Will be happy to exchange information with others working on this West line. Descendants of Rev. Benjamin Lynch West Sr. Generation One 0. Rev. Benjamin Lynch1 West Sr.; (Rev. Benjamin Lynch West grew up in Montgomery County Alabama. He was licensed to preach by the Methodist Church in 1833 and was serving the Tallapoosa County Alabama area in 1838 and was ordained as a Deacon in 1841. While the Rev. Benjamin Lynch West was a traveling minister, he met and married Rebecca R. Jones in Talladega County, Alabama. By 1842 he was a minister in the Glennville, Alabama Area. In 1844 he migrated to Caddo Parish, Louisiana to became the minister of a Methodist Church. In 1846 he moved his family to Harrison County, Texas and then moved to Tyler, Smith County, Texas in 1848. He was ordained as an elder by Bishop Andrew at Marshall, Texas in 1853. He moved to Denton County, Texas in where he died on 11 Dec 1859 and was buried at the Mount Zion Cemetery near Little Elm, Collin County, Texas. By all accounts, the Rev. Benjamin Lynch West was a strong "fire and brimstone" preacher and a bold defender of Methodism. He purchased Second Class Headright Certificate # 308, for 640 acres, dated 10 Dec 1839, from the estate of Richard R. Jones, deceased, for $721.50. Recorded in Kaufman County Land Records, Book F, page 398 on 31 Jan 1853. He was awarded a State of Texas Patent # 135, Volume 10, by virtue of a Pre-emption Certificate (file # 2290) dated 27 Apr 1854, for 87.35 acres of land located 5 miles east of Tyler, Smith Co, Texas, on the waters of Harris Creek, a tributary of Sabine River. He Purchased 320 acres of land located 8 miles south east of Tyler, Smith Co, Texas, on the waters of Mud Creek, known as the John R. Wright Survey, from William Chancellor for $600 on 30 Oct 1855) (no title, 10 Jul 1997, Letter from United Methodist Church Library.) (no title, 18 Jul 1997, Letter from Birdwell Library, SMU, Archivist.) was born on 29 Mar 1810 at Greensboro?, NC. He married Rebecca R. Jones, daughter of Richard R. Jones and Rebecca Watson?, on 30 Nov 1836 at Talladega Co, AL. He died on 11 Dec 1859 at Denton Co, TX, at age 49. He was buried at Little Elm, Collin, TX. He appeared on the census of 20 Sep 1850 at Smith Co, TX. Children of Rev. Benjamin Lynch1 West Sr. and Rebecca R. Jones were as follows: i. Sarah Jane2; born 27 Sep 1837 at AL; died 12 Dec 1837 at AL. ii. Mary Elizabeth; born 12 Jan 1839 at AL. iii. Benjamin Lynch Jr.; (Family tradition was that he died from rough riding. He was fatally injured while breaking wild horses); born 22 Nov 1840 at AL; died 23 Nov 1863 at TX at age 23. iv. Andrew; born 1843 at AL; died before 1850. v. James Albertus "Jim"; (Family tradition was that James Albertus West belonged to the Texas Militia and served time guarding the Mexican border with Texas); born 6 Sep 1844 at AL; died 30 May 1919 at Hunt Co, TX, at age 74; buried at Hunt Co, TX. vi. Marsellus; (Family tradition was that he died from an arrow wound. He was wounded by Indians while serving with the Texas Rangers during the Civil War); born 12 Oct 1845 at TX; died 21 Dec 1864 at age 19. 1. vii. Frances Tucker "Fannie", born 8 Mar 1847 at LA; married Ezekiel James "Jimmy" Newell. 2. viii. Mandana Knox, born 6 Jan 1849 at TX; married (--?--) Smith. 3. ix. John Richard Ivy, born 26 Mar 1852 at Smith Co, TX; married Martha Matilda Knight. x. William Pierce "Billy"; (The West University, previously known as Van College, at Royce City was named after William West. He married Lucy Key, who was Clifton West's mother's sister. Lucy Key died at the birth of her son who lived six months); born 4 Dec 1852 at TX; married Lucy Key circa 1874; died 1924 at Royse City, Rockwall Co, TX; buried at Royse City, Rockwall Co, TX. 4. xi. Josiah "Joe", born 21 Oct 1854 at TX. 5. xii. George Ellis Sr., born 6 Feb 1858 at Tyler, Smith Co, TX; married Eudora "Dora" Newell. Generation Two 1. Frances Tucker "Fannie"2 West (Benjamin1) was born on 8 Mar 1847 at LA. She married Ezekiel James "Jimmy" Newell, son of Louis Henry Newell Sr. and Julia Manerva Stong, circa 1880. She died in 1914. Children of Frances Tucker "Fannie"2 West and Ezekiel James "Jimmy" Newell were as follows: 6. i. Lula3, born 1888; married James A. Hughes. 7. ii. James Orville, born circa 1890; married Merline Patton. 2. Mandana Knox2 West (Benjamin1) was born on 6 Jan 1849 at TX. She married (--?--) Smith circa 1870. Children of Mandana Knox2 West and (--?--) Smith were as follows: i. Louis3; born circa 1871. ii. Bill; born circa 1873. iii. Mary; born circa 1875; married K. Robie circa 1895. 3. John Richard Ivy2 West (Benjamin1) was born on 26 Mar 1852 at Smith Co, TX. He married Martha Matilda Knight on 25 Oct 1875 at Royse City, Rockwall Co, TX. He died on 22 Jul 1931 at Eastland, Eastland Co, TX, at age 79. Children of John Richard Ivy2 West and Martha Matilda Knight were as follows: 8. i. William Virgil3, born 13 Jul 1870 at Hunt Co, TX; married Emma Angell. 9. ii. Eula Olive, born 12 Feb 1885 at Graham Point, Hunt Co, TX; married Robert E. Lee Myers. 10. iii. John Vernon, born circa 1887; married Modie Lee Payne. 4. Josiah "Joe"2 West (Benjamin1) was born on 21 Oct 1854 at TX. He died on 10 Aug 1931 at Royse City, Rockwall Co, TX, at age 76. He was buried at Royse City, Rockwall Co, TX. Children of Josiah "Joe"2 West and an unknown spouse were: i. G. Clifton3; born circa 1876; married Hester (West) circa 1896; died after 1969 at Royse City, Rockwall Co, TX. 5. George Ellis2 West Sr. (Benjamin1) was born on 6 Feb 1858 at Tyler, Smith Co, TX. He married Eudora "Dora" Newell, daughter of Louis Henry Newell Sr. and Julia Manerva Stong, on 3 Nov 1886 at Denton Co, TX. He died on 6 Jul 1928 at Royse City, Rockwall Co, TX, at age 70. He was buried on 9 Jul 1928 at Royse City, Rockwall Co, TX. He appeared on the census of 5 Jun 1900 at Rockwall Co, TX. Don Raney, 1506 Comanche Trail, Garland, TX 75043 972-278-3381 don.raney@chrysalis.org