Union Diary - finding people in the 1880 census

Still trying to identify the 1884 diarist . . . and, I think I'm getting close.

Since the diary entries were made only a few years after the 1880 Census, I decided to take a few shots in the dark.

I started by searching records that year for one of the more unusual names from yesterday's list of people mentioned in the diary: Jeff Eldridge.

My search quickly produced a Jefferson Eldridge in Williamstown (Gloucester County), New Jersey -- right in the middle of the area I GoogleMapped. Looked like a definitely possibility, so I pulled up an image of the actual census record. I'm including a copy with this post.

What's most interesting is not just the Eldridge household, but note the names of the folks in the two adjacent households.

After the Eldridge's is a household headed by a fellow named "Casper Kanick," which is very close to another one of the names in yesterday's list: Kasper Kenict.

But, what is MORE interesting, at least in terms of this quest, is the household BEFORE the Eldridge's, transcribed here:

*Tweed, James M. - head of household - age 27 - b NJ - farmer - parents born in Ireland.
*Tweed, Priscilla - wife - age 22 - b NJ - keeping house - parents born in NJ.
* Tweed, Samuel - father - age 74 - b Ireland - parents born in Ireland.
* Wilby, Albert - other - age 19 - b PA - works on farm - parents born in Italy.
* Smith, Mary - other - age 15 - b PA - housework - parents born in PA.

I believe James M. Tweed is a good candidate for being our diarist, but not just because of his proximity to the Eldridge and Kanick/Kenict families:

(1) His wife's name is Priscilla. The diarist mentions going to church with a Priscilla.

(2) His elderly father is living on their farm.

I need to see if I can find out more about the Tweeds to confirm this hunch. So, stay tuned.