Royalty - Post #2 The Lyons

Virginia Lee Curtis was Born September 27 1930 in Middletown Ohio and Married William R. Fink on 9 March 1953 in Middletown Ohio. She is the Daughter of Sarah Helen Fox and Floyd Benjamin Curtis.

Sarah Helen Fox was Born February 1897 in Menifee County, Kentucky and Died 22 December 1949 in Middletown Ohio. She was the daughter of Leah Powers and James T Fox.

Leah Powers was in Kentucky, but I’ve found several years and places for her birth. They are -- 1855 in Bath Co KY; 8 Aug 1854 in Blackwater Morgan Co KY; 6 Aug 1854 Morgan County KY. She Married James T Fox about 1883 and Died 30 March 1936 in Mt Sterling, Montgomery Co, KY. She’s Buried – Machphela Cemetery, Mt Sterling, Montgomery County, KY. She was the Daughter of Amanda M Lyons and Gilson Powers. Her children with James are Mariba, William “Billy”, Lizzie, Nannie and Helen.

Amanda M Lyons was Born September 11 1834 in Bath Co KY and Married September 25 1853 in Bath Co. KY. She Died sometime between 1900 and 1907, maybe in 1903. She was the Daughter of Martha Ann Jones and John Clark Lyons.

John Clark Lyons was Born 1802 and Married three times. He was the son of Noah Lyons and Mary Clark(e).

Mary Clark(e) may have died before 1810. She was the daughter of Robert Clarke and Elizabeth Agnes Gay of Bourbon County. She had eight children with Noah Lyons -- John Clark, Sarah (Warner), Margaret (Bristoe), Samuel, Nancy (Garner), Elizabeth (Ingram), Mary (Sparks) and Robert.

Robert Clarke was Born 1745 in Augusta, Virginia and Married Agnes Elizabeth Gay in 1768 in Virginia. He Died 17 June 1800 in Bourbon, Kentucky. He was the Son of James Clark and Elizabeth Summers.

Elizabeth Summers was probably born between 1704 and 1707 in Augusta VA. She married James B Clark about 1724 in Virginia (alternatively in 1722 in Greenbrier WVa). She Died about 8 Oct 1781 in Augusta, VA (8 Oct 1778). She was the Daughter of John Summers and Elizabeth Thompson.

Elizabeth Thompson was Born 1689 in Virginia and was the Daughter of William Thompson and Eleanor / Ellen Montague.

Eleanor / Ellen Montague was Born 1633/1636 in Nansemond Co. VA. She Married William Thompson in 1649 in Lancaster Co. VA and Died 27 March 1659 in Middlesex Co VA. She was the Daughter of Peter Montague / Monteacute and Cicely Mathews or Hannah, I’m inclined to think its Hannah.

Peter Montague / Monteacute was Born 21 Jan 1603 in Boveney, Burnham, Buckingham, England. He married several times – First to Cicely Mathews in 1633 in Burnham, Buckinghamshire, England; second to Cecily Reynolds about 1645 in Henrico Co, Virginia and finally to Hannah in Nansemond Co. VA. He Died 1 May 1659 in Lancaster, Lancaster, Virginia. He was the Son of Peter of Boveney Montague and Eleanor (Helen) Allen.

Peter of Boveney Montague was Born 11 Dec 1580 in Boveny Parish, Burnham, Buckingham, England. He Married in 1600 Eleanor or Helen Allen in Burnham, Boven, England and Died 16 March 1638 in Warfield, Berkshire Co. England, GB. He was the Son of William Montague and Margaret Malthus/Malthouse.

William Montague was Born 1548 in Boveney, Burnham, Buckinghamshire, England and Died on 20 Mar 1594 in Boveney, Berkshire County, England. He married Margaret on 27 May 1560 in Dorney, Buckinghamshire, England. He was the son of Robert Montague and Margaret Cotton.

Robert Montague was born in 1528 in Beveney, Burnham, Buckingham, England and Died 16 Jan 1575/76 in Boveney, Buckingham, Buckingham, England. He married Margaret Cotton in 1547 in Boveney, Berkshire, England and they had six children: William Montague of Boveney, Catherine, a daughter, Agnes, Joan and Lawrence. He was the son of William Montague and Joan Grow.

William Montague was born in 1485 in Buckingham, Berkshire, England and died on 21 Mar 1555 in Boveney, Buckinghamshire, England. He married Joan Grow in 1513 and they had four children -- Robert Montague of Boveney, William Montague of Bray, Catherine Montague and Alice Montague. He was the son of Robert Montague.

Robert Montague was Born in 1455, Boveney, Berkshire, England and died in 1520 in Boveney, Berkshire, England. He was a yeoman. He had three sons – William, Robert and John. His father was Edward Montague.

Edward MONTAGUE was the son of Richard Montague.

Richard Montague was born after 1388. He had one son, Edward. He was the son of John MONTAGUE and Maud FRANCIS.

John MONTAGUE, the third Earl of Salisbury was Born about 1327 / 1350 in Donyatt, Somersetshire, England. He died 5 Jan 1399/00 in Cirencester, Gloucester, England and was buried at Salisbury Cathedral in Wiltshire, England. He was the son of Sir John MONTAGUE and Margaret De MONTHERMER.

He married Maud FRANCIS, the daughter of Sir Adam Francis and Agnes Champnes' before 4 May 1383. They had six children -- Thomas MONTAGUE (4º E. Salisbury), Richard MONTAGUE, Elizabeth MONTAGUE (B. Willoughby of Eresby), Margaret MONTAGUE (B. Ferrers of Groby), Anne MONTAGUE (D. Huntington) and Robert MONTAGUE.

Margaret De MONTHERMER Died about 24 Mar 1394. She was the daughter and heir of Sir Thomas Monthermer and his wife Margaret Teyes.

Sir Thomas Monthermer was the son of Joan of Acre and her second husband, Ralph De Monthermer.

Joan Plantagenet of Acre was in 1272 in Acre, Palestine. She died on 23 Apr 1307 in Clare, Suffolk, England and was buried on 26 Apr 1307 in the Priory Church of the Austin Friars in Clare, Suffolk, England. She was the daughter of EDWARD I "Longshanks" PLANTAGENET (King of England) and Leonor of Castilla (Countess Ponthieu). She was the Countess of Gloucester and Hertford.

Joan was betrothed to Herman of Austria who died in 1282. She married several times. Her first marriage was to Gilbert "the Red" De CLARE, the third Earl of Gloucester. They wed on 30 Apr 1290 at Westminster Abbey in London, England. They had four children - Gilbert De CLARE (4º E. Gloucester) (b. 10 May 1291), Eleanor De CLARE (b. Oct 1292) (m.1 Hugh Despencer - m.2 William La Zouche of Mortimer), Margaret De CLARE (b. Oct 1292), and Elizabeth De CLARE (b. 16 Sep 1295).

Her father arranged for her to marry Amadeus V "the Great," the Count of Savoy, but she had already secretly wed another.

Her second marriage was to Ralph De MONTHERMER, the first Earl of Hertford and a member of her father’s household. They wed secretly on Jan 1297 and had four children: Mary De MONTHERMER (b. 1298), Thomas De MONTHERMER (2º B. Monthermer) (b. 1301) (m. Margaret Teyes), Edward De MONTHERMER (3º B. Monthermer) (b. 1304) and Joan De MONTHERMER (Nun at Amesbury).

Clifford Ancestry Notes Part 2 - The Hollingsworths

"Elias Hollingsworth was born in Union Co. SC, probably married in Ohio, and died in Osage Co. Missouri. His wife Elizabeth Curtis was born in Harrison Co VA (Now WVa). There are supposed to have come to Madison Co IN from Clark Co. OH. Clark County was formed in 1818, about four years after the probable year (1814) of their marriage. Some years ago I searched the marriage records of the four counties surrounding Clark, but found no marriage record for Elias and Elizabeth. Her parentage remains unknown to me.

"Benjamin Hollingsworth was born in New Castle Co. DE and married and died in the area which became in 1785 Union District SC. He remained a Quaker in good standing until 26 Feb. 1780, when he was disowned "for taking up arms in a warlike manner". He was in the battle of King's Mountain (7 Oct 1780). According to an account many years later by another participant, "Ben Hollingsworth and myself took right up the side of the mountain and fought from tree to tree...to the summit." Ben was restored to Quaker membership 29 May 1790. He married Phebe Posey, daughter of Francis Posey and Mildred _____.

"The ancestry of Francis Posey has not been determined. It seems quite possible that he was descended from Francis Posey (1615-1654), who came to Virginia in 1637 and later moved to Maryland. The late James Emison of Terre Haute, IN published a book about the Posey family and identified Francis as a French Huegenot who was brought to England as a boy in the 1620s, and as a member of the French family of Poschet of Voyauz (near Cambrai). Our descent from this man remains only a possibility.

"Elias Hollingsworth was born in New Castle Co. DC and died in Union District SC. He married, at New Castle DE, Susannah Pearce. She died in South Carolina before 20 Aug. 1791, because Elias and Dinah ______ were shown on that date as husband and wife in a deed. Elias was disowned by the Quakers at least twice, the first time in 1760 for not paying his just debts. In 1763 Elias and Susannah and four children moved to Louden Co. VA and in 1766 to South Carolina where they lived in the area which in 1785 became Union District. He was reinstated in 1769 as a Quaker. With the onset of the Revolutionary War, he was disowned again 3 March 1776. He served as Quartermaster in the South Carolina militia. Later he became a Justice of the Peace.

"Valentine Hollingsworth was the immigrant ancestor. He was born at Ballyvickcrannel, Seagoe Parish, Co. Armagh, in northern Ireland (now Ulster). His father, Henry Hollingsworth, probably had come to Ireland from England in the 1620s as a part of the first Ulster plantation. Probably at a time not long after his marriage he became a Quaker. When he stopped attending the Church of Ireland services and paying his tithes, he got into trouble with the government. The magistrates began to seize his farm produce in lieu of his tithe. After several years of these losses, he emigrated to Pennsylvania in 1682. Very soon thereafter, he was a member of the first assembly of the Province of Pennsylvania and served in that body at later times."

Clifford Ancestry Notes Part 1 - Jonathon Clifford and Sarah Pierce

I've finished updating my research with information from "Clifford Ancestry", compiled by my great uncle Dick. The back of the book contains several pages of notes on the research, and I thought I'd reproduce them here.

"We have been unable to discover any record of their marriage, but the fact of the marriage is roved by a combination of family tradition, a short biography of Jonathon in the History of Plymouth, New Hampshire, and a quit-claim deed in the land records of Barnet, VT (in the Vermont Archives in Montpelier). The quit-claim deed also proves Sarah's parentage.

According to family tradition, some of Jonathon's sons walked to Indiana and entered land in Fayette County; then the parents and younger children joined them. Jonathan and Sarah are buried in Fairview Cemetery in Rush County, just west of the Fayette County line."

My Puritanical Roots II

In exploring the "Clifford Ancestry" book that I am borrowing from my grandmother, I discovered that I am descended from the Pilgrims on her side of the family as well.

Thomas Rogers was born Before 1572, Watford, Northampton, England, son of William and Eleanor Rogers. He married Alice Cosford, 24 October 1597, in Watford, Northampton, England. She was the daughter of George Cosford. Thomas died in 1620 or 1621, during the first winter after coming over on the Mayflower. He journeyed over with his son Joseph while the rest of the family stayed in Holland. Joseph survived the winter. And Thomas' Son John came to Plymouth about 1630, and there married Anna Churchman, on 16 April 1639. My family is descended from John Rogers.

John Married Anna Churchman on 16 April 1639 and Died in 1691 or 1692. He was a resident of Leiden Holland and of Duxbury MA while he was alive. Anna Rogers, his daughter, married John Tisdale.

Anna died in 1704. John Tisdale was Born in 1642, married Anna Rogers on 23 Nov 1664 and died Dec 1677. He Resided in Taunton MA. Anna and John had a daughter named Abigail.

Abigail Tisdale was born on 15 July 1667. She married William Makepeace (Born 1662 or 1663; Married 2 Dec 1685; Died Dec 1736; Resided Freetown and Taunton MA). They had a son who was in turn also named William.

William was Born in 1704 and married Experience Aldrich on 14 Jan 1724/25. He Died 15 April 1740 and Resided in Norton, MA during his life. William and Experience had a son named Peter.

Peter Makepeace was Born 18 April 1730 and married Abigail Morey on 10 April 1756. He lived in Norton MA and Died 9 Oct 1796. Peter and Abigail had a son named Amasa.

Amasa was born on 29 Nov 1777. On 18 May 1800, he married "Betsey" Babbitt. He lived in Norton MA and Chesterfield IN and died 28 Feb 1848 in Chesterfield. Amasa and Betsey had a son named Alfred.

Alfred Makepeace was Born on 3 Nov 1804 in Norton MA OR Chesterfield, Madison, IN. He Married Hannah Irish on 28 Aug 1828 in Madison Co IN and Died 3 March 1874. He was a resident of Anderson IN. Alfred and Hannah had a daughter, Letitia.

Letitia was Born 21 Aug 1842 in Chesterfield IN and Died 14 March 1926 in Anderson IN. She Resided in both Anderson and Chesterfield IN. She was married to Emery / Emory Watson Clifford on 11 Feb 1864.

Hadley Watson Clifford was Born 26 Aug 1869 in Anderson IN and Married Daisy Leota Hollingsworth on 8 Dec 1891. He Died 8 Oct 1957 in Anderson, Madison Co. IN and Resided Anderson IN while he was alive. Hadley and Daisy were the parents of Harriet Letitia Clifford, my great grandmother.

Harriet was Born 7 Dec 1898 in Anderson Indiana and Married Samuel Ray Forkner on 21 Aug 1918 in Anderson Indiana.

Kathleen Frances is Harriet's daughter and the mother of Clifford Ray Cookman, my father.

So I am the 10th great granddaughter of Thomas Rogers, passenger on the Mayflower and signer of the Mayflower Compact.

Thanksgiving and my Clifford Ancestry

For Thanksgiving, we journeyed to my grandparents' home in Anderson, IN. For those of you paying attention, you'll realize that since I was in Anderson, I was likely visiting my father's side of the family and you would be correct. We had four generations in that tiny house on the outskirts of town - my grandparents, my parents, my aunt and one of my uncles, four of the six grandchildren, three grandchildren spouses and the three babies (my cousins' children). It got a little hectic that's for sure. And as the babies grow and start sitting at the table like the oldest did this year, I start to think we need a bigger table.

While there, I noticed a frame in the hallway with old photos in it. One was easy to figure out -- it was my great grandfather Cookman and I knew that because Grandpa looks just like him. Unable to figure anything else out, I went to my father. He knew that a couple of the photos were Grandma's parents (which I should have known because her father had the distinctive Forkner chin), but didn't know who anyone else was. So I pulled the frame off the wall and perched on the loveseat arm next to Grandma to ask her. I remember that one of the photos was of the Dobell family (my grandfather's side) and another was her grandfather and step grandmother.

Then Grandma pulled out her copy of "Clifford Ancestry", a book her brother compiled a few years ago. I paged through it, sharing interesting bits with the relatives near me and realized that there was information in there that I didn't have in my research. I asked if I could borrow it until Christmas and she conceded, upon agreement of death if I fail to return it. I'll probably make myself a copy before I return it.

And I plan to spend most of the day at work looking at my research and comparing it to the book.

Royalty - Post #1 The Forkners

I am the daughter of Clifford Ray Cookman (Born August 2 1954 in Anderson Indiana). His mother is Kathleen Frances Forkner, and she is descended from English royalty (its just really far back) on the Forkner side.

Her father was Samuel Ray (Raymond) Forkner (Born 1 Jan 1892 in Anderson IN; Died 22 Jan 1956 in Anderson IN). He was the son of Martin Luther Forkner (Born 13 Aug 1850 in Madison Co IN; Married 1 March 1891 in Anderson IN to Victoria Belle Sharpe; Died 4 Dec 1937 in Anderson IN) He was the son of Samuel Forkner Sr and Elizabeth McShirley.

Samuel Forkner Sr was Born 3 Nov 1821 in Henry Co IN and married Elizabeth on 7 March 1844 in Henry Co IN. After Elizabeth’s death in 1858, he married for a second time to a woman named Mary E McMullen. He Died 5 Sept 1872 in Madison Co IN. He was the son of Jesse Forkner and Hannah Cornelious.

Jesse was Born 21 Oct 1798 in Surry Co NC, Married 13 Oct 1817 in VA and Died 18 Sept 1844. His parents were Issac Forkner and Mourning Moura Lawrence.

Issac was Born 12 May 1775 in Surry Co NC, Married 1797 in Grayson VA and Died 22 Jan 1863. He was the son of William Joseph Forkner Jr and Susannah Wells.

William Joseph Forkner Jr was Born 1752 in Surry Co or Patrick Co NC, Married 1772 in Surry Co NC and Died 1807 in Surry Co NC. His parents were William Joseph Forkner Sr and Priscilla Lewis.

William Joseph Forkner Sr was born Born 1714 in Queen Anne’s Co Maryland, Married 1750 in Surry Co NC and Died 1800 in Surry Co NC. He was the son of John Pleasant Forkner and Sarah Elizabeth Ford.

John Pleasant Forkner was Born 1678 in Queen Anne’s Co MD, Married about 1703 in Queen Anne’s Co MD and Died 1727 in Queen Anne’s Co MD. He was the son of Thomas Forkner and Margary Anne, last name unknown.

Thomas Forkner was Born 1655 in England, Married about 1677 in Maryland and Died 1709 in Talbot Co MD. His parents were John Forkner Sr and Elizabeth Filmer Dame.

John Forkner Sr. was born in 1628 in London England, was Christened 2 February 1633 in Wivelsfield Sussex England, married Elizabeth Filmer Dane about 1650 in England and Died 1729 in Queen Anne’s Co MD. He was the son of William Faulconer (Immigrant) and Elisabeth Filmer.

Now we’re going to switch to the female side of things. Elisabeth Filmer was Born 1592 in Manor, East Sutton, Kent, England and Died after 1635. She was the Daughter of Sir Edward Filmer and Elizabeth Dame Argall.

Elizabeth Dame Argall was Born 1570 in East Sutton Manor, East Sutton, Kent, England;Married 1585 in East Sutton Kent England and Died 9 Aug 1638 East Sutton, Kent, England. Her father was Sir Richard Argall, 11^th Lord of Sutton and her mother was Mary Scott

Mary Scott was Born 1546 in Scotts Hall Kent England and Died 1605 in Kent England. She is Buried at East Sutton Church in East Sutton Kent England. Her parents were Sir Reginald Scott and Mary Tuke.

Sir Reginald Scott was Born 1520 in Scotts Hall, In Smeeth, Kent, England; Married about 1538 in Layer Marney, Essex, England and Died 16 Dec 1554 in Smeeth, Kent, England. He was the Son of John Scott and Anne Pympe.

Anne Pympe was Born about 1485 in Scotts Hall Kent England and Christened in Pympes Court Nettlestead Kent England. She died around 1530 or 1540 in England. She was the Daughter of Reginald Pympe and Elizabeth Pashley, Lady of Thevegate.

Elizabeth Pashley was born about 1448 and Died before 1485, both in Thevegate Near Smeeth Kent England. She was the Daughter of John Pashley Esq and Lowys Gower.

John Pashley Esq was born Born 1431/32 in Thevegate Near Smeeth Kent England. He Married about 1447 in Clapham Surrey England and Died 20 Nov 1468 in Thevegate Near Smeeth Kent England. He was the son of John Pashley Sr and Elizabeth Wydeville.

John Pashley Sr was Born about 1406/07 in Scots Hall Kent England and was Christened at Of The Mote, Iden, Sussex, England. He Married about 1424 in Scots Hall Kent England and Died 8 June 1453 in Thevegate Near Smeeth Kent England. He was the Son of Robert Pashley III and Lady Philippa Sergeaux.

Robert Pashley III was Born about 1370/80 in Pasele, Ticehurst, Sussex, England and Married about 1401 in Colquite Manor, St Mabyn, Cornwall, England. He Died 1406/07 in Pasele, Ticehurst, Sussex, England. He was the son of Sir Robert Pashley II and Anne Howard.

Anne Howard was Born about 1341 Wiggenhall Norfolk England and had her Christening at Frenchecourt Alias Fairlight Sussex England. She Died after 1397 in Fairlight Sussex England. She was the Daughter of Sir John Howard and Alice de Bosco.

Sir John Howard was Born 1310 Wiggenhall Norfolk England and Died 1388 Bath Norfolk England. He was a knight and the son of Sir John Howard and Joan Plantagenet-Cornwall.

Joan Plantagenet-Cornwall was Born about 1285 in Thunnock Lancashire England andDied 1341. She is Buried in the Howard Chapel in East Winch Norfolk England. She was the Daughter of Richard Plantagenet-Cornwall and Joan Fitzalan.

Richard Plantagenet-Cornwall was Born July 1246 in Berkhamstead Hertfordshire England. He married Joan about 1279 in Cornwall England and Died 1296 in Berwick Northumberland England. His parents were Richard, Prince of England and Sancha / Sanchia, Countess of Provence.

From Wikipedia -- Richard de Cornwall (1252–96) who married Joan Saint Owen (born 1260) and had children. He, however, died at the siege of Berwick-upon-Tweed in 1296.

Richard, Prince of England was Born 5 Jan 1209 Winchester, Winchester, Hampshire, England and married Sancha (his second wife) on 23 Nov 1243 Westminster Abbey Westminster Middlesex England. He Died 2 Apr 1272 Berkhamsteadcast, Berkhamstead, Hertfordshire, England and was Buried 13 Apr 1272 Hailes Abbey, Hailes, Gloucestershire, England. He was the son of King John of England and Isabella of Angouleme.

Richard held several titles – he was the High Sheriff of Berkshire at the age of eight, made the Count of Poitou from 1225 to 1243 and was made the 1^st Earl of Cornwall in 1225. It was a birthday present from his brother, Henry III of England. The revenues from Cornwall made Richard one of the wealthiest men in Europe. Richard participated in the Crusades but did not fight, instead he negotiated the release of prisoners as well as the burial of Crusaders who died in battle and assisted with the rebuilding / refortification of Ascalon. In 1256, Richard was elected King of Germany. Richard founded Burnham Abbey in 1263 and the Grashaus in 1266. He died in 1272 and was buried next to Sanchia and Henry of Almain, his son by his first wife, at Hailes Abbey which he founded.

King John of England was Born 26 Dec 1166 in Kings Manor House, Oxford, Oxfordshire, England and Married Isabella on 26 Aug 1200 in Bordeaux, Gironde, France. He Died 19 Oct 1216 in Newark, Nottinghamshire, England and was Burial in Cathedral, Worcester, Worcestershire, England. He was the son of Henry II “Plantagenet” King of England and Eleanore of Aquitaine.

Henry II “Plantagenet” King of England was Born 5 March 1133 in Le Mans, Sarthe, France and Married Eleanor on 11 May 1152 in Bordeaux, Gironde, France. He Died 6 July 1189 in Chinon, Indre-et-Loire, France and was Buried 8 July 1189 at Fontevrault Abbey, Fontevrault, Maine-et-Loire, France. He was the son of Geoffrey V “Le Bon” Plantagenet and Matilda (Maud) Empress of Germany.

So I am the 25th great granddaughter of Henry II of England. There are also rumors that we also descend from one of Henry II's mistresses. I'll have to write about that later.

I know this is rather dry, but I really don't know how to liven it up. Ideas?

Mother to Daughter - The True Bloodline

Not that everything doesn't matter to some extent, but I personally feel that the best way to trace your blood is mother to daughter. After all, there's no proof that 100 years ago man fathered child, but you know that woman was the mother. One of the first things I did when I first got into genealogy was to trace my maternal line, mother to daughter. I traced back six generations before I hit a wall, one that I still have yet to break through.

I am Jennilee Cookman. I was born on Dec 21 1981 in Hamilton Ohio. My mother is Helen Marie Fink.

She was Born on June 3 1958 in Hamilton Ohio, at the same hospital I was born at actually - Fort Hamilton Hughes. She married my father, Clifford Ray Cookman, onJuly 13 1979 in Hamilton Ohio at Pleasant Ave First Church of God. She is the daughter of Virginia Lee Curtis.

Virginia (more commonly known as Jenny or Jenny Lee - guess where I got my name?) was born on September 27 1930 in Middletown Ohio. She married William Ripley Fink on 9 March 1953 in Middletown Ohio. She is the daughter of Sarah Helen Fox. (Guess where my mother got her name?)

Sarah Helen (also known as Helen or Sarie Ellie like her father called her) was Born February 1897 in Menifee County, Kentucky. She married Floyd Benjamin Curtis and died 22 December 1949 in Middletown Ohio, from tuberculosis. She was the daughter of Leah Powers and I think she was named after an aunt.

Leah (who my grandma Jenny was named after) was Born 1855 in Bath Co KY OR 8 Aug 1854 in Blackwater Morgan Co KY. She married James T Fox about 1883 and died March 30 1936 in Mt Sterling, Montgomery Co, KY. She was the daughter of Amanda Lyons. Children of Leah and James – Mariba, William “Billy”, Lizzie, Nannie and Helen.

Amanda was born September 11 1834 in Bath Co KY. She married Gilson Powers on September 25 1853 in Bath Co. KY and died between 1900 and 1907, maybe in 1903. She was the daughter of Martha Ann Jones. Interesting fact - Gilson's mother was named Leah, so its likely that they named their daughter after her.

I have never found very much information on Martha Ann. I don't know when she was born, I don't know when she died. All I know is that she married John Clark Lyons on March 11, 1833 in Bath County, Kentucky. My research has told me that this was probably a second marriage for her. Martha Ann already had a daughter named Lucy when she married John Clark Lyons and Lucy ended up married to a man named Jack Bashford. The fact that it was a second marriage is what gives us the problems -- No one seems to know what her maiden name was. Without knowing her maiden name, there's no way to know who her parents were. And that, my dear readers, is the brick wall.

So there you go. Six generations of my direct maternal line (well, seven if you count me). And the family tradition of naming our daughters after our mothers.