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John W. Cunningham (1805 - bef. 1857)

John W. Cunningham
Born in Ohiomap
Son of [father unknown] and [mother unknown]
[sibling(s) unknown]
Husband of — married 27 Mar 1828 in Licking County, Ohiomap
Descendants descendants
Father of , and
Died before before age 52 in Pulaski, Indiana, United Statesmap
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Profile last modified | Created 6 Nov 2017
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Contents

Biography

John W. Cunningham was born about 1805 in Ohio.[1] On 13 Dec 1824, Joseph Cunningham sold land in Newark (Licking Co.), two-thirds of the north part of lot #27 for $248, to William Cunningham, John Cunningham, and Patrick Cunningham.[2] The land had just been sold to Joseph by Patrick Cunningham a few months earlier for the same amount.[3] These men again bought 100 acres of land on 28 Jul 1827 from Charles and Rachel Hoover; Range 15, Twp 4, Qtr 1. He was listed as John W. Cunningham in this transaction which was witnessed by John (no W) Cunningham and Joseph Cunningham.[4] John married Elizabeth Sowers on 27 Mar 1828 in Licking County, Ohio. They were married by John Cunningham, Justice of the Peace [relationship unknown].[5] Later that year, on 5 Sep 1828, those men, all now married, sold the Newark lot to Charles Hoover for $250. They were now described as William Cunningham and wife Mary Ann [Pontzer], John W. Cunningham and wife Elizabeth, and Patrick Cunningham Junr. and wife Hannah [Hollenback]. Each of the women surrendered their dower rights.[6] William and Mary Ann sold their third of the 100 acres at Range 15, Twp 4, Qtr 1 to John W. on 22 Feb 1830 for $133[7] which John W. and Elizabeth Cunningham sold the same day to Simon Starling for $300.[8]

Property tax records for John W. Cunningham:

Year Description Township Value Remarks Ref
1827Newark$40 John W. & Patrick[9]
1828Hartford$72 Horses and cattle only[10]
1829 N 2/3 Lot 27Newark$300 William & John W.[11]
1830T2R12S4Newark$30 Vance Wiliams Junr. From John W. Cunningham[12]


Children:[1][13]

  1. William Henry, b. 20 Sep 1829 OH
  2. Catherine, b. 1835 OH
  3. Jane C. Moore, b. 16 Oct 1836, Tippecanoe, IN, d. 16 Dec 1912 (Note: Death certificate shows parents as John W. Cunningham born in Ireland and Elizabeth Sewrd born in Indiana - neither birthplace correct.[14])
  4. Stewart/Stuart Ward, b. 1 Aug 1840, Monticello, White, Indiana[15]
  5. Martha, b. 1844 IN
  6. Edwin, b. 1849 IN
  7. George, b. 1851 IN

After the first two children were born in Ohio, the family moved to Indiana around 1836, the first census record in Jefferson, Tippecanoe County in 1840,[16] then Tippecanoe Twp, Carroll County in 1850.[1] He voted in the presidential election in Salem Twp, Pulaski Co. on 2 Nov 1852.[17]

John made multiple land purchases from the U.S. government in Pulaski Co., most as an assignee of military veterans.

Accession Date Doc # Twp - Rng Aliquots Sec. # Township GPS of section centroid Ref
IN1870__.204 8/1/1844 14097 030N - 002W E½SE¼ 2 Monroe 41.0770898, -86.6132163 [18]
MW-1073-104 7/1/1851 38758 030N - 003W W½SW¼ 30 Jefferson 41.0197637, -86.8054483 [19]
" " " 030N - 004W S½SE¼ 25 White Post 41.0197088, -86.8246264 [19]
MW-0641-191 12/1/1852 28860 029N - 004W NW¼NW¼ 25 Salem 40.9341821, -86.8245217 [20]
MW-0643-270 12/10/1852 43707 029N - 004W SE¼SW¼ 25 Salem 40.9341821, -86.8245217 [21]


John W. Cunningham Land Patents in Pulaski Co.

John probably died in 1856 as his probate was settled in the January 1857 term of the Pulaski Co. court. Administrator of the estate, Abijah Wilson, said that the estate was settled and provided $41.08 to the court. In the April 1857 court term, a lawyer, W. Eldridge, appeared and "moves the court to prove heirship in this matter. Whereupon proof was introduced as to the heirs of said estate. It is therefore considered by the court that Elizabeth Cunningham Widow and Wm H Cunningham, David Ridenhour the attrabine(?) Ridenhour, Jane, Stewart, Martha, Edwin, & Geo Cunningham are the heirs of said estate and that the money on hand to wit $41.08 be distributed as follows to wit Elizabeth Cunningham $13.69 and the balance be divided among said heirs being $3.91 each."[22] Despite the meager monetary amount, apparently at least some of the land remained in the family. The property in Jefferson Twp was sold for the benefit of minors Edwin and George in 1868.[23]

In the 1860 census,[13] his widow is living with the remaining minor children in Salem Twp, Pulaski Co., presumably on the land he purchased in 1852, with oldest son William living nearby.[13]


DNA

A male Cunningham descendant tested on 23andMe and was part of the R-L21 paternal haplogroup, later updated to R-Y4010. The R-L21 matches may be c/w the R1b-02 or R1b-04 Y-DNA Cunningham group.[24]

Research Notes

One of the very first settlers to Licking, OH was Patrick Cunningham, born in Ireland, arriving around 1801. See p. 649 and p. 22 . He had a son, John Cunningham Sr, by second wife, Isabel Rainey. John married Mary Eliot in 1812. He is the one who was Sheriff, Auditor, and Justice of the Peace. He officiated the marriage of John W. Cunningham and Elizabeth Sowers. His FindAGrave entry says he was b. 1785, and d. 1836 in Licking. His son was John R. Cunningham. The 1824 marriage with Catherine Price was probably this Patrick Cunningham as the one born in 1808 was too young; this was probably the unnamed third wife. https://www.ancestrylibrary.com/imageviewer/collections/61378/images/TH-1-15666-3335-13

Patrick Cunningham served in the Revolutionary War in the Pennsylvania line. He was age 68 when he filed his initial pension application in 1820. That application noted that his wife Isabell age 74 was very infirm. The only child living with him was daughter Polly Gaws aged 40 along with William Gaw aged 15 and Cynthia Gaw aged 2. The application notes the 1824 sale of land to Joseph Cunningham (relationship unstated). This suggests that Patrick Sr. is not the father of John W. C. as he would have been around age 15 in 1820 and likely still living with his parents. Isabell would have also been around age 60 at the time of his birth.

There is a marriage record between Joseph Cunningham and Margaret Wheeler in 1814. Unless this was a 2nd marriage, it suggests that Joseph was not John W.'s father.

The John Cunningham who was J.P., Sheriff, and Auditor died in 1839. His heirs included John R., James, & William Cunningham, plus Mary Evans and Ann Wells.

"James Cunningham, of Muskingum County, Ohio" patented land in Licking Co. in 1820, 4N, 11W, S24 SE (-82.3441145693019, 40.1757945326898); https://glorecords.blm.gov/details/patent/default.aspx?accession=0053-177&docClass=CV#patentDetailsTabIndex=1. This land is NE of Newark. There is a James C. and a Jas R C. in the 1820 census for Licking. James is from Granville, west of Newark. There are no Cunninghams in Muskingum. Jas R is from Mary Ann Twp, NE of Newark.

The 2/3 of Lot #27 purchased in 1824 from Joseph Cunningham had been purchased by him from Patrick Cunningham on 31 Jul 1824.

The 1827 tax record lists John W, Patrick, and Patrick Senr consecutively.

All 22 1830 census entries for a John Cunningham living in Ohio were reviewed. Only one 'matched' him for ages of him, wife, and son. That is in Newark, Licking, OH.[25] However, that person is more likely John Cunningham, Jr. who was born in Carlisle, PA. There is also a <5 yo daughter. He was the grandson (or nephew) of Patrick Cunningham and that family lived in Newark.

There is a William Cunningham in the 1820 census (Ancestry, b. 1776-1794) living in Union Twp, who might be Patrick's nephew, who had three sons age 10-16. An 1830 census entry for him also cannot be found. There is a 20-30 yo William C. living in Newark, perhaps a brother?. (Not to be confused with Patrick's son by first wife named William who m. Elizabeth Moore and died in 1814. He didn't move to Licking until 1811 from Carlisle, PA.)

A William Cunningham was born on 12 Jul 1836 in Licking Co. and died in Jan 1926 in Marshallltown, Iowa. His father was named William as well, born in Ohio, perhaps the William in the land transactions above.

There are four Cunningham heads of household in the 1820 census in Licking Co. These are the males enumerated:

Name Township <10 10-15 16-18 18-25 26-44 45+
Patrick Newark 0 0 1 1 0 1
John Newark 1 0 0 0 1 0
John Union 0 0 0 1 0 1
William Union 0 3 0 0 1 0

Patrick Cunningham Junr. was born around 1808 in Ohio. He moved to Bureau Co., IL where he served in Co. H, 12th Regmt during civil war. He died on 8 Mar 1884 in Sheffield, Bureau, IL. FamilySearch profile is conflated.

Marriages of any Cunningham in Licking between 1800-1840 Link

Date Cunningham Name Spouse FS Link
1820 Jan 6 Elizabeth Samuel Moore Link
1828 Mar 27 John W. Elizabeth Sowers Link
1820 Mar 26 Ruth James Stone Link
1828 Feb 26 William Mary Ann Ponzer Link
1828 Mar 22 Jonathan Martha Cain Link
1812 Jun 23 John Mary Eliot Link
1815 Mar 12 Rebecca James Watson Link
1814 Apr 28 Joseph Margaret Wheeler Link
1818 May 3 Caty John George Link
1824 Nov 16 Patrick Catharine Price Link
1826 Apr 2 John Jr Ann Lewis Link
1812 Jan 14 Jane Hira Pettes Link
1809 Feb 25 James Margret Miers Link

Licking, Ohio References

There was a John Cunningham who died between 1825 and 1826. His wife, Deborah appeared on the tax rolls beginning in 1826. James Cunningham was the executor and was appointed as guardian of her, "an insane person". When the land was sold in 1834, several daughters were listed but no sons.

Licking County Genealogical Society

No Cunningham or Sowers entries in Muskingum Co. Will Book A-C, 1808-1843: https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:3QS7-L9QK-FHJN?cc=1992421

Could he be the son of John Cunningham of Muskingum Co. who had multiple teenage sons in the 1820 census and disappeared by the 1830 census?

  • "1820 United States Federal Census", Fourth Census of the United States, 1820; Census Place: Springfield, Muskingum, Ohio; Page: 117; NARA Roll: M33_92; Image: 151, Ancestry Sharing Link - Ancestry Record 7734 #263857, John Cunningham in Springfield, Muskingum, Ohio, USA.

No land purchase found: https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:3Q9M-CSHM-MFK4?i=66&cat=262228 No taxes listed in 1820-1823: https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:33S7-9PPX-93TD?view=explore&groupId=TH-1951-21404-27845-67

It does not appear that he could be the son of Thomas Cunningham from Zanesville, Muskingum Co. as he had four sons in the 1820 census and what appear to be the same four sons in 1830.

  • "1820 United States Federal Census", Fourth Census of the United States, 1820; Census Place: Zanesville, Muskingum, Ohio; Page: 106; NARA Roll: M33_92; Image: 140, Ancestry Sharing Link - Ancestry Record 7734 #264032, Thomas Cuningham in Zanesville, Muskingum, Ohio, USA.
  • "1830 United States Federal Census", Year: 1830; Census Place: Zanesville, Muskingum, Ohio; Series: M19; Roll: 137; Page: 287; Family History Library Film: 0337948, Ancestry Sharing Link - Ancestry Record 8058 #354051, Thomas Cuningham in Zanesville, Muskingum, Ohio.


A William N. Cunningham owned land in Muskingum Co. in 1825: https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:3Q9M-CST8-4QBC-2 (Also in 1830 census in Wayne Twp)

1820 census: John in Springfield Twp and Thomas in Zanesville. https://www.ancestry.com/search/collections/7734/?name=_Cunningham&count=50&residence=_muskingum-ohio-usa_2132
1830 census: Margaret in Springfield, Robert in Union, Thomas in Zanesville, Wm. N. in Wayne, James in Marion. https://www.ancestry.com/search/collections/8058/?name=_Cunningham&count=50&residence=_muskingum-ohio-usa_2132

He is NOT the John Cunningham whose will was written in Washington Twp, Tippecanoe County, IN on 9 Feb 1859.

He is also not the John Cunningham who was buried in Delaware, OH in 1858.

Sources

  1. ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 1850 Census
  2. ↑ Licking County Deeds, "Deed records, v. I-J 1822-1826", Vol. J, p. 78; Film 476820, DGS 8150810, image 460/775
  3. ↑ "Deed records, 1800-1901, 1965-1966 ; Indexes, 1808-1892, 1957-1964", Catalog: Deed records, 1800-1901, 1965-1966 ; Indexes, 1808-1892, 1957-1964 Deed records, v. I-J 1822-1826, Book J, p. 18-9; Film number: 008150810 > image 431 of 775, FamilySearch Image: 3Q9M-CSKX-3XD7
  4. ↑ Licking County Deeds, "Deed records, v. K-L 1826-1828", Vol. L, p. 179-80; Film 476821, DGS 8150811, image 388/545
  5. ↑ Marriage record
  6. ↑ Licking County Deeds, "Deed records, v. M 1817-1829", Vol. M, p. 34-5; Film 476822, DGS 8150812, image 24/378
  7. ↑ Licking County Deeds, " Deed records, v. N-O 1820-1831", Vol. O, p. 5-6; Film 476823, DGS 8150813, image 331/612
  8. ↑ Licking County Deeds, "Deed records, v. M 1817-1829", Vol. M, p. 611-2; Film 476822, DGS 8150812, image 316/378
  9. ↑ "Ohio Tax Records, 1800-1850," database with images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:76PW-TSZM : 18 February 2021), John W Cunningham, 1827; citing multiple county courthouse offices, Newark, Licking, Ohio, United States, p. , Tax records indexed by Ohio Genealogy Society; FHL microfilm 004849294.
  10. ↑ "Ohio Tax Records, 1800-1850," database with images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:76G6-1L2M : 18 February 2021), Jno W Cunningham, 1828; citing multiple county courthouse offices, Hartford, Licking, Ohio, United States, p. , Tax records indexed by Ohio Genealogy Society; FHL microfilm 004849294.
  11. ↑ "Ohio Tax Records, 1800-1850," database with images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:7X9X-G86Z : 18 February 2021), John W Cunningham, 1829; citing multiple county courthouse offices, Newark, Licking, Ohio, United States, p. , Tax records indexed by Ohio Genealogy Society; FHL microfilm 004849295.
  12. ↑ "Ohio Tax Records, 1800-1850," database with images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:7XKY-TR3Z : 18 February 2021), John W Cunningham, 1830; citing multiple county courthouse offices, Newark, Licking, Ohio, United States, p. , Tax records indexed by Ohio Genealogy Society; FHL microfilm 004849295.
  13. ↑ 13.0 13.1 13.2 1860 Census
  14. ↑ Indiana Archives and Records Administration; Indianapolis, IN, USA; Death Certificates; Year: 1912; Roll: 16 Ancestry.com link
  15. ↑ "Idaho Death Certificates, 1911-1937", citing Orofino, Clearwater, Idaho, reference File #9486, Department of Health and Welfare, Boise; FHL microfilm 1,509,281, FamilySearch Record: FLT7-QZQ FamilySearch Image: S3HY-6Q87-YTZ, Stuart Cunningham death 1 Nov 1914 (born 1 Aug 1840) in Orofino, Clearwater, Idaho.
  16. ↑ 1840 Census
  17. ↑ Counties of White and Pulaski, Indiana: Historical and Biographical. F.A. Battey & Company; 1883. p. 539.
  18. ↑ Bureau of Land Management, General Land Office Records, Accession #IN1870__.204
  19. ↑ 19.0 19.1 Bureau of Land Management, General Land Office Records, Accession #MW-1073-104
  20. ↑ Bureau of Land Management, General Land Office Records, Accession #MW-0641-191
  21. ↑ Bureau of Land Management, General Land Office Records, Accession #MW-0643-270
  22. ↑ Indiana. Circuit Court (Pulaski County). Probate Records. Book A, p. 109 and 112. Salt Lake City, Utah: Filmed by the Genealogical Society of Utah, 1990. FHL Film 1711090.
  23. ↑ Indiana. Circuit Court (White County). Court of Common Pleas Probate Order Book 4, p. 297, 307, and 531. Salt Lake City, Utah: Filmed by the Genealogical Society of Utah, 2000. FHL Film 2195352.
  24. ↑ CUNNINGHAM Y-Chromosome DNA Surname Project - Y-DNA Classic Chart at https://www.familytreedna.com/public/cunningham?iframe=yresults and https://www.familytreedna.com/groups/cunningham/about/results, Results https://www.familytreedna.com/groups/cunningham/about/results
  25. ↑ "United States Census, 1830," database with images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:XHGK-6VY : 9 September 2017), John Cunningham, Newark, Licking, Ohio, United States; citing 395, NARA microfilm publication M19, (Washington D.C.: National Archives and Records Administration, n.d.), roll 134; FHL microfilm 337,945.




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It may be possible to confirm family relationships with John by comparing test results with other carriers of his Y-chromosome or his mother's mitochondrial DNA. However, there are no known yDNA or mtDNA test-takers in his direct paternal or maternal line. It is likely that these autosomal DNA test-takers will share some percentage of DNA with John:

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