I'm researching my sister-in-law's Charlton ancestry, and using census records I think I've found her great-great-grandfather. Posting the information here in case anyone has additional information or leads.

James C. Charlton is the person in question. I've tracked him and his family through three census years, but have no other information or anything other than circumstances and locations linking him to my sister-in-law's great-grandfather, James Joseph Charlton, supposedly born around 1855 in Limestone County, Alabama.

The census records tell an interesting story, but many pieces are missing. James C. Charlton was born circa 1806 in Tennessee. He was married to Sarah ____, born circa 1819 in Tennessee or Alabama. James C. was a house carpenter.

In the 1850 census, the family is living in Limestone County, Alabama. Children are Mary, Nancy, George, Samuel, Sarah, and Martha, all born in Alabama.

In the 1860 census, Sarah and the children (George, Samuel, Nancy, Sarah, Martha, Elizabeth, and James, all born in Alabama) are living in Tishomingo County, Mississippi. James is to be found in the Alabama Penitentiary in Wetumpka, Coosa County, serving a sentence for manslaughter.

In the 1870 census, James (spelled Charleton) is back with Sarah and the family in Tishomingo County, Mississippi. Children are Mary, Elizabeth, James J. (all born Alabama), and youngsters George and Samuel (born Mississippi).

I haven't yet been able to trace any of the family beyond these census listings, other than James J. I believe he is James Joseph Charlton, my sister-in-law's great-grandfather, who married Lena Jane Hill and raised four children in Arkansas, mainly in Phillips County.

I would love to confirm my suspicions, and link this family to any other Charlton/Charleton families living in the area during these years. I have posted a "work-in-progress" family tree at http://www.nebula5.org/charlton/cfamtree.html

--Julie Zetterberg Sardo