Marcus “Mark” Sexton: Whispers from the Grave; Klaiber Cemetery, Boyd County, Kentucky

 

Compiled by Teresa Martin Klaiber

Marcus Sexton was born 2 January 1812, in Virginia to Elisha and Tabitha “Bitha” Sexton.  His parents were members of Stoney Creek Church, in Russell County, Virginia when Marcus was born.

Marcus along with his wife Catherine came thru Pound Gap into Kentucky before 1836.  They lived a few years in Perry and Letcher County, Kentucky before migrating northward to Carter County, Kentucky. 

Marcus is highlighted in a book I wrote several years ago Catherine Heart and Soul.    The 1865 Internal Revenue Records give his occupation as “stallion keeper.[i]”   He was involved in several court cases including one concerning a black horse.  Marcus and Catherine lived on Pigeon Roost, Boyd County, Kentucky and later moved to Lawrence County, Kentucky, on Bell’s Fork, where he died 22 October 1877.  He was buried on Bell’s Fork.

Catherine came back to Boyd County and by the time she died in June 1893 was living on Long Branch of Garner with her son Henry Powell Sexton and family.  In November 1893 the Big Sandy News reported: “Powell Sexton of Garner passed thru Bolts Fork yesterday with the remains of his father who died 16 years ago and had been exhumed and buried in the family graveyard beside his wife who died a short time ago.”[ii]

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[i] Internal Revenue Service Record Group 58. Roll 21, Oct 1865

[ii] Big Sandy News 10 Nov 1893

Emily Alice Lucas Kelley: Whispers from the Grave; Klaiber Cemetery, Boyd County, Kentucky

 

Compiled by Teresa Martin Klaiber 2023

 

Emily Alice Lucas Kelley was born circa 1868 in Carter County, Kentucky.  Alice was the daughter Henry Kane Lucas and Lucinda “Cinda” Sexton.  

The Henry Lucas family lived close to the Kelley family in 1880 in Carter County, Kentucky. Alice married Samuel Franklin “Frank” Kelley about 1885 when she was still a teen.  At this writing no official marriage record has been located.  Between 1886 and September 1894 Alice and Frank had five children: Henry, Dimmie, Laura, Rosie and Maude.

On 15 November 1895, Alice’s mother-in-law Eliza, wife of Joseph Kelley, died and was buried in Klaiber Cemetery. I blogged several times in 2010 about Eliza and her wayward husband Joseph Kelley.  In Joseph Kelley Goes to Prison I also talk about Alice’s husband, Samuel Franklin Kelley, son of Joseph Kelley. 

As a married woman, Alice Lucas Kelley “fell between the cracks” because so much of the 1890 Federal Census was destroyed and her husband does not appear to own land in the area.   She is cited as the mother of several of her children in their later marriage records. Alice died in 1896, at the age of 28, and the only record, thus far, is the tombstone in Klaiber Cemetery.  Despite some attempt to file death records. uniform records were not maintained until 1911.  Thus far this compiler has not located any local news article concerning Alice Lucas Kelley’s death either.

Emily Alice Lucas Kelley tombstone prior to 1990’s repair.

Klaiber Cemetery E. Alice Kelley tombstone after repair

 

Alice’s husband, Samuel “Frank” Kelley, was born in February 1865 in Lawrence County, Ohio but grew up in Boyd County, Kentucky   He was only four years old when his father was sent to prison. In the 1870’s the Kelley’s were residing on Trace, Boyd County, according to tax records (no land value).  By 1876 they begin to appear on Garner, Boyd County.

 After Alice died, Frank remarried 20 June 1897[i], to Elizabeth in Carter County, Kentucky.  The marriage leaves a little unsolved mystery for this compiler.  Henry Sexton acted as surety[ii].  Both Frank and Henry sign by mark.  The marriage states that Elizabeth’s maiden name is FULTON/FELTON and this is her first marriage. Look carefully at the marriage certificate and you will see they were married at James Osters which this compiler believes should read James Austin’s. Her obituary[iii] in May 1945 states that her brothers are James Austin(of Russell, KY) and Samuel Austin (of Rush, KY) among others.  Records for their children also state her maiden name as Austin.  The Austin’s lived on Trace, Boyd County in 1880[iv].  By 1900 James Austin was still mining coal and Samuel and James along with others are in District 7 of Carter County, Kentucky.

 

Frank Kelley was a coal miner.  Just months after his 2^nd marriage he had two horses stolen[v] which would certainly be a financial loss to the family. Coal mining in Eastern Kentucky was hard and in the 1890’s the workers in Carter County were earning below the state average.[vi]

When the mines began to produce less in Boyd/Carter County, miners moved in several directions including Coalton, Jackson County, Ohio; Morgan and Perry County, Ohio looking for work.  This compiler has a special interest in these migration patterns.  Frank and his family migrated to Morgan County, Ohio and finally settled in McLuney, Harrison Township of Perry County, Ohio.  Perry County was a tromping ground for research and cemeteries for many years for me.  Thus my interest was doubled with a connection to Klaiber Cemetery, in Boyd County, Kentucky, and Perry County, Ohio records.  Samuel Franklin Kelley died 2 October 1943[vii] at his home in Harrison Township, Perry County, Ohio. Elizabeth Austin Kelley, his wife, died 7 May 1945.  Both are buried in Iliff Cemetery, Perry County, Ohio along with other family members.  Other Austin relatives are buried in Coalton Cemetery, Boyd County, Kentucky, as well.

Emily Alice Lucas Kelley is not alone in Klaiber Cemetery.  Besides her mother-in-law both her mother and father and two brothers are at peace in this hollowed ground.

 

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[i] Ky, Carter, Marriage Bond p 134 & marriage stating Frank 2^nd married and Elizabeth Fulton/Felton age 24 first m.

[ii] This compiler believes that this Henry is Henry Powell Sexton b 22 Jan 1853 , married Hiley Jane Branham.  They also lived in Dist 7 of Carter County 1900.  Henry was s/o Samuel P Sexton and wife Elizabeth Madden.

[iii] Times Records, 8 May 1945 , page 2

[iv] 1880 Federal Census, KY, Boyd Trace…James Austin  28 coalminer b. VA, Sarah 29, ELIZABETH 9 b. KY, Maggie W 6 Cintha A 3, John Austin brother 10 coal miner

[v] Big Sandy News, 3 Dec 1897

[vi] Banks, Alan J., Land and Capital in Eastern Kentucky 1890-1950. Appalachian Journal, Vol. 8, 1989

[vii] Zanesville Signal, 5 Oct 1943

John Calvin Clayton

 Compiled by Teresa Martin Klaiber, Dec. 2022

John Calvin Clayton, [Thomas, Thomas, Zebulon, John, Edmund, Henry] was born 24 March 1773.  Some say he was born in Hampshire County [W] Virginia  When John was 77 years old he told the 1850 census taker he was born in New Jersey.   He was one of eight known  children of Thomas and Mary  Clayton.

His father, Thomas Clayton first appears on the Personal Property Tax of Hampshire County, Virginia in 1791.

John Calvin Clayton married  Mary Brown about 1799 possibly in Hampshire or Frederick County, Virginia No marriage record as been located at this writing.  He purchased lot #33 in the town of Springfield, Hampshire County, Virginia on 16 December 1799.  A copy of the deed was carefully preserved and saved between the pages of his great grand daughter Dessie Clayton Feyler’s family bible.  Springfield had been established in 1790.  The lots were ½ acre each.  Purchasers were to build a dwelling house at least 16 feet square with a brick or stone chimney and must be finished and fit for habitation within 5 years after the purchase.  Failure to build on a lot would be cause for the town trustees to sell the lot over again and use the money for the benefit of the inhabitants of the town.  

John and Mary Brown Clayton sold the property in May 1804.  This deed was also preserved by the Clayton family and handed down in Dessie’s bible.  It must be assumed that the family did build and live under the restrictions required to have sold and made a profit from the property.  

The Clayton’s migrated to Muskingum County, Ohio to a portion that would be set apart a few years later as Perry County.  The township would be named for these early Clayton pioneers.  John and Mary traveled with both sets of parents and two toddlers.  Thomas had been born 17 February 1800 and our ancestor, Alexander, was born 17 June 1802.

John’s father, Thomas, died in August 1813 leaving his estate to be equally divided among his children.  His father’s dwelling house and personal effects were advertised for sale in the Zanesville Express in September and the estate finalized soon after.  

John’s land holdings were growing.  He is listed as an entryman in Perry County which included 156.26 acres of land.  In 1825 John and Mary Brown Clayton sold property in Clayton Township to Moses Goodin.  It is thought by this compiler, that Moses Goodin’s 2nd wife Mary Clayton, is the widowed mother of John.  In 1827 John sold an acre of land to the directors of school lands in Clayton township.  The Claytons were paid $4.00 for the property.  Historians have been unable to pinpoint when the original log school house was built.

John and his wife appear on the rolls of the Unity Presbyterian Church. In 1837 they obtained permission to remove themselves to the church at New Lexington. John died 5 May 1854 at the age of 81 years and was buried in Unity Presbyterian Church Yard, Clayton Township, Perry County, Ohio.  Mary his widow held the estate until her death.  A Petition to sell the land of the estate of John Clayton was filed in 1859.  The Inventory of the accounts included two tombstones from McMitchel for $20.00 and Gruber and Son for coffins and service $16.00.  In 1993 John’s tombstone was found by the compiler and her husband on the ground.   The stone was repaired by the Klaiber's.

Reviewing on-line trees at places like Ancestry show newer researchers making an egregious error.  They show John Calvin Clayton with a marriage in Perry County, Ohio to Mary Ann Carroll in 1834.    This John C. Clayton was born 16 May 1812 and is the son of Joseph Clayton and his wife Mary.  John C. Clayton was/is a nephew of John Calvin Clayton that married Mary Brown.

Alexander Brown - A wee bit Irish

Alexander Brown - A wee bit Irish

By Teresa Martin Klaiber January 2020

Alexander Brown, was born in Ireland, according to son, Rev. Matthew Brown, family stories, and children’s census records. At least three sons were born in Ireland: Adam Brown born 8 April 1766, Samuel born about 1770, and Isaac Newton Brown born 16 April 1771.

Both Adam and Samuel migrated from Ireland to Hampshire County, Virginia, where their father  settled, then on to Ohio County, Kentucky. When Adam Brown died in Ohio County, 10 August 1853 from flux, the death register listed his father Alexander and mother as Winney Brown.  Winney is most likely short for Winifred an old English/Welsh given name.  DNA,  for this compiler, indicates that Adam is a ½ brother to later siblings, confirming, what earlier researchers suspected, that Alexander had more than one wife.

In a published sketch, it is stated that Samuel Brown immigrated to America with his father when he was twelve years old[i].  If this statement is accurate then Alexander and family migrated to America in 1782.  According to one researcher[ii] Winney Brown died in Ireland before the migration.

The first confirmed documentation of Alexander Brown is in Frederick County, Virginia on the personal property tax of 1782 with 10 white and 1 black within the household.  From experience, this compiler believes that Alexander actually arrived in America about 1781 to be established in Fredrick and paying taxes by 1782.   Historically the Irish Volunteers had organized and in December 1781 had met at a meeting place of the Presbyterian Synod of Ulster. The Brown children appear in later Presbyterian records in America.  As they settled in America they were faced with talk of the Battle of Guilford Court House in North Carolina and the surrender at Yorktown.

Conjecture repeated by some researchers say Alexander had a wife Mary Bradford. Grace Kelso Garner[iii], wrote that Nancy Caudy daughter of James Caudy, Jr. married 30 October 1781 to George Alexander Brown. She then cites the children of our Alexander Brown. In 1995, Wilmer L. Kerns wrote in Frederick County Virginia Settlement And Some First Families of Back Creek Valley that Garner was erroneous.  A deed and mortgage involving Alexander and Thomas Lewis written a year prior to Alexander’s death indicates that his wife was named Ann.[iv]  To date it is not clear who the mother of nine of Alexander’s children was.

Alexander was active in Frederick County and was witness to the will of John Buckanon in January 1789.   In 1791 Alexander Brown purchased property from William Linegar in Hampshire County, Virginia. He paid 120 pounds for 223 acres on the North River at Great Cacapon.  He settled at the mouth of the North River of the Great Cacapon on the wagon road leading from Romney (Hampshire County)  to Winchester (Frederick County).  The state road was completed from Winchester to Romney in 1786.  Brown was involved in a Chancery court case involving Isabel Feeley in 1795.[v]  By March 1792 he was established in his new home and  appears in a list of letters remaining at the post office at Winchester, Frederick County, Virginia.[vi]

Kern’s surmised that Alexander Brown was a blacksmith because he gave grandson William Day blacksmith tools in his will.  Alexander wrote his will on the fourteenth day of August 1816.  Alexander Brown stated these were the tools that he had set up William’s father with. William Day was one of the children of Alexander’s daughter Nancy Brown. Nancy had three children with Ammery Day[vii].  William’s siblings were John Day and Larkin Day.  In 1798 Thomas Henderson was cited as living in adultery with Nancy.  The Day children later utilized the Henderson surname.  Thus it is unclear, at this writing, if Brown set up blacksmith tools for Ammery Day or for Thomas Henderson.  Alexander references daughter Nancy as Day in his will so it is “assumed” the blacksmith tools were for Day.  There is documentation that Alexander Brown paid tax on a grist mill in 1814 and the property he sold to Thomas Lewis has a “merchant” mill which is mentioned further in this report.  He would be paying tax on a mill if it was on his property.  As of this report it is unclear if he is the miller.

No wife is mentioned in Alexander Brown’s will. He gave a slave each to son Adam and Samuel. Alexander then requested that his plantation be sold and the sums divided among the children. He appointed “trusty friend” George Sharf, Daniel Carmichael and John Caudy to be executors of the estate.  The appraisement was June 1817.

The estate lingered in court.  The Winchester Gazette announced a trust sale 19 Oct 1822 for 124 acres by subscriber Thomas Lewis for payment of a certain sum due to George Sharf and Daniel Carmicheal, executors of Alexander Brown.  The land was to be sold at the tavern door of said Lewis upon the premises to the highest bidder.  The land described as on the road leading from Winchester to Romney including a Merchant Mill[viii] and an excellent stand for a tavern having been occupied as such for several years.  It appears the property did not sell at that time.  Instead it was leased to John Martin & Nicholas Baker with John Brown acting as trustee prior to John’s migration to Perry County, Ohio.  They failed to make their payments.[ix] In October 1828 Matthew Brown, David Brown, John Clayton & Polly late Brown his wife, David Pugh and wife Jane late Brown, Samuel Rusk and Elizabeth nee Brown his wife appointed Isaac Brown of Perry County, Ohio to act as their attorney-in-fact.[x]  It was not until April 1834 that Adam and Samuel Brown both of Ohio County, Kentucky also appointed Isaac Brown to act as their attorney-in-fact.[xi]  Isaac Newton Brown finalized the sale of the property to John Wolford in 1837.[xii]

The will, as well as tax records, prove that Alexander Brown was a slave owner.  Son Matthew Brown was interviewed, in Bowling Green, Ohio, as the oldest man in the county. He said that when a lad he saw his father sell a woman who had two little children and saw the frantic mother begging to intercede for permission for her to come back some time and see her children.[xiii] This left a deep impression on Matthew who became a devout minister.

Children of Alexander Brown

i.  Adam Brown born 8 April 1766.  Married Marry Baldwin. Resided Ohio County, Kentucky.

ii. Samuel Brown, born about 1770  Ireland, married Hannah Taylor.  Resided in Ohio County, Kentucky.

iii. Nancy Brown birth estimated 1766-1784. M. Ammery Day, associated with Thomas Henderson. Resided in Hampshire County, Virginia.

iv. Isaac Newton Brown, born 16 April 1771 in Ireland; died 01 March 1853  Perry County Ohio; married (1) Mary Clayton 27 October 1795; born 18 February 1777 in VA; died 27 January 1822 in Perry County Ohio; married (2) Eleanor Chenoweth 27 March 1823 in Perry County Ohio.

v. Jane Brown birth estimated between 1775 – 1794.  Married David Pugh. Jane died  19 Sep. 1824 Perry County, Ohio.

vi. Mary Brown, born February 1779; died 28 August 1858 in Clayton Township, Perry County Ohio; married John Calvin Clayton Abt. 1799. Died Perry County, Ohio. She is the ancestor of this compiler.

vii. Elizabeth Brown born between 1785 & 1794. Married Samuel Rusk. Resided Perry County, Ohio.

viii. Rev Matthew Brown, born 16 June 1786 Frederick County VA; died 27 October 1884 Wood County Ohio; married Mary Constance Queen 14 April 1811.

ix.  John Brown born 1791 – 1792. Hampshire Co., Va. 1810. Said to marry 1. Polly Skinner.  John 1830 in Pike Twp., Perry Co., OH with female b 1790-1800. Marries Mary Meddleton in Perry County, Ohio in 1836.  Rev. Matthew Brown performed marriage. Migrated to Knox Co., MO between 1850 & 60.  He names a son Isaac.  (Isaac Newton Brown s/o Alexander also bore a son John Brown in 1798 Hampshire County.  Caution researchers to not confuse records). 

x. David Brown born about 1793 Hampshire County, Virginia.  Migrated to Pike Township, Perry County, Ohio.

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[i] W. H. PERRIN. J. H. BATTLE, G. C. KNIFFIN, KENTUCKY A HISTORY OF THE STATE, EMBRACING A CONCISE ACCOUNT OF THE ORIGIN AND DEVELOPMENT OF THE VIRGINIA COLONY; ITS EXPANSION WESTWARD, AND THE SETTLEMENT OF THE FRONTIER BEYOND THE ALLEGHANIES; THE ERECTION OF KENTUCKY AS AN INDEPENDENT STATE, AND ITS SUBSEQUENT DEVELOPMENT. , F. A. BATTEY AND COMPANY, 1888.[ii] Hal Harrocks[iii] Early Settlers of Western Frederick and Eastern Hampshire County[iv] Virginia, Hampshire dbk 19 p. 288-290 Alexander Brown and wife Ann to Thomas Lewis of Hampshire County, VA.[v] Library of Va., Chancery Record Index. Frederick 1795-014 LVA reel 175 206 329[vi] Bowen’s Centinel and Gazette. 12 March 1792[vii]Amory Day sold pp to Ransom Day for 35.83 in 1815.  The items included beds, blankets, spinning wheel…tools. Hampshire dbk 19 p 139-40.[viii] Map of Mill Sites c. 1859  shows “a” mill on the road from Romney at North River.  HistoricHampshire.org    James Caudy property was also on North river and he is known to have had a mill in 1813/14.[ix] Virginia, Hampshire dbk 26 p 360[x] Virginia, Hampshire Dbk 26 pp320-321[xi] Virginia, Hampshire Dbk 29 page 326[xii] Virginia, Hampshire dbk 41 page 124.[xiii] Wood County Sentinel, 2 April 1881.

Clayton’s of Clayton Township, Perry County, Ohio

By Teresa Martin Klaiber Jan. 2020

Perry County was named for Oliver Hazard Perry. Ohio counties are divided into townships.   The Muskingum and Hocking River flow through Clayton Township in Perry County.  Known as, Township 16 it was named for Thomas Clayton, (Thomas, Zebulon, John, Edmund).  The road that led to Clayton Township took the Clayton’s from New Jersey to Virginia, before settling in Ohio.

John Calvin Clayton[i] was born 24 March 1773, the eldest child of Thomas (b. 1742 Monmouth County, NJ) and wife Mary. Brother, Joseph, was born in New Jersey about 1775.   The family paid their tax in Shrewsbury, Upper Freehold, Monmouth County until 1779 according to published extractions.  Thomas’ father was still living which may cause a bit of confusion with the extractions.

Thomas and Mary, with their two small sons, migrated to Hampshire County, Virginia.  According to Historic Hampshire quite a few were from the northern hills of New Jersey which resembled their new land. The tie to New Jersey was so strong that they named a mountain Jersey Mountain. Today you can still drive along Jersey Mountain Road.[ii]  Bible records indicate that John Calvin Clayton’s little sister Mary was born 18 February 1777 in Virginia. 

Thomas Clayton, already described as a resident, of Hampshire County, Virginia appears as an assignee[iii] of Jonathon Pugh for land on Tear Coat and Little Capon 26 May 1778. He received his land grant for 424 acres. The Capon River also known as the Cacapon River drew a great migration during this time frame.

Thomas is credited with a Public Service Claim in the Patriotic Service Records, at the Virginia State Library, for supplying thirty pounds of flour in 1781 “for Frederick Starkey.” Starkey was born in Monmouth County, New Jersey in 1745 and married Mary King.  Several researchers, at the time of this writing, on popular genealogy sites, state that Frederick Starkey’s parents were Thomas David Starkey born between 1781 and 1722, in New Jersey and wife Ann Clayton.  Ann Clayton was born 16 May 1689, a Quaker, in Newport Rhode Island and was the daughter of David Clayton and Amy Cooke.  This would make Thomas Clayton and Frederick Starkey cousins (third once removed).

While 1781 was the height of the Revolutionary War, the family was doing well, having been taxed for 10 cattle and 4 horses in Hampshire County. Thomas and Mary had their fourth son William the following year. Daughters Elizabeth, Martha and Rachel were born two years apart beginning in 1784.

In October 1797 Thomas and Mary sold 212 acres of land to Tunis Peterson and another 212 acres to Stephen Lee. This accounts for all 424 acres of the land grant. Thomas continues to tithe in the county and was ordered to work the North River Road in 1788.  One road survey, in the county minutes cites “Clayton’s on the Frankfort Road.”[iv]  He also served several times on county court juries.  In December 1799 he purchased a lot in the town of Springfield on Market Street.[v] Springfield is in the northwestern portion of Hampshire County in what is now West Virginia. The town was well established by the time they purchased their lot. 

The family paid taxes in Springfield until 1804 when they sold the town lot.[vi]  His daughter-in-law, Mary Brown Clayton’s brother Isaac Brown was one of the witness to the sale. They made 100% profit from this sale having purchased the lot for $50.00 and selling it for $100.00.   The next year Thomas begins making payments under the credit system for land in Muskingum County, Ohio.  Apparently doing well Clayton bought  254 more acres in 1809, on Spring Gap in Hampshire County, Virginia.

With a bit of wonder lust, and owning 254 acres in Hampshire, Thomas appears to meet up with others from Turkey Creek, Somerset County, Pennsylvania for the migration to Ohio. We assume this is how son Samuel met his wife-to-be, Phebe Rush, who was a member of the Jersey Church in Somerset County. 

Thomas and his family settled in what was then Muskingum but would become known as Clayton Township, Perry County, Ohio. Thomas is listed as an Entryman and continued to make payments at the Zanesville Land office until 1810 when his land was entered as all payments received. The township was named in his honor. His patent was registered 23 December 1811. In April the following year son William received a patent in the same area as an assignee of Thomas.  john Calvin Clayton (compiler's ancestor) received his, along with brother Joseph,  in July 1814 in Section 29. 

Thomas Clayton, at the age of 71, died in August 1813 in Clayton township while still Muskingum County, Ohio, leaving a will that was probated on August 25^th. He provided for his wife Mary leaving her bed and bedding and land of her choice. He also requested that his dwelling house and personal effects be sold and the money divided among his children. The sale was advertised in the Zanesville Express September 6, 1813. No grave has been located but it has been assumed that Thomas Clayton and possibly Mary were buried in early graves in Unity Presbyterian Church in Clayton Township.

Muskingum County, Ohio Will Book A page 224

Unity Church is one of the oldest religious organizations in the county.  The Church sat within the township on a rolling hill. Today all that remains is Unity Presbyterian Church Cemetery. Among the tombstones you will find the graves of John Calvin Clayton (Thomas, Thomas, Zebulon, John, Edmund) and wife Mary Brown Clayton.  We visited several times while residing in Muskingum County, Ohio.  My husband spent several back breaking hours up-righting John Clayton’s stone in the early 1990’s. 

We know so little about Mary. Yet she was a pioneer woman having migrated from New Jersey to Virginia, finally settling in the township that would be named in her husband’s honor. By virtue of the birth of Thomas’ known children researchers estimated the marriage circa 1772.

There is a marriage of Thomas Clayton to Mary Walker in Christ Church, Philadelphia on 16 June 1772. Because of the proximity to Monmouth County, New Jersey with Philadelphia, researchers have been quick to attribute this marriage with our Mary.  This compiler, felt researchers were not taking into consideration seven other Clayton marriages listed in Christ Church, none attributed to our direct ancestor.  None of the early researchers supplied further documentation. With extensive research, locating the diaries of Jacob Hiltzheimer, I know that the marriage is another Clayton family.   Mary Walker was sister of Hannah Walker who married Jacob Hiltzheimer.  Thomas Clayton requested permission to marry Jacob’s sister-in-law in April 1772.  Mary Walker Clayton “wife of Col. Thomas Clayton” remained in Chester county where she died, age 40, July 1790, and was buried in Friend’s Cemetery.

Even though, to date we do not know Mary’s maiden name, she like other pioneers had to be a strong woman. Sadly, women were not given the credit of men in that day.  Women of the day were often there to do the work and have children. It appears that while Mary had a choice of property she did not stay in her own "dwelling house" as it was sold according to court records. Mary is on the roll of Unity Church in 1816.  In April 1818, the 254 acres were sold on her behalf in Hampshire County, signed by all the heirs of Thomas Clayton, deceased.[vii]

She was dismissed from the rolls of Unity in March 1822. Seven months after being dismissed from church, Moses Goodin, Sr. married Mary Clayton on 24 October 1822 in Perry County. Moses was born before 1755 and had grown children. Age wise he would have been a contemporary of Mary. Moses Goodin sold Mary Clayton’s grandson property in Reading Township in 1825 and at the same time purchased property from Mary’s son, John Calvin Clayton and wife Mary Brown Clayton, in Clayton township. The land in Clayton township was described as second class with no meadow. Moses Goodin died 20 September 1836 and was buried in Hopewell Cemetery in Somerset, Perry County. Goodin researchers report no information on Mary, either unaware of this 2nd marriage or because of their age, simply not citing it. When Moses died, his will written 17 April 1831, mentions no wife only his children by his first marriage. It is assumed by this researcher that Mary must have died between 1825 and 1831.

Thomas Clayton and Mary had eight children. Thomas and Mary’s daughter Mary married Isaac Brown and through daughter Jane are direct ancestors of Past President Richard Milhous Nixon.  Thomas and Mary’s eldest son John Calvin Clayton married Mary “Polly” Brown, sister of Isaac.  Richard Nixon was their third great grandnephew.

Son, John Calvin Clayton received his grant for land in Muskingum, later Perry, the year his father died, 1813.  In 1827 the directors of school lands paid John Clayton $4.00 for one acre in the same range, section 29.  John Calvin Clayton continued to live in Clayton Township until his death 5 May 1854.  

Unity Cemetery, Clayton Township, Perry County, Ohio

Son, Joseph settled in Washington County, Ohio and died 7 May 1829.  Son William died in 1847 in Illinois.  Daughter Elizabeth born about 1784 married William Minniear and settled in Miami/ Shelby county, Ohio.  Daughter Martha married Isaac Millison and remained in Hampshire County, Virginia.  Rachel Clayton, the youngest child of Thomas and Mary married Jonathon Carroll and died in 1840 in Perry County, Ohio.

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[i] 4^th great grandfather of compiler.
[ii] Jersey Mountain is now known as Three Churches.[iii] a person to whom a right or liability is legally transferred[iv] June 1798
[v] Virginia, Hampshire dbk 12 p. 139-40
[vi] Virginia, Hampshire dbk 13 p 181-5
[vii] Virginia, Hampshire dbk 21 - 384

Remembering Robert Morris Rennick

compiled by Teresa Martin Klaiber August 2010

The Lexington Herald and the Daily Independent ran a very small obituary announcing the death of Robert M. Rennick in Prestonsburg, Kentucky on August 6th. Mr. Rennick was a rather quiet person with a very active life.

While working in the genealogy department of the Boyd County Library he would come in, always dressed in his suit and with a small smile and a nod get right to work. On several occasions Mrs. Rennick would accompany him patiently waiting for him to complete his work.

Mr. Rennick always enjoyed talking with me about place names in Boyd County. Our conversation usually ended up with a discussion about why there is a Big and Little Garner in Boyd County. Rennick was quick to point out to me that his interest was geography. It only took a few moments to realize the gentleman was not only versed in geography but had acquired mountains of historical information for every county in Kentucky.

As I sit here I have my copy of Kentucky Place Names beside me. Rennick authored many books including From Red Hot to Monkey's Eyebrow: Unusual Kentucky Place Names which was released about the time I first was acquainted with Mr. Rennick. He was chairman of the Kentucky Committee on Geographic Names and was coordinator of the Kentucky Place Names Survey. Rennick knew all the now gone post offices around the state. He was a frequent contributor to the Kentucky Humanities Council magazine and a member of The American Names Society.

In 2005 he wrote an interesting article for the Humanities Council on nicknames that overshadow real names of places in our state. While the article is short it is long in lessons for researchers that can not locate a given place that might be handed down in family stories.

John Kleber listed Robert Rennick as a Floyd County notable in the Kentucky Encyclopedia. I found him down to earth during our pleasant conversations. He knew his away around every repository in the state of Kentucky and was a walking encyclopedia with or without map in hand. Every time we shared an afternoon in the library together I felt I learned something new, yet he was the one who would always stop at the door to take the time to thank me for assistance. I assured him each time that the honor was all mine.

We never resolved the question about Big Garner and Little Garner in Boyd County. I was able to share with him that the first notation of Garner I could locate in Carter County records in 1845. Both of us were aware that no Garner family resided in the area in those early years. He was quick to point out that there is a Garner in southeastern Kentucky, now Knott County. Many migrated through the Pound into Letcher and Perry before moving northward in Eastern Kentucky. Knott was formed much later from portions of Letcher, Floyd and Perry Counties. If I ever find the key that unlocks the question I certainly will have Robert Morris Rennick in my thoughts.