West Direct Line

West

One of our West cousins kindly consented to DNA testing, and the results show unequivocally that our Wests are closely connected to Wests who settled on the DelMarVa peninsula on the eastern shore of the Chesapeake Bay. Their earliest known ancestor was Robert West, born 1612, who may well have been among the hundred orphans sent from England in 1619. Ann Guthrie has done much research on this line, but the gaps in the records are such that a number of the Wests in that area, who we know are related on account of their DNA results, cannot tell how they are connected to the immigrant ancestor Robert. Our kindred Wests are in Family Group 1 in the West DNA Project.

In the research on our Wests that I did some years ago, the earliest record I found relating to our line is a 1753 Orange County, North Carolina, record relating to our earliest known ancestor, John West, born about 1707. Now that the DNA evidence has disclosed previously unknown relatives, further research needs to be done in the light of that evidence.


First Generation


1. John West Born about 1707 (in Virginia?). In 1725 when John was 18, he married Mary Madden, in Granville District, Orange County, North Carolina2 (some say his wife was Eleanor Madden; I haven't seen documentation for either, and would love to hear from anyone who has documentation). John was appointed constable in Orange County, North Carolina, in March of 1753.24 In October of 1754, John was granted a license to keep an ordinary (an inn) in his house.25 On 2 August 1768 John West sold property to his son Isaac's father-in-law, Peter Anderson, and that is the latest record I know of placing him in Orange County. On 14 Oct 1774, John West bought land on a branch of King's Creek in Tryon County, North Carolina (which encompassed land which was later in York District, South Carolina).
       
  They had the following children:
       
  2. i. Solomon (1726-1830).
       
    ii. John (~1728-).
       
    iii. Alexander (1730-).
       
    iv. Unnamed female (?1734-). She married Mr. (James?) Collins.
       
    v. Unnamed female (1738-). She married a Mr. Cole.
       
    vi. Mary (1742-). She married Hezekiah Collins, who bought land from his father-in-law in Orange County in 1755. In 1777 he bought land on Calfpen Branch of Buffalo Creek (very close to King's Mountain) in Tryon County, North Carolina.
       
    vii. Isaac (1745-1814). The family lived about a mile from Kings Mountain at the time of the famous battle there on 7 Oct 1780. Read daughter Phoebe's memoir. After the Revolution, Isaac moved to Greenville District, South Carolina, where he lived until about 1804, when he and Susanna moved to Dickinson County, Tennessee, where they lived the rest of their lives. A number of their married children moved there with their families as well. Isaac actually died near Shawneeville in Gallatin County, Illinois, in 1814, on a visit to relatives; he was 69. In 1769 when Isaac was 24, he first married Susanna Anderson, daughter of Peter Anderson & Catherine Lyman, in Orange County, North Carolina. Susanna was born about 1747 in Christiana Hundred, New Castle County, Delaware. She died in Dickson County, Tennessee in 1810; she was 63. Isaac second married Mary "Polly".
       
    viii. Eleanor (1748-). Eleanor married Alexander Barnhill.
       

Second Generation


2. Solomon West. Born in 1726 (in Virginia ?),2 About 1756 when Solomon was about 30, he first married Isabella Boyd, daughter of James Boyd & Mary Cochran, in North Carolina.2 Born about 1735 in Lancaster County, Pennsylvania, Isabella died (in Orange County, North Carolina?) about 1775; she was about 40. They lived in Orange County, North Carolina for many years. The last record I know of showing him to be in Orange County was record showing that Solomon West bought a fiddle on 12 Nov 1772 at an estate sale. Not long thereafter, and still before the Revolution, Solomon moved near King's Mountain in Tryon County, North Carolina, which at that time included land which is now in South Carolina. He and his family lived there when the important Battle of King's Mountain was fought. After Isabella died, Solomon married Mary, possibly a sister of Isabella's. After the Revolution, the family moved to Greenville District, South Carolina, where Solomon lived until 1800, which was about the time his second wife Mary died.2 About 1800, Solomon moved to Wayne County, Kentucky, as several of his children did. According to family tradition, Solomon walked all the way to his new home in Kentucky, even though he was 74 years old at the time. On 29 Jul 1802 when Solomon was 76, he third married Martha (Higgens) Norton, widow of Mercer Norton, in Wayne County, Kentucky.2 Isabella was the mother of all of Solomon's children. Solomon died in Wayne County, Kentucky on 1 Dec 1830, at the age of 104. Read a transcription of the power of attorney executed in Wayne County in 1823, which documents most of Solomon's and Isabella's children.
       
  They had the following children:
       
    i. Susannah (?1760-). Susannah married William Sutton.
       
    ii. Ruth. Ruth married Thomas Castillo.
       
    iii. Mary (?1760-). Mary married Isaac Dunagan.
       
  3. iv. Alexander (?1765-1860).
       
    v. Isaac (1768-1830). Born on 12 Jun 1768 in North Carolina, Isaac died in Wayne County, Kentucky on 1 Nov 1830; he was 62. Buried in West Cemetery, Mill Springs, Wayne County, Kentucky. Isaac married Margaret Russell, possibly the daughter of George Russell. Born on 18 Jul 1774 in South Carolina, Margaret died in Wayne County, Kentucky on 5 Mar 1851; she was 76.
       
    vi. Ann. Ann first married Basil Brown. Ann second married William Borin. William died before 4 Aug 1825.2
       
    vii. James.
       
    viii. George.
       
    ix. Solomon (1770-1871). Born 1770/1780.2 Solomon died in 1871 in Texas; he was 101.
       

Third Generation


       
3. Alexander West. Born about 1765 in Orange County, North Carolina. Alexander and his family migrated to Greenville Distrct, South Carolina after the Revolution, and moved to Wayne County, Kentucky, about 1800. He and his wife and family were still in Wayne County at the time of the 1830 census, but later moved to Hendricks County, Indiana, where Sarah reportedly died in 1839 at the age of 66. Several of his children moved to Hendricks County as well; Solomon was the only one of his children to move to Whitley County, Kentucky. By 1850, Alexander was living in the household of his daughter Harriet and her husband John Crow Shannon near Harriet's brother John Carter West. Alexander died in Platte County, Missouri in 1860; he was 95.2 Alexander married Sarah Hawkins, daughter of William Eaton Hawkins & Catherine Bolling. Sarah was born about 1773 in Tryon County, North Carolina.
       
  They had the following children:
       
    i. Xury Eaton (1796-1880). Born on 23 Mar 1796 in Greenville District, South Carolina. Xury Eaton died in Lucas County, Iowa on 8 Jun 1880; he was 84. On 16 Sep 1819 when Xury Eaton was 23, he married Mary "Polly" Hays.2 Born on 4 Aug 1792 in Tennessee.2 Mary "Polly" died in Lucas County, Iowa on 15 Sep 1875; she was 83.
       
    ii. S. Catherine ("Katy"). Born on 4 Feb 1798, on 19 Jul 1818 when Katy was 20, she married Hollen Reese, in Wayne County, Kentucky.2
       
  4. iii. Solomon H. (1800-1866).
       
    iv. Isabel. Born on 23 Jul 1801.2 On 29 Sep 1823 when Isabel was 22, she married Job Turner, in Wayne County, Kentucky. They moved to Hendricks County, Indiana about 1830.
       
    v. Archibald M. (1804-1856). Born on 23 Jan 1804 in Wayne County, Kentucky,2 Archibald M. died in Hendricks County, Indiana on 2 May 1856; he was 52. Buried in Ragan Cemetery, Hendricks County, Indiana. On 23 Nov 1829 when Archibald M. was 25, he first married Betsey Denney, in Wayne County, Kentucky.2 Archibald M. second married Elizabeth Worley. Born on 5 Apr 1802, Elizabeth died in Hendricks County, Indiana on 3 Jul 1874; she was 72.
       
    vi. Isaac (1804-1898). Born on 16 Oct 1804 in Wayne County, Kentucky,2 Isaac died in Hendricks County, Indiana on 29 Aug 1898; he was 93. Buried in Ragan Cemetery, Hendricks County, Indiana. On 15 Sep 1825 when Isaac was 20, he married Mary "Polly" Ann Turner, daughter of George Turner, in Wayne County, Kentucky.
       
    vii. Harriet (1804-1887). Born on 8 Dec 1804 in Wayne County, Kentucky.2 Harriet died in Plattsburg, Platt County, Missouri on 2 Feb 1887; she was 82.2 On 8 Oct 1829 when Harriet was 24, she first married John Crow Shannon, son of Samuel Shannon & Elizabeth Brown, in Hendricks County, Indiana. Born on 28 Feb 1806 in Virginia.2 John Crow died in Pettis Twp., Platte County, Missouri on 4 Oct 1851; he was 45.2 Harriet second married John Houston. Born on 26 Jan 1797 in Greene County, Tennessee. John died in Osborne, Clinton County, Missouri on 7 Aug 1862; he was 65.
       
    viii. Minerva (1806-).
       
    ix. Malinda (1809-1898). Born in 1809 in Wayne County, Kentucky, 2 Malinda died in Hendricks County, Indiana on 6 Sep 1898; she was 89. On 13 Mar 1832 when Malinda was 23, she married William Kelly. Born on 30 Jul 1809 in Tennessee, William died in Hendricks County, Indiana on 28 Sep 1840 at the age of 31, leaving Malinda a widow with young children. On 13 Jul 1853 a license was issued in Hendricks County, Indiana for Malinda's marriage to Stephen Stephenson.
       
    x. Zilpha (1811-). Born on 8 Nov 1811,2 on 27 Sep 1831 when Zilpha was 19, she married Russell W. Shannon, in Hendricks County, Indiana. He was born about 1808 in Virginia. Zilpha moved to Missouri with her family about the same time her sister Harriet and her brother John Carter did.
       
    xi. John Carter (1813-).
       
    xii. George (1815-).
       
    xiii. Martha ("Patsy") (1818-).

Fourth Generation


       
4. Solomon H. West. Born on 15 Jul 1800 in Greenville District, South Carolina,2 Solomon died in Whitley County, Kentucky on 19 Dec 1866; he was 66.2 Buried in Jellico Creek Cemetery, Whitley County, Kentucky. On 27 Feb 1823, when Solomon was 22, he married Catherine Criscillis, daughter of Rudolph Isaac Criscillis & Elizabeth Bible, in Whitley County, Kentucky.2 Born on 19 Oct 1800 in Greene County, Tennessee, Catherine died in Whitley County, Kentucky on 11 Jan 1901; she was 100.2 Click here for our Criscillis page.
       
  They had the following children:
       
  5. i. Allen Russell (1823-1910).
       
    ii. James H. Born on 29 Nov 1825 in Whitley County, Kentucky,2 James H. died there on 25 Apr 1909; he was 83. Buried in Jellico Creek Cemetery, Whitley County, Kentucky. On 6 Mar 1845 when James H. was 19, he first married Elizabeth Campbell, daughter of Alexander Campbell & Elizabeth Wilson, in Campbell County, Kentucky.2 Born on 24 Jan 1826 in Whitley County, Kentucky.2 Elizabeth died there on 26 Jun 1868; she was 42. James H. second married Mary "Polly" Jones. Born ? 1842.2
       
    iii. Amanda M. "Sally." Born on 28 Nov 1827 in Wayne County, Kentucky,2 Amanda M. "Sally" died there on 6 Sep 1894; she was 66. Buried in Jellico Creek Cemetery, Whitley County, Kentucky. On 15 Aug 1850 when Amanda M. "Sally" was 22, she married Solomon Rufus Brassfield, son of John Brassfield & Susannah "Susan" Stephens, in Whitley County, Kentucky. Born on 2 Oct 1831 in Whitley County, Kentucky. Solomon Rufus died there on 26 Jul 1898; he was 66.
       
    iv. Emmanuel Carter. Born on 28 Aug 1829 in Whitley County, Kentucky, Emmanuel Carter died on 1 May 1913; he was 83. On 15 Dec 1850 when Emmanuel Carter was 21, he married Nancy Stephens, daughter of Solomon Stephens & Rebecca, in Whitley County, Kentucky.2 Born on 10 Mar 1833 in Jellico Creek, Whitley County, Kentucky.2 Nancy died in Strunk, Whitley County, Kentucky on 23 May 1907; she was 74.
       
    v. William Arthur. Born on 26 Jul 1831 in Whitley County, Kentucky,2 William Arthur died there on 18 Mar 1915; he was 83.2 Buried in Jellico Creek Cemetery, Whitley County, Kentucky. On 4 May 1854 when William Arthur was 22, he married Emily Brassfield, daughter of John Brassfield & Susannah "Susan" Stephens, in Whitley County, Kentucky. Born on 26 Mar 1831.2 Emily died on 26 Mar 1920; she was 89.2
       
    vi. Isaac Martin. Born on 9 Aug 1833 in Whitley County, Texas,2 Isaac Martin died there on 22 Jun 1884; he was 50.2 Buried in Jellico Creek Cemetery, Whitley County, Kentucky. On 28 Oct 1854 when Isaac Martin was 21, he first married Mary Ann Gooden, daughter of William P. Gooden & Mary, in Wayne County, Kentucky. Born on 1 Mar 1830 in Tennessee.2 Mary Ann died in Whitley County, Kentucky on 4 Aug 1876; she was 46.2 On 9 Aug 1877 when Isaac Martin was 44, he second married Margaret Wilson, daughter of Joshua D. Wilson & Jane Creekmore, in Whitley County, Kentucky.2 She was born about 1848 in Kentucky.2
       
    vii. Isabella E. Born about 1836 in Whitley County, Kentucky,2 Isabella E. married Thomas Stephens, son of Solomon Stephens & Mary Perkins. Thomas was born about 1842 in Kentucky.17,16
       
    viii. Armelda J. "Meda". Born ? 1837 in Kentucky.2 Armelda J. "Meda" died on 4 Nov 1912; she was 75. On 24 Nov 1865 when Armelda J. "Meda" was 28, she married Madison "Matt" Creekmore, son of unknown father & Irena (Cyrena) Creekmore, in Whitley County, Kentucky. Born on 8 Sep 1848 in Whitley County, Kentucky, Madison "Matt" died there on 8 Jan 1878; he was 29.
       
    ix. Martha Ann. Born about 1839 in Whitley County, Kentucky,2 Martha Ann died in Kansas on 4 Jan 1888; she was 49. On 24 Feb 1862 when Martha Ann was 23, she married Granfield C. Brassfield, son of John Brassfield & Susannah "Susan" Stephens, in Whitley County, Kentucky. Born on 15 Apr 1834 in Tennessee. Granfield C. died in Reno County, Kansas on 4 Apr 1918; he was 83.

Fifth Generation


       
5. Allen Russell West. Born on 25 Dec 1823 in Whitley County, Kentucky,2 Allen Russell died there on 13 Jun 1910; he was 86.2 Buried in Jellico Creek, Whitley County, Kentucky. On 8 Nov 1843, when Allen Russell was 19, he married Mary (Polly) Campbell, daughter of Jasper Newton Campbell & Dinah Green Creekmore, in Whitley County, Kentucky.2 Born on 27 Oct 1826 in Whitley County, Kentucky,2 Mary (Polly) died there on 23 Aug 1900; she was 73.2 Click here to go to our Campbell page.
       
  They had the following children:
       
    i. Calvin V. West. Born on 4 Jan 1844 in Whitley County, Kentucky,2 Calvin V. died in Crawford County, Arkansas? in 1916; he was 71. Buried in Piney Cemetery, Crawford County, Arkansas.19 In 1864 when Calvin V. was 19, he first married Neworleana Jane Parker, daughter of William Henderson Parker & Sarah S. Patrick. Born on 16 Jan 1846 in Whitley County, Kentucky, Neworleana Jane died there on 25 Apr 1865; she was 19. Calvin V. second married Elizabeth J. Roberts. Born in 1846 in Wayne County, Kentucky.2 Elizabeth J. died in 1931; she was 85.
       
    ii. Solomon H. West. Born on 18 Apr 1846 in Whitley County, Kentucky, Solomon H. died there on 17 May 1917; he was 71. Buried in Alsile Cemetery, Whitley County, Kentucky. Solomon H. married Eliza Jane. Born on 24 Mar 1844, Eliza Jane died in Whitley County, Kentucky on 12 Mar 1902; she was 57.2
       
    iii. William. Born on 19 Aug 1847 in Whitley County, Kentucky,2 William died in Crawford County, Arkansas on 1 Aug 1910; he was 62.2 Buried in Piney Cemetery, Crawford County, Arkansas. William married Louisa. Born on 5 Nov 1857,2 Louisa died in Crawford County, Arkansas on 6 Jul 1907; she was 49.2
       
    iv. Jasper. Born about 1850 in Whitley County, Kentucky.2
       
    v. Amanda Melvina. Born on 5 Nov 1851 in Whitley County, Kentucky.17,12 She had five children: Luther, Debbie, Sarah, Cinda, and Susie. Amanda died in Whitley County on 25 Sep 1943; she was 91.2 Buried in Jellico Creek Cemetery, Whitley County, Kentucky.
       
6.   vi. Sarepta ("Sally") (1853-1910).
       
    vii. James. Born about 1854 in Whitley County, Kentucky.2
       
    viii. Anna. Born on 22 Sep 1856 in Whitley County, Kentucky.2 On 1 Nov 1877 when Anna was 21, she married Pleasant Walker, son of Nathaniel Walker & Martha Ann Wyatt, in Whitley County, Kentucky.2 Born in 1856 in Whitley County, Kentucky.
       
    ix. James C. Born on 15 Mar 1860 in Whitley County, Kentucky.2
       
    x. William A. Born about 1863 in Whitley County, Kentucky.
       
    xi. Andrew Jackson. Born on 10 Dec 1868 in Whitley County, Kentucky,22,12 Andrew Jackson died there and is buried in Alsile Baptist Church Cemetery, Whitley County, Kentucky. Andrew Jackson married Olive Jones. Born on 23 Dec 1866 in Whitley County, Kentucky, Olive died there on 26 Oct 1939; she was 72.
       
    xii. John D. (Died as Child). Born about 1872 in Whitley County, Kentucky,2 John D. died there in Jun 1877; he was about 5.2

Sixth Generation


       
6. Sarepta ("Sally") West. Born on 22 Dec 1853 in Whitley County, Kentucky,2 Sarepta died in Mulberry, Crawford County, Arkansas on 16 Jul 1910; she was 56. On 12 Mar 1876, when Sarepta was 22, she married James Calvin Parker, son of William Henderson Parker & Sarah S. Patrick, in Whitley County, Kentucky.2 Born on 27 Dec 1854 in Whitley County, Kentucky, James Calvin died in Crawford County, Arkansas on 27 Mar 1912; he was 57. They are buried at Piney Cemetery in Crawford County, Arkansas.
       
  They had the following children:
       
    i. William Russell (1877-1933)
       
    ii. Alfred Franklin (1879-1938)
       
    iii. Milly Susan Anna (1883-1965)
       
    iv. Josiah Bolton (1888-1956)
       
    v. James McKinley. Born on 27 Apr 1896 in Mulberry, Crawford County, Arkansas, Mac died in Palestine, Texas on 24 Mar 1945; he was 48. Buried in Restview Cemetery, Jacksonville, Texas. On 2 Apr 1916, when James McKinley was 19, he married Geneva Edna Anglen, daughter of Isaac Newton Anglen & Margaret Jane Langston, in Crawford County, Arkansas. Born on 24 Jan 1895 in Livingston County, Missouri Geneva died in Grand Prairie, Tarrant County, Texas on 19 Mar 1992; she was 97. These are my grandparents.
       
6.   vi. Mary Pain (Died as Infant) (1899-1900)

Sources

     
1.   Judge Belton O'Neal, Annals of Newberry County, South Carolina, 1850.
     
2.   James E. Brown and Margaret Brown Altendahl: Relatives of the Browns in Mill Springs, Kentucky (including the Fisher, Gholson, Hutchison, Weaver, and West families)
     
3.   Wayne County Deed Book D, pp. 170-172.
     
4.   1830 census.
     
5.   Wayne County, Kentucky, marriage records.
     
6.   Doris Parker, Hendricks County, Indiana.
     
7.   Ann Spenler.
     
8.   Ragan Cemetery Book, Hendricks County, Indiana.
     
9.   Don West Lambert
     
10.   Janet Long.
     
11.   1850 census.
     
12.   Tombstone.
     
13.   Hopper, Carol F.: Tri County Knox-Laurel-Whitley Counties, Kentucky Early Marriages: (1987).
     
14.   Hopper, Carol F. and Daniel: Whitley County Vital Statistics 1852-1910 (1990).
     
15.   K. D. McKiddy, Marriages of Whitley County (1983).
     
16.   1870 census.
     
17.   1860 census.
     
18.   1900 census.
     
19.   Personal knowledge of Karen Parker.
     
20.   "Cemeteries of Whitley County"
     
21.   Anna Mae Bowman.
     
22.   1880 census.
     
23.   Cornelius, Charley Maynard:Vital Statistics, Whitley Co, Kentucky, March, 1982.
     
24.   Orange County, North Carolina, Minutes of Court of Pleas and Quarter Sessions, Part I, Folio 3, p. 3.
     
25.   Orange County, North Carolina, Minutes of Court of Pleas and Quarter Sessions, Part I, Folio 21, p. 42.




Home