Lincoln Discussion Symposium
The Surratts in the 1860 census - Printable Version

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The Surratts in the 1860 census - Susan Higginbotham - 03-25-2017 09:31 AM

I was looking at the entry for the Surratt family in the 1860 census and noticed that in addition to John Sr., Mary, and the three children, there is a 59-year-old man named H. D. Dyson, whose occupation is given as a teacher, and a 16-year-old girl named Elizabeth Knott, whose occupation is not given. Does anyone know anything about these two people and their relationship, if any, to the Surratts?


RE: The Surratts in the 1860 census - L Verge - 03-25-2017 10:38 AM

No known relationship to the Surratts. Dyson (a local name related to the Piscataway area) boarded for a while at the tavern, evidently sharing his domain with gentlemen travelers in the one bedroom used for that purpose. I have no idea where he taught since there were no schools nearby.

Elizabeth Knott was probably the daughter of the barkeep that assisted Mr. Surratt. I believe he gave brief testimony in the 1865 trial. I have no idea where she lived in the house unless she shared Anna's room. That census is the only place that I know she is named (but not her father). His name is sometimes spelled Nott.


RE: The Surratts in the 1860 census - RJNorton - 03-25-2017 01:02 PM

A few folks had a brief discussion of William Hatch Dent Dyson here.


RE: The Surratts in the 1860 census - Susan Higginbotham - 03-25-2017 06:57 PM

Thanks to both of you!