I am searching for the family of Mathew Cummin(g)s both ancestors and descendants. Mathew Cummings, Jr. was born July 6, 1777, in Halifax County, VA. He was the son of Mathew Cummin(g)s, Sr. and Elizabeth Vance (?). Although the exact date and place of the birth of Mathew Cummings, Sr. have not been documented, most people list his date of birth about 1750 and the location of his birth as Halifax County, Virginia or Pennsylvania. Some people believe he was born and lived in Pennsylvania until he was a young man. It is also believed that he married in Pennsylvania. Some others feel that he was born in Halifax County, Virginia. Mathew, Sr. joined the American Army and fought in the Revolutionary War. In the mid 1780's Mathew, Sr., along with his family, settled in Anderson County, KY, and was one of the early settlers there. It is believed that Mathew, Jr. moved along with other members of their family to Owen County, Indiana, sometime after 1830. It would not have been any earlier than that as most estimates of the date and place of the birth of the brothers and sisters of Mathew, Jr. indicate they were born in Virginia or Kentucky. Mathew, Jr. was first married to Martha Askren (possibly the daughter of John Askren) in Washington County, KY, December 26, 1809. Sometime while their daughter, Elizabeth, was yet just a baby, and before 1831, Martha Askren Cummings died, leaving Mathew, Jr. with several minor children. Apparently Martha's children stood in line for some inheritance which came from her family which was still in Kentucky. Court Records from Owen County provide Guardianship papers which name the oldest son, William as guardian, at least of Sanford. It is not clear why the son was appointed guardian and not the father of the children. On March 2, 1837, Mathew, Jr. married for the second time, taking as his bride, Anna Christeena Hauser. Five more children were born of this marriage. Mathew, Jr. died, October 8, 1865. Sometime in the mid 1850's Mathew, Jr. and Anna moved, along with his son, Sanford, and his wife, Demaris Mason, to Johnson County, MO. Sanford, the son of Mathew, Jr. and Martha Askrin, was born 1818 in Kentucky (possibly Anderson County). He married Demaris Mason in Owen County in 1839. I have not been able to find the family of Demaris Mason. The family story says that her father walked out on Sanford and Demaris when he discovered they had named their newborn son, Jefferson Davis Cummings. It seems Mr. Mason must have been a true Yankee. I would love to exchange information with anyone who might also be looking for members of this family. Lorna Runyan Mullins Carrollton, TX