52 Ancestors 2021: Week 24: Father's Day

I am beyond late in posting this - as Father's Day was June 20th... and it's September 29th. I apologize, again, in how far behind in these challenges that I am. My summer has not been amazing. From laptop problems to family problems - I've really been struggling. That said... I thought I'd stylize this blog the same way I did for Mother's Day. 

For Mother's Day, I talked about my direct maternal line and for this - I'll talk about my direct paternal line, following the Mefford surname as back as I possibly can. Now - my Dad has done his DNA and he has three Mefford lines, so, we have a lot of Mefford cousin DNA matches. A LOT. I've successfully been able to make DNA matches through my 8x Grandfather because of this endogamy. 

First and foremost, my last name of Mefford comes from my Father. My Dad is still living so I won't talk too in-depth about him. He just celebrated his 56th birthday last month. He has been the breadwinner for our family for my whole life. Dad is a ASME certified welder, boilermaker, pipefitter, and honestly, a jack of all trades. He can fix pretty much everything... just don't ask him to fix your washer or dryer. That's his kryptonite. 

Thankfully with my Dad having done his DNA through 23andme, I know that my Dad's paternal haplogroup is I-Z58 and his maternal haplogroup is H1b.

I-Z58 is said to be from "most probably, Northern Europe." The greatest frequency is "northwestern Europe," and that makes sense for the Mefford's as we hail from Germany, and possibly before that, France. We are definitely "Germanic European." 

H1b is said to have branched off between as far back as 8,000 years ago, to as near as 4,000 years ago. It's most commonly found in eastern Europe and NW Siberia. The eastern European is a bit fascinating for me as my Dad and I continue to get "Ashkenazi Jewish" in our DNA results. Perhaps it is from this particular ancestor. I'll have to speak about my Dad's direct maternal line another time. 

So for my direct paternal line... from my father, we'd go to,

My Granddad: Glen Bastin Mefford. My Granddad was born on April 4th, 1938, in the Ennis/Drakesboro area of Muhlenberg County, Kentucky. He was one of ten children, but a few unfortunately passed away young. Until his death, he was the oldest living brother to his siblings. Sadly, Granddad passed last year on August 11th, at the age of 82. He was home, at the farm, and under the care of hospice. The farm was his pride and joy. He loved the lake, and he loved spending the summer holidays there with his family.. but the farm is what he was most proud of, I believe. My Granddad was an ironworker, part of the local Union. He was a farmer his entire life. He loved to grow a humongous garden full of onions, leaf lettuce, tomatoes, corn, okra, squash, cucumbers, and so much more. I think his favorite meal ever was beans, bacon, cornbread, and green onions. 

My Granddad was married three times and had three kids, two stepchildren through his second marriage (my Grandma, Mina Geneva (Jones) Hendrix), and a stepdaughter in his last marriage. His oldest biological child was legally adopted, later on, by his stepfather and I've never met him to this day. 

Granddad is laid to rest in Forest Grove Cemetery in Ennis beside of his third wife, my step-Grammie, Nancy Lou (Estes) Fleming Mefford. 

My Great-Grandfather: Clinton "Clint" Mefford. Great-Granddaddy Clint was born on July 29th, 1903, in Ennis, KY. Clint married Edith Mae Bastin on June 26th, 1926, in Hartford, Ohio County, KY. Thank you to a book in the Henderson County Public Library for me even finding that information! They reared ten children and a few of them died quite young, sadly. 

Great-Granddaddy Clint worked in the coal mines most of his life and made very decent money doing so. I believe he, too, farmed quite a bit as well. He passed away on October 3rd, 1965, in Greenville, KY, of a myocardial infarction... due to arteriosclerotic heart disease. Runs in the family, sadly. He was only 62 years old. He died just a few months after my Dad was born and out of all the Mefford's -- I feel like my Dad resembles Great-Granddaddy Clint the absolute most. Especially when he's wearing a certain kind of hat like in the photograph I have of Clint. 

Clint is laid to rest in Allen's Chapel Cemetery in Ennis near his young children that went before him. His wife, Edith, re-married after his passing to Oscar Vincent.. She and Oscar are buried together in Rose Hill Cemetery in Central City. 

My 2x Grandfather: French Mefford. French was born on April 2nd, 1874 (as opposed to 1873 that's on his tombstone) in Paradise, Muhlenberg County, KY.

1874 is more consistent because A) his birth record says April 2nd, 1874.. and B) in the 1880 census which was summer of 1880, he was already 6 years old (1874), and C) His WW1 draft card that he helped fill out himself -- April 2nd, 1874. However, his death certificate says 1873 and I guess that's what they went with for his tombstone. 

French was one of four children - at least four that survived, anyway. Unsure if his parents lost any young children. French married Emma Lillie Turner on February 7th, 1898, in Muhlenberg County, KY. He and Emma Lillie reared four children: three daughters and a son. 

French was a farmer in occupation in all the censuses (through 1940). It appeared he worked on his own account in 1940. French, in my opinion, looks quite German. He looks like he was a decent sized man...and hopefully I don't get smacked when I get to heaven for saying this... the man had car doors for ears. Literally - I am so floored that my Dad and I don't have bigger ears because of him! 

French passed away at the age of 81, on April 24th, 1955, in Louisville. He died of a cerebral hemorrhage, due to hypertensive cardiovascular disease. He also had arteriosclerosis, and had a coronary incident two years prior to his death. 

He was laid to rest in Union Chapel Cemetery in Ennis, KY. His parents, too, are buried in this cemetery. 

My 3x Grandfather: George Washington Mefford. He was born on July 13th, 1847, in Muhlenberg County, KY. On March 19th, 1868, he married his first cousin - Amanda E. Hardison and they had four children: two girls and two boys. 

George was a farmer by occupation for most of his life it appears. In the 1920 census, he reports that he can indeed read and write. However, in prior censuses, he says he is not able to read or write. So sometime between 1910 and 1920, he perhaps either self-taught or someone taught him how to read and write. Perhaps he finally retired from farming and one of his daughters taught him how. Just speculating. In that 1920 census, he lives with his son, Buck Morton Mefford.

George lived to see the age of 82 - passing away on January 30th, 1930, in Ennis, KY. He died of chronic nephritis and was buried in Union Chapel Cemetery next to his wife who died before him in 1918. 

My 4x Grandfather: Andrew Jackson Mefford. Andy Mefford was born on February 25th, 1817, most likely in Muhlenberg County, but could have been Butler County, KY. On July 10th, 1839, in Muhlenberg County, he married his DOUBLE first cousin, Catharine "Katie" Mefford. They reared at least seven children before she passed away in 1855. 

After Katie's death, Andy remarried to Nancy C. Webb on January 4th, 1858, and that union produced at least one son. Nancy was twenty years younger than Andy and of course, she outlived him as well. 

Andy, too, like his descendants, was a farmer. According to the 1870 census - he could not read or write. 

Andy passed away on July 28th, 1873, in Muhlenberg County. It is unknown where he's laid to rest but it's probably Union Chapel Cemetery or another cemetery in Ennis. He, nor his first wife Katie, have had a tombstone found in any cemetery as of yet. It could be because their graves were never marked, or it could be because the tombstones have been lost/destroyed over the years. 

My 5x Grandfather: George W. Mefford. George was born on January 11th, 1789, in the great state of Virginia. He married, sometime around 1811 to Anna Hudlow. His brother, Jacob, would marry Anna's sister Susan. Then George & Anna's son, Andy, married Jacob & Susan's daughter Katie (that's how they were double first cousins.) 

George and Anna eventually moved to the Butler County, KY area sometime, I believe, between 1820 and 1830. They had at least eight children together. George, too, was a farmer.. and according to the 1870 census, he could not read or write. 

George died of "old age" as it appears in the death ledger on October 24th, 1877, in Butler County, KY. He was 88 years old - although the death ledger says he was 96. The death ledger also seems like he was born to a "Jake" Mefford, but his Dad's name was actually John. However, his brother was indeed Jacob "Jake" Mefford. 

George and his wife Anna are buried in New Midway Church Cemetery in Rochester, Butler County, KY. Their tombstones still exist! I have yet to go to their grave site but it's on my bucket list!

My 6x Grandfather: John Mefford was born on October 8th, 1764, in the state of Pennsylvania it is said. He married Miss Mary Lemon on January 8th, 1787, in Rockingham County, Virginia. Sometime I believe between 1810 and 1820 -- he moved his family to the Logan County, KY area. John and Mary had at least two sons and two daughters to the best of my knowledge. 

John, like his descendants, I assume was a farmer. He, too, probably couldn't read or write... but since he died prior to 1850 - I can't find out all that awesome information. No, John passed away at 77 years of age, according to everything I've found. His date of death was April 18th, 1842, in Logan County, KY. He applied for a Revolutionary War pension in Logan County in December of 1840. 

According to paperwork found by other family members - his pension was turned down as he didn't "serve enough time," in the war. He apparently had served as a Minute Man guarding prisoners. He acted as his father's substitute in the year that Cornwallis was taken prisoner. 

John nor his wife Mary's tombstones have ever been found in a cemetery. They're likely buried in an old, possibly family cemetery in Logan County that is either destroyed or undiscovered/lost. 

My 7x Grandfather: Casper Mefford (Meffert). Casper was born in the Hessen area of Germany on August 27th, 1741. He and his two brothers: George and John (Gorg and Johann) came over with their father, Andrew (Andreas) and were a few of the first Meffert's / Mefford's to come to America. They came in 1749 aboard the ship "Rainer." 

Casper and his father and brothers came into the country in Pennsylvania and from there, spread out. Casper married Maria Siegler in Philadelphia on March 30th, 1763 - and for a while it seems they removed to Frederick County, Maryland, but eventually they headed south for Rockingham County, Virginia. I believe it was around 1778 when they arrived in Virginia.

In 1795, Casper had his land surveyed - he owned 225 acres. In 1793, he bought another 41 acres. They lived close to the North River - to the south of it. Probably south of today's Bridgewater, VA. 

Casper is said to have died in Rockingham County on November 23rd, 1805. Part of Casper's will still exists in Rockingham County - but apparently a lot of it was burned. According to family folklore, there was quite a battle over his estate. His wife is said to have survived him, living until 1816.

I would imagine that Casper and Maria are probably buried on Casper's original 225 acres...somewhere. No tombstones have ever been found/recovered. 

My 8x Grandfather: Andreas Meffert - the patriarch of any and all Mefford's in America today (or at least, it feels that way). It is said that Andreas and his three sons -- Johann, Gorg, and Casper came to America together on the ship "Rainer" in 1749. Apparently, his daughter Maria Magarathe and his wife, Anna Magdalena came as well - either at the same time or right near/around the same time. 

It is said Andreas and Magdalena had more children - but only Maria, Johann, Gorg, and Casper are named in Andreas' will. It's entirely possible that they had infants that died at birth or shortly thereafter.

Andreas himself is said to have been born January 2nd, 1707, in the Hessen area of Germany. He is said to have died on August 13th, 1760, in Washington County, Pennsylvania. The immigration documents suggest the ship Rainer left Rotterdam, England, and came to Philadelphia. 

Between 1749 to 1753, it's said that Andreas and his family likely stayed in the Philadelphia area with a cousin - Egidius Meffert. Aegidius or Egidius came to America in 1748 it's said with a possible son - Johann Peter Meffert. Egidius was Andreas' first cousin, their fathers were brothers. 

After 1753 to 1760, Andreas appears on a tax list for Chester County, Pennsylvania. His will was written up on May 31st, 1760. He died soon after. 

Andreas and his wife on Find-a-Grave are listed in Peters Creek Baptist Church Cemetery in Alleghany County, Pennsylvania. I don't think that's correct whatsoever... I believe an amateur family historian slapped them in there when Find-a-Grave was just starting out years ago. Likely, they are buried more in the Washington County, PA area on land they probably owned, or an old city cemetery potentially. Perhaps a church cemetery, a church comprised of primarily German immigrants. Anything is possible. 

Through Andreas' son Johannes "John" (whereas I come through son Casper), actor Tom Hanks is my 7th cousin 2x removed. Mr. Rogers (Fred McNeely Rogers) was also my 7th cousin 2x removed through Andreas. Tom Hanks and Mr. Rogers are 6th cousins through Johannes Meffert. Tom Hanks descends through the son, Jacob Mefford; and Mr. Rogers descends through the son William Mefford.

Today.com Article

Imagine my surprise when I read that article when it popped up on Facebook out of curiosity... only to see MEFFORD/MEFFERT staring at me!! I never ever thought it would actually be cool to be a Mefford!

My 9x Grandfather: Johann Conradt (John Conrad) Meffert. Born about 1666 and died, supposedly, on July 22nd, 1731. Not much is known about these "pre-America" Meffert's but.. it's believed Johann Conradt was married first to Anna Marie Glinder and had children with her... she died in 1702. Then he married my ancestor, Anna Maria Koch, who I believe survived him. 

In all, he had at least three children with the first wife and at least eight children with the second wife (my ancestor). Three of the daughters died very young, so they never married. One of the daughters married a surname of "Will." It's said that these Meffert's still have living descendants in Germany today. I've conversed with a few of them over the years. 

More than likely, as with other Meffert's in Germany during the time - Johann Conradt and his wives likely were of the German Lutheran faith. It is likely Johann Conradt was born and died in the area of Hessen. 

My 10x Grandfather: Hans Heinrich Meffert. Hans was born about 1634 in Hessen, Germany. He married on November 25th, 1659, to Anna Margarethe Emmel. They had at least seven children before she died in about 1680. Then he married Juliana Zehn and had at least five more children with her. These Meffert children still have living descendants in Germany today. 

It is said that Hans died in the Wachenbuchen area of Germany (Hesse) on June 10th, 1704. For a long time, Hans was the dead end for the Meffert family... but I believe I've managed to get a little further. 

My 11x Grandfather: Friedrich Meffard. Born in about 1594, probably in the Rheinland area of Germany. Friedrich married Margarethe Gildenfelder in the German Evangelical Reformed Church on January 8th, 1615 in Barbelroth, Rheinland-Pfalz, Germany. Being that they married in 1611 and Hans wasn't born until about 1634.. it is very possible that Hans had a lot of older siblings, or perhaps there is a generation between Hans and Friedrich. It's possible for Friedrich to have had a son in say, 1612, that was the father of Hans in 1634. 

My 12x Grandfather: I believe the father of Friedrich is Michel Meffard born about 1574 in perhaps Gotha, Thuringia area of Germany. Michel's wife's name is reportedly Catharina. This is my wall/stump as of 2021. I haven't made any DNA matches past Andreas Meffert, technically... but they could be in my Dad's low low DNA matches (like 10cM and less). 

It is interesting that the last name has went from Mefford, to Meffert, to Meffard. I'm hoping in time my Dad will do his Y-DNA and that might yield us some better understanding of the Meffert last name and its migration patterns. :)

Thank you for reading my paternal line history. Maybe next year for Father's Day I can write about my Blanford direct paternal line.. and for Mother's Day I could write about my Grandma Mina's direct maternal line. 

52 Ancestors 2020: Week 3: Long Line

52 Ancestors in 52 Weeks, 2020 Challenges

Week Three: "Long Line."

Long line could be taken in a lot of ways. I could talk about the long line of bus drivers I descend from or the long line of jokesters I come from. Maybe the long line of farmers in my family. But I thought the best thing to talk about when it comes to "long line" is how far back my roots in America go on each branch of my tree. Or at least...the ones I've confirmed the furthest back. 

Firstly, my Mefford line. I have three of them, you know. My 3x Grandparents were first cousins...and then my 3x Grandfather's parents were double first cousins. *Yes, that is banjos you hear playing in the background.*

The first Mefford, or Meffert, in America was Andreas Meffert, born January 2nd, 1707, in Hessen, Germany. He migrated to America with some of his sons in 1749, coming in through, I believe, the Port of Philadelphia. Andreas or as he became to be known as, Andrew, spent the rest of his life living in the Washington County, Pennsylvania area, where he died on August 13th, 1760. His widow, Anna Magdalena Haas Meffert is said to have made the move down to Frederick County, VA, where she died in 1765. 

I descend through their son Casper Mefford. It's interesting to note, and I'll add it right here, that Tom Hanks and Mr. Rogers also descend from Andreas Meffert -- through his son Johannes "John" Meffert. Tom Hanks didn't know about his Meffert lineage until he went to portray Mr. Rogers in a biopic a couple of years ago. A couple genealogists put their heads together and found the connection. Imagine my surprise when I open an article to see the name "Andreas Meffert" in it. I about fainted. 

Anyway -- Casper Mefford was the first to use the spelling Mefford and keep it. He was born August 27th, 1741 in Hessen, Germany, and migrated with his father in 1749. He married miss Maria Siegler in Philadelphia on March 30th, 1763. Eventually, Casper, Maria, and their family migrated south to Virginia where Casper died on November 23rd, 1805, in Rockingham County. Casper's widow, Maria, passed away April 16th, 1816, also in Rockingham County. 

From Casper, I descend from his son John Mefford. John was born October 8th, 1764, in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. On January 8th, 1787, in Rockingham County, Virginia, he married miss Mary Lemon. By the 1820 census, John and his family were living in the Logan County, Kentucky, area. John died in Logan County on April 18th, 1842. John's wife, Mary, preceded him in death by at least two years. 

From John, I actually descend through two of his children. Twice through his son, Jacob; and once through his son, George. 

George W. Mefford was born January 11th, 1789, in Rockingham County, Virginia. In approximately 1811, probably in Rockingham County, Virginia, he married miss Anna Hudlow. By the 1830 census, he was living in Muhlenberg County, Kentucky. He died in Butler County, Kentucky, on October 24th, 1877, and his tombstone still stands. Anna preceded him in death on November 19th, 1859, in Butler County...and her tombstone still stands, too. 

As for his brother, Jacob -- he was born May 11th, 1790, in Rockingham County, Virginia. He married miss Susanna "Susan" Hudlow on December 21st, 1808, in Rockingham County. By the 1820 census, they appear to be living in Logan County, Kentucky. Jacob died in the Muhlenberg County area in roughly October of 1835. Susan reportedly died the following year, in 1836.

From George, I descend through his son, Andrew Jackson Mefford, who was born February 25th, 1817, in what was probably Logan County, Kentucky. On July 10th, 1839, in Muhlenberg County, Kentucky, he married miss Catharine "Katie" Mefford -- his double first cousin. Catharine was the daughter of Jacob Mefford & Susan Hudlow. She was born January 28th, 1817, in Logan County, Kentucky. Katie passed away August 26th, 1855, in Muhlenberg County, leaving Andrew a widower. 

Andy re-married and eventually passed away on July 28th, 1873, in Muhlenberg County, Kentucky. From Andy and Katie, I descend through their son, George Washington Mefford. George was born July 13th, 1847, in Muhlenberg County. On March 19th, 1868, in Muhlenberg County, he married miss Amanda Hardison -- his first cousin. 

Amanda "Manda" Hardison was born December 14th, 1848, in Logan County, Kentucky and was the daughter of John A. Hardison and Mary Anna "Annie" Mefford. Annie Mefford was a sister of Catharine "Katie" Mefford, thus making her a daughter of Jacob Mefford & Susan Hudlow. Annie was born circa 1819 and passed away sometime between 1860 and 1870. 

As for George & Manda -- Manda passed away on August 23rd, 1918, in Muhlenberg County. George outlived her and passed away on January 30th, 1930, in Muhlenberg County. From the two of them came only two daughters and two sons. I descend through the eldest boy, French Mefford. 

French Mefford was born April 2nd, 1874, in Muhlenberg County, Kentucky. On February 7th, 1898, he married miss Emma Lillie Turner in Muhlenberg County. French died April 24th, 1955, in Louisville, Jefferson County, Kentucky. Lillie passed December 14th, 1964, in Greenville, Muhlenberg County. 

From them was born one son and three daughters. I descend, of course, through their son -- Clinton "Clint" Mefford. He was born July 29th, 1903, in Ennis, Muhlenberg County. He married the lovely Edith Mae Bastin on June 26th, 1926, in Hartford, Ohio County, Kentucky. He preceded her in death on October 3rd, 1965, in Greenville. She went on to re-marry and lived until April 11th, 1988, passing in Daviess County, Kentucky. 

Their son, Glen Bastin Mefford, was my Grandfather.. and he sadly passed away on August 11th, 2020. From Granddad Glen to Andreas Meffert was nine generations. Nine generations between Granddad and the first Meffert to land on American soil. Even though, in 1749, we weren't quite the United States, were we? We were the British Colonies of America, I believe? 

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Anyway... the second line I can talk about, that goes back even further in American history -- is my mother's maiden name, Blanford. It originally was spelled Blandford before someone dropped the middle D. We hailed from the area of Dorset, England. Just a short distance from the actual town of Dorset is a little place called Blandford Forum and I believe that's where we originated from. We got our last name from the town, more than likely..so who knows what our last name was before Blandford. Or perhaps...the town was named for us. Hmph!

Thomas Blandford was born about 1648 in the Dorset area of England. He is the furthest back documented Blandford I can trace. I believe he came to America around the year 1673, although it could have been as early as 1660. I had previously believed Thomas was a son of a John Blandford & Dorothy Wright, but, there's not a lot of concrete evidence to back that up. 

We know Thomas married Tabitha Wright on June 13th, 1678, in Calvert County, Maryland. The Blandford's at this point are starting to become well documented here in America because they're Catholic. And let's face it... Catholics keep phenomenal records. Thomas passed away in Prince George's County in 1698. Tabitha survived him until 1701. Tabitha had previously had children with William Mills -- that's also a very old name in Catholic America coming over from England. 

From Thomas & Tabitha, I descend from their son, Thomas Blandford. Thomas was born in either late 1678 or early 1679, Calvert County, Maryland. Around 1697 or so, he married Sarah Beaven. They both died in Prince George's County around 1749. 

From Thomas & Sarah, I descend through John Blandford. John was born roughly in 1709 in Prince George's County. His first wife was an Elizabeth Hagan, but his second wife, was a woman named Eleanor, who he married around 1751. Her last name right now remains a mystery. John passed in Prince George's, in 1770. 

From John and his second wife Eleanor, I come from their son, John Baptist Blandford. John Baptist was born about 1758, likely in Prince George's County, Maryland -- and around 1773, he married Elizabeth Clarke. Sometime after that, they made the "Great Catholic Migration" from Maryland down to Eastern Kentucky. John & Elizabeth both supposedly pass in Nelson County, Kentucky, in 1797. 

Their son, John Baptist Blandford, comes next in my lineage. He was born about 1774, likely in Prince George's County, Maryland, and married miss Catharine Hagan on November 12th, 1795, in Nelson County, Kentucky. The Hagan's, too, are an old English Catholic family. John passed away, probably in Nelson or Washington County, Kentucky, in 1818. Catharine eventually migrated with her children to Union County, Kentucky, where she died May 7th, 1859. It is likely she was buried in Saint Vincent / Sacred Heart Cemetery but no tombstone exists today. 

Through them came a son named Richard B (probably Baptist) Blandford. He was born about 1810 in likely Nelson County, Kentucky. Through his second wife, Rosella Jane Boone, whom he married November 9th, 1847, in Union County, Kentucky, I descend. Richard passed away sometime between the 1860 and 1870 censuses, leaving Rosella as a widow. Rosella passed away in 1910 in Union County, Kentucky, and too, is likely buried in Sacred Heart Cemetery with no existing tombstone. 

From Richard & Rosella came a son named Samuel "Sam" Blandford and it is through him and his two wives that he populated present day Union County, Henderson County, and even some of Daviess County with Blandford's. I think even some crossed over the river into Evansville, Indiana. 

Samuel Blandford was born April 15th, 1860, in Union County, Kentucky and he married his first wife, October 8th, 1883, at Saint Vincent Church, in Saint Vincent, Union County, Kentucky... her name was Mary Olive Oatman Raley, "Ollie" for short. The Raley's, too, are an old English Catholic family. 

Ollie preceded Sam in death on June 16th, 1906, in Union County, Kentucky. Sam married again and eventually left his second wife a widow on February 1st, 1916, in Union County, Kentucky. I believe both Sam & Ollie are likely buried in Saint Vincent Cemetery, but again, no tombstones have been found. It's plausible they could be interred at Saint Peter Catholic Cemetery but, again, no tombstones have been located. 

Sam & Ollie bore several children, their son Martin Allen Blanford being my ancestor. Dad Blanford, as he was called, was born February 28th, 1888, in Morganfield, Union County, Kentucky. He married the beautiful Mary Agnes Nally on January 7th, 1913, in Union County -- likely at Saint Peter Church. Agnes bore him six children before the good Lord called her home at an early age -- just 32 years young, on January 28th, 1927. She died of tuberculosis. The Nally family, too, is an old English Catholic family. 

Dad Blanford married again and lived a long life -- he passed away April 24th, 1968, in Evansville, Vanderburgh County, Indiana. Dad & Agnes' first son, Richard Jerome Blanford, was my Great-Grandfather. "Dick" as he was known, was born November 5th, 1913, in Union County, Kentucky. 

On July 11th, 1931, probably in Holy Name Catholic Church, he married miss Verna Lorene LaRue and to them 13 children were born. They both lived long, but hard lives at times. Lorene passed away of breast cancer on May 8th, 1991. The LaRue's had been in Henderson County for quite a while, and Lorene and her immediate LaRue family were Catholic, but I don't believe the LaRue's were always Catholic. I'll talk about them again in a minute. 

Dick passed away from prostate cancer on December 14th, 1995, in Geneva, Henderson County, Kentucky. I actually had the pleasure of knowing my Great-Grandfather, just for a short while. I turned three the February after his passing. 

Their son, James Allen Blanford, who passed away six years ago today.. was my Grandfather. 

From my Grandpa Jady to Thomas Blandford of Dorset, England, are ten generations. Ten generations between the first English Blandford in America to my Grandpa. 

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For my LaRue kin -- we came to America as French Huguenots. As defined on Wikipedia -- "Huguenots were French Protestants who held to the Reformed, or Calvinist, tradition of Protestantism." Now, my LaRue line can be traced further back into France than just what I'm going to talk about but -- my French Huguenot ancestor is my 9th Great-Grandfather, Abraham LaRue or "Le Roux". 

As per Wikipedia -- "The LaRue family and its descendants trace their ancestry back to the French Huguenot Abraham LeRoux, who sailed to America with his family around 1680 as part of a mass exodus from France. According to LaRue descendant and author of Six Generations of LaRue and Allied Families, Otis M. Mather, several attempts to trace Abraham's family to a particular individual or locality in France have been unsuccessful. However, Don Holland Watson began the search in 1961 and, along with his two sisters, visited Germany and France on several occasions, tracing the family from the sub-province of Lalloeu in France to Mannheim, in Germany, and from there to the USA, then tracking the family until modern times, all across the USA in personal visits.

Although there are dozens of family traditions describing in various ways how Abraham and his family first arrived in America, all sources agree that some of the LaRues were murdered during or soon after the Massacre of St. Bartholomew in 1572, and afterward scattered across Europe and, eventually, America, where several members of the family were reunited.

Abraham LeRoux (LaRue) settled in New Jersey, where he died in 1712, leaving behind a son named Peter. Peter had three sons of his own; Abraham, Isaac and Jacob, from which sprang the LaRue families of Virginia and Kentucky."

Peter died in Frederick County, Virginia, in 1783. I descend from his son, Isaac LaRue Sr. Isaac was born 309 years ago today -- January 11th, 1712, in Hunterdon County, New Jersey. Around 1743, he married Phebe Carmen, and reared at least ten children who went forth and populated Kentucky & Virginia with LaRue's of all kinds. On March 20th, 1795, Isaac Sr dies in Frederick County, Virginia. 

From him, comes my 6th Great-Grandfather, Jacob LaRue Sr. Jacob was born May 1st, 1744, in Frederick County, Virginia. He married twice and had a slew of children with both women. I descend through his first wife, Mary Frost, whom he married in 1765 in Clarke County, Virginia. She died in 1804. Jacob eventually moved with a number of his descendants to present day Hardin County, Kentucky, where he died September 15th, 1821. 

My 5th Great-Grandfather was Samuel LaRue -- born about 1781 in Virginia. He married miss Elizabeth Dodge (Dodge is a very old American last name with roots in very early New England American history) on June 2nd, 1801, in Hardin County, Kentucky. Elizabeth passed in 1821 and Samuel shortly after in 1826. They mostly had daughters, which meant the LaRue last name was starting to die out... but they had two sons; one being my 4th Great-Grandfather. 

Josiah "Si" LaRue has been a tough man to trace down. He was born about 1804, likely in Hardin County, Kentucky, and by October 13th, 1828, in Floyd County, Indiana, he married miss Mary Castleman (old German family). They remain, however, in Hardin County in subsequent censuses. It seems they both die between 1850 and 1860. They had at least eleven children -- mostly sons, so the LaRue last name makes a come back! 

A lot of Josiah & Mary's descendants end up in Missouri, Arkansas, Kansas, and even further west. I descend through their son, Benjamin Hardin LaRue. Ben LaRue was born about December of 1844 in probably Hardin County, Kentucky. For some reason, by the mid 1860's, he's made his way to Henderson County, Kentucky, where he marries miss Mary Philapine Lawrey. 

I'm unsure exactly when Mary passes away, but it was between the 1880 and 1900 census. She's likely buried in Smith Mills Cemetery in Smith Mills, Henderson County, Kentucky. Ben LaRue reportedly died on New Years Day 1901 and his will was probated on January 30th, 1901. He, too, is likely buried in Smith Mills Cemetery. 

They, too, had eleven children -- one of them being my 2nd Great-Grandfather, Charles Clarence "Dad" LaRue. Dad LaRue was born June 8th, 1883, in Henderson County, Kentucky. On April 27th, 1904, also in Henderson, he married Carrie Annie Byrd and they, too, had eleven children -- but only eight that survived past a few years old. Carrie predeceased Dad on June 29th, 1955.. and eventually Dad LaRue re-married, 

In 1973, Dad LaRue and his daughter, Verna Lorene LaRue (my Great-Grandmother) wrote into the local Evansville newspaper column "Bish Says" to try and get information on his parents. 

She goes so far as to say "Never heard his father mention any relative." Well -- Ben LaRue had eleven siblings and apparently, he'd never talked about them, either! Eventually, my Great-Grandmother received an answer from this article and came into contact with descendants of Josiah LaRue -- Ben LaRue's father -- who lived out in Kansas. My Mom, her parents, and my Great-Grandparents -- Dick Blanford and Verna Lorene LaRue, went on a road trip and went to Kansas to meet these cousins of Lorene. 

My Great-Grandmother might be gone, and my Great-Great-Grandfather might be gone, too, but.. I've solved the LaRue lineage. I don't, however, know exactly why Ben LaRue didn't talk about his parents or siblings or where he came from. I know he was born in 1844 and I believe his parents might have died between 1850-1860... but.. he still should have been old enough to have known who they were, known their names and whatnot. He had 10 siblings.. he should have at least known their names.. I suppose dementia could have played a factor. By the time he wanted to tell his son, Charles Clarence, about his family... maybe he didn't remember. 

The Lawrey line, too, though, has proved a tough nut to crack. That's a story for another time. 

*****

These are my furthest back and most well documented "overseas to America" lines. I do have my Sandefur, Gibson, Moss, Hazelwood, etc lines back to the 1700's but, I haven't made the official "jump over the big pond" with them. Not verified anyway. So perhaps I'll talk about those ancestors another day!