The evidence that Jay Prentiss Heathcock was son of Alfred A. Heathcock is cicumstantial but very strong. Alfred A. Heathcock’s family cannot be found in the 1870 or 1880 census and Jay Prentiss was born after the 1860 census, so there is not single record that shows Jay Prentiss as the son of Alfred A. Heathcock.

The following record is the best evidence that Jay Prentiss Heathcock was son of Alfred. The names are quite consistent with this being the family of Dixon Heathcock, son of Alfred A. Heathcock. J. P. Heathcock, age 18, is identified in this record as the brother of Dixon Heathcock (who is identified as son of Alfred A. Hathcock by the 1850 and 1860 census).

1880 Census of Ullin, Pulaski Co IL
Name Age
Dixon Heathcock 32 head AL AL TN
Mary Heathcock 33 wife TN TN TN
Pentiss Heathcock 11 son IL AL TN
Josie Heathcock 9 dau MS AL TN
Alfred Heathcock 5 son TN AL TN
Malvin Heathcock 2 son IL AL TN
J. P. Heathcock 18 brother MS AL TN
E. Cuningham 19 boarder Ohio
Elen Bice 18 dau IL NC TN

It is not known why Dixon Heathcock was moving so much, but the following record indicates that he and his family lived in Mississippi in 1871, in Tennessee in 1875, and in Illinois in 1878.

1900 Census of Tipton Co TN
Name Age
Jay P Hathcock 38 b Apr 1862 MS AL AL m 15 years
Mary E Hathcock 33 b Apr 1867 TN TN TN m 15 years
Jessie D Hathcock 4 b Aug 1895 AR MS TN
Alfred M Hathcock 2 b Aug 1897 AR MS TN

Two families above:
Name Age
William Hathcock 63 head AL AL AL m 30 years (42 scratched out)
Mattie Hathcock 50 wife TN TN TN m 30 years; mother of 3, 3 still living
James Hathcock 20 son TN AL TN
Larence Hathcock 17 son TN AL TN
Mary Hathcock 16 dau TN AL TN
Chism Charby 26 servant
Ponie J Sawyers 33 boarder
Lener Sawyers 30 dau TN AL TN
Clyde Sawyers 7 son TN TN TN
Crrel Sawyers 4 son TN TN TN
Samual Sawyers 1 son TN TN TN

[I am not sure who this William is. To old to be son of Alfred, too young to be brother of Alfred. Born in AL in 1837.

Three families below:
Name Age
Malvan Hathcock 22 head TN AL TN m 3 years
Isabel Hathcock 22 wife TN NC TN m 3 years
Parrish Hathcock 1 son TN TN TN
Birtes Hathcock 5/12 son TN TN TN

1910 Census of Nettleton, Craighead Co AR
Name Age
Mary E Heathcock 43 head, widow
Jessie D Heathcock 17 AR MS TN
Edwin P Heathcock 9 AR MS TN
Nina Heathcock 6 AR MS TN
Lillian R Heathcock 4 AR MS TN
Fred Wheeler 25 boarder
Thomas Porter. 59 boarder
Murphy Allen 20 boarder

1920 Census of Nettleton, Craighead Co AR

Name. Age
Mary Heathcock. 52 head, widow
Jesse Heathcock. 24
Prentiss Heathcock 19
Nina Heathcock 15
Ruth Heathcock 14

1930 Census of Jonesboro, Craighead Co AR

Name Age
Mary E Heathcock 63
Jesse D Heathcock 34
Robet J Heathcock 5 grandson