BIO-SKETCH OF PHILIP HERNDON (1808 TN-Jun 1848 TN)
BY ROSE H. BONNELL (6 Jul 2016, 13 Jan 2017, 21 Oct 2023 & 29 Oct 2023).
STANDARDIZED SPELLING: PHILIP OR PHILLIP -- IT WAS MOST OFTEN PHILIP:
As far as lifetime documents are concerned, on his first US Federal Census of 1830, in court records (1836-37, 1848-50), during his tenure as a Justice of the Peace for Stewart Co TN (Mar-Jun 1848 ), and in his own probate record (Jun 1848- Jun 1850), it was spelled with one "l" as Philip.
(REF: Will Book G, page 19: Philip Herndon, [with] John W. Hicks, Norfleet Bass, Benjamin Champion, [making] justice of the peace bond for District 8; 3 Apr 1848; Will Book F, Page 508 (5 Jun 1848): Administrator's bond was made for Estate of Philip Herndon. Will Book G, page 97: Year's provisions for widow of Philip Herndon [recorded between entries of 2 Feb and 5 Feb 1849]; Will Book G, Pages 98-101 (5 Feb 1849): Estate sale of Philip Herndon; Will Book G, Page 285 (1 Jun 1850): Administrator Settlement for Estate of Philip Herndon.
THIS IS AN ESSENTIAL URGENT CORRECTION TO A TIDAL WAVE OF MISINFORMATION ON TWO MEN, (& THEIR WIVES, & SETS OF CHILDREN) WHO ARE MISREPRESENTED AS ONE!
CONFLATION ALERT: YOUNGER AND PHILIP (NOT YOUNGER PHILIP):
Younger Herndon AND Philip Herndon ARE NOT to be confused with the so-called conflation "YOUNGER PHILIP HERNDON," the non-existent hypothetical mis-merged conglomerate of nearly three-quarters-of-a-century---over 30+ years of research has confirmed there was NO SUCH PERSON!!! Beyond a shadow of a doubt, it is the tragic mis-merger of two men, along with their two wives and their two sets of children: Younger Herndon (1785 VA-1859 KY) with wife Sarah Ann possibly Wilson (1801 VA/KY-1860 KY) vs. Philip Herndon (1801/10 TN-1848 TN) with wife Sarah Hitchcock (1807 unknown-after 1850 [TN?]).
DISAMBIGUATION SEPARATING TWO MEN WHO WERE CONFLATED AS ONE:
Find A Grave Memorials were created in 2016 for this documented family history correction, separating & disambiguating the following men (correcting the misnomer Younger Philip Herndon). See YOUNGER HERNDON FIND A GRAVE MEMORIAL # 166553946. (vs.) PHILIP HERNDON FIND A GRAVE MEMORIAL # 166677991. And SARAH ANN possibly WILSON HERNDON, FIND A GRAVE MEMORIAL # 166714909. (vs.) SARAH HITCHCOCK HERNDON (Correction), FIND A GRAVE MEMORIAL # 166715088.
FACT: PHILIP AND YOUNGER ON SINGLE DOCUMENT:
Further evidence, that these are TWO separate men, was sent to me via email by the expert, four-decade Stewart Co TN Archivist, tngenweb.org/stewart webmaster, and Stewart Co TN transcripts author, Jim Long (2/16/2021):
"You will note separate entries for Philip Herndon and Younger Herndon:"
-- Page 249, on unnumbered 17th occupied line, "Philip Herndon had account vs. Clark -- $2 50."
-- Page 249, on unnumbered 37th occupied line, "Younger Herndon acct vs. Clerk [sic, Clark] -- $ 13 25."
Settlement of the estate of William A. Clark in February 1843, in [Stewart Co TN] Settlements and Bonds Book E, pages 249-250.
(REF: Ancestry.com 2015 Database, "Tennessee, U.S., Wills and Probate Records, 1779-2008: Stewart
Settlements, Bonds, Vol E-G, 1840-1854." URL: https://www.ancestry.com/discoveryui-content/view/2784714:9176?tid=&pid=&queryId=65c2b3a703a7703b71da018d33e50477&_phsrc=bBX5236, image 249.)
OTHER FACTS VIA DOCUMENTARY EVIDENCE:
(1) Philip Herndon AND Younger Newton were both enumerated, same page, on the 1840 US Federal Census of Stewart Co TN.
(REF/URL: https://www.ancestry.com/imageviewer/collections/8057/images/4410645_00663?pId=3430309.)
(2) Philip Herndon (misspelled Herendon), in first census enumeration as head of household, was first enumerated in 1830 Humpreys Co TN, the county where Younger Herndon's brother William Herndon, had land in mid-1820s; meantime William (possible father or uncle) is enumerated back in 1830 Stewart Co TN, while Younger Herndon (possible uncle or father) is enumerated further away in 1830 Trigg Co KY (erroneously indexed at Ancestry.com database as Gounger; enumerator misspelled surname as Harrington).
(REF-A: Philip's 1830 enumeration, as Herendon [sic], indexed Herenden, at URL: https://www.ancestry.com/discoveryui-content/view/707549:8058?ssrc=pt&tid=53440451&pid=13510502899; REF-B: William's 1830 enumeration, as Herendon [sic], at URL: https://www.ancestry.com/discoveryui-content/view/757204:8058?ssrc=pt&tid=53440451&pid=13510502485; REF-C: Younger's 1830 enumeration, indexed as Harrington [sic], at URL:https://www.ancestry.com/imageviewer/collections/8058/images/
4410618_00059?pId=1100728.)
(3) Philip Herndon, of Tennessee, who made an 1832 deposition at age 24 = birth calculation of 1808, died suddenly in early June 1848 following his April 1848 election to a six-year term as Justice of the Peace for Stewart Co TN, requiring a special election to replace him. Letters of Administration for his Estate were granted 5 Jun 1848. (REF: 28 May 1832 Deposition of "Phillip Herrendon" [sic, misspelling] sent to me 8 Feb 2018 by St Co TN Archivist, JL; Stewart County TN Court Books, and Will Book G, Pages 19, and 97-101, and Will Book F, Page 508.)
(4) Meanwhile, Younger Herndon, of Virginia-South Carolina-Tennessee-Kentucky, was moving between Stewart Co TN (1820, 1840) and Trigg Co KY (1830, 1850), having been recorded in Trigg Co KY road orders on 13 Sep 1836 as road hand for the Dover-Cadiz Road, census and court order both suggesting he lived along the state-line border region of both counties. His road hand work in Trigg Co KY was also mentioned 13 May 1844. Both orders misspell his surname as Herrington, which is actually HERNDON, verified by censuses of both counties and circuit court records of Stewart Co TN and probate records of Marlborough District SC. (REF: US Federal Censuses of 1820-1830-1840-1850, and Trigg Co KY Court Order Books 1836 & 1844.)
(5) On 13 May 1850 in Trigg Co KY, Younger & Sarah Ann (Wilson) Herndon purchased 140 acres of land on Little River, from Alfred Boyd, for $250. (REF: Trigg Co KY Deed Book J, page 578, instrument dated 13 May 1850, recorded 11 November 1850.) On 15 May 1856 in Trigg Co KY, Younger and wife Sarah Ann sold 115 of the 140 acres (minus M.E. church land given by an earlier owner Jacob Torian) to Chesley D. Lewis of the other part, both of Trigg Co KY, selling the land for $1000 (at a more than 4x profit). In that deed, Younger Herndon and Sarah [Ann] Herndon who is identified as "his wife" multiple times within the document, wherever her name is mentioned. (REF: Trigg Co KY Deed Book M, pages 450-451.)
(6) Younger Herndon died in Trigg Co KY before his 25 May & 13 Jun 1859 intestate probate records. (REF: Trigg Co KY Will Book E, pages 450-452; Trigg Co KY Court Order Book E, pages 145, 150, 319.) His wife "Sarah Ann Herndon" made her will, dated 15 Aug 1860, appointing her sole heir, as their last unwed child, Missouri Jane Herndon, then age 20-21. Sarah Ann died in Oct 1860, between 18 Sep 1860 census enumeration and the 8 Oct 1860 probating of her will. (REF: Trigg Co KY Will Book E, pages 321, 330; Trigg Co KY Court Order Book E, page 250, and 1850 US Fed Census of Trigg Co KY.)
(7) CONFLATION ALERT SUMMARY: The death date, sometimes even the death place, of Younger Herndon's uncle, Younger Newton (1763 VA-1847 SC), at times have been mistakenly attributed to the conflated mythical person "Younger Philip Herndon." This error mistakenly absorbed the true ages and deaths of both Younger Herndon (1785 VA-1859 KY) AND Philip Herndon (1808 TN-1848 TN), his nephew or son. This caused people to not follow the lifespans of each, as individuals, which led to the seeming "brick wall" dead end.
YOUNGER LOCATION VIA CENSUS AND COURT ORDERS EVIDENCE):
Younger Herndon (misspelled H/a/e/rrington, in 3 records: "a" on one census & "e" on two court roadwork lists) was enumerated on US Federal Census in 1820 & 1840 Stewart Co TN, and 1830 & 1850 in Trigg Co KY. On 13 Sep 1836, Younger (misspelled Herrington) was tasked with creating a road between Cadiz Trigg Co KY and Dover Stewart Co TN, with surveyor Alexander Harrell. This work on the state line may explain why his enumeration fluctuated back & forth, hopping between the two census locations.
PHILIP DEPOSITION GIVES MIGRATORY RESIDENCES & BIRTH YEAR EVIDENCE:
Fortunately for us, Philip Herndon gave a deposition, 28 May 1832, stating both his age & his residency in a court case in Hardeman County, Tennessee, USA. His age, specified as about 24 (= birth calculation 1808), & his residency, specified as Stewart Co TN & Hardeman Co TN, were proven in his deposition taken for "Case of Murray, William B. vs. Brigham, John - 1834 partial." (He gave testimony about one man's ownership of slaves.)
PHILIP LOCATION VIA CENSUS EVIDENCE:
Philip Herndon was enumerated on US Federal Censuses of 1830 Humphreys Co TN & 1840 Stewart Co TN. (Philip's first place of enumeration in 1830 Humphreys Co TN occurred when Younger was enumerated a further county away, putting him two counties north in 1830 Trigg Co KY---which could signify they were not father & son, but uncle & nephew, further borne out by the fact that Younger is absent from any mention in Philip's intestate probate documents. However they were in the same county in 1840.)
PHILIP AND YOUNGER IN SAME CENSUS LOCATION IN 1840 IN STEWART CO TN:
These TWO men, Younger Herndon AND Philip Herndon, were BOTH enumerated on the 1840 US Federal Census of Stewart Co TN. Neither Younger nor Philip ever used a middle name or initial in any extant lifetime documents---exclusively using a single given name! (The use of double given names was only applied to him, actually them, post-mortem!) So, to be clear, Younger was not Younger Philip Herndon AND Philip was not Philip Younger Herndon. There was only Younger Herndon (1785 VA-1859 KY) AND Philip Herndon (1801/10 TN-1848 TN)!
1850 CENSUS LOCATIONS OF YOUNGER & WIFE IN TRIGG CO KY ( VS) WIDOW OF PHILIP IN STEWART CO TN:
Younger & wife Sarah Ann (possibly Wilson) Herndon were alive and well for the 1850 US Federal Census of Trigg Co KY, while Philip's widow Sarah (Hitchcock) He[r]ndon was alive and well for the 1850 US Federal Census of Stewart Co TN. I am indebted to Maxine Newton Gibson, author of "Descendants of Giles Newton 1" (2003), learning in 2010 that she generously thanked me for the second-party sharing of my research (okay by me as a public service). It was her sharing of info, that was my wake-up call & the catalyst that it was up to me to correct the mixed-up mess---and she provided the crucial missing clue! Each of us, knowing where our own ancestor was (hers, Philip's widow Sarah in 1850 Stewart Co TN, and mine, Younger & wife Sarah Ann in 1850 Trigg Co KY), neither of us had reason to search further for a simultaneous second-half of the equation---and it was her willingness to share her research, prior to having everything proven "in concrete" which provided the long-sought answer to this "brick-wall" problem!
DEATH OF YOUNGER HERNDON IN 1859 TRIGG CO KY:
Younger Herndon died in Trigg Co KY after the 15 May 1856 sale of most of his land (115 of 140 acres) on Little River, and before the 25 May 1859 sale of his estate (the chronology is a little counter-intuitive since letters of administration weren't applied for & granted until 13 Jun 1859, inventory was 25 Jun 1859, yet sale bill is dated 25 May [sic] 1859), therefore likely dying just prior to 25 May 1859, certainly by 13 Jun 1859. Narrowed death date (calculation): May 1859.
DEATH OF YOUNGER'S WIFE SARAH ANN [(Wilson)] HERNDON IN 1860 TRIGG CO KY:
Younger Herndon's wife, Sarah Ann possibly Wilson, died in Trigg Co KY, her will dated 15 Aug 1860, after census enumeration on 18 Sep 1860, before will was proven on 8 Oct 1860---between 18 Sep 1860 & 8 Oct 1860. Narrowed death date (calculation): Oct 1860.
MAIDEN NAME OF YOUNGER'S WIFE, SARAH ANN, AS WILSON:
The sole source of Younger's wife Sarah Ann's maiden name as Wilson is from 1963 communication by mail (to grandson Jerry Herndon) by Maggie Lee Dawson Herndon, Great-granddaughter & simultaneous granddaughter-in-law married to widower 1 C 1 R (first cousin once removed) Nickodemus Herndon. Interestingly, the 1850 family enumerated next-door to Younger & Sarah Herndon is a Wilson family, and the head is of age to have been her brother. This is why I merely list her surname as "possibly" because there is no other documentary proof yet found.
MAIDEN NAME OF PHILIP'S WIFE, SARAH, AS HITCHCOCK:
From Bio-Sketch of "Lewis Newton" in "History of Tennessee..." by Goodspeed, 1886, page 1305-1306.
SPELLING IS PHILIP HERNDON IN ALL THESE DOCUMENTS PRESENTED AT COURT:
Will Book D, Page 6 (6 Jun 1836): Philip Herndon was buyer at Estate sale of James Read.
Will Book D, Page 103 (5 Jun 1837): Philip Herndon was on guardian bond for Polly and Winborn Futrell.
Will Book D, Page 114 (betw. 17 Sep 1836 and return Aug 1837): Philip Herndon was buyer at Estate Sale of Isaac Futrell.
Will Book D, Page 343 (17 May 1839): Philip Herndon was buyer at Estate sale of James Hamilton.
(URL: https://www.tngenweb.org/stewart/will/WillBookD.htm.)
Will Book F, Page 402 (1 Feb 1847): Philip Herndon was on administrator's bond for Estate of Matthew Lock.
Will Book F, Page 404 (1 Feb 1847): Philip Herndon was on administrator's bond for Estate of William C. Jones.
Will Book F, Page 413 (1 Mar 1847): Philip Herndon was granted letters of administration for Estate of Josiah Sills.
Will Book F, Page 414 (1 Mar 1847): Philip Herndon was on administrator's bond for [Estates of] Josiah Sills & William Sills.
Will Book F, Page 420 (1 Mar 1847): Philip Herndon was granted letters of administration for Estate of William Sills.
Will Book F, Page (1 Mar 1847): Philip Herndon was on administrator's bond for Estate of Jordan Champion.
Will Book F, Page 508 (5 Jun 1848): Administrator's bond was made for Estate of Philip Herndon.
(URL: https://www.tngenweb.org/stewart/will/WillBookF.htm )
Will Book G, Page 19 (3 Apr 1848): Philip Herndon made Justice of the Peace Bond.
Will Book G, Page 97 (abt. 2-5 Feb 1849): Year's provisions for widow of Philip Herndon .
Will Book G, Page 98-101 (5 Feb 1849): Estate sale of Philip Herndon.
Will Book G, Page 285 (1 Jun 1850): Settlement with Administrator for Estate of Philip Herndon.
(URL: https://www.tngenweb.org/stewart/will/WillBookG.htm.)
FOR VIEWING DIGITIZED ORIGINAL DOCUMENTS:
(SEE: https://www.familysearch.org/search/collection/1909088.)
SUDDEN DEATH OF PHILIP HERNDON IN 1848 STEWART CO TN:
Sarah (Hitchcock) Herndon's spouse, Philip Herndon, died suddenly in 1848, after being newly-elected to a six-year term as Justice of the Peace, requiring a special election to replace him. Philip's death occurred in the tiny window between his election (after it on 4 Mar 1848, having entered into bond for it on 3 Apr 1848) & the granting of letters of administration on his estate (5 Jun 1848, followed by the special election of 16 Jun 1848 to fill his unexpired term): ---thus dying between 3 Apr 1848 and 5 Jun 1848! Narrowed death date (calculation): early Jun 1848. SOURCE: Probate Records of Philip Herndon (1808-1848), intestate:
(REF: "Tennessee, U.S., Wills and Probate Records, 1779-2008: Stewart [Co] Settlements, Bonds, Vol E-G, 1840-1854." SEE: Will Book F, page 508: Benjamin Herndon, Samuel Wofford, James W. Williams, filed for administrator's bond for Philip Herndon on 5 Jun 1848. Will Book G, page 19: page 19: Philip Herndon, [with] John W. Hicks, Norfleet Bass, Benjamin Champion, [making] justice of the peace bond for District 8; 3 Apr 1848. Will Book G, page 97: Year's provisions for widow of Philip Herndon [recorded between entries of 2 Feb and 5 Feb 1849]. Will Book G, page 98-101: Sale of the estate of Philip Herndon; buyers include Lewis Herndon, Elizabeth Futrell, widow, Ben Herndon, R. Herndon; 5 Feb 1849. Will Book, 285: Settlement with Benjamin Herndon, administrator of the estate of Philip Herndon (insolvent); 1 Jun 1850.)
CORRECT 1850 SURNAME OF PHILIP'S WIDOW WAS HERNDON (NOT HENDON, AS ENUMERATED IN 1850):
Following all of Sarah (Hitchcock) He[r]ndon's 1850-set of children forward through the censuses, their marriages, and deaths, proves them to be Herndon's, all using spelling variants of Herndon, but never again erroneously-listed as Hendon, as it was on the 1850 US Federal Census of Stewart Co TN.
SOURCE: Alerted by 2003 compilation by Maxine Newton Gibson (although containing conflation errors, 2011 research by RHB.)
WHAT HAPPENED TO PHILIP'S WIDOW SARAH (HITCHCOCK) HERNDON?:
Philip's widow, Sarah (Hitchcock) Herndon, died sometime after the 1850 census---likely dying before the 1860 census, since according to Goodspeed's mention of them in the "History of Tennessee" (1886) in a biographical sketch of their son, "Lewis Herndon"---"neither lived to be old." One document raises the possibility she may have remarried to a Harrel, due to "Sallie Harrel" being listed as mother (with Philip Herndon listed as father) on death certificate of their son, (misspelled "Louis Herndon"), unfortunately the informant line is empty, so Harrel may be an error since it conflicts with the parental info published in the biographical sketch of their son Lewis during his lifetime. (Older death certificates are notorious for incomplete or incorrect data because surviving informants---assorted successive wives, grandchildren, in-laws, neighbors---often didn't know exact birth data or parentage.)
(REF: History of Tennessee from the earliest time to the present : together with an historical and a biographical sketch of Montgomery, Robertson, Humphreys, Stewart, Dickson, Cheatham and Houston counties, by Weston Arthur Goodspeed, 1886, Section: Stewart Co, pages 1305-1306; URL: https://archive.org/details/historyoftenness00good_1/page/n1385/mode/2up?q=%22lewis+herndon%22.)
LEWIS Y. HERNDON, SON OF PHILIP & SARAH (HITCHCOCK) HERNDON:
(Philip's & Sarah's son, Lewis Herndon (of the 1886 biographical sketch), indeed followed in his father's footsteps, also serving as "magistrate," in Stewart Co TN. Identified in 1852 court & 1910 census as Lewis Y. Herndon, he served as an official in Stewart Co TN in various capacities from 1852-1894; (1) as estate administrator for relatives in 1852-53, 1857-58, 1865-67; (2) on Constable bond for District # 9 between 1 Nov 1858-1 Nov 1859; (3) from 1865 through 1894, Lewis was also Justice of the Peace, served as county poorhouse overseer, then county trustee, & tax collector. Before him, his father Philip Herndon had been Justice of the Peace for at least one earlier term in Stewart Co TN, performing marriages between 1846-1848, and being re-elected in 1848 prior to his sudden death.)
ORIGINS OF THE YOUNGER AND PHILIP CONFLATION:
The unfortunate Younger-Philip mis-merged amalgamation originated in in the 1940s-50's working hypothesis of an excellent family genealogist, Dr. John Goodwin Herndon (1888-1957), postulating that the given name "Younger" may have been a nickname used in the sense of "Junior"---but what he didn't know was that Younger Herndon was named after his maternal uncle, his mother's brother Younger Newton (1761/3 VA-1847 SC). Dr. John Goodwin, Herndon (JGH) was creator of the series: "The Herndon Family of Virginia, Vol. One: The First Three Generations," and "Vol. Two: Herndons of the American Revolution, presented in parts," & whose research notes survive on microfilm at the Family History Library in Salt Lake City (US/CAN Film #875,138 "A full account of all known Herndons who had revolutionary records:..."), and his cross-outs and over-writes illustrate that he hadn't yet proven Younger's correct name to his own satisfaction (hard copy provided by Ruth Herndon Shields to Dr. Clarence Goodwin Herndon to Dr. Jerry Allen Herndon). Dr. John Goodwin Herndon's publications on the family included such wording as "inconclusive," "suggests,"--- he had the pre-internet, research-requiring-travel, handicap of working from the immigrant William Herndon (1649 ENG-1722 VA) downward, and he understandably struggled with the post-Rev-War-pre-Civil-War generation with it's incomplete records, yet he blazed the trail for us and it's upon his shoulders that we gratefully build. It is the miracle of modern digitization & indexing of records for viewing on internet which has finally made disambiguation & clarification possible.
QUANTITY OF ERRONEOUS COPIED TREES IN ONLINE PROLIFERATION DOES NOT MEAN CONSENSUS OF RESEARCH NOR ACCURACY OF CONCLUSIONS:
Sadly, like a two-edged-sword, the internet has enabled mass-copying and mass-proliferation of erroneous info which is now, tragically, making its way into endless internet family trees, tombstone databases, and even the amazing 2008 county reference book, "Cemeteries of Cadiz and Trigg County, Kentucky" by Sumner, Fortner, Metts, and Morris.
RELATIONSHIP OF YOUNGER HERNDON (1785 VA-1859 KY) AND PHILIP HERNDON (1808 TN-1848 TN):
The exact relationship between Younger Herndon (1785 VA-1859 KY) AND Philip (1801/10 TN-1848 TN) has yet to be proven, but leans toward being uncle and nephew, since Philip first appears as his own householder in the 1830 US Federal Census of Humphreys Co TN (where Younger's brother William owned land in the mid-1820s) while Younger (surname misspelled Harrington) was enumerated two counties away in 1830 Trigg Co KY. Yet, leaning toward the possible relationship of father and son, is the name "Younger" being passed down. Philip and Sarah (Hitchcock) Herndon, (who are listed as parents of Lewis Herndon in his biographical sketch in "History of Tennessee" published by Goodspeed in 1886, pages 1305-1306), are Great-grandparents of Louis Younger Nolin. Lewis Herndon served in various capacities in Stewart Co TN from 1852, 1854, 1857-58, then continuously from 1865-68, 1870-1890, 1892-94, his first court entry in 1852 is as Lewis Y. Herndon, and is confirmed in the 1910 US Federal Census of Stewart Co TN. His daughter Sarah Anne "Sallie" Herndon was thrice married, twice widowed: 1st to Iredill Phillips (1867), 2nd to Allen "Ale" Nolin (1881) and last to James C. Lyons (1889). By Nolin she had a son named Louis Younger Nolin (1882-1951) confirmed by his WWI Draft Registration card. Significant, but not conclusive, because both Younger Herndon (1785 VA-1859 KY) and brother William (ca. 1782 VA-1831 TN) were nephews of Younger Newton (1761/63 VA-1847 SC), their mother's brother. The name Younger and the middle initial Y. has been handed down on many branches of the family, showing up as middle names or initial for many of Younger's grandchildren. Yet Younger's brother William also had a large 1820 & 1830 household of children whose names have not yet been identified. Therefore, Philip could be son of either Younger or William, who could equally have passed down the name "Younger." At any rate, it seems certain, due to the family naming pattern, that Philip was a grandson of Benjamin Herndon & Ann Newton, parents of both William & Younger.
(SEE: Goodspeed's 1886 History of Tennessee, Stewart County section: Bio-Sketch of "Lewis Herndon." URL: https://archive.org/details/historyoftenness00good_1/page/n1387/mode/2up?q=%22lewis+herndon%22, images 1386 & 1388 of 1488, pages 1305-1306.)
PARENTAGE OF YOUNGER HERNDON (1785 VA-1859 KY):
Younger Herndon (1785 VA-1859 KY) is an elder son of Rev War Pvt. Benjamin Herndon (ca. 1760 VA-1814 SC) & wife Ann (Nancy) Newton (ca. 1763 VA-aft. 1830 TN). Pvt. Benjamin Herndon served in the Rev War, Benjamin Herndon (ca. 1760 VA-1814 SC) DAR Ancestor # A054146, Valley Forge Muster Roll (Dec 1777) Soldier ID: VA07343. State of Service: Virginia (from May/June 1777 Caroline Co VA in 2d VA Regiment, commanded by Col Alexander Spotswood & Capt Samuel Hawes / succeeded by Col Christian Febigar & Capt James Upshaw / then on 30 Dec 1777 in Valley Forge enlisted in Horse Service of Col George Baylor's Regiment of Light Dragoons / succeeded by Col William Washington), proofs: W.T.R. Saffell's 1894 book, "Records of the Rev War" page 275, W8585 pension of Obadiah Carter, & Library of Virginia (LVA) Acc # 22547, (Baylor's Returns, specifically 17 Jan 1779).
Relative already a member: very distant cousin, DAR Member # 288090: Juliet Halliburton Burnett Davis (1914-2011) died at age 97, twice widowed, aka Mrs. Oscar Weaver Burnett, then Mrs. Walter Burke Davis Jr. (See Find A Grave Memorial # 121325020).
YOUNGER HERNDON MARRIAGE(S):
Younger Herndon seems very likely to have been previously married, since 1820-30-40 census age-spans of wife seem too big a stretch to be the same woman---(although the 1850 census does list her birthplace as Virginia, matching Younger's)---with a likely birth-gap between 1820-30, and five as-yet unidentified children. Those children may have included possibly Philip (1801/10/abt. 1805-1848), and probably Mary N[elson?] Herndon (Mrs. Orville) Champion (1813 KY/TN-1860 TN)---both of whom had descendants with the middle intial Y. or a given name of "Younger"---but remember, equal candidates for their fathers were Younger Herndon (1785 VA-1859 KY) & brother William Herndon (ca. 1782 VA-1831 TN) who shared the same beloved uncle, Younger Newton (1761/3 VA-1847 SC), so this isn't necessarily a tie-breaker for determining paternity between the two. (FYI NAMING PATTERNS: significantly Philip & Sarah's son Lewis Y. had a grandson named Louis Younger Nolin (1882-1951), while Orville & Mary's son Thomas Y. Champion (1841-1863) died young of smallpox during enlistment in the Civil War.) Also significant is that Orville Champion is among the buyers listed in Philip Herndon's intestate probate, for a razor.).
CHILDREN OF SEPARATE COUPLE: YOUNGER & SARAH ANN (WILSON) HERNDON:
Younger Herndon (1785-1859) and Sarah Ann (Wilson) Herndon (1801-1860) were parents of these children:
(1) Alfred C. Herndon (1825) md. Martha Frances Vinson.
(2) Ann S. Herndon (1828) md. Riley Vinson (siblings marrying siblings).
(3) David D. Herndon (1831) md. Elizabeth M. Gream/Graham.
(4) Susannah "Susan" Herndon (1834) md. widower John S. Son.
(5) Younger Newton Herndon (1836) md. Mary Jane Curry.
(6) Missouri Jane Herndon (1840) never wed; mother of 3.
(7) Nancy A. Herndon (1843) md. Bradley Boren/Edmonds, died before Feb. 1874 and all her children stayed with Bradley when he remarried to Melinda McCarver.
CHILDREN OF SEPARATE COUPLE: PHILIP & SARAH (HITCHCOCK) HERNDON:
Philip Herndon (1808-1848) & Sarah (Hitchcock) Herndon (1807-aft. 1850+) were parents of these children:
(#1 in Goodspeed's, 1886 "History of Tennessee..." Stewart Co Section, pages 1305-1306)
(#2-7 on 1840 US Federal Census of Stewart Co TN with widowed mother Sarah Hendon [sic, Herndon]:
(1) Lewis/Louis Y. Herndon (1824/5) md. Mary Futrill.
(2) Nancy Herndon (1827), no further info, died after 1850.
(3) Robert Herndon (1833) md. Nancy Shaw & Mariah Barrett.
(4) James Herndon (1835) md. Missouri Shaw.
(5) George Herndon (1837) md. Mary E. McClannahan.
(6) Ellen/er] "Elender" Herndon (1838) md. Richard Burn[e]s.
(7) William Herndon (1843); md. Seregorda [sic] Manning.
ALERT for children 6-7: The 1850 enumerator transposed the lines for William and Elender, saying William, 12, was female and Elender, 7, was male; likely he also transposed the ages making Ellen/er age 12 born 1838 and William age 7 born 1843, which fits with later research on their lives.
ANOTHER LIKELY CHILD OF PHILIP & SARAH (HITCHCOCK) HERNDON: Born between 1827-1830, was Rebecca Ann "Becky" Herndon (1827-1865) who married Jerry Lassiter (1818-1888), and both were buried in Hicks Cemetery, Calloway Co KY. (LISTED IN US FEDERAL CENSUSES OF Stewart Co TN & Trigg Co KY.)
(SOURCE: Identified by RHB 2011 research sparked by the finding in 2010, my/RHB 1990s research, shared by fellow-researcher/series-publisher DLHj to MNG, quoted in the 2003 book by Maxine Newton Gibson, along with some identifiable conflation mistakes I had evidentiary proof to correct and realized I needed to quit working solo & share the that crucial documentation for the benefit of posterity and other researchers and historians. Documentation freely shared.)
CONFLATION SUMMARY:
This is why there's been such a dead-end & zero original records for the mythical Younger Philip Herndon---he is TWO separate men---not one!!! Hope that helps clear up the messy tidal wave of mass-proliferated misinformation! In behalf of Dr. John Goodwin Herndon (1888-1957), Lillian Ruth Herndon Shields (1896-1983), and Dudley LeRoy Herndon Jr (1926-2015)---my correspondent of 20+ years, the Herndon researchers before me, on whose work I build, blessings to all in your research and quest for truth and accuracy.
DETAILED EXPANATION & SOURCES & ADDITIONAL EXTENSIVE PROOFS (viewable online for free):
(1) https://books.familysearch.org/primo_library/libweb/action/search.do?vid=FHD_PUBLIC THEN, in the search box TYPE: rose bonnell (and it will bring up 3 volumes of over 700 pages of research "Herndons of 1800's Stewart Co., TN : the Herndon disambiguation project for families of Philip and Younger Herndon Part[s] A, ... B, ... C); AND (2) https://familydisambiguation.wordpress.com/the-mythical-mis-merged-conglomerate-known-as-younger-philip-herndon/. This will help answer many of your questions. If you have further proofs, please send a message. Blessings!
BURIAL LOCATION ALERT (DISCLAIMER):
Definite places of burial for these men (Younger and Philip), as well as Philip's wife, (possibly even Younger's wife although hers is more credible only since other Herndons are buried in that cemetery), are unknown & unprovable. It is likely they were buried in proximity to other close family members, possibly on family-owned land which is how all early family cemeteries started in this region---on the edges of family farms.
PROBLEMS WITH PUBLISHED BURIAL LOCATIONS (FOR YOUNGER & WIFE SARAH ANN & SON ALFRED):
The Herndon Cemetery, a.k.a. Alfred Herndon Cemetery, was not included in the 1961 "Statistical Handbook of Trigg County [KY]..." by Eurie Pearl Wilford Neel. It was first included in the 1980 book, "Trigg County [KY] Cemeteries, 1811-1979" by Judith Ann [(Bergen) Beam] Maupin (research assisted by Vera White). The Maupin book enumerates this Herndon Cemetery having several burials with missing stones, unfortunately without giving attribution to her source of info, although it may be inferred that her data could have come from an adjacent or nearby resident. In Maupin's book on pages 124-125, in the Herndon Cemetery, she lists eleven burials of people who were Herndons at birth or death (FYI: Mrs. Riley Vinson, Anna S. was a daughter of Younger & Sarah Ann Herndon), five of whom are said to be without stones, this includes Alfred Herndon born 1825 & wife Martha. Significantly, there's no mention at all of the purported burial of Sarah Ann (possibly Wilson) Herndon who died 1860, leaving the earliest Herndon burial with a surviving tombstone there as Bob L. Herndon, son of Alfred & Martha (Vinson) Herndon (1867-1885). The earliest burials with tombstones are John T. Johnson in 1857; then skipping 27 years to Ethel B. Johnson & Myra B. Williams in 1884. Likewise, in Maupin's book on page 211, in the Pitts Cemetery, she lists only eight burials, for Pitts & Rogers-Pitts, Futrell, & McCawley, only five having surviving tombstones, the three of the four Pitts lacking them, and the earliest burial with tombstone being 1866 for John M. McCawley (1838-1866). Significantly, again, there's no mention of any Herndon, particularly not Younger Herndon. Sadly, the Pitts Cemetery was also not recorded in the Neel book (1961). Altogether, this sheds doubt on accuracy of the published beliefs of the burial locations which lack tombstones.
BURIAL LOCATION(S) FOR YOUNGER & WIFE:
As for Younger Herndon (lifespan 1785 VA-1859 KY; enumerated on 1840 Stewart Co TN U.S. Federal Census), in his erroneous conflated identity (Younger Philip Herndon) he is purportedly buried in a cemetery of only twelve interments, no others being Herndons, and apart from his wife who died only a year later and was purportedly buried elsewhere. Although not mentioned in county cemetery books of Neel (1961) or Maupin (1980), yet according to the 2008 county cemetery book by Sumner, Fortner, Metts & Morris (info supplied by Marilyn Herndon Ladd for him & wife, pp. 177 & 277): his burial is recorded as an unmarked grave, no headstone, located at Pitts Cemetery, Trigg Co KY, with zero other Herndons (one Askew) buried there, yet his wife, who died only a year later, is purported to have been buried, again no headstone, at Alfred Herndon Cemetery, Canton, Trigg Co KY---this seems very strange. Of the two cemeteries, the purported Alfred Herndon Cemetery seems a far more likely place for Younger as well, since NO other Herndon family members were buried at Pitts Cemetery. Sadly, however, there is no surviving proof that even his son Alfred Herndon or wife Martha Frances Vinson are buried there either, although it is provable that this graveyard was on land formerly belonging to Alfred. (Also, there are two large trees at the Alfred Herndon Cemetery, near all the tombstones within the cemetery itself, contained within the burial perimeter, which makes me wonder if the two trees were planted to mark significant spots, perhaps favored graves.) So, IF Sarah is buried there it seems highly likely that Younger would have been also---since he preceded her in death by only a year. This needs future verification. Tracking the source of this belief, going back through family records, I find an early source for identifying Pitts Cemetery on Dry Creek, as the burial place of Younger Herndon: it was stated in an undated 1960s letter to Dad, Jerry Herndon, by Jennie Ora "Ora" Williams Calhoun, wife of John Madison Calhoun, and Great-granddaughter of Younger, granddaughter of Alfred Herndon & Martha Frances Vinson, via daughter Martha Emerson Herndon (Mrs. Joseph) Williams. (The 1960s letter would have been written between 1963 when my Dad started genealogical research & her death in 1971. ALERT: Ms. Ora did not mention a burial place for Alfred's mother Sarah Ann.) So, although it doesn't make sense, Pitts Cemetery location MAY be true for Younger ONLY IF Ms. Ora had genuine knowledge or accurate documentation. SUPPORTIVE COUNTER-EVIDENCE: The 140 (later reduced to 25) acres of land owned by Younger & Sarah in the 1850s (1850-till deaths in 1859 & 1860, purchased in 1850 from Alfred Boyd & mostly sold in 1856 to Chesley D. Lewis) was on Little River and was linked to a 3-acre parcel of land sold in 1822 by Jacob Torian to the Methodist Episcopal Church which later became the Bethel Methodist Church. That land therefore apparently includes the McKinney Cemetery on Cliffwood Drive off 272. Using logic it seems counter-intuitive that Younger & Sarah would be buried so far away from their own land. Therefore, it seems the burial location is not actually provable.
BURIAL LOCATION FOR PHILIP:
In the case of Philip Herndon (lifespan 1801/10 TN-1848 TN; enumerated on 1840 Stewart Co TN U.S. Federal Census), his exact burial location within Stewart Co TN is completely unknown. I have some theories, but that's all they are. For Philip, I find only three organized places to be possibilities: (1) minimally possible, where his son Lewis Herndon was later buried: at the Boyd Memorial Cemetery in Tharpe, Stewart Co TN, yet it's highly iffy since his son outlived him by 62 years, dying in 1914; so, (2) perhaps forgotten among unmarked graves of only 8 listed at Herndon Cemetery in Stewart Co TN---again doubtful, since the earliest Herndon buried there was in 1928, or (3) least likely, inasmuch as neither he nor any other Herndons are listed, maybe at the Herndon Cemetery (no longer used)---due to Kentucky Lake causing relocation to St. Mary's # 2 [listed Saint Mary's Cemetery # 02]. So I conclude, he likely was buried on family land prior to establishment of full-scale cemeteries.
BURIAL LOCATION FOR PHILIP'S WIFE, SARAH:
The time & place of burial for Philip's wife Sarah (Hitchcock) Herndon is completely unknown, but likely in Stewart Co TN, (1) if she indeed died young & did not live to be old as her son's biographical sketch stated, & (2) if she did not remarry & died near the time of her husband, on this basis therefore, I postulate she may have been buried near her husband, wherever that was within Stewart Co TN.
CALCULATED BURIAL LOCATIONS SUMMARY:
These calculated places of burial I am registering are for the purpose of correcting the mis-merged identities & families, and is an approximation based on the best research deduction available to me.
FREE TRAINING:
Genealogical Proof Standard & other professional research methodologies training is available online, for free, via Ancestry.com tutorials by Crista Cowan on their YouTube playlist under Desktop Education and under Genealogical Proof Standard. I highly recommend them, Crista (the "Barefoot Genealogist") is highly-knowledgeable, fluent, articulate & concise, with prepared PowerPoint illustrations averaging 25-30 minutes. Blessings in your research to accurately identify and link true ancestors!
This research summary, condensed for bio sketch, was written by Rose Herndon Bonnell, 6 July 2016, updated 13 January 2017, and 21 Oct 2023.
BY ROSE H. BONNELL (6 Jul 2016, 13 Jan 2017, 21 Oct 2023 & 29 Oct 2023).
STANDARDIZED SPELLING: PHILIP OR PHILLIP -- IT WAS MOST OFTEN PHILIP:
As far as lifetime documents are concerned, on his first US Federal Census of 1830, in court records (1836-37, 1848-50), during his tenure as a Justice of the Peace for Stewart Co TN (Mar-Jun 1848 ), and in his own probate record (Jun 1848- Jun 1850), it was spelled with one "l" as Philip.
(REF: Will Book G, page 19: Philip Herndon, [with] John W. Hicks, Norfleet Bass, Benjamin Champion, [making] justice of the peace bond for District 8; 3 Apr 1848; Will Book F, Page 508 (5 Jun 1848): Administrator's bond was made for Estate of Philip Herndon. Will Book G, page 97: Year's provisions for widow of Philip Herndon [recorded between entries of 2 Feb and 5 Feb 1849]; Will Book G, Pages 98-101 (5 Feb 1849): Estate sale of Philip Herndon; Will Book G, Page 285 (1 Jun 1850): Administrator Settlement for Estate of Philip Herndon.
THIS IS AN ESSENTIAL URGENT CORRECTION TO A TIDAL WAVE OF MISINFORMATION ON TWO MEN, (& THEIR WIVES, & SETS OF CHILDREN) WHO ARE MISREPRESENTED AS ONE!
CONFLATION ALERT: YOUNGER AND PHILIP (NOT YOUNGER PHILIP):
Younger Herndon AND Philip Herndon ARE NOT to be confused with the so-called conflation "YOUNGER PHILIP HERNDON," the non-existent hypothetical mis-merged conglomerate of nearly three-quarters-of-a-century---over 30+ years of research has confirmed there was NO SUCH PERSON!!! Beyond a shadow of a doubt, it is the tragic mis-merger of two men, along with their two wives and their two sets of children: Younger Herndon (1785 VA-1859 KY) with wife Sarah Ann possibly Wilson (1801 VA/KY-1860 KY) vs. Philip Herndon (1801/10 TN-1848 TN) with wife Sarah Hitchcock (1807 unknown-after 1850 [TN?]).
DISAMBIGUATION SEPARATING TWO MEN WHO WERE CONFLATED AS ONE:
Find A Grave Memorials were created in 2016 for this documented family history correction, separating & disambiguating the following men (correcting the misnomer Younger Philip Herndon). See YOUNGER HERNDON FIND A GRAVE MEMORIAL # 166553946. (vs.) PHILIP HERNDON FIND A GRAVE MEMORIAL # 166677991. And SARAH ANN possibly WILSON HERNDON, FIND A GRAVE MEMORIAL # 166714909. (vs.) SARAH HITCHCOCK HERNDON (Correction), FIND A GRAVE MEMORIAL # 166715088.
FACT: PHILIP AND YOUNGER ON SINGLE DOCUMENT:
Further evidence, that these are TWO separate men, was sent to me via email by the expert, four-decade Stewart Co TN Archivist, tngenweb.org/stewart webmaster, and Stewart Co TN transcripts author, Jim Long (2/16/2021):
"You will note separate entries for Philip Herndon and Younger Herndon:"
-- Page 249, on unnumbered 17th occupied line, "Philip Herndon had account vs. Clark -- $2 50."
-- Page 249, on unnumbered 37th occupied line, "Younger Herndon acct vs. Clerk [sic, Clark] -- $ 13 25."
Settlement of the estate of William A. Clark in February 1843, in [Stewart Co TN] Settlements and Bonds Book E, pages 249-250.
(REF: Ancestry.com 2015 Database, "Tennessee, U.S., Wills and Probate Records, 1779-2008: Stewart
Settlements, Bonds, Vol E-G, 1840-1854." URL: https://www.ancestry.com/discoveryui-content/view/2784714:9176?tid=&pid=&queryId=65c2b3a703a7703b71da018d33e50477&_phsrc=bBX5236, image 249.)
OTHER FACTS VIA DOCUMENTARY EVIDENCE:
(1) Philip Herndon AND Younger Newton were both enumerated, same page, on the 1840 US Federal Census of Stewart Co TN.
(REF/URL: https://www.ancestry.com/imageviewer/collections/8057/images/4410645_00663?pId=3430309.)
(2) Philip Herndon (misspelled Herendon), in first census enumeration as head of household, was first enumerated in 1830 Humpreys Co TN, the county where Younger Herndon's brother William Herndon, had land in mid-1820s; meantime William (possible father or uncle) is enumerated back in 1830 Stewart Co TN, while Younger Herndon (possible uncle or father) is enumerated further away in 1830 Trigg Co KY (erroneously indexed at Ancestry.com database as Gounger; enumerator misspelled surname as Harrington).
(REF-A: Philip's 1830 enumeration, as Herendon [sic], indexed Herenden, at URL: https://www.ancestry.com/discoveryui-content/view/707549:8058?ssrc=pt&tid=53440451&pid=13510502899; REF-B: William's 1830 enumeration, as Herendon [sic], at URL: https://www.ancestry.com/discoveryui-content/view/757204:8058?ssrc=pt&tid=53440451&pid=13510502485; REF-C: Younger's 1830 enumeration, indexed as Harrington [sic], at URL:https://www.ancestry.com/imageviewer/collections/8058/images/
4410618_00059?pId=1100728.)
(3) Philip Herndon, of Tennessee, who made an 1832 deposition at age 24 = birth calculation of 1808, died suddenly in early June 1848 following his April 1848 election to a six-year term as Justice of the Peace for Stewart Co TN, requiring a special election to replace him. Letters of Administration for his Estate were granted 5 Jun 1848. (REF: 28 May 1832 Deposition of "Phillip Herrendon" [sic, misspelling] sent to me 8 Feb 2018 by St Co TN Archivist, JL; Stewart County TN Court Books, and Will Book G, Pages 19, and 97-101, and Will Book F, Page 508.)
(4) Meanwhile, Younger Herndon, of Virginia-South Carolina-Tennessee-Kentucky, was moving between Stewart Co TN (1820, 1840) and Trigg Co KY (1830, 1850), having been recorded in Trigg Co KY road orders on 13 Sep 1836 as road hand for the Dover-Cadiz Road, census and court order both suggesting he lived along the state-line border region of both counties. His road hand work in Trigg Co KY was also mentioned 13 May 1844. Both orders misspell his surname as Herrington, which is actually HERNDON, verified by censuses of both counties and circuit court records of Stewart Co TN and probate records of Marlborough District SC. (REF: US Federal Censuses of 1820-1830-1840-1850, and Trigg Co KY Court Order Books 1836 & 1844.)
(5) On 13 May 1850 in Trigg Co KY, Younger & Sarah Ann (Wilson) Herndon purchased 140 acres of land on Little River, from Alfred Boyd, for $250. (REF: Trigg Co KY Deed Book J, page 578, instrument dated 13 May 1850, recorded 11 November 1850.) On 15 May 1856 in Trigg Co KY, Younger and wife Sarah Ann sold 115 of the 140 acres (minus M.E. church land given by an earlier owner Jacob Torian) to Chesley D. Lewis of the other part, both of Trigg Co KY, selling the land for $1000 (at a more than 4x profit). In that deed, Younger Herndon and Sarah [Ann] Herndon who is identified as "his wife" multiple times within the document, wherever her name is mentioned. (REF: Trigg Co KY Deed Book M, pages 450-451.)
(6) Younger Herndon died in Trigg Co KY before his 25 May & 13 Jun 1859 intestate probate records. (REF: Trigg Co KY Will Book E, pages 450-452; Trigg Co KY Court Order Book E, pages 145, 150, 319.) His wife "Sarah Ann Herndon" made her will, dated 15 Aug 1860, appointing her sole heir, as their last unwed child, Missouri Jane Herndon, then age 20-21. Sarah Ann died in Oct 1860, between 18 Sep 1860 census enumeration and the 8 Oct 1860 probating of her will. (REF: Trigg Co KY Will Book E, pages 321, 330; Trigg Co KY Court Order Book E, page 250, and 1850 US Fed Census of Trigg Co KY.)
(7) CONFLATION ALERT SUMMARY: The death date, sometimes even the death place, of Younger Herndon's uncle, Younger Newton (1763 VA-1847 SC), at times have been mistakenly attributed to the conflated mythical person "Younger Philip Herndon." This error mistakenly absorbed the true ages and deaths of both Younger Herndon (1785 VA-1859 KY) AND Philip Herndon (1808 TN-1848 TN), his nephew or son. This caused people to not follow the lifespans of each, as individuals, which led to the seeming "brick wall" dead end.
YOUNGER LOCATION VIA CENSUS AND COURT ORDERS EVIDENCE):
Younger Herndon (misspelled H/a/e/rrington, in 3 records: "a" on one census & "e" on two court roadwork lists) was enumerated on US Federal Census in 1820 & 1840 Stewart Co TN, and 1830 & 1850 in Trigg Co KY. On 13 Sep 1836, Younger (misspelled Herrington) was tasked with creating a road between Cadiz Trigg Co KY and Dover Stewart Co TN, with surveyor Alexander Harrell. This work on the state line may explain why his enumeration fluctuated back & forth, hopping between the two census locations.
PHILIP DEPOSITION GIVES MIGRATORY RESIDENCES & BIRTH YEAR EVIDENCE:
Fortunately for us, Philip Herndon gave a deposition, 28 May 1832, stating both his age & his residency in a court case in Hardeman County, Tennessee, USA. His age, specified as about 24 (= birth calculation 1808), & his residency, specified as Stewart Co TN & Hardeman Co TN, were proven in his deposition taken for "Case of Murray, William B. vs. Brigham, John - 1834 partial." (He gave testimony about one man's ownership of slaves.)
PHILIP LOCATION VIA CENSUS EVIDENCE:
Philip Herndon was enumerated on US Federal Censuses of 1830 Humphreys Co TN & 1840 Stewart Co TN. (Philip's first place of enumeration in 1830 Humphreys Co TN occurred when Younger was enumerated a further county away, putting him two counties north in 1830 Trigg Co KY---which could signify they were not father & son, but uncle & nephew, further borne out by the fact that Younger is absent from any mention in Philip's intestate probate documents. However they were in the same county in 1840.)
PHILIP AND YOUNGER IN SAME CENSUS LOCATION IN 1840 IN STEWART CO TN:
These TWO men, Younger Herndon AND Philip Herndon, were BOTH enumerated on the 1840 US Federal Census of Stewart Co TN. Neither Younger nor Philip ever used a middle name or initial in any extant lifetime documents---exclusively using a single given name! (The use of double given names was only applied to him, actually them, post-mortem!) So, to be clear, Younger was not Younger Philip Herndon AND Philip was not Philip Younger Herndon. There was only Younger Herndon (1785 VA-1859 KY) AND Philip Herndon (1801/10 TN-1848 TN)!
1850 CENSUS LOCATIONS OF YOUNGER & WIFE IN TRIGG CO KY ( VS) WIDOW OF PHILIP IN STEWART CO TN:
Younger & wife Sarah Ann (possibly Wilson) Herndon were alive and well for the 1850 US Federal Census of Trigg Co KY, while Philip's widow Sarah (Hitchcock) He[r]ndon was alive and well for the 1850 US Federal Census of Stewart Co TN. I am indebted to Maxine Newton Gibson, author of "Descendants of Giles Newton 1" (2003), learning in 2010 that she generously thanked me for the second-party sharing of my research (okay by me as a public service). It was her sharing of info, that was my wake-up call & the catalyst that it was up to me to correct the mixed-up mess---and she provided the crucial missing clue! Each of us, knowing where our own ancestor was (hers, Philip's widow Sarah in 1850 Stewart Co TN, and mine, Younger & wife Sarah Ann in 1850 Trigg Co KY), neither of us had reason to search further for a simultaneous second-half of the equation---and it was her willingness to share her research, prior to having everything proven "in concrete" which provided the long-sought answer to this "brick-wall" problem!
DEATH OF YOUNGER HERNDON IN 1859 TRIGG CO KY:
Younger Herndon died in Trigg Co KY after the 15 May 1856 sale of most of his land (115 of 140 acres) on Little River, and before the 25 May 1859 sale of his estate (the chronology is a little counter-intuitive since letters of administration weren't applied for & granted until 13 Jun 1859, inventory was 25 Jun 1859, yet sale bill is dated 25 May [sic] 1859), therefore likely dying just prior to 25 May 1859, certainly by 13 Jun 1859. Narrowed death date (calculation): May 1859.
DEATH OF YOUNGER'S WIFE SARAH ANN [(Wilson)] HERNDON IN 1860 TRIGG CO KY:
Younger Herndon's wife, Sarah Ann possibly Wilson, died in Trigg Co KY, her will dated 15 Aug 1860, after census enumeration on 18 Sep 1860, before will was proven on 8 Oct 1860---between 18 Sep 1860 & 8 Oct 1860. Narrowed death date (calculation): Oct 1860.
MAIDEN NAME OF YOUNGER'S WIFE, SARAH ANN, AS WILSON:
The sole source of Younger's wife Sarah Ann's maiden name as Wilson is from 1963 communication by mail (to grandson Jerry Herndon) by Maggie Lee Dawson Herndon, Great-granddaughter & simultaneous granddaughter-in-law married to widower 1 C 1 R (first cousin once removed) Nickodemus Herndon. Interestingly, the 1850 family enumerated next-door to Younger & Sarah Herndon is a Wilson family, and the head is of age to have been her brother. This is why I merely list her surname as "possibly" because there is no other documentary proof yet found.
MAIDEN NAME OF PHILIP'S WIFE, SARAH, AS HITCHCOCK:
From Bio-Sketch of "Lewis Newton" in "History of Tennessee..." by Goodspeed, 1886, page 1305-1306.
SPELLING IS PHILIP HERNDON IN ALL THESE DOCUMENTS PRESENTED AT COURT:
Will Book D, Page 6 (6 Jun 1836): Philip Herndon was buyer at Estate sale of James Read.
Will Book D, Page 103 (5 Jun 1837): Philip Herndon was on guardian bond for Polly and Winborn Futrell.
Will Book D, Page 114 (betw. 17 Sep 1836 and return Aug 1837): Philip Herndon was buyer at Estate Sale of Isaac Futrell.
Will Book D, Page 343 (17 May 1839): Philip Herndon was buyer at Estate sale of James Hamilton.
(URL: https://www.tngenweb.org/stewart/will/WillBookD.htm.)
Will Book F, Page 402 (1 Feb 1847): Philip Herndon was on administrator's bond for Estate of Matthew Lock.
Will Book F, Page 404 (1 Feb 1847): Philip Herndon was on administrator's bond for Estate of William C. Jones.
Will Book F, Page 413 (1 Mar 1847): Philip Herndon was granted letters of administration for Estate of Josiah Sills.
Will Book F, Page 414 (1 Mar 1847): Philip Herndon was on administrator's bond for [Estates of] Josiah Sills & William Sills.
Will Book F, Page 420 (1 Mar 1847): Philip Herndon was granted letters of administration for Estate of William Sills.
Will Book F, Page (1 Mar 1847): Philip Herndon was on administrator's bond for Estate of Jordan Champion.
Will Book F, Page 508 (5 Jun 1848): Administrator's bond was made for Estate of Philip Herndon.
(URL: https://www.tngenweb.org/stewart/will/WillBookF.htm )
Will Book G, Page 19 (3 Apr 1848): Philip Herndon made Justice of the Peace Bond.
Will Book G, Page 97 (abt. 2-5 Feb 1849): Year's provisions for widow of Philip Herndon .
Will Book G, Page 98-101 (5 Feb 1849): Estate sale of Philip Herndon.
Will Book G, Page 285 (1 Jun 1850): Settlement with Administrator for Estate of Philip Herndon.
(URL: https://www.tngenweb.org/stewart/will/WillBookG.htm.)
FOR VIEWING DIGITIZED ORIGINAL DOCUMENTS:
(SEE: https://www.familysearch.org/search/collection/1909088.)
SUDDEN DEATH OF PHILIP HERNDON IN 1848 STEWART CO TN:
Sarah (Hitchcock) Herndon's spouse, Philip Herndon, died suddenly in 1848, after being newly-elected to a six-year term as Justice of the Peace, requiring a special election to replace him. Philip's death occurred in the tiny window between his election (after it on 4 Mar 1848, having entered into bond for it on 3 Apr 1848) & the granting of letters of administration on his estate (5 Jun 1848, followed by the special election of 16 Jun 1848 to fill his unexpired term): ---thus dying between 3 Apr 1848 and 5 Jun 1848! Narrowed death date (calculation): early Jun 1848. SOURCE: Probate Records of Philip Herndon (1808-1848), intestate:
(REF: "Tennessee, U.S., Wills and Probate Records, 1779-2008: Stewart [Co] Settlements, Bonds, Vol E-G, 1840-1854." SEE: Will Book F, page 508: Benjamin Herndon, Samuel Wofford, James W. Williams, filed for administrator's bond for Philip Herndon on 5 Jun 1848. Will Book G, page 19: page 19: Philip Herndon, [with] John W. Hicks, Norfleet Bass, Benjamin Champion, [making] justice of the peace bond for District 8; 3 Apr 1848. Will Book G, page 97: Year's provisions for widow of Philip Herndon [recorded between entries of 2 Feb and 5 Feb 1849]. Will Book G, page 98-101: Sale of the estate of Philip Herndon; buyers include Lewis Herndon, Elizabeth Futrell, widow, Ben Herndon, R. Herndon; 5 Feb 1849. Will Book, 285: Settlement with Benjamin Herndon, administrator of the estate of Philip Herndon (insolvent); 1 Jun 1850.)
CORRECT 1850 SURNAME OF PHILIP'S WIDOW WAS HERNDON (NOT HENDON, AS ENUMERATED IN 1850):
Following all of Sarah (Hitchcock) He[r]ndon's 1850-set of children forward through the censuses, their marriages, and deaths, proves them to be Herndon's, all using spelling variants of Herndon, but never again erroneously-listed as Hendon, as it was on the 1850 US Federal Census of Stewart Co TN.
SOURCE: Alerted by 2003 compilation by Maxine Newton Gibson (although containing conflation errors, 2011 research by RHB.)
WHAT HAPPENED TO PHILIP'S WIDOW SARAH (HITCHCOCK) HERNDON?:
Philip's widow, Sarah (Hitchcock) Herndon, died sometime after the 1850 census---likely dying before the 1860 census, since according to Goodspeed's mention of them in the "History of Tennessee" (1886) in a biographical sketch of their son, "Lewis Herndon"---"neither lived to be old." One document raises the possibility she may have remarried to a Harrel, due to "Sallie Harrel" being listed as mother (with Philip Herndon listed as father) on death certificate of their son, (misspelled "Louis Herndon"), unfortunately the informant line is empty, so Harrel may be an error since it conflicts with the parental info published in the biographical sketch of their son Lewis during his lifetime. (Older death certificates are notorious for incomplete or incorrect data because surviving informants---assorted successive wives, grandchildren, in-laws, neighbors---often didn't know exact birth data or parentage.)
(REF: History of Tennessee from the earliest time to the present : together with an historical and a biographical sketch of Montgomery, Robertson, Humphreys, Stewart, Dickson, Cheatham and Houston counties, by Weston Arthur Goodspeed, 1886, Section: Stewart Co, pages 1305-1306; URL: https://archive.org/details/historyoftenness00good_1/page/n1385/mode/2up?q=%22lewis+herndon%22.)
LEWIS Y. HERNDON, SON OF PHILIP & SARAH (HITCHCOCK) HERNDON:
(Philip's & Sarah's son, Lewis Herndon (of the 1886 biographical sketch), indeed followed in his father's footsteps, also serving as "magistrate," in Stewart Co TN. Identified in 1852 court & 1910 census as Lewis Y. Herndon, he served as an official in Stewart Co TN in various capacities from 1852-1894; (1) as estate administrator for relatives in 1852-53, 1857-58, 1865-67; (2) on Constable bond for District # 9 between 1 Nov 1858-1 Nov 1859; (3) from 1865 through 1894, Lewis was also Justice of the Peace, served as county poorhouse overseer, then county trustee, & tax collector. Before him, his father Philip Herndon had been Justice of the Peace for at least one earlier term in Stewart Co TN, performing marriages between 1846-1848, and being re-elected in 1848 prior to his sudden death.)
ORIGINS OF THE YOUNGER AND PHILIP CONFLATION:
The unfortunate Younger-Philip mis-merged amalgamation originated in in the 1940s-50's working hypothesis of an excellent family genealogist, Dr. John Goodwin Herndon (1888-1957), postulating that the given name "Younger" may have been a nickname used in the sense of "Junior"---but what he didn't know was that Younger Herndon was named after his maternal uncle, his mother's brother Younger Newton (1761/3 VA-1847 SC). Dr. John Goodwin, Herndon (JGH) was creator of the series: "The Herndon Family of Virginia, Vol. One: The First Three Generations," and "Vol. Two: Herndons of the American Revolution, presented in parts," & whose research notes survive on microfilm at the Family History Library in Salt Lake City (US/CAN Film #875,138 "A full account of all known Herndons who had revolutionary records:..."), and his cross-outs and over-writes illustrate that he hadn't yet proven Younger's correct name to his own satisfaction (hard copy provided by Ruth Herndon Shields to Dr. Clarence Goodwin Herndon to Dr. Jerry Allen Herndon). Dr. John Goodwin Herndon's publications on the family included such wording as "inconclusive," "suggests,"--- he had the pre-internet, research-requiring-travel, handicap of working from the immigrant William Herndon (1649 ENG-1722 VA) downward, and he understandably struggled with the post-Rev-War-pre-Civil-War generation with it's incomplete records, yet he blazed the trail for us and it's upon his shoulders that we gratefully build. It is the miracle of modern digitization & indexing of records for viewing on internet which has finally made disambiguation & clarification possible.
QUANTITY OF ERRONEOUS COPIED TREES IN ONLINE PROLIFERATION DOES NOT MEAN CONSENSUS OF RESEARCH NOR ACCURACY OF CONCLUSIONS:
Sadly, like a two-edged-sword, the internet has enabled mass-copying and mass-proliferation of erroneous info which is now, tragically, making its way into endless internet family trees, tombstone databases, and even the amazing 2008 county reference book, "Cemeteries of Cadiz and Trigg County, Kentucky" by Sumner, Fortner, Metts, and Morris.
RELATIONSHIP OF YOUNGER HERNDON (1785 VA-1859 KY) AND PHILIP HERNDON (1808 TN-1848 TN):
The exact relationship between Younger Herndon (1785 VA-1859 KY) AND Philip (1801/10 TN-1848 TN) has yet to be proven, but leans toward being uncle and nephew, since Philip first appears as his own householder in the 1830 US Federal Census of Humphreys Co TN (where Younger's brother William owned land in the mid-1820s) while Younger (surname misspelled Harrington) was enumerated two counties away in 1830 Trigg Co KY. Yet, leaning toward the possible relationship of father and son, is the name "Younger" being passed down. Philip and Sarah (Hitchcock) Herndon, (who are listed as parents of Lewis Herndon in his biographical sketch in "History of Tennessee" published by Goodspeed in 1886, pages 1305-1306), are Great-grandparents of Louis Younger Nolin. Lewis Herndon served in various capacities in Stewart Co TN from 1852, 1854, 1857-58, then continuously from 1865-68, 1870-1890, 1892-94, his first court entry in 1852 is as Lewis Y. Herndon, and is confirmed in the 1910 US Federal Census of Stewart Co TN. His daughter Sarah Anne "Sallie" Herndon was thrice married, twice widowed: 1st to Iredill Phillips (1867), 2nd to Allen "Ale" Nolin (1881) and last to James C. Lyons (1889). By Nolin she had a son named Louis Younger Nolin (1882-1951) confirmed by his WWI Draft Registration card. Significant, but not conclusive, because both Younger Herndon (1785 VA-1859 KY) and brother William (ca. 1782 VA-1831 TN) were nephews of Younger Newton (1761/63 VA-1847 SC), their mother's brother. The name Younger and the middle initial Y. has been handed down on many branches of the family, showing up as middle names or initial for many of Younger's grandchildren. Yet Younger's brother William also had a large 1820 & 1830 household of children whose names have not yet been identified. Therefore, Philip could be son of either Younger or William, who could equally have passed down the name "Younger." At any rate, it seems certain, due to the family naming pattern, that Philip was a grandson of Benjamin Herndon & Ann Newton, parents of both William & Younger.
(SEE: Goodspeed's 1886 History of Tennessee, Stewart County section: Bio-Sketch of "Lewis Herndon." URL: https://archive.org/details/historyoftenness00good_1/page/n1387/mode/2up?q=%22lewis+herndon%22, images 1386 & 1388 of 1488, pages 1305-1306.)
PARENTAGE OF YOUNGER HERNDON (1785 VA-1859 KY):
Younger Herndon (1785 VA-1859 KY) is an elder son of Rev War Pvt. Benjamin Herndon (ca. 1760 VA-1814 SC) & wife Ann (Nancy) Newton (ca. 1763 VA-aft. 1830 TN). Pvt. Benjamin Herndon served in the Rev War, Benjamin Herndon (ca. 1760 VA-1814 SC) DAR Ancestor # A054146, Valley Forge Muster Roll (Dec 1777) Soldier ID: VA07343. State of Service: Virginia (from May/June 1777 Caroline Co VA in 2d VA Regiment, commanded by Col Alexander Spotswood & Capt Samuel Hawes / succeeded by Col Christian Febigar & Capt James Upshaw / then on 30 Dec 1777 in Valley Forge enlisted in Horse Service of Col George Baylor's Regiment of Light Dragoons / succeeded by Col William Washington), proofs: W.T.R. Saffell's 1894 book, "Records of the Rev War" page 275, W8585 pension of Obadiah Carter, & Library of Virginia (LVA) Acc # 22547, (Baylor's Returns, specifically 17 Jan 1779).
Relative already a member: very distant cousin, DAR Member # 288090: Juliet Halliburton Burnett Davis (1914-2011) died at age 97, twice widowed, aka Mrs. Oscar Weaver Burnett, then Mrs. Walter Burke Davis Jr. (See Find A Grave Memorial # 121325020).
YOUNGER HERNDON MARRIAGE(S):
Younger Herndon seems very likely to have been previously married, since 1820-30-40 census age-spans of wife seem too big a stretch to be the same woman---(although the 1850 census does list her birthplace as Virginia, matching Younger's)---with a likely birth-gap between 1820-30, and five as-yet unidentified children. Those children may have included possibly Philip (1801/10/abt. 1805-1848), and probably Mary N[elson?] Herndon (Mrs. Orville) Champion (1813 KY/TN-1860 TN)---both of whom had descendants with the middle intial Y. or a given name of "Younger"---but remember, equal candidates for their fathers were Younger Herndon (1785 VA-1859 KY) & brother William Herndon (ca. 1782 VA-1831 TN) who shared the same beloved uncle, Younger Newton (1761/3 VA-1847 SC), so this isn't necessarily a tie-breaker for determining paternity between the two. (FYI NAMING PATTERNS: significantly Philip & Sarah's son Lewis Y. had a grandson named Louis Younger Nolin (1882-1951), while Orville & Mary's son Thomas Y. Champion (1841-1863) died young of smallpox during enlistment in the Civil War.) Also significant is that Orville Champion is among the buyers listed in Philip Herndon's intestate probate, for a razor.).
CHILDREN OF SEPARATE COUPLE: YOUNGER & SARAH ANN (WILSON) HERNDON:
Younger Herndon (1785-1859) and Sarah Ann (Wilson) Herndon (1801-1860) were parents of these children:
(1) Alfred C. Herndon (1825) md. Martha Frances Vinson.
(2) Ann S. Herndon (1828) md. Riley Vinson (siblings marrying siblings).
(3) David D. Herndon (1831) md. Elizabeth M. Gream/Graham.
(4) Susannah "Susan" Herndon (1834) md. widower John S. Son.
(5) Younger Newton Herndon (1836) md. Mary Jane Curry.
(6) Missouri Jane Herndon (1840) never wed; mother of 3.
(7) Nancy A. Herndon (1843) md. Bradley Boren/Edmonds, died before Feb. 1874 and all her children stayed with Bradley when he remarried to Melinda McCarver.
CHILDREN OF SEPARATE COUPLE: PHILIP & SARAH (HITCHCOCK) HERNDON:
Philip Herndon (1808-1848) & Sarah (Hitchcock) Herndon (1807-aft. 1850+) were parents of these children:
(#1 in Goodspeed's, 1886 "History of Tennessee..." Stewart Co Section, pages 1305-1306)
(#2-7 on 1840 US Federal Census of Stewart Co TN with widowed mother Sarah Hendon [sic, Herndon]:
(1) Lewis/Louis Y. Herndon (1824/5) md. Mary Futrill.
(2) Nancy Herndon (1827), no further info, died after 1850.
(3) Robert Herndon (1833) md. Nancy Shaw & Mariah Barrett.
(4) James Herndon (1835) md. Missouri Shaw.
(5) George Herndon (1837) md. Mary E. McClannahan.
(6) Ellen/er] "Elender" Herndon (1838) md. Richard Burn[e]s.
(7) William Herndon (1843); md. Seregorda [sic] Manning.
ALERT for children 6-7: The 1850 enumerator transposed the lines for William and Elender, saying William, 12, was female and Elender, 7, was male; likely he also transposed the ages making Ellen/er age 12 born 1838 and William age 7 born 1843, which fits with later research on their lives.
ANOTHER LIKELY CHILD OF PHILIP & SARAH (HITCHCOCK) HERNDON: Born between 1827-1830, was Rebecca Ann "Becky" Herndon (1827-1865) who married Jerry Lassiter (1818-1888), and both were buried in Hicks Cemetery, Calloway Co KY. (LISTED IN US FEDERAL CENSUSES OF Stewart Co TN & Trigg Co KY.)
(SOURCE: Identified by RHB 2011 research sparked by the finding in 2010, my/RHB 1990s research, shared by fellow-researcher/series-publisher DLHj to MNG, quoted in the 2003 book by Maxine Newton Gibson, along with some identifiable conflation mistakes I had evidentiary proof to correct and realized I needed to quit working solo & share the that crucial documentation for the benefit of posterity and other researchers and historians. Documentation freely shared.)
CONFLATION SUMMARY:
This is why there's been such a dead-end & zero original records for the mythical Younger Philip Herndon---he is TWO separate men---not one!!! Hope that helps clear up the messy tidal wave of mass-proliferated misinformation! In behalf of Dr. John Goodwin Herndon (1888-1957), Lillian Ruth Herndon Shields (1896-1983), and Dudley LeRoy Herndon Jr (1926-2015)---my correspondent of 20+ years, the Herndon researchers before me, on whose work I build, blessings to all in your research and quest for truth and accuracy.
DETAILED EXPANATION & SOURCES & ADDITIONAL EXTENSIVE PROOFS (viewable online for free):
(1) https://books.familysearch.org/primo_library/libweb/action/search.do?vid=FHD_PUBLIC THEN, in the search box TYPE: rose bonnell (and it will bring up 3 volumes of over 700 pages of research "Herndons of 1800's Stewart Co., TN : the Herndon disambiguation project for families of Philip and Younger Herndon Part[s] A, ... B, ... C); AND (2) https://familydisambiguation.wordpress.com/the-mythical-mis-merged-conglomerate-known-as-younger-philip-herndon/. This will help answer many of your questions. If you have further proofs, please send a message. Blessings!
BURIAL LOCATION ALERT (DISCLAIMER):
Definite places of burial for these men (Younger and Philip), as well as Philip's wife, (possibly even Younger's wife although hers is more credible only since other Herndons are buried in that cemetery), are unknown & unprovable. It is likely they were buried in proximity to other close family members, possibly on family-owned land which is how all early family cemeteries started in this region---on the edges of family farms.
PROBLEMS WITH PUBLISHED BURIAL LOCATIONS (FOR YOUNGER & WIFE SARAH ANN & SON ALFRED):
The Herndon Cemetery, a.k.a. Alfred Herndon Cemetery, was not included in the 1961 "Statistical Handbook of Trigg County [KY]..." by Eurie Pearl Wilford Neel. It was first included in the 1980 book, "Trigg County [KY] Cemeteries, 1811-1979" by Judith Ann [(Bergen) Beam] Maupin (research assisted by Vera White). The Maupin book enumerates this Herndon Cemetery having several burials with missing stones, unfortunately without giving attribution to her source of info, although it may be inferred that her data could have come from an adjacent or nearby resident. In Maupin's book on pages 124-125, in the Herndon Cemetery, she lists eleven burials of people who were Herndons at birth or death (FYI: Mrs. Riley Vinson, Anna S. was a daughter of Younger & Sarah Ann Herndon), five of whom are said to be without stones, this includes Alfred Herndon born 1825 & wife Martha. Significantly, there's no mention at all of the purported burial of Sarah Ann (possibly Wilson) Herndon who died 1860, leaving the earliest Herndon burial with a surviving tombstone there as Bob L. Herndon, son of Alfred & Martha (Vinson) Herndon (1867-1885). The earliest burials with tombstones are John T. Johnson in 1857; then skipping 27 years to Ethel B. Johnson & Myra B. Williams in 1884. Likewise, in Maupin's book on page 211, in the Pitts Cemetery, she lists only eight burials, for Pitts & Rogers-Pitts, Futrell, & McCawley, only five having surviving tombstones, the three of the four Pitts lacking them, and the earliest burial with tombstone being 1866 for John M. McCawley (1838-1866). Significantly, again, there's no mention of any Herndon, particularly not Younger Herndon. Sadly, the Pitts Cemetery was also not recorded in the Neel book (1961). Altogether, this sheds doubt on accuracy of the published beliefs of the burial locations which lack tombstones.
BURIAL LOCATION(S) FOR YOUNGER & WIFE:
As for Younger Herndon (lifespan 1785 VA-1859 KY; enumerated on 1840 Stewart Co TN U.S. Federal Census), in his erroneous conflated identity (Younger Philip Herndon) he is purportedly buried in a cemetery of only twelve interments, no others being Herndons, and apart from his wife who died only a year later and was purportedly buried elsewhere. Although not mentioned in county cemetery books of Neel (1961) or Maupin (1980), yet according to the 2008 county cemetery book by Sumner, Fortner, Metts & Morris (info supplied by Marilyn Herndon Ladd for him & wife, pp. 177 & 277): his burial is recorded as an unmarked grave, no headstone, located at Pitts Cemetery, Trigg Co KY, with zero other Herndons (one Askew) buried there, yet his wife, who died only a year later, is purported to have been buried, again no headstone, at Alfred Herndon Cemetery, Canton, Trigg Co KY---this seems very strange. Of the two cemeteries, the purported Alfred Herndon Cemetery seems a far more likely place for Younger as well, since NO other Herndon family members were buried at Pitts Cemetery. Sadly, however, there is no surviving proof that even his son Alfred Herndon or wife Martha Frances Vinson are buried there either, although it is provable that this graveyard was on land formerly belonging to Alfred. (Also, there are two large trees at the Alfred Herndon Cemetery, near all the tombstones within the cemetery itself, contained within the burial perimeter, which makes me wonder if the two trees were planted to mark significant spots, perhaps favored graves.) So, IF Sarah is buried there it seems highly likely that Younger would have been also---since he preceded her in death by only a year. This needs future verification. Tracking the source of this belief, going back through family records, I find an early source for identifying Pitts Cemetery on Dry Creek, as the burial place of Younger Herndon: it was stated in an undated 1960s letter to Dad, Jerry Herndon, by Jennie Ora "Ora" Williams Calhoun, wife of John Madison Calhoun, and Great-granddaughter of Younger, granddaughter of Alfred Herndon & Martha Frances Vinson, via daughter Martha Emerson Herndon (Mrs. Joseph) Williams. (The 1960s letter would have been written between 1963 when my Dad started genealogical research & her death in 1971. ALERT: Ms. Ora did not mention a burial place for Alfred's mother Sarah Ann.) So, although it doesn't make sense, Pitts Cemetery location MAY be true for Younger ONLY IF Ms. Ora had genuine knowledge or accurate documentation. SUPPORTIVE COUNTER-EVIDENCE: The 140 (later reduced to 25) acres of land owned by Younger & Sarah in the 1850s (1850-till deaths in 1859 & 1860, purchased in 1850 from Alfred Boyd & mostly sold in 1856 to Chesley D. Lewis) was on Little River and was linked to a 3-acre parcel of land sold in 1822 by Jacob Torian to the Methodist Episcopal Church which later became the Bethel Methodist Church. That land therefore apparently includes the McKinney Cemetery on Cliffwood Drive off 272. Using logic it seems counter-intuitive that Younger & Sarah would be buried so far away from their own land. Therefore, it seems the burial location is not actually provable.
BURIAL LOCATION FOR PHILIP:
In the case of Philip Herndon (lifespan 1801/10 TN-1848 TN; enumerated on 1840 Stewart Co TN U.S. Federal Census), his exact burial location within Stewart Co TN is completely unknown. I have some theories, but that's all they are. For Philip, I find only three organized places to be possibilities: (1) minimally possible, where his son Lewis Herndon was later buried: at the Boyd Memorial Cemetery in Tharpe, Stewart Co TN, yet it's highly iffy since his son outlived him by 62 years, dying in 1914; so, (2) perhaps forgotten among unmarked graves of only 8 listed at Herndon Cemetery in Stewart Co TN---again doubtful, since the earliest Herndon buried there was in 1928, or (3) least likely, inasmuch as neither he nor any other Herndons are listed, maybe at the Herndon Cemetery (no longer used)---due to Kentucky Lake causing relocation to St. Mary's # 2 [listed Saint Mary's Cemetery # 02]. So I conclude, he likely was buried on family land prior to establishment of full-scale cemeteries.
BURIAL LOCATION FOR PHILIP'S WIFE, SARAH:
The time & place of burial for Philip's wife Sarah (Hitchcock) Herndon is completely unknown, but likely in Stewart Co TN, (1) if she indeed died young & did not live to be old as her son's biographical sketch stated, & (2) if she did not remarry & died near the time of her husband, on this basis therefore, I postulate she may have been buried near her husband, wherever that was within Stewart Co TN.
CALCULATED BURIAL LOCATIONS SUMMARY:
These calculated places of burial I am registering are for the purpose of correcting the mis-merged identities & families, and is an approximation based on the best research deduction available to me.
FREE TRAINING:
Genealogical Proof Standard & other professional research methodologies training is available online, for free, via Ancestry.com tutorials by Crista Cowan on their YouTube playlist under Desktop Education and under Genealogical Proof Standard. I highly recommend them, Crista (the "Barefoot Genealogist") is highly-knowledgeable, fluent, articulate & concise, with prepared PowerPoint illustrations averaging 25-30 minutes. Blessings in your research to accurately identify and link true ancestors!
This research summary, condensed for bio sketch, was written by Rose Herndon Bonnell, 6 July 2016, updated 13 January 2017, and 21 Oct 2023.
BIO-SKETCH OF PHILIP HERNDON (1808 TN-Jun 1848 TN)
BY ROSE H. BONNELL (6 Jul 2016, 13 Jan 2017, 21 Oct 2023 & 29 Oct 2023).
STANDARDIZED SPELLING: PHILIP OR PHILLIP -- IT WAS MOST OFTEN PHILIP:
As far as lifetime documents are concerned, on his first US Federal Census of 1830, in court records (1836-37, 1848-50), during his tenure as a Justice of the Peace for Stewart Co TN (Mar-Jun 1848 ), and in his own probate record (Jun 1848- Jun 1850), it was spelled with one "l" as Philip.
(REF: Will Book G, page 19: Philip Herndon, [with] John W. Hicks, Norfleet Bass, Benjamin Champion, [making] justice of the peace bond for District 8; 3 Apr 1848; Will Book F, Page 508 (5 Jun 1848): Administrator's bond was made for Estate of Philip Herndon. Will Book G, page 97: Year's provisions for widow of Philip Herndon [recorded between entries of 2 Feb and 5 Feb 1849]; Will Book G, Pages 98-101 (5 Feb 1849): Estate sale of Philip Herndon; Will Book G, Page 285 (1 Jun 1850): Administrator Settlement for Estate of Philip Herndon.
THIS IS AN ESSENTIAL URGENT CORRECTION TO A TIDAL WAVE OF MISINFORMATION ON TWO MEN, (& THEIR WIVES, & SETS OF CHILDREN) WHO ARE MISREPRESENTED AS ONE!
CONFLATION ALERT: YOUNGER AND PHILIP (NOT YOUNGER PHILIP):
Younger Herndon AND Philip Herndon ARE NOT to be confused with the so-called conflation "YOUNGER PHILIP HERNDON," the non-existent hypothetical mis-merged conglomerate of nearly three-quarters-of-a-century---over 30+ years of research has confirmed there was NO SUCH PERSON!!! Beyond a shadow of a doubt, it is the tragic mis-merger of two men, along with their two wives and their two sets of children: Younger Herndon (1785 VA-1859 KY) with wife Sarah Ann possibly Wilson (1801 VA/KY-1860 KY) vs. Philip Herndon (1801/10 TN-1848 TN) with wife Sarah Hitchcock (1807 unknown-after 1850 [TN?]).
DISAMBIGUATION SEPARATING TWO MEN WHO WERE CONFLATED AS ONE:
Find A Grave Memorials were created in 2016 for this documented family history correction, separating & disambiguating the following men (correcting the misnomer Younger Philip Herndon). See YOUNGER HERNDON FIND A GRAVE MEMORIAL # 166553946. (vs.) PHILIP HERNDON FIND A GRAVE MEMORIAL # 166677991. And SARAH ANN possibly WILSON HERNDON, FIND A GRAVE MEMORIAL # 166714909. (vs.) SARAH HITCHCOCK HERNDON (Correction), FIND A GRAVE MEMORIAL # 166715088.
FACT: PHILIP AND YOUNGER ON SINGLE DOCUMENT:
Further evidence, that these are TWO separate men, was sent to me via email by the expert, four-decade Stewart Co TN Archivist, tngenweb.org/stewart webmaster, and Stewart Co TN transcripts author, Jim Long (2/16/2021):
"You will note separate entries for Philip Herndon and Younger Herndon:"
-- Page 249, on unnumbered 17th occupied line, "Philip Herndon had account vs. Clark -- $2 50."
-- Page 249, on unnumbered 37th occupied line, "Younger Herndon acct vs. Clerk [sic, Clark] -- $ 13 25."
Settlement of the estate of William A. Clark in February 1843, in [Stewart Co TN] Settlements and Bonds Book E, pages 249-250.
(REF: Ancestry.com 2015 Database, "Tennessee, U.S., Wills and Probate Records, 1779-2008: Stewart
Settlements, Bonds, Vol E-G, 1840-1854." URL: https://www.ancestry.com/discoveryui-content/view/2784714:9176?tid=&pid=&queryId=65c2b3a703a7703b71da018d33e50477&_phsrc=bBX5236, image 249.)
OTHER FACTS VIA DOCUMENTARY EVIDENCE:
(1) Philip Herndon AND Younger Newton were both enumerated, same page, on the 1840 US Federal Census of Stewart Co TN.
(REF/URL: https://www.ancestry.com/imageviewer/collections/8057/images/4410645_00663?pId=3430309.)
(2) Philip Herndon (misspelled Herendon), in first census enumeration as head of household, was first enumerated in 1830 Humpreys Co TN, the county where Younger Herndon's brother William Herndon, had land in mid-1820s; meantime William (possible father or uncle) is enumerated back in 1830 Stewart Co TN, while Younger Herndon (possible uncle or father) is enumerated further away in 1830 Trigg Co KY (erroneously indexed at Ancestry.com database as Gounger; enumerator misspelled surname as Harrington).
(REF-A: Philip's 1830 enumeration, as Herendon [sic], indexed Herenden, at URL: https://www.ancestry.com/discoveryui-content/view/707549:8058?ssrc=pt&tid=53440451&pid=13510502899; REF-B: William's 1830 enumeration, as Herendon [sic], at URL: https://www.ancestry.com/discoveryui-content/view/757204:8058?ssrc=pt&tid=53440451&pid=13510502485; REF-C: Younger's 1830 enumeration, indexed as Harrington [sic], at URL:https://www.ancestry.com/imageviewer/collections/8058/images/
4410618_00059?pId=1100728.)
(3) Philip Herndon, of Tennessee, who made an 1832 deposition at age 24 = birth calculation of 1808, died suddenly in early June 1848 following his April 1848 election to a six-year term as Justice of the Peace for Stewart Co TN, requiring a special election to replace him. Letters of Administration for his Estate were granted 5 Jun 1848. (REF: 28 May 1832 Deposition of "Phillip Herrendon" [sic, misspelling] sent to me 8 Feb 2018 by St Co TN Archivist, JL; Stewart County TN Court Books, and Will Book G, Pages 19, and 97-101, and Will Book F, Page 508.)
(4) Meanwhile, Younger Herndon, of Virginia-South Carolina-Tennessee-Kentucky, was moving between Stewart Co TN (1820, 1840) and Trigg Co KY (1830, 1850), having been recorded in Trigg Co KY road orders on 13 Sep 1836 as road hand for the Dover-Cadiz Road, census and court order both suggesting he lived along the state-line border region of both counties. His road hand work in Trigg Co KY was also mentioned 13 May 1844. Both orders misspell his surname as Herrington, which is actually HERNDON, verified by censuses of both counties and circuit court records of Stewart Co TN and probate records of Marlborough District SC. (REF: US Federal Censuses of 1820-1830-1840-1850, and Trigg Co KY Court Order Books 1836 & 1844.)
(5) On 13 May 1850 in Trigg Co KY, Younger & Sarah Ann (Wilson) Herndon purchased 140 acres of land on Little River, from Alfred Boyd, for $250. (REF: Trigg Co KY Deed Book J, page 578, instrument dated 13 May 1850, recorded 11 November 1850.) On 15 May 1856 in Trigg Co KY, Younger and wife Sarah Ann sold 115 of the 140 acres (minus M.E. church land given by an earlier owner Jacob Torian) to Chesley D. Lewis of the other part, both of Trigg Co KY, selling the land for $1000 (at a more than 4x profit). In that deed, Younger Herndon and Sarah [Ann] Herndon who is identified as "his wife" multiple times within the document, wherever her name is mentioned. (REF: Trigg Co KY Deed Book M, pages 450-451.)
(6) Younger Herndon died in Trigg Co KY before his 25 May & 13 Jun 1859 intestate probate records. (REF: Trigg Co KY Will Book E, pages 450-452; Trigg Co KY Court Order Book E, pages 145, 150, 319.) His wife "Sarah Ann Herndon" made her will, dated 15 Aug 1860, appointing her sole heir, as their last unwed child, Missouri Jane Herndon, then age 20-21. Sarah Ann died in Oct 1860, between 18 Sep 1860 census enumeration and the 8 Oct 1860 probating of her will. (REF: Trigg Co KY Will Book E, pages 321, 330; Trigg Co KY Court Order Book E, page 250, and 1850 US Fed Census of Trigg Co KY.)
(7) CONFLATION ALERT SUMMARY: The death date, sometimes even the death place, of Younger Herndon's uncle, Younger Newton (1763 VA-1847 SC), at times have been mistakenly attributed to the conflated mythical person "Younger Philip Herndon." This error mistakenly absorbed the true ages and deaths of both Younger Herndon (1785 VA-1859 KY) AND Philip Herndon (1808 TN-1848 TN), his nephew or son. This caused people to not follow the lifespans of each, as individuals, which led to the seeming "brick wall" dead end.
YOUNGER LOCATION VIA CENSUS AND COURT ORDERS EVIDENCE):
Younger Herndon (misspelled H/a/e/rrington, in 3 records: "a" on one census & "e" on two court roadwork lists) was enumerated on US Federal Census in 1820 & 1840 Stewart Co TN, and 1830 & 1850 in Trigg Co KY. On 13 Sep 1836, Younger (misspelled Herrington) was tasked with creating a road between Cadiz Trigg Co KY and Dover Stewart Co TN, with surveyor Alexander Harrell. This work on the state line may explain why his enumeration fluctuated back & forth, hopping between the two census locations.
PHILIP DEPOSITION GIVES MIGRATORY RESIDENCES & BIRTH YEAR EVIDENCE:
Fortunately for us, Philip Herndon gave a deposition, 28 May 1832, stating both his age & his residency in a court case in Hardeman County, Tennessee, USA. His age, specified as about 24 (= birth calculation 1808), & his residency, specified as Stewart Co TN & Hardeman Co TN, were proven in his deposition taken for "Case of Murray, William B. vs. Brigham, John - 1834 partial." (He gave testimony about one man's ownership of slaves.)
PHILIP LOCATION VIA CENSUS EVIDENCE:
Philip Herndon was enumerated on US Federal Censuses of 1830 Humphreys Co TN & 1840 Stewart Co TN. (Philip's first place of enumeration in 1830 Humphreys Co TN occurred when Younger was enumerated a further county away, putting him two counties north in 1830 Trigg Co KY---which could signify they were not father & son, but uncle & nephew, further borne out by the fact that Younger is absent from any mention in Philip's intestate probate documents. However they were in the same county in 1840.)
PHILIP AND YOUNGER IN SAME CENSUS LOCATION IN 1840 IN STEWART CO TN:
These TWO men, Younger Herndon AND Philip Herndon, were BOTH enumerated on the 1840 US Federal Census of Stewart Co TN. Neither Younger nor Philip ever used a middle name or initial in any extant lifetime documents---exclusively using a single given name! (The use of double given names was only applied to him, actually them, post-mortem!) So, to be clear, Younger was not Younger Philip Herndon AND Philip was not Philip Younger Herndon. There was only Younger Herndon (1785 VA-1859 KY) AND Philip Herndon (1801/10 TN-1848 TN)!
1850 CENSUS LOCATIONS OF YOUNGER & WIFE IN TRIGG CO KY ( VS) WIDOW OF PHILIP IN STEWART CO TN:
Younger & wife Sarah Ann (possibly Wilson) Herndon were alive and well for the 1850 US Federal Census of Trigg Co KY, while Philip's widow Sarah (Hitchcock) He[r]ndon was alive and well for the 1850 US Federal Census of Stewart Co TN. I am indebted to Maxine Newton Gibson, author of "Descendants of Giles Newton 1" (2003), learning in 2010 that she generously thanked me for the second-party sharing of my research (okay by me as a public service). It was her sharing of info, that was my wake-up call & the catalyst that it was up to me to correct the mixed-up mess---and she provided the crucial missing clue! Each of us, knowing where our own ancestor was (hers, Philip's widow Sarah in 1850 Stewart Co TN, and mine, Younger & wife Sarah Ann in 1850 Trigg Co KY), neither of us had reason to search further for a simultaneous second-half of the equation---and it was her willingness to share her research, prior to having everything proven "in concrete" which provided the long-sought answer to this "brick-wall" problem!
DEATH OF YOUNGER HERNDON IN 1859 TRIGG CO KY:
Younger Herndon died in Trigg Co KY after the 15 May 1856 sale of most of his land (115 of 140 acres) on Little River, and before the 25 May 1859 sale of his estate (the chronology is a little counter-intuitive since letters of administration weren't applied for & granted until 13 Jun 1859, inventory was 25 Jun 1859, yet sale bill is dated 25 May [sic] 1859), therefore likely dying just prior to 25 May 1859, certainly by 13 Jun 1859. Narrowed death date (calculation): May 1859.
DEATH OF YOUNGER'S WIFE SARAH ANN [(Wilson)] HERNDON IN 1860 TRIGG CO KY:
Younger Herndon's wife, Sarah Ann possibly Wilson, died in Trigg Co KY, her will dated 15 Aug 1860, after census enumeration on 18 Sep 1860, before will was proven on 8 Oct 1860---between 18 Sep 1860 & 8 Oct 1860. Narrowed death date (calculation): Oct 1860.
MAIDEN NAME OF YOUNGER'S WIFE, SARAH ANN, AS WILSON:
The sole source of Younger's wife Sarah Ann's maiden name as Wilson is from 1963 communication by mail (to grandson Jerry Herndon) by Maggie Lee Dawson Herndon, Great-granddaughter & simultaneous granddaughter-in-law married to widower 1 C 1 R (first cousin once removed) Nickodemus Herndon. Interestingly, the 1850 family enumerated next-door to Younger & Sarah Herndon is a Wilson family, and the head is of age to have been her brother. This is why I merely list her surname as "possibly" because there is no other documentary proof yet found.
MAIDEN NAME OF PHILIP'S WIFE, SARAH, AS HITCHCOCK:
From Bio-Sketch of "Lewis Newton" in "History of Tennessee..." by Goodspeed, 1886, page 1305-1306.
SPELLING IS PHILIP HERNDON IN ALL THESE DOCUMENTS PRESENTED AT COURT:
Will Book D, Page 6 (6 Jun 1836): Philip Herndon was buyer at Estate sale of James Read.
Will Book D, Page 103 (5 Jun 1837): Philip Herndon was on guardian bond for Polly and Winborn Futrell.
Will Book D, Page 114 (betw. 17 Sep 1836 and return Aug 1837): Philip Herndon was buyer at Estate Sale of Isaac Futrell.
Will Book D, Page 343 (17 May 1839): Philip Herndon was buyer at Estate sale of James Hamilton.
(URL: https://www.tngenweb.org/stewart/will/WillBookD.htm.)
Will Book F, Page 402 (1 Feb 1847): Philip Herndon was on administrator's bond for Estate of Matthew Lock.
Will Book F, Page 404 (1 Feb 1847): Philip Herndon was on administrator's bond for Estate of William C. Jones.
Will Book F, Page 413 (1 Mar 1847): Philip Herndon was granted letters of administration for Estate of Josiah Sills.
Will Book F, Page 414 (1 Mar 1847): Philip Herndon was on administrator's bond for [Estates of] Josiah Sills & William Sills.
Will Book F, Page 420 (1 Mar 1847): Philip Herndon was granted letters of administration for Estate of William Sills.
Will Book F, Page (1 Mar 1847): Philip Herndon was on administrator's bond for Estate of Jordan Champion.
Will Book F, Page 508 (5 Jun 1848): Administrator's bond was made for Estate of Philip Herndon.
(URL: https://www.tngenweb.org/stewart/will/WillBookF.htm )
Will Book G, Page 19 (3 Apr 1848): Philip Herndon made Justice of the Peace Bond.
Will Book G, Page 97 (abt. 2-5 Feb 1849): Year's provisions for widow of Philip Herndon .
Will Book G, Page 98-101 (5 Feb 1849): Estate sale of Philip Herndon.
Will Book G, Page 285 (1 Jun 1850): Settlement with Administrator for Estate of Philip Herndon.
(URL: https://www.tngenweb.org/stewart/will/WillBookG.htm.)
FOR VIEWING DIGITIZED ORIGINAL DOCUMENTS:
(SEE: https://www.familysearch.org/search/collection/1909088.)
SUDDEN DEATH OF PHILIP HERNDON IN 1848 STEWART CO TN:
Sarah (Hitchcock) Herndon's spouse, Philip Herndon, died suddenly in 1848, after being newly-elected to a six-year term as Justice of the Peace, requiring a special election to replace him. Philip's death occurred in the tiny window between his election (after it on 4 Mar 1848, having entered into bond for it on 3 Apr 1848) & the granting of letters of administration on his estate (5 Jun 1848, followed by the special election of 16 Jun 1848 to fill his unexpired term): ---thus dying between 3 Apr 1848 and 5 Jun 1848! Narrowed death date (calculation): early Jun 1848. SOURCE: Probate Records of Philip Herndon (1808-1848), intestate:
(REF: "Tennessee, U.S., Wills and Probate Records, 1779-2008: Stewart [Co] Settlements, Bonds, Vol E-G, 1840-1854." SEE: Will Book F, page 508: Benjamin Herndon, Samuel Wofford, James W. Williams, filed for administrator's bond for Philip Herndon on 5 Jun 1848. Will Book G, page 19: page 19: Philip Herndon, [with] John W. Hicks, Norfleet Bass, Benjamin Champion, [making] justice of the peace bond for District 8; 3 Apr 1848. Will Book G, page 97: Year's provisions for widow of Philip Herndon [recorded between entries of 2 Feb and 5 Feb 1849]. Will Book G, page 98-101: Sale of the estate of Philip Herndon; buyers include Lewis Herndon, Elizabeth Futrell, widow, Ben Herndon, R. Herndon; 5 Feb 1849. Will Book, 285: Settlement with Benjamin Herndon, administrator of the estate of Philip Herndon (insolvent); 1 Jun 1850.)
CORRECT 1850 SURNAME OF PHILIP'S WIDOW WAS HERNDON (NOT HENDON, AS ENUMERATED IN 1850):
Following all of Sarah (Hitchcock) He[r]ndon's 1850-set of children forward through the censuses, their marriages, and deaths, proves them to be Herndon's, all using spelling variants of Herndon, but never again erroneously-listed as Hendon, as it was on the 1850 US Federal Census of Stewart Co TN.
SOURCE: Alerted by 2003 compilation by Maxine Newton Gibson (although containing conflation errors, 2011 research by RHB.)
WHAT HAPPENED TO PHILIP'S WIDOW SARAH (HITCHCOCK) HERNDON?:
Philip's widow, Sarah (Hitchcock) Herndon, died sometime after the 1850 census---likely dying before the 1860 census, since according to Goodspeed's mention of them in the "History of Tennessee" (1886) in a biographical sketch of their son, "Lewis Herndon"---"neither lived to be old." One document raises the possibility she may have remarried to a Harrel, due to "Sallie Harrel" being listed as mother (with Philip Herndon listed as father) on death certificate of their son, (misspelled "Louis Herndon"), unfortunately the informant line is empty, so Harrel may be an error since it conflicts with the parental info published in the biographical sketch of their son Lewis during his lifetime. (Older death certificates are notorious for incomplete or incorrect data because surviving informants---assorted successive wives, grandchildren, in-laws, neighbors---often didn't know exact birth data or parentage.)
(REF: History of Tennessee from the earliest time to the present : together with an historical and a biographical sketch of Montgomery, Robertson, Humphreys, Stewart, Dickson, Cheatham and Houston counties, by Weston Arthur Goodspeed, 1886, Section: Stewart Co, pages 1305-1306; URL: https://archive.org/details/historyoftenness00good_1/page/n1385/mode/2up?q=%22lewis+herndon%22.)
LEWIS Y. HERNDON, SON OF PHILIP & SARAH (HITCHCOCK) HERNDON:
(Philip's & Sarah's son, Lewis Herndon (of the 1886 biographical sketch), indeed followed in his father's footsteps, also serving as "magistrate," in Stewart Co TN. Identified in 1852 court & 1910 census as Lewis Y. Herndon, he served as an official in Stewart Co TN in various capacities from 1852-1894; (1) as estate administrator for relatives in 1852-53, 1857-58, 1865-67; (2) on Constable bond for District # 9 between 1 Nov 1858-1 Nov 1859; (3) from 1865 through 1894, Lewis was also Justice of the Peace, served as county poorhouse overseer, then county trustee, & tax collector. Before him, his father Philip Herndon had been Justice of the Peace for at least one earlier term in Stewart Co TN, performing marriages between 1846-1848, and being re-elected in 1848 prior to his sudden death.)
ORIGINS OF THE YOUNGER AND PHILIP CONFLATION:
The unfortunate Younger-Philip mis-merged amalgamation originated in in the 1940s-50's working hypothesis of an excellent family genealogist, Dr. John Goodwin Herndon (1888-1957), postulating that the given name "Younger" may have been a nickname used in the sense of "Junior"---but what he didn't know was that Younger Herndon was named after his maternal uncle, his mother's brother Younger Newton (1761/3 VA-1847 SC). Dr. John Goodwin, Herndon (JGH) was creator of the series: "The Herndon Family of Virginia, Vol. One: The First Three Generations," and "Vol. Two: Herndons of the American Revolution, presented in parts," & whose research notes survive on microfilm at the Family History Library in Salt Lake City (US/CAN Film #875,138 "A full account of all known Herndons who had revolutionary records:..."), and his cross-outs and over-writes illustrate that he hadn't yet proven Younger's correct name to his own satisfaction (hard copy provided by Ruth Herndon Shields to Dr. Clarence Goodwin Herndon to Dr. Jerry Allen Herndon). Dr. John Goodwin Herndon's publications on the family included such wording as "inconclusive," "suggests,"--- he had the pre-internet, research-requiring-travel, handicap of working from the immigrant William Herndon (1649 ENG-1722 VA) downward, and he understandably struggled with the post-Rev-War-pre-Civil-War generation with it's incomplete records, yet he blazed the trail for us and it's upon his shoulders that we gratefully build. It is the miracle of modern digitization & indexing of records for viewing on internet which has finally made disambiguation & clarification possible.
QUANTITY OF ERRONEOUS COPIED TREES IN ONLINE PROLIFERATION DOES NOT MEAN CONSENSUS OF RESEARCH NOR ACCURACY OF CONCLUSIONS:
Sadly, like a two-edged-sword, the internet has enabled mass-copying and mass-proliferation of erroneous info which is now, tragically, making its way into endless internet family trees, tombstone databases, and even the amazing 2008 county reference book, "Cemeteries of Cadiz and Trigg County, Kentucky" by Sumner, Fortner, Metts, and Morris.
RELATIONSHIP OF YOUNGER HERNDON (1785 VA-1859 KY) AND PHILIP HERNDON (1808 TN-1848 TN):
The exact relationship between Younger Herndon (1785 VA-1859 KY) AND Philip (1801/10 TN-1848 TN) has yet to be proven, but leans toward being uncle and nephew, since Philip first appears as his own householder in the 1830 US Federal Census of Humphreys Co TN (where Younger's brother William owned land in the mid-1820s) while Younger (surname misspelled Harrington) was enumerated two counties away in 1830 Trigg Co KY. Yet, leaning toward the possible relationship of father and son, is the name "Younger" being passed down. Philip and Sarah (Hitchcock) Herndon, (who are listed as parents of Lewis Herndon in his biographical sketch in "History of Tennessee" published by Goodspeed in 1886, pages 1305-1306), are Great-grandparents of Louis Younger Nolin. Lewis Herndon served in various capacities in Stewart Co TN from 1852, 1854, 1857-58, then continuously from 1865-68, 1870-1890, 1892-94, his first court entry in 1852 is as Lewis Y. Herndon, and is confirmed in the 1910 US Federal Census of Stewart Co TN. His daughter Sarah Anne "Sallie" Herndon was thrice married, twice widowed: 1st to Iredill Phillips (1867), 2nd to Allen "Ale" Nolin (1881) and last to James C. Lyons (1889). By Nolin she had a son named Louis Younger Nolin (1882-1951) confirmed by his WWI Draft Registration card. Significant, but not conclusive, because both Younger Herndon (1785 VA-1859 KY) and brother William (ca. 1782 VA-1831 TN) were nephews of Younger Newton (1761/63 VA-1847 SC), their mother's brother. The name Younger and the middle initial Y. has been handed down on many branches of the family, showing up as middle names or initial for many of Younger's grandchildren. Yet Younger's brother William also had a large 1820 & 1830 household of children whose names have not yet been identified. Therefore, Philip could be son of either Younger or William, who could equally have passed down the name "Younger." At any rate, it seems certain, due to the family naming pattern, that Philip was a grandson of Benjamin Herndon & Ann Newton, parents of both William & Younger.
(SEE: Goodspeed's 1886 History of Tennessee, Stewart County section: Bio-Sketch of "Lewis Herndon." URL: https://archive.org/details/historyoftenness00good_1/page/n1387/mode/2up?q=%22lewis+herndon%22, images 1386 & 1388 of 1488, pages 1305-1306.)
PARENTAGE OF YOUNGER HERNDON (1785 VA-1859 KY):
Younger Herndon (1785 VA-1859 KY) is an elder son of Rev War Pvt. Benjamin Herndon (ca. 1760 VA-1814 SC) & wife Ann (Nancy) Newton (ca. 1763 VA-aft. 1830 TN). Pvt. Benjamin Herndon served in the Rev War, Benjamin Herndon (ca. 1760 VA-1814 SC) DAR Ancestor # A054146, Valley Forge Muster Roll (Dec 1777) Soldier ID: VA07343. State of Service: Virginia (from May/June 1777 Caroline Co VA in 2d VA Regiment, commanded by Col Alexander Spotswood & Capt Samuel Hawes / succeeded by Col Christian Febigar & Capt James Upshaw / then on 30 Dec 1777 in Valley Forge enlisted in Horse Service of Col George Baylor's Regiment of Light Dragoons / succeeded by Col William Washington), proofs: W.T.R. Saffell's 1894 book, "Records of the Rev War" page 275, W8585 pension of Obadiah Carter, & Library of Virginia (LVA) Acc # 22547, (Baylor's Returns, specifically 17 Jan 1779).
Relative already a member: very distant cousin, DAR Member # 288090: Juliet Halliburton Burnett Davis (1914-2011) died at age 97, twice widowed, aka Mrs. Oscar Weaver Burnett, then Mrs. Walter Burke Davis Jr. (See Find A Grave Memorial # 121325020).
YOUNGER HERNDON MARRIAGE(S):
Younger Herndon seems very likely to have been previously married, since 1820-30-40 census age-spans of wife seem too big a stretch to be the same woman---(although the 1850 census does list her birthplace as Virginia, matching Younger's)---with a likely birth-gap between 1820-30, and five as-yet unidentified children. Those children may have included possibly Philip (1801/10/abt. 1805-1848), and probably Mary N[elson?] Herndon (Mrs. Orville) Champion (1813 KY/TN-1860 TN)---both of whom had descendants with the middle intial Y. or a given name of "Younger"---but remember, equal candidates for their fathers were Younger Herndon (1785 VA-1859 KY) & brother William Herndon (ca. 1782 VA-1831 TN) who shared the same beloved uncle, Younger Newton (1761/3 VA-1847 SC), so this isn't necessarily a tie-breaker for determining paternity between the two. (FYI NAMING PATTERNS: significantly Philip & Sarah's son Lewis Y. had a grandson named Louis Younger Nolin (1882-1951), while Orville & Mary's son Thomas Y. Champion (1841-1863) died young of smallpox during enlistment in the Civil War.) Also significant is that Orville Champion is among the buyers listed in Philip Herndon's intestate probate, for a razor.).
CHILDREN OF SEPARATE COUPLE: YOUNGER & SARAH ANN (WILSON) HERNDON:
Younger Herndon (1785-1859) and Sarah Ann (Wilson) Herndon (1801-1860) were parents of these children:
(1) Alfred C. Herndon (1825) md. Martha Frances Vinson.
(2) Ann S. Herndon (1828) md. Riley Vinson (siblings marrying siblings).
(3) David D. Herndon (1831) md. Elizabeth M. Gream/Graham.
(4) Susannah "Susan" Herndon (1834) md. widower John S. Son.
(5) Younger Newton Herndon (1836) md. Mary Jane Curry.
(6) Missouri Jane Herndon (1840) never wed; mother of 3.
(7) Nancy A. Herndon (1843) md. Bradley Boren/Edmonds, died before Feb. 1874 and all her children stayed with Bradley when he remarried to Melinda McCarver.
CHILDREN OF SEPARATE COUPLE: PHILIP & SARAH (HITCHCOCK) HERNDON:
Philip Herndon (1808-1848) & Sarah (Hitchcock) Herndon (1807-aft. 1850+) were parents of these children:
(#1 in Goodspeed's, 1886 "History of Tennessee..." Stewart Co Section, pages 1305-1306)
(#2-7 on 1840 US Federal Census of Stewart Co TN with widowed mother Sarah Hendon [sic, Herndon]:
(1) Lewis/Louis Y. Herndon (1824/5) md. Mary Futrill.
(2) Nancy Herndon (1827), no further info, died after 1850.
(3) Robert Herndon (1833) md. Nancy Shaw & Mariah Barrett.
(4) James Herndon (1835) md. Missouri Shaw.
(5) George Herndon (1837) md. Mary E. McClannahan.
(6) Ellen/er] "Elender" Herndon (1838) md. Richard Burn[e]s.
(7) William Herndon (1843); md. Seregorda [sic] Manning.
ALERT for children 6-7: The 1850 enumerator transposed the lines for William and Elender, saying William, 12, was female and Elender, 7, was male; likely he also transposed the ages making Ellen/er age 12 born 1838 and William age 7 born 1843, which fits with later research on their lives.
ANOTHER LIKELY CHILD OF PHILIP & SARAH (HITCHCOCK) HERNDON: Born between 1827-1830, was Rebecca Ann "Becky" Herndon (1827-1865) who married Jerry Lassiter (1818-1888), and both were buried in Hicks Cemetery, Calloway Co KY. (LISTED IN US FEDERAL CENSUSES OF Stewart Co TN & Trigg Co KY.)
(SOURCE: Identified by RHB 2011 research sparked by the finding in 2010, my/RHB 1990s research, shared by fellow-researcher/series-publisher DLHj to MNG, quoted in the 2003 book by Maxine Newton Gibson, along with some identifiable conflation mistakes I had evidentiary proof to correct and realized I needed to quit working solo & share the that crucial documentation for the benefit of posterity and other researchers and historians. Documentation freely shared.)
CONFLATION SUMMARY:
This is why there's been such a dead-end & zero original records for the mythical Younger Philip Herndon---he is TWO separate men---not one!!! Hope that helps clear up the messy tidal wave of mass-proliferated misinformation! In behalf of Dr. John Goodwin Herndon (1888-1957), Lillian Ruth Herndon Shields (1896-1983), and Dudley LeRoy Herndon Jr (1926-2015)---my correspondent of 20+ years, the Herndon researchers before me, on whose work I build, blessings to all in your research and quest for truth and accuracy.
DETAILED EXPANATION & SOURCES & ADDITIONAL EXTENSIVE PROOFS (viewable online for free):
(1) https://books.familysearch.org/primo_library/libweb/action/search.do?vid=FHD_PUBLIC THEN, in the search box TYPE: rose bonnell (and it will bring up 3 volumes of over 700 pages of research "Herndons of 1800's Stewart Co., TN : the Herndon disambiguation project for families of Philip and Younger Herndon Part[s] A, ... B, ... C); AND (2) https://familydisambiguation.wordpress.com/the-mythical-mis-merged-conglomerate-known-as-younger-philip-herndon/. This will help answer many of your questions. If you have further proofs, please send a message. Blessings!
BURIAL LOCATION ALERT (DISCLAIMER):
Definite places of burial for these men (Younger and Philip), as well as Philip's wife, (possibly even Younger's wife although hers is more credible only since other Herndons are buried in that cemetery), are unknown & unprovable. It is likely they were buried in proximity to other close family members, possibly on family-owned land which is how all early family cemeteries started in this region---on the edges of family farms.
PROBLEMS WITH PUBLISHED BURIAL LOCATIONS (FOR YOUNGER & WIFE SARAH ANN & SON ALFRED):
The Herndon Cemetery, a.k.a. Alfred Herndon Cemetery, was not included in the 1961 "Statistical Handbook of Trigg County [KY]..." by Eurie Pearl Wilford Neel. It was first included in the 1980 book, "Trigg County [KY] Cemeteries, 1811-1979" by Judith Ann [(Bergen) Beam] Maupin (research assisted by Vera White). The Maupin book enumerates this Herndon Cemetery having several burials with missing stones, unfortunately without giving attribution to her source of info, although it may be inferred that her data could have come from an adjacent or nearby resident. In Maupin's book on pages 124-125, in the Herndon Cemetery, she lists eleven burials of people who were Herndons at birth or death (FYI: Mrs. Riley Vinson, Anna S. was a daughter of Younger & Sarah Ann Herndon), five of whom are said to be without stones, this includes Alfred Herndon born 1825 & wife Martha. Significantly, there's no mention at all of the purported burial of Sarah Ann (possibly Wilson) Herndon who died 1860, leaving the earliest Herndon burial with a surviving tombstone there as Bob L. Herndon, son of Alfred & Martha (Vinson) Herndon (1867-1885). The earliest burials with tombstones are John T. Johnson in 1857; then skipping 27 years to Ethel B. Johnson & Myra B. Williams in 1884. Likewise, in Maupin's book on page 211, in the Pitts Cemetery, she lists only eight burials, for Pitts & Rogers-Pitts, Futrell, & McCawley, only five having surviving tombstones, the three of the four Pitts lacking them, and the earliest burial with tombstone being 1866 for John M. McCawley (1838-1866). Significantly, again, there's no mention of any Herndon, particularly not Younger Herndon. Sadly, the Pitts Cemetery was also not recorded in the Neel book (1961). Altogether, this sheds doubt on accuracy of the published beliefs of the burial locations which lack tombstones.
BURIAL LOCATION(S) FOR YOUNGER & WIFE:
As for Younger Herndon (lifespan 1785 VA-1859 KY; enumerated on 1840 Stewart Co TN U.S. Federal Census), in his erroneous conflated identity (Younger Philip Herndon) he is purportedly buried in a cemetery of only twelve interments, no others being Herndons, and apart from his wife who died only a year later and was purportedly buried elsewhere. Although not mentioned in county cemetery books of Neel (1961) or Maupin (1980), yet according to the 2008 county cemetery book by Sumner, Fortner, Metts & Morris (info supplied by Marilyn Herndon Ladd for him & wife, pp. 177 & 277): his burial is recorded as an unmarked grave, no headstone, located at Pitts Cemetery, Trigg Co KY, with zero other Herndons (one Askew) buried there, yet his wife, who died only a year later, is purported to have been buried, again no headstone, at Alfred Herndon Cemetery, Canton, Trigg Co KY---this seems very strange. Of the two cemeteries, the purported Alfred Herndon Cemetery seems a far more likely place for Younger as well, since NO other Herndon family members were buried at Pitts Cemetery. Sadly, however, there is no surviving proof that even his son Alfred Herndon or wife Martha Frances Vinson are buried there either, although it is provable that this graveyard was on land formerly belonging to Alfred. (Also, there are two large trees at the Alfred Herndon Cemetery, near all the tombstones within the cemetery itself, contained within the burial perimeter, which makes me wonder if the two trees were planted to mark significant spots, perhaps favored graves.) So, IF Sarah is buried there it seems highly likely that Younger would have been also---since he preceded her in death by only a year. This needs future verification. Tracking the source of this belief, going back through family records, I find an early source for identifying Pitts Cemetery on Dry Creek, as the burial place of Younger Herndon: it was stated in an undated 1960s letter to Dad, Jerry Herndon, by Jennie Ora "Ora" Williams Calhoun, wife of John Madison Calhoun, and Great-granddaughter of Younger, granddaughter of Alfred Herndon & Martha Frances Vinson, via daughter Martha Emerson Herndon (Mrs. Joseph) Williams. (The 1960s letter would have been written between 1963 when my Dad started genealogical research & her death in 1971. ALERT: Ms. Ora did not mention a burial place for Alfred's mother Sarah Ann.) So, although it doesn't make sense, Pitts Cemetery location MAY be true for Younger ONLY IF Ms. Ora had genuine knowledge or accurate documentation. SUPPORTIVE COUNTER-EVIDENCE: The 140 (later reduced to 25) acres of land owned by Younger & Sarah in the 1850s (1850-till deaths in 1859 & 1860, purchased in 1850 from Alfred Boyd & mostly sold in 1856 to Chesley D. Lewis) was on Little River and was linked to a 3-acre parcel of land sold in 1822 by Jacob Torian to the Methodist Episcopal Church which later became the Bethel Methodist Church. That land therefore apparently includes the McKinney Cemetery on Cliffwood Drive off 272. Using logic it seems counter-intuitive that Younger & Sarah would be buried so far away from their own land. Therefore, it seems the burial location is not actually provable.
BURIAL LOCATION FOR PHILIP:
In the case of Philip Herndon (lifespan 1801/10 TN-1848 TN; enumerated on 1840 Stewart Co TN U.S. Federal Census), his exact burial location within Stewart Co TN is completely unknown. I have some theories, but that's all they are. For Philip, I find only three organized places to be possibilities: (1) minimally possible, where his son Lewis Herndon was later buried: at the Boyd Memorial Cemetery in Tharpe, Stewart Co TN, yet it's highly iffy since his son outlived him by 62 years, dying in 1914; so, (2) perhaps forgotten among unmarked graves of only 8 listed at Herndon Cemetery in Stewart Co TN---again doubtful, since the earliest Herndon buried there was in 1928, or (3) least likely, inasmuch as neither he nor any other Herndons are listed, maybe at the Herndon Cemetery (no longer used)---due to Kentucky Lake causing relocation to St. Mary's # 2 [listed Saint Mary's Cemetery # 02]. So I conclude, he likely was buried on family land prior to establishment of full-scale cemeteries.
BURIAL LOCATION FOR PHILIP'S WIFE, SARAH:
The time & place of burial for Philip's wife Sarah (Hitchcock) Herndon is completely unknown, but likely in Stewart Co TN, (1) if she indeed died young & did not live to be old as her son's biographical sketch stated, & (2) if she did not remarry & died near the time of her husband, on this basis therefore, I postulate she may have been buried near her husband, wherever that was within Stewart Co TN.
CALCULATED BURIAL LOCATIONS SUMMARY:
These calculated places of burial I am registering are for the purpose of correcting the mis-merged identities & families, and is an approximation based on the best research deduction available to me.
FREE TRAINING:
Genealogical Proof Standard & other professional research methodologies training is available online, for free, via Ancestry.com tutorials by Crista Cowan on their YouTube playlist under Desktop Education and under Genealogical Proof Standard. I highly recommend them, Crista (the "Barefoot Genealogist") is highly-knowledgeable, fluent, articulate & concise, with prepared PowerPoint illustrations averaging 25-30 minutes. Blessings in your research to accurately identify and link true ancestors!
This research summary, condensed for bio sketch, was written by Rose Herndon Bonnell, 6 July 2016, updated 13 January 2017, and 21 Oct 2023.
BY ROSE H. BONNELL (6 Jul 2016, 13 Jan 2017, 21 Oct 2023 & 29 Oct 2023).
STANDARDIZED SPELLING: PHILIP OR PHILLIP -- IT WAS MOST OFTEN PHILIP:
As far as lifetime documents are concerned, on his first US Federal Census of 1830, in court records (1836-37, 1848-50), during his tenure as a Justice of the Peace for Stewart Co TN (Mar-Jun 1848 ), and in his own probate record (Jun 1848- Jun 1850), it was spelled with one "l" as Philip.
(REF: Will Book G, page 19: Philip Herndon, [with] John W. Hicks, Norfleet Bass, Benjamin Champion, [making] justice of the peace bond for District 8; 3 Apr 1848; Will Book F, Page 508 (5 Jun 1848): Administrator's bond was made for Estate of Philip Herndon. Will Book G, page 97: Year's provisions for widow of Philip Herndon [recorded between entries of 2 Feb and 5 Feb 1849]; Will Book G, Pages 98-101 (5 Feb 1849): Estate sale of Philip Herndon; Will Book G, Page 285 (1 Jun 1850): Administrator Settlement for Estate of Philip Herndon.
THIS IS AN ESSENTIAL URGENT CORRECTION TO A TIDAL WAVE OF MISINFORMATION ON TWO MEN, (& THEIR WIVES, & SETS OF CHILDREN) WHO ARE MISREPRESENTED AS ONE!
CONFLATION ALERT: YOUNGER AND PHILIP (NOT YOUNGER PHILIP):
Younger Herndon AND Philip Herndon ARE NOT to be confused with the so-called conflation "YOUNGER PHILIP HERNDON," the non-existent hypothetical mis-merged conglomerate of nearly three-quarters-of-a-century---over 30+ years of research has confirmed there was NO SUCH PERSON!!! Beyond a shadow of a doubt, it is the tragic mis-merger of two men, along with their two wives and their two sets of children: Younger Herndon (1785 VA-1859 KY) with wife Sarah Ann possibly Wilson (1801 VA/KY-1860 KY) vs. Philip Herndon (1801/10 TN-1848 TN) with wife Sarah Hitchcock (1807 unknown-after 1850 [TN?]).
DISAMBIGUATION SEPARATING TWO MEN WHO WERE CONFLATED AS ONE:
Find A Grave Memorials were created in 2016 for this documented family history correction, separating & disambiguating the following men (correcting the misnomer Younger Philip Herndon). See YOUNGER HERNDON FIND A GRAVE MEMORIAL # 166553946. (vs.) PHILIP HERNDON FIND A GRAVE MEMORIAL # 166677991. And SARAH ANN possibly WILSON HERNDON, FIND A GRAVE MEMORIAL # 166714909. (vs.) SARAH HITCHCOCK HERNDON (Correction), FIND A GRAVE MEMORIAL # 166715088.
FACT: PHILIP AND YOUNGER ON SINGLE DOCUMENT:
Further evidence, that these are TWO separate men, was sent to me via email by the expert, four-decade Stewart Co TN Archivist, tngenweb.org/stewart webmaster, and Stewart Co TN transcripts author, Jim Long (2/16/2021):
"You will note separate entries for Philip Herndon and Younger Herndon:"
-- Page 249, on unnumbered 17th occupied line, "Philip Herndon had account vs. Clark -- $2 50."
-- Page 249, on unnumbered 37th occupied line, "Younger Herndon acct vs. Clerk [sic, Clark] -- $ 13 25."
Settlement of the estate of William A. Clark in February 1843, in [Stewart Co TN] Settlements and Bonds Book E, pages 249-250.
(REF: Ancestry.com 2015 Database, "Tennessee, U.S., Wills and Probate Records, 1779-2008: Stewart
Settlements, Bonds, Vol E-G, 1840-1854." URL: https://www.ancestry.com/discoveryui-content/view/2784714:9176?tid=&pid=&queryId=65c2b3a703a7703b71da018d33e50477&_phsrc=bBX5236, image 249.)
OTHER FACTS VIA DOCUMENTARY EVIDENCE:
(1) Philip Herndon AND Younger Newton were both enumerated, same page, on the 1840 US Federal Census of Stewart Co TN.
(REF/URL: https://www.ancestry.com/imageviewer/collections/8057/images/4410645_00663?pId=3430309.)
(2) Philip Herndon (misspelled Herendon), in first census enumeration as head of household, was first enumerated in 1830 Humpreys Co TN, the county where Younger Herndon's brother William Herndon, had land in mid-1820s; meantime William (possible father or uncle) is enumerated back in 1830 Stewart Co TN, while Younger Herndon (possible uncle or father) is enumerated further away in 1830 Trigg Co KY (erroneously indexed at Ancestry.com database as Gounger; enumerator misspelled surname as Harrington).
(REF-A: Philip's 1830 enumeration, as Herendon [sic], indexed Herenden, at URL: https://www.ancestry.com/discoveryui-content/view/707549:8058?ssrc=pt&tid=53440451&pid=13510502899; REF-B: William's 1830 enumeration, as Herendon [sic], at URL: https://www.ancestry.com/discoveryui-content/view/757204:8058?ssrc=pt&tid=53440451&pid=13510502485; REF-C: Younger's 1830 enumeration, indexed as Harrington [sic], at URL:https://www.ancestry.com/imageviewer/collections/8058/images/
4410618_00059?pId=1100728.)
(3) Philip Herndon, of Tennessee, who made an 1832 deposition at age 24 = birth calculation of 1808, died suddenly in early June 1848 following his April 1848 election to a six-year term as Justice of the Peace for Stewart Co TN, requiring a special election to replace him. Letters of Administration for his Estate were granted 5 Jun 1848. (REF: 28 May 1832 Deposition of "Phillip Herrendon" [sic, misspelling] sent to me 8 Feb 2018 by St Co TN Archivist, JL; Stewart County TN Court Books, and Will Book G, Pages 19, and 97-101, and Will Book F, Page 508.)
(4) Meanwhile, Younger Herndon, of Virginia-South Carolina-Tennessee-Kentucky, was moving between Stewart Co TN (1820, 1840) and Trigg Co KY (1830, 1850), having been recorded in Trigg Co KY road orders on 13 Sep 1836 as road hand for the Dover-Cadiz Road, census and court order both suggesting he lived along the state-line border region of both counties. His road hand work in Trigg Co KY was also mentioned 13 May 1844. Both orders misspell his surname as Herrington, which is actually HERNDON, verified by censuses of both counties and circuit court records of Stewart Co TN and probate records of Marlborough District SC. (REF: US Federal Censuses of 1820-1830-1840-1850, and Trigg Co KY Court Order Books 1836 & 1844.)
(5) On 13 May 1850 in Trigg Co KY, Younger & Sarah Ann (Wilson) Herndon purchased 140 acres of land on Little River, from Alfred Boyd, for $250. (REF: Trigg Co KY Deed Book J, page 578, instrument dated 13 May 1850, recorded 11 November 1850.) On 15 May 1856 in Trigg Co KY, Younger and wife Sarah Ann sold 115 of the 140 acres (minus M.E. church land given by an earlier owner Jacob Torian) to Chesley D. Lewis of the other part, both of Trigg Co KY, selling the land for $1000 (at a more than 4x profit). In that deed, Younger Herndon and Sarah [Ann] Herndon who is identified as "his wife" multiple times within the document, wherever her name is mentioned. (REF: Trigg Co KY Deed Book M, pages 450-451.)
(6) Younger Herndon died in Trigg Co KY before his 25 May & 13 Jun 1859 intestate probate records. (REF: Trigg Co KY Will Book E, pages 450-452; Trigg Co KY Court Order Book E, pages 145, 150, 319.) His wife "Sarah Ann Herndon" made her will, dated 15 Aug 1860, appointing her sole heir, as their last unwed child, Missouri Jane Herndon, then age 20-21. Sarah Ann died in Oct 1860, between 18 Sep 1860 census enumeration and the 8 Oct 1860 probating of her will. (REF: Trigg Co KY Will Book E, pages 321, 330; Trigg Co KY Court Order Book E, page 250, and 1850 US Fed Census of Trigg Co KY.)
(7) CONFLATION ALERT SUMMARY: The death date, sometimes even the death place, of Younger Herndon's uncle, Younger Newton (1763 VA-1847 SC), at times have been mistakenly attributed to the conflated mythical person "Younger Philip Herndon." This error mistakenly absorbed the true ages and deaths of both Younger Herndon (1785 VA-1859 KY) AND Philip Herndon (1808 TN-1848 TN), his nephew or son. This caused people to not follow the lifespans of each, as individuals, which led to the seeming "brick wall" dead end.
YOUNGER LOCATION VIA CENSUS AND COURT ORDERS EVIDENCE):
Younger Herndon (misspelled H/a/e/rrington, in 3 records: "a" on one census & "e" on two court roadwork lists) was enumerated on US Federal Census in 1820 & 1840 Stewart Co TN, and 1830 & 1850 in Trigg Co KY. On 13 Sep 1836, Younger (misspelled Herrington) was tasked with creating a road between Cadiz Trigg Co KY and Dover Stewart Co TN, with surveyor Alexander Harrell. This work on the state line may explain why his enumeration fluctuated back & forth, hopping between the two census locations.
PHILIP DEPOSITION GIVES MIGRATORY RESIDENCES & BIRTH YEAR EVIDENCE:
Fortunately for us, Philip Herndon gave a deposition, 28 May 1832, stating both his age & his residency in a court case in Hardeman County, Tennessee, USA. His age, specified as about 24 (= birth calculation 1808), & his residency, specified as Stewart Co TN & Hardeman Co TN, were proven in his deposition taken for "Case of Murray, William B. vs. Brigham, John - 1834 partial." (He gave testimony about one man's ownership of slaves.)
PHILIP LOCATION VIA CENSUS EVIDENCE:
Philip Herndon was enumerated on US Federal Censuses of 1830 Humphreys Co TN & 1840 Stewart Co TN. (Philip's first place of enumeration in 1830 Humphreys Co TN occurred when Younger was enumerated a further county away, putting him two counties north in 1830 Trigg Co KY---which could signify they were not father & son, but uncle & nephew, further borne out by the fact that Younger is absent from any mention in Philip's intestate probate documents. However they were in the same county in 1840.)
PHILIP AND YOUNGER IN SAME CENSUS LOCATION IN 1840 IN STEWART CO TN:
These TWO men, Younger Herndon AND Philip Herndon, were BOTH enumerated on the 1840 US Federal Census of Stewart Co TN. Neither Younger nor Philip ever used a middle name or initial in any extant lifetime documents---exclusively using a single given name! (The use of double given names was only applied to him, actually them, post-mortem!) So, to be clear, Younger was not Younger Philip Herndon AND Philip was not Philip Younger Herndon. There was only Younger Herndon (1785 VA-1859 KY) AND Philip Herndon (1801/10 TN-1848 TN)!
1850 CENSUS LOCATIONS OF YOUNGER & WIFE IN TRIGG CO KY ( VS) WIDOW OF PHILIP IN STEWART CO TN:
Younger & wife Sarah Ann (possibly Wilson) Herndon were alive and well for the 1850 US Federal Census of Trigg Co KY, while Philip's widow Sarah (Hitchcock) He[r]ndon was alive and well for the 1850 US Federal Census of Stewart Co TN. I am indebted to Maxine Newton Gibson, author of "Descendants of Giles Newton 1" (2003), learning in 2010 that she generously thanked me for the second-party sharing of my research (okay by me as a public service). It was her sharing of info, that was my wake-up call & the catalyst that it was up to me to correct the mixed-up mess---and she provided the crucial missing clue! Each of us, knowing where our own ancestor was (hers, Philip's widow Sarah in 1850 Stewart Co TN, and mine, Younger & wife Sarah Ann in 1850 Trigg Co KY), neither of us had reason to search further for a simultaneous second-half of the equation---and it was her willingness to share her research, prior to having everything proven "in concrete" which provided the long-sought answer to this "brick-wall" problem!
DEATH OF YOUNGER HERNDON IN 1859 TRIGG CO KY:
Younger Herndon died in Trigg Co KY after the 15 May 1856 sale of most of his land (115 of 140 acres) on Little River, and before the 25 May 1859 sale of his estate (the chronology is a little counter-intuitive since letters of administration weren't applied for & granted until 13 Jun 1859, inventory was 25 Jun 1859, yet sale bill is dated 25 May [sic] 1859), therefore likely dying just prior to 25 May 1859, certainly by 13 Jun 1859. Narrowed death date (calculation): May 1859.
DEATH OF YOUNGER'S WIFE SARAH ANN [(Wilson)] HERNDON IN 1860 TRIGG CO KY:
Younger Herndon's wife, Sarah Ann possibly Wilson, died in Trigg Co KY, her will dated 15 Aug 1860, after census enumeration on 18 Sep 1860, before will was proven on 8 Oct 1860---between 18 Sep 1860 & 8 Oct 1860. Narrowed death date (calculation): Oct 1860.
MAIDEN NAME OF YOUNGER'S WIFE, SARAH ANN, AS WILSON:
The sole source of Younger's wife Sarah Ann's maiden name as Wilson is from 1963 communication by mail (to grandson Jerry Herndon) by Maggie Lee Dawson Herndon, Great-granddaughter & simultaneous granddaughter-in-law married to widower 1 C 1 R (first cousin once removed) Nickodemus Herndon. Interestingly, the 1850 family enumerated next-door to Younger & Sarah Herndon is a Wilson family, and the head is of age to have been her brother. This is why I merely list her surname as "possibly" because there is no other documentary proof yet found.
MAIDEN NAME OF PHILIP'S WIFE, SARAH, AS HITCHCOCK:
From Bio-Sketch of "Lewis Newton" in "History of Tennessee..." by Goodspeed, 1886, page 1305-1306.
SPELLING IS PHILIP HERNDON IN ALL THESE DOCUMENTS PRESENTED AT COURT:
Will Book D, Page 6 (6 Jun 1836): Philip Herndon was buyer at Estate sale of James Read.
Will Book D, Page 103 (5 Jun 1837): Philip Herndon was on guardian bond for Polly and Winborn Futrell.
Will Book D, Page 114 (betw. 17 Sep 1836 and return Aug 1837): Philip Herndon was buyer at Estate Sale of Isaac Futrell.
Will Book D, Page 343 (17 May 1839): Philip Herndon was buyer at Estate sale of James Hamilton.
(URL: https://www.tngenweb.org/stewart/will/WillBookD.htm.)
Will Book F, Page 402 (1 Feb 1847): Philip Herndon was on administrator's bond for Estate of Matthew Lock.
Will Book F, Page 404 (1 Feb 1847): Philip Herndon was on administrator's bond for Estate of William C. Jones.
Will Book F, Page 413 (1 Mar 1847): Philip Herndon was granted letters of administration for Estate of Josiah Sills.
Will Book F, Page 414 (1 Mar 1847): Philip Herndon was on administrator's bond for [Estates of] Josiah Sills & William Sills.
Will Book F, Page 420 (1 Mar 1847): Philip Herndon was granted letters of administration for Estate of William Sills.
Will Book F, Page (1 Mar 1847): Philip Herndon was on administrator's bond for Estate of Jordan Champion.
Will Book F, Page 508 (5 Jun 1848): Administrator's bond was made for Estate of Philip Herndon.
(URL: https://www.tngenweb.org/stewart/will/WillBookF.htm )
Will Book G, Page 19 (3 Apr 1848): Philip Herndon made Justice of the Peace Bond.
Will Book G, Page 97 (abt. 2-5 Feb 1849): Year's provisions for widow of Philip Herndon .
Will Book G, Page 98-101 (5 Feb 1849): Estate sale of Philip Herndon.
Will Book G, Page 285 (1 Jun 1850): Settlement with Administrator for Estate of Philip Herndon.
(URL: https://www.tngenweb.org/stewart/will/WillBookG.htm.)
FOR VIEWING DIGITIZED ORIGINAL DOCUMENTS:
(SEE: https://www.familysearch.org/search/collection/1909088.)
SUDDEN DEATH OF PHILIP HERNDON IN 1848 STEWART CO TN:
Sarah (Hitchcock) Herndon's spouse, Philip Herndon, died suddenly in 1848, after being newly-elected to a six-year term as Justice of the Peace, requiring a special election to replace him. Philip's death occurred in the tiny window between his election (after it on 4 Mar 1848, having entered into bond for it on 3 Apr 1848) & the granting of letters of administration on his estate (5 Jun 1848, followed by the special election of 16 Jun 1848 to fill his unexpired term): ---thus dying between 3 Apr 1848 and 5 Jun 1848! Narrowed death date (calculation): early Jun 1848. SOURCE: Probate Records of Philip Herndon (1808-1848), intestate:
(REF: "Tennessee, U.S., Wills and Probate Records, 1779-2008: Stewart [Co] Settlements, Bonds, Vol E-G, 1840-1854." SEE: Will Book F, page 508: Benjamin Herndon, Samuel Wofford, James W. Williams, filed for administrator's bond for Philip Herndon on 5 Jun 1848. Will Book G, page 19: page 19: Philip Herndon, [with] John W. Hicks, Norfleet Bass, Benjamin Champion, [making] justice of the peace bond for District 8; 3 Apr 1848. Will Book G, page 97: Year's provisions for widow of Philip Herndon [recorded between entries of 2 Feb and 5 Feb 1849]. Will Book G, page 98-101: Sale of the estate of Philip Herndon; buyers include Lewis Herndon, Elizabeth Futrell, widow, Ben Herndon, R. Herndon; 5 Feb 1849. Will Book, 285: Settlement with Benjamin Herndon, administrator of the estate of Philip Herndon (insolvent); 1 Jun 1850.)
CORRECT 1850 SURNAME OF PHILIP'S WIDOW WAS HERNDON (NOT HENDON, AS ENUMERATED IN 1850):
Following all of Sarah (Hitchcock) He[r]ndon's 1850-set of children forward through the censuses, their marriages, and deaths, proves them to be Herndon's, all using spelling variants of Herndon, but never again erroneously-listed as Hendon, as it was on the 1850 US Federal Census of Stewart Co TN.
SOURCE: Alerted by 2003 compilation by Maxine Newton Gibson (although containing conflation errors, 2011 research by RHB.)
WHAT HAPPENED TO PHILIP'S WIDOW SARAH (HITCHCOCK) HERNDON?:
Philip's widow, Sarah (Hitchcock) Herndon, died sometime after the 1850 census---likely dying before the 1860 census, since according to Goodspeed's mention of them in the "History of Tennessee" (1886) in a biographical sketch of their son, "Lewis Herndon"---"neither lived to be old." One document raises the possibility she may have remarried to a Harrel, due to "Sallie Harrel" being listed as mother (with Philip Herndon listed as father) on death certificate of their son, (misspelled "Louis Herndon"), unfortunately the informant line is empty, so Harrel may be an error since it conflicts with the parental info published in the biographical sketch of their son Lewis during his lifetime. (Older death certificates are notorious for incomplete or incorrect data because surviving informants---assorted successive wives, grandchildren, in-laws, neighbors---often didn't know exact birth data or parentage.)
(REF: History of Tennessee from the earliest time to the present : together with an historical and a biographical sketch of Montgomery, Robertson, Humphreys, Stewart, Dickson, Cheatham and Houston counties, by Weston Arthur Goodspeed, 1886, Section: Stewart Co, pages 1305-1306; URL: https://archive.org/details/historyoftenness00good_1/page/n1385/mode/2up?q=%22lewis+herndon%22.)
LEWIS Y. HERNDON, SON OF PHILIP & SARAH (HITCHCOCK) HERNDON:
(Philip's & Sarah's son, Lewis Herndon (of the 1886 biographical sketch), indeed followed in his father's footsteps, also serving as "magistrate," in Stewart Co TN. Identified in 1852 court & 1910 census as Lewis Y. Herndon, he served as an official in Stewart Co TN in various capacities from 1852-1894; (1) as estate administrator for relatives in 1852-53, 1857-58, 1865-67; (2) on Constable bond for District # 9 between 1 Nov 1858-1 Nov 1859; (3) from 1865 through 1894, Lewis was also Justice of the Peace, served as county poorhouse overseer, then county trustee, & tax collector. Before him, his father Philip Herndon had been Justice of the Peace for at least one earlier term in Stewart Co TN, performing marriages between 1846-1848, and being re-elected in 1848 prior to his sudden death.)
ORIGINS OF THE YOUNGER AND PHILIP CONFLATION:
The unfortunate Younger-Philip mis-merged amalgamation originated in in the 1940s-50's working hypothesis of an excellent family genealogist, Dr. John Goodwin Herndon (1888-1957), postulating that the given name "Younger" may have been a nickname used in the sense of "Junior"---but what he didn't know was that Younger Herndon was named after his maternal uncle, his mother's brother Younger Newton (1761/3 VA-1847 SC). Dr. John Goodwin, Herndon (JGH) was creator of the series: "The Herndon Family of Virginia, Vol. One: The First Three Generations," and "Vol. Two: Herndons of the American Revolution, presented in parts," & whose research notes survive on microfilm at the Family History Library in Salt Lake City (US/CAN Film #875,138 "A full account of all known Herndons who had revolutionary records:..."), and his cross-outs and over-writes illustrate that he hadn't yet proven Younger's correct name to his own satisfaction (hard copy provided by Ruth Herndon Shields to Dr. Clarence Goodwin Herndon to Dr. Jerry Allen Herndon). Dr. John Goodwin Herndon's publications on the family included such wording as "inconclusive," "suggests,"--- he had the pre-internet, research-requiring-travel, handicap of working from the immigrant William Herndon (1649 ENG-1722 VA) downward, and he understandably struggled with the post-Rev-War-pre-Civil-War generation with it's incomplete records, yet he blazed the trail for us and it's upon his shoulders that we gratefully build. It is the miracle of modern digitization & indexing of records for viewing on internet which has finally made disambiguation & clarification possible.
QUANTITY OF ERRONEOUS COPIED TREES IN ONLINE PROLIFERATION DOES NOT MEAN CONSENSUS OF RESEARCH NOR ACCURACY OF CONCLUSIONS:
Sadly, like a two-edged-sword, the internet has enabled mass-copying and mass-proliferation of erroneous info which is now, tragically, making its way into endless internet family trees, tombstone databases, and even the amazing 2008 county reference book, "Cemeteries of Cadiz and Trigg County, Kentucky" by Sumner, Fortner, Metts, and Morris.
RELATIONSHIP OF YOUNGER HERNDON (1785 VA-1859 KY) AND PHILIP HERNDON (1808 TN-1848 TN):
The exact relationship between Younger Herndon (1785 VA-1859 KY) AND Philip (1801/10 TN-1848 TN) has yet to be proven, but leans toward being uncle and nephew, since Philip first appears as his own householder in the 1830 US Federal Census of Humphreys Co TN (where Younger's brother William owned land in the mid-1820s) while Younger (surname misspelled Harrington) was enumerated two counties away in 1830 Trigg Co KY. Yet, leaning toward the possible relationship of father and son, is the name "Younger" being passed down. Philip and Sarah (Hitchcock) Herndon, (who are listed as parents of Lewis Herndon in his biographical sketch in "History of Tennessee" published by Goodspeed in 1886, pages 1305-1306), are Great-grandparents of Louis Younger Nolin. Lewis Herndon served in various capacities in Stewart Co TN from 1852, 1854, 1857-58, then continuously from 1865-68, 1870-1890, 1892-94, his first court entry in 1852 is as Lewis Y. Herndon, and is confirmed in the 1910 US Federal Census of Stewart Co TN. His daughter Sarah Anne "Sallie" Herndon was thrice married, twice widowed: 1st to Iredill Phillips (1867), 2nd to Allen "Ale" Nolin (1881) and last to James C. Lyons (1889). By Nolin she had a son named Louis Younger Nolin (1882-1951) confirmed by his WWI Draft Registration card. Significant, but not conclusive, because both Younger Herndon (1785 VA-1859 KY) and brother William (ca. 1782 VA-1831 TN) were nephews of Younger Newton (1761/63 VA-1847 SC), their mother's brother. The name Younger and the middle initial Y. has been handed down on many branches of the family, showing up as middle names or initial for many of Younger's grandchildren. Yet Younger's brother William also had a large 1820 & 1830 household of children whose names have not yet been identified. Therefore, Philip could be son of either Younger or William, who could equally have passed down the name "Younger." At any rate, it seems certain, due to the family naming pattern, that Philip was a grandson of Benjamin Herndon & Ann Newton, parents of both William & Younger.
(SEE: Goodspeed's 1886 History of Tennessee, Stewart County section: Bio-Sketch of "Lewis Herndon." URL: https://archive.org/details/historyoftenness00good_1/page/n1387/mode/2up?q=%22lewis+herndon%22, images 1386 & 1388 of 1488, pages 1305-1306.)
PARENTAGE OF YOUNGER HERNDON (1785 VA-1859 KY):
Younger Herndon (1785 VA-1859 KY) is an elder son of Rev War Pvt. Benjamin Herndon (ca. 1760 VA-1814 SC) & wife Ann (Nancy) Newton (ca. 1763 VA-aft. 1830 TN). Pvt. Benjamin Herndon served in the Rev War, Benjamin Herndon (ca. 1760 VA-1814 SC) DAR Ancestor # A054146, Valley Forge Muster Roll (Dec 1777) Soldier ID: VA07343. State of Service: Virginia (from May/June 1777 Caroline Co VA in 2d VA Regiment, commanded by Col Alexander Spotswood & Capt Samuel Hawes / succeeded by Col Christian Febigar & Capt James Upshaw / then on 30 Dec 1777 in Valley Forge enlisted in Horse Service of Col George Baylor's Regiment of Light Dragoons / succeeded by Col William Washington), proofs: W.T.R. Saffell's 1894 book, "Records of the Rev War" page 275, W8585 pension of Obadiah Carter, & Library of Virginia (LVA) Acc # 22547, (Baylor's Returns, specifically 17 Jan 1779).
Relative already a member: very distant cousin, DAR Member # 288090: Juliet Halliburton Burnett Davis (1914-2011) died at age 97, twice widowed, aka Mrs. Oscar Weaver Burnett, then Mrs. Walter Burke Davis Jr. (See Find A Grave Memorial # 121325020).
YOUNGER HERNDON MARRIAGE(S):
Younger Herndon seems very likely to have been previously married, since 1820-30-40 census age-spans of wife seem too big a stretch to be the same woman---(although the 1850 census does list her birthplace as Virginia, matching Younger's)---with a likely birth-gap between 1820-30, and five as-yet unidentified children. Those children may have included possibly Philip (1801/10/abt. 1805-1848), and probably Mary N[elson?] Herndon (Mrs. Orville) Champion (1813 KY/TN-1860 TN)---both of whom had descendants with the middle intial Y. or a given name of "Younger"---but remember, equal candidates for their fathers were Younger Herndon (1785 VA-1859 KY) & brother William Herndon (ca. 1782 VA-1831 TN) who shared the same beloved uncle, Younger Newton (1761/3 VA-1847 SC), so this isn't necessarily a tie-breaker for determining paternity between the two. (FYI NAMING PATTERNS: significantly Philip & Sarah's son Lewis Y. had a grandson named Louis Younger Nolin (1882-1951), while Orville & Mary's son Thomas Y. Champion (1841-1863) died young of smallpox during enlistment in the Civil War.) Also significant is that Orville Champion is among the buyers listed in Philip Herndon's intestate probate, for a razor.).
CHILDREN OF SEPARATE COUPLE: YOUNGER & SARAH ANN (WILSON) HERNDON:
Younger Herndon (1785-1859) and Sarah Ann (Wilson) Herndon (1801-1860) were parents of these children:
(1) Alfred C. Herndon (1825) md. Martha Frances Vinson.
(2) Ann S. Herndon (1828) md. Riley Vinson (siblings marrying siblings).
(3) David D. Herndon (1831) md. Elizabeth M. Gream/Graham.
(4) Susannah "Susan" Herndon (1834) md. widower John S. Son.
(5) Younger Newton Herndon (1836) md. Mary Jane Curry.
(6) Missouri Jane Herndon (1840) never wed; mother of 3.
(7) Nancy A. Herndon (1843) md. Bradley Boren/Edmonds, died before Feb. 1874 and all her children stayed with Bradley when he remarried to Melinda McCarver.
CHILDREN OF SEPARATE COUPLE: PHILIP & SARAH (HITCHCOCK) HERNDON:
Philip Herndon (1808-1848) & Sarah (Hitchcock) Herndon (1807-aft. 1850+) were parents of these children:
(#1 in Goodspeed's, 1886 "History of Tennessee..." Stewart Co Section, pages 1305-1306)
(#2-7 on 1840 US Federal Census of Stewart Co TN with widowed mother Sarah Hendon [sic, Herndon]:
(1) Lewis/Louis Y. Herndon (1824/5) md. Mary Futrill.
(2) Nancy Herndon (1827), no further info, died after 1850.
(3) Robert Herndon (1833) md. Nancy Shaw & Mariah Barrett.
(4) James Herndon (1835) md. Missouri Shaw.
(5) George Herndon (1837) md. Mary E. McClannahan.
(6) Ellen/er] "Elender" Herndon (1838) md. Richard Burn[e]s.
(7) William Herndon (1843); md. Seregorda [sic] Manning.
ALERT for children 6-7: The 1850 enumerator transposed the lines for William and Elender, saying William, 12, was female and Elender, 7, was male; likely he also transposed the ages making Ellen/er age 12 born 1838 and William age 7 born 1843, which fits with later research on their lives.
ANOTHER LIKELY CHILD OF PHILIP & SARAH (HITCHCOCK) HERNDON: Born between 1827-1830, was Rebecca Ann "Becky" Herndon (1827-1865) who married Jerry Lassiter (1818-1888), and both were buried in Hicks Cemetery, Calloway Co KY. (LISTED IN US FEDERAL CENSUSES OF Stewart Co TN & Trigg Co KY.)
(SOURCE: Identified by RHB 2011 research sparked by the finding in 2010, my/RHB 1990s research, shared by fellow-researcher/series-publisher DLHj to MNG, quoted in the 2003 book by Maxine Newton Gibson, along with some identifiable conflation mistakes I had evidentiary proof to correct and realized I needed to quit working solo & share the that crucial documentation for the benefit of posterity and other researchers and historians. Documentation freely shared.)
CONFLATION SUMMARY:
This is why there's been such a dead-end & zero original records for the mythical Younger Philip Herndon---he is TWO separate men---not one!!! Hope that helps clear up the messy tidal wave of mass-proliferated misinformation! In behalf of Dr. John Goodwin Herndon (1888-1957), Lillian Ruth Herndon Shields (1896-1983), and Dudley LeRoy Herndon Jr (1926-2015)---my correspondent of 20+ years, the Herndon researchers before me, on whose work I build, blessings to all in your research and quest for truth and accuracy.
DETAILED EXPANATION & SOURCES & ADDITIONAL EXTENSIVE PROOFS (viewable online for free):
(1) https://books.familysearch.org/primo_library/libweb/action/search.do?vid=FHD_PUBLIC THEN, in the search box TYPE: rose bonnell (and it will bring up 3 volumes of over 700 pages of research "Herndons of 1800's Stewart Co., TN : the Herndon disambiguation project for families of Philip and Younger Herndon Part[s] A, ... B, ... C); AND (2) https://familydisambiguation.wordpress.com/the-mythical-mis-merged-conglomerate-known-as-younger-philip-herndon/. This will help answer many of your questions. If you have further proofs, please send a message. Blessings!
BURIAL LOCATION ALERT (DISCLAIMER):
Definite places of burial for these men (Younger and Philip), as well as Philip's wife, (possibly even Younger's wife although hers is more credible only since other Herndons are buried in that cemetery), are unknown & unprovable. It is likely they were buried in proximity to other close family members, possibly on family-owned land which is how all early family cemeteries started in this region---on the edges of family farms.
PROBLEMS WITH PUBLISHED BURIAL LOCATIONS (FOR YOUNGER & WIFE SARAH ANN & SON ALFRED):
The Herndon Cemetery, a.k.a. Alfred Herndon Cemetery, was not included in the 1961 "Statistical Handbook of Trigg County [KY]..." by Eurie Pearl Wilford Neel. It was first included in the 1980 book, "Trigg County [KY] Cemeteries, 1811-1979" by Judith Ann [(Bergen) Beam] Maupin (research assisted by Vera White). The Maupin book enumerates this Herndon Cemetery having several burials with missing stones, unfortunately without giving attribution to her source of info, although it may be inferred that her data could have come from an adjacent or nearby resident. In Maupin's book on pages 124-125, in the Herndon Cemetery, she lists eleven burials of people who were Herndons at birth or death (FYI: Mrs. Riley Vinson, Anna S. was a daughter of Younger & Sarah Ann Herndon), five of whom are said to be without stones, this includes Alfred Herndon born 1825 & wife Martha. Significantly, there's no mention at all of the purported burial of Sarah Ann (possibly Wilson) Herndon who died 1860, leaving the earliest Herndon burial with a surviving tombstone there as Bob L. Herndon, son of Alfred & Martha (Vinson) Herndon (1867-1885). The earliest burials with tombstones are John T. Johnson in 1857; then skipping 27 years to Ethel B. Johnson & Myra B. Williams in 1884. Likewise, in Maupin's book on page 211, in the Pitts Cemetery, she lists only eight burials, for Pitts & Rogers-Pitts, Futrell, & McCawley, only five having surviving tombstones, the three of the four Pitts lacking them, and the earliest burial with tombstone being 1866 for John M. McCawley (1838-1866). Significantly, again, there's no mention of any Herndon, particularly not Younger Herndon. Sadly, the Pitts Cemetery was also not recorded in the Neel book (1961). Altogether, this sheds doubt on accuracy of the published beliefs of the burial locations which lack tombstones.
BURIAL LOCATION(S) FOR YOUNGER & WIFE:
As for Younger Herndon (lifespan 1785 VA-1859 KY; enumerated on 1840 Stewart Co TN U.S. Federal Census), in his erroneous conflated identity (Younger Philip Herndon) he is purportedly buried in a cemetery of only twelve interments, no others being Herndons, and apart from his wife who died only a year later and was purportedly buried elsewhere. Although not mentioned in county cemetery books of Neel (1961) or Maupin (1980), yet according to the 2008 county cemetery book by Sumner, Fortner, Metts & Morris (info supplied by Marilyn Herndon Ladd for him & wife, pp. 177 & 277): his burial is recorded as an unmarked grave, no headstone, located at Pitts Cemetery, Trigg Co KY, with zero other Herndons (one Askew) buried there, yet his wife, who died only a year later, is purported to have been buried, again no headstone, at Alfred Herndon Cemetery, Canton, Trigg Co KY---this seems very strange. Of the two cemeteries, the purported Alfred Herndon Cemetery seems a far more likely place for Younger as well, since NO other Herndon family members were buried at Pitts Cemetery. Sadly, however, there is no surviving proof that even his son Alfred Herndon or wife Martha Frances Vinson are buried there either, although it is provable that this graveyard was on land formerly belonging to Alfred. (Also, there are two large trees at the Alfred Herndon Cemetery, near all the tombstones within the cemetery itself, contained within the burial perimeter, which makes me wonder if the two trees were planted to mark significant spots, perhaps favored graves.) So, IF Sarah is buried there it seems highly likely that Younger would have been also---since he preceded her in death by only a year. This needs future verification. Tracking the source of this belief, going back through family records, I find an early source for identifying Pitts Cemetery on Dry Creek, as the burial place of Younger Herndon: it was stated in an undated 1960s letter to Dad, Jerry Herndon, by Jennie Ora "Ora" Williams Calhoun, wife of John Madison Calhoun, and Great-granddaughter of Younger, granddaughter of Alfred Herndon & Martha Frances Vinson, via daughter Martha Emerson Herndon (Mrs. Joseph) Williams. (The 1960s letter would have been written between 1963 when my Dad started genealogical research & her death in 1971. ALERT: Ms. Ora did not mention a burial place for Alfred's mother Sarah Ann.) So, although it doesn't make sense, Pitts Cemetery location MAY be true for Younger ONLY IF Ms. Ora had genuine knowledge or accurate documentation. SUPPORTIVE COUNTER-EVIDENCE: The 140 (later reduced to 25) acres of land owned by Younger & Sarah in the 1850s (1850-till deaths in 1859 & 1860, purchased in 1850 from Alfred Boyd & mostly sold in 1856 to Chesley D. Lewis) was on Little River and was linked to a 3-acre parcel of land sold in 1822 by Jacob Torian to the Methodist Episcopal Church which later became the Bethel Methodist Church. That land therefore apparently includes the McKinney Cemetery on Cliffwood Drive off 272. Using logic it seems counter-intuitive that Younger & Sarah would be buried so far away from their own land. Therefore, it seems the burial location is not actually provable.
BURIAL LOCATION FOR PHILIP:
In the case of Philip Herndon (lifespan 1801/10 TN-1848 TN; enumerated on 1840 Stewart Co TN U.S. Federal Census), his exact burial location within Stewart Co TN is completely unknown. I have some theories, but that's all they are. For Philip, I find only three organized places to be possibilities: (1) minimally possible, where his son Lewis Herndon was later buried: at the Boyd Memorial Cemetery in Tharpe, Stewart Co TN, yet it's highly iffy since his son outlived him by 62 years, dying in 1914; so, (2) perhaps forgotten among unmarked graves of only 8 listed at Herndon Cemetery in Stewart Co TN---again doubtful, since the earliest Herndon buried there was in 1928, or (3) least likely, inasmuch as neither he nor any other Herndons are listed, maybe at the Herndon Cemetery (no longer used)---due to Kentucky Lake causing relocation to St. Mary's # 2 [listed Saint Mary's Cemetery # 02]. So I conclude, he likely was buried on family land prior to establishment of full-scale cemeteries.
BURIAL LOCATION FOR PHILIP'S WIFE, SARAH:
The time & place of burial for Philip's wife Sarah (Hitchcock) Herndon is completely unknown, but likely in Stewart Co TN, (1) if she indeed died young & did not live to be old as her son's biographical sketch stated, & (2) if she did not remarry & died near the time of her husband, on this basis therefore, I postulate she may have been buried near her husband, wherever that was within Stewart Co TN.
CALCULATED BURIAL LOCATIONS SUMMARY:
These calculated places of burial I am registering are for the purpose of correcting the mis-merged identities & families, and is an approximation based on the best research deduction available to me.
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This research summary, condensed for bio sketch, was written by Rose Herndon Bonnell, 6 July 2016, updated 13 January 2017, and 21 Oct 2023.
Gravesite Details
Exact burial location unproven but definitely in Stewart Co TN, most likely same place as son Lewis Y. Herndon (1824-1914).
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