Birthdays from my family tree for the week of Nov. 2:
Nov. 2
Levi Alfrey, (my first cousin three times removed on my mother's side), b. 1875 in Rowan County, Ky.; d. before 1930, Indianapolis, Ind. Levi is one of 11 children of Franklin L. Alfrey (1839-1918) and Jane Elly Hall Alfrey (1842-1915). I do not know a great deal about Levi's life, but his parents were integral players in one of the more infamous events I've uncovered in my genealogical research. Jane was one of nine children of Isaac Hall Sr. and Anna Martin Hall and the borther of Isaac Hall Jr. The younger Isaac was a Confederate soldier who, upon returning from the war proceeded to drive his family off its land so that their farm could become a headquarters for the band of desperados and naredowells he accumulated after hostilites. Isaac Sr. was dead by that time, but Anna and a few of her children and in-laws, including Franklin and Jane Alfrey.
The oldest son of Fielding Alfrey, Franklin was one of the leaders of a band of vigilante family members that conspired to arrest Isaac Jr. and kill him if he resisted. The raid went awry, and although Isaac Jr. was shot, he was not killed. Instead he retreated to the house, where he was cared for by his girlfriend. Dissatisifed with the outcome, the vigilante gang returned to the house and finished Isaac Jr. off later that evening.
The killing of Isaac Hall was in January 1868, seven years before Levi was born, but likely after at least three of his siblings were born. There is a Morgan County, Ky., record of an inquest, but apparently, no trial took place subsequently, according to research by Teri Pettit, a distant cousin also related to the Halls. All of those accused of playing a role in Isaac's death are accounted for in the 1870 census, and none were incarcerated. Apparently, they were acquitted or not tried, as Isaac Jr. was considered a bad seed.
Harry Hall, (my first cousin three times removed on my mother's side), b. 1905 in Rowan County, Ky.; d. Oct. 21, 1975, in McDermott, Scioto County, Ohio. Harry was the son of Albert David Hall and Martha Belle McClain Hall. Harry also was the nephew of my 2G grandfather, George Washington Hall.
He had 10 siblings, including a twin sister, whose entry follows. The family moved to Oklahoma by the time Harry and Carrie were 4. Harry came to live for a time in Ohio and his sister in Indiana, although she died in Clearfield, Ky., in the county where she died. Harry died in Scioto County, Ohio.
Carrie Dale Hall, (my first cousin three times removed on my mother's side), b. 1905 in Rowan County, Ky.; d. Jan. 8, 1985, in Clearfield, Rowan County, Ky. Carrie was the twin sister of Harry Hall. I have not tracked down much information about Harry's life, but I know a little more about Carrie's. She had at least four children with her first husband, Andrew Central "Bill" Alderman, who was originally from Virginia. After he died in 1952, Carrie remarried, to James Arthur Royse, who was born in Rowan County and almost certainly related to other Royses in my family tree, although I've not established a connection.
Howard Cornelius Hall Jr., (my first cousin twice removed on my mother's side), b. 1944. Howard was a cousin of my grandfather, Oliver Wilson, but his father — my grandfather's uncle, Howard Cornelius Hall Sr., was closer to Papaw's age and one of his good friends. I don't think I've ever met Howard Jr. and am not sure if he is still living. If he is, I hope he's having a great birthday.
Linda Joyce Fewox Brinson, (wife of William Ernest Brinson, my wife Deborah Renee Ray's first cousin once removed on her father's side). Happy birthday, Linda. Hope it is a good one.
Nov. 4
Albert David Hall, (my 3G uncle on my mother's side), b. 1872 in Rowan County, Ky.; d. July 26, 1958, in Morehead, Rowan County, Ky. Albert was the father of the aforementioned twins, Harry and Carrie Dale. He also was the brother of my 2G grandfather, George Washington Hall.
Albert might have been married four times. According to my records, he had 11 children by Martha Belle McClain Hall (1878-1922). I have no records indicating he had children with his other wives, but I have him married at various times to Millie Prather (1878-1929), Mary Susan Clickenbeard (born about 1880) and Rachel Fultz (1894-1973).
Marvin Jennings, (my first cousin once removed on my mother's side), b. 1932 in Morehead, Rowan County, Ky.; d. May 26, 1990. Marvin was one of four children of my paternal great aunt, Vada Mae Wilson Jennings, and her husband Jesse Jennings. (One of the four brothers, Carl, died at birth or shortly thereafter, in 1935.)
Marvin is shown at the far left in the accompanying photo, with youngest brother Denzil in the middle and oldest brother Raymond "Whitey" Jennings at the far right.
Marvin was a corporal in the U.S. Army and surved during the Korean War. He then spent nearly 32 years as a trooper the Kentucky State Police.
Joyce Ann Dehart Bubp, (my first cousin on my father's side). Happy birthday, Joyce. Hope you have a great day.
Nov. 5
Carl Jennings, (my first cousin once removed on my mother's side), b. 1935 in Rowan County, Ky.; d. 1935. Carl was the younger brother of Marvin Jennings, who had a birthday Nov. 4. I do not know the cause or other circumstances of Carl's death, but he died during or shortly after his birth.
Ronnie Jackson Brooks, (my half uncle on my mother's side). Happy birthday, Uncle Jack. Hope it is a great one.
Nov. 6
Cynthia Jane Caudill, (my first cousin three times removed on my mother's side and my second cousin three times removed on my mother's side), b. 1887 in Rowan County, Ky.; d. May 13, 1978, in Kentucky. Cynthia was the daughter of Samuel B. Caudill and Amanda Susan Hall Caudill. Amanda was a brother of my 2G grandfather George Washington Hall and also of Albert David Hall, who celebrated a birthday Nov. 4. The Halls are part of my mother's paternal bloodline, and the Caudills are part of her maternal line, so Cyinthia is a double relative.
William B. Williams, (my first cousin twice removed on my mother's side), b. 1898 in Morgan County, Ky.; d. Sept. 16, 1965, in Scioto County, Ohio. William was the son of John Henry Williams and Alice McClain Williams and the brother of my great grandfather Andrew Jackson Williams.
Audra Edith Burns, (my first cousin twice removed on my mother's side), b. 1914 in Rowan County, Ky.; d. Aug. 17, 1994, in Morehead, Rowan County, Ky. Audra was the daughter of Henry Burns and Surena Hall Burns. Surena is the sister of my great-grandmother, Mahala Susan Hall Wilson.
Nov. 7
Jane Lee Wilson, (my 8G grandmother on my mother's side), b. 1672 in Londonderry, Armagh, Ireland; d. Sept. 5, 1743, in Christ Church, Augusta, Va., colonial America. Jane was born in Ireland and married to Robert Wilson of Edinburgh, Scotland. I'm not sure when they moved to the New World, but they both died there. Their son Thomas Wilson, my 7G grandfather, was born in 1695 in Ireland and like his parents, died in America. As such, it stands to reason they likely moved while he was still young, though I don't know that for certain.
Squire John T. Williams, (my 4G grandfather on my mother's side), b. 1789 in Fort Boonesborough, Ky.; d. March 10, 1869, in Elkfort, Morgan County, Ky. John's father, the Rev. Daniel Williams, emigrated to Kentucky from North Carolina with Daniel Boone in May 1775. His marriage to Violet Crouch, John's mother, was performed by Daniel Boone's brother, Squire in Boonesboro, where John was born. Later, the Rev. Williams built the first cabin in what is now West Liberty, Ky., in Morgan County.
There, his son became a founding father of sorts.
John T. Williams was one of the justices of the peace appointed by Kentucky Gov. John Adair to set up Morgan County in 1822 from what had previously been portions of Bath and Floyd counties. He became known as Squire John and lived on Williams Creek of Elk Fork. A part of his old home was still standing in 1955 and was owned by Bruce Williams, a descendant. Squire John T. was the father of Capt. John T. Williams of Lower Caney who was a captain in the Confederate forces during the Civil War. Another of his sons, Ambrose Jones Williams, is my 3G grandfather.
Martha Susan Roberts Hall, (my 4G aunt-in-law on my mother's side), b. 1848 in Grayson, Va.; d. June 8, 1944, in Rowan County, Ky. Martha married John M. Hall, a brother of the afroementioned Isaac Hall Jr. and Jane Elly Hall. Martha and John apparently were not implicated in the death of Isaac Jr., as they are not mentioned in any of the inquest records.
However, Martha's brother, Wiley C. Roberts (1832-1913), was one of the co-leaders of the vigilante band that killed Isaac Jr., and he was married to Amanda Alfrey, Franklin Alfrey's sister.
Susan and Wiley's parents were Minetry and Euphamy Roberts, who moved from Grayson County, Virginia, to Bath County, Kentucky, in about 1859.
Howard Vinton Hall, (my first cousin three times removed on my mother's side), b. 1887 in Rowan County, Ky.; d. March 16, 1955, in Rowan County, Ky. Howard was the son of the Rev. James Henry Hall and Clara Johnson Hall. He also was a cousin of my great-grandmother Mahala Susan Hall Wilson.
Nov. 8
Sarah H. Webb Caudill, (my 5G grandmother on my mother's side), b. 1778 in Wilkes, N.C.; d. 1867 in Letcher County, Ky. Sarah and her husband, Matthew Caudill, were part of the Caudill family that moved from North Carolina to Letcher County, Ky. The Caudill family was vast, and branches of it moved to various parts of Kentucky, including Greenup and Rowan counties. My maternal grandmother had Caudills in her paternal line, and her daughter — my Aunt Vada Wilson Caudill — married Leroy Caudill, who hailed from a separate branch of the family that also can be traced to Letcher County.
Juanita Helen Mutters Wilson, (wife of Marvin Holt Wilson, my first cousin three times removed on my mother's side), b. 1906 in Morehead, Rowan County, Ky.; d. May 31, 1971, in Morehead, Rowan County, Ky. Juanita married Marvin Wilson, the son of Dr. Jeremiah Wilson and his second wife, Virginia Lee Crawford. ("Doc Jerry" had 13 children by his first wife, Anna Eliza Halley Wilson. Marvin and older brother William Allie Wilson were his only two children by Virginia.)
Juanita and Marvin were married in 1925 and remained wed despite Marvin's apparent struggles with alcohol and drunken driving, according to recollection by the couple's granddaughter. She recalls Juanita later in life stricken by diabetes and arthritis that largely kept her confined to a wheelchair. However, she was very much able of mind. She held elective office, Rowan County's tax assessor, and excelled at cooking, sewing and crocheting.
Luster Boone Kidd, (my second cousin three times removed on my father's side), b. 1913 in Elliott County, Ky.; d. Dec. 31, 1988, in West Liberty, Morgan County, Ky. Luster is one of nine children of John Booth Kidd and Ada Lykins Kidd. John is the cousin of my grandfather Elmer Kidd.
Emil Ray Hall, (my first cousin twice removed on my mother's side and my third cousin on my mother's side and fourth cousin on my father's side), b. 1939 in Morehead, Rowan County, Ky.; d. Sept. 21, 1993, in Wabash, Wabash County, Ind. Emil's father, Harlan Hall, is the brother of Mahala Susan Hall Wilson, my great-grandmother. Emil's mother, Mary Elizabeth Jennings Hall, is a sister of Jesse Jennings — the father of the Jennings boys listed in this post and the husband of Mahala's daughter, Vada Mae Wilson Jennings. The Jenningses are also related to me on my father's side, thus the triple relationship with Emil.