Robert Wilson, Are You Really Robert Nelson?

Most of us genealogists have likely had the challenging experience of not finding an ancestor in a census record where we think that ancestor should be.  It can be frustrating.  Since there are 20 years between three census records we have to wonder if the ancestor moved away from the area, then moved back.  Or whether the census taker missed the family altogether.  Or whether the census taker misheard or wrongly recorded the name.  So many possibilities and each might take a different approach to solve.

I've been diving into census records for Robert Nelson and his family.  In 1840, 1850, and 1870 he and his family were living in Steubenville Township, Jefferson County, Ohio.  Of those three censuses, only in the 1850 and 1870 records are names and ages of (probable) family members listed but no relationships are declared.  Trying to find him in 1860 has required more effort.  I considered many possibilities but resorted to searching page by page through the Steubenville Township entries to see if I could find him and his family.  They are not there, at least under the name of Robert Nelson.

However, I found a family with the head of household identified as Robert Wilson in the 1860 Census, living in Steubenville Township, Jefferson County, Ohio.  See the 1860 image below (imaged edited for clarity).  Or see a digital image of the 1860 census page here at FamilySearch (with a free account).

In 1850, these are the people listed with Robert Nelson. 
>Robert Nelson, 50 [b. ~1800]; occupation was coal digger, born England
    Jane, 45, [b. ~1805], born England
    Daniel, 24, [b. ~1826], born England
    Elizabeth, 18, [b. ~1832], born Pennsylvania
    William, 17, [b. ~1833], born Ohio
    John, 14, [b. ~1836], born Ohio
    Robert, 10, [b. ~1840], born Ohio
    Thomas, 8, [b. ~1842], born Ohio
    Alice, 6, [b. ~1844], born Ohio
    Emily, 4, [b. ~1846], born Ohio
    Mary, 1, [b. ~1849], born Ohio

In 1860, these are the people listed with Robert Nelson or Robert Wilson
>Wilson, Robert, 60 years, [born ~1800], miner, born England  (Robert also owned property.)
    --- Jane, 54, [b. ~1806], born England
    --- John, 23, [b. ~1837], born Ohio
    --- Robert, 21,[b. ~1839], born Ohio
    --- Thomas, 18, [b. ~1842], born Ohio
    --- Emma, 15, [b. ~1845], born Ohio
    --- Mary, 11, [b. ~1849], born Ohio
    --- Anna, 10, [b. ~1850], born Ohio

In 1870, these are the people listed with Robert Nelson
>Nelson, Robert, 70, {b. ~1800], coal miner, born England  (Robert also owned property)
    Nelson, Jane, 64, [b. ~1806], born England
    Nelson, Annie, 19, [b. ~1851], born Ohio

This is the comparison of names and ages of individuals in census records in 1850, 1860, and 1870, or for the younger children, in 1860 and 1870:
Robert at 50, 60, and 70, always born in England, always a coal miner
Jane at 45, 54, 64, always born England
Daniel, Elizabeth, and William appear with their parents in only the 1850 census
John at 14 and 23
Robert at 10 and 21
Thomas at 8 and 18
Emily/Emma at 4 and 15
Mary at 1 and 11
Anna/Annie at 1 and 10 (in 1860 and 1870)

The names and ages seem to align across the census records from year to year, but is that enough for me to claim that the 1860 census with Robert Wilson as head of household is really Robert Nelson?  I would like to say yes, but I hesitate.  Have you had a similar experience?

I searched for Robert Wilson in 1850 and 1870 in Steubenville Township, Jefferson County, Ohio, but did not find anyone with that name.  That does not discount that Robert Wilson may have moved into the county in time for the 1860 census, and then moved away.  But where would Robert Nelson have been in 1860?  I haven't found him anywhere in that census.

I intend to look at neighbors of Robert Nelson to see if that helps clarify that Robert Nelson and Robert Wilson may or may not be the same person.

Would you consider Robert Wilson to be Robert Nelson with this information?  If you have thoughts or ideas of how else I can search and confirm, or next steps  I could take, please share!  I'd be grateful.

—Nancy.

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