Sexton researchers abound.
Many including my children’s family, have a least two different Sexton/Saxton
lines. For years there has been much
speculation and assumptions about various Sexton families. DNA is now helping sort through the confusion
but a clean paper trail is also needed in any proper research – without assumption. We still have lots more work to do. And, yes,
there are still assumptions to overcome.
I am posting this
chronology, & a bit long-winded explanation, as an aid as we continue
following the path in the cow pasture.
Our own research
story begins on the property where I am sitting and writing. We live on property which has been handed
down in our Sexton family for generations in Boyd County, Kentucky (a spit from
the Carter/Lawrence line). High on the
hill is Klaiber Cemetery, aka Sexton Cemetery, aka Hood Cemetery. Among those is Mark/Marcus Sexton and Catherine,
others including Gallion and field stones.
Forty-eight years
ago, at the birth of my first child, I made my first genealogical research
error. Most researchers start with
census, as did I.
The1850 census for
Carter County/later Boyd, KY shows Mark 37 born Virginia, Catherine 41 born
Virginia, Henry P. 14 born Virginia, Leann Blair 7 born Kentucky, Bartlett Sexton
75, Catherine 71 both born Virginia. I
immediately assumed Bartlett was the father of Mark/Marcus Sexton. What the 1850 census does not do, is give
relationships of household members. Others made and are still making that assumption
which is an error.
Standing in the
records room in Louisa, Lawrence County, Kentucky I later found the death
record of Mark 22 October 1877 that clearly showed him as the son of Elisha and
Tabitha Sexton. So maybe (another
assumption) Bartlett was an uncle? No.
Mark was buried in
Klaiber Cemetery. But not reburied there
until November 1893 after Catherine died. Prior to that he was buried at Bell’s
Trace in Lawrence County. The Big Sandy News tells of Powell (HP)
Sexton of Garner (where we live) passing thru Bolts Fork (Lawrence County) with
the remains of his father who died “sixteen years ago) exhumed and to be buried
in the family graveyard beside his wife.
Research shows Catherine living on Twin Branch
in Lawrence County in 1880. Many years of continued research places John Sexton
with Revolutionary Pension in that same neighborhood. We have now made several
road trips around and thru Bolts Fork and it would be no easy task with a wagon
to bring a body back across the ridge to our place. Folks in that neighborhood say there is an
old fieldstone cemetery which is haunted at the end of the lane on Twin Fork.
Fast forward thru
years of document research.
DNA reveals that
Catherine wife of Mark Sexton is also maiden Sexton. My
family has two Sexton lines. Catherine
to Bartlett’s DNA suggests her line is through Charles as many suspected for
years. Sorting DNA with two lines is no
easy matter. But DNA tells us that my
family has NO Native American blood thru Bartlett’s line. We have truly enjoyed reading the many
theories on wives with Indian heritage.
DNA for Mark, thru
father Elisha, show him as a grandson to John/Jonathan who died in Lawrence
County in that Twin Branch area in 1838.
Thus begins unraveling the assumptions of Jno. As being on the Grayson,
Russell and Patrick County tax lists at various times. That is not John of Revolutionary status who
died in Lawrence County, Kentucky.
It does explain the small
notation found in the James Taylor Adams Collection at Wylie Library, Clinch
Valley College stating “On my mothers side it goes back to ….Joseph Sexton, Johnithan
(as sp), Elisha…signed by James Madison-Emory”
Chronology
of John/Jno. Sexton
1758 14 May John
states he was born in LOUDOUN County, Virginia (Pension)
1774 abt Elisha
states he is born in NORTH Carolina
1779 Oct 4 resident
of Fairfield County SOUTH Carolina – note that Fairfield
was not formed until 1798 from Camden district and he is a resident of Winnsboro.
1790 23 August marries
Rebecca MCDANNALD Botetourt County, Virginia and William Sexton is surety. A William Sexton marries Mary Ewing the same
year in Botetourt.
1793 Tax list BATH County,
Virginia along with William Sexton
1795 abt John Saxton
born in VA dies in Meigs County, OH ASSUMED either in Bath or Greenbrier
DNA shows he is s/o John/Jno.
1797 4 Mar William
Sexton who died in Vinton Co. OH 1881 called “old Bill” born in Greenbrier DNA
indicates s/o Jno.
1798 abt Elizabeth
SAXTON born Greenbrier dies in Vinton Co., OH 1886.
1799 to 1805 appears Greenbrier
Tax along with Wm. Sexton/Saxton (Assumed William who goes to Cabell
County and married into JORDAN family).
PP tax puts John on Cow Pasture.
1814 moved to Floyd
County, KY (Pension information)
1817 Aug 15 Bath Co.
VA Will of Elizabeth Sitlington sister of Rebecca McDannald Sexton “to sister
Rebecca w/o John Sexton 333.33 in 3 installments, but no money is to go to John
sexton or anyone representing him …not wanting any part thereof to be applied to
his use.”
1820 Floyd County
Census
1822 May 26 John
Sexton m. to Susy Collins Merriman McGee bond.
1823-1827 Pike County
Tax list
1828 Mar 12 Jerusha
Collins marries Joseph BLAIR John Sexton “father” Collins struck out and Sexton
written in.
1830 Pike Co Census –
with ages of those in household that appear to be Joseph and Jerusha BLAIR
1831 Lawrence County,
KY tax list
1834 4 April
Pensioned Lawrence County, KY one of wit Archibald Rice which also lives in
Twin Branch area.
1835 4 Sep DEATH
NOTES
DNA suggests Isaiah 1813 is a son of Jonathan.
The 1820 Census of Floyd County shows 1 male over 45 (John), 1 male 10-16, 2 males 0-10 (Isaiah and Joseph), a female 26 -45 and 2 females 1-10. Ages indicate this researcher has not identified all in this grouping.
DNA suggests Jonathan could be a brother to Timothy Sexton who married Esther Sisel. He was in Camden District South, Caroline as early as 1782. He also appears in Russell County, Virginia for a short time. He died in Morgan County, TN in 1832.
Rebecca McDannald Sexton
is mentioned again in the estate of Elizabeth Stitlington as late as 1830. In
1837 the will of Ellender McDanald references 180 acres adjoining the Sexton
Place. This suggests continued court
record research in Bath and probably Greenbrier counties.
William Sexton of
Bath County gave Power of Attorney to Robert
McCutcheon to convey 6 acres on
Cow Pasture adjoining Robert Sitlington to Thomas Kinkead 12 Oct 1797.
Susy Collins Sexton was
still living in 1854 when she received a last pension payment. To date she has not been located by this
researcher either in Carter or Lawrence County, KY. But in 1848 the Carter County court gave her
funds for maintenance.
Let’s use assumption
one more time and go back to that 1850 census in Carter County later Boyd
County, KY. In 1850 she would have been about
70 years of age. What happened to Joseph
and Jerusha Blair? This researcher cannot
locate them in the 1850 either. Did
Joseph and Jerusha have a child Leann that appears in the 1850 census with Mark
and Catherine Sexton Sexton? If so another
double lines because Leanna Blair married 21 March 1862 Bartlett Hascue Sexton
daughter of Hulda going back the Bartlett Sexton line.
Please feel free to
email me at Deliverancefarm@gmail.com
