Robert Stafford and Nancy Ann Hiatt

21.  Robert Stafford, Jr. ³ (William¹   Robert²) b. 16 December 1828 1829 in Indiana;^1,2  d. 06 September 1863 at Camp Sherman, near Vicksburg, Mississippi.^2,3  He was probably the the son of Robert Stafford and his wife, Isabel Davisson.  Direct evidence has not been located at this time specifying, who Robert Stafford's mother was, however, Robert, Sr. and his wife Isabella signed deeds in 1923⁵ and there are Civil Court records indicating they were still married in 1830.^6,7  Robert, Jr. was born in Indiana and lived most of his life in Johnson and Morgan Counties.  After his father's death, Robert lived most of his life in Morgan County.^1,9  On 04 August 1850 he married Nancy Ann Hiatt in Madison Township, Morgan County, Indiana.^2,8 Nancy was born on 10 November 1828 in Indiana.^2,9

Robert and Nancy Stafford owned 120 acre of land in Morgan County, which they sold in 1857 to Eli Bray.¹⁰  The same year the warranty deed was executed Eli Bray had filed a Civil Action against Robert Stafford.  The court awarded Mr. Bray $240.50 for his damages and costs, the details of the case are not recorded in the record book.¹¹

Robert Stafford, Jr. was an adult during a tumultuous time for the United States.  In 1861 when the War of the Rebellion broke out he was 32 years old.^1,8   He enlisted on 08 August 1862 in Mooresville and entered Company E of the 12th Indiana Infantry.^2,3,4  Unfortunately, Robert Jr. did not survive the War.  He died on 06 September 1863 at Camp Sherman, near Vicksburg, Mississippi of typhoid fever with chronic diarrhea, chills, and fever.²  

Following Robert's death, Nancy Stafford remained in Morgan County, Indiana where she raised her children.^10,11,12  On 13 August 1886 she appeared before William C. Smock, Clerk of the Marion Civil Circuit Court to file a "Declaration for Widow's Increase of Army Pension."² This document records that she lived in Brooklyn, Morgan County, Indiana.²  She stated that she was 38 years old at that time and that she was the widow of Robert Stafford.   Nancy was admitted to a pension of $8.00 per month to begin on 07 September 1863.  In 1916 her pension was raised to $20 per month.²  

Who are Robert and Nancy's children?  There is conflicting or in the least confusing information in the census records regarding the number of children Robert and Nancy Stafford had.  According to the 1900 census, Nancy A. Stafford was the mother of 6 children, 4 of whom were living when that census was enumerated.¹⁹  However, if one lists each child that is enumerated with then over the years in the census records for 1860⁹ through 1900¹⁸ there are a total of 8 people with different given names and years of birth.  This is not unusual, but is a factor to consider regarding who their children were.  In 1870, the girl, Catherine who was born in about 1862, was not enumerated with Nancy Stafford, but in 1880 she was listed as her daughter and in 1880, the girl, Sarah who was born in 1864 is not shown in Nancy's household.  It is possible that information in the census records is incorrect for whatever reason.  As expected, the Civil War Pension file does provide additional information about the children of Robert and Nancy Stafford.² According to Nancy's declaration made on 13 August 1866 they were the parents of the following children:

• Harriet Isabel Stafford, b. 16 May 1851 in Morgan County, Indiana; Dr. Giles B. Mitchell acted as accoucheur.² 

• Lucinda Jane "Jane" Stafford, b. 27 March 1853 in Morgan County, Indiana; Dr. A. W. Reagan acted as accoucheur.²

• Eliza Ann "Liza A." Stafford, b. 01 June 1855 in Morgan County, Indiana; Dr. S. A. Butterfield acted as accoucheur.²  [Note:  There was some confusion in Nancy's Civil War Pension file about the names of her children.  She had to have affidavit's submitted stating the names of Robert's and her children.  This girl may have been recorded as Louisa in the 1860 census. Also see the affidavit filed on 26 July 1867 by Velorus Butterfield.]⁹

• Joseph Robert Stafford, b. 17 November 1858 in Cumberland County, Illinois.²

• Margaret Stafford, b. 10 Mar 1860 in Morgan County, Indiana; Dr. S. A. Butterfield acted as accoucheur.²

• Sarah C. Stafford, b. 27 June 1862; Dr. Clark Robbins acted as physician.²

All of them resided with their mother in Morgan County, Indiana on 13 August 1866.²  Nancy had to struggle to make ends meet to care for her young children after Robert died.  She remained in Morgan County until her death on 29 January 1923.  During the latter part of her life her daughter, Jane Losh cared for her and she died at the Jane's home in Brooklyn, Indiana.² The pension file contains a document filed by Jane Losh for the reimbursement of a fee for helping Nancy Stafford during her last sickness and with her burial.  This document states that Nancy's full name was Nancy Harriet Stafford.² Jane Losh was the daughter of Nancy Stafford.^2,12 Nancy was buried in the Brooklyn Cemetery in Morgan County, Indiana.  The affidavits in the pension file state that Nancy was sick for about 1 year prior to her death with Chronic Bright's Disease.  Apparently, her daughter, Jane, cared for her during her final illness.²

Further Research:

• Research is needed in the probate records of Morgan County, Indiana.  

• Compiled service records for Robert Stafford might provide some interesting military information, but generally do not provide much genealogical information.