Waiting on microfilm from Utah can be a timely, but rewarding, matter.
Earlier I had many posts on the 'Scarlett O'Hara' of my family tree, Mariah Booth Winfield Moffett/Maffett Booth. I had found her in Lawrence County, Alabama, where she had filed suit in a Civil action against her second husband and first cousin, Dr. George Washington Boothe. Both Mariah's mother Mary "Polly" Booth and G. W.'s father Harper Booth, were children of Thomas Booth of Mecklenburg County, Virginia.
The marriage was not a happy one. In the suit, Mariah had accused George of being a drunk, a gambler and a spend thrift, having his way with her slaves left to her by her father, Joel Winfield and grandfather, Lt. Joshua Winfield. She said his actions toward her, and her only daughter, Mary Ann Newland Moffett, were 'cruel' and 'indifferent'. Two years after the marriage, she had filed suit.
The suit and legal actions in court took place between 1838 and 1840. During this period, Mariah had turned guardianship of her affairs and property over to Robert Kernachan, her uncle by marriage, in neighboring Lauderdale County, Alabama. She had nearly every notable person in 3 or 4 counties to testify as to the misconduct of the good doctor, who promptly took off to Mississippi, after burying his mother Nancy Booth in Franklin County, Alabama, and settling in and around Itwamaba and Lee Counties in Ole Miss with his father, Harper and brothers John Fletcher and Thomas. His father seems to have owned property in 2 counties in Alabama and 4 in Mississippi.
Just a few years after, in 1842, for unknown reasons, Mariah turned her affairs over to another relative, John Nicholas Malone, after having been defended in court by her couisn, Vinkler Jones.
The papers had stated that a divorce was sought, but I had not been given a final date on the outcome.
Then arrived the microfilm. It can not be copied, as the machines are not set up for that at the Mormon Church, which graciously allows researchers to use their library and equipment, but it could be photographed. Through the glass is not the best shot, but there it was, the defining information.
Under the lists of Alabama divorces of that era, a misspelled "Marian Boothe" from George Washington "Boothe" January 21, 1843 Lawrence County.
Mariah recieved her divorce. Her freedom from tyranny would be short-lived however, as she would die in Limestone County, with the Malone family, before the decade was up.
Several ladies of her standing and in her family filed for divorce during that era. I had seen many within the Booth/Jones/Malone family on the divorce list. These independent Scarletts had the resources and gumption to "not take no crap', even in the early years of America.
John Booth and Lucy are listed just above her. This was probably John who married Lucy Gilliam Malone.
The story of Mariah does not end here. I will be returning to her shortly, and continuing with the saga of her daughter Mary Ann, and how their noted cousin, the great navigator and blockade runner, John Newland Maffet, Jr. sewed it all together.
There were alot of Malones. This family seemed to have dipped its toes into every bloodline that came out of 'Olde' Virginia and spread their seeds throughout the South. There were also a good number of Chappell's, so James Chappell Malone of Limestone County was not hurting for relatives. However, Mariah B. Winfield Moffat (sans Booth) was not one of them, not a close one any way.
The will of George Booth, proved in 1763 in Sussex County, Virginia, mentions a good number of Malones, as there was a strong intermarriage between the families in that generation, so James Chappell Malone may have been a distant relative of Mariah, as George was her great, great-grandfather, but not a close one.
The Will of George BoothProved 3/16/1763 Sussex Co., VA
. . . to grandson George Booth, son of George Booth, Sussex County land south of Sappony Creek, also 100 acres to the north side of Sappony Creek, bounded by Ready (Reedy) Branch. To grandson George Parham, son of John Parham, land in Sussex County in the fork of Sappony Creek, 220 acres, and 40 pounds. To grandsons John Parham, Thomas Parham, and Matthew Parham, 40 pounds each, as well as to granddaughter Anne Heath. To my daughter Mary Parham, 100 pounds and personality [a slave??]. After her death, the Nego to return to my grandddaughter Anne Heath. To grandsons Reuben Booth and Thomas Booth and Gilliam Booth and John Booth and George Malone and Rueben Malone and Booth Malone and William Malone and to my granddaughters Mary Booth and Winifred Robertson and Wilmouth Malone: 40 pounds each. to my daughter Ann Malone, 100 pounds. To my granddaughter Lucy Jones, 40 pounds and personality [a slave??]. To my friend Lucy Hill 40 pounds, saddle & bridle and check linene. To my grandson George Booth, the rest of my estate. Executor: Grandson George Booth.
Signed George Booth his mark X Wit: Amos Love, John Malone, Frederick Smith
The above Thomas Booth, mentioned as a grandson, was the grandfather of Mariah Booth Winfield. James Chappell Malone was the son of Thomas Chappell Malone and Mary Chappell. He was born on June 5, 1800 in Sussex County, Virginia and died September 8, 1863 in Marietta, Georgia. He married Eliza Frances Binford, another member of those grand Virginia families, and was the father of 9 children. Thomas C Malone was the son of Daniel Malone and Anna Chappell, while his wife was the daughter of Thomas Chappell and Elizabeth Tucker Malone. Thomas Chappell was the son of Thomas Chappell Sr and Mary Briggs; Elizabeth Tucker Malone was the daughter of William Malone (son of William Malone, Sr and Anne Tucker) and Mary Hill. Daniel Malone, father of Thomas C. Malone, above, was the brother of Elizabeth Tucker Malone and his wife Anna, was the daughter of Thomas Chapell, Sr. and Mary Briggs, meaning Daniel and Anna were first cousins and that James C Malones parents were both first and second cousins to each other, so while James C Malone was related to himself several times over, he was not in any way a close relative of Mariah B Winfield Moffett Booth.
So, when Mariah took Robert Kernachan to court in 1843 and requested that guardianship be transferred from her uncle-in-law, Robert, to James C Malone, esquire, who was James to her?
He was then, a gentleman, likely someone she had met and trusted the integrity of. With this transfer, Mariah and her daughter Mary Ann Newland Moffett, had moved from Lauderdale County, Alabama, into Limestone County, to the growing little town of Athens.
In this book:
Vanderbilt University Quarterly, Volume 7
By Vanderbilt University
A magnificent oration is given on the attributes of James Chappell Malone, Esq. in a section devoted to his son, Thomas H. Malone.
It says, "James Chappell Malone the father, as we have seen, was born in Sussex County, Virginia about twenty miles from Petersburgh, in about the year 1800, whence he removed with his family to the valley of the Tennessee, in Alabama in 1818. He married Eliza Frances Hardiman Binford, already mentioned, in whom was exemplified to a marked degree, that sweet, gentle repose of manner which characterized the well-bred Southern woman of the old regime. He was a man of mark both intellectually and physically and withall had such strength of moral and religious fiber -doubtless the heritage of his Huguenot blood- that the allurements neither of social prestige, nor of wealth, nor of leisure could swerve him from a life of deep personal piety."
The Vanderbuilt Quarterly also gives this description of Judge Malone's home in Athens, which Mariah had resided in after her departure from the Kernachan abode.
"When not more than forty-one or two years of age, ........he purchased a tract of some thousand acres of land not more than a mile from the town of Athens, Alabama, within easy reach of his plantations, chosen with reference to its situation, rather than its fertility. On it he erected a typical Southern mansion, attractive alike in the generous amplitude of its space, and the beauty of its architecture, and committing his plantations to the care of overseers, (visiting each one of them nearly every week), he devoted himself to the beautification and care of his home, to his orchards, etc, to the enjoyment of books and the chase, the rearing and training of his children, and to that dignified leisure that sat so well upon the Southern planter of olden time. To his home, he gave the name Secluseval."
A citizen of Athens gives this description of Secluseval:
"The typical roomy elegant home, of his then wealthy, aristocratic parents, was noted for its lavish, genuine, but unostentatious hospitality. It was one of some half score homes in or very near Athens, noted for the honesty of purpose, refinement, culture and learning of the indwellers; the homes of the Colemans, Vassars, Richardsons, Malones, Featherstones, Lockharts and a few others."
So we see that the home where Mariah and her young daughter moved to was one of comfort and owned by a wealthy Southern gentleman with the old Virginia ties of her own family. Judge Malone did for Mariah one last favor and that favor would last for decades and allow her to be found.
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.
The will of George Booth, proved in 1763 in Sussex County, Virginia, mentions a good number of Malones, as there was a strong intermarriage between the families in that generation, so James Chappell Malone may have been a distant relative of Mariah, as George was her great, great-grandfather, but not a close one.
