Isaac Braswell and family

I added a little poem on the side of my journal - The Elusive Ancestor. I just thought it was funny....and so true! I feel like Isaac Braswell is the "elusive ancestor" in my family.

Here's what I think is true: Isaac Braswell was born in 1800, married Susan Land in 1826. Sophia (aka Sophronia) was born in 1827. That seems about right, one year after her parents marry.

Then things get confusing. First of all...Susan Land. I am having a hard time finding info on her as well, but my hunch is that she must be Sophia's mother, b/c I know Sophia named her first born daughter Susan. I think Susan Land died when Sophia was little, and that maybe she named her daughter after her mother.

Okay, so Susan dies and Isaac remarries, at least, it appears this way. When I do a search for him on ancestry.com, I come across a record of his wife being Elizabeth. Well sure enough, doing a google search proves that an Isaac Braswell did marry an Elizabeth and they had several children. But is it the same Isaac Braswell?

The 1860 census has Isaac and Elizabeth living together with many children, the oldest being 25, which would put them getting married sometime around 1835. This seems to match somewhat with what i have about Susan. I have it listed that she died before 1838.

I found online Isaac Braswell's will...1873 I believe was the year. He does not mention his daughter Sophia. Now why is this? Of course, it's not as if she was living in his house anymore and needed to be supported. But I know she was alive b/c I found on her on the 1880 census. Why would you leave your supposed first born daughter out of your will? *scratches head* Well...then again, he DID have a lot of kids, but strange that he doesn't at least mention her.

Okay...I digress....back to my point. I can't find anything on Isaac and to prove his relationship to Sophia. Except I did try the familysearch site (with the mormon church) and they did have a record of Sophia being born in 1827 w/ isaac and susan as her parents. But how accurate is this record? But as far as finding out who
isaac's parent's are...no such luck. No records found. Not even on ancestry.com. Or maybe i'm just not looking in the right place.

I sure do wish the early census records were more detailed. I like the mid to late 1800s ones where they list EVERYONE in the household, not just the head. It sure does make this process a little easier!