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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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