Samuel Emmerson (bef. 1735 - 1814)

Born before 1735 in Goochland, Virginia

Husband of Mildred (Potter) Emmerson — married 9 Sep 1756 in Goochland County, Virginia

Descendants

Died 21 Jan 1814 after age 79 in Standford, Lincoln, Kentucky, United States

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Samuel Emmerson is a DAR Patriot Ancestor, A036505.

Biography

Samuel Emmerson^[1] was born probably sometime between 1727 and 1735,^[2] the eldest son of Thomas Emmerson and Martha Walker. He married Mildred Potter on 9 Sep 1756 at St. James Northam Parish, Goochland, Virginia,^[3] and together, they had eleven children:

1. David Emmerson (1758-bef.1812)
2. Elizabeth Emmerson (1763-bef.1812)
3. Judith (Emmerson) Henry (1764-1810)
4. Jesse Emmerson (1767-1845)
5. Rachel (Emmerson) Atkinson (1764-1840)
6. Martha (Emmerson) Bailey (1775-1834)
7. Nancy (Emmerson) Bereman (aft.1775-1823)
8. Rhoda (Emmerson) Burks (aft.1777-1845)
9. John Emmerson (1780-1822)
10. Reuben Emmerson (1782-1832)
11. James Emmerson (1782- )

"Samuel and Mildred's first two children were born in Goochland, then the family moved to Culpeper County for a few years. By the time of the Revolutionary War, Samuel Emmerson had moved southward across Virginia to Pittsylvania County..."^[4]

Samuel was already living in Pittsylvania County by 1779, when he sold 104 acres in Albemarle County. Subsequently, according to John W. Emerson:

After the Revolutionary War, the Samuel Emmerson family moved to Kentucky [and] were residing in the community of Logan's Fort by 1789.^[5] This is now the area of Stanford, Lincoln County, Kentucky. Rachel and Joel Atkinson and Judith and Watson Henry also moved there. Samuel had a large property where he and his family farmed and engaged in the leather trade. ... The Tax Lists for Kentucky 1789-1798 include Samuel and Jesse Emerson of Lincoln County.^[6]

Samuel died in Lincoln County, Kentucky, in 1814, "leaving a large, well-appointed estate with numerous slaves".^[7] The 1810 census records a total of ten slaves in his household. By the time he wrote his will, dated 8 Jan 1812, he had apparently already distributed eleven slaves to his children, namely: "A negro named Peter" to his daughter Nancy; "one negro woman named Annack" to his son Jesse; "two negro girls, one named Synthy and the other Sarah" to son John; "one negro girl named Nancy and one negro boy named Ned" to daughter Rhoda; "one negro girl named Hannah and one negro boy named Stephen" to daughter Nancy; "one negro boy named Frank" to son Reuben; and "two negroes one named Dick and the other named Jinny" to son James. He also mentions his desire that "my negroe man Peter and his wife Juda be not parted at the day of sale or distribution."^[8]

Samuel's place of burial is unknown.

Research Notes

1. ↑ Some genealogical charts, as well as Find a Grave, have included a middle initial "M." in Samuel Emmerson's name, but without citing documentation. Original documents use the name "Samuel" (or the abbreviations "Sam." or "Sam'l").
2. ↑ The date of birth is sometimes found as 1727, without documentation. John W. Emerson (2003, p. 9) puts the date at 1830. Robert E. Turman (1981, p. 266) sides with those who prefer 1835, explaining that the date is an estimate based on Samuel's date of marriage, 1756.
3. ↑ Douglas, 1928, p. 20.
4. ↑ Turman, 1981, p. 268.
5. ↑ For more on Logan's Fort, see Closson, 2018.
6. ↑ Emerson, 2003. p. 10.
7. ↑ Turman, 1981, p. 319.
8. ↑ Apparently this is a different Peter from the slave given to his daughter. It is likely that this Peter and his wife had been retained by him to be distributed or sold after his death. No reference was made in his will to other unnamed slaves.

Sources

• Closson, Lynda Williams. "Battle of Logan's Fort". American Battlefield Trust [online]. Reprinted from Hallowed Ground magazine, 2018.
• Douglas, William. The Douglas Register, being a detailed record of births, marriages and deaths together with other interesting notes, as kept by the Rev. William Douglas, from 1750 to 1797. (Ed. by William MacFarlane Jones). Richmond, VA: J. W. Fergusson & Sons, 1928.
• Emerson, John W. An Em(m)erson History: A journey through Virginia, Kentucky, and Indiana. Self-published, Warrensburg, MO., 2003. p. 9-10, 49-50.
• FamilySearch Person: L8QW-5TW: Samuel M Emmerson (1727-1814).
• Find A Grave: Memorial #157253062 for Samuel M. Emmerson (1735-1814). Headstone not pictured.
• Kentucky Probate Records, 1727-1990 (FamilySearch database with images). Lincoln County Will Records, Vol. G (1813-1822), p. 7 (image 17). Will of Samuel Emmerson, registered 8 Jan 1812; probated 14 Mar 1814. (Transcription available here).
• Turman, Robert E. Genealogy Newspaper Columns of Robert E. Turman. (Ed. by Bettie Anne Cummings Cook). Evansville, IN: Tri-State Genealogical Society and Willard Library, 1981.
• US Census, Kentucky. FamilySearch database with images.
  • 1810, Lincoln County, p. 324 (image 11), line 5: Samuel Emberson. (NARA M252 roll 7). Household composition: 1M45+, 1F45+; slaves: 10.
• Virginia Marriages, 1785-1940. (FamilySearch database [no image]). Marriage of Sam. Emmerson and Mildred Potter, 9 Sep 1756. St James Northam Parish, Goochland, Virginia.