This is a Message Board Post that is gatewayed to this mailing list. Surnames: Cornwell, Cornwall, Lawson, Losson, Alexander, Gardner Classification: Query Message Board URL: http://boards.ancestry.com/mbexec/msg/rw/mBB.2ACE/1951 Message Board Post: Hello All: I am looking for information on the following couple: EMILY CORNWELL / CORNWALL (probably born ca. 1838 though she later claimed 1844) and WILLIAM LAWSON (probably born ca. 1831). The marriage date for this couple was 1 October 1859 according to an affidavit filed by Emily late in her life. The location of the marriage wasn't stated, though I had hoped it would be Morgan Co, KY. I understand that Wolfe County was formed partially from Morgan County. Were there possibly any marriage records transferred from Morgan County to Wolfe County at the time of formation in 1860? A kind person in Morgan County did a lookup for me and did not find this marriage in Morgan County. It appears from the information posted on the Wolfe County site that early courhouse records of Wolfe County were lost in a fire. The only child of the above couple was WILLIAM RILEY LAWSON / LOSSON and he was apparently born in Missouri in November 1860 according to census entries. The county of his birth is unknown. Considerable searching has failed to confirm the birthplace of WILLIAM RILEY LAWSON / LOSSON and there is a possibility that he may actually have been born in Kentucky. WILLIAM LAWSON (the elder) died in 1863 according to Emily's later affidavit. A published account in an 1890's Indian Territory book states that Emily was from Morgan Co., KY and that her father was WILLIAM CORNWELL and her mother was an ALEXANDER of Cherokee descent. The same account, however, also incorrectly names her second husband as a WILLIAM. The writer of that account may have gone a little overboard with the name WILLIAM, therefore the given name of Emily's father is suspect. EMILY (CORNWELL / CORNWALL) LAWSON eventually moved to Indian Territory -- to what is now Pauls Valley & Wynnewood, Garvin Co., Oklahoma. She married (2nd) on 28 Sep 1870, to JAMES W. GARDNER of Choctaw descent. JAMES W. GARDNER was born in 1849 which might have explained why Emily apparently "grew younger" before she married him. EMILY & JAMES W. GARDNER had a number of children. I know nothing about the parents of either Emily Cornwall or William Lawson, though I have seen some likely suspects and hope to find out more. There is an Emily Cornwall and a William Lawson of appropriate age in the 1850 census of Morgan Co., KY. Thank you in advance for any assistance you may be able to provide. I will gladly share whatever I have. Kindest regards, Leslie