The Tale of Three William Greens I write this to sort out the three William Greens found listed in the 1860 Schuyler County census for Buena Vista Township. As I have toiled over these three men and their families, it is my hope that I have correctly identified them, placed them with the correct parents, and attached to them the correct children. As genealogy is a science, I want the truth. Any corrections that should be made, or additional information which will collaborate or refute any claim made herein is welcomed. Correspondence should be sent to Dann M. Norton RR 1, Box 67, Apt 4 Bridgeport, IL 62417 618-945-5606 mrnor10@shawneelink.net Let us begin with the 1860 Census of Buena Vista Twp, Schuyler County, IL There is found in Buena Vista Township the following Green families: Samuel Green, 60 KY and wife Elizbeth 35 IL and three daughters. Nancy Green, 55 TN (the widow of John Green), two sons (Christopher Columbus and James H.) and a married daughter, Priscilla Blackley and grandchildren. Nestled among the following families we find: William J. Green 30 MO Lenora 20 VA Mary J. 07 IL William F. 04 IL Elizabeth E. 03 IL Following William J. and Lenora, there are four families of Hales and Robertsons, cousins and neighbors from MO, then David and Eliza Green and family. David’s mother-in-law, Catherine Shaver, appears next with her son James. Then, we have two more families of William Greens: William Green 28 IL Caroline 28 IN William W. 04 IL Mary J. 03 IL William Green 41 MO Hannah 33 KY James R. 20 MO Eliza J. 18 IL Nancy A. 15 IL John W. 11 IL Christopher C. 06 Nebraska Territory Mary E. 10/12 IL William H. Green married Elizabeth Caroline Blackley on June 9, 1853. The Blackleys and Greens intermarried many times: Franklin Blackley md. Priscilla Green Biggs; Andrew Blackley md. Elizabeth Green (later Elizabeth Beatty). Priscilla Green Biggs was the daughter of John and Nancy Boyd Green. She married Henry Biggs on 4 July 1846. He died before Sep 4 1855, leaving her with a daughter Ann Maria. There was also a Mary Green who married James Biggs. It is quite possible this was Priscilla’s sister who married Elijah Spencer. At first, it would seem that William H. Green who married Caroline Blackley was a brother to Priscilla and Mary, thus a son of John and Nancy. This is not the case, however. John and Nancy Green did have a son William Green born about the 1820s. This date makes William Green married to Hannah a logical candidate. Further, Hannah was a Spencer, probably related to Elijah Spencer. In the will of John Green, dated Mar 13, 1852, William, Columbus, James Henry, and Sarah Jane Green are named, as are Elizabeth Beatty and Priscilla Blackley. We also know that the oldest daughter was Mary Spencer. An 1864 obituary stated that William Green, the son of John Green, died that year. On 10 Aug 1865, Mrs. Hannah Green married John Hurst, and in the 1870 census of Camden Twp, Schuyler County, John, Christopher C. and Mahala Green are living with John and Hannah Hurst. Therefore, it can be concluded that William Green who married Hannah Spencer is the son of John and Nancy Boyd Green. A William J. Green appears in the 1850 census of Schuyler County in Buena Vista Twp. This man is 22, born in MO. His wife is Rebecca, 24 MO. This must be William Green who married Rebecca Nichols 21 Aug 1849. In the 1860, William J. is listed as 30—not quite 10 years difference, but census takers were not always sticklers for the facts. The 1860 William has a wife named Lenora. In both cases, though, a middle initial William J. was used. It may be that Rebecca was also known as Lenora, or there was a second marriage. I cannot verify either case. This William J. Green is found near Perrin Green in 1850, so I have placed him as a brother to Perrin. This would make William one of the sons of William and Eleanor Cooney Green. William J. does not appear on the 1870 census, so probably moved away. This leaves the parentage of William H. Green. This William does not show up on the Schuyler county census with any family. He is living in between the David Green family and the William and Hannah Green family in 1860. William H. Green’s age makes him a perfect candidate for a brother of David Green. David Green, son of Samuel and Caroline Trainer Green, had a brother born between 1830-1840 according to the 1840 census of Schuyler County, IL. Descendants of William H. Green remember hearing that Sam Green was their ancestor. These circumstances have lead me to the conclusion that William H. Green was the son of Samuel and Caroline Trainer Green. Dann M. Norton September 5, 1999