Image of Land Patent | Note asking for marriage license

Oliver P. Evans

Joannah's name also changes from census to census. In the 1860 Shelby County census it's Johannan (or Johannah), in 1870 it's Joana, in 1880 it's Johanna, in 1900 it's Joe, and in 1910 it's Joanna.

The 1880 census is the last place I've found Thomas. He disappears after that. I have found Joannah Evans in the 1900 and 1910 Shelby County, Alabama censuses.

In 1900 Johanna is listed as "Joe Evans," head of the household, and a widow. With her are four of her children (Viola E., Emma L., John, and Robert W.), which is why I think this is the right person. In 1910 she is living in her son's Robert W. Evans' household. With her are her daughters Viola and Emma. Joannah is not listed with Robert in the 1920 census, so I figure she must have died in between.

I have found a Thomas Evens and a Thomas G. Evans the 1850 census records for Abbeville County and Edgefield County, both in South Carolina. I have been leaning toward the people in the Abbeville census, but a Civil War record for D.W. Evans indicates he was born in Edgefield County, South Carolina.

Regarding Thomas G. Evans in the 1850 census for Abbeville County, South Carolina, I found him in the household of James Evens. (In the 1860 Abbeville County census, James’ last name is spelled “Evans.”) Although the last name is spelled “Evens,” I thought this was a possibility because with Thomas is "Daniel W. Evens," age 3. Thomas is listed as a school teacher and his age is 32.  There is another boy listed with Thomas, an Oliver P. Evans, age 6. I don't know what to do with Oliver because I haven't found him with Thomas any where else; however, there is an Oliver P. Evans living next door to Thomas in the 1860 Shelby County, Alabama, census. That Oliver is 17 years old, a laborer,  and was born in South Carolina.

The Edgefield County census has Thomas G. Evans, age 31, and Washington Evans, age 7, together. The flies here are that it's Washington Evans, not Daniel Washington Evans, and that he is 7 years old, which would put his birth year around 1843.

From what I’ve pieced together, Thomas was married to Mary Rountree, in South Carolina, and they had two sons, Oliver P. and Daniel W. Evans.

Mary passes from the scene before the 1850 census. The only place I’ve found her name is on Daniel W. Evans’ Texas death certificate, where his father was listed as T.F. Evans and his mother as Mary Rountree. (The Family Search web site has a Texas death record for Daniel W. Evans that gives his mother as Mary Rosentrel and that she was born in Florida.)

It seems that Thomas and Daniel moved to Alabama when Daniel was about 7 years old. (Correspondence  with Joan M. Evans.)

Thomas married Joanah Armstrong (b. abt. 1839 in Columbiana, Alabama) on 28 March 1858.

Thomas and Joanah (various spellings) are found on the 1860, 1870, and 1880 censuses for Shelby County. Joanna can be found on the 1900 and 1910 censuses for Shelby County.

 In 1850 and 1870, Thomas was listed as a school teacher. I found one reference on the Shelby County genealogy site to paying him as a school teacher in 1859.

1880 census for Shelby County, Alabama, lists Thomas G. Evans, age 60, head of household, born in South Carolina (also says both his parents were born in South Carolina); Johanna, age 46?, Wife, born in Alabama (both parents too); Savannah, age 20; Elizabeth, age 16; James, age 14; Mary, age 12; Elmira, age 8; Emma, age 5; John, age 3; Robert, age 6/12. For Robert, the column "If born within the Century year, give the month," it lists Dec.

On 1 September 1865, T.G. Evans sent a note to N.B. Mardis  saying, in part, "Please let my son D.W. Evans have license to marry...." It was signed Sept 1st/65 T.G. Evans.