and you may find more possibles.

He does not have to be in his county of birth either - so start with a state wide search.

There are a few in 1870:

Name: Ed Sanders
Estimated Birth Year: abt 1854
Age in 1870: 16
BirthPlace: North Carolina
Home in 1870: Cape Fear, New Hanover, North Carolina
Family and Neighbors: View Results
Race: Colored
Gender: Male
Value of real estate: View Image
Post Office: Wilmington

Name: Edmund Sanders (could be Edward on actual record)
Estimated Birth Year: abt 1858
Age in 1870: 12
BirthPlace: North Carolina
Home in 1870: New Hope, Wayne, North Carolina
Family and Neighbors: View Results
Race: Colored
Gender: Male
Value of real estate: View Image
Post Office: Goldsboro

Name: Edward Sandas (this is Sanders on the actual record)
Estimated Birth Year: abt 1862
Age in 1870: 8
BirthPlace: North Carolina
Home in 1870: Windsor, Bertie, North Carolina
Family and Neighbors: View Results
Race: Colored
Gender: Male
Value of real estate: View Image
Post Office: Colerain

Name: Edmond Sanders
Estimated Birth Year: abt 1857
Age in 1870: 13
BirthPlace: North Carolina
Home in 1870: Reynoldson, Gates, North Carolina
Family and Neighbors: View Results
Race: Colored
Gender: Male
Value of real estate: View Image
Post Office: Gatesville

Have you searched for the aunt - listed with him in 1900 ?
It says he has been married 18 years - so Lizzie or Elizabeth would not have been with him in 1880 - she is listed as having no children, yet he has a son age 20 - look for him with another wife.

He is listed as a blacksmith.

Name: Edward D Saunders
Home in 1900: Henderson, Vance, North Carolina
Age: 50
Estimated Birth Year: abt 1850
BirthPlace: North Carolina
Relationship to head-of-house: Head
Spouses's Name: Lizzie
Race: Black

Household Members: Name Age

Edward D Saunders 50
Lizzie Saunders 37
James Saunders 20
Angeline Reavis - born 1829? Aunt - this age could be off - it is 20 in index but on page differs

Joseph Reavis 34
Anna Reavis 22
Cosa sherrie Reavis 1

I would take a close look at this 1880 record:

Name: Angeline Revis
Home in 1880: Kitrells, Granville, North Carolina
Age: 33
Estimated Birth Year: abt 1847
BirthPlace: North Carolina
Relation to head-of-household: Wife
Spouses's Name: James
Father's birthplace: NC
Mother's birthplace: NC
Neighbors: View others on page
Occupation: Keeps House
Marital status: Married
Race: Black
Gender: Female

Household Members: Name Age
James Revis 70
Angeline Revis 33
Bettie Revis 16
Cary Revis 12
Mary Revis 10
Anna Revis 8
Lizzie Revis 3
Joseph Revis 18

I did a search using LDS discs - for blacksmiths and found this record, this may be your Edward - Sandraus is not a surname, so it is obviously misspelled:

Census Place: Sandy Creek, Warren, North Carolina

Source: FHL Film 1254985 National Archives Film T9-0985 Page 107A

Relation Sex Marr Race Age Birthplace
Robert J CAIN Self M M W 27 MO

Occ: Qureman Fa: IRE Mo: ENG
Nancy CAIN Wife F M W 16 NC

Occ: Keeps House Fa: NC Mo: NC
Elen HENDERSON Other F S B 13 NC

Occ: Servant Fa: NC Mo: NC
Dulice ROBERTS Other M S B 20 NC

Occ: Quarryman Fa: NC Mo: NC
Joshua MCGOWIN Other M S B 25 NC

Occ: Quarryman Fa: NC Mo: NC
Edd SANDRAUS Other M S B 26 NC

Occ: Blacksmith Fa: NC

Hope this helps,

Denise