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WESTWARD HO!
It has been said that in an important sense a person lives as long as he/she is remembered and loved; hence I want to identify my immediate ancestors for remembrance and love. This is the third of four booklets, one on each of my grandparents, and is about my paternal grandmother. She is Leah Holt (Daugherty), daughter of James Holt and Martha Stark. She and her forebears existed in me, of course, long before I made this study. Now, after ten years of research, and having lived with them in Virginia, South Carolina, Tennessee, Missouri and Texas, my remembrance is bright and vivid; my love and gratitude are strong. The map shows their western movement that resulted in my being here, and without the highways-towns shown on this modern map.
FOREBEARS OF MARTHA STARK
"How sweet the silent backward tracings!
The wanderings as in dreams,
the meditationsOf old times, loves, joys, persons."
Walt Whitman
Ancestor hunting is indeed fascinating and absorbing. It can also be tedious and challenging. In a few instances it has taken me years to reach back one more generation on a line. As to the forebears of my great grandmother Martha Stark however, the findings have come relatively easy, because so many of her ancestors left wills identifying children. Also some good researchers have plowed the way, leaving written reports. (MY story includes copy of a researcher's chart taking a great-grandmother of Martha Stark back forty generations!) My detailed story, however, is more modest and deals. First with the line carried along by ancestor males named "Stark", of which we have a record of eight generations back of Martha Stark.
The Stark Line
Our family name "Stark" is said to have originated as follows: "In 1480 a young man, John Muirhead, bodyguard of King James III of Scotland, saved the life of the King by wrestling an onrushing bull. For this, he was awarded the 'Killermount' Estate, meaning 'strong in German Gaul. A new coat of arms was granted 'Stark alias Fortiorum Fortia Factai', which means 'brave deeds of brave men."
1. John Stark of Killermount Estate on the Clyde River, Scotland, was born in about 1604. In 1635 he was Bishop of Glasgow, a "zealous Covenator"; the Scottish folk having signed a national covenant to resist by force the introduction of the English Church into Scotland by Charles I.
2. John Stark #2, the eldest son of the Bishop, was born in about 1635, and became a merchant in Glasgow.
3. John Stark #3, eldest son of John Stark #2 was born in Scotland in about1665 and also was a merchant in Glasgow. His wife was a Miss Archibald. In 1710, the family immigrated to Londonderry in the southeast corner of the Colony of New Hampshire. As a protection from the Indians, he built a stockade that became known as Starks Fort. A settlement grew around the stockade which was renamed Dumbarten after the old hometown of the Starks in Scotland. (His eldest son, Archibald, was the father of the famous General John Stark of the Battle of Pennington.) The other children of John Stark #3 were James, John, Richard, Louise, Samuel, Susannah and Silas.
4. James Stark, second son of John Stark #3, was barn 1695, hence he was fifteen years of age when the family moved to America. In 1716, he married Elizabeth Thornton, of Welsh descent. She 'was the sister of Dr. Matthew Thornton, signer of the Declaration of Independence. In 1730, James and Elizabeth "with their eight children moved to Stafford County, Virginia, where seven more children were born. He died April 12, 1764 and his wife survived him. Children included: John, James, Thomas, Jeremiah, William, Mary, Susannah, Elizabeth, Sarah, Jane, Ann, Benjamin, Daniel, Isabel and Lydia. (A recorded descent of our ancestor, Elizabeth Thornton, from Magna Charta Sureties, several British Kings, and back to Charlemagne AD 804, is given in an Appendix chart to follow.)
5. Thomas Stark, third son of James Stark and Elizabeth Thornton was born in 1721. Late in his life, when he signed a deed in 1788 in Newberry County, SC., his wife was "Rachel'1. The children of Thomas Stark included (1) Thomas Jr., who married Ruth King; (2) Jeremiah, who married Mary King, sister of Ruth; (3) James; (4) John; (5) William, who married Martha Morgan; (6) Walter, who married Mary Magdalene; (7) Leah, who married-a man named Couts. Thomas Stark moved from Gilders Creek, Newberry County, SC to Robertson County, Tennessee. Two of his older children, Thomas Jr. and Jeremiah, who had married the King sisters, remained in South Carolina. Thomas Stark, Sr. died in 1802 in Robertson County, Tennessee, and left a will. His estate was small, which he devised to his wife, Rachel and youngest son Walter, except for a yearling he left to a grandson namesake, Thomas, son of James. Apparently the older children of Thomas Stark were well established in their own homes.
6. Jeremiah Stark, son of Thomas Stark, was born in 1749. He is my double grandpa, in that I descend both from his son James and his daughter, Charity. Jeremiah spent his early youth in Stafford County, Virginia, being nineteen years of age when his family immigrated to South Carolina. They settled on Gilders Creek, tributary of Enoree, as per this portion of old 96th District that became Newberry County
The Kings Creek Meeting House provided a place where neighbors worshipped and socialized, Kings Creek getting its name from Charles King an early settler. There, Jeremiah Stark met and married Mary King, eligible daughter of Charles King and Charity Pennington. Jeremiah's older brother, Thomas Jr., had married Ruth King, sister of Mary. The entire family connection was active in the struggle of the Colonies against Great Britain.
The Stark brothers1 father in law, Charles King, was a member of the First provincial Congress of South Carolina, and later became a Captain in the army. Both sons in law, Thomas Jr. and Jeremiah joined up, Thomas becoming a Captain and Jeremiah Lieutenant. Later, Jeremiah received a grant of land on Gliders Creek. As stated, neither Jeremiah nor his brother Thomas Jr. followed their father Thomas Stark to Tennessee. Thomas Jr.'s accidental death in 1805 is reported in "Annals of Newberry": After purchasing a pound of gunpowder in Newberry Village, then imbibing too much, he fell asleep in front of a fireplace at the Inn, a spark igniting the gun powder. Jeremiah lived out a good span, for those early times, after removing his large family to Abbeville District, the adjacent county to the west. There, he died May 18, 1824. The following were the children of Jeremiah Stark and Mary King:
(1) Charles, b. Feb. 4, 1774;
(2) James, b. Nov. 26, 1775;
(3) Naomi, b. Feb. 4, 1778;
(4) Phoebe, b. August 20, 1180;
(5) Leah, b. April 20, 1783;
(6) Charity;
(7) Rachel, b. March 15, 1788;
(8) Mary, b. Feb. 8, 1795;
(9) Ruth, b. March 5, 1798;
(10) Lydia.
Jeremiah Stark left the following will:
In the name of God, Amen. I, Jeremiah Stark, of the State of South Carolina and District of Abbeville, being of sound and disposing mind and memory, but weak in body, and calling to mind the uncertainty of life, and being desirus to dispose of all such worldly Estate as it hath pleased God to bless me with, do Make and ordain this my last will, manner following that is to say: after my decease and all my debts and funeral expenses be paid, I give to my beloved wife Mary Stark one Negro woman named Sarah and one Negro Man named Samson, one Sorrell Mare and her saddle, two cows and one bed and furniture, one spinning wheel and cards with her clothing for and during the term of her natural life, and after her decease I give the above named Sarah to my son Charles Stark. Then I desire that my Executor hereinafter named may sell the above named Samson and all that may Remain with my wife after her decease and the moneys arising from said sails to be Equally devided amongst all my children. All the rest of my Estate both real and personal of what nature or quality soever it may be not herein before disposed of I desire may be sold and the Moneys arising from the sails thereof may be Equally divided amongst all my children, and I give the same to them their heirs, Executors and Administrators and assigns forever and lastly I do constitute and appoint my son Charles Stark Executor of this my last will hand and affixed my seal this the twenty third day of February in the year of our Lord one thousand and Eight hundred and twenty four.
Jeremiah Stark (SEAL)
Signed sealed published and declared
as and for the last will and testamentof the above named Jeremiah Stark in the presence of us
William C. Cozly, Elijah Hunt and Robert Cozly.
(Will filed and recorded June 7, 1824.
Ordinaries Office, Abbeville District.) The widow, Mary King Stark, lived until 1827 when the Jeremiah Stark Estate shows distribution of monies from sale of Negroes and other assets. The two children to become my ancestors James Stark was paid $206.00 and "Charity Vernon" paid $218.00, both on November 29, 1827 long after they had settled in far-away Missouri. Other legacies paid were James Neil $411.12, Thomas Oliver and John R. Cain $422.24, Bannister Allen $211.12, Samuel Jones $206.74, Benjamin Osborn $216.00, Thomas Smith $303.00. (The daughters' legacies paid in name of husband and I have not matched them with daughters above.)
(7-a) James Stark and (7. -b) Charity Stark
Since I descend from both this brother and sister, children of Jeremiah Stark and Mary King, they will be introduced together. James was born in about 1775, the second child. After him came eight consecutive daughters, including Charity who was born in about 1785. Thus, James and Charity were two 0f the ten children born to solid parents and reared in old Abbeville District, South Carolina. It developed that the brother and sister, separated in age by ten years, were destined to make important family history together. Perhaps Rebecca, the girl James married was a friend of Charity's and/or Nehemiah Vernon, who Charity married, was a close friend of James.
In any event, a new frontier was opening up in Tennessee, north of Nashville and adjoining the Kentucky line, in what was to become Robertson County. Indians were being replaced and Thomas Stark, grandfather of James and Charity, had already entered the region. The two young couples, James and Rebecca Stark, Nehemiah and Charity Stark Vernon joined the next wagon train of Carolina families bound for Tennessee.
In Robertson County, Tennessee the two families grew and prospered. To James and Rebecca Stark were born Isaac, Thomas Geary, Charles, Rebecca, and Polly. To Nehemiah and Charity Vernon there came Jeremiah, Ebenezer, George, and Leah. James Stark was a literate farmer and Nehemiah Vernon was a gunsmith.
Under tragic circumstances, to be detailed in our Vernon line story, Nehemiah Vernon died in 1815, so thereafter the widow, Charity, and her five young children, leaned more heavily on her brother, James Stark.
In 1816 there was another movement westward, this time by Tennesseeians to a frontier called Boone's Lick in Missouri Territory. This attractive area was west of the North Fork of the Mississippi River and adjacent to the Missouri River; thus affording navigable streams and fertile land. The families of James Stark and Charity Stark Vernon joined what a historian called an ''avalanche of Tennesseans" to Boone's Lick. Almost inmmediately were sufficient settlers for forts to be built for protection against Indians, which included the Osages, Shawnees and Delawares.
Five years later, in 1821, Missouri was admitted to the Union as a state, and the Boone's Lick region was to fall into the central portion of the state that included Cooper and Cole Counties.
Some very important developments were beginning to take place within the closely associated James Stark and Charity Stark Vernon families.
Thomas Geary Stark - Leah Vernon (Son of James Stark & daughter of Charity Stark Vernon)
Thomas Stark watched his little cousin, Leah Vernon, flower into young womanhood. Being the only daughter, she was at age fifteen the strong right arm of her mother, Charity. Thomas, at age twenty-two, fell in love with Leah, and promptly asked his Aunt Charity for her hand. The wedding on August 24, 1823 between the two first cousins is said to have been the third marriage in new Cole County, Missouri. (The marriage was so successful that the following year Leah's eldest brother, Jeremiah Vernon, married Thomas's young sister Rebecca Stark. According to the writer's data, a total of twenty-five children were born to the marriages of these two sets of first-cousins, all twenty-five being grandchildren of both James Stark and his devoted sister, Charity.)
Twenty years after Judge James Stark's son and daughter had married his niece and nephew the Judge placed his written seal of approval on the unusual events. He wrote his last will and testament in his own hand, naming his son Thomas Geary Stark and his son-in-law (nephew) Jeremiah Vernon as Executors.
His most literate will is as follows:
"I James Stark of the County of Cole and State of Missouri do make and publish this my last will and testament hereby revoking all former wills and codicils.
First, It is my will and desire that my funeral expenses and all my just debts be fully paid. Secondly, I give, devise and bequeath to my beloved wife, Rebecca Stark in lieu of her dower the farm on which I Now live containing about one hundred and nineteen acres, and all the personal estate of which I am or shall be possessed of whatsoever nature or kind it may be except what is herein after disposed of. The said land and personal estate shall be held by my said wife only during her widowhood. She shall take such of the personal estate in kind as she desires and the rest and residue which she may not desire to keep shall be disposed of by my executors herein after named the proceeds of which shall be for the use of my said wife during her widowhood: Immediately after the death of wife without marrying, or after her marriage my executors herein after named shall dispose of all my estate and distribute the proceeds equally amongst my children, and where any of my children have died or may hereafter die, the children of such children shall be entitled to their due and fair such portion: Any money my executors may have in their hands arising from the sale of property First above proceeds shall be disposed of in like manner as the proceeds of the sale of the property after the death of my wife unmarried, or II her marriage: my land is included in; the word estate of my property.
Thirdly: It is my will and desire that my slave Lucinda be free and I do hereby fully freely emancipate and set free the said slave and her increase as I have already done by deed, and which I do hereby again do, not thereby intending to affect or impair any rights which may been confirmed by the deed of emancipation heretofore made: And it is my request that none of my children shall ever disturb Lucinda in the enjoyment of her freedom and if respect for a fathers memory or his wishes can influence them, I am sure it will not be done: I give to the said Negro Lucinda one horse to be delivered to her at my death worth not less than thirty-five dollars, and also one cow and calf.
I hereby nominate and appoint Thomas G. Stark, Isaac Stark my sons and Jeremiah Vernon my son-in-law executors of this my last will and testament hereby solemnly revoking all former wills and declaring this to be my only last will and testament. In testimony whereof I have here unto set my hand and seal this fourth day of June in the year of our Lord one thousand eight hundred and forty four.
James Stark (SEAL)
Signed and sealed in our presence
by James Stark and by his request
subscribed by in as witnesses in his
presence and in the presence of each other
Peter 0. Glover
Hiram G. Baker
William Scott
Thomas G. Stark and his cousin-wife raised their large family on Section 35, Township 44, Range 13, Cole County, My ancestor, Martha Stark, was the first to arrive on January 7, 1825; sixteen months after marriage; and thereafter came Mary, Isaac, James, Nehemiah, Charity, John Mulkey, Rebecca, Nancy, Ebenezer, and William Thomas.
Leah Vernon Stark, the mother of the eleven children, died in 1849 at the age of forty-one. Her heroic life will be reviewed later under her Vernon line.
The 1850 census of Cole County shows the widower, Thomas Geary Stark, at age forty-nine with nine of the children still in the household, and with farmland valued at $2,000.00. The following year, November 9, 1851, he married Mary Stephens Amos, who presumably helped him raise the young children.
In 1845, a northwestern strip of Cole County was cut off to form a new County, called "Montineau", which would thereafter be between Cole and Cooper. According to my map the Thomas Geary Stark farm remained barely in Cole County, but near the new Moniteau County line. There may have been some confusion, in that the will of Judge James Stark, father of Thomas Geary Stark) was filed in Moniteau instead of Cole.
Thomas Geary Stark died in February 1863. He left no will, and his estate was administered also in Moniteau County. His son, Nehemiah Vernon Stark was Administrator, and the securities on his bond were John M. Stark, 0. H. Gest and Hiram Gest. By this time, many of his eleven children, including my Martha, had long since moved further west.
The foregoing traces eight generations of Martha Stark's paternal ancestors with the name of "Stark"; I regret that I could not find out more about the ancestors primarily responsible for keeping the chain going, namely the wives and mothers. It is difficult to identify them, particularly since there are so few marriage records, wills of women and means of resurrecting their maiden names. A chapter on the end product of the above Stark line, Martha Stark, will be given later, after we trace the ancestors back of her young mother, Leah Vernon (Stark); but before moving on to the Vernon side of her progenitors, I would like to identify a precious few of Martha's great grandmothers on her Stark side that I have been able to deduce from the records.
Elizabeth Thornton, Wife of James Stark
The appendix. contains an interesting recorded chart of this (3) great grandmother of Martha Stark, which was made incident to Elizabeth's brother having been one of the signers of the Declaration of Independence.
Mary King (m. Jeremiah Stark)
This great grandmother of Martha Stark was the daughter of Charles King and Charity Pennington. The King family came to Newberry County, South Carolina from Virginia where Charles King was born in about- 1730. As a; new settler in the South Carolina Colony he petitioned King George II on April 1, 1754 for land, and he received grants of several tracts totaling 800 acres, including land on "Kings Creek". Charles King was Justice of Peace and delegate to the First Provincial Congress of South Carolina in 1775. He is called both "Captain't and "Colonel" in the records.
Mary King's mother was the former Charity Pennington, daughter of Captain Isaac Pennington. Charity Pennington King predeceased her husband.
Charles King left the following will dated January 21, 1789:
WILL OF CHARLES KING
"In the Name of God Amen, I Charles King being weak in Body but Sound in mind and Memory, Considering the frailty of the Human body, I Commit my body to the dust to be Buried Decently and my Soul to God that gave it, And as to my Worldly Goods and possessions I give and Bequeathe them in the following manner Viz.--
Item I Give and bequeathe unto my Beloved son Jacob King the Lower half of the Land I now live on being five Hundred Acres also One Negro Girl Named Jean, & One Negro boy Named Peter To him his Heirs & Afsigns forever
Item I Give and Bequeathe unto my beloved son Pennington King the Upper half of the Land I now Live on being two hundred & fifty Acres in Each Division, also One Negro Man Named Near or one Negro Woman Named Deb, and one Negro boy named Jefsey to him and his Heirs and Afsigns forever--------------
Item I Give and bequeathe unto my beloved Daughter Lydda Lindsey One Negro woman Named Dinah and her three Children which she has Now in possession, Also one Negro boy Named Stephen to her; her heirs and Afsigns for Ever
Item I Give and bequeathe unto my beloved Daughter Mary Starke One Negro woman Named Salley and her two Children also one Negro boy Named Ben To her and her heirs and Afsigns for Ever
Item I Give and bequeathe unto my beloved Daughter Ruth Starke one Negro Woman Named Bat and her two Children now in Possession also one Negro Girl Named AIf 5 to her, her Heirs and Afsigns For Ever, also One Horse Called Chunky Sorrel and one likely Cow and Calf
Item I Give and Bequeathe to my beloved Daughter Charity Gordan One Negro Woman Named Rhoda also One Negro boy Named Kent to her & her Heirs and Afsigns forever-
Item I Give and Bequeathe to my beloved Daughter Rebekah King One Negro man Named Hary & his wife Hinah & one Negro Girl Named Sal and also the Child Mimah now goes with to her and her Heirs and Afsigns for Ever
Item I Give and bequeath unto my beloved Daughter Kiziah King one Negro Girl Named Doreas also one Girl Named Silva to her & Heirs and Afsigns forever
Item I Give and bequeathe to my three Youngest Children my horses together with all the Rest of my Stock of Cattle Sheep & Hogs with all my Household Furniture Exclusive of what I have left to Ruth Starke, my Waggon to be left for the Use of the Plantation, I appoint & Ordain my Beloved son Jacob King my son-in-law Jeremiah Starke & my good Friend Samuel Cannon Executors of this my last Will & Testament - - & I do hereby Revoke and make void all other Wills by me made Confirming this to be my last Will and Testament Sealed with my seal and dated this Twenty-first day of January in the Year of Our Lord One Thousand Seven hundred and Eighty Nine
Item I leave to be Sold four Negros Viz. Joseph, Jack, Selah & Toney
Signed, Sealed & Delivered in
presence of us Micajah Bennet
William Ragland Charles King (SEAL)
Samuel Ragland
Recorded in Will Book "A'~ Page 51.
Proved March 2nd, 1789.
Test. W. Malone Clk. Ct.
(Recorded Date not Available).
(Original will not in Files of Probate Judge).
Charity Pennington. (King)
(Great-great-grandmother of Martha Stark)
Charity Pennington was the daughter of Captain Isaac Pennington, whose will was as follows;
Will of Isaac Pennington
Isaac Pennington in Berkeley County in South Carolina, being sick of body but of sound mind and memory give and bequeath unto fly eldest daughter Charity 350 acres of land being the place where her husband Charles King now inhabits, to them and their heirs forever.
Item to my daughter Lydia wife of Samuel Cannon I have given their full portion,
Item to my daughter. Mary wife of John Patterson I have given their full portion.
Item to my daughter Rebecca wife of Jiarce Noland 150 acres of land lying and situated opposite to Widdow Kings on Enoree River taken up by Adam Bentley and effects from me being their full portion from me.
Item I give and bequeath unto my two sons Jacob and Isaac 400 acres of land situated on Enoree River called the can break. Three hundred and fifty of which I bought of my Brother Jacob Pennington and the other fifty my property by head right. I give said four hundred acres of land to be equally divided between my sons aforesaid and bequeath my two mills and the two hundred acres of land on which they are seated unto my aforesaid two sons to be equally divided. -----------
Item I do make-----my loving wife my sole Exor. of my whole estate and after she decease the whole estate to be equally divided between my to sons aforesaid Jacob and Isaac and my three youngest daughters Cesaiah and Rachel and Alice. This third day of March 1760.
Isaac Pennington (Seal)
Witnesses:
Peter Lewis
Thomas X his mark Tinmons
Joseph Garrett
(Proved before John
(Pearson by virtue
(of a dedimus 17 Sept.
(1760. At the same time
(qualified Mary Penning-
(ton as Executrix
Recorded in original Will Book 1757-1760, Page 324
Charity Pennington Kings paternal grandfather was Abraham Pennington, who married Catherine Williams. Abraham is said to have descended from Ephram Pennington who came from Pennington County, Lancaster, England. Abraham settled first in Orange County, Virginia before petitioning the King for land on Indian Creek, South Carolina. His will was as follows:
Will of Abraham Pennington
I, Abraham Pennington of Berkly County in the Province of South Carolina being feabel and weak of body but of sound mind and memory do therefore make and ordain this my last Will and Testament.
I give Demise and Bequeath in manner and form following: after all my lawful and just debts and funeral charges are paid which I do owe Either in Law or Equity.
Item I give and bequeath to my Eldest son Isaac Pennington my feather bed and furniture and one shilling sterling money for his Birth Right -
Item my son Jacob hath already received his portion -
Item my son Abraham hath already received his portion
Item my son John hath already received his portion -
Item my daughter Abigal hath already received her portion
Item I give and bequeath unto the boy Thomas Largent which I brought up two mares and a colt. I give and bequeath unto my Beloved Wife Catherine all the other part and remainder of my movable estate and I do nominate constitute and appoint my son Isaac Pennington to be my sole executor.
I have hereunto set my hand and seal this 21st of July 1755.
Witnesses:
Able Anderson
Gabriel Anderson
Abraim Anderson
Abraham (AP) Pennington His mark,
(This proved before the
(Ordinary 29th day of
(May 1756. At the same
(time qualified Isaac
(Pennington executor
Recorded from Will Book No. 1752-1756, Page 499
Mary Pennington
Mother of Charity Pennington (King)
(Great-great-great-grandmother of Martha Stark)
I do not have this ancestor's maiden name, but she survived her husband, Isaac Pennington. Her children were Charity (King), Lydia (Cannon), Mary (Holand), Rebecca (Holand), Jacob, Isaac, Kezah, Rachel, and Alice. To her credit and audacity she left the following will:
Will of Mary Pennington
I Mary Pennington of Berkley County in the Province of South Carolina, Widow and relict of Isaac Pennington deceased and Executrix of the said deceased's Estate, being very sick and low in bodily health, but of perfect mind and memory, After paying all my lawful debts and the debts and the charges due from the estate of my lawful husband Isaac deceased and my funeral charges my will and desire is Item I give and bequeath the remainder of my said estate as also my deceased husbands in manner and form according to the will of the said deceased Isaac Pennington. ---
I appoint my trusty and well beloved sons in law Charles King and Samuel Cannon to be sole executors to do all such things as was by my deceased husband. 10th day of May 1762.
Her mark Mary Pennington
Witnesses: Joseph Garret,
Christ O.Cacey, Leonard Burton
The Vernon Line
Ancestors of Leah Vernon (Stark),
The mother of Martha'Stark
1. James Vernon
The Vernon Family Association data starts our line with James Vernon of Cheshire England, who lived between Norwich and fliddlewich in Davenham. One researcher states that "he probably descended from Sir Ralph Vernon, Baron de Shipbrook of England and Ireland, and Sir Richard de Vernon of Normandy."
James Vernon's wife was named Esther, and he brought his family to Chester County, Pennsylvania, where he died. His wife, Esther, died April 20, 1675. Their children were Thomas, Randall, and Robert.
2. Robert Vernon, son of James
Robert, the youngest of the three sons of James Vernon was born in about 1642 in Stokes, Cheshire, England. He was a Quaker. His marriage to Eleanor Minshall was in the home of William Barnes, and is recorded in Herdshaw East, Lancaster Parish of Acton. Eleanor Minshall was the daughter of John Minshall and wife Margaret.
The map of the grants by William Penn show that Robert and his two brothers, Thomas and Randall, received adjoining tracts 625 acres each in Chester County, Pennsylvania when they came to the new Colony in 1682.
Robert Vernon died 1709 or 1710. Wife Eleanor died July 24, 1720 as per church records of Chester County, Pennsylvania, Roll 50333, Pt. 4. Their children included William and Thomas.
3. Thomas Vernon
Thomas, son of Robert Vernon and Eleanor Minshall, was born 1686 in Nether Provence, Chester County, and Pennsylvania. In 1809 he and two brothers were dismissed from the Quaker Society "for bad associates". Apparently Thomas and his wife became Presbyterians, in that they joined a new settlement near Cub Creek, then Charlotte County, Virginia organized by a Presbyterian minister, John Caldwell. Thomas took up 501 acres. Thereafter he and his many descendants are identified as the Vernon branch from the "Cub Creek Caldwell Settlement of Virginia" in an area later to fall in Lunenburg County. Thomas and Mary raised a large family including Isaac, Jonathan, Richard, Thomas, James, Rebecca, Madeline, Robert, and Hannah. In 1757 'Thomas and Mary conveyed their remaining homestead of 370 acres to son, Isaac, and thereafter went to live with him for the remainder of their lives.
Note by Mr. Daugherty on afterward: Thomas Vernon Sr.
son of Robert b.1686
Moved to Charlotte Co.Va.
later Lunenburg Co.Va.
Recitation that his father,
Robert Vernon of Stoke, Eng.
had rec'd grant 625 ac
in 1682, Delaware Co. Pa.
from Wm Penn., as Quaker.
4. James Vernon
James, the son of Thomas and Mary Vernon; was born 1716, his wife was Eleanor. (One researcher thinks that this Eleanor was cousin to her husband, that both were grandchildren of Robert and Eleanor.) James is listed with his father and some brothers as a Tithable of Lunenbura County, Virginia in 1749. He was a colonial soldier in the Indian Wars. In 1770, he took up land on both sides of Mayo River, Rowan County, North Carolina, and settled on Mayo Mountain. When Lunenburg County was split up later, James Vernon's land fell in Guilford County, and ultimately in Rockinham County. One recorded item: "In 1712, Reverend Solle of old Moravian Community was guest of the James Vernon home on Mayo Mountain for Christmas." In 1787, he moved to Abbeville County, South Carolina where he lived until his death, leaving the following will dated February 8, 1802.
I, James Vernon, Senior, of Abbeville District, South Carolina do make this my last will and testament:
1st. I will that my remains be interred in a decent manner
2nd. I bequeath to my wife during her widowhood livestock not otherwise bequeathed, and household furniture to be at her disposal, and I give her my Negro girl Rose.
3rd. I bequeath to my son Richard, (now in North Carolina) 9l 1/2 acres adjoining land already given to my son, Joseph, on consideration that he settle my affairs in North Carolina.
4th. I bequeath to my daughter, Hannah Hazelet tract of 19 1/2 acres whereon my son-in-law John Hazelet now lives.
5th. I bequeath to my grandson John Vernon (son of Mary) 100 acres called Harvey's Tract, also a sorrel colt.
6th. 1 bequeath to my son Nehemiah the 104 acres of land on which I live, including the mills, also small Negro boy Allen, also my Smith-tools, also young sorrell horse three years old, on condition that he pay my burial expense.
7th. I bequeath to my son Robert the mill saw which he has in his possession, for his assisting me in mill work.
8th. At the death of my wife, I give to each of my children equal share of money from the sale of my Negroes Mary and Anthony.
In witness, I set my hand this 8th day of February AD 1802.
James Vernon (SEAL)
Witnesses: Elizabeth Harris,
Sam Harris,
Hardy Harris
(Receipt attached to will) "Oct. 15, 1801 Dr. John Pettigrew for curing
his wife Elinor Vernon of 2 cancers, 15 dollars."
All of testator's children were accounted for in an attached list of estate distribution: Richard, James, Nehemiah, Thomas, Joseph, Robert, Isaac, John, Hannah (Hazlett), and Sarah (Tinsley).
Eleanor, the widow of James Vernon, lived until 1813.
Nehemiah Vernon
Nehemiah, son of James and Eleanor Vernon, was born in about 1767, probably back in Lunenburg County, Virginia, before his parents moved to North Carolina. He was a young man of twenty when they later settled in Abbeville District, South Carolina. A neighboring family was the Jeremiah Starks, and soon Nehemiah fell in love with the Starks' Young daughter, Charity, culminating in a marriage.
In 1802, Nehemiah inherited his parents' homeplace and was well situated, but many South Carolinians were excited about a new frontier opening up in Tennessee, where Indians were being displaced. James Stark, older brother of Charity, signed up with a wagon train headed for a region north of Nashville, here James Stark's grandparents had gone in an earlier train. Nehemiah and Charity decided to join in the big movement to Tennessee.
The great trek around through Cumberland Gap took several weeks and was made in the late fall of 1803 after crops were laid by, and in time for the new land to be prepared for spring planting. Nehemiah Vernon was less dependent on the land than some, however, because of his trade as a gunsmith.
The new frontier region became Robertson County, adjacent to the Kentucky line. In May 1805, a recording of the County's Court minutes recites that one "John Tucker is bound by indenture to Nehemiah Vernon as apprentice until he arrives at the age of 21." So, by 1805, Nehemiah was settled in his trade, with at least one apprentice.
The next epochal event for the Nehemiah Vernon family was the so-called "War of 1812" against Britain. General Andrew Jackson was assembling the Tennessee Militia, and Nehemiah's talents as a gunsmith were in need for Jackson's ordinance. Nehemiah undoubtedly had conflicting pulls. In early 1813 he had lost his mother, and he was a middle-aged man of forty-six with a wife and five children. But patriotism and military service was a tradition with the Vernons and also his wife's family, the Starks and Kings. The 1813 records reflect his fateful decision On September 29 he wrote his last will and testament. Five days later, on October 4th he enlisted. He served under Colonel Wisnon and Captain Brodin, his last engagement being the Battle of New Orleans, 1815, which unfortunately, through lack of communication, was fought fifteen days after peace had been made at Ghent. Despite this final end of the war, Nehemiah was not to see his family again. Enroute home to Tennessee he succumbed to "Camp Fever'1 and died. His will and estate inventory were as follows at pages 274-7 of the "Robertson County, Tennessee wills 1796-1825":
Will of Nehemiah Vernon
"Twenty ninth day of September in the year of our Lord one Thousand Eight hundred and thirteen-In the name of God Amen I Nehemiah Vernon of the County of Robertson and State of Tennessee, being in health sound sense and memory do make and ordain this my last Will and Testament in manner and form follow- in Viz.
First of all I give and bequeath to my beloved wife Charity Vernon all and singularly the full use of my Lands and Tenements plantation, utensils, stock of all kinds, with all and singular every article appertaining to me or thereunto belonging to have the full use and enjoyment of the same for and during her natural life or widowhood and at her demise or marriage, as follows Viz.
If she, my beloved wife should marry then-and in that case to have a child's part of my Estate to her and her Heirs for ever but in case of her death while in her widowhood then my will and desire that the. whole of my Estate all and singular be equally divided among all my surviving children at the discretion of my Executors here-after named in Witness whereof I do herein notify and confirm they and no other be my last Will and Testament this above written day and date aforesaid
I hereby nominate and appoint my beloved wife Charity Vernon and my trusty friend John Couts and Anthony Jones, son of David Jones, Executors of this my last Will and Testament. Signed sealed and published in presents of
J. Pickring
John Couts
Nehemiah Vernon (SEAL)
Robertson County court August Term 1815
The foregoing last Will and Testament of Nehemiah Vernon was proven in open Court by the oath of John Pickring and John Couts subscribing witnesses there unto and ordered to be recorded.
Test. Jo Turnstall
Inventory
An inventory of the Estate of Nehemiah Vernon Decd. Two mares and three colts, six head of cattle, 17 head of Hogs, and set of Black Smith tools complete, one set of Joiners tools~2 plows~3 Hoes, 1 mattock, 2 axes, one 1 pr of 6 geese, 2 Ducks, one Loom, 2 one pr of Harness one pr of 3 and furniture, 2 bedsteads, 1 Table, 1 chest, 1 writing desk, 1 flax wheat 1 cotton wheel, 1 pr cotton cards1 4 chairs, 1 slate, 2 Smoothing irons, 2 Pots) 2 ovens, I spider) 2 large kettles, 2 pr pot hooks, 1 water bucket, pigeons 1 washing tub, 1 dozen Pewter plates, 4 Bassoons, 1 soap spoon, 4 tablespoons, 5 knives1 5 forks, 1 looking glass,1 brass candlestick, and saucers, 6 delph plates, 2 dishes,4 bottles, l cruet, 1 coffee mill, 5 teacups, 2 saucers, 4 delph table bowls, 1 large bowl, 1 cream cup, l ditto glass, 6 glass tumblers,5 cocks,1 saddle and bridle, 1 churn. 2 kegs, 1 Pickling tub, 1 Earthen mug, I grand, 1 Razor, one case of ham, 1 flower barrell, 1 Salt barrell
Charity Vernon (SEAL)
His widow was thus left with five young children, his gunsmith tools and 200 acres on Crunks Branch being purchased. As related in the Stark line story, Charity was able to lean on her brother and neighbor, James Stark, and soon thereafter, she joined him in the "Tennessee Party emigrating to Missouri Territory"; as related above in the story on Starks.
Children of Nehemiah Vernon and Charity Stark were: (I) Jeremiah Vernon, who married Rebecca (Betsy) Stark; (2) Mary "Polly" King Vernon, who married John Marion Nidiver; (3) Ebenezer Vernon who married Nancy Susie Burris, (4) Leah Vernon, who married Thomas Geary Stark; (5) George Vernon, who married Rebecca Greenway.
Leah Vernon
Leah, the daughter of Nehemiah Vernon and Charity Stark Vernon, was born in September 1808, in Robertson County, Tennessee. She was five years of age when her father enlisted in the Tennessee militia for the war with Britain that had commenced a year earlier. She was age seven when her father died of "Camp Fever11 en route home from the Battle of New Orleans.
The following year, 1816, the original "Tennessee Party to Missouri Territory" included the James Stark family, and the widow Charity Stark Vernon's family. Charity's family and that of her brother James continued close, and doubtless there were swaps of wagon space by the cousins during the long trek. Leah's uncle James was a responsible and literate man, a leader, and was a great source of strength to Charity and her children, including Leah, who was age eight when the two families settled next to each other in what became Cole County, Missouri. James Stark was elected County Judge of the new county, and the Vernon children walked to the proverbial one-room schoolhouse along with their Stark cousins.
Leah grew rapidly into young womanhood, with the household burdens she accepted from her widowed mother. At age fifteen, she was sufficiently mature and comely that her cousin Thomas Stark, then age twenty-two, became enamored and asked his Aunt Charity for her hand. A marriage of first cousins was not unusual in those early times; and Charity and her brother James gave their approval. The mutual vows were exchanged August 24, 1823.
Leah Vernon Stark and her husband, Thomas, did not waste much time on starting their own family. The first child, Martha (my great-grandmother) was born January 7, 1825, four months before her mother Leah's seventeenth birthday. Thereafter, the young. couple prospered in steady family growth to twelve children. Thomas Stark also increased their land holdings. In 1829 he bought a new farm in Section 35, Tsp. 44, Range 14 and in 1833 he added land in Tsp. 44, Range 13. After their first child, Martha, married in 1844, they gave her a farm.
At age forty, in 1848, Leah added a set of twins to the household. Apparently there was a physical limit, even for durable Leah who had been carrying and producing babies for a quarter-century. The following year, 1849, she went to her final reward.
In closing out my Vernon line, in its melding into "Stark" and eventually "Holt", I must express a poignancy. All of the above Vernon ancestors interest me, but the last two, Nehemiah and his daughter Leah, really got under my skin. Nehemiah wrote his will, then left his wife and children for military duty, survived the fighting at New Orleans, then fell sick and died enroute home to his family. That's tough. Leah married at fifteen to her older cousin produced eleven babies that lived and raised them until she died at age forty. And, that's tough!
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