She is clearly "Malinda" in the 1850 census and "Matilda" in the 1880 census (correct speling is "Melinda").

1.  Marriage Record:

2.  1860 Census Every-Name-Index/Images (online at Ancestry.com):  can't find Malinda Matilda (she's not with her widowed mother).

3.  1870 Census Every-Name-Index/Images (online at Ancestry.com, Image #41 of 58):  Marlin P.O., Precinct No. 1 (Marlin), Falls Co., TX, Roll M593_1584, p. 75A, PN 25, 199/199, enumerated 7 Jul 1870, official enumeration date 1 Jun 1870 (extracted by Diana Gale Matthiesen):¤•

Corbin Jane	67	F	W	Keeping house			Geora
"   D H	39	M	W	far		$900	Ala
"   Charley	21	M	W	"			Miss
"   H C	36	M	W	"			Ala
"   M B	31	F	W	house			Miss
"   Jane	13	F	W	"			"
"   Charles	11	F	W	"			"
"   Wm H	8	M	W				"
"   Mille	6	F	W				"
"   Betty	4	F	W				"
"   Mary	8/12	F	W				"	Nov
McCauley M	30	F	W	house			"
"     Alice	7	F	W				Txs
Campbell Jane	33	F	W	"			Miss
"     Henry	9	M	W				Ark
"     Ida	8	F	W				"

4.  1880 Census Every-Name-Index/Images (online at Ancestry.com, Image #32 of 52):  Justice Pct. No. 6, Bell Co., TX, Roll T9_1290, p. 416A, PN 33, SD 4, ED 6, enumerated 17 Jun 1880, official enumeration date 1 Jun 1880 (extracted by Diana Gale Matthiesen):¤•

1880:  for an explanation of the column headings, please see What the Numbers in the Federal Census Mean (missing columns contained no data).

1

2

3

4

5

6

8

9

10

13

21

24

25

26

278

281

Thomas Ridley B

W

M

49

/

Farmer

MO

(TN)

(KY)

______ Matilda

W

F

41

Wife

/

Keeping House

MS

______ Henderson L

W

M

19

Son

/

Works on farm

/

AR

MO

TN

______ Metybet

W

F

8

Dau

/

/

TX

MO

MS

McCaula Alice

W

F

16

Step-Dau

/

At home

/

TX

MS