Person:Hezekiah Gunn (5)

Inscription on tombstone reads: "GUNN, Hezekiah, son of Hezekiah and Catharine. Died November 3rd, 1861. Aged 16 years, 5 months and 19 days."

Hezekiah supposedly died in 1861, but he appears in the 1870 Federal Census, 26 years old and living in the same place with his mother, three brothers and his nephew (son of sister Mary). Either he did not die in 1861 or there is a transcription error in the 1870 Census and this is 56 year old Hezekiah Sr and not 26 year old Hezekiah Jr. Note that the handwriting on the 1870 Census report is exceptionally clear and definitely shows 26 years of age. If a mistake was made, it must have been by the original transcriber.

An alternate explanation is that the Civil War began in April 1861. The death of Hezekiah was in November of the same year. Was this a sham death to avoid serving in the War?

1850 Census:
Name: Herekiah J Gunn
Age: 5
Estimated Birth Year: abt 1845
Birth Place: New York
Home in 1850: Jordan (Village), Town of Elbridge, Onondaga, New York
Household Members:
Herefkiah Gunn 36
Catharine Gunn 29
Gauden Gunn 10
Mary Gunn 9
Hellen Gunn 7
Herekiah J Gunn 5
Francis Gunn 2
Charles Gunn 0
Ruth Gates 24
Elisabeth Pearce 17

1860 Census:
Name: Hezekiah Gunn
Age in 1860: 15
Birth Year: abt 1845
Birthplace: New York
Home in 1860: Jordan, Onondaga, New York
Post Office: Camillus
Household Members:
Isaac R Gunn 45 (this must be the brother of Hezekiah Sr)
Catherine Gunn 39
Gordan Gunn 20
Mary Gunn 19
Electa Gunn 17 = Helen Electa
Hezekiah Gunn 15
Francis Gunn 13
Charles Gunn 10
Elizabeth Sears 26

1870 Census:
Name: Hezikiah Gun
Event Type: Census
Event Year: 1870
Event Place: Elbridge, Onondaga, New York, United States
Age: 26
Birth Year (Estimated): 1843-1844
Birthplace: New York
Household Members:
Hezikiah Gun 26
Catherine Gun 49 = Mother
Burrill Gun 30 = Gordon Burrill
Charles E Gun 19
Frances Gun 23
Henry Oliver 7 = nephew (son of sister Mary Gunn Oliver)
Source: "United States Census, 1870," index and images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/pal:/MM9.1.1/M8VZ-6CW : accessed 16 Jun 2014), Hezikiah Gun, New York, United States; citing p. 29, family 266, NARA microfilm publication M593, FHL microfilm 000552559.

1. ↑ ^{1.0 1.1 1.2} Find A Grave.

   No tombstone shown: [1]

2.   Jordan is a village in the township of Elbridge in Onondaga County, New York.