Whatever Happened to
Benjamin Anderson Flynn?



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I've wondered about this question several times.
How did this mystery man, who swept into the life of Susan Watson, married her against her parents' wishes on 6 Jul 1831 in Coweta County, Georgia, gave her four if not five children, and served as a county commissioner, then vanish by 1850 at the age of about forty without a trace?

Why did Susan--nor any of their children, to our knowledge--never speak of him again?

His mysterious disappearance occurs, perhaps, just before the 1850 census was taken.  Also occurring at about this same time is the death of a baby we believe may have been his and Julia's fifth child, also named Benjamin.
Did he die or was he killed at the same time that this fifth child died, perhaps in an accident or by illness? Susan did report to the census taker in 1880 that she was a widow, but was this the truth or just an easy way to explain his leaving? (She did tell one untruth at that time, that her age was 60! If this were true, she would've been age eleven when she married him on 6 Jul 1831.)

Did he accidently kill his baby, or was he so distraught at the death of this fifth child that he left, never to return?

Was he dissatisfied with his relationship with Susan?

Was there another reason he left?

I began to follow up on the assumption that for whatever reason, he abandoned his family and moved away.  Beginning my search in the 1880 Census of the Southern States, I found three individuals with the last name Flynn or Flinn who interested me.
 

1.  Anderson Flinn in the 1880 census of Warrnes Store, Hale Co., AL

Given Name
Surname
Relationship
to Head of HH
Sex
Marital
Status
Race
Age
POB
CON Comments
PRO Comments
Anderson Flinn Self M M W 63 SC He's too young.  Our BAF would've been born about ten years earlier than this person. He could have lied about his age.  The name is right; the place of birth is possibly right.
Martha Flinn Wife F M W 44 AL She'd have been only 14 when he abandoned his family. Perhaps he did not leave Susan for her, but for another reason, then found Martha later, say eight or nine years later.
Alice Flinn Daughter F
W 20 AL
The age of the oldest is within range, if the above comment is true.
Betty Flinn Daughter F
W 16 AL

Martha Flinn Daughter F S W 2 AL

2.  B. Flinn in the 1880 census of McGehees, Montgomery Co., AL

Given Name
Surname
Relationship
to Head of HH
Sex
Marital
Status
Race
Age
POB
CON Comments
PRO Comments
B. Flinn Self M Widowed W 73 NC
His age is right; the initial is right; the POB is possibly right.
Acto Flinn Son M Single W 17 AL
If the comment below is correct, that he didn't leave his family until 1850 could explain the large gap between Missouri's and Acto's ages.
Missouri Bozeman Daughter F Widowed W 40 AL Missouri is too old to have been born after he abandoned his family. He could have been carrying on an illicit relationship for ten years before he abandoned his first family.
Mackey Bozeman Granddaughter F Single W 17 AL

Ben Bozeman Grandson M Single W 18 AL

P. C. G. Daniel Other M Single W 40 AL

H. V. Walters Other M Single W 23 AL

3.  Wm. C. Flinn in the 1880 census of Chicka Co., MS

Given Name
Surname
Relationship
to Head of HH
Sex
Marital
Status
Race
Age
POB
CON Comments
PRO Comments
Wm. C. Flynn Self M M W 73 SC Name is not right. He could have changed his name.
Harriet C. Flynn Wife F M W 54 MS
Her age is right--she'd have been 24 when he abandoned his family 30 years before, young enough to be very attractive to him, yet old enough that she'd have been desperate enough to marry a man 19 years older about whom she may have known little.
Stephen W. Flynn Son M S W 23 MS Oldest child's age leaves the question of why were there no older children.  Why were none born in the seven-year interim? Perhaps he did not leave Susan for her, but for another reason, then found Harriet later, say five or six years later.
Martha R. Flynn Daughter F S W 21 MS
Mississippi is more attractive a place to which to run, in that it's farther from his abandoned family.
Enoch Flynn Son M S W 20 MS

Elijah H. Flynn Son M S W 18 MS
He already had a son named Elijah; perhaps he loved and missed him and so wanted another.
Mary  McPherson Niece F S W 35 MS

Arron G. Cox Other M S W 21 MS

The next step, I suppose, is to check the 1850, 1860, and 1870 censuses for these three gentlemen to see  if they're in the same places.  If you have other suggestions, please e.mail me--thanks!

John Gwin  jmcdgwin@zianet.com