Selma wrote:
"Interesting that K. H. Dickens is "white" in 1860 and appears to be listed with a "B" in 1870 and "MU" in 1880.

I take it that Milly dies sometime after Adah birth, but before 1880 when she doesn't appear.

Why is K.H. listed as a farmer and not a physician on the census?

When the children marry do they list him as their father,
when they die do their informants also list him as their father?

Selma"
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Selma,

Thaks for your response & questions.

The K. H. or Kelly Dickens born ca 1831 is confirmed to be "white" and is the nephew of Dr. Joseph J. W. Powell, the owner of Coolmore plantation in Edgecombe County. Another part of the story is that Kelly "lost" his medical practice after he openly lived with and had children with Milly. His property listed in the 1850/1860 census is a portion of that plantation. Hence the Farmer designation.

I was also making the same assumption with Milly... that she had probably passed by the time of the 1880 census. However in the 1880 census there is a black female, Emily, listed as "Cook". Her age places her in approximately the same age group as Milly from the 1870 census. Emily - Milly... a possibilty?

The only marriage record I have todate is that of the son, Lafayette Dickens, to Flora Lawrence, my paternal grandmother, dated 14 Feb 1878, in Edgecombe County.... parents are not listed on that marriage record.

Lucy (Dickens) Cherry is the only death record I have for the children. That record clearly states Kelly & "Millie" as the parents. I'm curently searching for the connection of the informant to Lucy (Dickens) Cherry.

~Art

p.s. as an aside.. the parents of Flora (Lawrence) Dickens are Peter & Louisa Louisa Lawrence. Their marriage is noted in "Somebody Knows My Name" as a cohabitation record for Edgecombe County in 1866 and it states they have been living as man/wife for the previous 29 years.