TRACKING MY AUSTIN SURNAME BACK AS FAR AS I CAN

It just makes sense that the place to start tracing your roots is to investigate how far back one can document their surname. So that's where I'll start. My starting point will be my grandfather, James Etsy Austin and I'll be careful to itemize all the citations that either prove or support any supposed family ties as I journey back through my personal heritage.

My grandfather, James Etsy Austin, was born March 27, 1894 in Wright County Missouri. The 1900 census for Wright County Missouri does have James E Austin, age 6 years living with his parents and siblings. It should be noted that per the 1900 census both his parents were also born in Missouri.  

Still referencing the 1900 census for Van Buren, Wright County, Missouri; James Etsy Austin's father was Francis M. Austin born in September 1871. The census also says that Francis M. Austin's father was born in Kentucky, while his mother was born in Alabama. 

My great grandfather, Francis M. Austin, is listed in the census for 1880 as a 9 year old living with his mother in Montgomery, Wright County, Missouri. There appears to have been no father living in the home at that time. 


At first glance my 2 times great grandfather appears to me to be the weak link in the Austin lineage. When you dig a little deeper Francis M. Austin is enumerated in the 1880 U.S. Census of Montgomery, Wright County, Missouri as a 9 year old son residing with his widowed mother Terealbline Austin. So what can we find in the 1870 census?

In the 1870 census of Wright County, Missouri, family number 106, the head of the household is 20 year old James Austin (1850-1880), 20 year old Laura (I believe that to be Terealbine) Austin and 40 year old Polly Austin (his mother Mary Polly Perkins Austin). Also living in the household were Polly Austin's 10 year old twin sons, Albert and Calbert and her daughters 17 year old Martha E., 15 year old Caroline, 13 year old Polly and 11 year old Jane.  Also living next door is census family number 105; James' 21 year old brother Phillip.

All those mentioned in the 1870 census were included in the 1860 census of Wright County, Missouri. They were the family of my 3 times Great Grandfather Nicholas Dudely Austin. Nicholas, Mary, Dewey Phillip and James are all identified by name in the 1860 Census of Graves County. Kentucky.  

Prior to 1850 the U.S.Census only identified the head of household by name. All other members of the household were identified by race, age and sex. As a result it becomes a bit tougher ascertain lineage. So let's look at the 1850 and 1860 Census' and see if we can learn anything. The 1860 Census indicates that Nicholas Dudley Austin was born in approximately 1829 in Tennessee. The 1850 Census lists Nicholas Dudley Austin (Nicholas Austin) as a 21 year old farmer and head of family number 91 in District 2 of the Graves County, KY census.

Family number 89 on the previous page of the census lists 52 year old Phillip Austin (Phillip West Austin (1797-1872) my 4 times Great Grandfather) who was born in North Carolina. Phillip West Austin's first wife was Mary Polly Dudley and her maiden name became their son's middle name, Nicholas Dudley Austin. Mary Polly died in 1833 and in March 1834 Phillip married Sallie Gilbert. 
25 members of the Austin family are buried together with Phillip West and Sallie in the Mt. Zion Baptist Church cemetery in Mayfield, Graves County, KY.

The Austin Families of America indicates that Phillip West Austin's father was William "Deux Twain" Austin (April 11, 1754-1804), my 5 times Great Grandfather. 

I've seen records that indicate William "Deux Twain" Austin's father was also named William. I'll not list that yet. I've got more research to do! 

Grandmother Walker's Maternal Roots

In the 1860 U.S. Census of Overton County, Tennessee I found, living in one home, my 2 year old Great-Great Grandmother. Living in the same house was her 25 year old mother, my Great-Great-Great Grandmother. Also enumerated living in the same house was my Great- Great-Great-Great Grandmother. Now if that is not enough a 4^th generation also lived in the same home and was the head of the house on the 1860 census. That person was my 90 year old Great-Great-Great-Great-Great Grandfather who was born in 1768.

If you would care to see it goto: 1860 United States Federal Census, Tennessee, Overton, District 3, family number 1174, pages number 104 & 105.. I should note that the name Penticost has been incorrectly interpreted as Renticost. Looking at the original document one can see why that occurred.

Grandfather Austin's Mothers Paternal Roots

We start this branch of the family tree with my grandfather Austin: James Etsy Austin. When James Etsy Austin was born on March 27, 1894, his father, Francis Marion Austin, was 23 and his mother, Nancy Condecia Coggins, was 20. 

My great grandmother, Nancy Condecia Coggins, was born on November 5, 1873, her father, Andrew H. Coggin, was 38 and her mother, Nancy Cowan Sitze Coggin, was 37. Nancy Condecia Coggins died on March 15, 1937, when she was 63 years old. 

At this point I need to make 3 observations. First there is some confusion of the Coggins and Coggin surname in the census records, but they are the same family. Second, Nancy Condecia Coggins mother's name was Nancy Cowan Sitze Coggins and she also had an aunt Nancy Caroline Coggins. Third, the name Robert Coggin(s) will be included in 5 generations of the family tree! I hope it all doesn't get too confusing.

My great great grandfather Andrew H Coggin was born on November 17, 1834, his father, Robert Coggin, was 25 and his mother, Arrena Flowers, was 23. Andrew H Coggin died on January 11, 1896, in Wright County, Missouri, at the age of 61, and was buried there.

My great great great grandfather Robert Coggins III was born March 10, 1809 in Walton County, Georgia to father James E. Coggins and mother Levina Murphy. He married Arrena Flowers on January 31, 1828, in Nashville, Tennessee. On February 9, 1881, he died in Hartville, Missouri, and was buried in Wright County, Missouri. 

My 4 times great grandfather James E Coggins was born in 1780 his father, Robert, was 35 and his mother, Mary Cooper, was 33. He married Levina Murphy in 1804 in North Carolina.  He died on December 3, 1813, at the age of 33.

My 5 times great grandfather, Robert Coggin(s) was born about 1745. Around 1770 he married Mary Cooper. Robert Coggin(s) lived to be 95 years old. He is enumerated on the U.S. Census' of 1800, 1810, 1830 & 1840 in Franklin County, NC.

But most interesting of all, in the 1841 Census of Revolutionary War Pensioners in North Carolina, Robert Coggin age 95 residing in Franklin County is a Revolutionary War Pensioner.