William Conaway (abt. 1765 - 1832)

Husband of Nancy (Amos) Conaway — married [date unknown] in Maryland, United States

Descendants

Died 1832 at about age 67 in McLean, Illinois, United States

Problems/Questions Profile managers: Albert Amos [send private message] and Matt Peters [send private message]

Biography

William Conaway married Nancy Amos, daughter of Nicholas D. and Christiana (Ditto) Amos.^[1]

Bourbon County, Kentucky

Based on the birth locations of their children, the William Conaway family lived in Maryland before moving to Bourbon County, Kentucky about 1794. William Conaway was in the annual tax lists for Bourbon County, Kentucky starting in 1795.^[2] At that time he was listed as having one horse, four cattle, and no land. His wife’s father Nicholas Amos and her brother Thomas Amos also first appeared in the Bourbon County tax lists in 1795. The tax list in 1796 had William Conaway with 75 acres of land in the Hinkson Creek area, three horses, and five cattle.^[3] Unfortunately, the 1800 US census records for Kentucky have been lost.

The 1810 US census for Bourbon County, Kentucky had one Conaway family. The “Will Coniway” household included 13 people.^[4] The 1820 census had three Conaway households: Wm Conaway with 10 people,^[5] and two other households for William’s recently married sons Amos^[6] and Aquilla^[7] (listed as Aequller in the census). The 1830 US census for Bourbon County, Kentucky had no Conaway (or similar named) households. The extended Conaway family apparently left that area by 1830.

The marriages of a person named Conaway (or similar name) in Bourbon County, Kentucky between 1795 and 1830 are given below. As will become clear, they apparently were all children of William Conaway. The records for these marriages are described at “Conaway Marriages in Bourbon County, Kentucky, 1795-1830”,^[8] including information about marriage bonds, registers, consents, misspellings, database errors, and other complications.

• 7 April 1807, Betsey (Elizabeth) Conaway married Joseph Neal. The marriage bond has not been found for this marriage.
• 7 January 1813, Amos Conaway married Jane Barnett. The marriage bond was signed by Amos Conaway and William Conaway, who apparently represented the bride.
• 22 April 1814, Aquilla Conaway married Rachel Barnett. The marriage bond was signed by Aquilla Conaway and George Barnett.
• 9 July 1818, Hannah Conaway married James Barnett. The marriage bond was signed by James Barnett and William Conaway.
• 12 Feb. 1824, Christiana Conaway married Silas Watters. The marriage bond was signed by Silas Watters and William Conaway.
• 18 March 1824, Providence Conaway married Jesse Barnett. The marriage bond has not been found for this marriage.
• 7 June 1825, Rebecca Conaway married Alvin Barnett. The marriage bond was signed by Alvin Barnett and William Conaway.
• 28 Feb. 1828, Nancy Conaway married Ambrose Hall. William Conaway signed a consent allowing his daughter Nancy to marry Ambrose Hall, which indicates that Nancy was less than 21 years old. The marriage bond was signed by Ambrose Hall and Nancy’s brother Chalton Conaway, who also signed the consent as a witness.
• 3 June 1829, Matilda Conaway married Robert Barnett. William Conaway signed a consent authorizing his daughter Matilda to marry Robert Barnett, which indicates that Matilda was less than 21. The marriage bond was signed by Robert Barnett and James Ellis, who also signed the consent as a witness. A frequently cited typed transcription of marriage records made in 1931 incorrectly gave the groom’s name as Albert Barnett—however, the three original handwritten marriage records and subsequent census and other records all have his name as Robert Barnett.

The Bourbon County tax lists have William Conaway with 75 acres until 1817, when he was listed for 100 acres.^[9] His land in the tax lists remained at 100 acres until the last tax record for him in 1829, which indicated that he had no land. The tax lists indicate that William did not own slaves during his first years in Kentucky. However, the 1810 US census, 1820 US census, and the tax lists indicate that he owned one slave from 1810 to 1820. Starting in 1821 he no longer owned a slave.

No deeds were found for William Conaway in the Bourbon County deed records.^[10] One possibility is that he leased the land with an agreement that he would pay the property taxes.^[11] Another possibility is that there was controversy about land ownership. Such controversies were common at that time.

McLean County, Illinois

The households of William,^[12] Aquilla,^[13] and Amos^[14] Conaway had relocated to the Buckles Grove area of Tazewell County, Illinois by the time of the 1830 US census. Given the marriage records above, it is notable that the 1830 census records also indicate that Ambrose Hall and family were living next to William Conaway, and Robert Barnett and family were living next to Amos Conaway. This area became part of McLean County when that county was formed in December, 1830.

Various books about the history of McLean County, Illinois have information about Conaways. A few relevant excerpts are are given below.

James H. Conaway was born July 14, 1819, in Bourbon County Kentucky, within three miles of Millersburg. His father’s name was Aquilla Conaway, and his mother’s name was Rachel Barnett. His father and mother were American born citizens. Aquilla Conaway came to Kentucky from Maryland at a very early age. . . .
In the fall of 1827 Aquilla Conaway brought his family to Illinois. . . .

Mr. Conaway came first to Vermilion County, where he remained for a few months, and the came to Buckles’ Grove, McLean County, Illinois, where he arrived February 8, 1828.
(The good old times in McLean County, Illinois: . . ., 1874, page 537)^[15]

. . the same year [1828] Aquilla Conaway came from Kentucky and purchased the claim which Buckles had taken, he moving farther west onto Section 29. Here Conaway and his children remained several years. . . . (page 516)

Amos Conaway came here in 1830, and took up land in Section 3 (21-4), and at the time of his death owned about one thousand acres in that and adjoining sections. He left a large family, but they are scattered and gone. (page 518)

The first intelligent account of stated preaching and church organization comes from Father Silas Waters, who, for nearly fifty years has been a soldier of the Cross here fighting in the M.E. division of the church militant. The year he came to Buckles’ Grove, Rev. James Latta was a missionary here, and held his meetings in William Conaway’s house. A class was organized, of which Mr. Waters was leader, composed of eleven members, by Rev. S. R. Begg in 1831. William, Nancy, and Chalton Conaway, Matilda Barnett, James Merrifield and wife, Jane and Rachel Conaway, Silas and Christiana Waters and Catharine Barnett were members of this first class. (page 528 and 531).

Silas Watters, retired farmer and merchant, Le Roy; one of the early pioneers of McLean Col.; born in Stafford Co., Va., Nov. 19, 1803. . . In 1830, the subject of this sketch located in what is now Empire Township, McLean Co., where he has lived for a period of nearly half a century; he first entered 180 acres of land, to which he afterward added until he was in possession of 640 acres . . . He has always taken a deep interest in the cause of religion and education. . . His marriage with Christiana Conaway was celebrated Feb. 12. 1824; she was born in Bourbon Co., Ky., June 9, 1799; she died Oct. 25, 1866, leaving four children . . . (page 894)

W.P. Conaway was born in McLean Co., Ill., Feb. 18, 1839; his father, Chalton D., emigrated to Illinois and located in McLean Co. about the year 1830, where he lived until 1856, when he removed to Logan Co., where he died two years later.” (page 875)
(The History of McLean County, Illinois : . . ., 1879^[16])

The above description of the first church class is one of the few records that mention William’s wife Nancy. This initial church activity appears to have been primarily the extended Conaway family and spouses.

Four brothers, viz. AMOS, AQUILLA, CHALTON, and WILLIAM CONAWAY, settled near Leroy, Ill, in Feb. 1830. The last-named died in Wyoming in 1895. (W.P. Conaway, Ames, Kans. to E.M. Prince, Bloomington, Ill. Sept. 21, 1899.)

AMOS CONAWAY, born in Maryland, about 1790, married JANE BARNETT, about 1810, moved first to Bourbon Co. Kentucky, then to Vermillion County, Ill. Sept. 19, 1828, then to Buckles Grove, McLean County, Ill. Feb. 14, 1830, and died Dec. 30, 1838.
(Old Family Records Number Four, 1914^[17] )

William and Nancy Conaway’s sons Chalton and William apparently were living with their parents when the family first arrived in Illinois about 1830 and for the 1830 US census (which indicated two males between the ages of 20 and 30).

The records for purchases of public lands in Illinois indicate that Amos Conaway purchased three tracts in McLean County in 1825 and twelve tracts in the period of 1832-1836.^[18] Aquilla and Chalton (recorded as Charlton or Chatton) Conaway each purchased three tracts in 1835.

William Conaway died in 1832, probably about July. The probate records are on file with the McLean County, Circuit Court, and a copy is attached to his WikiTree profile.^[19] He did not have a will. Amos Conaway was appointed administrator of the estate on August 21, 1832. The final value of the estate was $1399 in November, 1834. Unfortunately, a probate record with the names of William’s spouse and descendants has not been found. Records were kept of the purchases at an estate sale in 1833. The names of those purchasing items correspond to names above, including: Nancy Conaway, Amos Conaway, Aquilla Conaway, Chalton Conaway, William Conaway, Elizabeth Neal, Silas Waters, Robert Barnett, Alvin Barnett, and Ambrose Hall. The estate sale and census records indicate that at least seven of William’s married children had moved from Kentucky to McLean County by 1833.

William Conaway was probably buried in the “old Conaway Cemetery” just south of the town of Le Roy, in McLean County, Illinois. As described at "Old Conaway Cemetery at Le Roy, Illinois",^[20] the gravestones were lost and the site was abandoned as a cemetery many decades in the past.

Children of William Conaway

Based on the information above, the children of William and Nancy Conaway included:

• AQUILLA, born Dec. 4, 1786 in Maryland,^[21] married Rachel Barnett in 1814.
• ELIZABETH, born about 1786 in Maryland,^[22] married Joseph Neal in 1807.
• AMOS, born in Aug. 1792 in Maryland,^[23] married Jane Barnett in 1813.
• HANNAH, born [1795-1800] probably in Kentucky,^[24] married James Barnett in 1818.
• CHRISTIANA, born in June, 1799 in Kentucky,^[25] married Silas Watters in 1824.
• PROVIDENCE, born [1801-1804] in Kentucky,^[26] married Jesse Barnett in 1824.
• REBECCA, born (probably) 1806 in Kentucky,^[27] married Alvin Barnett in1825.
• CHALTON, born March, 1807 in Kentucky,^[28] married Abigail Buckles.
• NANCY, born about 1809 in Kentucky,^[29] married Ambrose Hall in 1828.
• WILLIAM, JR. “Bill”, born March 15, 1810 in Bourbon County, Kentucky, married Emily Porter Oct. 26, 1836 in Vermilion Co., Illinois.^[30]
• MATILDA, born about 1812, no record of birth place but probably Bourbon County, Kentucky,^[31] married Robert Barnett in 1829.

The gaps between children, particularly between 1886 and 1892, suggest that William Conaway may have had other children that are not listed here. Children born at that time could have left home before the 1810 census and not appear in subsequent records for the family. Or, one or more children could have died at a young age.

The individuals above were mapped to the counts for the various age groups in the 1810, 1820, and 1830 US census records for William Conaway’s family. The results are given in the Research Notes section below. The range of possible birth years for Hannah and Providence above were derived from these tables.

The list above maps nicely to the census records, but at least one son may be missing from the list. The census record for 1810 indicates a male born between 1795 and 1800 that is not identified above. A relative or non-family member could have been living with the family helping with the farm work, but the time between successive children in the list above is consistent with a missing son in that period.

The Research Notes section below describes additional evidence and connections among these family members, some widespread genealogical errors, and speculations and claims that have been made about other possible children for William and Nancy Conaway.

In summary, the list above of children of William Conaway is supported by many different sources. If any person on the list is excluded, the children will not be consistent with the census records. However, the list is probably not complete.

Research Notes

Matching Children to the 1810, 1820, and 1830 Censuses

The US censuses before 1850 had only counts of the number of people in a household in certain age groups, without giving the names of each person. This limits the ability to identify individual people.

Below are tables that map the names in the list above to the counts for each age group in the 1810,^[4] 1820,^[5] and 1830^[12] censuses for the William Conaway family.

The 1810 census indicates an unknown male age 10-15. This was probably a son. In general, the gaps between children make it likely that there were other children that have not yet been identified.

In the table for 1810 and 1820, William, Jr. is counted as less than 10 years old in both the 1810 and 1820 censuses. That may be possible if he was born on the edge of the cutoff criteria. It is also possible that there was another male child that died between 1810 and 1820 and William was not counted in the 1810 census, or that the census has errors.

The 1830 census has an unknown male born 1826-1830 and an unknown female born 1816-182. These were likely grandchildren or other children taken in. 1816 is at least 30 years after the birth of the first child for William and Nancy Conaway. Having a child at that age is unlikely.

Additional Evidence and Connections Among the Family Members

The probate records for Amos Conaway who died in 1838 say that his son William H. Conaway was appointed administrator and signed the bond along with Alvin Barnett, Silas Watters, and William Conaway. The estate sale records included purchases by William Conaway, Sr., William Conaway, Chalton Conaway, Alvin Barnett, Ambrose Hall, Jesse Barnett, Amos’s son James Conaway, and Amos’s nephew Amos Neal. Copies of the probate files are attached to the WikiTree profile for Amos Conaway. (https://www.wikitree.com/wiki/Conaway-963)

Aquilla Conaway was in McLean County at the time of the 1840 US census, living next to his nephew Amos Neal. Amos was the son of Aquilla’s widowed sister Elizabeth Neal. Elizabeth was living on the other side of Amos. (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:XHBD-WCR)

Providence (Conaway) Barnett’s daughter Nancy Barnett was living with the family of Providence’s brother Chalton Conaway at the time of the 1850 US census for McLean County, Illinois. Silas Watters and family were living next to Chalton. (https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:M8RQ-XX9).

Providence’s daughter Nancy Barnett was the second wife of Hannah (Conaway) Barnett’s son William Barnett (1858 Edgar County, Illinois marriage record at https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:KFKX-Q39). A son and a daughter of William’s granddaughter Arminta (Barnett) Kennedy said in numerous family history writings that William and Nancy were first cousins. However, the specific parentage was not described. The information presumably came from Arminta. Providence’s husband Jesse Barnett and Hannah’s husband James Barnett were actually brothers (as described in the Barnett Family Connections section of “Conaway Marriages in Bourbon County, Kentucky, 1795-1830”).^[8]

A family tree passed down from Robert Claude Barnett, a grandson of Providence’s son Thompson Barnett, had a list of the siblings in Providence’s family as: Hannah, Asbery, Bill, Bob, and Providence. The list is apparently incomplete. Asbery and Bob or Robert have not been identified in other records, but may indicate missing sons—or may have been a transcription error as discussed in the WikiTree profile for Jesse Barnett. This family tree had only names with no birth or death dates and no sources. The names of their parents were not given. The common assumption is that the information in the family tree came from Thompson Barnett. The tree has been accurate for later generations that are easier to verify.

Files of Bertha B. Watters — Notes about Oversights and Errors

Bertha B. Watters (1887-1968) of McLean County, Illinois did extensive genealogical research about William Conaway and his descendants. Her husband Samuel “Fay” Watters was a grandson of William Conaway’s daughter Christiana. Bertha’s files were placed in the Crumbaugh Library in Le Roy, McLean County, Illinois. The “Conaway family file” has about 500 pages, with about two-thirds redundant or not related to Conaways in McLean County. The “Conaway letters” file has about 150 pages of correspondence about genealogy for William Conaway and his descendants. The “Barnett family file” has about 200 pages. Among the many sources of information in the files are letters and documents from Mary Frances (Huffman) Holt who was a descendant of William’s son Aquilla, and William H. Judy, whose wife was a great-granddaughter of William’s son Amos. Bertha communicated widely with others interested in family genealogy and her conclusions have been widely disseminated.

Bertha Watters made a list that she was reasonably confident were children of William and Nancy Conaway. However, she missed the marriage records noted above for Providence Conaway and Rebecca Conaway. Bertha recorded everything she could find about any Conaways, but made no mention of Providence or Rebecca. Bertha interpreted a marriage bond signed by William Conaway as unambiguous evidence that William was the father of the bride, but she did not mention the marriage bond for Rebecca signed by William.

Bertha had Matilda Conaway’s husband as Alvin Barnett, based on the incorrect 1931 transcribed marriage record for Albert Barnett and purchases by Alvin Barnett at the estate sale for William Conaway. She apparently missed the original marriage records for Matilda and Robert Barnett, the purchases by Robert Barnett at the estate sale, the fact that Robert Barnett was living next to Amos Conaway in the 1830 US census for Tazewell County, Illinois, and the marriage between Alvin Barnett and Rebecca Conaway. Bertha also had Matilda’s age off by about a decade, which was not consistent with a father giving consent for his daughter to marry.

Bertha’s widely distributed list of children of William and Nancy Conaway included a son James born about 1796. The only source she gave for James was that he was listed as an appraiser for the William Conaway estate in the probate records in August, 1832. Bertha made a typed transcription of the probate records in November, 1958. The transcription included “Appraisers — John Buckles, James Conaway, and Michael Dickerson.”

Unfortunately, this appears to be another case of transcription error. Images of the original probate records show that the appraisers were “John Buckles, James Merryfield, and Michael Dickerson.”^[19] There was no mention of a James Conaway in the probate records, including no purchases by a James Conaway at the estate sale. No other sources for a son James Conaway were found in Bertha’s files. Aquilla Conaway and Amos Conaway both had sons named James that could be sources of confusion.

The Book Children of Mt. Soma — Propagating Oversights and Errors

The book Children of Mt. Soma: Baltimore (now in Harford County), Maryland (1992) has frequently been cited as a source of information about William Conaway and his wife Nancy Amos (https://www.familysearch.org/library/books/records/item/124335-children-of-mt-soma-baltimore-now-in-harford-county-maryland, pages 124-130). The book lists the genealogy of the Amos family, including Nancy Amos.

The section about William Conaway and Nancy Amos was apparently based on information that ultimately came from Bertha Watters and has the same errors as found in Bertha’s files. Notably, the husband of Matilda Conaway was given as “Alvin or Albert ‘Al’ Barnett” (page 130) rather than Robert Barnett that is uniformly found in original sources. A son James was included. Providence Conaway and Rebecca Conaway (the actual wife of Alvin Barnett) were not mentioned.

This book appears to be largely a compilation of family tree information from others without attempting to obtain original records or verify sources. It may be closer to the public family trees on sites like Ancestry.com than to well researched and documented genealogical writings.

Speculations and Claims about Other Children for William and Nancy Conaway

Several speculations or claims without sources have been made about children for William and Nancy Conaway that are not in the list above. Given that the list above is probably incomplete, those claims should be considered as possible starting points for research.

As noted above, a family tree passed down from Robert Claude Barnett, a grandson of Providence (Conaway) Barnett’s son Thompson Barnett, had a partial list of the siblings in Providence’s family as: Hannah, Asbery, Bill, Bob, and Providence. Asbery and Bob or Robert are not included in the list of children above. This family tree has been accurate for later generations that are easier to verify.

As noted above, Bertha B. Watters’ widely distributed list of children of William and Nancy Conaway included a son James born about 1796. However, this claim appears to have been based on a transcription error with no other sources. Bertha’s list of children appears to be the source for the legacy data for William Conaway on FamilySearch.org.

The biographical information in the Find A Grave memorial for William Conaway currently (June, 2021) says William and Nancy had six children: James, Amos, John, Christiana, Chalton, and George (https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/163425847). A link is provided to a memorial for Aquilla John Conaway (1795-1861) who apparently is the son John, and another link is provided for the son Aquilla (1786-1868) described here. Given the biographical information, it seems possible that Aquilla John Conaway is being put in the wrong Conaway family on Find A Grave.

The information about William and Nancy (Amos) Conaway in the family tree on FamilySearch.org has been changing frequently and has inconsistent and incorrect information (as of June, 2021) (https://www.familysearch.org/tree/person/details/KLGZ-MPV). The pages for this family on FamilySearch.org do not appear to be converging to accurate information. William’s children on some of the pages include Aquilla John Conaway (1795-1861) (https://www.familysearch.org/tree/person/details/M4H6-SZW) and George Washington Conaway (1815-1897) (https://www.familysearch.org/tree/person/details/LDTP-2ZC).

The sources for Aquilla John Conaway on FamilySearch.org include census records that say he was born in Maryland about 1796 and was in Iowa for the 1850 and 1860 censuses. All the sources on FamilySearch (including death and marriage records for his children) and his gravestone on Find A Grave have his name as Aquilla Conaway, Conoway, or Conway with no mention of the name John. The only link to William Conaway appears to be the same or similar last name and being in Maryland in the 1790s. However, the 1790 US census for Maryland had at least 12 Conaway households and 6 Conway households. Additional information is needed linking this Aquilla John with William Conaway. In theory, this could be the unknown male in the 1810 census records for William Conaway, but it seems unlikely that a brother of William’s son Aquilla Conaway would be given the same name Aquilla Conaway.

The FamilySearch.org family tree also has as William’s son George Washington Conaway born in Mason County, Kentucky (without a source for county of birth). As noted above, the biography on Find A Grave also says (without a source) that William had a son named George. The sources for George on FamilySearch include 1850 and later census records for Missouri that have him born between 1807 and 1818. His last name is given as Conway in his 1844 marriage record and in the 1850 US census. His name is given as Conoway in the 1860 US census and in the death record for a son. His name is given as Conaway in the 1870 US census.

It is very plausible that George Washington Conway/Conoway/Conaway came from Mason County, Kentucky, but, that would mean he was almost certainly not a son of William Conaway. William Conaway’s family was in Bourbon County. The 1810 US census for Mason County, Kentucky has records for the Miles Conway household and the John Conway household. The 1820 US census for Mason County has these and other Conway/Conoway/Conaway households (with various spelling corrections noted in the census records on Ancestry.com). In addition to the inconsistent birth location, if this was the son under age 10 in the 1820 US census for the William Conaway household, then son William, Jr. is missing from the census.

Given the information available as of June, 2021, it seems unlikely that the Aquilla John Conaway and George Washington Conway/Conoway/Conaway above were children of William and Nancy Conaway.

At one time, the WikiTree profile for John Aquilla Conaway was linked as a son of William Conaway. This link was removed because no sources were given and the relationship seems unlikely.

Sources

1. ↑ The legal records for her father’s estate include various lists of heirs that have daughter Nancy Amos wife of William Conaway. These records are given at “Nicholas Day Amos Probate and Heirs 1815” https://www.wikitree.com/wiki/Space:Nicholas_Day_Amos_Probate_and_Heirs_1815
2. ↑ FamilySearch.org has digital images of microfilm of the original tax records for Bourbon County, Kentucky. Digital indexes have not been made for the names on the tax lists as of August, 2021. Searches must be done by looking at the images.
   Bourbon County, Kentucky Tax List, 1795, Wm Connaway, 4th Book for 1795 in the FamilySearch.org images. https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:3Q9M-CS3J-28V6
   Nicholas and Thomas Amos are in the same book at https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:3Q9M-CS3J-28ZF
   The tax list book for 1794, was not microfilmed and apparently has been lost. William Conaway, Nicholas Amos, and Thomas Amos were not in the tax list for 1793. The starting point for looking at the images for the three tax list books in 1793 on FamilySearch.org is at https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:3Q9M-CS3J-2C9V
3. ↑ Bourbon County, Kentucky Tax List, 1796, Wm Connaway, 3rd Book for 1796 in the FamilySearch.org images. https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:3Q9M-CS3J-24X4
4. ↑ ^{4.0 4.1} "United States Census, 1810," Will Conniway, Stoner Township, Bourbon, Kentucky, database with images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:XH2T-QW2: accessed 8 September 2020).
5. ↑ ^{5.0 5.1} "United States Census, 1820," Wm Conaway, North Middletown, Bourbon, Kentucky, database with images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:XHLR-3Q7: accessed 8 September 2020).
6. ↑ United States Census, 1820," Amos Conaway, North Middletown, Bourbon, Kentucky, database with images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:XHLR-3QD: accessed 8 September 2020).
7. ↑ "United States Census, 1820," Aequller Conaway, North Middletown, Bourbon, Kentucky, database with images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:XHLR-39N: accessed 8 September 2020).
8. ↑ ^{8.0 8.1} “Conaway Marriages in Bourbon County, Kentucky, 1795-1830” at https://www.wikitree.com/wiki/Space:Conaway_Marriages_in_Bourbon_County%2C_Kentucky%2C_1795-1830
9. ↑ The Bourbon County, Kentucky tax lists on FamilySearch.org are at https://www.familysearch.org/search/catalog/154761 (click the camera icon to open the images)
   Specific pages with information noted in the text above are given here.
   Bourbon County, Kentucky Tax List, 1809. Wm Conaway [75 acres, no slaves], 2nd Book for 1809 in the FamilySearch.org images. https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:3Q9M-CS3J-F9WM-1
   Bourbon County, Kentucky Tax List, 1817. Wm Conaway [100 acres, one slave]. https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:3Q9M-CS3J-F9QS-5
   Bourbon County, Kentucky Tax List, 1820. William Conaway [100 acres, one slave]
   https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:3Q9M-CS3J-F97H-Z
   Bourbon County, Kentucky Tax List, 1821. William Conaway [100 acres, no slaves] https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:3Q9M-CS3J-GH7M
   Bourbon County, Kentucky Tax List, 1829. William Conaway [last tax record in Bourbon County, Kentucky, no land, no slaves] https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:3Q9M-CS3J-GCSW
10. ↑ Deed information was investigated by Bourbon County, Kentucky genealogical researcher Rogers Bardé, January, 2021. In addition, FamilySearch.org has digital images of microfilm of the original deed records and associated court cases. Digital indexes have not been made for the names in the deed records as of August, 2021. Searches must be done by looking at the images of the original indexes on paper. The deed records are at (click on the camera icon to open the digital images) https://www.familysearch.org/search/catalog/431279
    The image of the page in the paper index that would have Conaway is at https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:3Q9M-CS4K-V49M-K
    “Vol. A 1811-1841 - Commissioner's deeds,” also has deed records and is at https://www.familysearch.org/search/catalog/655128
    The image of the paper index that would have cases for a person named Conaway is at https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:3Q9M-C3QY-D1K9
11. ↑ Very useful information about the Kentucky tax lists is at:
    “Tax Lists (1792-1840): An Overlooked Resource For Kentucky History and Land Titles,” https://kentuckyancestors.org/tax-lists-1792-1840-an-overlooked-resource-for-kentucky-history-and-land-titles/
    For William Conaway, the columns in the tax lists for the persons who first entered the land and obtained the patent are blank for the early years. Starting in 1804, the records usually have Peter Casey or Case as entering and obtaining the patent.
    Bourbon County, Kentucky Tax List, 1804. William Coneway. https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:3Q9M-CS3J-2C71
12. ↑ ^{12.0 12.1} "United States Census, 1830," William Conway, Tazewell, Illinois, database with images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:XHPY-K52: 11 August 2017). Accessed 8 Ksept. 2020.
13. ↑ "United States Census, 1830," Aquilla Conway, Tazewell, Illinois, database with images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:XHPY-KR3: 11 August 2017). Accessed 8 Sept. 2020.
14. ↑ "United States Census, 1830," Amos Conaway, Tazewell, Illinois, database with images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:XHPY-KRC: 11 August 2017). Accessed 8 Sept. 2020.
15. ↑ The good old times in McLean County, Illinois: Containing two hundred and sixty-one sketches of settlers . . ., 1874, by Dr. E. Duis. https://archive.org/details/goodoldtimesinmc00duis. Accessed Sept. 10, 2020.
16. ↑ The History of McLean County, Illinois; portraits of early settlers and prominent men, 1879, https://archive.org/details/historyofmcleanc00lebarich. Accessed 8 Sept. 2020.
17. ↑ Old Family Records Number Four originally Compiled and Printed by Milo Custer, 1914, Reprinted by the Bloomington-Normal Genealogical Society. Page 4. https://archive.org/details/oldfamilyrecords00cust/page/n11/mode/2up. Accessed 9 Sept. 2020.
18. ↑ “Illinois Public Domain Land Tract Sales” database, Illinois State Archives. https://www.ilsos.gov/isa/landsrch.jsp.
19. ↑ ^{19.0 19.1} “Probate File for William Conaway.” https://www.wikitree.com/photo.php/2/29/Conaway-693-1.pdf
20. ↑ "Old Conaway Cemetery at Le Roy, Illinois" https://www.wikitree.com/wiki/Space:The_Old_Conaway_Cemetery_at_Le_Roy%2C_Illinois
21. ↑ Date of birth is given on Aquilla’s gravestone, from a photo on Find A Grave. A book excerpt above has his birth in Maryland, as does his record in the 1860 US census. His record in the 1850 US census has his birth in Pennsylvania. The records in the 1900 US census for his sons Aquilla, Jr. and Warren both have their father’s place of birth as Maryland.
    Aquilla Conaway https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/23763118.
    "United States Census, 1850," Aquilla Conaway, McLean county, part of, McLean, Illinois, database with images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:M8RQ-XFX: 4 April 2020),
    "United States Census, 1860", Aquilla Conoway, Daviess, Missouri, database with images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:MH8M-4HV: 19 March 2020).
    "United States Census, 1900," Aquillo Conoway, [Jr.], Salem Township Coffeyburg town, Daviess, Missouri database with images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:M3C6-6L9: accessed 11 September 2020).
    "United States Census, 1900," Warren Conaway, Salem Township Coffeyburg town, Daviess, Missouri, database with images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:M3CX-NQN: accessed 11 September 2020).
22. ↑ Elizabeth’s date of birth was 1785 or 1786 based on her age and death date on her gravestone, from a photo on Find A Grave. The 1850 US census has her birth about 1788 in Maryland. The 1870 US census had her birth about 1786 in Kentucky. The 1880 US census records for her sons Joseph and Amos both have their mother’s place of birth as Maryland.
    Elizabeth Neal https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/48932916/.
    "United States Census, 1850," Elizabeth Neal, Buckle's Grove, McLean, Illinois, database with images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:M8RQ-FYK: 4 April 2020).
    "United States Census, 1870", Elizabeth Neal in entry for Joseph Neal, database with images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:M67G-T88: 19 March 2020).
    "United States Census, 1880," Joseph Neal, Santa Anna, De Witt, Illinois, database with images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:MXJZ-DPG: 22 August 2017).
    "United States Census, 1880," Amos Neal, Santa Anna, De Witt, Illinois, database with images, FamilySearch (https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:MXJZ-TBV ).
23. ↑ Amos’s gravestone has his birth in August, 1892, from photo on Find A Grave. A book excerpt above has his place of birth as Maryland. The 1880 and 1900 US census records for his daughter Nancy have her father’s place of birth as Maryland. The 1880 US census record for his son Amos, Jr. has his father’s place of birth as Kentucky.
    Amos Conaway https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/183549164
    "United States Census, 1880," Eliza Williams in household of Aaron S Williams, Normal, McLean, Illinois, database with images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:MXVV-D5P: 15 September 2017).
    "United States Census, 1900," Nancy Williams in household of James S Wiley, Empire Township (excl. Leroy city), McLean, Illinois, database with images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:MS4C-TSK: accessed 11 September 2020).
    "United States Census, 1880," Amos Conaway, [Jr.], Cisco, Piatt, Illinois, database with images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:MXK7-JRX: 15 September 2017).
24. ↑ Hannah’s birth year is deduced from the 1810 and 1820 US census. A female who was in the age range 10-15 in 1810 apparently left home by 1820. Hannah married in 1818. This would make her birth in 1795-1800. The family was in the 1795 Tax List for Bourbon County, Kentucky and was likely there when Hannah was born. Hannah’s daughter Armilda was eight when her mother died, according to Armilda’s obituary (copy on her WikiTree profile and Find A Grave memorial). Hannah’s son William was about four when his mother died. Information from them about their mother’s place of birth may not be reliable; however, Armilda’s records in the 1880 and 1900 US census had her mother born in Kentucky and William’s record in the 1880 US census had his mother born in Virginia.
    Armilda (Barnett) Yapp https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/41729186.
    "United States Census, 1880," Armilda Yapp, Iona, Jewell, Kansas, United States. database with images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:MF5S-V41).
    "United States Census, 1900," Armmlda Yapp in household of James J Yapp, Ionia & Odessa Townships, Jewell, Kansas, United States, database with images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:MMT5-6YL).
    "United States Census, 1880," William Barnett, Iona, Jewell, Kansas, United States, database with images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:MF5S-K25).
25. ↑ Christiana’s birth date is derived from the date of death and age on her gravestone, from a photo on Find A Grave. The records for her in the 1850 and 1860 US censuses are reasonably consistent and both have her place of birth as Kentucky. (However, her age was incorrectly entered as 44 rather than 49 for the FamilySearch 1850 census record.)
    Christiana (Conaway) Watters https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/118837902.
    "United States Census, 1850," Christia A Waters in household of Silas Waters, McLean county, part of, McLean, Illinois, database with images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:M8RQ-X6K: 4 April 2020).
    "United States Census, 1860", Ann Waters in entry for Silas Waters, Le Roy, Empire Township, McLean, Illinois, database with images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:MXHL-Q1G: 18 March 2020).
26. ↑ Providence’s birth year is deduced from the 1810 and 1820 US censuses. A female child was <10 in 1810 and 16-25 in 1820, which would make the child 6-9 in 1810 and born 1801-1804. All four of Providence’s children who were alive in 1900 for the US census (Nancy, Merit, Thompson, Elvira) had their mother’s place of birth as Kentucky.
    "United States Census, 1900," Nancy Barnett in household of John Vandsdel, Ionia & Odessa Townships, Jewell, Kansas, database with images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:MMT5-6BW: accessed 11 September 2020). "United States Census, 1900," Merit Barnett, Esbon & Limestone Townships, Jewell, Kansas, database with images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:MMTR-MRD: accessed 11 September 2020).
    "United States Census, 1900," Thompson Barnett, Esbon & Limestone Townships, Jewell, Kansas, database with images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:MMT5-WHF: accessed 11 September 2020).
    "United States Census, 1900," Elvira Householder in household of Robert J Householder, Empire Township (excl. Leroy city), McLean, Illinois, database with images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:MS4C-TSR: accessed 11 September 2020),
27. ↑ Rebecca’s obituary says she was 75 when when she died on January 15, 1882, which makes her birth probably in 1806. Census records for 1850, 1860, 1870, and 1880 all have her birth as 1807 or 1806 in Kentucky.
    Obituary in Clinton Public, Clinton, Illinois, January 20, 1882.
    "United States Census, 1850," Rebecca Barnett in household of Alvin Barnett, Bloomington city, McLean, Illinois, database with images, FamilySearch
    (https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:M8RQ-C3G). Accessed Sept. 12, 2020.
    "United States Census, 1860," Rebecca Barnett in household of Alvin Barnett, Clinton, De Witt, Illinois, database with images, FamilySearch
    (https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:MXC4-S2S). Accessed Sept. 12, 2020.
    "United States Census, 1870," Rebecca Barnett in household of Wm H Barnett, Clinton, De Witt, Illinois, database with images, FamilySearch (https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:M67P-451). Accessed Sept. 12, 2020.
    "United States Census, 1880," Rebecca Barnett (mother-in-law) in household of W.P. Turner, Taylorville, Christian, Illinois, , database with images, FamilySearch
    (https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:MXNC-NJB. Accessed Sept. 12, 2020.
    Rebecca Barnett https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/154679406 .
28. ↑ Sources are given in the WikiTree profile for Chalton Conaway. https://www.wikitree.com/wiki/Conaway-1015
29. ↑ The 1850 census has Nancy born about 1808 and the 1860 census has about 1810, both in Kentucky.
    "United States Census, 1850," Nancy Hall in household of Ambrose Hall, De Witt county, part of, De Witt, Illinois, database with images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:M85L-25K: 4 April 2020).
    "United States Census, 1860", Nancy Hall in entry for E J Turner, Atlanta, Logan, Illinois, database with images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:MX4Y-6FN: 19 March 2020).
30. ↑ William’s birth date and place are from his obituary that is on his Find A Grave memmorial. Marriage information is from Illinois marriage records.
    William Conaway https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/54162597.
    "Illinois Marriages, 1815-1935", William Conaway and Emily Porter, 1836, database, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:HS45-9FPZ: 14 February 2020).
31. ↑ Matilda’s birth about 1812 is consistent with the 1820 US census record for William Conaway’s family that includes a female (presumably daughter) less than 10 years old. It is also consistent with the birth of the previous child in the family (William) in 1810. The county marriage records for Matilda and Robert Barnett included a written consent from her father authorizing her marriage. This indicates that she was under age 21 in 1829. In the 1830 US census for the Robert Barnett household in Tazewell (later McLean) County, Illinois (next to the household of Amos Conaway), the oldest female was in the age range 15 thru 19 (birth 1811-1815). Matilda gave birth to a son Amos in 1830. He is in the 1830 census record and various later records for Amos Barnett. Robert Barnett remarried in August, 1832. Matilda apparently died sometime between 1830 and 1832. A book excerpt above states that Matilda Barnett was in the first religious class in 1831, which would imply that she was alive in early 1831. No other records about her have been found. (Moses Barnett’s daughter Matilda could be a source of confusion, but she was in Kentucky with husband Thomas Marshall Whitaker until 1837—History of McLean County, Illinois; portraits of early settlers and prominent men, 1879, page 896.) The female in the 1830 US census for Robert Barnett was probably Matilda, but could conceivably have been another young woman helping the family after Matilda died giving birth to their son in 1830. Matilda was probably buried in the now defunct old Conaway Cemetery at Le Roy, Illinois as described at "Old Conaway Cemetery at Le Roy, Illinois"
    https://www.wikitree.com/wiki/Space:The_Old_Conaway_Cemetery_at_Le_Roy%2C_Illinois
    "United States Census, 1830," Robert Barnett, Tazewell, Illinois, database with images, FamilySearch (https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:XHPY-KRH). Accessed Sept. 20, 2020.
    "Illinois Marriages, 1815-1935", Robert Barnet and Amanda Neal, 1832, database, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:HS4N-R1ZM: 14 February 2020).

• children of Mt Soma Pg 124