Potential Break in a Brick Wall

My most frustrating brick wall to date has been trying to uncover the identity of the parents for my 2nd-great-grandmother Mary Alice Cain Read and her brother Harl Cain. I have renewed hope of solving this mystery after Ancestry published a new database this week.

Ancestry recently added a database titled US Social Security Applications and Claims Index, 1936-2007. I entered Harl Cain to see what would show up in the results. It appears that Harl submitted an application in March 1942. Harl's birth location and birth date match, 16 June 1879 in Glasgow, Barren County, Kentucky. The startling find on this entry was for the Mother's Name - Jane Flatt.

Since finding this entry I have spent some late evenings pouring through the records for Barren and Metcalfe County. I think I may have a strong theory on the identity of my 3rd-great-grandparents. Before I dive into writing up the theory, I need to view additional records. This may happen next week. I have ordered a copy of the original SS-5 using this information, so hopefully soon I will be able to publish a follow-up.

What I have so far...
In the 1870 US Census, 15 year old Jane Flat appears in the household of John W. Rose in Metcalfe County. A few doors down, is the household of Pleasant Flat.

Ancestry: 1870 US Census, Metcalfe County, Kentucky

In the 1860 US Census, Pleasant Flatt appears in Overton County, Tennessee. Nancy J. Flatt is shown, 5 years old in this entry. I think Nancy J. Flatt and Jane Flatt are the same person.

Pleasant Flat appears again in the 1850 US Census in neighboring Jackson County, Tennessee.

There's more to the story on Pleasant Flatt, which I will save for an upcoming post. If my theory is correct, he was my 4th-great-grandfather.

There are many connected families, wives and children to sort through. What is interesting is that I checked my AncestryDNA results for hits with the Flatt surname. There certainly is a connection to the Flatt family of Jackson County, Tennessee which shows up in all of the DNA tests that have been done by myself, my sister, my Mom and her sisters. More to come on this.