1850 Mississippi census, Oktibbeha Co. p. 614
Exum, Benjamin 36 M Farmer born NC
Exum, Sarah 28 F “
Exum, Jesse 10 M “
Exum, Titus 8 M “
Exum, Piercis 6 F “
Exum, James 4 M “
Exum, Lewis 2 M Miss

1860 Mississippi census, Lowndes Co., pp 66-67 645/479
Exum, B. F. 47 M negro manager born NC
Exum, Sarah 36 F “
Exum, Piercis 17 F student “
Exum, James 14 M “
Exum, Lewis 9 M born MS
Exum, Priscilla 6 F “
Exum, Roberta 4 F “
Exum, Blanche 3 F “

1870 Mississippi census, Oktibbeha Co., Starkeville p. 338 486/485
Exum, Benjamin 58 M farmer /500 born NC
Exum, Sarah 50 F keeping house “
Exum, Prisla (sic) 18 F keeping house born MS
Exum, Roberta 15 F “
Exum, Nannie 12 F “
Exum, Charlie 10 M “

1880 Mississippi census, Clay Co., District 2 31/32
Exum, B. H. 69 MW farmer NC NC NC
Exum, Sarah A. 62 FW wife “ “ “
Exum, Pierces 39 FW dau at home “ “ “
Exum, Nannie B. 17 FW dau at home MS “ “

The below is from “History of Clay County, Mississippi” published in 1988 by the Curtis Media Corporation. The article on Benjamin Exum was written by Jack Elliott, Jr., my cousin, and 3G grandson of Ben Exum.

Page 826: Benjamin Henry Exum was born in North Carolina on October 25, 1811, the son of Jesse and Amy Jordan Exum. On November 23, 1836 he married Sarah Ann “Sallie” Westbrook (ca 1815-January 28, 1890). They had at least eight children: (1) Jesse T. born ca 1840, married Mrs. M. A, Denman on June 13, 1864 in Lowndes County, Mississippi (she was possibly the Martha Ann Westbrook who had married B. G. Denman on June 27, 1852 in Lowndes County); (2) Titus Carr, born ca 1842, married Mrs. Elizabeth “Bettie” Jordan Westbrook on August 26, 1865 in Lowndes County; (3) Piercis E., born ca 1844; (4) James, born ca 1846; (5) Lewis, born ca 1848; (6) Priscilla Florence (August 18, 1852-March 15, 1882), married William Hardy on December 20, 1871; (7) Roberta, (ca 1856-November 30, 1893), married J. B. Elliott on February 15, 1874 in Clay County; (8) Nanny Blanche (born ca 1857); and (9) Charles Denman (born ca 1860) married Jennie E. Anderson on October 3, 1883. The first four children were born in North Carolina while the last five were born in Mississippi. In the mid-1840s he moved with his family to Mississippi where in 1850 he was listed as a farmer living in Oktibbeha County, quite possibly in a portion of that county that was later included into Clay County. By 1860 he was living in Lowndes County and was listed as a negro manager (i.e. an overseer). His two sons Jesse and Titus had left home by that year. They were living in the Artesia vicinity of Lowndes County, and both were listed as negro managers.

In 1870 Benjamin was listed as being a farmer living in Beat 2 of Oktibbeha County, probably in a portion of that county that became Clay County. In 1880 he was listed as a farmer living in District 2 of Clay County, possibly on some of his son Titus’s land. He died “at his residence near West Point” on June 26, 1892 and was buried beside his wife in the Exum lot in Greenwood Cemetery. His children, Titus, Charles, Nannie, and Piercis continued to live in West Point for many years. The two daughters were remembered by a niece as being “genteel, maiden ladies” who worked as seamstresses.

Obit. West Point (MS) Leader. July 1, 1892. B. H. Exum died at his residence near town. He was born in North Carolina and came to Mississippi in 1844.