Tangled Family in Frontier America — William Sutherland

B. before 1770 in Burke County, North Carolina¹
M. 1787 in (probably) Burke County, North Carolina²
Wife: Mary “Polly” Franklin
D. after June 1, 1830 in (probably) Indiana³

Those who followed a trail from the colonial South to the American Midwest, carving out farms in raw wilderness, often left few records along the way. Such was the case for William Sutherland who went from North Carolina to Indiana during the period 1790 to 1820. It takes detective work and DNA evidence to piece together some of his story.

William was believed to be the second oldest child of William Sutherland and Mary “Polly” Owen, born about 1769 in Burke County, North Carolina.¹ He was a young boy when his father went off to serve in the American Revolution,⁴ and he probably took on responsibilities on the farm by the time he was ten. There would be eight younger siblings in the family, with the youngest born in about 1792.⁵ William’s brother Fendall was about three years older, and they were likely close. The two brothers married sisters, Lydia and Mary “Polly” Franklin. The dates of both marriages are unknown, but William seems to have been about 18-years-old at the time of his wedding.²

The military service of William’s father would play an important factor in the lives of William and his siblings. As a veteran of the Revolution, William Sr. earned a considerable amount of bounty land.⁶ He shared the land with his sons, and this began a migration of the family into the west. In 1801, William Jr. appeared on a tax list in Lincoln County, Kentucky, living near the Green River.⁷ On the same record were his father and brother Fendall. While Fendall had 100 acres and 2 horses, William had only 50 acres and a single horse. 

A farm in Kentucky. (AI-generated image)

By now William had started a family of his own, but not all of the children are confirmed with written records. When William was still living in North Carolina, the 1800 census described his family as one boy age 10 to 15, one girl age 10 to 15, two boys under 10 and 1 girl under 10.⁸ These children are thought to be Isaac, Ervin, William, Jordan and Ann. During the next decade, William continued to live in Kentucky, gaining title to his Lincoln County farm upon the death of his father in 1803.⁹ It was said that William’s mother Mary came to live in his household “for many years.”¹⁰ In about 1808, he relocated to Adair County, Kentucky,¹¹ and the 1810 census showed that more children were added to the family: two boys under 10 (Jesse and possibly John) and one girl under 10 (possibly Mary).¹²

William was listed on Adair County tax lists through 1815, then disappeared from records, suggesting he left the region after that date. We pick up his trail in Orange County, Indiana on a voting list dated August 1819.¹³ The following year, he was listed in the 1820 census in Orange County with some new additions to his family: two girls and one boy, all under the age of ten.¹⁴ The boy is almost certainly Jackson Sutherlin, who was thought to be William’s youngest child (see here).

Two brothers of William — Fendall and George — had also moved to Indiana, and all three settled in Putnam County by the early 1820s.¹⁰ A land deed shows that William purchased 80 acres there on May 25, 1824.¹⁵ In his listing in the 1830 census in Putnam County, his household consisted of one man age 60 to 70 (himself), one girl age 15 to 20, and one boy age 10 to 15 (Jackson).³ William’s son Ervin lived next door with his wife, and on the other side of Ervin was William’s younger brother George. 

1830 U.S. Census showing William Sutherlin with his son and brother listed below him.

William’s wife Mary had likely died by the 1830 census. This was the last known record of William; other researchers have claimed he died in Marysville, Missouri in 1856, but this was a son of Fendall who was also named William.

How DNA Helps Identify William’s Family
I am a descendant of Jackson Sutherlin, and because I received a very large amount of his DNA, I was able to connect him to William because I have so many matches with the Franklin family (see my proof in Jackson Sutherlin’s biography.) The key piece of DNA evidence is a segment on chromosome 5 which I share with both Sutherland/Sutherlin and Franklin descendants. This segment is also shared by descendants of Ervin Sutherland, making them Franklin descendants as well, and firmly connecting Ervin to William Sutherland. Of William’s other listed children, Jesse, Mary and Ann seem fairly certain because of information passed down in their families, but I can’t use the same DNA proof with the segment on chromosome 5. The other names on the list come from a printed book that didn’t cite its sources.

Children (all except Ervin and Jackson are uncertain):
1. Isaac Sutherland — B. about 1788, (probably) Burke County, North Carolina⁵

2. Ann Sutherland — B. about 1795, (probably) Burke County, North Carolina;¹⁶ D. before 8 May 1823, (probably) Adair County, Kentucky;¹⁷ M. John H. Boyer (1795-1868), 4 Apr 1815, Adair County, Kentucky¹⁸

3. William Sutherland — B. about 1797, (probably) Burke County, North Carolina⁵

4. Ervin Sutherland — B. about 1798, (probably) Burke County, North Carolina;¹⁹ D. 10 Dec 1878, (probably) Polk County, Missouri;²⁰ M. Susannah Keith (~1806-?), 27 Nov 1821, Orange County, Indiana²¹

5. Jordan Sutherland — B. about 1799, (probably) Burke County, North Carolina;²² D. after 21 Aug 1850, (probably) Vermillion County, Illinois;²² M. Martha Patsy Bailey, 24 Aug 1831, Adair County, Kentucky²³

6. John Sutherland — B. about 1802, (probably) Lincoln County, Kentucky^5,14

7. Mary Sutherland — B. 28 Jan 1803, (probably) Lincoln County, Kentucky;²⁴ D. 24 Feb 1879, Morgan County, Illinois;²⁴ M. John H. Boyer (1795-1868), 8 May 1823, Adair County, Kentucky¹⁷

8. Jesse R. Sutherland — B. about 1805, (probably) Lincoln County, Kentucky;²⁵ D. before 1860, (probably) Polk County, Missouri;²⁶ M. Tabitha Wilson (~1805-?),18 Sep 1826, Putnam County, Indiana²⁷

9. [UNKNOWN FEMALE] Sutherlin — B. between 1810 and 1815, (probably) Adair County, Kentucky³

10. [UNKNOWN FEMALE] Sutherlin — B. between 1810 and 1820, (probably) Adair County, Kentucky¹⁴

11. Jackson Sutherlin — B. about 1815, (probably) Orange County, Indiana;³ D. before 22 Apr 1878, Merriam, Kansas;²⁸ M. Mary Fleming (1819-1907), 17 Jan 1838, Parke County, Indiana²⁹

Sources:
1    Birth year estimate based on ages of children
2    Marriage year based on the age of his children
3    1830 U.S. Census, Putnam County, Indiana
4    Pay roll of Capt. George B. Wallace’s company in the Virginia Regiment, 1 Jun 1777
5    Sutherlands and Their Tangled Branches, Robert J. Walsh, 1985
6    Land grant to William Sutherland, a private in the continental line of North Carolina, 20 May 1693
7    1801 personal property tax list of Lincoln County, Kentucky, FamilySearch.org
8    1800 U.S. Census, Burke County, North Carolina
9    Probate record of William Sutherland, Lincoln County, Kentucky, 22 Jan 1803, FamilySearch.org
10  “Pioneer Life of Fendel Sutherlin,” Anne Sutherlin Waite, Oregon Historical Quarterly, Vol. 31, No. 4, 1930, p. 372
11  Adair County, Kentucky Tax Books, 1802-1878, FamilySearch.org
12  1810 U.S. Census, Adair County, Kentucky
13  History of Orange County, Indiana, Orange County Genealogical Society, 1985
14  1820 U.S. Census, Orange County, Indiana
15  Land deed of William Sutherlin, United States, Patent Records, 1824, FamilySearch.org
16  Estimated birth year based on age at marriage.
17  Marriage record of John Boyer and Mary Sutherlin, Kentucky, U. S., County Marriage Records, 1783-1965, Ancestry.com
18  Marriage record of John Boyer and Ann Sutherlin, K., U. S., C. M. R.
19  Estimated birth year based on age at marriage and various census records.
20  Find-a-Grave listing of Ervin Sutherlin
21  Marriage record of Irvin Sutherlin and Susannah Keith, Indiana, U. S., Marriage Index, 1806-1861, Ancestry.com
22  1850 U.S. Census, Vermillion County, Illinois
23  Marriage record of Jordan Sutherland and Mary Patsy Bailey, Kentucky, Marriages, 1785-1979, FamilySearch.org.
24  Find-a-Grave listing of Mary Boyer
25  1850 U.S. Census, Polk County, Missouri
26  1860 U.S. Census, Polk County, Missouri showing Tabitha Sutherland as a widow
27  Marriage record of Jesse Sutherland and Tabitha Wilson, I., U.S., M. I.
28  “Death on the Rail: A Deaf Man Killed While Walking on a Railroad Track,” The Kansas Star, 11 Apr 1878
29  Marriage record of Jackson Sutherlin and Mary Fleming, Indiana Marriages, 1811-2007, FamilySearch.org

A Highborn Pedigree in Frontier America — Martha Strode

B. about 1697 in (probably) England or Netherlands¹
M. (probably) 1719 in Chester County, Pennsylvania²
Husband: Morgan Bryan
D. 29 Aug 1762 in Rowan County, North Carolina¹

Martha Strode and her husband Morgan Bryan each brought a lofty heritage to the American backwoods. And while some researchers doubt his pedigree is accurate, hers has been fully verified through records, although a few sketchy details remain.

Martha’s story begins with her parents Edward Strode and Joanna Hatchett having to leave England because he wouldn’t swear loyalty to King William.³ They fled to the continent where some of their children were born in France, and the youngest of these was Martha whose birth year was about 1697.¹ When she was still a baby, the family decided to settle in America, and boarded a ship bound for Philadelphia.³ Then both of Martha’s parents died — it isn’t clear from records if this happened at sea or shortly after landing.³ What is certain is that Martha and her three older brothers suddenly became orphans in a strange new place.

Who raised Martha and her brothers? Unfortunately, we don’t know. It’s believed that people took the children in, perhaps those who had traveled on the same ship. Martha seemed to have had a good upbringing, and was told about who her parents were. In 1719, Martha was said to have married her husband, Morgan Bryan.² He was much older than she was (born in 1671),² which would have made him about 47 when they married. Like Martha, Morgan was a high-born immigrant of English, Dutch and Irish descent, but was said to have been born in Denmark because his parents were in exile.² The couple made their home in Chester County and began a family;² by 1737, Martha gave birth to at least eight children. 

Raising a family on a colonial farm. (AI-generated image)

There were two times during her married life that Martha moved with her family to a more remote location. The first venture was in about 1730 when Morgan joined a group who bought a massive amount of land in Frederick County, Virginia.² For the next several years, the Bryan family lived a pioneer existence in the backwoods of Virginia, moving at least three times. Typically this meant building a log cabin each time they settled, where Martha kept house and looked after her children.

The second major move happened in 1748, and this time Martha’s family settled in the piedmont of North Carolina.² It’s been written in many places that Martha died in Virginia before they migrated south, but records and a grave stone have disproved this.² The 1748 trek was described as a “dangerous” route, where Morgan had to sometimes disassemble part of the wagon because the road was too narrow.² It took three months to reach their destination at the forks of the Yadkin River and the Bryans were said to be the first family to reach it.²

As he had done in Virginia, Morgan acquired as much land as he could, and the place where they lived was called Bryan’s Settlement.² Within a few years, other families moved into the area, including the father of Daniel Boone;⁴ Martha’s son William married Boone’s sister Mary, and in 1756, her granddaughter Rebecca married Boone himself.⁴

Martha died on August 29, 1762;¹ her husband Morgan survived her by a short time, dying in April 1763.⁵ Years later, Martha’s tombstone was uncovered by workers who were building a road. The stone is now in a museum in Rowan County, North Carolina. 

Martha’s gravestone on display. (Source: Find-a-Grave)

Because of Martha’s granddaughter, all descendants of Daniel Boone are also descendants of Martha; this includes Major League Baseball players Ray Boone, Bob Boone, Brett Boone and Aaron Boone.⁶

Children (many birth years are rough estimates):
1. Joseph Bryan — B. about 1720, Chester County, Pennsylvania;⁷ D. before Mar 1805, Jefferson County, Kentucky;⁷ M. (1) Hester ______ (~1720-1741), (probably) Virginia;⁷ (2) Aylee Linville (1722-1805), about 1741, Winchester, Virginia⁷

2. James Bryan — B. about 1723, Orange County, Virginia;⁸ D. 14 Aug 1807, St. Charles, Missouri;⁸ M. Rebecca Enochs (1732-1768), 1756, North Carolina⁸

3. Samuel Bryan — B. about 1726, Chester County, Pennsylvania;⁹ D. 1798, Rowan County, North Carolina;⁹ M. (1) Masmilla Simpson;⁹ (2) Elizabeth McMahan (1737-?), 1755, North Carolina⁹

4. Mary Bryan — B. about 1728, Chester County, Pennsylvania;¹⁰ D. 25 Feb 1742, Orange County, Virginia;¹⁰ M. Thomas Curtis, about 1740, Virginia¹⁰

5. Elenor Bryan — B. about 1729, Chester County, Pennsylvania;¹¹ D. 21 Oct 1792, Madison County, Kentucky;¹¹ M. William D. Linville (1710-1766), about 1745¹¹

6. Morgan Bryan — B. 20 May 1729, (probably) Chester County, Pennsylvania;² D. before 4 Jul 1804, Fayette County, Kentucky;¹² M. Mary Forbis (~1731-~1794), about 1747, Rowan County, North Carolina¹²

7. John Bryan — B. about 1730, (probably) Frederick County, Virginia;² D. before 5 Nov 1800, Rowan County, North Carolina;¹³ M. Sarah ______, about 1750, (probably) Rowan County, North Carolina¹³

8. William Bryan — B. 10 Mar 1734, (probably) Frederick County, Virginia;² D. 30 May 1780, Bryan’s Station, Kentucky;¹⁴ M. Mary Boone (1736-1819), 1755, Rowan County, North Carolina¹⁴

9. Thomas Bryan — B. about 1737, (probably) Frederick County, Virginia;¹⁵ D. about 1777, Kentucky;¹⁵ M. Sarah Hunt¹⁵

Sources:
1    Find-a-Grave listing of Martha (Strode) Bryan
2    Morgan Bryan (1671-1763) A Danish-born “Irish Immigrant” and some of his antecedents and descendants, David C. McMurtry, David R. Bryan and Kathryn H. Weiss, 2007
3    In Search of the Strode Orphans: The Ancestry of Edward Strode, Jeremiah Strode, Samuel Strode, and Martha (Strode) Bryan, David C. McMurtry, Michael L. Kallam and Kerry Ross O’Boran, 1998
4    The Boone Family: A Genealogical History of George and Mary Boone who Came to America in 1717, Hazel A. Spraker, 1974
5    Find-a-Grave listing of Morgan Bryan
6    Ray Boone (Wikipedia article)
7    WikiTree listing of Joseph Bryan Sr.
8    WikiTree listing of James Bryan
9    WikiTree listing of Samuel Bryan
10  WikiTree listing of Mary (Bryan) Curtis
11  WikiTree listing of Elenor (Bryan) Linville
12  WikiTree listing of Morgan Bryan Jr.
13  WikiTree listing of John Bryan
14  WikiTree listing of William Bryan
15  WikiTree listing of Thomas Bryan

Bounty Land and Migration West — William Sutherland

B. about 1742 in King William County, Virginia¹
M. about 1766 in (probably) Virginia²
Wife: Mary “Polly” Owen
D. after 22 Jun 1803, Lincoln County, Kentucky³

The story of William Sutherland was similar to many of his generation: serving as a soldier in the American Revolution led to the westward movement of his descendants. William was born in King William County, Virginia in about 1742,¹ and he was believed to be the oldest son of Fendall Sutherland (also spelled Southerland or Sutherlin) and his first wife, an unnamed daughter of John Chiles.⁴ The details of his childhood and siblings are sketchy because an 1885 courthouse fire destroyed nearly all of the records of King William County. William did seem to have at least two younger brothers, and three younger half-sisters.

At some point, William struck out on his own, settling in an area of Virginia which was near the present-day border with North Carolina.¹ He married a young woman named Mary “Polly” Owen in about 1766,² and they started a family which would include 10 known children. The Piedmont region where William lived as an adult was somewhat different from where he was born. This wasn’t the Virginia tidewater country with its rich soil that was ideal for growing tobacco. Instead, farms produced smaller crops — a mix of corn, wheat, and other vegetables, along with some tobacco. Unlike his father, William owned no slaves,⁵ so he worked his land himself. Many of his neighbors were of Scots-Irish or German descent, recent immigrants who had migrated into western North Carolina on the Great Wagon Road from Pennsylvania. 

Clearing the land in the North Carolina Piedmont. (AI-generated image)

There is evidence that William served in the American Revolution, and a muster roll dated June 1, 1777 under Captain George B. Wallace of Virginia lists a William Sutherlin.⁶ With a common first name, this may have been another William, but a gap in his children’s ages fits the narrative that he served as a soldier for a time (fifth child Susannah was born about 1776, and sixth child Owen, was born in about 1781).

Also supporting the fact that William served in the American Revolution is a land grant dated May 20, 1793.⁷ In lieu of money after the war, soldiers were offered large tracts of land in designated areas on the western frontier. This record stated that William was a private in the Continental Army, but that he was assigning the land for Captain Tillman Dixon, an officer who served in a North Carolina regiment. We know that William lived in North Carolina around this time because three years earlier he was listed in the 1790 U.S. Census in Burke County.⁸

The land granted to Dixon amounted to 640 acres near present-day Nashville, Tennessee, and William must have received something in return for it, because he seems to have purchased a large amount of land in Lincoln County, Kentucky. In 1801, a Lincoln County tax list described that William owned 350 acres and 5 horses.⁹ Sons William and Fendall were also listed, and youngest son George was implied to be in his household. 

1801 tax list of Lincoln County, Kentucky.

William didn’t live long in Kentucky, because on June 22, 1803, he made out his will.³ Already “weak of body,” he bequeathed his land to his sons, with Fendall receiving 150 acres, and the other three 50 acres each. William noted that sons William and Owen already lived on the land they were to receive. The will was likely proven within a short time, and Mary Sutherland was listed as a landowner in 1804,¹⁰ which almost certainly meant that William had died by that date.

The sons and daughters of William Sutherland continued a progress to the west. Three of his sons, plus youngest daughter Nancy, ended up in Putnam County, Indiana. William’s widow Mary went with them, dying in 1834 at the age of 88.¹¹ Later generations would settle in Missouri, Kansas, and other places to the west; grandson John Franklin Sutherlin would found the town of Sutherlin, Oregon.¹² You could say that it all traces to land acquired by William because of his service in the War of Independence, which began the flow of migration to the west.

Children:
1. Fendall Sutherlin — B. 25 Dec 1767, (probably) North Carolina;¹³ D. 19 Feb 1834, Putnam County, Indiana;¹³ M. Lydia Franklin (1774-1869)¹³

2. William Sutherland — B. about 1770, (probably) North Carolina;¹⁴ D. after 1 Jun 1830, (probably) Putnam County, Indiana;¹⁵ M. Mary “Polly” Franklin (~1770-?), about 1788, Lincoln County, Kentucky¹⁶ 

3. Bethany Sutherlin — about 1773, (probably) North Carolina;¹⁷ D. 1839, Jackson, Tennessee;¹⁷ M. James S. Hawkins (1764-1822), about 1791, North Carolina¹⁸

4. Millicent Sutherlin — about 1775, (probably) North Carolina;¹⁹ D. 10 May 1852, Bullitt County, Kentucky;¹⁹ M. Samuel Goldsmith (1776-1850)¹⁹

5. Susannah Sutherlin — about 1776, (probably) North Carolina;¹⁸ M. William Harper (1773-?), about 1798, Burke County, North Carolina¹⁸

6. Owen Sutherlin — about 1781, (probably) North Carolina;²⁰ D. 1858, Casey County, Kentucky;¹⁸ D. about 1866, Casey County, Kentucky; M. Mary Vandeveer (1785-1840), 22 Nov 1802, Lincoln County, Kentucky²¹

7. Mary “Polly” Sutherlin — about 1783, Burke County, North Carolina; D. 22 Oct 1810, Kentucky; M. Jonathan Jones (1782-1853), 7 Dec 1801, Lincoln County, Kentucky 

8. George W. Sutherlin — B. 1787, Burke County, North Carolina;²⁴ D. 1841, Jackson Township, Putnam County, Indiana;²⁴ M. Elizabeth Miller (1790-1877), 1806, Kentucky²⁴

9. Nancy Sutherlin — 2 Jun 1784, Burke County, North Carolina;²⁵ D. 23 Apr 1831, Orange County, Indiana;²⁵ M. Jonathan Jones (1782-1853), 27 Jun 1811, Casey County, Kentucky²⁵

10. Jenny or Jane Sutherlin — about 1781, Burke County, North Carolina;²⁵ M. Claiborne Harris, after 1810, (probably) Kentucky²⁵

Sources:
1    Sutherlands and Their Tangled Branches, Robert J. Walsh, 1985, p. 23
2    Sutherlands and Their Tangled Branches, p. 29
3    Probate record of William Sutherland, Lincoln County, Kentucky, 22 Jan 1803, FamilySearch.org
4    There are strong indicators that William’s father was somehow connected to the Chiles family of Virginia. In March 1763, Fendall Sutherland was administrator of the estate of Walter Chiles, and the name Chiles also turned up on two land sales involving Fendall. Many have assumed that Chiles was the maiden name of Fendall’s first wife, but elsewhere there is a document that John Chiles (~1666-~1723) had two daughters, one of whom married a man named Sutherland, and the age of John Chiles suggests the mystery groom was Joseph Sutherland, not Fendall. John Chiles was the father of the Walter Chiles of the 1763 record, and Fendall would therefore be Walter’s nephew, the sort of relation for an estate administrator (Walter had no children of his own).
5    Tax lists of Lincoln County, Kentucky, 1792-1803, FamilySearch.org
6    Pay roll of Capt. George B. Wallace’s company in the Virginia Regiment, 1 Jun 1777
7    Land grant to William Sutherland, a private in the continental line of North Carolina, 20 May 1693
8    1790 U.S. Census, Burke County, North Carolina
9    1801 personal property tax list of Lincoln County, Kentucky, FamilySearch.org
10  1804 personal property tax list of Lincoln County, Kentucky, FamilySearch.org
11  Find-a-Grave listing of Mary “Polly” (Owen) Sutherlin
12  Find-a-Grave listing of John Franklin Sutherlin
13  Find-a-Grave listing of Fendel Sutherlin
14  William Sutherlin’s birth year estimate based on ages of his children
15  1830 U.S. Census, Putnam County, Indiana
16  William’s marriage year estimate based on ages of his children
17  Find-a-Grave listing of Bethernia “Thenie” (Sutherland) Hawkins
18  Sutherlands and Their Tangled Branches, p. 31
19  Find-a-Grave listing of Millicent “Milly” (Sutherland) Goldsmith
20  1850 U.S. Census, Casey County, Kentucky
21  Marriage record of Owen Sutherland and Mary Vandeveer, Kentucky, U.S., Compiled Marriages, 1802-1850, Ancestry.com
22  Sutherlands and Their Tangled Branches, p. 32
23  Marriage record of Jonathan Jones and Mary Southerland, Kentucky, U.S., Compiled Marraiges, 1802-1850, Ancestry.com
24  Find-a-Grave listing of George W. Suthelin
25  Sutherlands and Their Tangled Branches, p. 33

Sisters Marrying Brothers — Mary “Polly” Franklin

B.about 1770 in Burke County, North Carolina¹
M. about 1788 in (probably) Burke County, North Carolina²
Husband: William Sutherland
D. before June 1, 1830 in (probably) Indiana³

There was a time in early America when it was common for a pair of siblings to marry another pair of siblings. This was the case for members of the Sutherland and Franklin families of Burke County, North Carolina, and one member of this quartet was Mary “Polly” Franklin.

Polly was born to John and Phoebe Franklin in about 1770, the fifth of their eleven children.¹ Her father was originally from New England and had wound up in the South after serving under George Washington in the French and Indian War.⁴ Burke County was located in the far western part of North Carolina and the family almost certainly lived in a log cabin. Growing up, Polly was likely close with her older sister Jemima and younger sister Lydia as the three girls learned the domestic skills they would need to live on the frontier.

When Polly was still a teen, she married William Sutherland,² a young man from Burke County. They started a family right away with their oldest son born before 1790.^2,5 They would have at least ten children, although not all of their names are known. Polly and William were a couple of years into married life when Polly’s sister Lydia married William’s older brother Fendall.² Had Polly been a matchmaker? Perhaps, but we have no way of knowing. It’s just as likely that in a tight community in such a rural area, everyone knew everyone else socially. With few ways to get around, available mates had to be chosen from those nearby.

A log cabin during the early 1800s.

Through the 1790s, Polly and William remained in Burke County and were enumerated there in the 1800 census.⁶ But shortly thereafter, they picked up and moved across the Appalachians into Kentucky. This was seemingly generated by Polly’s father-in-law, who had served in the American Revolution and appears to have been awarded bounty land.² Of Polly’s family, only Lydia joined this westward migration by virtue of being married to Fendall Sutherland; the rest of the Franklins stayed in North Carolina for another generation or two.⁷

For the first couple of years in Kentucky, Polly and William lived next to Fendall and Lydia, as well as William and Fendall’s parents.⁸ Their father passed away in 1803,² and this seems to have split the Sutherland couples apart somewhat. While Lydia’s husband remained on the tax lists in Lincoln County, Polly’s family wasn’t named, and they next turned up in 1808 in Adair County.⁹ Polly and William were said to have taken in his widowed mother for a time,¹⁰ then a few years later, perhaps around 1815, both of the Sutherland couples left for a place further west: Indiana.²

There’s evidence that the families of Polly and Lydia remained closely tied; both of their husbands appeared on a voters list in August 1819 in Orange County, Indiana.¹¹ This was a newly settled area mostly populated with people who took the same migration route as the Sutherlands. Around this time, Polly’s father died back in North Carolina, and in his will, he left her the sum of two dollars and fifty cents.¹² This was a typical inheritance for daughters in large Southern families because the sons were usually the ones given their father’s land.

Polly’s youngest child was born in about 1815,^13,14 likely in Orange County, but unfortunately, she would not live to see him grow up because she passed away between the 1820 and 1830 censuses.^13,14 The family moved to another county, Putnam, but it isn’t certain if Polly died before or after the move. William was last known to be alive on the 1830 census,¹⁴ and died sometime during that decade. As for Polly's sister Lydia, she lived to the ripe old age of 95, dying in Putnam County on September 18, 1869.²

Children (all except Ervin and Jackson are uncertain):
1. Isaac Sutherland — B. about 1788, (probably) Burke County, North Carolina^2,5

2. Ann Sutherland — B. about 1795, (probably) Burke County, North Carolina;¹⁵ D. before 8 May 1823, (probably) Adair County, Kentucky;¹⁶ M. John H. Boyer (1795-1868), 4 Apr 1815, Adair County, Kentucky¹⁷

3. William Sutherland — B. about 1797, (probably) Burke County, North Carolina^2,6

4. Ervin Sutherland — B. about 1798, (probably) Burke County, North Carolina;¹⁸ D. 10 Dec 1878, (probably) Aldrich county, Missouri;¹⁸ M. Susannah Keith (~1806-?), 27 Nov 1821, Orange County, Indiana¹⁹

5. Jordan Sutherland — B. about 1799, (probably) Burke County, North Carolina;²⁰ D. after 21 Dec 1850, (probably) Vermillion County, Illinois;²⁰ M. Martha Patsy Bailey, 24 Aug 1831, Adair County, Kentucky²¹

6. John Sutherland — B. about 1802, (probably) Lincoln County, Kentucky^2,13

7. Mary Sutherland — B. 28 Jan 1803, (probably) Lincoln County, Kentucky;²² D. 24 Feb 1879, Morgan County, Illinois;²² M. John H. Boyer (1795-1868), 8 May 1823, Adair County, Kentucky¹⁶

7. Jesse R. Sutherland — B. about 1805, (probably) Lincoln County, Kentucky;²³ D. before 1860, (probably) Polk County, Missouri;²⁴ M. Tabitha Wilson (~1805-?),18 Sep 1826, Putnam County, Indiana²⁵

8. [UNKNOWN FEMALE] Sutherlin — B. between 1810 and 1815, (probably) Adair County, Kentucky¹⁴

9. [UNKNOWN FEMALE] Sutherlin — B. between 1810 and 1820, (probably) Adair County, Kentucky¹⁵

10. Jackson Sutherlin — B. about 1815, (probably) Orange County, Indiana;¹⁴ D. before 22 Apr 1878, Merriam, Kansas;²⁶ M. Mary Fleming (1819-1907), 17 Jan 1838, Parke County, Indiana²⁷

Sources:
1    Polly Franklin’s estimated birth year based on date of her marriage
2    Sutherlands and Their Tangled Branches, Robert J. Walsh, 1985, p. 23-31
3    William Sutherland’s household in the 1820 U.S. census had a woman of Polly’s age, but the 1830 U.S. Census did not.
4    John Franklin: An American Hero And His Progeny, Dorsey Wayne Franklin, 1987
5    1790 U.S. Census, Burke County, North Carolina
6    1800 U.S. Census, Burke County, North Carolina
7    “A Mystery Story: The Case of the Origins of John Franklin, Sr. (1729-1819) of Burke County, North Carolina,” Mary Sue Mathys and Dorsey W. Franklin, Franklin Family Researchers United, Vol. 6, April 1993
8    Lincoln County, Kentucky, Tax books, 1787-1875, FamilySearch.org
9    Adair County, Kentucky Tax Books, 1802-1878, FamilySearch.org
10  “Pioneer Life of Fendel Sutherlin,” Anne Sutherlin Waite, Oregon Historical Quarterly, Vol. 31. No. 4, 1930, P. 372
11  History of Lawrence, Orange and Washington Counties, Indiana, Higginson Book Company, 1884, p. 383
12  John Franklin’s will, North Carolina Probate Records, 1735-1970, FamilySearch.org
13  1820 U.S. Census, Orange County, Indiana
14  1830 U.S Census, Putnam County, Indiana
15  Ann Sutherland’s estimated birth year based on date of her marriage
16  Marriage record of John Boyer and Polly Sutherland, Kentucky, Marriages, 1785-1979, FamilySearch.org
17  Marriage record of John Boyer and Ann Sutherland, K., M.
18  Find-a-Grave listing of Ervin Sutherland 
19  Marriage record of Ervin Sutherland and Susannah Keith, Indiana, U.S., Marriage Index, 1806-1861, Ancestry.com
20  1850 U.S. Census, Vermillion County, Illinois
21  Marriage record of Jordan Sutherland and Mary Patsy Bailey, K., M.
22  Find-a-Grave listing of Mary Boyer  
23  1850 U.S. Census, Polk County, Missouri
24  1860 U.S. Census, Polk County, Missouri showing Tabitha Sutherland as a widow
25  Marriage record of Jesse Sutherland and Tabitha Wilson, I., U.S., M. I.
26  “Death on the Rail: A Deaf Man Killed While Walking on a Railroad Track,” The Kansas Star, 11 Apr 1878
27  Marriage record of Jackson Sutherlin and Mary Fleming, Indiana Marriages, 1811-2007, FamilySearch.org

The Long Life of a Tobacco Farmer — John Robey

B. about 1714 in Charles County, Maryland¹
M. about 1735 in Charles County, Maryland¹
Wife: Mary ________
D. before 23 Jul 1808 in (probably) Lincoln County, North Carolina²

During much of the 18th century, John Robey made a living growing tobacco in the region around the Potomac River. John was born in about 1714 in Charles County, Maryland,¹ the peninsula south of present-day Washington, DC. His father was also named John, as was his grandfather who had come over from England in the mid-1600s.¹ The Robey family was numerous in Charles County, and it’s challenging to accurately piece them together due to a lack of vital records. John’s mother may have been named Sarah Berry, but this isn't proven.

Map of colonial Maryland showing Charles and Prince George's Counties.

What is known about John is that his early years, and into his middle-age, were spent on small tobacco plantations. The climate and geography of southern Maryland was ideally suited for growing the crop, and it was the reason most people settled there. The peninsula where John lived had natural irrigation from many small streams, which along with rich soil, made the land perfect for growing tobacco. It's likely that John got married during the early 1730s, and his wife was only known by the first name Mary.¹ They had at least eight children, the youngest being born in 1763.³

On November 12, 1750, John purchased an 84-acre plantation in Charles County for the price of 5,000 pounds of tobacco.¹ Most plantations in Maryland were given names to identify them, and this was a section of a larger one called “Three Brothers.” Later, another record dated April 1764 showed he bought more land adjoining the earlier purchase, and this was called “Roby’s Help.”¹ Two years later, John’s name appeared in another transaction, this time a lease for a tract called “Partnership,” located near a place called “Zachiah Manor.”¹ The document showed he would gain possession of 150 acres on Christmas Day of 1766, and that the rent for it was 850 pounds of tobacco per year. In the terms of the deal, he was forbidden from cutting trees for wood. He kept this land until September of 1774.¹

Typical tobacco farm in Maryland.

After that, John seems to have moved to an adjacent county. A census was taken in Maryland in the summer of 1776 which showed him living in Prince George’s County along with wife Mary and eight others ranging in age from 6 to 23.⁴ In February 1778, his name was on a list of men who took the oath of allegiance in support of the Americans declaring independence.⁵ It’s believed that John continued to live in Prince George’s County until the early 1790s, when in his old age, he joined younger family members in moving to Iredell County, North Carolina.³

By the end of his life, John’s wife had died and he was living in the care of his children. All three of his sons had farms there, and it’s likely he lived with one of them. A grandson, Robey Tucker, may have taken him into his household for a time, and John wrote a will dated February 1, 1804 bequeathing Robey’s wife Rachel five pounds for presumably caring for him.² John lived another four years, dying in early 1808 at the age of about 94.²

Among John’s descendants is Vice President Dan Quayle’s wife Marilyn Tucker.

Children:
1. Mary Robey — B. about 1736, Charles County, Maryland;³ D. before 1 Feb 1804;² M. (maybe) Thomas Tucker³

2. Leonard Robey — B. about 1738, Charles County, Maryland;¹ D. 1815, Iredell County, Maryland;³ M. Emma Wedding (~1735-?), 1770, Charles County, Maryland³

3. Esther Robey — B. about 1740, Charles County, Maryland;¹ D. before 1 Feb 1804;² M. ______ Tucker²

4. Berry Robey — B. 1742, Charles County, Maryland;³ D. 1820, Iredell County, North Carolina⁶

5. Tobias Robey — B. about 1745, Charles County, Maryland;³ D. before 12 Nov 1802, Iredell County, North Carolina³

6. Basil Robey — B. Charles County, Maryland³

7. Elizabeth Robey — B. Charles County, Maryland;⁶ M. _______ Barel⁶

8. Edith Robey — B. about 1762, Charles County, Maryland;⁶ D. before 1 Feb 1804;² M. John Smith, 18 Jan 1778, Rowan County, North Carolina⁶

9. Millie Robey — B. 6 Jan 1763, Charles County, Maryland;³ D. 25 Apr 1844, Giles County, Tennessee;³ M. Jeremiah Parker (1766-1841)⁶ 

Sources:
1    Early Colonial Settlers of Southern Maryland and Virginia’s Northern Neck Counties (website)  
2    North Carolina Probate Records, 1735-1970, FamilySearch.org
3    Robey/Roby/Robie: the family history from early England to America, William Grafton Robey Jr., 1994
4    Maryland Records: Colonial, Revolutionary, County and Church from Original Sources, Vol. 1, Gaius Marcus Brumbaugh, 1915
5    Maryland Indexes, Oaths of Fidelity, 1778, Maryland State Archives
6    "Families of Mary Elizabeth Polly Parker McConnell," Christian County, Missouri Genealogy (website) 

From the Potomac to the Piedmont — Robey Tucker

B. about 1753 in Prince George’s County, Maryland¹
M. (1) before Aug 1776 in (probably) Prince George’s County, Maryland¹
Wife: Hester ______
M. (2) before 1800 in (probably) Iredell County, North Carolina²
Wife: Rachel ______
D. after 14 Nov 1837 in (probably) Iredell County, North Carolina²

Robey Tucker was part of a migration of poor tobacco planters from Maryland who moved to the backwoods of North Carolina during the late 18th century. His origins are not well-documented; some sources indicate that his parents were Thomas Tucker and Mary Robey, but there doesn't seem to be hard evidence of this. His father may have had a different first name, and his mother could have been Esther instead of Mary. Either way, Robey was born in about 1753.¹

The place where Robey was born and grew up was Prince George’s County, Maryland, a rural area where the only crop was tobacco. Most of the population were descendants of English settlers who arrived in the colony during the 17th century. Robey likely did much of the farm labor as he grew up. Through land records, it’s possible to identify the general location of where the family lived, an area which was irrigated by one of the many creeks flowing into the Port Tobacco River.

Helping his father harvest tobacco. (AI-generated image)

Robey first turned up in records as a married man at age 23. A census was taken in Maryland in August of 1776 to assess the collection of taxes for supporting the Continental Congress. Some of the records are remarkably detailed, listing names and ages for everyone in each household. Robey’s wife was named Hester, also age 23, but in the absence of any marriage record, her maiden name is unknown. Their farm was the only one with just two people.¹ Nearby were John and Drusilla Tucker, ages 74 and 64, and John and Mary Robey, ages 62 and 55.¹ The Robeys were his grandparents, and the Tuckers were likely his close relatives.

Robey was a young man during the American Revolution, but there's no evidence that he ever volunteered as a soldier. He did swear his allegiance to the cause on February 23, 1778;³ nearly all of the men in Maryland did the same. Perhaps one reason Robey didn’t join the service was that he had started a family in 1777 with the birth of a son.⁴ He had seven children with Hester, mostly boys, with the youngest child born in about 1789.

Robey's name on list of men who signed 1778 oath of allegiance.

About 1790, Robey left the tobacco country of Maryland for the piedmont of North Carolina. The motivation was probably to find cheaper land, and there was plenty available in the backwoods of the Carolinas. The 1790 census showed that Robey lived in Iredell County with his wife and eight children, all unnamed in the listing.⁵ Other members of his family migrated to Iredell around the same time or earlier, including Robey’s uncle, Leonard Robey, and his grandfather, John Robey.

Sometime during the 1790s, Robey’s wife Hester passed away, and he remarried a woman only known as Rachel.² She was likely much younger and provided him five children who were born between 1803 and about 1810, when Robey was nearly 60-years-old. Robey and Rachel spent over two years as caretakers for his elderly grandfather, and when the old man made out his will, he left Rachel a small bequest.⁶ After the will was probated in 1808, Robey was paid £30 for the work he had done, of which £10 was for “trouble and expense of his last sickness and death.” The receipt for the payment shows Robey’s only known signature.⁶

Robey's signature in 1808.

Robey was shown to be living in Iredell County at least until 1820. In each of the census years 1800, 1810 and 1820 he was listed as a head of household with descriptions of dependents corresponding to his wife and known children.⁷ At no time did he own any slaves, which he likely couldn’t afford. Robey made out his will on November 14, 1837;² at age 84, he was “weak in body” and signed his name with a shaky “X,” suggesting that he had some disability. The document is very brief and mentions only one of his children, Robey, to whom he left his entire estate. This was likely because Robey was the only one who still lived in North Carolina, since most of the others are known to have moved to Kentucky or Illinois.

Robey's mark on his 1837 will.

The will was probated in February 1842, so Robey died by that date. It isn’t known if Rachel survived him. His descendants scattered across the U.S. continuing the migration of the family to the west. One of his descendants was Marilyn Tucker, the wife of Vice President Dan Quayle.⁸

Children by Hester:
1. John B. Tucker — B. 25 Sep 1777, (probably) Prince George’s County, Maryland;⁴ D. 30 Dec 1846, (probably) Washington County, Indiana;⁴ M. Mary Campbell (1781-1853), after 9 Nov 1797, Iredell County, North Carolina⁴

2. (possibly) Zachariah Tucker — B. about 1782, (probably) Prince George’s County, Maryland; D: 2 Oct 1857, (probably) Kentucky; M. Levina Jarboe, after 27 Jun 1812, Washington County, Kentucky⁹

3. (possibly) Freeman Tucker — B. about 1779, (probably) Prince George’s County, Maryland; D. 15 Feb 1850, Tazewell County, Illinois; M. Esther Fitzgerald

4. Absalom Tucker — B. about 1783, (probably) Prince George’s County, Maryland;¹⁰ D. 1849, Washington County, Kentucky¹⁰

5. (possibly) Thomas Tucker — B. about 1785, (probably) Prince George’s County, Maryland;¹¹ D. 28 Jun 1859;¹¹ M. Rachel Kendrick, 3 Aug 1815, Washington County, Kentucky¹²

6. Benjamin Tucker — B. about 1787, (probably) Prince George’s County, Maryland;¹³ D. 1848, Nelson County, Kentucky;¹³ M. Elizabeth Livers, 26 Jan 1823, Nelson County Kentucky¹⁴

7. (possibly) Mary Tucker — B. about 1789, (probably) Prince George’s County, Maryland;¹⁵ D. about 1852;¹⁵ M. Samuel Turner¹⁵

Children by Rachel:
1. Esther J. Tucker — B. 20 Apr 1803, (probably) Iredell County, North Carolina;¹⁶ D. 27 Feb 1883, Waverly, Illinois;¹⁶ M. Joseph Luckey (?-~1840), before 1829¹⁷

2. Samuel S. Tucker — B. 20 Nov 1805, (probably) Iredell County, North Carolina;¹⁸ D. 22 Dec 1891, Hat Creek, California;¹⁸ M. Nancy Ann Allison (~1803-1875), 1825, Iredell County, North Carolina¹⁸

3. (possibly) Elizabeth Tucker — B. about 1807, (probably) Iredell County, North Carolina

4. Robey Tucker — B. 8 Sep 1808, (probably) Iredell County, North Carolina;¹⁹ D. before 7 Dec 1885, (probably) Iredell County, North Carolina;²⁰ M. Rachel Mason (1832-1914), 11 Jan 1853, Iredell County, North Carolina¹⁹

5. Randolph J. Tucker — B. 1810, (probably) Iredell County, North Carolina;²¹ D. 1892, Illinois;²¹ M. (1) Henrietta Jones (1813-1868), before 1837, (probably) Iredell County, North Carolina;²¹ (2) Sarah Mahala Stroud (~1832-?), after 1868, (probably) Illinois²¹

Sources:
1    Prince George’s County, St. John’s and Prince George Parishes Maryland State Census, 1776
2    Will of Robey Tucker, 14 Nov 1837, North Carolina Probate Records, 1735-1970, FamilySearch.org
3    Maryland Records: Colonial, Revolutionary, County and Church from Original Sources, Vol. 1, Gaius Marcus Brumbaugh, 1915
4    Find-a-Grave listing for John B. Tucker  
5    1790 U.S. Census
6    Will of John Robey, 1 Feb 1804, N.C.P.R.
7    1800, 1810 and 1820 U.S. Censuses
8    Political Family Tree (PDF) 
9    Marriage record of Zachariah Tucker and Lovina Jarboe, Kentucky County Marriages, 1797-1954, FamilySearch.org
10  Find-a-Grave listing for Absalom Tucker
11  Estimated birth and death of Thomas Tucker from family tree listing on FamilySearch.org 
12  Marriage record of Thomas Tucker and Rachel Kendrick, Kentucky County Marriages, 1797-1954, FamilySearch.org
13  Estimated birth and death of Benjamin Tucker from family tree listing on FamilySearch.org 
14  Marriage record of Benjamin Tucker and Elizabeth Livers, Kentucky County Marriages, 1797-1954, FamilySearch.org
15  Estimated birth, marriage and death of Mary Tucker from family tree listing on FamilySearch.org  
16  Death record of Esther J. Luckey, Morgan County, Illinois
17  Find-a-Grave listing for Esther J. Luckey
18  Find-a-Grave listing for Samuel S. Tucker
19  Find-a-Grave listing for Robey Tucker (younger)
20  Probate file card for Roby Tucker, North Carolina Estate Files, 1663-1979, FamilySearch.org
21  Find-a-Grave listing for Randolph J. Tucker

Piecing the Life of a Midwestern Farmer — Joseph Luckey

B. about 1795 in (probably) Rowan County, North Carolina¹
M. before 1829²
Wife: Esther J. Tucker
D. after Mar 1841 in (probably) Jersey County, Illinois³

No document survives that identifies the vital events of Joseph Luckey’s life, but from various sources, it’s possible to get a sense of him. He was born during the 1790s¹ to unknown parents, probably in Rowan County, North Carolina. That area had a large, extended family all descended from a common ancestor named Robert Luckey. This progenitor was from Northern Ireland, having migrated to Pennsylvania in around 1720, and by mid-century, several of his sons wound up in North Carolina. By estimating ages, Robert was likely Joseph’s great-grandfather, and by using other facts, a speculative pedigree emerges (see below).

Since Joseph wasn’t named in any probate records of a potential father, his family was likely poor, and his later migration west helps confirm this. Sometime during the 1820s, he married a young woman named Esther Tucker,² who was from Iredell County, North Carolina. The record of their wedding is lost, but it probably wasn't in Rowan County, where marriage records are fairly complete for that time. A daughter was born in Tennessee in about 1829,⁴ although we don’t know if the family actually lived there — they may have been just passing through.

On the road to Missouri. (AI-generated image)

One of the few documents that shows Joseph during his lifetime was the 1830 census, and it’s unfortunately sketchy. That year, he was listed in St. Charles County, Missouri, which was located on the Mississippi River.⁵ St. Charles was the western frontier where Daniel Boone had died ten years earlier, but by 1830, the population had grown to over 4,000 settlers. Besides Joseph, the household consisted of his wife Esther and daughter Ellen, although the census didn't list them by name. During the next two years, two more children were born, then by 1835, the family crossed back to the east side of the Mississippi and settled in Illinois.⁶

The record that establishes Joseph in Greene County, Illinois was for a purchase of federal land on December 2, 1837.⁷ The government sold undeveloped land at a low price, and in this way, Joseph was able to purchase the land for a farm. In February 1839, he sold off 42 acres in return for $53.⁸ After the land he originally bought was paid for in full, a deed was issued dated January 1, 1840 for the remaining 84 acres.⁹ While living on this property, Joseph became a father twice more with the youngest child born January 7, 1842.¹⁰ By this time, the area had been split off to form a new county named Jersey.

Joseph Luckey land deed (Source: Ancestry.com)

After the land deed, there is no further record of Joseph being alive. His family was listed without him in the 1850 census, where the personal wealth of his widow Esther was shown to be only $100.¹¹ There are a pair of deeds showing the sale of Joseph’s homestead in 1864.¹² The owners of the land were his six children; the acreage was divided into two parts so that three owners could be named on each document. Joseph’s wife Esther survived him by many years, and died in 1883.¹³

The speculative family of Joseph Luckey
In my effort to identify the parents of Joseph Luckey, I noticed there were other people who had the exact same migration from Rowan County to St. Charles County, Missouri in 1829. One family was headed by John and Jane Davis, and Jane’s maiden name was Luckey.¹⁴ Another was a single man named James McGuire, and his mother’s maiden name was also Luckey.¹⁴ By 1835, all ended up in Greene County, Illinois (later called Jersey County) where they lived for the rest of their lives.¹⁴

Joseph Luckey, Jane Davis and James McGuire were each born in the 1790s, and it seemed likely that these three people were closely related. I’m proposing that Joseph and Jane were brother and sister, and that James was their first cousin. The significant thing is that James has a traceable pedigree: his mother was the daughter of Samuel Luckey (1733-1804), who was the son of immigrant ancestor Robert Luckey. From Samuel’s probate records we can see that he had two sons, Samuel and John,¹⁵ either of whom could be the father of Joseph and/or Jane.

The lack of records still creates a roadblock in definitively proving this. But I do feel that Joseph must be a descendant of Robert Luckey, and so I am making that claim.

Possible family of Joseph Luckey. (Joseph and Jane may not have the same father, making them first cousins instead.)

Children:
1. Ellen Ann Luckey — B. 1829, Tennessee;⁴ D. 1882, Labette County, Kansas;¹⁶ M. John Ross (1829-?), 3 Apr 1850, Jerseyville, Illinois¹⁷

2. Samuel Luckey — B. 7 Jan 1830, (probably) St. Charles County, Missouri;¹⁸ D. 8 Mar 1884, Labette County, Kansas;¹⁸ M. Mary Jane Davis (1834-1927), 7 Apr 1853, Jerseyville, Illinois¹⁹

3. Rachel E. Luckey — B. 10 Nov 1832, (probably) St. Charles County, Missouri;²⁰ D. 23 Apr 1883, Morgan County, Illinois;²⁰ M. Aaron B. Devore (1822-1884), 26 Feb 1861, Sangamon County, Illinois²¹

4. Joseph Luckey — B. 15 May 1835, (probably) Greene County, Illinois;²² D. 20 Jan 1916, Jersey County, Illinois;²² M. Edith Catherine Davis (1838-1913), 12 Jan 1865, Jersey County, Illinois²³

5. John Luckey — B. about 1839, (probably) Jersey County, Illinois;²⁴ D. after 22 Dec 1864¹²

6. Mary Jane Luckey — B. 7 Jan 1842, Jersey County, Illinois;⁹ D. 15 Jan 1908, Belvidere, Nebraska;⁹ M. (1) John Stanfield (about 1838-?), 1 Mar 1863, Sangamon County, Illinois;²⁵ (2) Charles N. Lovercheck (1847-1927), 3 Feb 1870, Sangamon County, Illinois²⁶

Sources:
1    Estimated birth year of Joseph Luckey based on his 1830 U.S. Census listing
2    Estimated marriage year based on approximate age of Joseph Luckey’s oldest child in census records and on Find-A-Grave
3    Estimated death date of Joseph Luckey based on birth date of his youngest child, counting back 9 months
4    1870 U.S. Census listing for Ellen Ann Ross
5    1830 U.S. Census listing for Joseph Luckey
6    Based on birthplace and birth year of Rachel Luckey on her 1850 U.S. Census listing
7    Jersey County Early Land Records, Jersey County IL GenWeb  
8    Deed of sale of Joseph and Ester Luckey to Gregg McDaniel, 15 Feb 1739, Greene County, Illinois, FamilySearch.org

9    1840 Jersey County, Illinois land grant for Joseph Luckey
10   Find-a-Grave listing for Mary Jane Lovercheck  
11  1850 Census listing for Esther Luckey 

12  Deeds of sale of Joseph Luckey’s land, Jersey, Illinois Deeds, 1864-1866, FamilySearch.org
13  Find-a-Grave listing for Esther Luckey 

14  Atlas of Jersey County, Illinois, 1872

15  Probate records of Samuel Luckey, Rowan County, North Carolina, 1804

16  Find-a-Grave listing for Ellen A. Ross  
17  Marriage record of John Ross and Ellen Ann Luckey, Illinois Marriages, 1815-1935, FamilySearch.org
18  Find-a-Grave listing for Samuel Luckey  
19  Marriage record of Samuel Luckey and Mary Jane Davis, Illinois Marriages, 1815-1935, FamilySearch.org
20  Find-a-Grave listing for Rachel Elizabeth Devore  
21  Marriage record of Aaron B. Devore and Rachel E. Luckey, Illinois Marriages, 1815-1935, FamilySearch.org
22  Find-a-Grave listing for Joseph Luckey  
23  Marriage record of Joseph Luckey and Edith Davis, Illinois Marriages, 1815-1935, FamilySearch.org 24  1850 Census listing for John Luckey
25  Marriage record of John Stanfield and Mary Jane Luckey, Illinois Marriages, 1815-1935, FamilySearch.org
26  Marriage record of Charles N. Lovercheck and Mary Jane Stanfield, Illinois Marriages, 1815-1935, FamilySearch.org