John R. Thurman (aft. 1750 - 1835)

Born after 1750 in Virginia

Descendants

Died 10 Oct 1835 before age 85 in Cumberland, Kentucky, United States [uncertain]

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Biography

John Thurman was born in about 1750 in Virginia. He married Judith Hooper.

"One John Thurman of Chesterfield County [Virginia] headed a family of eleven in 1783." John and Judith Hooper were known to live in Goochland County and own property in Charlotte County, so it's not clear if this is the same John Thurman.^[1]

John and Judith eventually settled in Cumberland, Kentucky, United States. ^[2] By age 70, he's listed in 1830 US Census, along with Andrew, William and Barry Thurman, South of Cumberland River. ^[3]

Middle initial R may stand for Richard or Richardson. He has been referred to in the book "History of Cumberland County Kentucky" as "Rich John". Not sure if this was because he was wealthy or of his middle name.^[4]

Lucy Thurman, Slave of Thomas Hooper and Judith & John Thurman
"The Oldest Person in Kentucky. [From the Louisville Courier-Journal.] S. C. Burchett, Esq., Sheriff of Clinton county, Ky., a perfectly relia- ble gentleman, well known to some of our citizens, sends us the following particulars in regard to a remarkable case of longevity: Albany, Ky., July 22, 1869. a few days ago, in company with Mr. John Irvine, one cf oldest citizens of this county, I visited a very aged negro woman who resided on his farm. Her name is Lucy Thurman. Indubitable family records prove that she is now 119 years old, she having been born in Hanover county, Va., in 1750. Born the slave of Thomas Hooper, she became at his death the property of his daughter, who married John Thurman. The latter lived many years in Cumberland county, Ky., and died there. In 1812 Mr. John Irvine purchased Lucy, her thirteenth child being then two years old. She converses about incidents which came under her observation during the Revolutionary war, and remembers the battle of Yorktown with special dis- tinctness. While it was progressing, she was plowing in a field within hear- ing of the guns, and and remembers seeing bodies of troops passing and repassing for many days. Some of them, she says, entered the field and took away the horse she was working to the plow. She is at present able to walk about, and looks fleshy and healthy, though her hair is very white. Until about a year ago she could thread a needle and see without spectacles, but her eyesight has since been failing. Her children are scattered, and she does not know how many are living. Mr. Irvine, who purchased her in 1812, is satisfied that she is 119 years old."^[5]

Sources

1. ↑ Young, Chester Raymond, "Westward into Kentucky: The Narrative of Daniel Trabue" (2004), p. 184. United States History. 19. https://uknowledge.uky.edu/upk_united_states_history/19
2. ↑ https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:XHLH-ZCW 1820 US Census
3. ↑ https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:XHPL-Y5V 1830 US Census South of Cumberland River
4. ↑ https://whenceicame.blogspot.com/2018/05/a-town-country-relationship.html WHENCE I CAME Early Families of St. Paul's Parish, Hanover County, Virginia and Migrations
5. ↑ Platte County Reveille (Platte City, MO.), 20 Aug 1869, p. 2, col. 4 https://shsmo.newspapers.com/image/legacy/667029165/, citing Louisville Courier-Journal

• Bourbon County KY WB A pages 274-275 Will of Joshua Thurman
• Deborah Thurman Parks, "A Town & Country Relationship," Whence I Came blog, https://whenceicame.blogspot.com/2018/05/a-town-country-relationship.html, accessed 29 Sep 2022.
• Deborah Thurman Parks, "Love Thy Neighbor," Whence I Came blog, https://whenceicame.blogspot.com/2019/11/love-thy-neighbor.html, accessed 29 Sep 2022.
• Deborah Thurman Parks, "John and Judith Hooper Thurman in Goochland County, Virginia," Whence I Came blog, https://whenceicame.blogspot.com/2020/04/john-and-judith-part-2.html, accessed 29 Sep 2022.