Samuel David Damron (1793 - 1889)

Born 7 May 1793 in New Garden, Russell, Virginia, United States

Ancestors

Husband of Sarah (Ratliff) Damron — married 14 Nov 1814 in Floyd County, Kentucky

Husband of Sarah (Smith) Damron — married 16 Jun 1866 in Lawrence County, Kentucky

Descendants

Died 1889 at about age 95 in Wayne, Wayne, West Virginia, United States

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Biography

Samuel David DAMRON was born about 7 May 1793 in New Garden, Russell County, Virginia and died about 1889 in Wayne County, West Virginia. He was the son of Lazarus DAMRON and Nancy Elizabeth SHORT.

• Find A Grave, database and images (https://www.findagrave.com : accessed 08 September 2018), memorial page for Samuel "Sammy" Damron (7 May 1793–1889), Find A Grave: Memorial #27982898, citing Silas Copley Cemetery, Dunlow, Wayne County, West Virginia, USA ; Maintained by Della Lilly (contributor 46905597).

Added 9/16/2018: Samuel came with his father and brothers from Virginia to the Big Sandy area in 1805. They settled near Piketown (Pikeville), Kentucky. He married Sally Ratliff when he was 21 years old and, in 1819, moved from Pike County to his own farm. He returned to Pike County in 1828 and settled on Brushy Fork of John's Creek where he lived until 1834. He then moved back to the left fork of Twelve Pole at the mouth of McComas Creek where he was to live the rest of his life and was to be buried. Samuel had several children with Sarah Smith while he was married to his first wife. It seems that most of them used the name Smith although some of the younger ones seems to have used Damron. He married Sarah Smith in 1866 well after all of their children had been born. During the Civil War, two of his sons, Silas and George W., were in the Army of the Confederacy. Three sons, John B., Samuel and James, were in the Union Army. James died in service. A son-in-law James Maynard was also killed. When Samuel first came to what was later to become Grant District, he moved into a "rock house prepared by the Lord." (Was this a cave?) "His wife was not satisfied with the accommodations and in 1834 he built a cabin." He still in that cabin in 1884. "He was commissioner of revenue two years." At age 87, he was living with his daughter, Mahala, and son-in-law, Thomas Kirk, when the 1880 census was taken. --DDFA Newsletter,v8 p188 (from HARDESTY'S WEST VIRGINIA COUNTIES, volume 7. 1884. Reprint by Jim Comstock, Richwood, WV. 1973. Pages 228-229. Source: Much of the biographical sketch information was from Silas Damron, youngest son of Samuel.)

9/16/2018: The following appeared in the Ceredo Advance (WV) 1 April 1896: Samuel Damron, Sr. Mr. Editor:--Please insert this brief history in your valuable paper, as it circulates among the relatives and friends of one of the old pioneer fathers of the upper end of Wayne county, to-wit: Samuel Damron, Sr. Born May 7, 1794, in New Garden, Russell county, Va., and came down Big Sandy in the year 1808 along with his father, Lasarus Damron and three brothers--Moses, Richard and George--and settled five miles below what is now Piketown. At the age of 21 years, he married Sally, the daughter of Silas Ratcliff, known a[s] "Aunt Fat Sally," and moved from Pike County in the year 1819 and settled at the farm where Samuel J. Ferguson now lives. Then in 1828 moved back in Pike county and settled on Brushy Creek of John's creek; remained there until 1834, when he moved back to the Left Fork of 12 Pole at the mouth of McComas creek and remained there until he was buried there in the year in the year 1889. His mother was Nancy Short, and his grandmother Aggie Owl. To him and "Aunt Fat Sally" were born ten children, to-wit: Nancy, Betty, Neary, Anna, Milley, Polley, Jennie (all yet living save Nancy and Milley), and three sons, Moses, Silas and George Washington, all alive, and their hair is silvery white by the frosts of many winters. You can scarcely stop at any house in the upper end of Wayne county but you will see a son, grandson, daughter or granddaughter of this time honored old pioneer hunter, or some of his brothers, sons and daughters. Samuel Damron, esq., who is now living at Cassville, W. Va., and is 84 years of age, was named for the subject of this sketch, and he, too, was born in this (Wayne) county and was never lived out of the county since it was made, for a day. When this sketch is read by the many gray-haired relatives and friends of the old bear and dear hunter, they will wonder who knew him so well. In answer will say a Relative and Friend

Parentage:

RESEARCH NOTES: Found multiple trees stating his parents were Lazarus DAMRON and Nancy Elizabeth SHORT, but none of these trees had documentation to prove this parentage so the information is questionable.

RESEARCH NOTES: The records for the National Society Daughters of the American Revolution stated that Ancestor Patriot number A133623, Lazarus DAMERON had a son named Samuel DAMRON who married Sally RATCLIFF. I am relatively certain this information is true, but the proof that was used to prove Samuel's parentage on the application needs to be checked and cited.

Marriage (1):

He was first married to Sarah RATLIFF on 14 November 1814 in Floyd County, Kentucky.

Search for marriage:

P. 203 in index - no marriage listed for any male DAMRON in Floyd County, Kentucky index of marriages for the year of 1814, Family History Library microfilm 837,282.

p. 183 in index - no marriage listed for any female RATLIFF in Floyd County, Kentucky index of marriages for the year of 1814, Family History Library microfilm 837,282.

Marriage bond was listed on p. 143 of Charles C. Wells' book "Annals of Floyd County, Kentucky 1800 - 1826" that on 2 November 1814 a marriage bond was purchased by Samuel Damron and Richard Damron for the marriage between Samuel Damron and Salley Ratliff. Silas Ratliff gave permission for his daughter Salley to marry.

RESEARCH NOTES: p. 265 of same book stated that Moses DAMRON gave permission for his son, Richard DAMRON, to marry Elizabeth DREAUDY [or Betsy DRAWDY]. The bond for this marriage was paid for by Richard Damron and Samuel Damron on 25 August 1821.

Spouse (1):

Sarah RATLIFF was born about 1796 in Floyd County, Kentucky and died about January 1863. She was the daughter of Silas RATLIFF.

Residences, After First Marriage:

1820 United States Federal Census record - Floyd County, Kentucky^[1]

The 1820 census household consisted of 1 free white male aged 16 to 26, 1 Free White Male Aged 26 to 45, 2 free white females aged under 10 Years and 1 free white female aged 16 to 26. 2 individuals were listed as being engaged in agriculture.

This household was enumerated next to the household of Silas RATLIFF, who possibly could have been his father in law.

1821 - Pike County, Kentucky was formed

1830 United States Federal Census record - [placeholder]

1840 United States Federal Census record - [placeholder]

1850 United States Federal Census record - Wayne County, Virginia^[2]

1860 United States Federal Census record

Marriage (2):

He married again on 16 June 1866 in Lawrence County, Kentucky to Sarah SMITH. They divorced in 1876.

Spouse (2):

Sarah SMITH was born 31 August 1818 in Montgomery County, Virginia and died on 25 April 1882 in Wayne County, West Virginia.

Residences, After Second Marriage:

1870 United States Federal Census record

Divorce of Samuel DAMRON and Sarah SMITH:

"DIVORCE: SAMUEL DAMRON VS SARAH DAMRON [DEPOSITION] Deposition of witnesses taken before me John H Queen a Justice in & for Wayne county Wva at the House of Samuel Damron Sr in the 5th District in Said county pursuant to the notice hereto annext to be Read in Evidense in a Suit now pending in the county court for Wayne county were in Samuel Damron Sr is plft & Sarah Damron She is Deft on this the 22nd day of Decd 1876 between the Hours of 10 oclock in the AM & 6 oclock in PM came Stanley Copley a witness of behalf of the plft the Said Stanly Copley aged about 33 years Deposes & Says that I Reside in Wayne county I am acquainted with the parties to this Suit & have been for nine or ten years I have ben at thear house Deferent times & always found plenty to eat while they was living to gither I knever hird any complaint of plft not prefiding plentefuly for his famuley I am Sone what a quainted with the plft general Reputation and as far as I know it is good I was present when the Deft left the plft & hird the plft tell the Deft to Stay at home She refused to Stay at home with hem & she Refused at the time of A bandment. Cross Examonation She said she would not stay & have hur brains beat out & think the plft was present when she a bandoned the plft they was living on the farm whear she was leveng before they was married I never knew the Deft to be un faithful or un true to hur companion sence they have ben married only the plft Re Quested hur to stay at home with hem & she Refused at the time of A bandment In Chief I hird the plft tell the Deft to stay at home & he would not bother hur any more and further the Deponant saith not. Stanley Copley a the same time & place came Ira G. Copley another witness on behalf of the plft aged about 55 years who being first Duly Sworn Deposes & Says I am acquainted with the plft & Deft & have been for about 35 years I am a quainted with the general reputation of plft that reputation is good as far as I know I am also acquainted with the general Reputation of Deft that reputation is bad I know hur guilty of an adultery but not since they was married that adultelry was commeted with out the knowledge of procurement of the plft. Cross Examonation I think the Deft has had some 12 children or moor & she has never had no children since they was married as I know of I have never known the Deft to be unfaithful or un true to plft since they was married the plft & Deft ben married about 10 years And further this Deponant Saieth not Ira G. Copley At the same time & place came Moses D Smith another witness on behalf of the Plft aged about 25 years who being first Duly Sworn Deposes & Says that I reside in wayne county west VA iam acquainted with the parties to this Suit one is said to be my father & the other my mother I have leved with them Since they was married faether was kind an good to mother when she would be to him he had means sufficient to support himself without the aid of mother She was not kind & good to faether She was ill & crabid to him I do not know that faither ever a bused hur without a cause I have hird faither beg mother often to let him a lone I hird John Smeth begeng mother to let faether a lone that he would be a good man if she would let him a lone that she was aggravating the sole out of him I also used the same conversation to hur the reason I ded so she was dooeng So with out a cause me and my Wif was at faethers when mother was seck A short time before she left him & she was then quarling at faether & I begged hur to let him a lone. Cross Examonation I have saw faether whip mother & throw up Joseph Ward to hur he beleaved hur and Josep Ward was courting I hird faether throw up to hur that he beleaved she had courted other men be fore they was married The time I saw faither whep mother & throwup Joseph Ward to hur it was since they was married I saw him pull hur hair and kick hur with his feet & I went to him & told him to let hur go Mother had plenty But faether helped to make it since they have ben married Mother & hur children worked & helpled to make the liveng that they leved on they say mother has had 15 children She has never had any children since hur and plft has ben married the farm they leved on when mother A bandened the plft was the same farm they leved on be fore they was married I saw them sleeping to gether be fore and sence they was married Examonation in Chief Ever since I can recollect faether has helped to support mother & her children and further this Deponent was not his Moses X Smith mark The further taking Depositions in this behalf is adjourned to the 23d day of Decr at the same place & between the same hours of sd Day J H Queen --- J P" (This would have been in 1876 although the year does not appear in the above transcription. The original spelling of the transcription has been retained.)

Residences, After Divorce of second wife:

1880 United States Federal Census record - Living with Son in Law in Grant District, Wayne County, West Virginia^[3]

Children of Samuel DAMRON and his first wife, Sarah RATLIFF:

1. Nancy DAMRON (Born: 1817; Died: 1856)
2. Elizabeth DAMRON (Born: 13 June 1818 in Floyd County, Kentucky; Died: believed after 1900 in Wayne County, West Virginia); Married: 9 February 1833 in Pike County, Kentucky to James MAYNARD^[4]
3. Mahala DAMRON^[3] (Born: about 1836; Died: ); Married: Thomas KIRK^[3] [Note: he was brother of Elizabeth KIRK, wife of Moses DAMRON]

"Samuel Damron, Sr., born May 7, 1794, in New Garden, Russell county, Va., and came down Big Sandy in the year 1808 along with his father, Lasarus Damron and three brothers -- Moses, Richard and George -- and settled five miles below what is now Piketown. At the age of 21 years, he married Sally, the daughter of Silas Ratcliff, known as "Aunt Fat Sally," ... His mother was Nancy Short, and his grandmother Aggie Owl.^[5]

Samuel was born in 1793. He passed away in 1889.

Burial Silas D Copley Dunlow WV

Sources

1. ↑ "United States Census, 1820," database with images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:XHLN-TPS : accessed 19 September 2018), Samuel Dawson, Floyd, Kentucky, United States; citing p. 28, NARA microfilm publication M33, (Washington D.C.: National Archives and Records Administration, n.d.), roll 22; FHL microfilm 186,182.
2. ↑ 1850 U. S. census, Wayne County, Virginia, population schedule, District 66, p. 252 B (stamped), dwelling 489, family 574, household of Samuel Damron; database with images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:M8DY-TXX : accessed 8 September 2018); citing National Archives microfilm publication M432, roll 980; Family History Library microfilm 444,970.
3. ↑ ^{3.0 3.1 3.2} 1880 U. S. census, Wayne County, West Virginia, population schedule, Grant or 5th district, enumeration district 139, p. 232 C (stamped), p. 3 (penned)], dwelling 20, family 20, household of Thomas Kirk; digital image, [note: indexed entry leads to incorrect census image,] FamilySearch (https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:33S7-9YBL-BJ4?i=3&cc=1417683 : accessed 9 September 2018); citing National Archives microfilm publication T9, roll 1414; Family History Library microfilm 1,255,414.
4. ↑ Clyde Runyon, Marriage Bonds of Pike County, Kentucky 1822 - 1865, (self published: Belfry, Kenyucky, 1984), p. 66, file 365, James Mainor and Elizabeth Damron, 9 February 1833. [File says certificate from "Samuel Damron, father of Elizabeth Damron" was produced. Bond stated that James Mainor was son of Jesse Maner.]
5. ↑ Ceredo Advance (1896, April 1). -- Ceredo, Wayne co., WVA newspaper; see: "Libraries that Have It: Ceredo advance. (Ceredo, W. Va.) 1885-1939." Chronicling America. Library of Congress. Web.[1]

• Deposition of witnesses taken before me John H Queen a Justice in & for Wayne county Wva at the House of Samuel Damron Sr in the 5th District in Said county pursuant to the notice hereto an next to be Read in Evidense in a Suit now pending in the county court for Wayne county were in Samuel Damron Sr is plft & Sarah Damron She isDeft on this the 22nd day of Decd 1876 between the Hours of 10 oclock inthe AM & 6 oclock in PM

• Source: SOUR1153 Title: Profile page Text: http://www.archives.com/member/Default.aspx?_act=PersonProfile&personId=34475278

Acknowledgements

• Damron-223 was created by Meredith Bellomy through the import of Meredith_Bellomy's_Family_Tree.ged on Oct 23, 2014.
• Chaney, C. (2015, July 10). The name of Aggie Owl, the wife of Moses Damron of Russell County, Virginia. Charles Chaney's Family History Page. www.ccchaney.com. Web.[2] (mirror: http://archive.is/j024f)
• familysearch.com
• Source: S-549948421 Ancestry Family Trees Publication: Online publication - Provo, UT, USA: Ancestry.com. Original data: Family Tree files submitted by Ancestry members.Ancestry Family Tree Ancestry Family Tree 71215284
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