This Week in the Family History: January 8–14, 2023

Feature

92 Years Ago: William Larkin Lanier

William Larkin Lanier died on 10 January 1931 in Troup County, Georgia, at age sixty-two. He lived much of his adult life in Shawmut in neighboring Chambers County, Alabama. For several years before his death he lived near Langdale, Alabama, which is also in Chambers County, but he was across the Chattahoochee River in Georgia.

William married Sisla Rebecca Williams on 28 November 1888 in Langdale. They had eleven children. William and Rebecca were buried in Shawmut Cemetery.

In 2010, I attended a family reunion of William’s descendants, which was held in Opelika, Alabama. When several cousins and I were researching our grandfather (William’s 1st cousin) in 2009, we got in touch with two of William’s grandsons. Our research prompted them to schedule a family reunion for the first time in a number of years, and they invited us to join them. It was a fun day and an opportunity to meet a group of 3rd cousins.

Relationship: McCauley/Lanier Line, 1st cousin of paternal grandfather, John William McCauley

McCauley/Lanier Line

372 Years Ago: Charles Lanier

• Died: 14 January 1651
• Parents: Clement Lanier and Hannah Collett
• Relationship: Brother of 8th great-grandfather John Lanier

126 Years Ago: Thomas Jefferson Lanier (aka: John William McCauley)

• Married: Theodocia Leila Smith, 13 January 1897, Branchville, St. Clair County, Alabama
• Parents: Joseph Smith Lanier and Nancy Jane Bennett
• Relationship: Paternal grandfather

74 Years Ago: Maud Ella Waller Hamilton

• Died: 9 January 1949, Troup County, Georgia, age 63
• Parents: Thomas Elbert Waller and Frances Elizabeth Lanier
• Relationship: 1st cousin of paternal grandfather, John William McCauley

67 Years Ago: James Dewey Lanier

• Died: 11 January 1856, Birmingham, Jefferson County, Alabama, age 56
• Parents: Thomas Jefferson Lanier (aka: John William McCauley) and Theodocia Leila Smith
• Relationship: Paternal half-uncle

Hankins Line

454 Years Ago: John Waller and Mary Pomfrett

• Married: 13 January 1669, Walton, Buckinghamshire, England
• John’s Parents: Thomas Waller and Anne Keate; Mary’s Parents: unknown
• Relationship: 8th great-grandparents

336 Years Ago: Mary Gerett

• Died: 9 January 1687, Middlesex County, Virginia
• Parents: unknown; Husband: Maindort Doodes
• Relationship: 10th great-grandmother

298 Years Ago: Mary Waller

• Married: Zachary Lewis, 9 January 1725, Virginia
• Parents: John Waller and Dorothy King
• Relationship: Sister of 6th great-grandfather John Waller

294 Years Ago: Ann Dobyns

• Born: 12 January 1729, North Farnham Parish, Richmond County, Virginia
• Parents: Charles Dobyns and Sarah Nash
• Relationship: Sister of 5th great-grandfather Edward Dobyns

263 Years Ago: William Waller

• Died: 10 January 1760, Virginia, age 45
• Parents: John Waller and Dorothy King
• Relationship: Brother of 6th great-grandfather John Waller

249 Years Ago: Dorothy Elizabeth Waller

• Married: Henry Tazewell, 13 January 1774, Virginia
• Parents: Benjamin Waller and Martha Hall
• Relationship: 1st cousin of 5th great-grandmother Dorothy Waller

235 Years Ago: George Goodloe

• Married: Judith Holland, 10 January 1788, Virginia
• Parents: Henry Goodloe and Frances Diana Kemp
• Relationship: Brother of 5th great-grandfather Thomas Allen Goodloe

204 Years Ago: Sally Dobyns

• Married: Absalom Ashby, 8 January 1819, Hopkins County, Kentucky
• Parents: Edward Dobyns and Sarah Mott
• Relationship: Sister of 3rd great-grandmother Eliza Ann Dobyns

185 Years Ago: Dorothy Jemima Waller

• Died: 12 January 1838, age abt 80
• Parents: Edmund Waller and Mary Pendleton
• Relationship: 1st cousin of 5th great-grandmother Dorothy Waller

182 Years Ago: Thomas Henry Goodloe

• Married: Martha Hall, 11 January 1841, Hopkins County, Kentucky
• Parents: John Waller Goodloe and Wealthy Pritchett
• Relationship: 1st cousin of 2nd great-grandmother Isabella Jane Goodloe

172 Years Ago: Thomas W. Pritchett

• Married: America F. Lovan, 8 January 1851, Hopkins County, Kentucky
• Parents: Horace Pritchett and Lucy Waller Goodloe
• Relationship: 1st cousin of 2nd great-grandmother Isabella Jane Goodloe

145 Years Ago: Virginia Eggleston Goodloe

• Married: William Henry Moore, 14 January 1878, Hopkins County, Kentucky
• Parents: John Emerson Goodloe and Elizabeth Pettus
• Relationship: Half-sister of 2nd great-grandmother Isabella Jane Goodloe

132 Years Ago: Zadie Ann Clements

• Born: 11 January 1891, Earlington, Hopkins County, Kentucky
• Parents: Henry T. Clements and Mary Madore Hankins
• Relationship: 1st cousin of paternal grandmother, Verda Waller Hankins

131 Years Ago: Martha Davis

• Died: 10 January 1892, Hopkins County, Kentucky, age 37
• Parents: William D. Davis and Jane Goodloe
• Relationship: 1st cousin of 2nd great-grandmother Isabella Jane Goodloe

109 Years Ago: Forrest Payne Hankins

• Born: 11 January 1914, Nashville, Davidson County, Tennessee
• Parents: Thomas Richard Hankins and Edith Rhea Jackson
• Relationship: 1st cousin of father, David Hankins McCauley

101 Years Ago: William Perry Hankins, Jr.

• Born: 11 January 1922, Earlington, Hopkins County, Kentucky
• Parents: William Perry Hankins and Margaret Hill
• Relationship: 1st cousin of father, David Hankins McCauley

58 Years Ago: Thomas Richard Hankins

• Died: 11 January 1965, Birmingham, Jefferson County, Alabama, age 84
• Parents: Thomas Leander Hankins and Samantha Angeline Petty
• Relationship: Brother of paternal grandmother, Verda Waller Hankins

Hopkins Line

368 Years Ago: Hugh Cole and Mary Foxwell

• Married: 8 January 1655
• Hugh’s Parents: James Cole and Mary Tibbes; Mary’s Parents: Richard Foxwell and Ann Shelley
• Relationship: 9th great-grandparents

322 Years Ago: Phebe Cole

• Born: 10 January 1701
• Parents: Ebenezer Cole and Mehitable Luther
• Relationship: 1st cousin of 7th great-grandfather Hugh Cole

307 Years Ago: Hannah Cole

• Born: 14 January 1716
• Parents: Deacon Benjamin Cole and Hannah Eddy
• Relationship: 1st cousin of 7th great-grandfather Hugh Cole

301 Years Ago: Elisha Hopkins

• Married: Mercy Waide, 13 January 1722
• Parents: Thomas Hopkins and Mary Smith
• Relationship: Brother of 7th great-grandfather William Hopkins

220 Years Ago: Elizabeth Howard

• Married: Stephen Arnett, 13 January 1803, Knox County, Kentucky
• Parent: Thomas Howard
• Relationship: Sister of 3rd great-grandfather John Howard

175 Years Ago: Matilda Pauline Howard

• Born: 9 January 1848, Harlan County, Kentucky
• Parents: John Covey Howard and Matilda Brock
• Relationship: Half-sister of great-grandmother Lucinda Howard

166 Years Ago: James Howard

• Died: 11 January 1857, Breathitt County, Kentucky
• Parent: Thomas Howard
• Relationship: Brother of 3rd great-grandfather John Howard

163 Years Ago: William Columbus Hopkins

• Born: 13 January 1860, Mulberry Gap, Hancock County, Tennessee
• Parents: ? Wolfenbarger and Eliza Hopkins
• Relationship: Brother of great-grandfather James Arton Hopkins

162 Years Ago: Sarah Howard Risner

• Died: 10 January 1861, Magoffin County, Kentucky, age abt 71
• Parents: James Howard and Elizabeth Green
• Relationship: 1st cousin of 2nd great-grandfather John Covey Howard

134 Years Ago: Henry Mattison Hopkins

• Born: 9 January 1889, Wallins Creek, Harlan County, Kentucky
• Parents: James Arton Hopkins and Lucinda Howard
• Relationship: Brother of maternal grandfather, Elmer Dennis Hopkins

90 Years Ago: Jacob B. Howard

• Died: 9 January 1933, Pineville, Bell County, Kentucky, age 83
• Parents: John Covey Howard and Matilda Brock
• Relationship: Half-brother of great-grandmother Lucinda Howard

87 Years Ago: Varilla Howard Asher

• Died: 13 January 1936, Bell County, Kentucky, age 87
• Parents: Robert Howard and Lucinda Bingham
• Relationship: 1st cousin of great-grandmother Lucinda Howard

77 Years Ago: John D. Howard

• Died: 9 January 1946, Fayette County, Kentucky, age 75
• Parents: Hiram Brock Howard and Alisee C. Jennings
• Relationship: Half-1st cousin of maternal grandfather, Elmer Dennis Hopkins

Taylor Line

241 Years Ago: Elisha Owens

• Born: 9 January 1782, Wilkes County, North Carolina
• Parents: David Owens and Winifred Mullins
• Relationship: Brother to 3rd great-grandfathers Wesley Owens and Alfred Owens

215 Years Ago: Susany Ramsey

• Died: 12 January 1808, probably Rockcastle County, Kentucky, age one month
• Parents: Francis Alexander Ramsey and Martha Allen
• Relationship: 1st cousin of 3rd great-grandmother Martha Ramsey and 3rd-great-grandfather Thomas Ramsey, Jr.

190 Years Ago: Johnson Ramsey

• Married: Lockey Perrin, 8 January 1833, Lincoln County, Kentucky
• Parents: Alexander Ramsey and Mary
• Relationship: 1st cousin of 2nd great-grandfather James Francis Taylor and 2nd great-grandmother Margeret E. Ramsey

140 Years Ago: James M. Taylor

• Married: Emily Catherine Burnett, 8 January 1883, Rockcastle County, Kentucky
• Parents: Robert Taylor and Mary Margaret Parsons
• Relationship: 1st cousin of great-grandfather John Cook Taylor

132 Years Ago: Ella Ramsey

• Married: Andrew Baker, 13 January 1891, Rockcastle County, Kentucky
• Parents: Joseph Love Ramsey and Martha Jane Bryant
• Relationship: 1st cousin of great-grandfather John Cook Taylor

106 Years Ago: Nellie Taylor

• Married: Alric G. Talbott, 9 January 1917, Rockcastle County, Kentucky
• Parents: Josiah Love Taylor and Mary Alice Kirby
• Relationship: 1st cousin of maternal grandmother, Emma Ewers Taylor

97 Years Ago: Mary Margaret Parsons Taylor

• Died: 12 January 1926, Rockcastle County, Kentucky, age 91
• Parents: unknown; Husband: Robert Taylor
• Relationship: Sister-in-law of 2nd great-grandfather James Francis Taylor

96 Years Ago: Nancy A. Taylor Parsons

• Died: 9 January 1927, Rockcastle County, Kentucky, age 59
• Parents: William Taylor and Delilah Cox
• Relationship: Half-sister of 2nd great-grandfather James Francis Taylor

89 Years Ago: Wesley Alfred Owens

• Died: 12 January 1934, Rockcastle County, Kentucky, age 61
• Parents: Madison Crawford Owens and Cecilia Owens
• Relationship: Brother of great-grandmother Emma Jane Owens

64 Years Ago: Nancy Lair Taylor Harrison

• Died: 8 January 1959, Rockcastle County, Kentucky, age 78
• Parents: James Francis Taylor and Margaret E. Ramsey
• Relationship: Sister of great-grandfather John Cook Taylor

Sources available upon request