In the histories of Lauderdale County, Alabama, mentions are made of very early cotton mills, that drove the post-Civil War economy. In a chapter entitled "Producing After the Civil War", the following statement was made ' A lady named Kernachan was one of the three proprietors of Brandon Mills.' That lady was Ellen Kernachan.
Ann Elizabeth Ellen Simmons Kernachan was born about 1829 in Lawrence County, Alabama. She was the daughter of John J. Simmons and Rebecca Ann Charlotte Simmons. Rebecca was the daughter of Francis Jones and her mother was Judith Booth Jones.
Ellen, as she was known, first shows up in the 1850 census as a young lady, age 21, living with her mother Rebecca and sister Minerva, with her uncle James C Jones and his wife Matilda B Kernachan Jones, their young daughters, and Sarah Noel, the sister of Judith Booth Jones.
On May 10, 1854, she marries Matilda's brother, her first cousin once removed, Robert Thomas Kernachan II. His mother Martha was a sister to Judith Booth Jones and Sarah Booth Noel. All daughters Thomas Booth of Mecklenburg County, Virginia.
By 1860, she has had three young sons, Robert T III, born 1855, who was likely at school, John Simmons Kernachan 1857 and William Jones Kernachan 1859. Her mother and Great-Aunt Sallie are living with them as well.
By the 1880 census, only youngest son, William, is living at home with her. He will later become a surgeon. The other members of the household are employees.
Ellen Kernachan became the sole proprietor of her husband and uncle-in-laws plantation and Cotton Mill. She would merge her business with that of Charles Brandon.
From the Florence Herald, Thursday, September 28, 1899. CHAS. M. BRANDON SCHOOL.
Board of Education Honors Memory of This Lamented Citizen.
The board of education of this city has honored itself in naming the East Florence school "The Charles M. Brandon School." This action was taken at the meeting of the board on Monday night, and it is a graceful compliment to the memory of one who was, until his death, one of Florence's most highly esteemed citizens. In order to fittingly dedicate the new building to the memory of the lamented gentleman for whom it has been named, exercises will be held at the school building next Monday afternoon, when the following program will be carried out: "Sketch of the Life of the Late Chas. M. Brandon," Dr. W. J. Kernachan. Chas. M. Brandon was one of the most popular men who ever lived in Florence, and the dedicatory exercises will prove of especial interest to those who knew and honor him. He was a friend of the people of East Florence and showed his interest in them in many ways, being a leader in the cause of education and christianity [sic] in that section. Dr. Kernachan gave a short sketch of Mr. Brandon's life, which was not only appreciated but heartily endorsed by all, for they all knew Chas. M. Brandon and loved him.
From "A Walk Through the Past":
COFFEE HIGH SCHOOL
Named for Camilla Madding Coffee and her husband Capt. Alexander Donelson Coffee. Camilla gave the land for this original school in memory of her husband wo was a son of General John Coffee. This campus faced Hermitage Drive at the intersection of North Walnut Street. In 1939 the Kernachan Estate, consisting of 32 acres bordering Royal Avenue and Hermitage Drive, was purchased for the modern Coffee High School which opened August 29, 1951. The old Coffee High School building became the Appleby Junior High School when the upper grades moved to the new location.Excerpt of "A Walk Through The Past"
By all accounts, Charles Brandon was a good man and Ellen Kernachan did wise by collaborating her business interests with him. She set her descendants off to a good life for generations to come, by not failing or faltering as many of this era had. She picked up her skirts and set off to business and sent her sons to college. She had grand-daughters and great-granddaughters named for her.
After the death of her husband in 1868, Robert Sr., his uncle, added a codicil to his will naming Ellen as executrix and primaty heir. Ellen and Robert Jr., had 3 sons: Robert Thomas III, John Simmons, and William Jones. Robert and John would marry sisters: Blanche and Elva Moore from Mecklenburg County, Virginia. They were educated young ladies with connections to the Simmons family.
They were the daughters of Samuel T. Moore and Elva Harwell. Samuel T Moore was the son of Robert Moore and Elizabeth James "Betsy" Simmons, all of Mecklenburg County, Virginia. I have not researched the Simmons family trees, but with a common surname and a common origin, the likelihood that Betsy Simmons was related to Ellen's father John J Simmons is very probable.
William Jones Kernachan married Jenny Keyes Jones, yet another relative, related through the Virginia Jones line and also a descendant of the prominent Keyes family, who were also early planters in the Shoals area of Alabama. Jenny was the daughter of Henry Cox Jones and Martha Lousia Keyes.
The following is the obituary for Henry Cox Jones
"Henry Cox Jones, lawyer, was born January 23, 1821, near Russellville, Franklin County, and died June 20, 1913, at Florence, son of William Stratton and Ann Harris (Cox) Jones, the former a native of Amelia County, Virginia, born in 1798, and died in 1874, came from Virginia in 1813, and located at Huntsville, moved to Franklin County in 1819, and settled on a large plantation near Russellville; grandson of Thomas Speck and Prudence (Jones) Jones, who lived in Amelia County, Virginia, the former a colonel in the Revolutionary army; and of Henry and Judith (Eldridge) Cox, who lived at Huntsville, Madison County; great-grandson of Peter Jones, of Dinwiddy County, Virginia, an officer in the British army who was sent to America to fight the Indians, and of Thomas and Martha (Bolling) Eldridge, the latter a descendant of John Rolf and Pocahontas, fourth generation."The ancestors of the Jones family came from Wales. He was raised on a plantation near Russellville, and obtained his early education in the schools of that place, under the instruction of John Wyatt Harris. (He was the father of Colonel John Wyatt Harris) and was graduated from LaGrange College in 1840. He studied law in college under Prof. Tutwiler, and later under Hon. Daniel Coleman of Athens. He was admitted to the bar in 1841 in Franklin County. He was elected Probate Judge of the county, and resigned the office after eighteen months to become a representative of Franklin County in the state legislature. He was re-elected to the legislature in 1844, and was sent to the State Senate in 1853. He moved to Florence in 1856, and continued his law practice. In 1860 he was a Douglas elector, and the following year represented the county at the Secession Convention, where he refused to vote for or sign the Ordinance of Secession. Through he was an opponent of secession, he was elected to the Provisional Congress of the Confederate States of America and served in the body for one year. During the war he was engaged in the manufacture of cottons and woolens under a contract for the Confederate government. After the war he resumed the practice of law at Florence. He was associated at times with Sydney C. Posey and the Hon. Josiah Patterson. During the reconstruction period he was chairman of the Democratic Central Committee for five years. In 1876 he was a Tilden elector, and later in that year he was elected solicitor for the eighth district. He was re-elected to that office for two more terms, holding the position in all for eighteen years. He was a Democrat, a Methodist and a Mason. Married, October 13, 1844, at Athens, to Martha Louisa, who died at her home in Florence, May 6, 1887, daughter of George and Nelly (Rutledge) Keys, who lived in East Tennessee. ***** Children: (1) William Stratton, who served in the C. S. Army under Forest and was killed at Pulaski, Tennessee; (2) Bertha, married Lindsey Melbourne Allen; (3) George Pressly; (4) Ellen Rivers; (5) Henry Cox, deceased; (6) John Rather, deceased: (7) Jennie Keyes, married William Jones Kernachan; (8) Martha Bolling, married Thomas Sadler Jordan; (9) Robert Young; Wade Keyes, deceased."The above biographical sketch of Judge Jones is taken from Dr. Owen's "History of Alabama and Dictionary of Alabama Biography." Mrs. Bertha Allen, his eldest daughter, still resides at Phil Campbell and is one of the oldest residents of the town. Her husband, Lindsey Melbourne Allen, was the pioneer settler and merchant of Phil Campbell.From the book: "Distinguished Men, Women and Families of Franklin Co., Alabama," by R. L. James, pub. cir. 1927-1929, pages 56-57. Copy of book located in the Franklin County Library, Russellville, Alabama.
Ann Elizabeth Simmons Kernachan's will was probated on November 14, 1892. The contents will be the next post.
In researching my last post, Who was Jannett Mumford, I came across a lot of Scotch and Irish settlers, who arrived prior or during the time of the American Revolution and immediately became patriots. These sons of Eire or Scotia were not down-trodden, half-starved refugees of a potato famine, but educated and skilled craftsmen, doctors, lawyers, merchants and gentlemen farmers, like Robert Adam, the Maffetts, John Hogg, and many others. They came and married and did business with the sons of Quakers and daughters of Virginians. Patrick married Patience, Duncan married Phobe and all as well and the fabric of America was being woven.
The Kernahans of Lauderdale County, Alabama were no different. They were not a large family, there was Abraham and Robert. Although I have not yet came across a document that identifies them as such, they were probably brothers.
In the 19 page Divorce Settlement of Dr. George Washington Booth and his wife Mariah Booth Winfield Maffett Booth, Robert Kernachan is a major player. It is to him, the trusteeship of the property of Mariah Booth and her daughter Mary Ann Maffett, is given, after it is taken from Dr. Booth and from Mariah's former brother-in-law, Dr. William H Maffett of Fayetteville.
Who was Robert Kernachan, so entrusted with her estate?
In my prior post, linked above, Martha Kernachan is named as an heir and near kin of Rebecca Booth Elliott, the aunt of both Mariah and her husband/first cousin, George W. Booth.
Martha was a Booth. Robert was her husband, and therefore an 'In-law" of Mariah.
The Kernachan Cemetery in Lauderdale County, Alabama, was surveyed on April 5, 1989 by Orlan Irons. It is located off of Gunwaleford Road.
Listed are the following interments:
NAME Born Died Inscription/Comments
KERNACHAN, Robert 14 Jan 1869 aged 76 years
WILLIAMS, Isaac B. 5 Apr AD 1812 5 Mar AD 1853 aged 39 yrs 11 mos 10 das
WILLIAMS, Maria C.** 6 Apr 1822 1 Sep 1851 aged 29 yrs 4 mos 25 das
**Consort of Isaac B. Williams & daughter of Abram & Martha Kernachan
KERNACHAN, R. T. 28 Mar 1868 aged 40 yrs 6 mos 9 das
JONES, Martha Tazewell 7 Apr 1845 15 Jun 1846 aged 1 yr 2 mos 8 das
JONES, Infant 22 Sep 1843 1 Oct 1843
inf son of James C. & Martha B. Jones
JONES, William Edward 2 Aug 1860 15 Oct 1882
son of James Carey & Matilda Bloomfield Jones
JONES, Sallie Bloomfield 11 Aug 1868 29 Mar 1883
dau of James C. & Matilda B. Jones
JONES, James Carey 30 Jul 1819 12 May 1885 father
Matilda Bloomfield 16 May 1826 11 Oct 1885 mother; nee Kernachan
KERNACHAN, Abraham 12 Mar 1833 aged 50 yrs;
born in County Donegall, Ireland
Some of these tombstones are broken, and some are out of place.
The Kernahans became entangled with other members of the Booth family as well.
Abraham Kernachan and Martha Booth had one son and 5 daughters:
First were the twins:
Muriel G Kernachan and Mariah C Kernachan were born on April 6, 1822.
There are no marriage records on Muriel, so she likely died as a child.
Mariah C Kernachan married Isaac B Williams. Both are buried in the Kernachan Cemetery.
Eliza Ann Kernachan was born Dec 3, 1823. She married first cousin Francis Harwood Jones, son of Francis F Jones and Nancy Ann Booth Jones. She died a young bride at the age of 22 in 1845.
Matilda B Kernachan was born May 16, 1836. She married James Carey Jones, also a first cousin and a brother to Francis H. Jones who married her sister Eliza.
Only son, Robert Thomas Kernachan II (named for his uncle and probably his grandfather), was a Confederate Veteran who died in 1869. He married cousin Ann Elizabeth Ellen Simmons, daughter of John J. Simmons and Rebecca Ann Charlotte Jones Simmons. Her mother would go on to marry John Nicholas Malone of Limestone County, Alabama. All present Alabama Kernachans are descended from their 3 sons: Robert T Kernachan III (1855), John Simmons Kernachan (1857) and William Jones Kernachan (1859). All three sons made their mark in Alabama history. More on them later.
Mary Lucy Kernachan, the youngest, was born September 24, 1829. She was the first wife of John Nicholas Malone, who later married her cousin Rebecca Ann Charlotte Jones Simmons, mother of her sister-in-law, Ann Elizabeth Ellen Simmons. They had 3 children together before Lucy died in 1849: Algernon Kernachan Malone (1846), Robert Booth Malone (1847) and Sarah A "Sally" Malone (1848).
In several newspaper articles and pieces of business, we found out a little of who the Kernachans were.:
From the Nashville Christian Advocate: Oct 2, 1851 Maria Williams, wife of James Williams, Daughter of Abram and Martha Kernachan, died September 1, 1851, in the 30th year of her age.
If you notice, in the cemetery, her husband is "Isaac B Williams".
From Newspaer Abstracts from The Huntsville Daily Mercury, contributed by KL Stacy, Florence Notes Nov 22, 1885 A Young Man Kills himself accidentally "Mr. Robert T. Kernachan, one of our most popular and worthy young men, was wounded Thursday evening by the accidental discharge of his gun, and from the effects of which he died yesterday. He leaves behind a wife and two little children, and a host of friends to mourn his sad and untimely end. He will be buried today at the family burying ground in Colberts Reserve in this county. "
The Nashville Christian Advocate, about the same time reported: Robert T Kernachan died near Florence, Alabama, November 20, 1885 in his 31st year of age of accidental gunshot wound; married Blanche Moore, Jan. 18 1881, two children.
The two children were John Simmons Kernachan and William J. Kernachan, both who grew up to be distinguished men.
NASHVILLE CHRISTIAN ADVOCATE, V. 29, #6. February 6, 1869 ROBERT KERNACHAN d Jan. 14, 1869, aged 73rd year; native of Ireland; came to Philadelphia, Pa. at age 6 and then to Lauderdale Co., Ala. where he died; joined MEC in 1821 or 1822. Note: MEC stands for "Methodist Episcopal Church" "Sister" KERNACHAN born Mecklenburg Co., Va., Nov. 3, 1791; died March 1, 1847; moved to Tenn. in 1818; married Abram Kernachan (died March 12, 1833), 1820, and settled in Lauderdale Co., Ala. the same year; four daughters and one son. She married, as a widow, to Robert Kernachan, May 1834.
PLANTATIONS IN ALABAMA
Kernachan Plantation
Lauderdale
In 1810, the Chickasaws complained that between 4000 and 5000 people had illegally invaded their territory. By 1816, Isaac Barker, a government agent reported 200 to 300 families living around the Shoals of the Tennesse River, which included the Muscle Shoals area in Lauderdale County, Alabama.
Abraham, or Abram, as he is often seen, was born in Donegal, Ireland. We know that he arrived first in Philadelphia, in 1799, and that at some point prior to 1820, he had removed to Tennessee. The obituary for Martha Booth Kernachan states that they married in Tennesee about 1820. Younger brother Robert Thomas Kernachan would later join Abraham and Martha in Lauderdale County, Alabama, but another younger brother, Andrew, would remain in Shelby County, Tennesse. He was the father of two daughters who would remove to Cincinatti, Ohio. Several of the Alabama Kernachans would later visit Cincinatti. William Jones Kernachan is recorded as having been born there, and the obituary of Francis Harwood Jones, who married Abrahams daughter Eliza, states that they lived for a little while in Cincinatti. Francis H. Jones was also a cousin of Eliza Kernachan, being the son of Francis F Jones and Nancy Ann Booth, sister of Martha Booth Kernachan.
Inventory Book "A" of Lauderdale County, Alabama records 22 patents of land to Abraham Kernachan dated February 6, 1822 in Township 3 South, Range 12 West.
This township borders the Tennesee River (Pickwick Lake) to the south. It continues across the river into Colbert County, Alabama.
The Kernachan Cemetery which contains the remains of Abraham and his brother Robert lies in Colbert County. The Kernachan plantation lie in Lauderdale County.
April 6, 1822, Twins Muriel G and Mariah C Kernachan are born.
On April 25, 1822 Abraham Kernachan record his livestock mark as "a swallow fork in each ear". p 116
December 3, 1823 Eliza Ann Kernachan is born.
On October 20, 1823, Abraham is recorded as living in the community of "Smithsonia".
May 16, 1826 Matilda Bloomfield Kernachan is born.
1826 Abraham Kernachan files a lawsuit in Lawrence County, Alabama suing his brother-in-law, Harper Booth. Another party mentioned is another brother-in-law, Francis Jones, husband of Nancy Ann Booth Jones. Abraham wins the suit and Harper Booth has to pay him the $1279.25 that was borrowed in 1822.
September 19, 1827 Robert Thomas Kernachan II is born.
September 4, 1829 Mary Lucy Kernachan is born.
In the 1830 census, Abraham was the Head of Household of nearly his own town, with a total of 55 persons in his household. Many small towns did not have that many citizens.
He grew Cotton.
Abraham Kernachan [Abraham Kernahan]
Home in 1830 (City, County, State):
Lauderdale, Alabama
Free White Persons - Males - Under 5:
1 Robert T II
Free White Persons - Males - 20 thru 29:
1 Likely an employee
Free White Persons - Males - 30 thru 39:
1 Robert
Free White Persons - Males - 50 thru 59:
1 Abraham
Free White Persons - Females - Under 5:
1 Mary Lucy
Free White Persons - Females - 5 thru 9:
3 Mariah, Matilda, Eliza
Free White Persons - Females - 30 thru 39:
1 Martha
Slaves - Males - Under 10:
6
Slaves - Males - 10 thru 23:
9
Slaves - Males - 24 thru 35:
5
Slaves - Males - 36 thru 54:
5
Slaves - Females - Under 10:
8
Slaves - Females - 10 thru 23:
6
Slaves - Females - 36 thru 54:
4
Slaves - Females - 55 thru 99:
3
Free White Persons - Under 20:
5
Free White Persons - 20 thru 49:
3
Total Free White Persons:
9
Total Slaves:
46
Total - All Persons (Free White, Slaves, Free Colored):
55
The one male between 20 and 29 was probaly an employee, like the John Cradock living with Robert in 1850.
A history of Lauderdale County states that the major Cotton mills were established between 1836 and 1840. The Cypress Creek area of Lauderdale saw the devopment of the Kernachan Mill and the Skipworth Mill, which would later be purchased by Mr James Martin and Mr. Levi Cassity and renamed the Globe Factory or called the Cypress Mill.
March 12, 1833 Abraham Kernachan died.
In May of 1834, his widow, Martha B Kernachan, married his brother Robert Thomas Kernachan, Sr.
The Kernachan name has many variations. There were quite possibly more relatives left in the Philadelphia area, some may have even moved to New York.
They were first found in County Donegal, Ireland, where they held a seat from early times. Abraham's Tombstone reads:
"Abraham Kernachan b 1783 Corrigan Co, Donegal, Ireland d 12 Mar 1833 in Lauderdale County Alabama".
While the only siblings we can be sure of is Robert, who married his widow and John, who remained in Ireland and is mentioned in Robert's will, and whose descendants may have came to claim an inheritance, and Andrew, who remained in Tennesse, and whose daughters the family still had interactions with, there is a mention of a Revolutionary War soldier:
William Carnahan or Kernachan , enlisted 13 April 1791 Private Pennsylvania line. Enlisted at Little York, PA.
He applied for a pention Nov 1, 1818, at age 68, in Bucks County, Pennsylvania. The 1820 record lists him with wife Grissel, 74 and 2 children living in the home. (Grandchildren perhaps?). This would have William born about 1750. Maybe he was the father of the Kernchans, or some other relative.
There is an 1869 record of name changes in Pennsylvania wherein a William Henry Kernachan changed his name to William Henry Kenyon. Perhaps he wanted to sound less Irish.
Robs Kernahan
Home in 1840 (City, County, State):
Lauderdale, Alabama
Free White Persons - Males - 10 thru 14:
1 Robert II 13
Free White Persons - Males - 20 thru 29:
1 Employee ?
Free White Persons - Males - 40 thru 49:
1 Robert 47
Free White Persons - Females - 10 thru 14:
1 Lucy 11
Free White Persons - Females - 15 thru 19:
2 Eliza 17, Matilda 14 (Mariah married, Muriel deceased)
Free White Persons - Females - 40 thru 49:
1 Martha 48
Slaves - Males - Under 10:
19
Slaves - Males - 10 thru 23:
10
Slaves - Males - 24 thru 35:
9
Slaves - Males - 36 thru 54:
5
Slaves - Males - 55 thru 99:
1
Slaves - Females - Under 10:
15
Slaves - Females - 10 thru 23:
10
Slaves - Females - 24 thru 35:
5
Slaves - Females - 36 thru 54:
4
Slaves - Females - 55 thru 99:
3
Persons Employed in Agriculture:
40
Free White Persons - Under 20:
4
Free White Persons - 20 thru 49:
3
Total Free White Persons:
7
Total Slaves:
81
Total All Persons - Free White, Free Colored, Slaves:
88
By 1840, Roberts' Household had grown considerably. In a history of Lauderdale County, for the year 1860, he was listed as one of the largest planters in the county, along with George Armstead, Nathan Boddie, William H Key, Robert M Patton and others.
The court records hold summons for Roberts service in several different years:
April 4, 1844 Petit Jurors:
Robert Kernachan, farmer, Sinking Creek
Sept 29, 1845 Summoned to Grand Jury: Robert Kernachan, farmer, Sinking Creek
1850 Traves Jurors:
Robert Kernachan, farmer, Sinking Creek
April 13,1857
Robert Kernachan, farmer, Reserve
While the elder Robert was serving on the Jury, Robert, the younger was appearing in court. He had multiple problems of his own.
In 1843, another mention of Robert Kernachan, Sr., was in the court papers:
In the matter of Robert Kernachan, Trustee, etc. of Mariah B Moffett, a decree was rendered by the chancellor removing the said trustee, and appointing James C Malone in his stead.
This decree led to the next phase in Mariah's life.
