In this multi-part blog series, we examine “Hiram Fee” to educate genealogical research and deduction methods.
Several weeks ago, I was on the telephone with a gentleman who had questions regarding the westward expansion from Grayson County, Virginia into Kentucky. Amidst the explanations of King George’s Royal Proclamation of 1763, Richard Henderson’s Transylvania Company, and Daniel Boone’s development of the Wilderness Trail through the Cumberland Gap, he made an inquisitive statement.
“How do people know that the person they’ve added into their tree is really the person that should be in their tree?”
Good question.
Assume I introduce myself as Phil when you and I meet on a busy
street. You would most likely accept my introduction. But how do you really know
my name is Phil? You could ask for my drivers license. But how do you know the license
is mine? How do you know the information on the license is correct? You could ask
for my birth certificate and verify my age. You could even ask for my utility bill
and verify my address.
Quite simply, given the circumstances in how the information
is presented, you’ll accept a level of data on faith. We live in a time where identification
cards are issued with additional checks and balances. We accept a drivers license
has the correct and necessary information, even if we lied a little on our height
and weight, which does not require proof. And faith only goes so far. If you were
a store clerk and I was to write you a check, you’d need some additional documents
to believe that the check was from my bank account. If you were a coroner in the
absence of verbal statements or written documents, you might verify my dental records
or DNA.
What you have then is a system of people defending their faith
or belief with the available information. I believe you are who you say you are
because you told me. Or because you have some form of identification. Or because
the science proves it. And yes, even with increasing levels of data, some people
will continue to question its validity, or refuse to accept data contrary to their
belief.
The same is true for genealogy. It is a system where you assess
historical documents, examine DNA markers, take a leap of faith, and occasionally
challenge assumptions. And regrettably, get involved in an argument as to who is
“more correct.”
So there have been a few blogs regarding cautionary advice on “user submitted data” and today’s “click and save” software which makes it easy to build your family tree, or makes it just as easy to screw it up. One blog cautioned that even with “leafy hints” you may still have to do some hard work to find the family connections. The blog on Enos “Bear” Hensley was an example of how you might have to really sort out the information at hand. There is a lot of online advice against copying another person’s tree.
One common issue you may face is what to do when confronted with
multiple people with the same name living in the same vicinity at the same time.
For example, there are about six Gary Farmer’s living in Battle Creek, Michigan.
One is my father; we have no idea who the other five are and have never met them,
yet we are constantly asked if we are related. For those researching the Osborne,
Skidmore, or any family surname where each of the branches names their children
after the patriarch, you know the struggle. For anyone researching a John Smith,
we definitely feel your pain.
Deepest sympathies for those constructing the family tree of John Jacob Jingleheimer Schmidt.
This is probably more evident when reading forums or looking
at family trees in which aspects of multiple people are presented as one. For example,
assume there is a John Doe (1811-1879) married to Susan, and a John Doe (1816-1867)
married to Rachel. Just with two different birth dates, two different death dates,
and two different spouses, if you confused the two, then there are now eight different
combinations of John Doe’s with a John Doe (1811-1867) married to Rachel, a John
Doe (1816-1879) married to Susan, and so on.
One such name is “Hiram Fee” and using him as an example, this
blog is part one in a series that continues the education on genealogical research
and deduction methods.
I first came across a “Hiram Fee” when researching Stephen Farmer’s daughter, Malinda Farmer (1817-1900). Malinda married Enoch Osborne (1811-1860) on 04 November 1834 and together they had a daughter, Sarah J. Osborne (1845-1916). Sarah married Henderson Fee (1839-1918), the son of John Fee and Jane Lee.
The 1870 United States Federal Census shows Henderson and his
wife Sarah. Ten years later, the 1880 United States Federal Census shows Henderson
with his wife Sarah and a son Hiram, age four. The 1900 United States Federal Census
shows Henderson, Sarah, and mother-in-law “Belinda Thompson,” presumably Malinda
(Farmer) Osborne who appears to have remarried after her husband Enoch died in 1860.
1880 United States Federal Census, Harlan County, of Henderson, Sarah, and Hiram Fee.
After adding Hiram as Henderson and Sarah’s son, no leafy hint appeared. So I started a records search. Yet after searching, I had no other document that added a name to what I knew. For example, no death certificate could be found that had Hiram, Henderson, and Sarah’s names, or a marriage document with their names and Hiram’s wife. A Kentucky County Marriage Record has a Hiram Fee marrying a Sallie Farmer on 08 March 1907. But which Hiram Fee? Which Sallie Farmer?
A Hiram Fee marries Sallie Farmer on 08 March 1907 in Harlan County.
It appeared there may be several Hiram Fee’s in Harlan County
at about the same time.
So what do you now?
STEP #1: STOP WITH WHAT YOU KNOW.
If you start attaching a lot of documents and you don’t document
how you came to your conclusions, you’d be painstakingly deconstructing your tree
if your assumption was incorrect and learning the importance to document, document,
document, then verify, verify, verify.
STEP #2: EXPAND THE FAMILY BRANCHES.
When dealing with multiple names in a family surname, you may
need to go beyond a direct ancestor or descendent. I will admit that when I first
started, I didn’t add much information on the spouses’ branches. This is partly
because the amount of work would become overwhelming on family members that were
not direct descendants, and partially because I didn’t need the constant reminder
or spam that I had 1,834,273 hints on those ancestors. If you also adopted that
approach, note that from time-to-time, you may need to research the spouse family
branches, especially when two or more intermarry into the same family (e.g. Mr.
X marries Ms. Y whose brother Mr. Y marries Mr. X’s sister.)
Thus began a process of elimination in branching all of the second,
third, and fourth cousins to determine if more than one Hiram Fee was living in
the same vicinity at the same time.
Click to enlarge. Multiple Hiram Fee’s living in Harlan at the same time.
[Note: This blog edited from an earlier version. The family tree had the spouse of Jane Lee as John Gregg Fee in error.]
Philip Farmer is the author and publisher of “Edward Farmar and the Sons of Whitemarsh,” a 500-page, 155-year biographical history of the Farmer family’s immigration from Ireland into Pennsylvania, North Carolina, Virginia, Tennessee, and Harlan County, Kentucky. Complete with bibliography and footnotes that supports the research. Check out LuLu’s current discounts which may save you money than purchasing through Amazon, Barnes & Noble, Walmart, or other retailers.
Click me for more info
“Very well written and researched…” Ms. L. King
“I love your work… Very interesting!” Ms. B. H. Baker
“Amazing research!” Ms. J. Shipley
“Wonderfully researched, well written… recommend it even if you’re not related to the Farmar’s…”Mr. D. Roark
“Excellent book! We highly recommend!”Ms. E. Wolf
“Very informative and interesting. I could not put it down.” Ms. E. Farley
With the end of this week’s mid-term elections, it seemed like a good time to discuss James Farmer’s first year as a representative in Kentucky’s House of Representatives.
In 1824, at the age of twenty-five, James Farmer, the son of Stephen Farmer, followed in his great, great grandfather Edward Farmar’s political steps and was elected to Kentucky’s House of Representatives. After taking several oaths required by the Constitution of the United States and of the Kentucky constitution, the Honorable James Farmer took his seat in the chamber to represent Harlan and Bell Counties.
The first order of business was to elect the Speaker of the House. Samuel Brents of Green County nominated George Robertson of Garrard County, and Robert Mosely of Ohio County nominated Robert J. Ward of Scott County. After two votes in which James voted for Robertson, Ward was elected as Speaker.
Governor Joseph Desha laid out in his letter a vision and mission for the legislature which included internal improvements, a review of the recent United States Supreme Court decision regarding claimant laws, a reorganization of the Judiciary, the sale of lands west of the Tennessee River, and a concern about the currency of the country.
It was during this session that the United States Secretary of State John Quincy Adams, under a Congressional resolution approved on 26 May 1824, sent copies of the Declaration of Independence to each state’s executive branch, to which Governor Desha presented a copy to the House on November 3. The next morning on 04 November 1824, a fire destroyed the State House.
Completed in 1824 at a cost of $40,000, the Kentucky Capitol burned down later that year on November 4.
The State House was the fifth location for legislative operations. The first location was a log house between Mill Street and Broadway before moving into a frame house on Wapping Street a year later in 1793, and then into a $3,500 stone building constructed in 1794. When the third State House burned down on 25 November 1813, a temporary building was rented for ten years until the new two-story, brick State House was finished in 1824 at a cost of $40,000. The legislature occupied the two rooms on the first floor while the courts occupied the second floor. Two detached wings were used as offices for state officials. Today, only the east wing which had survived the 1824 fire remains.[1]
The legislature met at a Methodist Church on the public square. Of the many orders and resolutions passed that day was a committee to determine where to continue holding the next meetings over the next several months.
Frankfort, Nov: 4TH, 1824;
Sir,
The undersigned take the liberty to inform you and the honorable House of Representatives, that they have been appointed a committee on the part of the citizens of the town of Frankfort, to provide such rooms, and make such arrangements for the accommodation of the General Assembly, as have been rendered necessary by the late calamitous conflagration of the Capitol. The committee, influenced by their own and by the unanimous feelings of their towns-men, have no other wish than to provide for the Legislature every accommodation that can render their situation agreeable, and suitable for the despatch [sic] of their public business. And in this sentiment we will take pleasure in co-operating with any committee that the General Assembly will appoint, and in giving every possible aid in our power, in procuring and preparing for the reception of the two houses, such rooms as your committee may select. We can venture to assure you that there is not a house in our town, that is not entirely at your service.
On November 5, J. Dubley and Dabney C. Cosby reported that,
“…Your committee have examined Captain Daniel Weisiger’s ball room, the house occupied by Mr. Benjamine Luckett, the Share holders room in the bank of Kentucky, and the meeting house and seminary on the public square, and are of opinion that the two latter buildings are better calculated to serve the purposes of the present General Assembly, than any of the others; and therefore recommend, that a committee be appointed to have said houses prepared forthwith.”[3]
James was appointed to the committee to investigate and prepare the best location to conduct the legislative business along with Thomas Kennedy of Garrard County, William Hunter of Franklin County, Martin Hardin of Hardin and Meade Counties, Presley Morehead of Logan County, and Thomas Middleton of Warren County. It was decided that the Senate was to meet at the seminary, and the House was to meet at the meeting house on the public square.
To make room for all members of the House, the pews were removed and two fireplaces were erected. Stoves were also placed at each end of the lobby. Additionally, due to times where the member of the House conducted business at the Senate, the committee determined that the seminary was too small to accommodate any considerable number of House members, but did identify a few rooms that could hold twelve to fifteen members. For those rooms, they installed cheap carpeting and furnished them with settees and chairs. They also laid gravel along the walkway between the meeting house and seminary to “render the communication easy and convenient.”
In the meantime, calls were made to determine if the Capitol could be rebuilt within its present walls, or if an entirely new building would have to be constructed. Other calls were made to relocate the seat of government from Frankfort to a more central and eligible site.
As the six-year term of the current representative in the United States Senate, Isham Talbot, was soon to expire on 04 March 1825, the House was directed by Governor Desha to elect a replacement. Joseph H. Holt of Bourbon County nominated John Rowan who was representing Jefferson and Oldham Counties, and with a vote of 78-16, Rowan’s nomination then went before the Kentucky Senate. With a total vote of 105, Rowan was declared Kentucky’s new Senator over incumbent Talbot who received four votes. Rowan would hold the office until 04 March 1831 when he was replaced by Henry Clay.
On November 13, James was assigned to the committee to examine the Treasurer’s office along with Thomas Joyes of Jefferson and Oldham Counties, Richard Forrest of Washington County, Joseph G. Hardin of Monroe County, Bourne Goggin of Pulaski County, and David Gibson of Gallatin County. Three days later, a letter arrived from Samuel South.
“It is with the deepest regret that I have to inform you, that in the confusion of the moment, on the day in which the Capitol was burnt, there wa lost out of the public Treasury, between the sum of $2000 and $3000. On the first cry of fire, I rushed out of my office and run [sic] into the upper stories of the Capitol for the purpose of aiding in the attempt to preserve the building; upon my return in a few moments, I found that a multitude had carried every thing out of the office. I endeavored immediately to regain possession of and to take care of all the effects which had been removed from my office, and which lay in confused and scattered heaps in the public square. My first object and enquiry [sic] was to find and secure the money which had been in the Treasury, being about $2650, as nearly as I can recollect or ascertain without a more extensive and laborious calculation than I have yet been able to make…”[4]
Samuel goes on in his letter describing how he searched all of the papers and furniture to no avail, and that he was apprehensive to announce it was missing, lest any dishonest person steal it, or make it public so that in case it had been stolen, would hinder the ability to catch the thief.
The candidates for president in the election of 1824 were (clockwise from lower left) William Crawford, Henry Clay, John Quincy Adams, and Andrew Jackson. Graphic from National Geographic.
Secretary of State John Quincy Adams of Massachusetts, the son of the second President of the United States John Adams, was an accomplished politician who helped craft the Monroe Doctrine, negotiated the end of the War of 1812, and negotiated the Adams-Onis Treaty that acquired Florida.
Secretary of War John C. Calhoun from South Carolina, who was also the former Secretary of War under President James Madison, emerged as the political favorite early in the year, and despite two strokes in the summer of 1823 and in May 1824 that left him nearly blind and immobile, recovered to stay in the race.
As defined by today’s politics, “The Great Compromiser” Speaker of the House Henry Clay from Kentucky emerged as the only candidate “running” for office with impassioned speeches and a platform that defined his “American System” which included tariffs to protect and promote American industry, a national bank to foster commerce, and federal subsidies for infrastructure improvements.
Secretary of the Treasury William H. Crawford of Georgia was a war hawk who had strongly supported the War of 1812 and strongly defended slavery; he would later withdraw as a candidate for the presidency, and would later win the vice presidency with backing from both Adams and Jackson, although he backed Jackson and vehemently opposed almost all of Adam’s policies.
Secretary of the Navy Smith Thompson would drop out of the race early in the process.
With only four candidates remaining, twenty-four states participated in the election, and although Jackson had the most popular and electoral college votes, the election results announced on 01 December 1824 declared that no candidate had the majority of the electoral college vote of 131 needed to win the presidency as required by Constitution. As a result, the decision went to a vote in the United States House of Representatives per the Twelfth Amendment.
The Kentucky House met on December 24 to discuss their desired candidate and submit their choice to their Congressmen. Clay, a native son of Kentucky, was their first choice, but with the lowest votes, was removed from consideration per the Constitution in which only the top three candidates were eligible. Henry Crittendon of Shelby County proposed votes go to Jackson as a “very large majority of the people” of Kentucky preferred Jackson over Adams or Crawford. After a vote on December 31 in which James Farmer voted yes, the resolution was sent to the Senate where they concurred on January 8, and was approved by Governor Desha on January 11.
Clay fully supported Adams, and with his backing and a campaign of encouraging “friends,” Adams won the contingent election on 09 February 1825, with eight Congressmen from Kentucky voting for Adams, and four voting for Jackson. Adams then appointed Clay as Secretary of State in what has been referred as the “corrupt bargain.” Jackson, with the majority of the popular and electoral votes, had fully expected to become the next President, and when faced with his loss, ultimately began his next bid for the office, which he won four years later in 1828 against Adams. The 1824 election would effectively split the Democratic-Republican Party and by 1828, the Jacksonian Democrats led the Democratic Party, and Adams and Clay led the National Republican Party that later became the Whig Party and the forerunner of today’s Republican Party.
Of the many bills introduced during the 1824 session, James was directly involved with the following in order of involvement:
11 November 1824: Farmer proposed a bill to amend the Act concerning the Turnpike and Wilderness road, and for other purposes that had been approved six years prior on 29 December 1828. James, along with Burton Litton of Whitley County, Uriah Grisham of Rockcastle County, and Charles M. Cunningham of Pulaski County were assigned to the committee. The bill was introduced again on December 5. On 07 January 1825, Farmer sent the bill over to the Senate, and on January 12, Governor Desha signed and approved An act amending the law concerning the Turnpike and Wilderness road.
22 November 1824: Farmer presented the petition of the citizens of Rockcastle, Clay, Whitley, and Knox Counties that a new county be formed from parts of the four counties. On December 6, Robert Mosely of Ohio County, and assigned to the committee of propositions and grievances, reported that the petition be rejected, which it was after two readings.
16 December 1824: Farmer was appointed to a select committee with Wiley C. Williams of Lawrence and Morgan Counties and Jeremiah Cox of Grayson County regarding a bill introduced by Cox to “further regulate the pay of the sheriffs for comparing polls for Governor.” On 12 January 1825, Governor Desha signed and approved An act to further regulate the pay of sheriffs for comparing polls for the Governor and Lieutenant Governor.
16 December 1824: Farmer was appointed to prepare a bill with Benjamin Hardin of Nelson County and William Wade of Mercer County for the benefit of the heirs of John H. Holt. The bill was reintroduced on December 20 and read twice. On December 23, the committee for courts of justice led by Benjamin Hardin, and to which the bill was sent, was read again and ordered to be read a third time on December 24, although the minutes do not reflect that it had. On 12 January 1825, Governor Desha signed and approved An act to benefit John H. Holt.
08 January 1825: Farmer presented the petition of Goodman Oldham who sought compensation for apprehending several persons who were convicted of a felony. The petition was read and referred to the committee of claims.
James would also later serve in the House of Representatives in the 1825, 1826, 1834, and 1875 sessions.
Looking for a unique Christmas present this year? Philip Farmer is the author and publisher of “Edward Farmar and the Sons of Whitemarsh,” a 500-page, 155-year biographical history of the Farmer family’s immigration from Ireland into Pennsylvania, North Carolina, Virginia, Tennessee, and Harlan County, Kentucky. Complete with bibliography and footnotes that supports the research. Check out LuLu’s current discounts which may save you money than purchasing through Amazon, Barnes & Noble, Walmart, or other retailers.
click me for more info
“Very well written and researched…” Ms. L. King
“I love your work… Very interesting!” Ms. B. H. Baker
“Amazing research!“ Ms. J. Shipley
“Wonderfully researched, well written… recommend it even if you’re not related to the Farmar’s…”Mr. D. Roark
[2]Journal of the House of Representatives (1824), p.43.
[3]Journal of the House of Representatives (1824), p.47.
[4]Journal of the House of Representatives (1824), p.95.
[5] Of interest is that all of Adam’s opponents were involved in publicized duels. Crawford shot and killed Peter Lawrence Van Alen in 1802, and was in a duel on 16 December 1806 in which Crawford’s left wrist was shattered by a shot from John Clark. Jackson dueled Waightsill Avery in 1788 where both men shot into the air, having made a secret arrangement to do so before the duel. In May 1806, after Charles Dickinson shot Jackson near the heart, Jackson shot and killed him. On 19 January 1809, Clay, while Speaker of the House in Kentucky, and Humphrey Marshall, another member of the Kentucky Assembly, dueled in Indiana near Shippingport, Kentucky. Clay, with a shot in the thigh, and Marshall, with a chest graze, both survived.
A lot of family trees exist today with John Farmer as the father of Stephen Farmer. Focusing on published works, we examine the evidence that the information contained in those trees is incorrect.
John Farmer (1789-1838), “the founder of systematic genealogy in America…”
When branching my family tree, I’ve been led down wrong paths with misdirection or misinformation, particularly when it becomes too easy to simply copy and paste another researcher’s family tree, only to dig deeper and find that the hours to build a branch were all for naught. Today’s blog hopes to point other Farmer family researchers in the correct direction when branching their family tree.
There are several publicly available family trees on several genealogical, historical society, and self-published internet sites that have John Farmer as the father of Stephen Farmer (born circa 1765). Focusing on published works, we examine the evidence that the information contained in those trees is incorrect. You are invited to conduct a search and determine that there are a large number of family trees that may need to be revised; below is just a small sample:
Most of the information is relatively the same: that Stephen Farmer is the son of Lt. John N. Farmer (born 17 DEC 1737, Billerica, MA) and Hannah Davis (sometimes Rebecca Bryan). Further, Stephen’s siblings are listed as Hannah (Farmer) Hopkins, Rebecca Farmer, Abigail (Farmer) French, Polly (Farmer) Rogers, John Farmer and Lucy (Farmer) Tewksbury.
With regards to published works, the earliest known book with this data is Genealogy of the Farmer Family (1966) by Mattie Shepherd, Opal Muncy, David Farmer, and W.G. Farmer:
Shepherd, Mattie, Opal Muncy, David, Farmer, and W.G. Farmer. Genealogy of the Farmer Family (1966), p.1-2.
“Edward Farmer lived near Atherstone, Warwickshire England, until he and his mother immigrated to America in 1671 settling in Billerica, Mass…
Edward Farmer died May 27, 1727 at the age of 87 years. Mary, his wife, died March 26, 1719 age 78.
Edward and Mary Farmer’s children were:
(1) Sarah Farmer married Thomas Polland Nov. 1692, died May 1725.
(2) John Farmer born Aug. 19, 1671 died Sept. 9, 1736.
(3) Edward Farmer born March 22, 1674, married a Richardson, died Dec. 17, 1752.
(4) Mary Farmer born Nov. 3, 1675 married John Dean.
(5) Barbara Farmer died 1681.
(6) Elizabeth Farmer born May 17, 1680 married William Green of Malden, Mass., May 29, 1907, died Dec. 26, 1761.
(7) Thomas Farmer, born June 8, 168l He was the great grandfather of William Farmer who graduated from Harvard College 1819.
(8) Oliver Farmer, born Feb. 2, 1686, his wife’s name was Abigail. She was a granddaughter of the honorable William Johnson. Oliver died Feb. 23, 1761.
Children of Oliver Farmer were:
(1) Oliver Farmer born July 31, 1728, died at Billerica Feb. 24, 1814, leaving sons Oliver, Job, and Jeremiah.
(2) Edward Farmer born March 24, 1734, a magistrate and representative of Billerica for 14 years, died Aug. 4, 1804 age 70. His sons were Jona and Jesse.
(3) John Farmer born Dec. 17, 1737 died at Billerica on Jan. 9, 1806 leaving one son, John Farmer, who was a colonel and a representative of a town in New Hampshire.
Note: The above was taken from the Historical and Biographical Sketch of The Farmer Family compiled by The American Research Bureau of Washington, D. C. and The Genealogical Registers of the First Settlers of New England by John Farmer corresponding secretary of the New Hampshire Historical Society published by Carter Andrews & Co., Lancaster, Mass 1829.
The following were given to me by my people who lived during my lifetime (Mattie Shepherd) according to information given me, I believe that this John Farmer is the father of the Stephen Farmer who married Nancy Russell and lived in Harlan County as late as 1812…”
There are numerous other books that can definitively prove that Stephen Farmer’s ancestors are NOT from Billerica, Massachusetts. The following is a guide to find the information within the source documents.
The first source is A Genealogical Memoir of the Family By The Name Of Farmer, Who Settled At Billerica, first published in 1828 by a direct descendant to the Farmer’s in Billerica, John Farmer (1789-1838), famed author, historian, and “founder of systematic genealogy in America.” It provides a lot of information regarding the sons, fathers, wives, and children of almost every Farmer in Billerica. It has been published in the source below:
“Edward, (ca1640 – 27MAY1727, Billerica, MA) m. Mary ___ (ca1641 – 26MAR1716)
Oliver (02FEB1686-23FEB1761) m. Abigail Johnson (13JUN1697-25FEB1773). Widow Abigail m.2nd Capt. James Lane of Bedford, Ms.
Lieut. John (07DEC1737-09JAN1806 Billerica) m.1st 05JUN1764 Hannah Davis (07SEP1711-12FEB1787) m.2nd widow Sarah (Russell) Adams (18JAN1751-?)
With his wife Hannah,
Hannah (26SSEP1764-?)
Rebecca (02DEC1766-29MAY1788)
Abigail (22DEC1768-?)
Polly (14JAN1775-?
John (04DEC1776-01SEP1778)
Lucy (04OCT1780-?)
John (11DEC1791-?) m. Susan Gerrish. Lt. Col. of the 21st regiment of NH militia…”
As shown above, there are no Stephen’s born to John and Hannah Davis, and any of other John’s born into the other related families were either in 1776 (and died under the age of two years old), or born in 1791. Mathematically, those John’s cannot be the father of Stephen. Therefore, the other trees having Stephen’s siblings as Hannah Farmer Hopkins, Rebecca Farmer, Abigail Farmer French, Polly Farmer Rogers, John Farmer, and Lucy Farmer Tewksbury is incorrect; they are the names of the children of John and Hannah Davis as shown in the source above.
The next source is the Billerica Vital Records that not only verify the Farmer Genealogical Memoir, but also shows the marriage between “John Farmer and Sarah Adams of Dracut marrying on 18 March 1789, in Dracut.” It was also used to answer a few hypothetical questions:
Hypothesis #1: John has a son named Stephen or William that isn’t mentioned in the first record? Answer: There is no record of a Stephen (or William) born to a John in Billerica around 1765.
(Note: Walker-Burton, Jackie T. Turner’s Creek, Ky., ‘A Place In Our Hearts’ (1997), p.204-205, mentions “The family and oral traditions say that Stephen Farmer was son of John Farmer, Sr…” and “Very old family members believed his name was Wm. Stephen Farmer…”)
Hypothesis #2: Stephen was the son of Sarah Russell Adams and later changed his name to Farmer? Answer: There is no record of a Stephen, William, or any male born around 1765 with the last name of Adams nor Russell.
Hypothesis #3: Hannah Davis had a son prior to her marriage to John who changes his name? Answer: There is a William Daves, son of Joshua and Hannah, born 28 March 1761 in Billerica. There is no death or marriage record for Joshua Daves (or Davis, or Davise) that matches our search. There is a Joshua and Hannah, but their ages do not coincide and there is a birth record for their daughter Hannah Davis, born 07 September 1641. Does William Daves, son of our Hannah Davis, change his name to Farmer, and move away? There is no marriage or death record in Billerica for a William Daves, which may support this.
The next source then refuted Hypothesis #3 above, not contained in the first two documents:
Quantity 1 for “free white male of 16 years old and upwards.” This would be head of household John.
Quantity 2 for “free white males under 16 years.” Unknown. As John was born in 1791, this rules him out. Possibly one of Sarah’s sons from her prior marriage.
Quantity 3 for “free white females.” Presumably his wife Sarah, Polly, and Lucy as Hannah died three years earlier in 1787, and Rebecca two years earlier in 1788.
Another hypothesis is that John mentions Stephen in his will? John died intestate and only letters of administration were sent to his wife Sarah.
In addition to the reputable published evidence, DNA testing refutes any connection to the Farmer’s from Billerica. In an email with Chuck Farmer on 02 March 2018,
“The Billerica link is definitively OUT. My grandfather was involved in writing “The Genealogy of the Farmer Family” that posed that possibility. I have disproved it with DNA. My 12 marker test showed major differences between our branch and the Billerica folks…”
There was one item of interest that may warrant some further investigation. John Farmer’s wife was born Sarah Russell. Stephen Farmer’s wife was Nancy Russell. More research may be needed to determine if family lore of Stephen’s relation to John has been confused with Nancy Russell’s distant relation to Sarah Russell. This may be further supported by the David Russell who serves for the Continental Line in New Hampshire during the Revolutionary War under Lieutenant John Farmer.
So who is Stephen Farmer’s father? The answer is William Farmer, the son of Samuel Farmer and the grandson of Edward Farmar of Whitemarsh Township, Pennsylvania.
Philip Farmer is currently assisting families break down their genealogical brick walls and find information on their ancestors. He is also the author and publisher of “Edward Farmar and the Sons of Whitemarsh,” a 500-page, 155-year biographical history of the Farmer family immigration from Ireland into Pennsylvania, North Carolina, Virginia, Tennessee, and Harlan County, Kentucky. The continuation of Stephen Farmer’s story from 1800 into the mid-1900’s is currently in work.
Stephen Farmer of Harlan County, Kentucky. Who is he? Where did he come from? For many branching their family tree, most have hit a brick wall with these questions.
In 1782 and in 1795, we find Stephen Farmer purchasing large tracts of land in Lincoln County, Kentucky an area which will later become Knox County in 1799, and will later become Harlan County. The 1795 deed has Stephen purchasing 481.75 acres of land at forty shillings an acre, or £963,10.
But he doesn’t immediately move to Lincoln County. What we do find is that sometime prior to 1796, Stephen relocates to Hawkins County, Tennessee and resides there for about seven years. It is from Hawkins County that the Ledford’s joined the Farmer’s in their move to Kentucky, as supported by census records and the Ledford family history in John Egerton’s book, Generations: An American Family (1st ed. 1983, 2nd ed. 2003). It’s also further supported by Stephen’s grandson, Felix Gilbert Farmer, as he recounts his father William’s birth in Reverend John J. Dickey’s diary.
The evidence we have raises a lot of questions.
The £963,10 paid by Stephen for his land in 1795 is the equivalent of $165,203 today, and that’s just for one of the tracts he buys. How does he afford this large sum of money?
Why didn’t Stephen move to Kentucky in 1795? Why wait before moving?
Where in Hawkins County did Stephen and his family reside?
Where were they living prior to Tennessee?
In the 500-page book Edward Farmar and the Sons of Whitemarsh, we trace the Farmer’s arrival into Philadelphia from Ireland in 1685, to the “hornet’s nest of rebellion” in Rowan County, North Carolina, and into the New River Valley of southwestern Virginia. The book includes a biographical sketch of Stephen Farmer that provides answers to the questions above, as well as a special chapter as to why many family trees erroneously have John Farmer as his father. For those not related to Stephen Farmer, the book is not a “family tree” and the historical narrative provides insight into the westward immigration experienced by many early American families.
Philip Farmer is the 4th great grandson of Stephen Farmer and author of Edward Farmar and the Sons of Whitemarsh. He currently assists others with their genealogical brick walls.
In 1682, Major Jasper Farmar sent his son Jasper Jr. to purchase 5,000 acres in Pennsylvania. Jasper Jr. then made the return trip to Ireland to gather his family and sail again for Philadelphia in 1685. Like his father and his sister, he never arrived and was buried at sea.
Jasper Jr.’s son Thomas Farmar, who was ten years old, and nephew to 14-year-old Edward Farmar (Major Jasper’s son), would grow up on Staten Island after his mother, Widow Katherine, remarried a British naval officer, Captain Christopher Billopp.
On 20 June 1700, at the age of twenty-five, Thomas was personally appointed by William Penn to be High Sheriff of Philadelphia City and County. He was reappointed until he resigned his commission in August 1703, when he sailed to England and married his step-sister Anne Billopp, Captain Billopp’s daughter.
In 1705, Thomas returned to America and settled on Staten Island. The 1708 Census of Staten Island has Thomas, age thirty-three, his children, and “Nansie Farmar, a woman.” Nancy was a common nickname for Ann, Anna, or Agnes in the eighteenth century.
Fast forward eighty-two years to 1790 and we find Edward Farmar’s great grandson Stephen Farmer marrying Nancy Russell according to family tradition. Nancy’s background to include her birth date, birth place, parents, and siblings is just as elusive as Stephen’s.
Stephen and Nancy moved from Virginia, into Tennessee, into Kentucky, and back into Tennessee. When using the 1840 federal census in locating Stephen and Nancy’s residence, or determining if they had passed away, there is an enumeration for “Sarah Farmer” in Hawkins County, Tennessee with information that closely matches Nancy Russell, assuming her husband Stephen had passed away.
Up to 1840, Nancy’s name has not appeared on a birth certificate, marriage license, census record, land deed, or any other reputable proof that Stephen’s wife is named Nancy. Given that we have no record for a “Nancy Russell,” have we mistaken the name of Stephen’s wife, and her name is actually Sarah?
Perhaps her birth name was Sarah Ann Russell and she had the nickname Nancy?
More information can be found in the book Edward Farmar and the Sons of Whitemarsh available now through our partner LuLu Printing.
In an interview with Reverend John J. Dickey on 05 May 1898, Felix Gilbert Farmer states:
“My grandfather, Stephen, was born on the New River, North Carolina… The Farmers are German not Dutch…”
Actually, Stephen was English.
Modern DNA and other genealogical research shows that Stephen was the great grandson of Edward Farmar. It also shows that Stephen was a distant relative of Thomas Farmer the Adventurer, who came to Jamestown, Virginia in 1616.
Edward was the youngest son of Major Jasper Farmar, an English officer serving and residing in Ireland.
So why would Felix think that his ancestors were German, and not Dutch?
It is highly likely that the German immigrants settling in the Appalachians were commonly referred to as “Dutch” due to the similarity in pronouncing Deutsch. However, this doesn’t explain why Felix would claim his heritage as German.
In 1685, Major Jasper and almost all of his family immigrated to Pennsylvania aboard the Bristol Merchant. The 5,000-acre tract that his father purchased comprises present Whitemarsh Township, Montgomery County. Before 1854, Whitemarsh Township neighbored Germantown Township, Philadelphia County. The Frankfurt Land Company and thirteen families from Germany first settled this area in 1683, hence its name.
Within a year, most of Edward’s family had either died on the transatlantic voyage or soon after arriving into Philadelphia. Orphaned at the age of fourteen, Edward furthered his education in Pennsylvania. Edward would also work closely with Francis Daniel Pastorius, one of the early prominent settlers of Germantown.
With the neighboring Germantown and the increase in German immigration, more than a third of the local citizens would soon be speaking the Pennsylvania Dutch dialect, which sounds similar to German. As Edward’s sons and grandsons immigrated into North Carolina, Virginia, and Kentucky with the other settlers, it is highly likely that Stephen still had his Pennsylvania Dutch accent.
