Vincent Family – Page 2 – Digging Up Your Family

Lewis Stewart in the Civil War Part Two

My relationship to Lewis Stewart:

Roger Dale Ray (Robert Jewell Vincent, father)

Elbert “Shorty” Tracey Vincent (grandfather)

Martin Riley Vincent (great-grandfather)

Emmie Stewart (2nd great-grandmother)

Lewis Stewart (3rd great-grandfather)

There are so many Civil War records for Lewis Stewart that I really hate to put them all in one post. I started yesterday with two sets of photos I found on Ancestry and Fold3. I was going to post all of the rest of them today, but it really is too much, so I will break up this third set into two posts.
At first I wasn’t sure why everything for him on Fold3 wasn’t together, but then I realized that one set was probably just from the hospital and one set was probably kept in the Company.

So these are from the company! The first four pages are from his actual enlistment. The fifth page is a descriptive muster roll.

Oh, and for the record I looked up Dyersville, Kentucky. I can’t find any information on it whatsoever. I think Dyersville and Bowling Green go hand in hand.

Lewis Stewart in the Civil War Part One

My relationship to Lewis Stewart:

Roger Dale Ray (Robert Jewell Vincent, father)

Elbert “Shorty” Tracey Vincent (grandfather)

Martin Riley Vincent (great-grandfather)

Emmie Stewart (2nd great-grandmother)

Lewis Stewart (3rd great-grandfather)

I really wanted to do a full post on the life of Lewis Stewart, but a lot of the information I have come across isn’t sourced on the websites where I found it and haven’t been able to source it yet. So until I can, I will offer a bit of what I do have on him, which would be his Civil War records (found on Fold3 and Ancestry). There are A LOT of records on him during the Civil War, so I will start with the first two sets I found and then I will post the last set tomorrow.

The first set is two pages I found on Ancestry. These are Draft Registrations. The first is titled Enrollment List of Persons Subject to Military Duty in the Second District of Kentucky. He is number 14 on the list. He is 35 years, white, a farmer, born in Kentucky and no previous military service.

The next page found on Ancestry is titled CONSOLIDATED LIST of all persons of Class I, subject to do military duty in the Second Congressional District, consisting of the Counties of Muhlenberg and (blank) State of Kentucky, enumerated during the month of July 1863, under direction of Capt. Jno (John) R. Grissom, Provost Marshal. On this list Lewis Stewart is found at number 19, age 35 years, white, farmer, married, born in Kentucky, no former military service and no remarks.

The next set of records I found for him are on Fold3.

Lewis Stewart was in the Union Army as a Private in Company C, 26th Regiment Kentucky Infantry. According to the first record, a Company Descriptive Book, Lewis enlisted March 22, 1864 for a term of 3 years. We also find out what he looked like! He is described as 36 years of age, 5 feet 8 3/4 inches tall, dark complexion, gray eyes and black hair. He is listed as having been born in Muhlenberg County, Kentucky and his occupation is as a farmer.

The next four records are Hospital Muster Rolls.

The first two Hospital Muster Rolls are both dated for November and December 1864. His attachment to the hospital occurred on November 27, 1864. The only other information for him on these records is that he is a patient, but no reason is given.

The last two Hospital Muster Rolls are both dated January and February 1865. They both have him as having returned to duty February 20, 1865. Still no cause of his hospital stay is given.

The last record from this set for him is his return to duty. This card says:

Nov. 1864~absent sick

Dec. 1864~absent hosp. B.Green, Ky

Jan. & Feb. 1865-absent sick in hosp.

May 1865-Detailed at Brig. Hd. Qur.

So we know from November 27, 1864 to February 20, 1865 he was in the hospital sick, but these cards don’t give us a reason. There is a notation at the bottom of this record letting us know that he was also recorded as Lewis “Steward”.

Don’t worry! Tomorrow’s post will have more information, including the reason for his stay in the hospital! Hopefully I can find sources to cite regarding his life outside of the military, too!

My Breedlove Line

I’m wading my way through the Hope Perry Breedlove book slowly. It has a ton of information and I am trying to make sense of it all (lucky for me Joni Breedlove, who transcribed the book, offered to answer any questions I may have, so I will probably be taking her up on that soon! Thanks, Joni!). I’m going to post what I have found and I will get into the details at a later date. I will take this down as far as Lucy Breedlove, my great-grandmother.

So far I have gone back as far as my 6th great-grandfather, Thomas Breedlove, born roughly about 1730 possibly in Essex County, Virginia. I say “roughly” and “possibly” because the book doesn’t come right out and say it, but it seems that many of the Breedloves in Virginia were, at some point, in Essex County. I haven’t figured out who Thomas’ parents are yet, though I can see in most places people have them listed as Charles Breedlove and Mary Parr. Like I said, though, I haven’t really gotten down and dirty into the Breedlove Genealogy Book yet. Thomas married Sarah Broaddus (Broadus), daughter of Richard Broaddus and Bridget Vaughan. For the record, I can see on Ancestry that they married, however it doesn’t tell me exactly when they married. Thomas and Sarah had the following (known) children: John Breedlove, Charles Breedlove, Thomas Breedlove, Cornelius Breedlove, William Breedlove, Philip Breedlove, Benjamin Breedlove and Madison Breedlove. Thomas Breedlove died about 1795 in, I believe, Albemarle County, Virginia.

To save time I am going to follow my line of Breedloves from here. Mentions of others will be made, however.

My 5th great-grandfather William Breedlove was born about 1762 (according to his marriage record) in Albemarle County, Virginia. William married Mary Watts, daughter of David Watts, Jr and Sarah Unknown. William and Sarah had several children, one of which was my 4th great-grandfather, David Watts Breedlove. William Breedlove died about 1838 in Simpson County, Kentucky.

UPDATE: I believe Sarah Unknown was actually Sarah Eliza Bush. Sarah Eliza Bush was born about 1735, married David Watts and had several children, including a Mary Watts born in 1865-the same year my Mary Watts was born.

David Watts Breedlove was born about 1786 in Albemarle County, Virginia. He married Nancy Breedlove, who I believe was his cousin. David and Nancy had several children including my 3rd great-grandfather, Cornelius Vaughan Breedlove. David Watts Breedlove died about 1836 in Simpson County, Kentucky.

Cornelius Vaughan Breedlove was born in 1812 in North Carolina, according to census records. Cornelius married first Celia Brown on January 31, 1836 in Bowling Green, Warren County, Kentucky. He married second Elizabeth Crissman on August 15, 1845 in Todd County, Kentucky. He had no (known) children with Celia. Cornelius and Elizabeth had the following children: William F Breedlove, Jesse T Breedlove, Henry J Breedlove, Mary A Breedlove, John J Breedlove, Sarah Breedlove, Nancy F Breedlove. Cornelius Vaughan Breedlove died in 1880 in McLean County, Kentucky. (note: I can find the marriage records on Family Search, but not on Ancestry)

My great-great-grandfather John J Breedlove was born in Todd County, Kentucky on August 7, 1848. He married Margaret Stringer *about* 1870. John and Margaret had the following children (possibly more): Mary Jane Breedlove, Ona L Breedlove, William M Breedlove, Lucy Johnson Breedlove and Drusie Breedlove. John J Breedlove died October 12, 1912 in McLean County, Kentucky.

Lucy Johnson Breedlove, my great-grandmother, was born October 13, 1881 in McLean County, Kentucky. She married Martin Riley Vincent on November 10, 1902. Lucy and Martin Riley had the following children: Floella (Ella) Vincent, Edna M Vincent, Lillie Oleta Vincent, Elbert “Shorty” Tracey Vincent, Connie E Vincent, Everett Vincent, Vernie Vincent and Garland Kenneth Vincent (I think I got all of those right!). Lucy Johnson Breedlove died February 14, 1971 in Stewart County, Tennessee.

A story I read somewhere online (which I cannot remember where I read it, or if it was even this family…but it is stuck in my head as a Breedlove story-why oh why didn’t I save it?) was something along these lines: the father had at one point beat his son so severely that the son ran away to Tennessee. Later in life the son was killed when his car hit a tree during a police chase while he was running moonshine. Is that the Breedlove family? I hope someone will come forward and let me know!

I have printed out the Hope Perry Breedlove book so that I can highlight my line and hopefully give more detail. If you are researching the Breedlove family you should really get this manuscript. It is a wealth of information. It was written back about 1965, and an updated version is being written now, but it may take several years before it is finished.

Hopefully if I have something wrong on this someone will let me know!

Paulina Groves

Paulina (Polina) Groves was born in Kentucky about 1828 or 1829. There are no records as to who her parents are, so I cannot yet provide that information.

She married John Vincent on July 4, 1849 in Muhlenberg County, Kentucky.

On the 1850 census Paulina, listed as Palina, (age 21 years) and John (age 34 years), a farmer, are found living in Muhlenberg County, Kentucky with their two oldest children: Sarah S (age 7 years) and Martha F (age 4 months). They are both listed as persons over 20 years of age and are unable to read or write. Interestingly enough, they are living next door to Isaac Groves and family. This might be Paulina’s brother. I have not yet confirmed this, though. Also, four doors down from the Vincent family is the Hall family. Listed in their household is a 12 year old Susan B Vincent. I’m not sure what relationship she has to the Hall family or if she has any relationship to John Vincent (I just found it interesting).

In 1860 the family is still in Muhlenberg County, Kentucky in the same house. They are still living next door to Isaac Groves, though I no longer see the Hall family with the mysterious Susan B Vincent in the neighborhood. In 1860 John (age 45 years), a day laborer and Paulina, listed as Perlina, (age 32 years) have the following children living with them: Martha A (F?, age 10 years), Robert (age 7 years), Isaac (age 6 years), Rachael (age 3 years) and William H (age 1 year). I assume Sarah has married, though I haven’t done any research on her as of yet.

Sadly enough, in 1870 Paulina is widowed. Based on the age of her youngest child I gather that John passed between 1863 and 1870. I think she and her children have moved as none of the neighbors are the same. She is still in Muhlenberg County, Kentucky. She is listed as Purlina (age 40 years). The children living with her are: Martha (age 19 years), Robert (age 16 years), Isaac (age 14 years), Rachel (age 10 years), Samuel (William?, age 8 years) and Nilda (age 6 years). I find it odd how far off the ages are compared to previous census records.

I cannot find Paulina anywhere on the 1880 census. I assume she passed between 1870 and 1880, though. I cannot find her youngest child, Nilda (Nelda, Mildred) on the 1880 census, either, though she didn’t marry until 1885.

I am still trying to find where Paulina might be buried, and John, too.

Wordless Wednesday: Roger Dale Ray (Robert Jewell Vincent)

Roger Dale Ray (Robert Jewell Vincent) (1946-2007)

Wordless Wednesday: Garland Kenneth Vincent

Garland Kenneth Vincent (1923-2003)-my great uncle

John J Breedlove

(note: birth and death records were not required by law in Kentucky until 1911. it is fairly hard to track down exact birth and death dates prior to that year unless an obituary, Bible record or doctor’s notes were kept. in some instances a birth may be written down in a church register or a book kept by an attendant. death records were often kept in Bibles and church registers, and sometimes if a doctor attended at the time of death he may have recorded the date. anything that requires legal filing, such as a marriage, can usually be easier to find, but not always)

John J Breedlove was the son of Cornelius Vaughan Breedlove (about 1812-about 1880), a farmer, and Elizabeth Crissman (about 1815-?). He was born in Todd County, Kentucky on August 7, 1848, the fifth of, I believe, seven children.

The family was still living in Todd County, Kentucky 2 years after John was born. On the 1850 census John is shown living with his father, mother and siblings: William F (age 15 years), Jesse T (age 9 years), Henry J (age 7 years), Mary A (age 5 years) and Sarah E (age 8 months).

In 1860 the family starts getting a little sketchy. First off, the name recorded for the family is “Breadlove”. It is also just their initials that are written, rather than their names. John is 11 years old and living with his parents and siblings. The other children listed are: Wm F (age 26 years), JT (age 20 years), HJ (age 18 years), MA (age 14 years) and VACF (age 3 years). Ok, now I realize that another sister had been born, as far as I know, in 1859. And her name on other census records is Nancy. So who is VACF? And what happened to Sarah E?

Sigh.

So, I hunted down John J Breedlove in the 1870 census and I *think* that I found him. That year there is a John Breedlove listed as living in Logan County, Kentucky with the Beauchamp family. There is no occupation written in for him. There are other boarders living in the house, but I can’t really figure out how he came to live there himself.

Another document I am still hunting down is his marriage to Margaret Stringer. From what I understand they married sometime around 1869/1870.

In 1880 John shows up in McLean County, Kentucky with Margaret and their children: stepdaughter Emma (age 11 years), daughter Mary Jane (age 7 years), Ona L (age 5 years) and William M (age 3 years). This census has Emma’s surname as Breedlove, but I think it might actually be Moore, as we see on later census records that John has a stepson by the name of Benjamin A Moore.

No census record available for 1890. (of course)

Apparently having set down roots, the family is still living in McLean County, Kentucky in 1900. On this census it is shown that they are living with two children that had been born during the previous 20 years: Lucy J (age 18 years, my great-grandmother) and Drusy (Drusie, Drusey, Druse, age 15 years). This census also states that Margaret is the mother of nine children, five of which are still living. I don’t know if the two children that are no longer living are accounted for or not. I also don’t know if they are John’s children or if they are children from Margaret’s previous marriage(s). I do see that John and Margaret have two grandchildren living with them in 1900, Magnola Lovell (age 4 years) and Mack H Lovell (age 1 year), the children of Lulu Breedlove and Jim Lovell. I’m not certain if Lulu is a nickname for one of the daughters accounted for or a different daughter all together.

The last census that John J Breedlove is found on is the 1910 census. He is living with Margaret and stepson Benjamin A Moore (age 47 years). John is a farm operator, as is Benjamin. The family is still living in McLean County, Kentucky.

John J Breedlove suffered a tragic death 2 years after the 1910 census. On October 12, 1912 in East Sacramento, McLean County, Kentucky he was killed when a sawlog, the largest and heaviest part of the tree, fell on him. I believe his death may have been instantaneous because no doctor attended to him. I cannot give an exact location of burial. The death certificate has the initials of the cemetery as M.E.C. Sacramento.

One of the more interesting stories of John J Breedlove’s life was told by his daughter, Lucy J Breedlove, to her grandson, Roger Vincent. Lucy said that John was good friends with Buffalo Bill (William Cody). Whenever Buffalo Bill would travel through Kentucky he would always stay with the Breedlove family for a few days. John and Buffalo Bill would hunt together during his stays!

Augustus Powell

I am at a total loss for Augustus Powell. I really hope someone pops up with more information on him than what I have.

The first time I have been able to find Augustus Powell is on the Indiana State Library Genealogy Database (thank you Mary Taylor for pointing me in that direction!). On June 15, 1845 Augustus married Alice Bean (1824-?) in Union County, Indiana. His name was recorded as, or misread as, Augustus Powers and Alice’s name was spelled “Allice”. As Mary Taylor pointed out, the handwriting may have been difficult to read on the marriage record.

The US census records didn’t start recording all family members separately until 1850 (though a few states that had their own census reports did). It is on the 1850 census that I find Augustus alive (for certain). He is listed as living in Aurora, Dearborn County, Indiana. His wife is Alice and he has two children, Hepseba (Hepsy)-daughter, age 2 years, and “Alameen” (Alanson)-son, age 1 month. We learn from this census record that Augustus was born in Pennsylvania. He was also a carpenter. The age given for him is 24 years, putting his birth about 1826. One of his neighbors, interestingly enough, is a John B Powell, age 40 years, married to Caroline (maiden surname unknown). John was also from Pennsylvania. He was also a carpenter and something else, but I can’t quite make it out (possibly a jailer? I don’t know!). Living in his household was Elijah Brewington or Bronington, age 31 years, Hester Ann Brewington or Bronington, age 8 years, and Louisa Ann Powell, age 8 years. Elijah was a teamster.

I am sure that Augustus and John are related, but I cannot figure out how.

I can find no other record of Augustus alive. He is not on the 1860 census. HOWEVER, between 1850 and 1860 two more children were born: Sarah A Powell (1852-?) and John Powell (1853-1923). John’s death certificate lists his parents as August Powell and Alice Bean (though the handwriting looks like “Breens”).

Augustus is also not on the 1870 census, but by then Alice has had another child, Frederick (1862-1939). Alice is widowed at this point. Frederick’s death certificate says that his mother is Alice Bean, but it says his father is William Powell.

Is this a clue? Maybe his real name is William Augustus. Or maybe Augustus did pass and Alice married a William Powell in late 1860 or 1861 that passed before 1870. Or maybe she had her last child out of wedlock. I just don’t know. I have looked up every imaginable mix of names I could think of. I cannot find this guy anywhere! I have found several men named William Augustus Powell, but the dates and locations don’t match up with mine. I have not yet located the death records of Hepsy, Alanson and Sarah to see how their father’s name is listed.

Augustus Powell is my 4th great-grandfather through his daughter Hepsy.

I would really like to be able to trace this family back further. If anyone has any information,PLEASE let me know!

Isaac T Vincent

Many times when people begin researching their ancestors they have a very difficult time locating individual persons or entire families. Sometimes it’s just a matter of the ancestors not being in the location that the researcher believed. Other times it is due to mistakes made on paperwork, whether the fault of those mistakes fall on the person in charge of getting the correct information or the person giving the information.

This is one of those instances.

According to an 1854 record Isaac T Vincent was born in Muhlenberg County, Kentucky on September 23, 1854 to John Vincent (1815-1865), a day laborer, and Paulina (Polina) Groves (1828-1880).

On the census taken in 1860 in District 1, Muhlenberg County, Kentucky (Post Office: Greenville) he is listed as Isaac Vincent, age 6 years, living with his parents and siblings.

On the census taken in 1870 in Boggess, District 2, Muhlenberg County, Kentucky (Post Office: Greenville) he is listed as Isaac Vincient, age 14 years, living with his mother and siblings (his father, remember, passed away five years before) and his occupation was as a farm laborer. So in 10 years he managed to change the spelling of his last name AND shave 2 years off of his life.

I am unable to find him at all on the 1880 census (possibly due to further mangling of his name that I haven’t figured out yet), but he married Emmie (Emma) A Stewart in Muhlenberg County, Kentucky on August 2, 1880.

There is also no record of him in 1890 due to the fire, damage and eventual government destruction of that particular census.

On the 1900 census for Boggess, District 1, Muhlenberg County, Kentucky he appears again with his wife, having been married for 20 years, and 11 of his 12 children (the 12th child was not born until after 1900). His occupation is listed as farmer. His name on this census is correct, however his age is listed as 49 years. So he somehow aged an additional 3 years! The other family members listed on the 1900 census:

Emma A (wife) age 40

Martin R (son and my great-grandfather, Martin Riley) age 18

Linnie M (daughter) age 16

Ada P (daughter) age 15

Dely A (daughter) age 11

Pallis L (son) age 9

Viney E (daughter) age 8

Onea (daughter) age 6 (looks like “Oma” to me)

Sam H (son) age 5

Maggie M (daughter) age 2

Jennie (daughter) age 1

The 1910 census is even more exciting, and confusing. Here his name is Isace Vincent. He lives in District 1, Muhlenberg County, Kentucky with his wife, that he has now been married to for 28 years (losing 2 years from his marriage somehow), and 7 of his children. He is a farmer and his age is 53 years. So he not only lost the previous three years he had gained from ten years before, but he lost an additional three years! The other family members listed in the household in 1910:

Emma A (wife) age 50

Delia A (daughter) age 21

Palac L (son) age 19

Oma (daughter) age 16

Harrison (son, I’m guessing his name is Samuel Harrison, since the 1900 census had him as “Sam H”) age 15

Maggie M (daughter) age 13

Jennie (daughter) age 12

James S (son, the “S” looks like an “L” to me) age 7

The last census that Isaac Vincent is listed on is the 1920 census. On this census his name is Isac Venson. He is a farmer living with his wife and two of his children in District 1, Hopkins County, Kentucky. He is now 65 years old, having aged an extra two years from the last census, but still off a year from his birth. The family members living in the household with him are:

Emma (wife) age 59

Jennie (daughter) age19

Leslie (son, I assume that “James S” was actually “James L” and his name was “James Leslie”) age 15

In general when looking at census records the date that the census was enumerated compared to the birthdate of the individual can solve age inconsistencies. Many times the age of a person will be off by a year since most census records ask for the age at their last birthday. But for the age to be off by 2 or more years is a mistake that could have been avoided. When looking at the 1920 census compared to the 1910 census it can be seen that Jennie lost three years of her life somewhere and Leslie lost two years.

The other issue is how the names are spelled. We can see that Isaac’s name is spelled Isaac, Isace, Isac. Vincent is spelled Vincent, Vincient, Venson. On Emma’s death certificate it is spelled Vinson.

Sadly, this guy couldn’t catch a break even on his death certificate. Isaac T Vincent passed away in Depoy, Muhlenberg County, Kentucky on December 31, 1921 at the age of 67 years and 3 months of influenza. The informant (I can’t make out the name) on his death certificate gave his birthdate as August 31, 1853, which we know from his birth record is wrong. They got his parents names correct, though!

Isaac was interred at Yeargins Chapel Cemetery in Graham, Muhlenberg County, Kentucky on January 1, 1922.

I am looking for pictures of Isaac T Vincent. I hope someone out there as one or two or more!

The Craft Family and the Melungeons

Several years ago a descendant of the the Craft family presented to my mother in an email the theory that the Craft line extended back to the Melungeons that originated in the Southeastern part of the United States: North Carolina and South Carolina into Tennessee and parts of Virginia, Kentucky and so on. If you don’t know about the Melungeons there is a website with a ton of information that I found through the Lost Colony/Melungeon Lore DNA Project, Melungeon Heritage Association.

There are several theories on the origin of the Melungeons, one being that the members of the Lost Colony of Roanoke may have travelled to Croatan Island and blended with the Native inhabitants. Another theory, of course, is that the colonists were attacked and murdered by the Natives.

In general it is thought that the Melungeons are a grab-bag mix of Native Americans, freed black slaves, Portuguese and white European settlers. DNA tests show that the genomes of known Melungeon descendants correlate with all of these groups.

Census records show us that these families all had appearances that did not allow them to be categorized into mainstream society. They were usually listed as black, Indian or mulatto. In general they may have had European features, but with darker skin. Or some of their features may have been more African than European. There are photos that can be found online of known Melungeons. Some I see and I think that I never would have noticed a difference. Some I see and, though the features are clearly European, their skin is very dark. I have even seen photos of people with blonde hair and very dark skin. As time went on and the Melungeons mingled and married those with predominately European ancestry their successors slowly became accepted as “white”.

So when my mother introduced me with this family theory, I decided to check it out. Because my autosomal DNA matches so many different world populations I am comparing it to different people of known Melungeon origins. This, of course, takes more research, but it’s pretty intriguing. This may explain why members of my direct Craft family get so dark in the sun so quickly. And though we know there is Native American blood, there may also be Melungeon.

A woman in the Lost Colony/Melungeon Lore DNA Project also has Crafts in her family. If I can find if and how her Crafts are from the same line I may be able to say unquestionably that, yes, our Crafts are descended from Melungeons.

I am still researching them, but here’s what I have so far (that I am certain of), following my direct line (this in no way represents all of the offspring from each couple, only my direct line):

Thomas Craft (abt 1810-?)

Dicey Unknown (abt 1822-?)

According to census records Thomas was born in North Carolina. Both his mother and father were born in South Carolina. Dicey was born in Tennessee and both her mother and father were born in South Carolina.

John Craft (1867-1931)

Epanetes (Eppy) Willhite (1869-?)

John Craft was born in Tennessee. Census records state that his father was born in Tennessee, so either the census taker or John himself made a mistake.

Henry Corbett Craft (1895-1971)

Katie Clady Cathey

Corb was born in Hickman County, Tennessee. Katie was born in Indian Bayou, Lonoke, Arkansas.

Ruthie May Craft (1925-2007)

James Paul Stalls, Jr (1917-1987)

Both Ruth and Paul were born in Tennessee.

I have read on websites many different surnames for Dicey. I have also seen many different fathers listed for Thomas, with the most promising being a Charles Craft from South Carolina. Until I have confirmation on these names, however, I cannot actually add them.

On an interesting side note, I read on Wikipedia that an anti-illegal immigration group is using Virginia Dare, the child of , more or less, illegal immigrants (the Native Americans sure didn’t want them on their land) as the namesake and symbol of their group.

Category: Vincent Family