INTRO: I have worked diligently & tenaciously researching this family for the past three-and-a-half decades, beginning at my father’s request in the 1980s to sort out specifics of relationships. To accomplish this, it was necessary to immerse myself in original county records via microfilm available at the Family History Library in Salt Lake City, Utah, used in conjunction with probate documents my father ordered from Marlboro Co, South Carolina where Benjamin Herndon died in 1814. During my years of ongoing & cyclical research, I have encountered many unintended false suppositions made by other interested well-meaning researchers who had different access or methodologies. The advent & advancement of the internet has facilitated access to contents of repositories previously unavailable to early researchers on whose shoulders I & others gratefully build. In my research & analysis, I am separating facts from potential scenarios and am clearly stating the documents & considerations leading to my conclusions. I pray they are a blessing of clarification to all members of this family. Source specifics: The data & sources entered into the timelines on Benjamin Herndon, Ann Newton Herndon, Younger Herndon, and David Herndon … come from the three decades research conducted by Rose H. Bonnell (massive compilations and analyses, utilizing microfilmed documents at the Family History Library in Salt Lake City Utah, as well as lengthy correspondence and genealogy trips), begun with notes compiled by father Jerry Allen Herndon (via his oral history interviews and genealogy research at cemeteries, courthouses, & state repositories including ordering the Benjamin Herndon probate file from SCDAH), which research he built upon from data gathered by his father Robert Vernon Herndon (via personal interviews, family bible records, and related local area searches). This is freely shared as a public service for clarification to descendants for truth & accuracy in our family tree. Please cite this analysis as Intellectual Property of Rose Herndon Bonnell, shared by permission.
TOPIC 1: (ESTABLISHING THE) FAMILY OF BENJAMIN & ANN “NANCY” (NEWTON) HERNDON OF MARLBORO/UGH DISTRICT/COUNTY, SOUTH CAROLINA:
Thankfully for descendants, Ann Newton and her spouse Benjamin Herndon are clearly identified by her father, Giles Newton, in his will, dated 1804 and probated 1807, in Marlboro County, South Carolina. In that document she is identified solely as daughter Ann (& Anne) Herndon, and her husband as son-in-law Benjamin Herndon.
The Giles Newton and Benjamin Herndon families have been traced through land transactions (and court orders) in Caroline and Charlotte Counties, Virginia, into Marlborough District, South Carolina. Benjamin Herndon, born between 1756-1765, served in 1777 in the Revolutionary War (if his grandson William Henry Halle Burton was correct in his SAR application (# 4434). According to numerous deed books, Benjamin by December 1782 lived in Caroline Co., VA, when he purchased land in Charlotte Co., VA—this would be about the time he married Ann Newton, around 1782 but possibly as late as 1784. There he resided until 1788 when he witnessed land purchases of the Newton family in Marlborough District, SC. In Halifax Co., VA, in 1792 he witnessed the will, and later in 1798 he provided security on administration of the estate of William Terrell, his wife’s uncle. In July 1797 Benjamin Herndon of Halifax Co., VA, & Giles Newton of Charlotte Co, VA, sell land in Charlotte Co. VA, to James Newton, then in October 1797, Benjamin Herndon buys his own land in Marlborough District, SC. In September 1798, Benjamin buys additional land there. In comparison and correlation, Giles Newton, father of Benjamin’s wife Ann, can be traced in court order books from Caroline Co., VA in 1759, 1767-1774, 1778-1780, primarily associated with road building, estate appraisals, and guardianship, then in 1782 he purchased land from David Herndon (possible father of Benjamin; and likely why Benjamin had joint land to sell in 1797 with Giles) in Charlotte Co., VA. In 1786 Giles was granted land in Marlborough Co., SC, and sold his land in Charlotte Co., VA. In 1787, Giles sold the 640-acre land grant to his son Younger Newton, a sale witnessed by Benjamin Herndon and [wife] Nancy Herndon. In 1792, Giles sold another 640 acres in Cheraw District, Marlboro Co., SC, to his son Younger Newton. And in 1797 & in 1799, he sold land in Charlotte Co., SC, respectively to sons James Newton and Younger Newton. In 1800 both Benjamin & Giles are enumerated on the US Federal Census of Marlboro District/County, South Carolina. In 1800 Giles sold the last of his land in Charlotte Co., VA. In Feb 1804 a Giles Newton (him or his son?) sold 20 acres to James Newton in Marlboro Co., SC (probably Giles the son since more was sold in 1809 & 1827). On 31 Mar 1804 Giles wrote his will, and on 21 Oct 1807 it was proven & recorded in Marlboro District SC court. (Sources: Caroline County, Virginia, Court Order Books, FHL BOOKS US/CAN # 975.5362 P2d, volume 11 page 45, volume 20 pages 25 & 38, volume 21 pages 8 & 91 & …P2s, volume 3 page 64, volume 4 pages 43 & 81, volume 6 page 64, volume 7 page 37, volume 8 pages 15, 21 & 60. See also Colonial Caroline: A History of Caroline Co. Va. by T. E. Campbell, 1954, pages 482, 493, 487), as well as numerous FHL FILMS documented in my research notes: # 30,781 Deed Index page 89, & Deed Book D # 8, page 250; # 30,782 Deed Bk D # 3 pages 55 & 184; # 30,787 Book 8 page 233; # 24,111 Book A page 183; # 1,027,266 Deed Book F-1 pages 41, 42 & 69; & # 1,027,342 Apt 8 Pkg 6. This research spans much of my past three decades!)
VITAL STATISTICS FOR BENJAMIN & ANN ARE CALCULATED FROM THE US FEDERAL CENSUSES: Both Benjamin & Ann are from that of 1800 & 1810 Marlboro/ugh District/County, South Carolina. Ann’s are continued through calculation from the US Federal Censuses of 1820 Stewart County, Tennessee, & 1830 Humphreys County, Tennessee:
1800 AGE = 1800 CALC BIRTH 1810 AGE = 1810 CALC BIRTH 1820 AGE = 1820 CALC BIRTH 1830 AGE = 1830 CALC BIRTH
BENJAMIN: 26-44 = b. ca. 1756-1774 ; 45 & over = b. ca. Pre-1765 ; died in 1814 & no other census comparisons are available for him.
ANN (NANCY): 26-44 = b. ca. 1756-1774 ; 45 & over = b. ca. Pre-1765 ; 45 & over = b. ca. Pre-1775 ; 60-69 = b. ca. 1761-1770
THEREFORE, THE BEST DOCUMENTARY CALCULATION (NOT BLIND ESTIMATE) FOR THE BIRTH OF BENJAMIN IS: 1756-1765.
AND THE BEST DOCUMENTARY CALCULATION (NOT BLIND ESTIMATE) FOR THE BIRTH OF ANN (“Nancy” or NANCY ANN “Ann”) IS: 1761-1765.
ORIGIN OF FAMILY NAMING PATTERN: Ann’s brother Younger Newton born between 1761-1763 inspired the name of their 1785 son Younger Herndon, who in turn later passed the name down to his own son as “Younger Newton Herndon” born Feb. 1836-37 in Trigg County, Kentucky. (Birth source: 1900 US Federal Census of Trigg, Kentucky).
The death of Benjamin Herndon was prior to 28 June 1814 when John Herndon [of undisclosed unproven relationship] requested Adminstration on his estate. (Source: Marlborough Co., S.C. Minutes of the County Court 1785-1799, “Court of Ordinary” page 22, FHL BOOK, US/CAN # 975.764 P2h.
In probate of the estate of her deceased husband, Benjamin Herndon (in 1814 & 1815), Ann is called alternately Nancy, while in her father’s will she is identified solely as Ann. So the question remains, in this circumstance, which is a nickname for which — Nancy for Ann, or, Ann for Nancy? I’m assuming her father would identify her by her birth name, while by the time of her husband’s passing she may have been identified in the community, and therefore in the probate purchases, by her nickname, therefore I vote for Ann as being her birth name.
Some have postulated that Benjamin Herndon had a wife prior to Ann, but offer no justification for that idea. The presumption seems to come from postulation that the John Herndon who assisted in his probate along with his widow, was a son, though not mentioned or provided for in any of the subsequent intestate provisions. In contrast, indicating potential refutation of that idea, the *** This absence of any stated provision or listing among the “children, heirs”, along with his land buyouts from the widow, suggests, to me, that the John Herndon of the 1814-1815 probate for Benjamin, may have been Benjamin’s younger brother rather than his son.
DOCUMENTED CHILDREN OF BENJAMIN & ANN (According to Benjamin’s intestate probate, the “children, heirs” are listed in the following order):
(1) John Pearce [Sr.] of Stewart County, Tennessee [husband of unidentified daughter]
[On 3 Feb 1815, John Pearce sells wife’s portion of lands “which falleth to me by the death of my father-in-law Benj’n Herndon, late of Marlboro District, deceased.” (Source: Stewart County TN Deed Book H-1, page 163). On 4 Feb 1815, the intestate record of Benjamin Herndon lists by name the “children, heirs of the Estate of Benjamin Herndon, deceased.” (Source: Marlboro District SC Probate Records, specific transactions between 1814-1822.) Unfortunately, so far, the name of the daughter has not been specified — although a likely place for it would be with the Stewart Co TN court case of John Pearce against Ann Herndon (if this action is in fact brought by her son-in-law), dated 5 Nov 1822 (page 160), 6 May 1823 (page 218), & 4 Nov 1823 (page 312), in which jurors found for the plaintiff in the amount of $123.17, for an unspecified reason, and 2013 letters to the county archives did not turn up any retained record of details.]
(2) Younger Herndon of Stewart County, Tennessee [appears to have married twice; 1st wife unknown; 2nd wife Sarah Ann unknown, possibly “Wilson”]
[The name “Sally Wilson” is supplied by a single source, my G-gma, Maggie Lee Dawson Herndon, the Great-granddaughter of Younger, who married her 1st cousin 1 time removed, Younger’s grendson, Nickodemus Herndon. Maggie’s mother was daughter of Younger’s son Younger Newton Herndon, and Nickodemus’s mother was Younger’s daughter Missouri Jane Herndon. Seems close enough with two linked ancestral lines to know the identity of Younger’s wife Sarah Ann! G-Grandma Maggie was interviewed by my father (her grandson) who sent a typed letter with questions for clarification, which evidently was answered with the help of my grandfather (her son). In that letter, she affirms Younger’s wife’s name was Sally Wilson (it was circled yes). Dad doesn’t remember what led him to ask the leading question but it seems to me to have been to verify a prior conversation. Interestingly enough, the family enumerated next to Younger & Sarah in 1850 Trigg Co KY was that of Joel Wilson, 42, of South Carolina; since Sarah was then 49, this may have been her younger brother.]
(3) William Herndon of Marlborough District, South Carolina (later received two portions: for Frances & himself)
(4) James Herndon of Marlborough District, South Carolina
(5) John Breeden [Jr.] of Marlborough District, South Carolina [husband of Mary Herndon]
and four unnamed “minor” children under-age: positively identified in successive court records: including father’s probate, & their own power of attorneys and deeds:
(6) Lucinda “Lucy” Herndon, b. 1797, md. Thomas Holloway Halliburton on 15 Dec 1815.
[Lucy H. Burton is listed as “one of the heirs of the deceased.” (Sources: see Stewart Co., Tenn. Deeds, Volume 0 [or 6?] (Jan. 1819 – Mar. 1823 [sic], page 409, date 21 Sep 1821: Lucy H. Burton and her husband, Thomas, granted a Power of Attorney to Younger Herndon, authorizing him to collect the money due them “from the sale of all the land of Benjamin Herndon, deceased.” Also: Genealogical History of the Halliburton Family, Volume 1″ by William Kenneth Rutherford, copyright date 1983, page 120. FHL BOOK US/CAN # 929.273 H155r. Also: The Descendants of William and Sarah (Poe) Herndon by [Lillian] Ruth Herndon Shields, copyright date 1956, page 74. FHL BOOK US/CAN # 929.273 H431s.]
THEIR SON & HIS GREAT-GRANDDAUGHTER CLAIMED ELIGIBILITY FOR SAR & DAR MEMBERSHIPS AS DESCENDANTS OF BENJAMIN FOR HIS REV WAR SERVICE:
See family info on this couple Thomas & Lucinda Herndon HalliBurton as listed on NSSAR Application (# 4434) by Benjamin’s grandson William H[enry] Halle Burton of Arkansas, [born 4 Nov 1816; died 18 or] 20 Nov 1912 (son of Thomas & Lucinda). (Source: SAR Vol. 23, Membership Application # 4434, dated 23 Oct 1891, then age 75, [of DeWitt,] Arkansas Chapter. Viewable online at http://www.ancestry.com under “U.S. Sons of the American Revolution Membership Applications 1889-1970, database on-line from Louisville, KY, NSSAR, Microfilm, 508 rolls, Provo, UT, USA, Ancestry.com Operations Inc., 2011, images 40-42 of 966. Also see family data by Benjamin’s 3x Great-granddau Juliet HalliBurton, of Corinth, Mississippi (G-granddau of William Henry HalleBurton) on her NSDAR Application # 288090, dated 17 October 1934, LaSalle Chapter. (Source: DAR official record copy in my possession since June 1991.) (See also the documents linked to entries for Col. William Henry HalliBurton or Halliburton: trees.ancestry.com/tree/27013881 “Halliburton Family Tree” owner “Pete_Paulin”; and: trees.ancestry.com/tree/42504454 “Watkins, Jr Family Tree” owner “Carole Dahlinger”; and: trees.ancestry.com/tree/34376774″Thyrza’s Family Tree” owner “nmccord01”; as well as: trees.ancestry.com/tree/83739 “Tackett,Miller,Barnett,lines,etc” owner “William Tackett”)
These SAR & DAR documents perpetuate the family lore that Benjamin Herndon served in the Revolutionary War. We find two US military records which seem to verify him: (a) 2nd Virginia Regiment, Company No. 8, as it stood June 1, 1777: Samuel Haws, Captain, over 44 privates including Benjamin Herndon (Source: Saffell, page 275. Records of the Revolutionary War by W[illiam].T.R. Saffell, Reprint, 2006, 606 pp.; viewable at books.google.com under Records of the Revolutionary War: Index to Saffell’s List of Virginia Soldiers in the Revolution by J.T. McAllister, 2010, 598 pp. For original publication date, see also http://www.jstor.org/stable/4243179 citing Virginia’s Soldiers in the Revolution: R. Saffell. 3d ed. Baltimore. 1894. Page 500-508.) See also: (b) valleyforgemusterroll.org/muster.asp?id=VA07343 (Benjamin Herndon, Virginia state ID VA07343, 5th Division, 2nd Virginia Regiment, Weedon’s Brigade, Captain James Upshaw’s Company; “Notes: Enlisted 30 Dec 1777 In The Horse Service.”) which I found after reading Juliet’s DAR application, in which she cites a letter from “WAR DEPARTMENT, Adjutant General’s Office, by Robert C. Davis, the Adjutant General, dated 28 Mar 1923, says Benjamin’s name “first appears on a Company pay roll covering the period from May 1st to June 1st 1777 and is last borne on the Company Muster roll for December 1777 with the remarks “Enlisted December 30th in the Horse Service” and elaborates “No further record of his service has been found, nor has any record been found in service of the Revolutionary War by any other Benjamin Herndon.” The last part came to be in error, as there are now DAR applications for another Benjamin Herndon. ALERT: TAKE GREAT CARE NOT MIX UP OUR BENJAMIN WITH FOUR OTHER CONTEMPORARY BENJAMINS: neither with (a) the Benjamin Herndon (1740s-1820s) married to Lydia Massey of Orange County, North Carolina; nor with (b) Benjamin Herndon (1765-1805/15) who married about 1787 to Susan Ahart of Elbert County, Georgia (DAR ID 98930, on his father Edward, NSDAR Vol.99, page 296; by Mrs. Georgia Herndon Rampley); nor with (c) the more famous Col. Benjamin Herndon (1742/49-1819, of the Battle of King’s Mountain) married in 1769 to Sarah Pines & later in 1799 to Patience Terry Glenn of Newberry County, South Carolina (DAR ID 20736, NSDAR Vol. 21 page 258; by Mrs. Louise Adele Herndon Martin); nor with Pvt. Benjamin Herndon of Goochland Co., VA (1740-1778) married Roseanna Wade (via additional Source: John Goodwin Herndon Collection, FHL FILM # 875,138).
(7) Frances Herndon (her welfare in her father’s estate was looked out for by brother William Herndon, and he received a double portion to cover both him and her.)
[Frances is listed as daughter of Benjamin: see Intestate record of Benjamin Herndon, dated 20 Feb 1818. Frances is listed as “daughter of said deceased.” (Source: 20 Feb 1818, old notes regarding probate in Marlboro County South Carolina, need to verify if it channeled through Stewart Co., Tennessee. I believe it did.)]
(8) Margaret Herndon, md. Champion P. James of Stewart County, Tennessee.
[Margaret & Champion granted a 22 Sep 1821 power of attorney to Younger Herndon for the money due them “from the sale of all the land of Benjamin Herndon, deceased. (Source: Stewart Co., Tenn. Deeds, Volume 0 [or 6] (Jan. 1819 – Mar. 1823 [sic]), page 410, date 22 Sep 1821.)]
(9) David Herndon of Stewart County, Tennessee.
[David & his mother Ann together granted a 21 Sep 1821 power of attorney to Younger Herndon (a court-identifed son of Benjamin) to collect “all monies” due them “from the Estate of Benjamin Herndon, deceased.” See Stewart County, Tennessee, Deeds, Volume 0 [or 6] (Jan. 1819 – Mar. 1823) page 408, date 21 Sep 1821. David also received an 1823 deed of gift “for maternal affection” from Ann for her homeplace and 2 Negros, a boy named Wyatt and a woman named Nett. It appears likely proven his mother Ann is still living with David when he appears as David Herendon (erroneously indexed as Herenden), age 20-29, along with two slaves (a male age 10-23 & a female age 55-99) on the 1830 US Federal Census of neighboring Humphreys County, Tennessee. (Source: 1830 US Federal Census, Humphreys County, Tennessee, Page 306, NARA Series M19, Roll Number 176, FHL Film 0024534).]
ALERT (A LATER ADDENDUM): According to data in the 1800 & 1810 US Federal Censuses for this family (although relationships were not specifically stated therein), it appears there were likely other children born to Benjamin & Ann whose names do not survive and were not included in his probate documents, indicating they must have pre-deceased him. (This is addressed in this document in a later topic.)
ANN’S KNOWN TIMELINE IN STEWART COUNTY, TENNESSEE (ACCORDING TO COUNTY DOCUMENTS):
On the next US Federal Census (1820), following the 1814 death of her husband Benjamin Herndon, Ann (now a widow), is enumerated on the 1820 Census of Stewart County, Tennessee. As oldest in the household, she was the female age 45 & up; with two females (daughters Frances & Margaret) ages 16-26, and one male (son David) age 10-15; along with 4 slaves engaged in agriculture (2 males under age 14, 1 male age 14-26 and 1 female age 26-45). (Source: http://www.ancestry.com)
1 May 1820, page 168: Court appoints Horatio Humphries overseer in place of Gladden Gorin, and orders the hands of William Tubb, James Tubb, William Tubb Jr., John Webb, Ann Herndon, Younger Herndon, Stephen Thomason, William Newton, John Stewart, & Gladden Goren to work under him. [TO SUPPLY HANDS FOR BUILDING ROADS!] (Source: TSLA Archives, Stewart County, Tennessee, Roll 38, Minutes Vol. 1, Nov. 1819 – May 1821 at http://www.tngenweb.org/stewart/minutes1819.htm)
21 Sep 1821, (Deed Book 6 [volume 0], page 408) Ann & David Herndon, granted to Younger Herndon, POWER OF ATTORNEY for money due them from estate of Benjamin Herndon, deceased. (Source: Stewart County TN Direct (Grantor) Deed Indexes, Volumes I-II, 1800-1847 & 1847-1884 at http://www.tngenweb.org/stewart.htm.)
6 Aug 1821 (page 5), DEED from John Baree to Ann Herndon for [her purchase of] 100 acres; proven by oaths of Younger Herndon & Gladden Gorin. (Source: TSLA Archives, Stewart County, Tennessee, Roll 38, Minutes Part 8, Aug. 1821 – May 1824 at http://www.tngenweb.org/stewart/minutes1821.htm)
1822, (Book 6, page 515), Ann Herndon gave BILL OF SALE to William Phillips for a Negro man named Stephen (24-25). (Source: Stewart County TN Direct (Grantor) Deed Indexes, Volumes I-II,1800-1847 & 1847-1884 at http://www.tngenweb.org/stewart.htm)
5 Nov 1822 (page 160), 6 May 1823 (page 218), 4 Nov 1823 (page 276), LAWSUIT brought by plaintiff John Pearce [son-in-law?] against Ann Herndon, case continued twice, then jurors found for the plaintiff in the amount of $123.17. No details given. No further record according to my 2013 correspondence with county archivist Jim Long. (Source: TSLA Archives, Stewart County, Tennessee, Roll 38, Minutes Part 8, Aug. 1821 – May 1824 at http://www.tngenweb.org/stewart/minutes1822.htm)
1823, (Book 7, page 141), Ann Herndon gave Deed of Gift to David Herndon [for “maternal affection”] her 100 acre homeplace, plus Negro boy Wyatt & woman Nett. (Source: Stewart County TN Direct (Grantor) Deed Indexes, Volumes I-II, 1800-1847 & 1847-1884 at http://www.tngenweb.org/stewart.htm)
3 Feb 1824 (page 312), Deed of gift from Ann Herndon to David Herndon acknowledged. (Source: TSLA Archives, Stewart County, Tennessee, Roll 38, Minutes Part 8, Aug. 1821 – May 1824 at http://www.tngenweb.org/stewart/minutes1821.htm)
ANN’S LIKELY CONTINUED TIMELINE IN HUMPHREY’S COUNTY, TENNESSEE, WITH YOUNGEST SON DAVID (ENUMERATED AS HERENDON & ERRONEOUSLY INDEXED AS HERENDEN) (this probable link is made exceedingly more likely by consistency of elderly woman/mom & two slaves of right genders and ages):
David Herendon’s household consisted of 1 male age of 20 & under 30= 20-29 (himself), with 1 female age of 60 & under 70 = 60-69 (mother born 1761-1770; taking that in combination with her correlated age spans listed on the 1800 & 1810 US Federal Censuses of Marlboro/ugh District/County, South Carolina, of birth between 1756-1765 now reduces that span to between 1761-1765 if she is indeed his mother, and I see no other plausible option than that being so, especially when taking into consideration the two slaves given (not sold!) to him for “motherly affection”. The female aged 55-99 was born between 1731-1775; the male aged 10-23 was born between 1807-1820. This matches with ages of slaves in the Ann Herndon household on the 1820 US Federal Census of Stewart County, Tennessee: the one female between 26-45 was born 1775-1794, making a match of birth zeroed-in to 1775 with an age of 45 in 1820 and 55 in 1830, so she is probably Nett mentioned in 1823-1824 court documents; and one of the males aged 0-14 was born between 1806-1820, making an 1807-1820 equivalency of birth, meaning he is probably Wyatt mentioned in the 1823-24 court documents! That leaves two missing males, one of whom is accounted for by name. The male aged 14-26 born between 1794-1806 was probably Stephen (age 24-25 in 1822) who was transferred to William Phillips according to 1822 court records. Sadly, no record has been found, so far, for the second male age 0-14 in 1820, so I wonder, since I find no transfer in the home county, if that was handled somehow in the missing detailed court documents of the case between John Pearce and Ann Herndon in 1822-1823. If John was indeed her son-in-law, married to Benjamin’s oldest unidentified daughter, was this case because they contested the distribution of the estate?
WHERE ARE THE MISSING RECORDS RELEVANT TO THE FAMILY MIGRATION? Some no longer exist due to every researcher’s dilemma, the conundrum dubbed “Burned Counties,” a scenario requiring intensive circumventing research tactics! (According to familysearch.org/learn/wiki/en/Name_County,_State):
Caroline County, Virginia: Founded & Established 1727; Problems: Lost records include 1790, 1800, 1890 censuses; most antebellum probate records (especially during the Civil War) and, of those that survive, many are scattered among the Virginia State Archives, the Caroline County Circuit Court, the Circuit Court for the City of Fredericksburg. Postbellum land and probate records can be presumed to be housed at the Caroline County Courthouse. Visit the Library of Virginia’s website to determine exactly what records have been lost and their Lost Records Localities Database to find additional resources. See familysearch website for further info. Current record holdings include (beginning dates): Birth 1853, Marriage 1787, Death 1853, Census 1810, Land 1836, Probate 1814.
Charlotte County, Virginia: Founded in 1764; Problems: Lost records include 1790, 1800, 1890 censuses. Current record holdings include (beginning dates): Birth 1853, Marriage 1764, Death 1853, Census 1810, Land 1765, Probate 1765.
Halifax County, Virginia: Founded in 1752; Problems: Lost records include 1790, 1800, 1810, 1890 censuses ; Current record holdings include (beginning dates): Birth 1853, Marriage 1753, Death 1853, Census 1820, Land 1752, Probate 1753.
Cheraw District, South Carolina: Founded in 1768; Problems: In 1785, it disestablished the Anglican Parishes as government record-keeping organizations and organized three subordinate counties including Chesterfield, Darlington, & Marlboro. Cheraw District was abolished in 1800 and the remaining counties continued to be called Districts until 1868. Problem: records are in many places. A courthouse fire in 1806 destroyed most of Darlington County records, and the early records of the Cheraw Judicial District. The negligence of a local district ordinary also resulted in the subsequent destruction of a portion of loose probate records. For documents of people living there before 1800, see St. Mark’s Parish from 1757, St. David’s Parish from 1768, papers filed in the District Seats of Long Bluff (now Society Hill) and Cheraw (aka Cheraw Hill or Chatham), or papers filed in the early capital at Charleston, South Carolina.
Marlboro/ugh District/County, South Carolina: Founded in 1785 (& 1798), Marlborough was one of three subordinates to Cheraw District and when it was abolished in 1800 Marlborough continued to be called intermittently a District until 1868; Problems: Lost records include 1890 census. Current record holdings include (beginning dates): Birth 1915, Marriage 1724, Death 1915, Census 1790, Land 1786, Probate 1787.
Stewart County, Tennessee: Founded in 1803; Problems: 1862 Fire, Federal Troops damaged records mostly of the chancery court; Lost records include: 1810 & 1890 censuses, all 1804-1837 marriages & white marriages from 1876-1881, and the 1812 & 1817-1824 probates. Good news: county archives volunteers have rallied to transcribe all available records and make them searchable for free online at http://www.tngenweb.org/stewart… the best usgenweb site I’ve experienced!!! Record holdings include (beginning dates): Birth 1881, Marriage 1849, Death 1881, Census 1820, Land 1786, Probate 1804.
Humphreys County, Tennesee: Founded in 1809; Problems: 1876 & 1898 fire damaged records; Lost records include: 1810 & 1890 censuses, 1809-1861 marriages, 1809-1836 probates. Current record holdings include (beginning dates): Birth 1901, Marriage 1862, Death 1909, Census 1820, Land 1810, Probate 1837.
Trigg County, Kentucky: Founded in 1820; Problems: “1895 & 1920 disasters destroyed most of the records.” Actually, according to county history books, in spite of three courthouse fires, most of the records were saved! Lost records include many birth and death records between 1852 & 1911. Current record holdings include (beginning dates): Birth 1852, Marriage, Death 1852, Census 1820, Land 1820, Probate 1820.
YET THERE’S HOPE TO OVERCOME RECORDS LOSSES: see familysearch.org/learn/wiki/en/Stewart_County,_Tennessee > Record Loss > Searching burned counties > Arlene Eakle & John Michael Neill linked articles.
YA’LL PLEASE JOIN IN AND HELP! I’ve spent the past few years (2010-to present) in a major disambiguation project separating the two distinct families of Younger Herndon (1785-1859; of Marlborough District South Carolina, Stewart County Tennessee & Trigg County Kentucky) married to Sarah Ann “Sally” (unknown/possibly Wilson; 1801/06-1860) and his possible son (or nephew, if a son of his brother William) Philip Herndon (1801/1810-1848; of Humphreys & Stewart Counties Tennessee) married to Sarah Hitchcock (or Harrel). Those three volumes of research have been scanned and digitized and are viewable online for free at books.familysearch.org, just enter “Rose Bonnell” and it will bring up the title Herndons of 1800’s Stewart Co., TN: the Herndon disambiguation project for families of Philip and Younger Herndon, Part A, …Part B, …Part C (2011), containing over 700 pages of documents and analysis on the two separate families. This research is not for sale and only 5 sets exist, two with authors and three with repositories. This is freely provided as a public service to correct a long-standing error: THERE IS NO YOUNGER PHILIP HERNDON IN ANY ORIGINAL PRIMARY CONTEMPORARY DOCUMENTS! HE DID NOT EXIST! THEY WERE TWO SEPARATE INDIVIDUALS! This composite of two-in-one is a misnomer passed on by access to preserved research notes containing changing hypotheses by prominent early Herndon researchers, later misconstrued as fact, and unfortunately has been mass-disseminated via internet and tragically (for any hope of accuracy) has crept into major publications including (1) the Descendants of Giles Newton I family history book, published by Maxine Newton Gibson (an amazing researcher) in 2003,—(in which I was very generously thanked as contributor for my research which was understandably shared by a third party, yet assembled in conjunction with erroneous info {my wakeup call to get busy} yet providentially supplying the missing-link clue which led to the solution and separation of the two men and their distinct families),—and (2) the newest large-scale county burial book titled, Cemeteries of Cadiz and Trigg County, Kentucky, published by Sumner, Fortner, Metts & Morris in 2008, as well as worldwide databases including (3) Findagrave.com, (althemore tragic because no tombstone exists and it’s only family folklore that he’s actually buried there!) (4) trees.ancestry.com (5) Familysearch.org (6) Geni.com (7) genforum.genealogy.com (8) worldconnect.rootsweb.ancestry.com, and who knows what else. Sadly, the mistake is everywhere! This is my effort to contribute facts and turn back the tide (in a sheer tidal wave of misinformation).
AUTHOR: By researcher, Rose H. Bonnell, 21 January 2014.
PROVENANCE: This analysis with its original research conducted and compiled over decades was written by Rose Herndon Bonnell, 21 January 2014. (I posted it 21 Jan 2014 at http://www.Ancestry.com in a private member tree provided for me by family member “icnow” & which I renamed “Herndon Disambiguation”.)
CITATION: Research Analysis is Intellectual Property of Rose Herndon Bonnell, shared with permission.
TOPIC 2: Parentage of Benjamin is UNPROVEN!: LACK OF EVIDENCE & SOME SIGNIFICANT NEGATIVE EVIDENCE FOR CONNECTING BENJAMIN TO DAVID HERNDON, AS SON, EQUALS THE (POSSIBLE) NEED TO DISCONNECT!:
In the private member tree “Herndon Disambiguation” run by “icnow” at http://www.Ancestry.com, I have decided to temporarily leave Benjamin Herndon (ca. 1760 VA-1814 SC) attached as a child to David Herndon (1712-1795, HFV # 10) & wife Mary Lewis. However, it is quite doubtful, inasmuch as there is no mention of Benjamin or descendants in conjuntion with David’s death, neither in his will nor in provisions of his estate AND none of this David’s posterity are found to be associates of our Benjamin. I only leave this link merely as “questionably connected” to allow other researchers to see for themselves the proofs against this notion. I do this because other researchers, especially Dudley L. Herndon Jr., the current dedicated heir-apparent compiler & publisher of the Dr. John Goodwin Herndon series, The Herndon Family in Virginia, has been researching downward for decades and has believed Benjamin is most likely the son of this David Herndon (of Caroline County & later Campbell County, Virginia) & Mary Lewis, (apparently this assumption is mostly due to location & possibility) yet I’m still dubious because there are ZERO documents to connect them as parents and child or even as acquaintances. I have found only ONE record (within one degree of separation) which in any way could be construed to conceivably connect them. That slight “almost” connection is that David Herndon bought land from a grant to Benjamin’s father-in-law Giles Newton. Unfortunately, one single simple indirectly-connected land purchase does NOT proof of parentage make — especially when there are zero connections in the purported father’s death documents, as illustrated herein!
Primary Documents Citations: Will of David Herndon, written/recorded 8 Sep 1794, mentions only wife Mary Herndon, grandson David Herndon Moorman, son Edmund Herndon, and daughter Frances (Herndon) Moorman; executors: “my son Edmund Herndon, and Andrew Moorman, and my wife;” witnesses: Grif”n Lewis Sr., David Tallay, Benoni C. Tallay. (Source: FHL book, 975.5672 P28c, Campbell Co. Va. Wills Vol. 1, 1782-1800, page 63, original page 281 (=CmWB 1:63, opg 281).) David Herndon’s widow was assessed, Summer 1795, as she takes on her late husband’s property (Source: (HFV 1:33).) Will of David Herndon, deceased, was proved, 3 Sep 1795, by oath of witness David Tallay. (Source: FHL book, 975.5672 P28c, (CmWB 1:63, opg 281).) Will of David Herndon, deceased, was further proved, 1 Oct 1795, by oath of witness Griffin Lewis Sr. and Achilles Moormon, one of the executors, was granted a certificate for obtaining probate. (FHL book, 975.5672 P28c, (CmWB 1:63, opg 281).) Inventory & Appraisement of the estate of David Herndon, deceased, conducted per court order, 7 Apr 1796, as Total value: 430 L, 7 shillings, 6 pence. Included Negroes George, Ben, Jene, Darkis adn child. (Source: FHL book, 975.5672, P28c, (CmWB 1:67, opg 296).) David’s widow Mary Herndon was taxed for property in Campbell County from 1796 until her death there in 1806. (Source: (HFV 1:34).) Mention of the estate of David Herndon, deceased, is made in the 15 Jan 1811 Account of the Estate of Achilles Moorman Sr., deceased, saying the David Herndon estate which was divided at the [1806] death of his wife [Mary] with one half to his son, Edmund Herndon, and the other half to his daughter Frances [Herndon] Moorman. (Source: FHL book, 975.5672 P28h, Campbell Co. Va. Will Book 3, 1810-1817, page 39, original page 75 (=CmWB 3:39, opg 75).) Seems to me since there’s no legal acknowledgment or connection in any death or deed records, that unless anything else comes to light, there’s absolutely no documentary foundation that this David had a son named Benjamin (ca. 1760 – 1814) who outlived him by 19 more years.
THE ONE POSSIBLE INDIRECT LINK FROM BENJAMIN TO DAVID (WITH A SIGNIFICANT DEGREE OF SEPARATION WHICH SEEMS MOST LIKELY JUST COINCIDENCE) IS:
LAND PURCHASED THEN SOLD FOR A PROFIT TO GILES NEWTON WHO IS THE FATHER-IN-LAW OF BENJAMIN HERNDON:
1 September 1777, David Herndon purchased a 200 acre tract on both sides of Buffalo Creek in Charlotte County for L 125 from James Burton Jr. of Pittsylvania County VA (Source: The Herndon Family of Virginia: The First Three Generations, by Dr. John Goodwin Herndon, 1947, page 32 (HFV 1:32).)
26 November 1782, David Herndon sold above-mentioned 200 acre tract on Buffalo Creek in Charlotte County for L 200 to Giles Newton of Charlotte County. The tract adjoined Hudson’s corner, Moseley’s line, and Robertson’s line. This indenture was signed in the presence of Edward Almond, Joseph Terrell, and Younger Newton. (Source: FHL film # 30,782, page 55a.)
ALERT: This SINGLE land transaction is the ONLY connection, albeit remote and indirect, I’ve found so far between this David and my Benjamin Herndon who married Ann Newton, daughter of Giles and sister of Younger Newton — and that suggested connection is not actually to my Benjamin, just to his father-in-law, Giles Newton, and his much-revered brother-in-law, Younger Newton — therefore it’s not even an established link between that David and our Benjamin! —RHB
OTHER POSSIBLE PARENTAGE FOR BENJAMIN, SEEMS WE NEED TO INTENSELY INVESTIGATE THE PHILIP HERNDON’S, SPECIFICALLY PHILIP (HFV # 17):
I am intrigued by the Philip Herndon (1801/10 TN – 1848 TN) of 1830 Humphreys County Tennessee & 1840 Stewart County Tennessee, the husband of Sarah Hitchcock, which couple has sadly been mismerged with my Younger Herndon (1785 VA – 1859 KY) of 1820 & 1840 Stewart County Tennessee & 1830 & 1850 Trigg County Kentucky. Dr. John Goodwin Herndon and successive researchers were postulating that Younger was not actually a given name, but more a nickname in the sense of Junior, and were hypothesizing on who might be the Senior (whether a Philip or a Benjamin). In all the records I have found in tracing these two men, Younger Herndon (1785-1859) and Philip Herndon (1801/10-1848) never ever used any other name or combination of names, Younger never using Philip and Philip never using Younger. In my research, it seems nearly equally possible that this Philip (1801/10-1848) is a son of either Younger or of Younger’s brother William — for different cogent reasons. William Herndon seems the best candidate for Philip’s father only when considering he owned land in Humphreys Co. TN in the mid-1820s where Philip first appeared on the 1830 US Federal Census, while ironically Younger was enumerated as Harrington in 1830 Trigg Co. KY across the state line two-three counties away. However, Younger seems the best candidate when taking into account the family naming pattern. Philip’s son (documented in the History of Tennessee [see Stewart County] by Goodspeed, 1886, pages 1305-1306, in the biographical sketch of his son “Lewis Herndon” who is consistently recorded as Lewis Y. Herndon during his 30-plus-year tenure as a magistrate in Stewart County, and that middle initial seems revealed by his thrice-married daughter Sarah, in the naming of one of her sons Lewis Younger Nolin. (Source 1: http://www.tngenweb.org/stewart/ see Stewart Co. TN Settlements & Bonds Books covering Nov 1858 to Nov 1894. ESSENTIAL ALERT FOR LEWIS/LOUIS HERNDON: Some descendants believe this Lewis had the middle name Franklin as did one of his descendants, but that is clearly in error, when held up to the light of his middle initial Y. in court on 6 Jan 1852 & in US Federal Census of 27 Apr 1910, and every single other entry (spanning fifty years) being without any middle intial (only middle intial is Y. in 1 of 6 censuses and 1 of 194 entries in court). (Source: Refer to same — ibid. and to 1910 US Federal Census of Stewart Co. TN, viewable on http://www.ancestry.com, SupDist 279, EnumDist 175, Sheett 7A, Lines 127+). (Source 2: Obituaries Taken From the Earliest Stewart & Houston County [TN] Newspapers (1876-1942) by Timothy Pulley, page 25 “Sallie Anne [Herndon] Lyons;” Obituary for daughter online at http://www.findagrave.com “Mrs. Mary Lyons Dies, Rites Held” see Memorial # 19463854; and World War I Draft Card (FHL Roll 1877693) as well as TN Death Certificate (cn 51-09439) for son Louis Younger Nolin.)
At any rate, this causes me to wonder how in the world this younger (unfortunate, necessary adjective) Philip Herndon (1801/10-1848) fits with our Younger & family, if indeed he fits at all.
I bring up the Younger & Philip mix-up because there were several Philip Herndon’s in Virginia & South Carolina vicinities of our Benjamin (ca. 1760 VA-1814 SC) in the mid-1700s to early 1800s time frame, so I am wondering, if there is a real connection between our Younger & Philip of 1840 Stewart County Tennessee, could that be a family name? and, if so, does that indicate Benjamin’s father might have been # 17 Philip instead of # 10 David? Seems obvious to me that it definitely needs to be investigated in order to rule it out as proven or disproven.
FAMILY NAMING PATTERNS REFLECTIVE OF GREAT LOVE AND MUTUAL RESPECT BETWEEN BENJAMIN & HIS BROTHER-IN-LAW, YOUNGER NEWTON:
Benjamin Herndon married Ann Newton, daughter of Giles Newton Sr. & sister of Younger Newton, with whom he & Benjamin often reciprocated as witnesses on deeds and were close friends, indicated by Benjamin & Ann naming their son Younger (born in 1785 in Virginia). Their son Younger named his own son Younger Newton Herndon (born 1836 in Tennessee.)
URGENT ALERT FOR YOUNGER HERNDON: Please note that our Younger Herndon (1785 VA-1859 KY) has also been confused with his uncle — his mother’s brother, Younger Newton (1761/63 VA-1847 SC) — WHO USES A RECIPROCAL NAMESAKE PATTERN — as well as with his own son, Younger Newton Herndon (1836/37 TN – aft 1900 KY). (Source: RHB research via US Federal Census & personal family data.). To underscore essential wariness as we sort through identities, it’s important to note that there is further room for confusion, if not taking great care and paying absolute attention, because Younger Newton carries on this mutual respect in the naming pattern of his children with wife Elizabeth Cargill or Curghill, among his 10 children, five sons & five daughters, naming three sons, Younger Jr. (1792) , Benjamin (1799) & Giles (1815) Newton. (Source: many public member trees at Ancestry.com including “Doris Odom Armand” at trees.ancestry.com/tree/12276938 posted by owner “dorisarmand” — see also attached records linked to “Dukes Family Tree” at trees.ancestry.com/tree/17602178 posted by owner “RogerDukes.” The burial and family of Younger Newton Jr. (1792-1867) is recorded at http://www.findagrave.com Memorial # 64793372.)
AUTHOR: By Researcher, Rose H. Bonnell, 19-20 February 2014.
PROVENANCE: This story with its original research conducted and compiled over decades was written by Rose Herndon Bonnell, 19-20 Feb 2014. Posted first time on 21 Feb 2014 at http://www.Ancestry.com in Timeline data for Benjamin Herndon (ca. 1760 VA – 1814 SC) in the private member tree provided for me by family member “icnow” & which I renamed “Herndon Disambiguation”.
CITATION: Research Analysis is Intellectual Property of Rose Herndon Bonnell, shared with permission.
TOPIC 3: Named Children Connected by Documentary Evidence to Benjamin & Ann (Newton) Herndon: (THE) DOCUMENTED CHILDREN OF BENJAMIN & ANN (NEWTON) HERNDON:
According to the Marlboro Co SC probate records, the intestate documents for Benjamin Herndon, deceased, (ca. 1760 VA – 1814 SC), list his “children, heirs” by name on 4 Feb 1815. Chronologically from that list the unnamed daughter is first, her husband being named: John Pearce of Stewart Co TN.
(1) unidentified daughter (estimated birth as first in chronology: ca. 1783-ish) the wife of John Pearce [Sr.] of Stewart Co TN. (Source: Marlboro Co SC Deed Book H-1, page 163, dated 3 Feb 1815, in which John refers to Benjamin as “my father-in-law” and sells his portion of lands from that estate; and John is also listed as one of the “children, heirs” on 4 Feb 1815, Marlboro Co SC, in Benjamin Herndon’s estate probate.)
ALERT & POSSIBLE CLUE FOR SOLUTION TO FIRST DAUGHTER’S GIVEN NAME: Their mother, (Mrs. Benjamin) Ann “Nancy” (Newton) Herndon was sued (according to Stewart Co TN court minutes of 5 Nov 1822, 6 May 1823, & 4 Nov 1823) by a John Pearce (need to determine whether he was husband of their first daughter and therefore Ann’s own son-in-law). It was my hope that obtaining those court document case files would perhaps provide the missing name of that eldest daughter. So far any details on the case have not yet been located. I have written to the Stewart County TN http://www.tngenweb.org/stewart webmaster a 30-year county researcher, compiler, & publisher, Jim Long (2013) and he said that unfortunately details of that case were not retained at the county because it went to a higher level circuit court. Needs more research.
(2) Younger Herndon (1785 VA – 1859 KY) of Stewart Co TN. (Source: Listed as one of the “children, heirs” on 4 Feb 1815, Marlboro Dist SC probate file for Benjamin’s estate) had an earlier wife on the US Federal Census of 1820 Stewart Co TN and a later wife, Sarah Ann, on 1840 Stewart Co TN, and on 1850-60 Trigg Co KY census (the US Federal Census of 1830 Stewart Co TN with him enumerated as Harrington, is in question as to whether it’s the 1820 wife or the 1840 wife; her borderline age could almost go either way. My Great-grandmother Maggie Lee Dawson was married to her 1st cousin 1x removed, widower Nickodemus Herndon, the grandson of Younger. Nickodemus died in 1959, and in 1963, Maggie supplied the missing maiden name of Sarah as “Sllay Wilson” to grandson erry with his father Robert as intermediary filling out answers to a letter.) {*SEE WARNING BELOW FOR URGENT CLARIFICATION & DISAMBIGUATION.}
(3) William Herndon (estimated birth as third in chronology: ca. 1788-ish) of Marlboro Co SC. (Source: Listed as one of the “children, heirs” on 4 Feb 1815, Marlboro Dist SC)
(4) James Herndon (estimated birth as fourth in chronology: ca. 1791-ish) of Marlboro Co SC. (Source: One of the “children, heirs” on 4 Feb 1815, Marlboro Dist SC)
(5) daughter [Mary] Herndon (estimated birth as fifth in chronology: ca. 1794-ish), the wife of John Breeden [Jr.] of Marlboro Co SC; he was identified as one of the “children, heirs” on and her name was given later in a land transaction. (Sources: Marlboro Dist SC, Benjamin Herndon Probate File, 4 Feb 1815; & [Marlboro Co SC] Deed Book M, page 11)
AND four MINOR children under age (later identified in receipts in Benjamin Herndon Estate Probate papers; & in Stewart Co TN Deeds)
(6) Lucinda “Lucy: Herndon (born 1797 acc to DAR submission #288090 citing family bible AND this matches estimated birth as sixth in chronology; ca. 1797), married Thomas [Holloway] HalliBurton (surname often abbreviated H. Burton) on 15 Dec 1815. (Sources: DAR application #288090 submitted by Juliet HalliBurton diting Thomas & Lucy (Herndon) HallliBurton Family Bible, also see Power of Attorney granted to William Herndon,produced on 20 Feb 1818 in Marlboro Co SC Probate for Benjamin’s Estate, and the Power of Attorney granted to Younger Herndon in Stewart Co TN on 21 Sep 1821; Deed Book 0, indexed as 6, page 409)
(7) Frances Herndon (estimated birth as seventh in chronology: ca. 1800-ish) was identified 20 Feb 1818, as “daughter of said deceased” when her brother William received two portions, the second part for her. (Source: Marlboro Dist SC, Benjamin Herndon Porbate File, 20 Feb 1818)
(8) Margaret Herndon (estimated birth as eighth in chronology: ca. 1803-ish) who married Champion P. James) of Stewart Co TN; they were identified in the Power of Attorney they granted to Younger Herndon of Stewart Co TN on 22 Sep 1821 (Source: Stewart Co TN Deed Book 0, indexed as 6, page 410)
(9) David Herndon (estimated birth as ninth in chronology: ca. 1806-ish) was still unmarried in the 1830 US Federal Census of Humphreys Co TN (listed as Herendon) with much older woman, certainly his mother just as he had lived with her in 1820 and jointly granted Power of Attorney to Younger Herndon in Stewart Co TN on 21 Sep 1821 to collect monies due them from the estate of Benjamin Herndon, deceased of Marlboro Dist/Co SC. Also received homestead etcetera as “deed of gift” from Mom on 3 Feb 1824 “for motherly affection.” (Sources: Stewart Co TN Deed Book 0, indexed as 6, page 408 & Stewart Co TN Deed Book 7, page 141)
Benjamin’s widow, Ann, apparently lived to be enumerated with their youngest child, son David, in the US Federal Census of 1830 Humphreys Co TN, where he was listed as Herendon, single, with an elderly white woman of age 60 and under 70 (=60-69, so born between 1761-1770) which agrees with her calculated age of Marlboro Dist/Co SC US Federal Censuses in 1800 at age 26 thru 44 (= born between 1756 & 1774) & in 1810 (husband listed as Benj)at age of 45 & up (= b. 1765 or earlier), thereby narrowing down to (birth between ca. 1756-1765. (And if taking 1830 data also into consideration that would condense her birth to between 1761 and 1765.) David had been enumerated with his mother Ann in 1820 Stewart Co TN, their residency together futher evidenced by their granting joint Power of Attorney to Younger Herndon in 1821, and they were still apparently together at the time of her deed of gift (homestead etc) for “motherly affection” in 1824!
* IMPORTANT ALERT & WARNING REGARDING CHILD #2 ABOVE: Benjamin’s son, Younger, (b. 1785 VA-d. 1859 KY), is victim of a half-century mix-up with a second man, Philip Herndon (b. 1801/10 TN-d. 1849 TN) husband of Sarah Hichcock (according to their son’s biographical sketch published in History of Tennessee [see Stewart County, Lewis Herndon] by Goodspeed, 1886, pp. 1305-1306). Yet, conclusively, neither ever used a secondary name in any lifetime documents: Younger never used the name Philip, nor did Philip ever use the name Younger! This erroneous amalgamation was unintentionally imposed by mistaking as fact an early researcher’s working hypothesis (by Dr. JGH & to which he was making continual changes and adjustments), which although unproven and never represented by him (Dr. JGH) as definite, even in his mind (evidenced by his crossouts and overwrites), has sadly now been blindly canonized in cyberspace as purported fact through successive family tree copiers though it was never substantiated and has definitely been disproven. Younger lived in Stewart Co TN in 1820 & 1840, and in Trigg Co KY in 1830 (mistakenly enumerated as Harrington) & 1850 (finally with given names of all his current family, instead of the previous age and gender categories) WHILE Philip lived in Humphreys Co TN in 1830 (enumerated as Herendon) and in Stewart Co TN in 1840. These men were separated by only the fluctuating TN-KY state line in adjoining counties (Stewart Co TN & Trigg Co KY) and died 11 years apart, the youngest before the eldest. Over five-plus decades, these two separate men, their wives, and families have been progressively mis-merged into one. I’ve spent the past three years in intensively documenting & publishing online what I call the “Disambiguation” Project for the separate families of these two couples (Younger Herndon & Sarah Ann possibly Wilson, AND Philip Herndon & Sarah Hitchcock) and following their two distinct sets of children through successive censuses and marriages and death records! I believe Younger AND Philip ARE relatives, but so far, it’s inconclusive as to whether they were father and son OR uncle and nephew. Taking into consideration Philip’s first census location of Humphreys Co TN, in 1830, while Younger was in Trigg Co KY, the relationship leans toward likely uncle & nephew, with Philip possibly the son of William who resided there in the mid-1820s; however it tilts toward father & son when taking into consideration family naming patterns alone, with Philip’s son Lewis carrying the middle initial Y., and Lewis Y.’s daughter Sarah naming her son Lewis/Louis Younger Nolin—indicative of a closer association with the name & person of Younger! This is something I’m still actively researching.
THE DISAMBIGUATION SET WAS NOT PROFESSIONALLY PUBLISHED (JUST SELF-PUBLISHED) AND IT IS NOT FOR SALE ANYWHERE, ALTHOUGH I’VE MADE IT AVAILABLE ONLINE FOR RESEARCHERS FOR FREE. (In it, my research analyses are listed chronologically, so my latest conclusions are last.) After over three decades researching this family line building on prior efforts of my father and grandfather, I completed nine months of compiling documentary evidence into completed books in 2011 which were self-printed and placed with one author and two repositories in 2012, placing with a third repository in 2013 and arranging for scanning & online publication of that research ensuring it be made available as a public service: {“Herndon’s of 1800’s Stewart Co TN: The Herndon Disambiguation Project for Families of Philip AND Younger Herndon, 3 volumes totaling abt 733 pages; Part A: Tracing the Family of Younger & Sarah [Ann] (unknown/possibly Wilson); Part B: Tracing the Family of Philip & Sarah (Hitchcock) Herndon; Part C: Tracing the Early (& as yet) Unconnected Individual Herndons (of 1820-1840s Stewart & Humphreys Co TN)}. A fourth volume is in the works to assemble the family units in group-sheet form and to note any corrections, a couple I know of already. If all 733 pages are read, one item is corrected later within the progressive research, but an earlier chart missed updating, (it was slated for correction, but I had a precious little helper grdau toddler pulling out my editorial bookmarks—she’s growing up to be my helper : – ), a necessary modification concerning relationship of the two Nancy Herndon’s (on which I am still working because there are three, possibly four Nancy’s, one an older daughter of Philip, one a younger daugher of Younger, one a daughter of Younger’s son Alfred, and another as yet unlinked). A second necessary correction, is that while I was working madly on the Younger Herndon research, I had help provided on his brother William and it was credited (in added handwriting) in the copy to the author but unfortunately not in the repository copies that were scanned online. I take responsibilty for that oversight. However, the biggest correction is that since then, the marriage of William Herndon to Prudence Lankford has proven not to be brother of Younger but to a later generation and an as yet unconnected William. Lesson to me: I’d have figured that out sooner, if I’d personally looked into it more than I did. When it was brought to me, I let excitement for the potential overrule my caution. My apologies for the goose chase on it. Those things are on my list to cover in Volume Four in the Errata Section. In case I die before it gets done, this is my correction.)
FOR 3-VOLUMES OF EXTENSIVE DISAMBIGUATION RESEARCH ON SEPARATE FAMILIES OF YOUNGER AND OF PHILIP (VIEWABLE ONLINE FOR FREE) SEE:
You can do this two ways, either:
(1) GO TO http://www.familysearch.org/search THEN CLICK ON Books THEN in the search box TYPE rose bonnell OR
(2) GO TO https://books.familysearch.org/primo_library/libweb/action/search.do?vid=FHD_PUBLIC THEN, in the search box TYPE: rose bonnell
Either way, up comes the three books as Part A, Part B, and Part C. The nice thing is though the original hard-copy set contained only detailed Tables of Contents, the online version is word-searchable and is better than an index. Happy hunting. Hopefully this will aid in correcting long-standing error and will provide unity of future research which is still, and ever will be, ongoing.
THE PROBLEM WITH INCLUDING JOHN AS A CHILD (WHETHER AS OLDER OR FIRST) FOR BENJAMIN & ANN “NANCY” (NEWTON) HERNDON:
First, there was hardly time for John to be born to Benjamin the teen soldier of the Revolution born ca. 1760 (acc to descendant submitting to the DAR # 288090) & who was documented on payroll & muster of 2d Va Regt in mid 1777, and enlisted in The Horse Service in Dec 1777, and married about 1782, that calculation considering his documented son, Younger born ca. 1785 (acc to 1850 US Federal Census of Trigg Co KY), and an earlier daughter, Mrs. John Pearce, (if listed chronologically by birth in Benjamin’s 4 Feb 1815 intestate doccument), making her birth approximately 1783 unless a twin. The 1782 marriage calculation agrees with Benjamin’s first documented association with his wife Ann’s father Giles Newton (14 Dec 1782, when Benjamin of Caroline Co VA bought 200 acres in Charlotte Co VA witnessed by his at least soon-to-be, if not already, father-in-law, Giles Newton. Due to that move and the apparent beginning association with Giles Newton who lived in Charlotte Co VA, I’d not put the marriage before Dec 1782 and propose it was more likely in early 1783, which allows time for one child to be born before Younger whose birth was in 1785 which is in harmony with the chronology of the “children, heirs” list.
ALERT: Some researchers, perhaps being brand-new naive “click-any-ologists” (sorry, my rather disressed term) who are not yet trained in original research & analysis and don’t have access to records repositories, believe (by huge jump to conclusion) that the John Herndon (ca. 1776 VA – ca. 1845 AL, husband of Sarah Easterling) who requested letters of administration on the estate of Benjamin, along with widow Ann [(Newton)] Herndon, is also their son (possibly basing this on the fact that he is significantly younger, age 16-25 in 1810 and 40-49 in 1830, and in the right proximity on US Federal censuses of Marlboro Co SC. I find that connection very doubtful since, other than supervising the administration and purchasing land from the widow Ann and the eldest daughter Mrs. John Pearce, he’s not mentioned in any other family documents, and did not move to Stewart Co TN as did the rest of the family but instead moved to Butler Co AL (acc to several public member entries at trees.ancestry.com/tree/… such as ***…. (Sources: 1810 US Federal Census of Marlboro Co SC, see Jno Herndon: viewable at Ancestry.com, acqu 2010, Roll 61, Page 93, Image 0181420, FHL Film 000168; also 1830 US Federal Census of Marlboro Co SC, see John Herndon, viewable at Ancestry.com, acqu 2010, Page 71, NARA Series M19, Roll Number 171, FHL Film 0022505.) John is not enumerated in Marlboro Co SC in 1820, and there are two potential John’s nearby: John Herndon (age over 45, b. ca. pre-1785, possible but so indefinite as to be inconclusive to rule in or out with calculations) in Pendleton Co SC with 12 in household, and Jno Hearndon [sic] in St Bartholomew’s Parish, Colleton Co SC with 8 household members, age span 26-44 equating to calculated birth between 1786-1804 which definitely works for us and is interesting because that is where in 1810 there was also a Philip (age 26-44=birth calculation of 1766-1784) who may have been a relative (perhaps another brother?) and that could explain the name of a later Philip (1801/10-1848) associated with our family (possibly Benjamin’s grandson either through Younger or through William). The John Herndon of Pendleton is suggested to be married to Elizabeth Mealer, which likely rules him out. Since the John (of Benjamin’s probate administration) apparently had no claim on the estate of Benjamin, and merely bought land from the widow and eldest daughter, and did not migrate with the family, but away from it, this makes me wonder whether John was actually a younger brother rather than a son. For instance, as documented in numerous census records over decades of research, it is not unusual particularly back in colonial times for a woman’s childbearing years to span 25+ years and I have a close friend who has a 29 year span. The birth range of John from 1810 census is ca. 1785-1794, and from 1830 census is ca. 1781-1790, narrowing/equalizing to ca. 1785-1790. Therefore the differece between Benjamin (b. ca. 1760, +/-4 years 1756-1764) and John (b. ca. 1787, +/- 3 years 1785-1790) is about 27 years, so it is actually possible to be siblings. To answer obvious questions: (1) the only Herndon’s (of any variant spelling) enumerated in US Federal Censuses of Marlboro Co SC were James Herndon and James A. Harrington; and (2) there is no Philip Herndon enumerated in 1820 US Federal Censuses in South Carolina. Obviously, this all requires a great deal more research.
AUTHOR: Researcher, Rose H. Bonnell, 22 & 26 February 2014.
PROVENANCE: This story with its original research conducted and compiled over decades was written by Rose Herndon Bonnell, 22 & 26 Feb 2014. (I posted it 22 (& 26) Feb 2014 at http://www.Ancestry.com in the private member tree provided for me by family member “icnow” & which I renamed “Herndon Disambiguation”.)
CITATION: Research Analysis is Intellectual Property of Rose Herndon Bonnell, shared with permission.
TOPIC 4: ALL 12 CHILDREN: ADDITIONAL CHILDREN via 1800 & 1810 census who died prior to heir agreement of 4 FEB 1815:
Regarding all the children of Benjamin Herndon (ca. 1760-1814) & Ann Newton: In addition to the detailed connections supplied by the 4 Feb 1815 heir agreement form between the widow and male heirs, including the spouses of the female heirs, who had reached the age of majority, (as well as recognition that there were four minor heirs), there were other children who were with them on the 1800 (Benjamin) & 1810 (Benj) US Federal Census (of Marlboro/ugh District-County South Carolina) who did not survive to have provision in that heir agreement form to share & share alike.
These additional children with their known lifespans (per census & deed & probate data, aligned with known children’s births) are listed below:
(Daughter Three) Herndon, born Abt. 1788 (Betw. 1785-1794) in probably Marlborough Dist SC; died Betw. 1800-4 Feb 1815) in probably Marlborough Dist SC.
(Daughter Four) Herndon, born Abt. 1790 (Betw. 1785-1794) in probably Marlborough Dist SC; died Aft. 1800 (Betw. 1800-4 Feb 1815) in probably Marlborough Dist SC.
(Daughter Eight) Herndon, born Abt. 1805 (Betw. 1801-1810) in Marlbrough Dist SC; died Bef. 4 Feb 1815 (Betw. 1810-4 Feb 1815) in probably Marlborough Dist SC.
Necessary Disclaimer: It is essential to realize that none of the censuses between 1790 & 1870 list the relationship of the household member to the head of household, therefore any specific connection is only supposition until additional proofs are available. It was only in censuses from 1880 to 1940 (the latest census available to the public) which specifically identifies the relationship of each household member to the head. In modern times, household members usually are children of at least one parent, but back in the 1800s, when it was more common for extended family members to be part of the household, children could have been neices, nephews, or grandchildren. Keeping that in mind, based on the ages, and the fact that no unidentifed children are old enough to be other adults in the household, it still seems probable, (to me as a 30+-year researcher of the family), that all the children in Benjamin’s household were his own. The only other Herndon in the vacinity, is John/Jno Herndon, whose household was also full, and whose age, though quite a bit younger, is best in the realm of a younger brother than a son (in absence of any direct evidence stating he is a son, and whose absence on the heir agreement form, and whose only benefit from the estate was land he purchased from heirs, especially since he moved to Butler Co. AL instead of migrating to Stewart Co. TN with the rest of the family).
MY FINAL SUMMARY OF ALL THE DOCUMENTABLE CHILDREN OF BENJAMIN & ANN (NEWTON) HERNDON:
Benjamin & Ann were married about 1781-82 (based on births of first two sons, especially Younger Herndon, age 65 in 1850 US Federal Census of Trigg Co KY, born ca. 1785 VA, and the calculated ages of parents in the 1800 & 1810 US Federal Censuses of Marlboro/ugh Dist/Co SC (birthyears between 1756-65, calculated ages 17-26), AND the key relationship deed 14 Dec 1782, wherein Benjamin Herndon of Caroline Co VA purchased 200 acres in Charlotte Co VA; witnessed by future/present father-in-law Giles Newton (and, no it could not have been Giles’ son, Giles Jr., who was only about 14 at the time)!
The entire family of children born to Benjamin Herndon (ca. 1760 VA-1814 SC) & Ann Newton, as far as I’ve been able to ascertain via documentary evidence and educated calculations (as explained above & further noted below) is as follows:
(1) (Son One) William Herndon (identified in father’s probate), born Abt. 1782 (Betw. 1775-1784; calculating him as eldest child since his family in 1820 had far more members than brother Younger’s) in Charlotte Co VA; married Elizabeth [unknown] (acc to old letter to Marlboro Co SC probate judge); died Bef. 07 Nov 1831 in Stewart Co TN (acc to probate).
(2) (Daughter One) Herndon (identified by husband), born Abt. 1784 (Betw. 1775-1784) in Charlotte Co VA; married Bef. 1810 in Marlboro/ugh Dist/Co SC to John Pearce Sr (identified in father-in-law’s probate & deed); died Bef. 3-4 Feb 1815 (no-dower-release deed & family heir agreement form), in Marlboro/ugh Dist/Co SC.
(3) (Son Two) Younger Herndon (identified in father’s probate & mother/siblings’ powers-of-attorney), born 1785 (info via 1850 census age 65 born VA) in probably Charlotte Co VA; married twice, first to [unknown] Bef. 1804 in Marlboro/ugh Dist/Co SC or Stewart Co TN, second to Sarah Ann [unknown, possibly Wilson (acc to 1963 letter from G-grdau/grdau-in-law Maggie Lee Dawson Herndon md to 1st cousin Nickodemus Herndon); died Bef. 25 May 1859 in Trigg Co KY (acc to probate).
(4) (Daughter Two) Mary Herndon (identified by father’s probate & husband’s deed), born Abt. 1787 (Betw. 1785-1794) in probably Marlboro/ugh Dist/Co SC; married Bef. 4 Feb 1815 to John Breeden Jr.; died after 1830 in probably Stewart Co TN.
(5) (Daughter Three) [unidentified] Herndon (counted by father’s two censuses), born Abt. 1788 (Betw. 1785-1794) in probably Marlboro/ugh Dist/Co SC; died Aft. 1800 (Betw. 1800-4 Feb 1815), minimally age 12-15, in probably Marlboro/ugh Dist/Co SC.
(6) (Daughter Four) [unidentied] Herndon (counted by father’s two censuses), born Abt. 1790 (Betw. 1785-1794) in probably Marlboro/ugh Dist/Co SC or Halifax Co VA; died Aft. 1800 (Betw. 1800-4 Feb 1815), minimally age 10-15, in probably Marlboro/ugh Dist/Co SC.
(7) (Son Three) James Herndon (identified by father’s probate), born Abt. 1793 (Betw. 1791-1794) in probably Halifax Co VA; appears md on 1820 census to [unknown]; died Aft. 1830 in probably Marlboro/ugh Dist/Co SC.
(8) (Daughter Five) Lucinda Herndon (identified by father’s probate & own power of attorney via brother Younger, 1891 SAR app # 4434 & 1934 DAR app # 288090), born 17 Dec 1797 in Marlboro/ugh Dist/Co SC; married 15 Dec 1815 in Stewart Co TN to Thomas HalliBurton; died Betw. 1834-1838 in Humphreys Co TN.
(9) (Daughter Six) Margaret Herndon (identified by father’s probate & own power of attorney via brother Younger), born Abt. 1801 (Betw. 1801-1810) in Marlboro/ugh Dist/Co SC; married Bef. 21 Sep 1821 to Champion P. James; died Aft. 1830 in probably Stewart Co TN.
(10) (Daughter Seven) Frances Herndon (identified by father’s probate & own power of attorney via brother William), born Abt. 1805 (Betw. 1801-1810) in Marlboro/ugh Dist/Co SC; died Aft. 1818 in probably Stewart Co TN.
(11) (Daughter Eight) [unidentifed] Herndon (counted by father’s census), born Abt. 1805 (Betw. 1801-1810) in Marlboro/ugh Dist/Co SC; died Bef. 4 Feb 1815 (Betw. 1810-4 Feb 1815), maybe between ages 8-10, in probably Marlboro/ugh Dist/Co SC.
(12) (Son Four) David Herndon (identified by father’s probate & own power of attorney via brother Younger & mother’s deed of gift & successive census), born Abt. 1807-08 (Betw. 1805-1810) in probably Marlboro/ugh Dist/Co SC; died Aft. 1830 in probably Humphreys Co TN.
I pray in some future time, (with benefit of this foundational research I’ve been blessed to continue on the shoulders of others who’ve laid essential groundwork), that with the continuing aid of Heaven, and the indexing which enables an ever-increasing availabilty of previously unknown documents, that more will come to light to conclusively identify this family and all who belong to it. That is my sincere hope, and I ask blessings on all who are carefully working to aid this by methods of the Genealogical Proof Standard, because truth is what we are seeking so the family will be accurately represented.
AUTHOR: Rose H. Bonnell, family researcher, 3 September 2014.
PROVENANCE: This analysis with its original research conducted and compiled over decades was written by Rose Herndon Bonnell, 3 September 2014. (I posted it 3 Sep 2014 at http://www.Ancestry.com in a private member tree provided for me by family member “icnow” & which I renamed “Herndon Disambiguation”.)
CITATION: Research Analysis is Intellectual Property of Rose Herndon Bonnell, shared with permission.
WEBSITE PURPOSE: The above-cited current private member tree which was made for me at http://www.Ancestry.com by “icnow” is the one I renamed “Herndon Disambiguation” and requested blocked from public view while I add my documentation and make all necessary clarifications. Therefore it is unfortunately only a working tree at present, when it was my hope that it would be my proven documentary tree. It was originally built for me (such a blessing!), utilizing my original research, but unfortunately was expanded to include links made in “seems best”-fashion from trees which had zero documentation in generations so ancient they are yet uncertain, therefore it needs down-sizing & a ton of editing, including much unlinking, (which I’ve not yet been trained to do). It became so time-consuming, attempting the redo, that it took away from time better spent in posting my documentation, so I began another (temporarily private) Herndon (corrected) tree at Ancestry.com to include only my proven data so I could reliably release it to public status. Again, a huge project and I didn’t get very far on it. Since it is taking way too long, I decided to start this website to allow researchers to benefit now from what is actually documented proof with it’s chain of analysis so any future researchers can have a more firm foundation to ensure accuracy of our family tree as newly-indexed & previously-unknown documents become available! By Rose H. Bonnell, 14 January 2016.
Family Disambiguation Station 