HomeMy WebLinkAboutLyon, Priscilla (Smith)PRISCILLA (SMITH) LYON
Priscilla Smith, daughter of Joshua and Margaret ‘Peggy’ (Harper) Smith, was born in 1811, probably in
what is now the Town of Enfield (which is where her father died in 1839). Priscilla married Alfred H.
Lyon in November 1827.
In 1850, when the Federal Census began naming all persons living in a residence, Alfred Lyon’s family
was recorded as:
Alfred H. Lyon, 34, Farmer (1805-1859)
Prusetta (Priscilla), 29 [both her and her husband’s ages were misrepresented] (1811-1878)
Ellen, 19
William, 14
Francis J., 11 (1838-1891)
Edward, 9
Louisa, 5
Between 1850 and 1860, Alfred had moved his family to Bengal, Clinton County, Michigan where he
continued his occupation as a farmer. The Town of Bengal is in central Michigan and is approximately
the same size as Enfield (36 sq. mi.) with a population of 1,200. In December 1859 at the age of 54,
Alfred died of apoplexy and was buried in Bray Cemetery, St. Johns, Clinton County, Michigan.
When the next Census was taken the next year in 1860, William had married and had his own farm;
Francis had taken over operating his father’s farm and Priscilla was Head of Household that included
Francis and his siblings. By 1870, Priscilla and Francis had reversed their family roles and he was now
Head of Household. For some unexplained reason, Priscilla, at age 62, was recorded as ‘aged’.
Priscilla died in 1878 at the age of 67 and Francis 12 years later at the age of 53 in 1891. Both are buried
with Alfred Lyon in Bray Cemetery.