-----Original Message----- From: William F Staton [mailto:[email protected]] Sent: Saturday, March 10, 2001 6:46 PM To: [email protected] Subject: {not a subscriber} CUMBERLAND CO. HISTORY & PIONEER GENEALOGIES -- STATON FAMILY THE ORIGINAL TEXT OF THE HISTORY OF CUMBERLAND COUNTY PIONEER GENEALOGIES IS CAPITALIZED. COMMENTS AND OBVERSATIONS ARE IN LOWER CASE LETTERS: I HAVE A GENEALOGY FOR TWO LINES OF JOHN RANE STATON'S DESCENDANTS--WILLIAM FRANKLIN AND HIRAM ABIFF--FROM BEFORE 1812 TO THE PRESENT. THE STRANGE LOOKING NUMBERS ARE FOOTNOTES, BUT MY ENGINE ENLARGES THEM. FOR EXAMPLE, 17781 IS REALLY 1778 WITH A SUPERSCRIPT NUMBER 1 FOR FOOTNOTE NUMBER 1 -- AND 18432 IS REALLY 1843 WITH A SUPERSCRIPT FOR FOOTNOTE NUMBER 2. THE STATON FAMILY A Comparative Review of the Cumberland County History and Other Sources RANE STATON HEADED THE FAMILY OF THAT NAME WHICH SETTLED IN CUMBERLAND COUNTY. HE WAS BORN IN VIRGINIA, 17681 AND DIED IN CUMBERLAND COUNTY IN 18432. HE WAS OF SCOTCH-IRISH DESCENDANTS.3 1Other genealogies say he was born in1778. 2His will was recorded at the Cumberland County Courthouse, KYKNTC - 1, Roll No. 3052, Volume D, pages 253-254, November 17, 1842) and his estate sale was 1/7/1843, so both discount 1843 as the date of his death. The land in his will and a salt mine left to his son Hiram (possibly Solomon Salt Mine which Staton History locates in VA., as well as items and prices in his estate sale records, and large numbers of livestock indicate he was a man of means. Learned books named in the sale indicate he appreciated intellectual pursuits.. His executors are Hiram A. Staton and Joseph Snell. James contested the will, but the contest was not upheld in court. A warrant signed February 2, 1780 by Rolfe Eldridge reveals that he provided food to men guarding captive British soldiers being taken north--less than four years after the Declaration of Independence was signed. Esthers father, James Fergus, died in Carroll County TN, and his will was recorded in November, 1842 with Robin Reed of Cumberland County as administrator. 3James G. Leyden, author of The Scotch-Irish (Chapel Hill: University of North Carolina) records that King James VI of Scotland (at the same time he was also King James I of England) brought Scot immigrants to settle North Ireland, which the English conquered, and expelled the Irish. Because the Irish were Catholics and the Scots were Presbyterians as well as other differences, not the least being animosity between the conquered and the settler, they did not often intermarry. When the Scots leases expired, the English expelled the Scots. They had lived in Ireland for as much as 100 years, so when they immigrated to America they were seen as Irishand many perceived themselves as Irish, although, with the few exceptions, which should be expected, none were Irish. The Cumberland history alludes to the Irish Bottom, obviously a familiar location to local folk, probably because so many so-called Irish had populated the area. If, as reported, the Shenandoah Valley was previously named Dunmore, this could reflect some kind relationship to Lord Dunmore of Scotland. Presently (January 1, 2001) I am researching information that James Staton married Martha Damron, reportedly be a descendant of Dunmore. Census and land records seem to indicate that a James Staton is Ranes father, possibly brother. This possible family relationship--and consequent political tie--with Dunmore could be one explanation for land grants to the Statons, both in Virginia and Kentucky. How ironic for proud democrats who boast of being descendants of peasants washed upon American shores! married Martha Damron, reportedly a descendant of Dunmore. Census and land records seem to indicate that a James Staton is Ranes father, possibly brother. This possible family relationship--and consequent political tie--with Dunmore could be one explanation for land grants to the Statons, both in Virginia and Kentucky. HIS RECORD SHOWS THAT HE WAS A BOAT PILOT ON THE JAMES RIVER AND THAT HE WAS A MASTER MASON MANY YEARS BEFORE HIS DEPARTURE FROM ALBEMARLE COUNTY FOR IRISH BOTTOM, THIS COUNTY, IN 1812.4 HE MARRIED ESTHER FERGUS MONTFORT (1784-1872) IN 1816. ESTHER HAD PREVIOUSLY (1802) MARRIED JOHN MONTFORT, WHO WAS COUNTY SURVEYOR WHEN HE DIED IN 1804. RANE WAS A FINANCIER OF HIS DAY. TO ESTHER AND RANE WERE BORN FOUR CHILDRENNANCY (1820), DR. HIRAM (1821-87), WILLIAM, AND JAMES A. __________________end of page 410 DR. HIRAM MARRIED NANCY BLEDSOE (1821-1902)5 AND TO THEM WERE BORN EIGHT CHILDREN: WILLIAM ALFRED, JAMES CURLEY6, JOE R.7, DICK8, HIRAM9 (BOGE), TENA 10 AND LIZZIE.11 4Apparently Rane moved to Irish Bottom from Warren, Albemarle County, Virginia 5Staton History shows Hiram, b. October 30, 1821, Nancy Bledsoe, b. January 1, 1824. But Hirams will was recorded April 12, 1887 by wife Nancy Wilhoit and his sons, J. D.(Dick), William A., Hiram A.--J. D.s son--Joseph R., James C., Hiram A., Executor. Whether Nancy Wilhoit is the second or the only wife is yet unclear. Staton History also says that the Statons were connected with the discovery and development of the Solomon Salt Mines in VA. Grants were given to reward military service in 1763 and later wars, usually in lots of 50 acres, and were given for other reasons. Deed records indicate the Statons already owned land but received grants, a considerable total amount of property in VA, and later received land grants in KY. Rane willed land with a salt mine on Willis Creek to Hiram, so accounts of a VA mine may be inaccurate. 6This should be Curling, according to Staton History and Hirams descendants. I agree and suspect that Curley may be a colloquial pronunciation, or a nickname based on Curling. 7Joseph Rollins Staton 8John Richard Staton 9Hiram Abiff, MD; compare to Staton History (p. 508 VIII which says Hiram A. II, b April 14, 1863 Dec. 2, m. Nancy W. Bledsoe on Dec. 5, 1843" (20 years before he was born). A number of genealogies suppose Hiram A. II married Nancy Bledsoe. This may confuse him with William Alfreds son, William Hiram. People called William Alfred William, so it would be natural to call William Hiram, his son, Hiram. On this page, Staton History lists Harriet Frances Staton (IX) and Alexander Staton, (X), a Hiram Abiff descendant recognizes neither Alexander or Mary Ann Staton whose death is listed on p. 507. Hiram Abiffs son Hiram (Boge) never married. Dicks son Hiram apparently was his wifes son, otherwise why would Cumberland note that he raised his own son? 10Staton History calls her Dora Anna Christeen; other genealogies call her Dora Anna Christina, and I agree with the latter because Cumberland History show the locals called her Tena. 11This may be Alice Elizabeth Staton, b. Dec 27, 1877, Moffett, Bell Co TX., d. Jacksonville, TX, m.. Walter Joseph Lee, Dec. 17, 1895, Belton, TX.; below Cumberland says Lizzie died young. WILLIAM ALFRED (OF DR. H.) MARRIED A MISS LYKES OF TEXAS AND REARED LUTHER, ALICE, EULA AND HIRAM A.12 JAMES CURLEY (OF DR. H.) MARRIED FANNY NELSON OF OKLAHOMA CITY AND REARED CORA, EDITH, NELL, ALICE AND ALBERT.13 JOE R. MARRIED MAGGIE TURNER OF UDALL, KANSAS. NO CHILDREN.14 DICK STATON MARRIED LOUVINA POTTS AND REARED HIRAM. HIS SECOND WIFE WAS A VIRGINIAN15. HIRAM (OF DR. H.), CALLED BOGE NEVER MARRIED. ESTHER (OF DR. H.) MARRIED DR. ALEX JACKSON OF CREELSBORO. LIZZIE (OF DR. H.), DIED YOUNG. TENA (OF DR. H.) MARRIED ED MORGAN AND TO THEM WERE BORN JOE HIRAM WHO MARRIED CORA BRYSON. WILLIAM STATON (OF RANE AND ESTHER) MARRIED FIRST, BETTY ANN GRAVES AND HAD FOUR CHILDRENMARTHA JANE PINK, PAULINA SUSAN JANE, JOHN RANEY,16 AND TOM17. MARTHA JANE P. MARRIED WILL HUNTER AND HAD ALEX H18, TOM, CAGE, ARCHIE, AND ONE DAUGHTER. PAULINA SUSAN MARRIED WILLIAM VINING AND HAD TWO CHILDREN. JOHN RANEY19 MARRIED POLLY [THE REST OF THE SENTENCE WAS UNREADABLE AND FRISBEE SHEARER OF WAYNE COUNTY WAS TYPED IN WHERE THE TEXT WAS NOT READABLE.20 TOM21 DIED YOUNG. JAMES A. (OF RANE AND ESTHER) MARRIED FANNIE WINFREY, ONLY CHILD OF BILLY AND SALLY22 (WELLS) WINFREY, AND TO THEM WERE BORN JAMES, JR, LUCY, ALSIPIA, AND A NUMBER OF INFANTS. JAMES JR. (OF JAMES, SR.) MARRIED PARTHINA IRVIN OF CREELSBORO, AND TO THEM WERE BORN 16 CHILDREN23. EVA, DELLA, CORA, SADIA, WILLIAM C., CHARLES, JAMES A. LAURA, THOMASINE, ROY, JOHN, HERBERT AND HOBART (TWINS), LULA, AND TWIN INFANTS. LUCY (OF JAMES, SR.) MARRIED ELZIE SMITH, A LIEUTENANT IN THE FEDERAL ARMY WHO LOST HIS LIFE AT THE HANDS OF CHAMP FERGUSON AT THE BATTLE OF KENTUCKY SALT WORKS. TO ELZIE AND LUCY WERE BORN TWO SONSFERDINAND AND HIRAM SMITH. FERD DIED AT 18, AND HIRAM MARRIED A MISS DUISE AND TO THEM WERE BORN SEVEN CHILDREN WILLIAM, JAMES, HOBART, SALLY, ELLEN, EULA, AND ALICE. ALSIPIA (OF JAMES AND FANNY) MARRIED JOHN MURPHY AND WENT TO TEXAS. NANCY24 (OF RANE AND ESTHER) FIRST MARRIED J. H.25 PHILPOTT AND LEFT ONE SON, RANE. HE GOT KILLED. SHE MARRIED SECOND JOE26 P. SEWELL (1805-76), AND TO THEM WERE BORN EIGHT CHILDREN, ALL OF WHOM DIED YOUNG EXCEPT, NANNIE, EMMA, JULIA, AND PETER MONTFORT. NANNIE NEVER MARRIED. EMMA MARRIED ALLEN W. GRIDER, AND TO THEM WERE BORN FOUR CHILDREN: ALMA, MAMIE, JULIAN AND BONNIE. PETER M. MARRIED SARAH (POTTS)27 GRIDER AND HAD ONE SON; AND HIS SECOND WIFE WAS FANNY WILLIAMS WITH ONE SON, OVID. _______________end of page 411 12This is William Hiram. 13Likewise, Staton History says Cora June, Edith, Nelly Bly, Alice, and Albert James. 14Staton History says Joseph R. Staton was born April 6, 1855 15Dick reared Hiram, obviously if this were his son, so this is probably his wifes son. See footnote9. 16This is another instance of misspelling Rane, was pronounced rainy. This John Rane is William Francis Frank Statons father, and the reviewer, William Francis Bill Staton, Franks son, remembers that Frank pronounced his fathers name as rainy, which explains the misspelling. 17Thomas Benton Staton, according Frances Nelson Staton, pages 502-504, Staton History. With input from cousins on our immediate families, she developed these pages. She also traveled to Buckingham Co. VA, Cumberland Co. KY, and Wayne Co. KY so she and her son, Max Alan Nelson added numerous documents to the familys personal information--county records, deeds, wills, marriages, cemeteries, a family Bible etc. However, Staton History has some typos or editing errors. JULIA (OF JOE AND NANCY) MARRIED DR. GREEN MOORE OF LINCOLN COUNTY AND TO THEM WERE BORN FIVE GIRLSHETTIE, SALLY, EMMA, MARGIE AND GEORGIA. A FAMILY ARTICLE ON THE STATONS CLAIM (SIC) THAT STATEN ISLAND, NEW YORK, WAS SETTLED BY AND NAMED IN HONOR OF THE FAMILY, BUT NEW YORK HISTORY OF OLD SAYS THAT THE ISLAND WAS FIRST SEEN ON SEPTEMBER 2, 1609, BY HENRY HUDSON, THE DUTCH EXPLORER, AND CALLED STATTEN EYLANDT FOR THE STATES GENERAL OF HOLLAND.27 __________________end of page 412 18Alex H. may be the Alexander Staton born February 27, 1871 (Staton History, p. 508). His birthday would be 25 years after his mothers. 19See footnote.16 Rane and Pollys children were Crissie Elizabeth, born January 26, 1879, d. November 20, 1899, one child, Melvin Bates; William Francis Frank, born February 3, 1880, died August 19, 1938 (named for his grandfathers William Franklin and Francis David Shearer, b. April 22, 1822, Wayne County KY, d. Wayne County, January 13, 1893 ; married, February 4, 1846, Lucy Brammer, b. ca 1822, VA, d. July 1, 1857, Mullentown, Wayne County, KY; raised Gilliam A. Staton after his parents died, 1900 census); Frank married Rosadalis Goree, born October 29, 1878, died, November 20 1920, their children were Frankie May, Raney Bowe (first time Of which I am aware, that a family members name was spelled thus; also named for the family doctor, Dr. Bowe), Nancy Lee, Oscar Gilliam, Robert Victor, Mary Ophelia; Frank married Sarah Elizabeth Clark, born December 6, 1989, died November 12, 1963; their children were William Francis (Bill), Judge Jon Tom Staton (Tom has a Juris Doctor (degree in law), and he and Bill have academic doctorates. Effie May, born October 4, 1982, married John Wright, children Grace, Howard, Wellie, Claude, Gilma, Bertha; Anna Cleveland Staton, born October 7, 1884, died March 18, 1906, never married; Gilliam Abiff, born September 28, 1886 (the 1900 census shows that he is a nephew, living with his grandparents, Francis David and Lucy Brammer Shearer after both of his parents died), married Viola May Fairchild, d. 1962; their children were Frances, Louise Marie, Virginia Rose, George Roy; James Rane Jimmy, born September (1888?), died May 20, 1890. William Francis, Effie May, and Gilliam Abiff raised their families near Hollis in Harmon County, Oklahoma. Sources for this information include family members, Staton History, and a family Bible. None of John Rane and Pollys descendants appear in any genealogy known by this reviewer. 20Polly Frisbee Shearer of Wayne County KY. William Francis (Bill) has a copy of the Marriage Certificate signed by John Rane and Francis D[avid] Shearer, her father. William Francis (Frank) Staton was named for both grandfathers, William Staton and Francis Shearer. 21Thomas Benton, born June 9, 1853, see Staton History 22William and Sallie 23James is in William Franklins line of Statons; therefore those of us in this Staton line challenge any and all of the other Staton lines to beat our recordor just match it! 24Nancy Snell Staton, probably named for Joseph P. Snell one of the executors of Ranes will, indicating that Snell was a close friend or relative. 25John 26Joseph 27Both Peter Montfort and John Richard Dick Staton married women named Potts. 28The reviewer concurs. Before New York became a British colony, it was a Dutch colony named New Amsterdam. History of Cumberland County, Kentucky Presently I am extremely curious about how long ago those who composed the History of Cumberland County, Pioneer Genealogies began their work. Its tone sounds like the conversations of home folk, neighbors and family and friends who gathered to recall what they knew first-hand or had heard from eye-witnesses. It can convince one that the writer knew these Statons, knew people who knew or had known them, or had materials written by people who knew them. Suggesting a familiarity with the each member of the Staton family, the writer of History of Cumberland County, Pioneer Genealogies uses nicknames or shortened names by which a person was known, such as Tena for Dora Anna Christina, Lizzie for Elizabeth, Joe, Will, Alex, Ferd, and Billy. It recalls that one Hirams nickname was Boge, that Dick raised him and that he never married. Footnotes indicate instances where the History of Cumberland County should be compared with other sources, such as the Staton History by John S. Staton and Internet web sites. All the footnotes are my opinions--not part of the History of Cumberland County. Otherwise, this document is a copy of the text of the History of Cumberland County, pages 410 to 412. I will be indebted to anyone who can tell me the date it was published or where I can see the complete book. At this time I am updating our Staton family, primarily descendants of Hiram Abiff (1821-1887) and William Franklin Staton (1827-1855), sons of Rane and Esther Staton. Of course, I will enthusiastically welcome any information about Staton descendants or ascendants. I continue searching and attempting to verify Staton ancestors, both in America and abroad. Presently, I believe public records indicate that Ranes father was James Staton, probably the James who married Martha Damron, daughter of George Dameron (this change in spelling is correct according to my present data) and Anne Thoney (perhaps Athena or Athona, as some southerners in the past pronounced y instead of a, for example Edny instead of Edna}. I will greatly appreciate information from others interested in Staton genealogy, and will gladly share my findings with you. Please show no respect for this review. I am putting it out to be investigated, critiqued, battered and shaped into something valuable to all of us. This data supersedes the prior review of Cumberland County History and other resources, so I recommend that you dispose of it. If you receive this review by email, the numbers for footnotes may be enlarged to full size. THE TEXT OF THE HISTORY OF CUMBERLAND COUNTY IS CAPITALIZED. William Francis Staton Dallas, Texas January, 2001