David Larimer1

b. circa 1851, d. between January 1858 and January 1860
BirthCircacirca 1851 David Larimer was born in Washington County, Virginia, circa 1851.1 
Deathbetween Jan 1858 and Jan 1860 David died of scarlet fever between Jan 1858 and Jan 1860. The Washington County death records (sometimes not carefully kept) report the date as January 1858. However his death was also entered on the 1860 Federal Census Mortality Schedule. Assuming the instructions were followed (include death information for 12 months ending June 1, 1860) David died in Jan. 1860. But the census instructions were often interpreted more loosely - to mean anyone who died the previous calendar year, in which case David may have died in Jan. 1859.2,1 

Research Comment:

David's entry in the Washington County death records lists his father as Robert Larimer but does not list his mother's name. His most likely parents were Robert and Rachel (Debusk) Larimer, as they had a gap in their known children about 1851. However the elder Robert had a son named Robert from his first marriage, who also could be David's father.

Although the younger Robert had a daughter Ellen born abt 1851 (estimated from census records), he and his wife Mary also had at least 1 and possibly 2 sets of twins among their children. Hence it cannot be discounted that David was a twin to the daughter born abt 1851. Also, Robert and Mary had a gap in their known children between 1851 and 1855. If either David's age on the death record is incorrect, or Ellen's age on the 1860 census is incorrect, David might have belonged to this family unit rather than to Robert and Rachel.

It would seem likely that either the elder Robert or the younger Robert maintained a family Bible that could clear up this question. I hope to hear from someone with further information.
Last Edited12 Jan 2010

Citations

  1. [S3] Moore and Stephens, Washington Co., VA Birth and Death Records, p. 198. David Larimore entry (father Robert Larimore; no mother named); d. 9 Jan. 1858 of scarlet fever.
  2. [S2315] David Larimer entry, 1860 U.S. Census, Washington Co., VA, Mortality Schedule, p. 613 (stamped), line 5, viewed online at Ancestry.com, Entry reads: David Larimer, 9, male, b. VA, d. Jan from scarlet fever of 3 days duration.