• Home
  • About Me
  • Downloads
  • Video Tutorials
  • Russell County Resources
    • Births
    • Marriages
    • Deeds
    • Tax Lists
    • Death Records
    • Probate
    • Court Orders
    • Maps
    • 1870 Census
    • 1880 Census
    • 1890 Special Census (Veterans)
  • 5 Andrew Stephens
  • Reading Deeds

The Shy Genealogist

~ Researching Russell Co, Kentucky

The Shy Genealogist

Monthly Archives: May 2010

Is That a Light I See?

31 Monday May 2010

Posted by lvonlanken in Research

≈ Leave a comment

A light at the end of the tunnel?  Finals weeks has arrived!  Once I administer and grade my final exams, it will be summertime for me, which means getting back into my genealogy research full time!

Finals week is “interesting” for me.  I will be proctoring 3 exams that are not for my class and 2 of these happen before my exam is given by other proctors, which means I’ll have several hours of “nothing to do” while watching students take exams.  I’m hoping to use this as preparation time to help me reacquaint myself with my family.

My plan is to bring in several family folders along with fresh printouts of the notes for those families.  I’m going to reread everything in the folder and make sure all my sources are cited in my notes.  Then I’ll make sure that my research plan is ready to go.  Usually, being out of research mode for awhile allows me to read things with new eyes which brings ideas for new resources to check out.  I’m really looking forward to it!  I hope to post some new ideas for research starting next week.

Ripley County, Missouri – Stephens Families

09 Sunday May 2010

Posted by lvonlanken in Ripley County Missouri, Surname: Stephens

≈ 2 Comments

As stated this morning, I’m trying to gather all Stephens information that I can for Ripley County, Missouri between 1850 and 1860 in order to try to discover the roots for Andrew Stephens’ wife – Lucy Stephens.  I did find an additional marriage resource for Andrew and Lucy which I’d never found before because the index on Ancestry has the marriage listed as 1881 instead of 1858, so that was a pleasant surprise.  But I found no other clues at all in Ripley Co.  Here’s a list of what I did find.  These are notes as I typed them to myself, so citations are not “proper”.

Since this was a one day project, I concentrated on available records through Ancestry.  I’m grateful to Randy Seaver for posting a list of unindexed databased on Ancestry. http://www.geneamusings.com/2010/05/finding-ancestrycom-databases-without.html The very first database he listed was for Missouri – which inspired me to start this search.  I found a few items on there by searching Ripley County.   I also used federal census records and looked at birth, marriage and death records for Ripley County.  Only marriage records were available for the 1850-1860 time period.  I did a Google search for a list of the Justice of the Peace names because some of the records were very difficult to read.  That web site was http://tmsnyder.tripod.com/Ripley.htm_ and I also read there:

Ripley county was formed in 1833. Book “B” [1833-1852], the oldest book of marriage to be found in court house in Doniphan, Missouri  is in poor condition. The index is missing and the book is crumbling away. Book “C” beginning in 1853 has the following notation on the inside cover “The wreckage of this old marriage record has been collected and restored in so far as possible. Rebound and the last pages replaced and restored from the books own table of contents….”

According to her gravestone, Lucy was born 16 Dec. 1842.  At the time of the 1850 census, she would have been about 8 years old and should show up in the census.  I tried to find as much information as possible on each family that appears in the 1850 census through the 1860 census.  Ripley County is on the border of Missouri and Arkansas.  Quite a few people list below were from Arkansas.  (I did a quick search for Lucy Stephens in 1850 in Arkansas, but didn’t see anything that jumped out at me.)

Family 1:

1850       Ripley Co. Census

Washington Stephens – age 73, born in Virginia
Juda Stephens – age 65, born in NC
Jackson Stephens – age 24, Tenn
Marshal Stephens – age 22, Tenn
George Stephens – age 17, Tenn

1851 “I do certify that I did solemnize the rights of marriage between Jackson Stephens and Elizabeth York on the 22th day of June 1851 Griffin Eldridge JP (the images do NOT look like Eldridge, but web site  http://tmsnyder.tripod.com/Ripley.htm_ has a list of JPs and ministers) Recorded this 1 day of July  (Ancestry, Missouri Marriage Records, Ripley Co, Image 1)

1851 Martial Stephens and Samantha Smelser married 1851, returned Oct. 1851. “I do certify that I did celebrate the rights of matrimony between Martiel Stephens and Samantha Smelser in year 1851 Griffin Eldridge Recorded this October 1851 A. Dearmon JP Clerk. (Ancestry, Missouri Marriage Records, Ripley Co, Image 1)

1852 George Stephens and Sarian Kinsy – 10 Sept. 1852 “Be it remembered that I have this day solemnized the rights of matrimony between George Stephens and Sarian Kinsy the the 7th day of Sept. A.D. 1852.  Recorded this
the 10th Sept. 1852. (Psonn?) W. Pennington minister the gospel. (Image 4)

1853 George Washington Stephens died intestate.  Marshal Stephens named administrator.  George Stephsns mentioned, but difficult to read.  (Missouri Still Birth & Miscellaneous Records, 1805-2002 Image 534)

1853 William Stephens died intestate.  Marshal Stephens named administrator. (Missouri Still Birth & Miscellaneous Records, 1805-2002 Image 535)

1860       Ripley Co, Census

Marshal Stephens – age 30, Tenn
S. Stephens – age 25, Ark (Samantha Smelser)
S. Stephens – age 7, Missouri (m)
E. Stephens – age 3, Missouri (f)
Isaac Stephens – age 8/12, Missouri
Newton Smelser – age 18, Ark
M. Williams – age 12, Missouri (f)

Family 2:

1850       Ripley Co, Census

ZW Stephens – age 24, born in Missouri  (Zebedee – son of George Washington and  Juda?)
Malissa M Stephens – age 25, Tenn
Wm T Stephens – age 3, Missouri
Selianne Stephens – age 1, Missouri
James C Stephens – age 2/12, Missouri

1860       Ripley Co, Census

Z.W. Stephens – age 35, Missouri
M.M. Stephens – age 36, Tenn (Mary Melissa Wood)
W.J. Stephens – age 13, Missouri (male)
S.A. Stephens – age 12, Missouri (f)
J.C. Stephens – age 11, Missouri (m)
S.T. Stephens – age 10, Missouri (f)
M.J. Stephens – age 6, Missouri (f)
M.E. Stephens – age 4, Missouri (f)
N.E. Stephens – age 2, Missouri (f)
(living near Pyburn family)

Family 3:

1850       Ripley Co, Census

Robert Stephens – age 43, born in Tenn
Susan Stephens – age 41, Virginia
James Stephens – age 16, Tenn
Eliza Stephens – age 12, Georgia
George W.F. Stephens – age 6, Missouri
Wm L Russell – age 28, Tenn
Emaline Stephens – age 21, Tenn
John B Patterson – age 23, Tenn
John A York – age 21, Tenn

1856 I Joseph (Thomaseh?) a justice of the peace do certify that I did solemnize the rights of matrimony between James M Stephens and Lena Buckaloo on the 17th day of January A.D. 1856 (Image 6)

1860       Ripley Co, Census

Susan Stephens – age 46, born in Va
J. M. Stephens – age 25, Tenn (head)
Emerline Stephens – age 25, Tenn
G.W. Stephens – age 17, Missouri
Robert Stephens – age 6, Texas
E Piburn – age 13, Missouri (female)

Family 4:

1850       Ripley Co, Census

Benjamin Stephens – age 40, born in Tenn
Elizabeth Stephens – age 40, Tenn
Emaline Stephens – age 20, Tenn
Lucresa Stephens – age 16, Tenn
Orlena Stephens – age 14, Georgia
George W Stephens – age 9, Georgia
Wm L Stephens – age 7, Alabama
Basil Stephens – age 5, Missouri
Marshal Stephens – age 4, Missouri

Family 5:

1860       Ripley Co, Census

Wm Stephens – age 28, born in Tenn
Marinda Stephens – age 23, Tenn
George W Stephens – age 3, Missouri
Cintha Stephens – age 1, Missouri

My family:

1858 This is to certify that I the undersigned a Justice of the Peace within and for the county of Ripley in the state of Missouri did in and at said county of Ripley solemnize the rites of matrimony between Andrew J Stephens and Lucy Stephens on the 25th day of April 1858.  Given under my hand on the 27th day of May AD 1858.  Paulsen M Smelser Justice of the Peace.  (Book C pg 56) NOTE:  Ancestry has this indexed as 1881, which is why I had never found it before.  (Image 8 )

I wish I had a great list of research ideas to follow up on, but I’m at the proverbial brick wall.  When did Andrew arrive in Missouri? Why did Andrew go to Missouri where he married Lucy?  Was she related in some way?  To do a generic search for a Lucy Stephens of this age turns up a few listings in 1850, but without some clue to follow up, it’s just a list of names.  Perhaps it’s time to start another Excel file to keep track of possibilities, but I’d really prefer to find a cousin to work together with on this!

Mother’s Day Research!

09 Sunday May 2010

Posted by lvonlanken in Research, Surname: Stephens

≈ Leave a comment

Ah, Mother’s Day!  A day when I’m forced to do things I enjoy!  I worked extra hard yesterday so that I could do some genealogy today.  But I have been out of “genealogy mode” for a couple of weeks and know I won’t be able to jump back in too deep for another 2 weeks, so I decided to work on something totally new.

I know that 13 year old Andrew Stephens was living with his father in Marion County, Alabama for the 1850 census then married Lucy Stephens in Ripley Co, Missouri by April of 1858.  They had daughter in Ripley Co. around August of 1860 (based on information in her death record in 1861 in Metcalfe County, Kentucky) but were listed in the 1860 census living with Andrew’s family in Franklin Co, Missouri.

But I know nothing about Lucy’s family.  Who were Lucy’s parents? My only clue is that for some reason, Andrew and Lucy were married in Ripley County, so she probably lived there for a time.

So today, I’m working on a study of the Stephens families that I can find in Ripley County between 1850 and 1860.  Since this is a one day project and my family probably wouldn’t appreciate me spending the day at the library, I will be focusing items I can find using Ancestry – and if time permits, web sites for Ripley Co. genealogy.

I hope to post the results later this evening!

Happy Mother’s Day to all you “GeneaMoms”!

Making Memories Here!

01 Saturday May 2010

Posted by lvonlanken in Introductions

≈ 2 Comments

Just a quick note to say that it’s “Prom” night at our house (actually, our school has a banquet, no dancing) and my 17 year old just left to pick up his girlfriend in his very first tuxedo and carrying his first corsage.  He’s tremendously handsome and it almost makes me cry to see him looking so grown up!  This is son #3, so you’d think I’d be used to this by now…

Follow Me on Feedly

follow us in feedly

Top Posts

  • Downloads
  • Ancestor Inventory Form
  • Digitally Organized
  • Group Sheets using Excel
  • Ancestor Inventory
  • Keeping Track of the Clues
  • Need to Create a Quick Christmas Gift?
  • DNA Sheets for Genealogy Planner
  • Working It Wednesday - Linking Group Sheets
  • DNA Tracker Full Sheet

Categories

  • 120 Years Ago Today (10)
  • 1890 Russell Co, KY (14)
  • Adair County Kentucky (4)
  • Chicago (3)
  • Christmas Memories (7)
  • Danville (7)
  • Deaths (3)
  • Denmark (2)
  • DNA (5)
  • Douglas County, Illinois (2)
  • Early Kentucky History Research (23)
  • Excel (23)
  • Family Friday (8)
  • FamilySearch (5)
  • Fort Harrod (16)
  • Franklin County Alabama (1)
  • Genealogy Methods (9)
  • Genealogy Snacks (12)
  • Germany (4)
  • Indiana (6)
  • Introductions (4)
  • John M Smith (27)
  • Johnson County (5)
  • Kankakee County, Illinois (3)
  • Kentucky (22)
  • Land Records (43)
  • Madness Monday (4)
  • Marion County Alabama (2)
  • Marriage Records (3)
  • Memories (4)
  • Mercer County, KY (1)
  • Microsoft Word (10)
  • Military (13)
  • Newspapers (3)
  • Organization (53)
  • PERSI (2)
  • Personal (7)
  • Photography (6)
  • PowerPoint (2)
  • Research (101)
  • Resources (13)
  • Revolutionary War (2)
  • Ripley County Missouri (5)
  • RootsTech (1)
  • Russell County Smiths (20)
  • Russell County, Kentucky (98)
  • Saturday Night Fun (2)
  • Smith Station (4)
  • Software (6)
  • Surname: Coffey (1)
  • Surname: Dabelstein (4)
  • Surname: Gilpin (1)
  • Surname: Powell (2)
  • Surname: Scott (4)
  • Surname: Stephens (38)
  • Surname: VonLanken (2)
  • Thoughtful Thursday (2)
  • Timeline Tuesday (7)
  • Tombstone Tuesday (7)
  • Tutorial (3)
  • Video Tutorial (14)
  • Wayne County Kentucky (5)
  • William Smith (2)
  • Wordless Wednesday (5)
  • Working It Wednesday (15)
Ancestor Approved

Posts

  • November 2019 (1)
  • September 2019 (2)
  • August 2019 (3)
  • May 2019 (1)
  • April 2019 (2)
  • April 2018 (1)
  • March 2018 (11)
  • February 2018 (14)
  • January 2018 (12)
  • December 2017 (3)
  • November 2017 (3)
  • October 2017 (4)
  • September 2017 (9)
  • August 2017 (3)
  • June 2017 (2)
  • May 2017 (1)
  • April 2017 (1)
  • March 2017 (5)
  • February 2017 (2)
  • January 2017 (6)
  • December 2016 (1)
  • November 2016 (1)
  • October 2016 (7)
  • September 2016 (6)
  • August 2016 (2)
  • July 2016 (3)
  • June 2016 (2)
  • April 2016 (2)
  • March 2016 (1)
  • February 2016 (3)
  • September 2015 (1)
  • June 2015 (2)
  • May 2015 (2)
  • April 2015 (1)
  • January 2015 (3)
  • November 2014 (1)
  • October 2014 (2)
  • August 2014 (1)
  • July 2014 (4)
  • June 2014 (1)
  • May 2014 (1)
  • April 2014 (2)
  • March 2014 (2)
  • February 2014 (3)
  • January 2014 (3)
  • December 2013 (4)
  • October 2013 (2)
  • September 2013 (1)
  • July 2013 (1)
  • June 2013 (3)
  • April 2013 (2)
  • March 2013 (4)
  • February 2013 (2)
  • January 2013 (3)
  • December 2012 (1)
  • November 2012 (1)
  • August 2012 (3)
  • July 2012 (4)
  • March 2012 (7)
  • February 2012 (2)
  • January 2012 (5)
  • December 2011 (9)
  • November 2011 (15)
  • October 2011 (2)
  • July 2011 (1)
  • April 2011 (4)
  • March 2011 (5)
  • February 2011 (10)
  • January 2011 (8)
  • December 2010 (2)
  • July 2010 (5)
  • June 2010 (5)
  • May 2010 (4)
  • April 2010 (7)
  • March 2010 (9)
  • February 2010 (7)
  • January 2010 (13)
  • December 2009 (8)
  • November 2009 (2)
  • October 2009 (6)
  • September 2009 (16)
  • August 2009 (5)
  • July 2009 (7)
  • June 2009 (22)
  • May 2009 (23)

Recent Comments

lvonlanken on Another Family History Bo…
chrisbethnbubba2 on Another Family History Bo…
lvonlanken on Working It Wednesday – L…
Kathy on Working It Wednesday – L…
lvonlanken on The Battle of Binders vs.…

Create a free website or blog at WordPress.com.

Privacy & Cookies: This site uses cookies. By continuing to use this website, you agree to their use.
To find out more, including how to control cookies, see here: Cookie Policy