Bill: There is quite a bit of information about Benjamin Fanning but I'm sorry to say none includes his parents. I have included some of the information below. There is more about his children. If you need it please let me know. Linda,Roanoke,VA Concord Church is now known as Athens, WV Submitted by Jack Scott to the Mercer County History 1987 My great-great-grandfather Benjamin Famming was the first postmaster of Concord Church where he served for almost twenty-five years. He served from July 20, 1966 to April 19, 1891. 1860 Mercer Co. Census 642/604 FANNING, Benjamin 50, m, farmer; 2000/855; b. VA Nancy 48, f, wife; Mary H. 20, f, serving; Sarepta J. 17, f, serving; Nancy E. 15, f, serving; Oread T. 12 f, Louisa S., 8, f. PRITCHARD, Thomas 31, master carpenter 1000/900, b. Landashire, England MCWALKER, John 22, m, apprentice carpenter b. Edinburgh, Scotland REGARDING ATHENS Additional pioneer settlers were Benjamin Fanning, Frances Scott and John Martin, Sr. Joseph M. Meador (m) Mattie Burch of Mercer Co., daughter of George W. and Sarepta Fanning Burch. Her people were pioneers in this section of the state. REMINISCING IN ATHENS BY ELLA HOLROYD SCOTT - this white frame house with the white aspen tree in the yard was built by Lundy Nichols' brother. It was later bought by Levi and Charlotte Scott. Levi is a descendant of Uncle Ben Fanning, one of the original five families of Concord Church. Levi and Charlotte have one daughter Marjorie Lee who married Mason Handley and now live in Georgia. FANNING CEMETERY. Cemetery is located in Athens in the northeast corner of the Benjamin Fanning Farm, now the Faulknew property, off West Broadway. Benjamin Fanning 2/18/1809-6/25/1900 Nancy Martin Fanning 1/3/1811-2/3/1876 Susan Fanning Scott no date Sarepta Burch 10/22/1843 George W. Burch 4/1/1838 Isabelle Dove 1847 There are several other graves of descendants of Benjamin and Nancy Fanning in the cemetery. Some of the graves have markers. In 1835 Benjamin Fanning (Fannon, Fannin) bought more than five hundred acres of land from James and Charlotte Hector in the area of Giles County, Virginia, that is now Athens, Mercer County, West Virginia. Benjamin's father-in-law, John Martin Sr., had settled on Laurel Creek, near Athens in 1829. Benjamin (Jeb 18, 1809-June 25, 1900) married Nancy Jane Martin (January 3, 1811-February 3, 1876) on April 20, 1833, in Giles Co. She was the daughter of John Martin Sr., (1780) and Susanna Waggoner Martin. Nancy's grandparents were Daniel Martin (1758-February 24, 1824) and Mary Keatley Martin (17560July 1848). Her maternal grandparents were Adam and Jane Waggoner. Children of Benjamin and Nancy Fanning: 1 Andres Jackson Fanning 1834-1864 (m) Nancy Jane Martin on April 19, 1855 2 Susanna Fanning December 10, 1835 (m) William Brown Scott 3 Sarah C. Fanning 1838 (m) William Waddle 4 Mary Hester Fanning June 10, 1839-March 13, 1934 (m) John Tipton Faulkner 5 Sarepta J. "Tipie" Fanning October 22, 1843 -1928 (m) George William Burch 6 Nancy E. Fanning August 22, 1845) (m) Henderson French Martin 7 Isabelle Fanning 1847 (m) Feerdinand "Foote" Davis