*Sister Of Thomas Harrison
RESIDENCE: Sussex Co., DE > Rockingham Co, VA
BIRTH: ABT 1710, Smithtown, L.I., Suffolk Co., NY
From Smithtown historical site: Was Smithtown named after her mother's folks?
The history of Smithtown is documented in numerous publications, where the simple version known to most people is the legend of Richard Smythe and his bull ride. That story, "Here's to the bull and Richard Smythe..." and the more factual account "How Richard Smythe acquired Smithtown from Lyon Gardner in 1663...." are available on line. Both articles were prepared by Bradley Harris our Smithtown Town Historian.
DEATH: 1780, Rockingham Co., VA. Believed to be buried here with sons. No marker.
Father: Isaiah HARRISSON b 1668-1738 m 1702
Mother: Abigail SMITH
Grandparents:
Thomas Harrison 1619-1682 m 1660 Katherine Bradshaw 1637-1682
Jonathan Smith m Sarah Brewster
Grt Grdparents:
Richard Harrison 1595-1665
Richard Smith m Sarah
Master William Brewster 1566-1643 m Mary b 1591
Married: Alexander HERRING (HERRON) Jr. ◾MARRIAGE: Sussex Co., DE
Children
1. Edith HERRING
2. Jesse HERRING (HERRON)
3. Leonard HERRING
4. Alexander HERRING
5. John HERRING
6. Bathsheba HERRING (Pres Lincoln connection?)
Mrs. Bathsheba Lincoln, Abraham Lincoln's paternal grandmother Was she a Herring?
by R. Andrew Pierce
After reviewing the available evidence about Bathsheba (-------) Lincoln, President Lincoln's paternal grandmother. I have concluded there is NO evidence that her maiden name was Herring.
In 1770, Abraham Lincoln, the President's grandfather, received a license to marry in Augusta Co. VA. The bride's name is not recorded.
In 1780, Abraham Lincoln, his wife Bershaba (signing as "Batsab", also called Bathshabe, Barshaba, Bershebe, and Barbara in body of deed) releasing right of dower, sold land in Augusta Co. VA (that Abraham had bought or inherited) and moved to Kentucky. The full text of the deed is in "The Ancestry of Abraham Lincoln", currently available online through books.google.com.
"Virginia Valley Records", a book databased on Ancestry.com, says Virginia Valley Records: "The Christian name of Captain Abraham Lincoln's wife was Bathsheba, and as this name occurs only in the Herring family in Rockingham County it is believed that the grandmother of President Abraham Lincoln was Bathsheba Herring, a daughter of Alexander Herring." This appears to be the entire basis for Bathsheba being called "Herring" and all the followups in print to that effect.
Alexander Herring resided in Rockingham (then Augusta) Co. from at least 1751 until his death in 1778, and had five sons. There was considerable deed activity among the sons after his death, and none of them mention a daughter/sister Bathsheba. Distinctive names among the Herrings such as Alexander, Leonard and Bethuel, do NOT occur in the Lincoln family.
To date I have not had time to sufficiently go through references now; the book "Settlers by the Long Gray Trail" offers the best writeup of the Herrings and also sketches the Lincolns. At some point in the early 20th century a Herring descendant was interviewed for the book, and he stated "from memory" that he believed Bathsheba was daughter of Leonard and granddaughter of Alexander, which is chronologically impossible. A typical instance, I think, of him telling the authors what they wanted to hear, and vice versa (they had probably read the above paragraph from "Virginia Valley Records").
Publications further state that Bathsheba Lincoln moved to Washington Co. KY with her five children, then to Hardin Co. KY were she lived until 1833 with her daughter Nancy (Lincoln) Brumfield. There is even a (modern) marker on what is believed to be her grave in Hardin Co. However, the 1810, 1820 and 1830 censuses for the Brumfields and the four other Lincoln children do NOT show a woman of Bathsheba's age ever living in any of their households.
My theory is that Bathsheba, still in her mid to late 30s at Abraham's death in 1786, remarried. She probably did come to Kentucky and may even have lived until 1833, perhaps NEAR one or more of her children. Deeds, probates, tax and court records for Washington and Hardin Cos. KY exist in abundance, several being in print, though not local to me. Research at the Family History Library in Salt Lake City is being planned.
Also, deeds in Rockingham & Augusta Cos VA might be searched if she, under her second husband's surname, deeded out any of her ancestral land there after 1786.
R. Andrew Pierce, a professional genealogist, is the author of The Stones Speak: Inscriptions from Mt. Calvary Cemetery in Boston, Massachusetts [NEHGS, 2000]; The Wampanoag Genealogical History of Martha's Vineyard, Massachusetts [Genealogical Publishing Co. Inc., 2003]; and a six part series on the ancestry of President John F. Kennedy in NEHGS' Nexus journal. He can be contacted at P.O. Box 6101, Boston MA 02114, email [email protected].
7. William HERRING (HERRON)
8. Bethuel HERRING (HERRON) b. ca 1753/4 and lived in Rockingham Co. Va.
has a David Herring b. ca 1785 m. Mahala Grady (dau of George Grady)in Rockingham Va bef. 1820.
He is shown on the 1820 census in Rockingham next to Betheul(Bethewel)Herring and in the 1830 census, he is a few names away from Margaret Herring (probably Bethuel's 2nd wife).
David moved to Randolph Co Mo. by 1832.
In the 1850 census, he and Mahala had two dau. born in Va., Mary Elizabeth, and Frances and a son and dau born in Mo.
Almost sure David is Bethuel's son, but I do not have any proof. The family records I have seen list two dau, Jane and Edith.
Notes from Sharon Murphy
Note from Barb
David Herring married Mahaly Grady.
They are on the same list with the marriage of the daughter of Bethuel Herring, Matilda Herring, who married Jesse Harrison on 23 May 1815.
The heading for this list states that the marriages were performed from June 1800 to Dec 31, 1823 by John Brown,
David could be on the wrong list as there is no date of marriage by their names.
He also does not appear in my list of children for Bethuel and Mary [Miller} Herring.
These are the children show for Bethuel Herring and Mary Miller:
Philander Herring b: VA
Edith Herring b: 1785 Rockingham Co., VA d: 1831 Tazewell Co., IL Married Jesse Shanklin 16 Feb 1808 Rockingham Co., VA B: 1785 in Rockingham Co., VA d Feb 1847 Tazewell Co., IL
Nancy Herring b: 1787 VA d: after 1850 Randolph Co., MO
Married James Gordon Davis 1808 Rockingham Co., VA
Mary Herring b: 1794 VA Married Samuel Caldwell Davis 1815 Rockingham Co., VA
Jane Herring b: 1795 VA d: 1831 Montgomery Co., IL Married Nelson Kimbrough 03 Aug 1811 Rockingham Co., VA B: between 1790 & 1795 d: 1831 Montgomery Co., IL
Mathilda / Matilda Herring since she married the latest I placed her after her siblings in birth.
Notes from Barbara
10 Lord Benjamin Herron,
2) Alexander Herring Sr. (d--1735) md Margaret _?_,
3) Alexander Herring Jr.(170891778)
------md Abigail Harrison (1710-1780),
---------(d/o Isaiah Harrison & Abigail Smith)
4)Bethuel (Bethel or Bethnell) Herring (1751-1829)
------md 1st Mary Miller
------md 2nd Margaret Erwin (Ervin),
5) Mary Herring (1794-1855) md Rev. Samuel Caldwell Davis
A letter with information from a niece of Bathsheba (Herring) Lincoln from a W. S. Lallie (? spelling) to a Mrs Ruth Block on 11/20/1939. W. S. Lallie states that his wife is the grandniece of Bathsheba. Listed are the names of Bethel's children without dates.
The letter also mentions a William Herring who is brother to Bethuel, husband of Elizabeth Stephenson, and father to another Alexander Herring.
This Alexander has a daughter Margaret D. Herring.
9. Possible dau or niece Jane Herring/Herron Griffits
RESIDENCE: Sussex Co., DE > Rockingham Co, VA
BIRTH: ABT 1710, Smithtown, L.I., Suffolk Co., NY
From Smithtown historical site: Was Smithtown named after her mother's folks?
The history of Smithtown is documented in numerous publications, where the simple version known to most people is the legend of Richard Smythe and his bull ride. That story, "Here's to the bull and Richard Smythe..." and the more factual account "How Richard Smythe acquired Smithtown from Lyon Gardner in 1663...." are available on line. Both articles were prepared by Bradley Harris our Smithtown Town Historian.
DEATH: 1780, Rockingham Co., VA. Believed to be buried here with sons. No marker.
Father: Isaiah HARRISSON b 1668-1738 m 1702
Mother: Abigail SMITH
Grandparents:
Thomas Harrison 1619-1682 m 1660 Katherine Bradshaw 1637-1682
Jonathan Smith m Sarah Brewster
Grt Grdparents:
Richard Harrison 1595-1665
Richard Smith m Sarah
Master William Brewster 1566-1643 m Mary b 1591
Married: Alexander HERRING (HERRON) Jr. ◾MARRIAGE: Sussex Co., DE
Children
1. Edith HERRING
2. Jesse HERRING (HERRON)
3. Leonard HERRING
4. Alexander HERRING
5. John HERRING
6. Bathsheba HERRING (Pres Lincoln connection?)
Mrs. Bathsheba Lincoln, Abraham Lincoln's paternal grandmother Was she a Herring?
by R. Andrew Pierce
After reviewing the available evidence about Bathsheba (-------) Lincoln, President Lincoln's paternal grandmother. I have concluded there is NO evidence that her maiden name was Herring.
In 1770, Abraham Lincoln, the President's grandfather, received a license to marry in Augusta Co. VA. The bride's name is not recorded.
In 1780, Abraham Lincoln, his wife Bershaba (signing as "Batsab", also called Bathshabe, Barshaba, Bershebe, and Barbara in body of deed) releasing right of dower, sold land in Augusta Co. VA (that Abraham had bought or inherited) and moved to Kentucky. The full text of the deed is in "The Ancestry of Abraham Lincoln", currently available online through books.google.com.
"Virginia Valley Records", a book databased on Ancestry.com, says Virginia Valley Records: "The Christian name of Captain Abraham Lincoln's wife was Bathsheba, and as this name occurs only in the Herring family in Rockingham County it is believed that the grandmother of President Abraham Lincoln was Bathsheba Herring, a daughter of Alexander Herring." This appears to be the entire basis for Bathsheba being called "Herring" and all the followups in print to that effect.
Alexander Herring resided in Rockingham (then Augusta) Co. from at least 1751 until his death in 1778, and had five sons. There was considerable deed activity among the sons after his death, and none of them mention a daughter/sister Bathsheba. Distinctive names among the Herrings such as Alexander, Leonard and Bethuel, do NOT occur in the Lincoln family.
To date I have not had time to sufficiently go through references now; the book "Settlers by the Long Gray Trail" offers the best writeup of the Herrings and also sketches the Lincolns. At some point in the early 20th century a Herring descendant was interviewed for the book, and he stated "from memory" that he believed Bathsheba was daughter of Leonard and granddaughter of Alexander, which is chronologically impossible. A typical instance, I think, of him telling the authors what they wanted to hear, and vice versa (they had probably read the above paragraph from "Virginia Valley Records").
Publications further state that Bathsheba Lincoln moved to Washington Co. KY with her five children, then to Hardin Co. KY were she lived until 1833 with her daughter Nancy (Lincoln) Brumfield. There is even a (modern) marker on what is believed to be her grave in Hardin Co. However, the 1810, 1820 and 1830 censuses for the Brumfields and the four other Lincoln children do NOT show a woman of Bathsheba's age ever living in any of their households.
My theory is that Bathsheba, still in her mid to late 30s at Abraham's death in 1786, remarried. She probably did come to Kentucky and may even have lived until 1833, perhaps NEAR one or more of her children. Deeds, probates, tax and court records for Washington and Hardin Cos. KY exist in abundance, several being in print, though not local to me. Research at the Family History Library in Salt Lake City is being planned.
Also, deeds in Rockingham & Augusta Cos VA might be searched if she, under her second husband's surname, deeded out any of her ancestral land there after 1786.
R. Andrew Pierce, a professional genealogist, is the author of The Stones Speak: Inscriptions from Mt. Calvary Cemetery in Boston, Massachusetts [NEHGS, 2000]; The Wampanoag Genealogical History of Martha's Vineyard, Massachusetts [Genealogical Publishing Co. Inc., 2003]; and a six part series on the ancestry of President John F. Kennedy in NEHGS' Nexus journal. He can be contacted at P.O. Box 6101, Boston MA 02114, email [email protected].
7. William HERRING (HERRON)
8. Bethuel HERRING (HERRON) b. ca 1753/4 and lived in Rockingham Co. Va.
has a David Herring b. ca 1785 m. Mahala Grady (dau of George Grady)in Rockingham Va bef. 1820.
He is shown on the 1820 census in Rockingham next to Betheul(Bethewel)Herring and in the 1830 census, he is a few names away from Margaret Herring (probably Bethuel's 2nd wife).
David moved to Randolph Co Mo. by 1832.
In the 1850 census, he and Mahala had two dau. born in Va., Mary Elizabeth, and Frances and a son and dau born in Mo.
Almost sure David is Bethuel's son, but I do not have any proof. The family records I have seen list two dau, Jane and Edith.
Notes from Sharon Murphy
Note from Barb
David Herring married Mahaly Grady.
They are on the same list with the marriage of the daughter of Bethuel Herring, Matilda Herring, who married Jesse Harrison on 23 May 1815.
The heading for this list states that the marriages were performed from June 1800 to Dec 31, 1823 by John Brown,
David could be on the wrong list as there is no date of marriage by their names.
He also does not appear in my list of children for Bethuel and Mary [Miller} Herring.
These are the children show for Bethuel Herring and Mary Miller:
Philander Herring b: VA
Edith Herring b: 1785 Rockingham Co., VA d: 1831 Tazewell Co., IL Married Jesse Shanklin 16 Feb 1808 Rockingham Co., VA B: 1785 in Rockingham Co., VA d Feb 1847 Tazewell Co., IL
Nancy Herring b: 1787 VA d: after 1850 Randolph Co., MO
Married James Gordon Davis 1808 Rockingham Co., VA
Mary Herring b: 1794 VA Married Samuel Caldwell Davis 1815 Rockingham Co., VA
Jane Herring b: 1795 VA d: 1831 Montgomery Co., IL Married Nelson Kimbrough 03 Aug 1811 Rockingham Co., VA B: between 1790 & 1795 d: 1831 Montgomery Co., IL
Mathilda / Matilda Herring since she married the latest I placed her after her siblings in birth.
Notes from Barbara
10 Lord Benjamin Herron,
2) Alexander Herring Sr. (d--1735) md Margaret _?_,
3) Alexander Herring Jr.(170891778)
------md Abigail Harrison (1710-1780),
---------(d/o Isaiah Harrison & Abigail Smith)
4)Bethuel (Bethel or Bethnell) Herring (1751-1829)
------md 1st Mary Miller
------md 2nd Margaret Erwin (Ervin),
5) Mary Herring (1794-1855) md Rev. Samuel Caldwell Davis
A letter with information from a niece of Bathsheba (Herring) Lincoln from a W. S. Lallie (? spelling) to a Mrs Ruth Block on 11/20/1939. W. S. Lallie states that his wife is the grandniece of Bathsheba. Listed are the names of Bethel's children without dates.
The letter also mentions a William Herring who is brother to Bethuel, husband of Elizabeth Stephenson, and father to another Alexander Herring.
This Alexander has a daughter Margaret D. Herring.
9. Possible dau or niece Jane Herring/Herron Griffits
*Sister Of Thomas Harrison
RESIDENCE: Sussex Co., DE > Rockingham Co, VA
BIRTH: ABT 1710, Smithtown, L.I., Suffolk Co., NY
From Smithtown historical site: Was Smithtown named after her mother's folks?
The history of Smithtown is documented in numerous publications, where the simple version known to most people is the legend of Richard Smythe and his bull ride. That story, "Here's to the bull and Richard Smythe..." and the more factual account "How Richard Smythe acquired Smithtown from Lyon Gardner in 1663...." are available on line. Both articles were prepared by Bradley Harris our Smithtown Town Historian.
DEATH: 1780, Rockingham Co., VA. Believed to be buried here with sons. No marker.
Father: Isaiah HARRISSON b 1668-1738 m 1702
Mother: Abigail SMITH
Grandparents:
Thomas Harrison 1619-1682 m 1660 Katherine Bradshaw 1637-1682
Jonathan Smith m Sarah Brewster
Grt Grdparents:
Richard Harrison 1595-1665
Richard Smith m Sarah
Master William Brewster 1566-1643 m Mary b 1591
Married: Alexander HERRING (HERRON) Jr. ◾MARRIAGE: Sussex Co., DE
Children
1. Edith HERRING
2. Jesse HERRING (HERRON)
3. Leonard HERRING
4. Alexander HERRING
5. John HERRING
6. Bathsheba HERRING (Pres Lincoln connection?)
Mrs. Bathsheba Lincoln, Abraham Lincoln's paternal grandmother Was she a Herring?
by R. Andrew Pierce
After reviewing the available evidence about Bathsheba (-------) Lincoln, President Lincoln's paternal grandmother. I have concluded there is NO evidence that her maiden name was Herring.
In 1770, Abraham Lincoln, the President's grandfather, received a license to marry in Augusta Co. VA. The bride's name is not recorded.
In 1780, Abraham Lincoln, his wife Bershaba (signing as "Batsab", also called Bathshabe, Barshaba, Bershebe, and Barbara in body of deed) releasing right of dower, sold land in Augusta Co. VA (that Abraham had bought or inherited) and moved to Kentucky. The full text of the deed is in "The Ancestry of Abraham Lincoln", currently available online through books.google.com.
"Virginia Valley Records", a book databased on Ancestry.com, says Virginia Valley Records: "The Christian name of Captain Abraham Lincoln's wife was Bathsheba, and as this name occurs only in the Herring family in Rockingham County it is believed that the grandmother of President Abraham Lincoln was Bathsheba Herring, a daughter of Alexander Herring." This appears to be the entire basis for Bathsheba being called "Herring" and all the followups in print to that effect.
Alexander Herring resided in Rockingham (then Augusta) Co. from at least 1751 until his death in 1778, and had five sons. There was considerable deed activity among the sons after his death, and none of them mention a daughter/sister Bathsheba. Distinctive names among the Herrings such as Alexander, Leonard and Bethuel, do NOT occur in the Lincoln family.
To date I have not had time to sufficiently go through references now; the book "Settlers by the Long Gray Trail" offers the best writeup of the Herrings and also sketches the Lincolns. At some point in the early 20th century a Herring descendant was interviewed for the book, and he stated "from memory" that he believed Bathsheba was daughter of Leonard and granddaughter of Alexander, which is chronologically impossible. A typical instance, I think, of him telling the authors what they wanted to hear, and vice versa (they had probably read the above paragraph from "Virginia Valley Records").
Publications further state that Bathsheba Lincoln moved to Washington Co. KY with her five children, then to Hardin Co. KY were she lived until 1833 with her daughter Nancy (Lincoln) Brumfield. There is even a (modern) marker on what is believed to be her grave in Hardin Co. However, the 1810, 1820 and 1830 censuses for the Brumfields and the four other Lincoln children do NOT show a woman of Bathsheba's age ever living in any of their households.
My theory is that Bathsheba, still in her mid to late 30s at Abraham's death in 1786, remarried. She probably did come to Kentucky and may even have lived until 1833, perhaps NEAR one or more of her children. Deeds, probates, tax and court records for Washington and Hardin Cos. KY exist in abundance, several being in print, though not local to me. Research at the Family History Library in Salt Lake City is being planned.
Also, deeds in Rockingham & Augusta Cos VA might be searched if she, under her second husband's surname, deeded out any of her ancestral land there after 1786.
R. Andrew Pierce, a professional genealogist, is the author of The Stones Speak: Inscriptions from Mt. Calvary Cemetery in Boston, Massachusetts [NEHGS, 2000]; The Wampanoag Genealogical History of Martha's Vineyard, Massachusetts [Genealogical Publishing Co. Inc., 2003]; and a six part series on the ancestry of President John F. Kennedy in NEHGS' Nexus journal. He can be contacted at P.O. Box 6101, Boston MA 02114, email [email protected].
7. William HERRING (HERRON)
8. Bethuel HERRING (HERRON) b. ca 1753/4 and lived in Rockingham Co. Va.
has a David Herring b. ca 1785 m. Mahala Grady (dau of George Grady)in Rockingham Va bef. 1820.
He is shown on the 1820 census in Rockingham next to Betheul(Bethewel)Herring and in the 1830 census, he is a few names away from Margaret Herring (probably Bethuel's 2nd wife).
David moved to Randolph Co Mo. by 1832.
In the 1850 census, he and Mahala had two dau. born in Va., Mary Elizabeth, and Frances and a son and dau born in Mo.
Almost sure David is Bethuel's son, but I do not have any proof. The family records I have seen list two dau, Jane and Edith.
Notes from Sharon Murphy
Note from Barb
David Herring married Mahaly Grady.
They are on the same list with the marriage of the daughter of Bethuel Herring, Matilda Herring, who married Jesse Harrison on 23 May 1815.
The heading for this list states that the marriages were performed from June 1800 to Dec 31, 1823 by John Brown,
David could be on the wrong list as there is no date of marriage by their names.
He also does not appear in my list of children for Bethuel and Mary [Miller} Herring.
These are the children show for Bethuel Herring and Mary Miller:
Philander Herring b: VA
Edith Herring b: 1785 Rockingham Co., VA d: 1831 Tazewell Co., IL Married Jesse Shanklin 16 Feb 1808 Rockingham Co., VA B: 1785 in Rockingham Co., VA d Feb 1847 Tazewell Co., IL
Nancy Herring b: 1787 VA d: after 1850 Randolph Co., MO
Married James Gordon Davis 1808 Rockingham Co., VA
Mary Herring b: 1794 VA Married Samuel Caldwell Davis 1815 Rockingham Co., VA
Jane Herring b: 1795 VA d: 1831 Montgomery Co., IL Married Nelson Kimbrough 03 Aug 1811 Rockingham Co., VA B: between 1790 & 1795 d: 1831 Montgomery Co., IL
Mathilda / Matilda Herring since she married the latest I placed her after her siblings in birth.
Notes from Barbara
10 Lord Benjamin Herron,
2) Alexander Herring Sr. (d--1735) md Margaret _?_,
3) Alexander Herring Jr.(170891778)
------md Abigail Harrison (1710-1780),
---------(d/o Isaiah Harrison & Abigail Smith)
4)Bethuel (Bethel or Bethnell) Herring (1751-1829)
------md 1st Mary Miller
------md 2nd Margaret Erwin (Ervin),
5) Mary Herring (1794-1855) md Rev. Samuel Caldwell Davis
A letter with information from a niece of Bathsheba (Herring) Lincoln from a W. S. Lallie (? spelling) to a Mrs Ruth Block on 11/20/1939. W. S. Lallie states that his wife is the grandniece of Bathsheba. Listed are the names of Bethel's children without dates.
The letter also mentions a William Herring who is brother to Bethuel, husband of Elizabeth Stephenson, and father to another Alexander Herring.
This Alexander has a daughter Margaret D. Herring.
9. Possible dau or niece Jane Herring/Herron Griffits
RESIDENCE: Sussex Co., DE > Rockingham Co, VA
BIRTH: ABT 1710, Smithtown, L.I., Suffolk Co., NY
From Smithtown historical site: Was Smithtown named after her mother's folks?
The history of Smithtown is documented in numerous publications, where the simple version known to most people is the legend of Richard Smythe and his bull ride. That story, "Here's to the bull and Richard Smythe..." and the more factual account "How Richard Smythe acquired Smithtown from Lyon Gardner in 1663...." are available on line. Both articles were prepared by Bradley Harris our Smithtown Town Historian.
DEATH: 1780, Rockingham Co., VA. Believed to be buried here with sons. No marker.
Father: Isaiah HARRISSON b 1668-1738 m 1702
Mother: Abigail SMITH
Grandparents:
Thomas Harrison 1619-1682 m 1660 Katherine Bradshaw 1637-1682
Jonathan Smith m Sarah Brewster
Grt Grdparents:
Richard Harrison 1595-1665
Richard Smith m Sarah
Master William Brewster 1566-1643 m Mary b 1591
Married: Alexander HERRING (HERRON) Jr. ◾MARRIAGE: Sussex Co., DE
Children
1. Edith HERRING
2. Jesse HERRING (HERRON)
3. Leonard HERRING
4. Alexander HERRING
5. John HERRING
6. Bathsheba HERRING (Pres Lincoln connection?)
Mrs. Bathsheba Lincoln, Abraham Lincoln's paternal grandmother Was she a Herring?
by R. Andrew Pierce
After reviewing the available evidence about Bathsheba (-------) Lincoln, President Lincoln's paternal grandmother. I have concluded there is NO evidence that her maiden name was Herring.
In 1770, Abraham Lincoln, the President's grandfather, received a license to marry in Augusta Co. VA. The bride's name is not recorded.
In 1780, Abraham Lincoln, his wife Bershaba (signing as "Batsab", also called Bathshabe, Barshaba, Bershebe, and Barbara in body of deed) releasing right of dower, sold land in Augusta Co. VA (that Abraham had bought or inherited) and moved to Kentucky. The full text of the deed is in "The Ancestry of Abraham Lincoln", currently available online through books.google.com.
"Virginia Valley Records", a book databased on Ancestry.com, says Virginia Valley Records: "The Christian name of Captain Abraham Lincoln's wife was Bathsheba, and as this name occurs only in the Herring family in Rockingham County it is believed that the grandmother of President Abraham Lincoln was Bathsheba Herring, a daughter of Alexander Herring." This appears to be the entire basis for Bathsheba being called "Herring" and all the followups in print to that effect.
Alexander Herring resided in Rockingham (then Augusta) Co. from at least 1751 until his death in 1778, and had five sons. There was considerable deed activity among the sons after his death, and none of them mention a daughter/sister Bathsheba. Distinctive names among the Herrings such as Alexander, Leonard and Bethuel, do NOT occur in the Lincoln family.
To date I have not had time to sufficiently go through references now; the book "Settlers by the Long Gray Trail" offers the best writeup of the Herrings and also sketches the Lincolns. At some point in the early 20th century a Herring descendant was interviewed for the book, and he stated "from memory" that he believed Bathsheba was daughter of Leonard and granddaughter of Alexander, which is chronologically impossible. A typical instance, I think, of him telling the authors what they wanted to hear, and vice versa (they had probably read the above paragraph from "Virginia Valley Records").
Publications further state that Bathsheba Lincoln moved to Washington Co. KY with her five children, then to Hardin Co. KY were she lived until 1833 with her daughter Nancy (Lincoln) Brumfield. There is even a (modern) marker on what is believed to be her grave in Hardin Co. However, the 1810, 1820 and 1830 censuses for the Brumfields and the four other Lincoln children do NOT show a woman of Bathsheba's age ever living in any of their households.
My theory is that Bathsheba, still in her mid to late 30s at Abraham's death in 1786, remarried. She probably did come to Kentucky and may even have lived until 1833, perhaps NEAR one or more of her children. Deeds, probates, tax and court records for Washington and Hardin Cos. KY exist in abundance, several being in print, though not local to me. Research at the Family History Library in Salt Lake City is being planned.
Also, deeds in Rockingham & Augusta Cos VA might be searched if she, under her second husband's surname, deeded out any of her ancestral land there after 1786.
R. Andrew Pierce, a professional genealogist, is the author of The Stones Speak: Inscriptions from Mt. Calvary Cemetery in Boston, Massachusetts [NEHGS, 2000]; The Wampanoag Genealogical History of Martha's Vineyard, Massachusetts [Genealogical Publishing Co. Inc., 2003]; and a six part series on the ancestry of President John F. Kennedy in NEHGS' Nexus journal. He can be contacted at P.O. Box 6101, Boston MA 02114, email [email protected].
7. William HERRING (HERRON)
8. Bethuel HERRING (HERRON) b. ca 1753/4 and lived in Rockingham Co. Va.
has a David Herring b. ca 1785 m. Mahala Grady (dau of George Grady)in Rockingham Va bef. 1820.
He is shown on the 1820 census in Rockingham next to Betheul(Bethewel)Herring and in the 1830 census, he is a few names away from Margaret Herring (probably Bethuel's 2nd wife).
David moved to Randolph Co Mo. by 1832.
In the 1850 census, he and Mahala had two dau. born in Va., Mary Elizabeth, and Frances and a son and dau born in Mo.
Almost sure David is Bethuel's son, but I do not have any proof. The family records I have seen list two dau, Jane and Edith.
Notes from Sharon Murphy
Note from Barb
David Herring married Mahaly Grady.
They are on the same list with the marriage of the daughter of Bethuel Herring, Matilda Herring, who married Jesse Harrison on 23 May 1815.
The heading for this list states that the marriages were performed from June 1800 to Dec 31, 1823 by John Brown,
David could be on the wrong list as there is no date of marriage by their names.
He also does not appear in my list of children for Bethuel and Mary [Miller} Herring.
These are the children show for Bethuel Herring and Mary Miller:
Philander Herring b: VA
Edith Herring b: 1785 Rockingham Co., VA d: 1831 Tazewell Co., IL Married Jesse Shanklin 16 Feb 1808 Rockingham Co., VA B: 1785 in Rockingham Co., VA d Feb 1847 Tazewell Co., IL
Nancy Herring b: 1787 VA d: after 1850 Randolph Co., MO
Married James Gordon Davis 1808 Rockingham Co., VA
Mary Herring b: 1794 VA Married Samuel Caldwell Davis 1815 Rockingham Co., VA
Jane Herring b: 1795 VA d: 1831 Montgomery Co., IL Married Nelson Kimbrough 03 Aug 1811 Rockingham Co., VA B: between 1790 & 1795 d: 1831 Montgomery Co., IL
Mathilda / Matilda Herring since she married the latest I placed her after her siblings in birth.
Notes from Barbara
10 Lord Benjamin Herron,
2) Alexander Herring Sr. (d--1735) md Margaret _?_,
3) Alexander Herring Jr.(170891778)
------md Abigail Harrison (1710-1780),
---------(d/o Isaiah Harrison & Abigail Smith)
4)Bethuel (Bethel or Bethnell) Herring (1751-1829)
------md 1st Mary Miller
------md 2nd Margaret Erwin (Ervin),
5) Mary Herring (1794-1855) md Rev. Samuel Caldwell Davis
A letter with information from a niece of Bathsheba (Herring) Lincoln from a W. S. Lallie (? spelling) to a Mrs Ruth Block on 11/20/1939. W. S. Lallie states that his wife is the grandniece of Bathsheba. Listed are the names of Bethel's children without dates.
The letter also mentions a William Herring who is brother to Bethuel, husband of Elizabeth Stephenson, and father to another Alexander Herring.
This Alexander has a daughter Margaret D. Herring.
9. Possible dau or niece Jane Herring/Herron Griffits
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