Alexander Family and My Headache

 I have a minor mystery. I've been working on my Alexander line lately and have come to several problems I should be able to find answers for.  I'll start with the question I have always had. Female children are so hard to find. I've found if there is a long gap in children during childbearing years, most likely the child died or was a female. 

So, I have a Thomas Augustus Alexander (the Augustus is from other researchers) who was born in 1752, some say Ireland, but I believe somewhere here in the US. He married around 1790 in Tennessee to a Mary Barr, again no records. He did have at least 3 children; George, Grandville C. and William.  Something happened to Mary and there is another marriage.

The second marriage happened about 1800, maybe in North Carolina. Again, I have no records. But Sally (King) is buried with Thomas in Jackson County, Indiana.  She died in 1829 and he in 1849. The only children that I, and many other researchers, have found are: Margaret (KY 1801), James Milton (TN? 1802), John Henry (KY 1803), and Thomas King (KY 1814). She and Thomas were married over 20 years, and she was around 15 to 17 when they married.  There is a lot of gap time. Now on to my real quandary.

I am descended from John Henry (Alexander-24431). In the 1850 Brownstown, Indiana Census he is listed with his wife Mary Frances (Carter) and his children; John H. (my ancestor), and Isaac. That was all. I knew the girls survived because I have their husbands and children. I found Louisa 3, and Mahala 5, in a household in Brownstown with Nancy Hutchinson 43 (KY), Rebecca Hutchinson 14 (IN), and Elizabeth King 45 (KY). My first thought when I found them was, 'Oh, they are visiting with the aunts'. I just felt like I knew that. Seriously. I have not found Nancy or Elizabeth connected to Thomas, or even an Alexander. But they could fit. The girl's father, John Henry is 40 and their mother, Frances is 42 in 1850. They are certainly contemporaries.  

I took a 6-month sub to Ancestry hoping to break through a few of my brick walls. I've been banging my head against this one for just over 3 weeks. So far all I have is a headache. 

In my heart of hearts, I KNOW these women are 'the aunts'.  A knowing cannot be a source. 

WikiTree

Thomas Alexander (Alexander-6724)

Sally King (King-14460)

John Henry (Alexander-24431)

Mary Frances (Carter) (Carter-46827) 

Mahala Alexander (Alexander-24545)

Louisa Jane Alexander (Alexander-24569)

Isaac N. Alexander (Alexander-24570)