This is a Message Board Post that is gatewayed to this mailing list. Author: wildlobo Surnames: Marshall, Holbrooks, Spradling Classification: queries Message Board URL: http://boards.rootsweb.com/surnames.marshall/4908/mb.ashx Message Board Post: I am doing some census tracking in Marshall family line that migrated from Virginia to Floyd County Virginia in the early 1800's. One line I am baffled by is the Reuben Anson Marshall (b. 1816) and Catherine Holbrooks (b. 1826) line. Reuben was married previously to Delilah Spradling, and I have no records they had children. He married Catherine Holbrooks and had many children. I can locate them in the 1860 Census in Magoffin County, Kentucky. After this, I cannot find a single clue, not in 1870 or 1880. I've tried tracing the children, but with names like Rueben, William, Elizabeth and Nancy (to name four) in an area of Kentucky where there are already 30 or more similar names, it gets very hard to guess. Is there anyone out there who has information on this line in particular? This is a huge gap in my research. Thanks! Important Note: The author of this message may not be subscribed to this list. If you would like to reply to them, please click on the Message Board URL link above and respond on the board.

Hi Bill, I think your tracking problems stem from two issues: 1) You're treating the husbands of Catherine Holbrook and Delilah Spradlin as if they were one and the same Reuben Marshall -- they aren't; and 2) You may not have expanded your search enough -- that is, you need to include all of the counties surrounding Magoffin Co. * For some background, I'd suggest that you start with Thomas Marshall (b ~1752) and Sally Johnston (b ~1759). Their (at least) 8 children included these two brothers: ** David (b ~1775) m 1795 to Susannah Abbott. Their kids included Reuben Marshall, Jr (b 1812). Bear in mind that "Junior" was frequently used to differentiate someone from an older relative -- not necessarily from a father, but just as often from an uncle or a grandfather or even a much older cousin. You'll understand why this guy got the "Jr" tag in a moment. Hereafter, I'll simply refer to this man as Reuben Jr. ** Reuben (b 1781) m ~1801 to Elizabeth Noland. I fondly refer to this man, my gggg-grf, as "Old Reuben" because he's the oldest Reuben Marshall in my lines. He, as Reuben Jr's uncle, is surely the reason why Reuben Junior got tagged with that "junior". The 10th of Old Reuben's & Eliz's 12 kids was Reuben Ansen/Anson Marshall (b 1816). Hereafter, I'll simply refer to this man as Reuben A. * It was Reuben Jr (1812-1889) who m 1832 to Delilah Spradlin, d/o James Spradlin & (I think) Rachel Connelly. ** From 1833 thru at least 1852, they had a number (??) of kids, including John, Elizabeth, Rachel, Sarah, perhaps others. ** A Reuben Marshall served in the Civil War with the 14th KY Infantry Regiment (Union side), which was formed in Lawrence Co. It =may= have been this Reuben Jr, although he would have been 50+ yrs old then. ** Reuben Jr's household is found in the 1850 thru 1880 census in Johnson Co, next door to Magoffin Co. In 1840, they're in the Floyd Co census, as Johnson Co was not formed until 1843. ** Reuben Jr and wife Delilah both d 1889 in Johnson Co, KY. * It was Reuben A (1816-1864) who m ~1846 to Catherine Holbrook, d/o John Henry Holbrook & Susannah Back. ** As you've found, they're in the 1860 Magoffin census with their 9 kids. [By the by, those last 2 -- twins George & 'Levisa' -- were, I'd bet a little, named after Reuben A's older sister & bro-in-law, my ggg-grp's George & Louisa (Marshall) Fletcher; although Reuben A and Louisa also had a bro named George.] ** I don't have this in my notes and haven't checked it today, but Reuben A, Catherine, and their first 2 or 3 kids must surely be in the 1850 Floyd or Breathitt census, as Magoffin wasn't formed until 1860. ** "They" aren't in any 1870 census, as Reuben A was killed in 1864. Family lore says that Reuben A was killed by Union soldiers who mistakenly thought he was "the" Reuben Marshall who had stolen a horse and deserted the Army. The Reuben they sought might have been Reuben Jr, above....or it might have been Reuben Marshall (b ~1838), s/o Johnson Marshall, who's another s/o Old Reuben. While the age of this 'newest' Reuben Marshall makes him appear more logical as a Civil War soldier (mid-20's vs 50+), I have no first-hand knowledge of who the Reuben deserter was, or if there actually even was a Reuben deserter. ** I'd recommend that you start your search for his widow Catherine and their kids in 1870 Breathitt Co, as that's where she and Reuben A were married, where some of their kids were born, and where her parents died. I would guess that she's nesting among the ga-zillions of Holbrooks and Bachs/Backs in Breathitt. Presuming that Catherine didn't die before 1870, and even if she has remarried by then, and regardless of what county she lives in, you should be able to spot her via her 3 or 4 youngest kids, who are probably in the household she's in and would likely still hold the Marshall surname. That's my take on your Delilah--Reuben--Catherine dilemma, Bill. I hope it's of some help to you. Regards....Morris Fletcher ========================================== ----- Original Message ----- Sent: Tuesday, July 29, 2008 2:12 PM I am doing some census tracking in Marshall family line that migrated from Virginia to Floyd County Virginia in the early 1800's. One line I am baffled by is the Reuben Anson Marshall (b. 1816) and Catherine Holbrooks (b. 1826) line. Reuben was married previously to Delilah Spradling, and I have no records they had children. He married Catherine Holbrooks and had many children. I can locate them in the 1860 Census in Magoffin County, Kentucky. After this, I cannot find a single clue, not in 1870 or 1880. I've tried tracing the children, but with names like Rueben, William, Elizabeth and Nancy (to name four) in an area of Kentucky where there are already 30 or more similar names, it gets very hard to guess. Is there anyone out there who has information on this line in particular? This is a huge gap in my research.