Three Clark County Illinois Tapscotts of Unknown Origin

In Auburn Cemetery, Clark County, Illinois, are two markers for two Tapscotts whose parentage cannot be identified.

A Civil War military marker for Wesley Tapscott is contains neither birth nor death dates; however, probate and other Clark County records show he died in Marshall Illinois 21 Nov 1894. But the extensive records show no connection with any other Tapscott. I am now obtaining all the files for his Civil War pension application, but whether those will provide a connection is unknown. [Since this was written, the mystery has been solved. He was James Wesley Tapscott, a son of Henry the Traveler. See "A Brick Wall Demolished" 12/29/17.]

The marker for John Tapscott is sufficiently worn that there are uncertainties. My wife and I have seen the marker and have transcribed it as

JOHN TAPSCOTT

DIED

AUG.(?) 28, 1850

AGED

41(?)Y  2M & 12D

Records in the Clark County Genealogical Society give an abbreviated transcription of [TAPSCOTT], John  d. May 23, 1850 - 41 y 2 m 14 d.

Neither transcription corresponds with a Tapscott who could be John [Again the mystery has been solved. He is another son of Henry the Traveler. The transcription is wrong. See "An Uncertain Life" Part 1 (6/5/17), 2 (6/12/17), 3 (7/5/17).]

A third Clark County Tapscott of unknown origin is found in a newspaper article supplied by Bob Walls:

The following persons were buried this week by undertaker Harlan: Mrs. McKinney of Wabash tp., Mrs. Kirby of Darwin; William Tapscott of Anderson. Mr. Tapscott was an old pioneer, being about 84 years of age. He was living by himself, was taken suddenly ill, and when found was in a dying condition. Marshall Weekly Messenger, Thu 13 Apr 1876, p 5.

Marshall Weekly Messenger, Thu 13 Apr 1876.

William's approximate birth date makes him the same generation as Henry the Traveler, who founded the Wabash Valley Tapscotts. But no known William Tapscotts fit the bill. Could a mistake have been made in the name? Henry Tapscott the Traveler is known to have died in the 1870s, probably in Anderson Twp. And in 1876 he would have been around 80. But he should not have been living by himself. Henry’s wife, Susan, was still living at the time. Still, all in all, it would seem that this might be the best guess – that “William” Tapscott was really Henry. Newspaper reporting is certainly not error free. And it is quite possible that Henry's full name was "Henry William Tapscott." After all, his father was William and his grandfather was Henry. What do you think?