Reuben Conway Madison (abt. 1788 - 1835)

Born about 1788 in Prospect Hill Plantation, Madison Mills, Madison County, Virginia

Ancestors

Husband of Winifred (Cotts) Madison — married about 1814 in Virginia

Descendants

Died 25 May 1835 at about age 47 in Lewistown, Fulton County, Illinois

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Biography

Reuben Conway Madison was born about 1788 to Francis Madison and Susanna "Susan" Bell at his parents’ plantation, Prospect Hill, located in Madison Mills, Madison County, Virginia.

Called “Conway”, he most likely married Winna Cotts about 1814. They welcomed their first child, Eugenia around 1815 in Virginia.

Between 1815 – 1818 they migrated to Kentucky, where they’re found in the 1820 Federal Census in Russellville, Logan County. His daughters, Eliza and Mary were born there. Sons, Francis and James were born in Todd County which was formed in 1820 from parts of Logan and Christian Counties.

About 1828, Conway moved his family to Fulton County, Illinois, where they're found in the 1830 Federal Census. Also in 1830, his last child, William, was born. Conway passed away just 5 short years later.

On the 28th of June, 1836, the United States mourned to hear of the death of one of its greatest presidents, former President James Madison. His wife, Dolley Madison, was the executrix of his will and having no children he left a generous bequest of $9000 to be divided among his nephews and nieces. Dolley hired Pinkerton investigators and distributed circulars trying to locate all of the heirs. It’s not known where she got the misinformation on Conway but at first, she reported to Congress that he had died in Alabama circa 1821. Having been made aware of Dolley’s circular, Conway’s wife, Winna, contacted Dolley on the 3rd of December, 1836 and apprised Dolley of Conway’s passing 2 years prior. After further correspondence and submission of legal documents the bequests were finally disbursed to all of Conway’s children except for William in 1838. Although William was listed in all paperwork, why he didn’t receive it is unknown.

Conway and Winna's Children

1. Eugenia Evelyn Madison was born about 1815 in Virginia. She married Isaac Preston on 20 Oct 1842 in Peoria County, Illinois. She died in 1895 in Fayette, Fayette County, Iowa.

2. Elizabeth A "Eliza" Madison was born on 08 Jul 1818 in Logan County, Kentucky. She married John Kerns Bennett on 25 Jun 1838 in Lewistown, Fulton County, Illinois.

3. Mary C Madison was born about 1820 in Kentucky, USA. She married 1) Harmon D. Wooster on 01 Jan 1842 in Fulton County, Illinois and 2) Enoch Acord about 1859. She died in 1903.

4. Francis Conway Madison was born on 12 Mar 1822 in Todd County, Kentucky. He married 1) Elizabeth A. Purdy, 11 Nov 1846 in Clayton County, Iowa; 2) Marion C. Willard in 1852 and 3) Julia A. Crawford on 31 Jul 1856 in Edgewood, Delaware County, Iowa. He died on 20 May 1906 in Fayette County, Iowa at age 84.

5. James Madison was born about 1827 in Kentucky.

6. William C. "Billy" Madison was born on 16 Oct 1830 in Lewistown, Fulton County, Illinois. He married 1) Sarah Marie Robinson on 01 May 1858 in Clayton County, Iowa and 2) Sarah E. Scofield on 06 Jun 1879 in Delaware County, Iowa. He died on 12 Jan 1909 in Edgewood, Delaware County, Iowa at the age of 78.

Although DNA triangulations with Reuben's father, Francis, has proven this line, the only living descendants of Reuben Conway Madison and Winna Cotts Madison descend through their daughter, Eliza Madison Bennett, so it's impossible to triangulate DNA with Reuben directly.

Sources

• 1820 United States Federal Census; Russellville, Logan, Kentucky; Page: 34; NARA Roll: M33_26; Image: 45
• 1830 United States Federal Census; Fulton, Illinois; Page: 258; NARA Series: M19; Roll Number: 24; Family History Film: 0007649.
• “Descendants of Ambrose Madison, the Grandfather of President James Madison, Jr.” by C. Thomas Chapman (The Montpelier Foundation, 2006).
• Who Was Buried in James Madison’s Grave? A Study in Contextual Analysis by C. Thomas Chapman (The Montpelier Foundation, 2005)
• Ruth and Sam Sparacio, Will Abstracts of Orange County, Virginia (1821-1838) (privately published 1986)
• Virginia County Court Records: Chancery Suits (Superior Court of Law and Chancery, Orange County, Virginia, 1831-1845 (McLean, VA: privately published, 1988)
• Fulton County, Illinois Probate Records
• Communications between Dolley Madison and Winna Madison, Reuben's wife, held in the Dolly Madison Digital Library.