Thank you David. I'll try to keep the information I have from being too complicated. The only thing I can tell you about William Stephens is that his name is on Nancy Robinson's death certificate as her father. Information given by her daughter was that Stephens was always spelled that way in the family. Other researchers plus myself have searched for him without success. Edith Bryant married Jeremiah Slaughter in 1850, in Whitley County. He dies April 30, 1856, in Whitley County. Absolum was born to Edith Bryant on April 20th, 1856 in Whitley County, KY. No fathers name is given on the birth record. His name on the record says Absolum Bryant, even though his mother was married to the Slaughter, who died ten days later. Absolum, his mother, or sister Nancy (born 1853-56) have not been found for the year 1860. 1870 Census for Whitley County, KY has Absolum listed twice. In one census he is with mother Edith and husband James Robinson, who she married in 1864. (Information given on the marriage application states this is her second marriage). He is listed as Absolum Robinson. Another census taken two months after the first one has Absolum living with a Bryant family in Wayne County, Ky., and his name is given as Absolum Slaughter. In 1876, Absolum marries Abbey Howard, age 16 in Wayne County, KY. His surname is given as Stephens, and he used the Stephens name the rest of his life. His occupation was mostly listed as blacksmith. Absolum dies May 11, 1939 in Steubenville, Wayne County, KY. He is buried in Monticello, KY. Birth date and year are given as March 31, 1856, which differs from the Birth Schedule for Whitley County. Informant was his son John E. Stephens. He had other male children and I can supply their names and birth years if you would like to have them. I and many others from this family will be very grateful for any information you may find. Janet

Yes, odd children's names make searching easier, but common names verify you found the right parents and give clues to grandparents & ggparents, etc. Absolum is buried in which cemetery ? Do you have a "Lewis Stephens" in your family or a "Lawrence" ? I have some ideas. On 10/8/07, Janet Wright <jkw46@zianet.com> wrote: > Thank you David. I'll try to keep the information I have from being too > complicated. The only thing I can tell you about William Stephens is that > his name is on Nancy Robinson's death certificate as her father. Information > given by her daughter was that Stephens was always spelled that way in the > family. Other researchers plus myself have searched for him without success. > > Edith Bryant married Jeremiah Slaughter in 1850, in Whitley County. He dies > April 30, 1856, in Whitley County. > > Absolum was born to Edith Bryant on April 20th, 1856 in Whitley County, KY. > No fathers name is given on the birth record. His name on the record says > Absolum Bryant, even though his mother was married to the Slaughter, who > died ten days later. Absolum, his mother, or sister Nancy (born 1853-56) > have not been found for the year 1860. > > 1870 Census for Whitley County, KY has Absolum listed twice. In one census > he is with mother Edith and husband James Robinson, who she married in 1864. > (Information given on the marriage application states this is her second > marriage). He is listed as Absolum Robinson. Another census taken two > months after the first one has Absolum living with a Bryant family in Wayne > County, Ky., and his name is given as Absolum Slaughter. > > In 1876, Absolum marries Abbey Howard, age 16 in Wayne County, KY. His > surname is given as Stephens, and he used the Stephens name the rest of his > life. His occupation was mostly listed as blacksmith. > > Absolum dies May 11, 1939 in Steubenville, Wayne County, KY. He is buried in > Monticello, KY. Birth date and year are given as March 31, 1856, which > differs from the Birth Schedule for Whitley County. Informant was his son > John E. Stephens. He had other male children and I can supply their names > and birth years if you would like to have them. > > I and many others from this family will be very grateful for any information > you may find. > > Janet > > > > ------------------------------- > To unsubscribe from the list, please send an email to STEVENS-request@rootsweb.com with the word 'unsubscribe' without the quotes in the subject and the body of the message >

Hello David....The death certificate for Absolum Stephens only says burial place is Monticello, KY. no middle name or initial.. ....informant John E. Stephens (son b. 1897) Steubenville, KY. Absolum's other sons were: James W. b.1879, Charley b. 1884, Arthur b. 1886, Henry b. 1888, and Oley b. 1890. No sons named Lewis or Lawrence. Until I found the death certificate for Absolum's sister Nancy, which provided her father's name being William Stephens, other researchers told me they didn't know the father Stephens first name. I have just contacted a researcher who is more closely related to Absolum. Perhaps she can provide more information on his family. I will let you know. Absolum was a widower when he died in 1839. Perhaps he was buried next to his wife. I'll look for that today. Thank you so much, Janet