Descendants of Samuel Durham
Generation No. 1
1. SAMUEL1 DURHAM was born May 6, 1752 in Fauquier County, Virginia, and died 1838 in Green County, Kentucky. He married ASHBY HALLOWAY 1772 in Mecklenburg County, Virginia.
Notes for SAMUEL DURHAM:
It is actually unknown for sure that Samuel Durham is the father of William G. Durham. A perponderance of evidences say that he is. Information comes from many Durham researchers such as Leonieta Milner in Texas, Wilson Casteel in Laurel County, KY (deceased). Rufus Bruner in TN. Scotty Rawson in Texas. I hope to prove that this is the correct line to my William Durham born 1818.
Will of Samuel Durham, Sr., Jan 2, 1837...My children can keep the property I have given them; My son, John Durham is indebted to me in the sum of $686.56, secured by notes; My son, William owes me an account of $20.00; My son, James Durham is indebted to me in the amount of $5.00. Each son must pay his debt or have it deducted from the estate. I direct my property to be sold by my executors on a credit of 12 months. Each slave that is age 14 can choose his master. Each child receives 1/8 part, viz: Jane Reave, James Durham, Betty (Elizabeth) Sanders, Lousanna Kilby, William Durham, Samuel Durham, John Durham and my granddaughters, Elizabeth Ashby Thompson and Mary Whitlock get 1/8 part between them if my granddaughter Mary dies without issue her sister Elizabeth A. Thompson, shall have her part. The Estate goes to the grandchildren after death of children; Exec., my friend Gabriel M. Buckner and my grandson, Joel c. Durham and Samuel M. Durham; signed Samuel Durham; Wit: H.L. Mudd, Henry Durrett, George Durrett; Produced Mar 19, 1838 and proven by Henry Durrett and George Duret; Recorded 28 March 1838 by John Barrett.
Children of SAMUEL DURHAM and ASHBY HALLOWAY are:
ii. JANE DURHAM.
iii. ELIZABETH DURHAM.
iv. LOUSANNA DURHAM1.
v. JAMES DURHAM.
vi. JOHN DURHAM.
vii. NANCY DURHAM.
viii. SAMUEL DURHAM.
Generation No. 2
2. WILLIAM GREEN2 DURHAM (SAMUEL1)2 was born 1782 in Virginia3, and died in Kentucky. He married MARY JUDITH SHREVE November 6, 1810 in Green County, Kentucky4.
Notes for WILLIAM GREEN DURHAM:
William G. Durham is said to be the father of my 1818 William Durham. I have not confirmed this. I have descendants of William G. Durham who tell me that this is fact. I have never been able to find anything to prove or disprove in black and white.
The "G." in his middle name is said to have been for "Green". This was told to Leoneita Milner of Texas by Wilson Casteel (deceased) of Laurel County Kentucky. I do know that William G. Durham was living with his daughter Eliza Jane Durham Casteel in Jackson County, Kentucky in 1870 from census records. There is also a stone in Jackson County, Powell Cemetery with the initials W.G.D. on it. It is not known if this is our William G. Durham.
Notes for MARY JUDITH SHREVE:
Mary Judith Shreeve was aka "Polly" or "Juda". Some researchers has her name listed as Rachel but I have never run across the name of Rachel. Scotty Rawson in CA gave me the name Rachel from descendants of Adaliza Jane Casteel.
Children of WILLIAM DURHAM and MARY SHREVE are:
ii. AUSTIN DURHAM, b. 1812.
3. iii. WILLIAM DURHAM, b. 1818, Kentucky; d. July 1900, Rockcastle County Kentucky.
iv. JOSEPH A. DURHAM, b. 1820.
4. v. ELIZA JANE DURHAM, b. June 16, 1824; d. February 4, 1903, Jackson County, Kentucky.
vi. JOHN DURHAM, b. 1820.
vii. MARTIN DURHAM.
viii. NANCY DURHAM.
5. ix. MINERVA DURHAM, d. 1895.
x. ANNIE DURHAM.
Generation No. 3
3. WILLIAM3 DURHAM (WILLIAM GREEN2, SAMUEL1) was born 1818 in Kentucky5, and died July 1900 in Rockcastle County Kentucky6. He married (1) ELIZABETH Bef. 1841. She was born 1821. He married (2) LETTY BAKER Abt. 1850. She was born 18247. He married (3) MINERVA Abt. 1870. She was born 1818. He married (4) SARAH E. SCOTT November 17, 1889 in Rockcastle County Kentucky. She was born May 1848 in Kentucky.
Notes for WILLIAM DURHAM:
Information taken from Rockcastle County Census books, 1810, 1820, 1830, 1840 AND 1850, 1860, 1870, 1880 AND 1900. Kathalene Hunt of Kentucky has also given me much information. Few bits of info came from Great Grandchildren.
I have been told that William was hung by confederate soldiers on Crooked Creek upside down and buck naked. He was left for dead and Union soldiers came along and cut him down. He hid in the caves and ridges for 3 or 4 weeks so afraid they would come back for him. His wife Letty carried him food and clothing sneaking out at night to do so. It is possible that first wife, Elizabeth, and second wife Letty Baker are one and the same person. There is an age difference according to census records, but since no marriage records or other records have been found it is not known if they are one in the same.
Court case took place over 50 acres of land that he owned in Rockcastle County. William Durham vs Calloway Mullins and William Reeves. William was suppose to have purchased the 50 acres via of a bay colored mare worth $50.00. Land was bought for the mare as $1.00 per acre. He did not have the title bond at the time of the court case which took place in 1874/1875/1876/1877. Land was suppose to have been bought in 1855 and William lived on it for 20 years when the court case took place. His son Green B. Durham testified that his father bought the land for $50.00 when he was about 9 years old. Court records show that he was able to keep his land.
Court case dated 1873 William and Sarah E. Scott were endicted for adultry. Sarah could not be found and the jury found William Durham not guilty. Court case files are in the Kentucky State Archives in Frankfort, Kentucky. Later records show that he married Sarah E. Scott, ten years after the case was decided.
Preponderance of evidence says that William is the son of William G. Durham who was in Jackson County in 1870 living with his daughter, Eliza Jane Durham Casteel and her husband Nathan Casteel. I have yet to find any black and white evidence but the Casteel descendants state this is so. If this is true then William G. is the son of Samuel Durham from Green County. I will not stop trying to find proof of this as fact.
Marriage Notes for WILLIAM DURHAM and ELIZABETH:
Elizabeth is known to be the first wife of William Durham. We have never been sure if she is not also Lettie Baker. There is difference in age from census records but some researchers believe she is one in the same as Lettie.
Notes for LETTY BAKER:
Letty/Lettie Baker is known to be the second wife of William. Some researchers believe her to be one in the same as the first wife Elizabeth. We have no record of marriage or death so we cannot prove if Letty and Elizabeth are the same person. There is age difference on census records.
It is said that Letty carried food and clothing to her husband in the cave for several weeks after he was hung and left to die.
Children of WILLIAM DURHAM and ELIZABETH are:
ii. MATILDA DURHAM, b. 1844.
iii. ISAAC DURHAM, b. 1847.
6. iv. GREENBURY DURHAM, b. 1849, Kentucky; d. Aft. 1910, Madison County, Arkansas.
Children of WILLIAM DURHAM and LETTY BAKER are:
vi. ELIZABETH DURHAM, b. 1852.
vii. ELEANDER NANCY DURHAM, b. 1854.
7. viii. NANCY DURHAM, b. February 14, 1854, Rockcastle County Kentucky.
ix. JOHN DURHAM, b. 1856.
x. VILEY DURHAM, b. 1856.
8. xi. THOMAS JEFFERSON DURHAM, b. March 12, 1861, Rockcastle County Kentucky; d. 1941, Laurel County, Kentucky.
9. xii. WILLIAM M. DURHAM, JR., b. March 12, 1861, Kentucky; d. June 17, 1945, Rockcastle County, Kentucky.
xiii. LETTY DURHAM, b. 1863.
4. ELIZA JANE3 DURHAM (WILLIAM GREEN2, SAMUEL1) was born June 16, 1824, and died February 4, 1903 in Jackson County, Kentucky. She married NATHAN CASTEEL November 27, 1845 in Laurel County, Kentucky. He was born in Laurel County, Kentucky.
Children of ELIZA DURHAM and NATHAN CASTEEL are:
ii. MARY JANE CASTEEL, b. June 19, 1848.
iii. MARGARET CASTEEL, b. October 9, 1850.
iv. EMMALINE CASTEEL, b. April 27, 1853.
5. MINERVA3 DURHAM (WILLIAM GREEN2, SAMUEL1) died 1895. She married LEMUEL J. CASTEEL August 29, 1842 in Laurel County, Kentucky. He was born June 30, 1820 in Laurel County, Kentucky, and died May 25, 1902 in Laurel County, Kentucky.
Children of MINERVA DURHAM and LEMUEL CASTEEL are:
ii. ADALIZA JANE CASTEEL, b. June 1843.
Generation No. 4
6. GREENBURY4 DURHAM (WILLIAM3, WILLIAM GREEN2, SAMUEL1) was born 1849 in Kentucky8, and died Aft. 1910 in Madison County, Arkansas9. He married MARY ELIZABETH ANGLIN Abt. 1870 in Rockcastle County Kentucky. She was born 1850 in Kentucky, and died 1929 in Arkansas.
Notes for GREENBURY DURHAM:
Information came from Raymond Durham and Elsie Durham Arnold children of Francis Marion Durham. Raymond told me that Green was hassled by the Civil War soldiers. His barn was burnt and they gave him a lot of trouble. He followed his grandmother Aline Moore around on a mule. I was told by Elsie that he had a daughter that died in the 1937 flood.
Census information from Johnson County Arkansas show that Green B. Durham and wife Elizabeth Anglin Durham were there with a granddaughter Mannie McGuire who was two years old in 1910. Cannot locate any death record for Green but told that he died in Madison County Arkansas. He is buried on his own land in Ark. His wife Elizabeth is buried in Oklahoma according their great grandson.
I don't believe Green was married twice. All records say once however his marriage in 1870 to Mary E. I believe is Mary Elizabeth and she later used the Elizabeth name only.
Children of GREENBURY DURHAM and MARY ANGLIN are:
ii. MARY F. DURHAM, b. February 20, 1873, Rockcastle County Kentucky; d. February 6, 1957, Rockcastle County Kentucky; m. WILLIAM A. MULLINS, January 7, 1889, Rockcastle County Kentucky; b. October 17, 1868, Rockcastle County Kentucky; d. July 16, 1950, Rockcastle County Kentucky.
iii. WILLIAM MARTIN DURHAM, b. August 26, 1875, Kentucky; d. November 5, 1958, Rockcastle County Kentucky; m. MARTHA ELLEN VANZANT, September 11, 1896, Rockcastle County Kentucky; b. April 1881, Scott County Virginia; d. April 30, 1970, Rockcastle County Kentucky.
iv. JOHN THOMAS DURHAM, b. August 26, 1877, Kentucky; d. August 23, 1937, Davenport, Oklahoma; m. (1) MAUD LYNCH; m. (2) MARTHA JANE ANGLIN, January 4, 1900, Kentucky; b. September 20, 1879, Kentucky; d. February 9, 1920, Davenport, Oklahoma.
v. DEBORAH DURHAM, ASHER, b. 1880.
vi. LETTIE DURHAM, b. February 1882, Kentucky; m. CHARLES F. MCGUIRE, February 14, 1898, Rockcastle County Kentucky; b. June 1879, Kentucky.
vii. REBECCA DURHAM, d. California; m. SY RADFORD.
7. NANCY4 DURHAM (WILLIAM3, WILLIAM GREEN2, SAMUEL1) was born February 14, 1854 in Rockcastle County Kentucky. She met WILLIAM DURHAM in never married.
Notes for NANCY DURHAM:
Nancy was said to have had 3 children out of wedlock. All three went by the name of DURHAM even though they all three had different fathers. Various family members tell me that John Thomas Durham was actually an Evans. Frank Durham was a Singleton, which proves out on Rockcastle County 1900 census records. The third is said to be Ulysis Durham who was really a Mullins.
I do have photos of Nancy. I also had the magazine called Kentucky Explorer publish these photos in 1996.
Children of NANCY DURHAM and WILLIAM DURHAM are:
ii. FRANK DURHAM, b. May 1893.
iii. ULYSIS DURHAM.
8. THOMAS JEFFERSON4 DURHAM (WILLIAM3, WILLIAM GREEN2, SAMUEL1) was born March 12, 1861 in Rockcastle County Kentucky10, and died 1941 in Laurel County, Kentucky. He married (1) MALVINA ALLEN in KENTUCKY. He married (2) CLISTA LAWSON July 16, 1881 in Rockcastle County, KY. She was born January 1864 in Kentucky.
Notes for THOMAS JEFFERSON DURHAM:
Thomas was buried on Gauley Mountain just above Livingston and Stanford. He was carried there by wagon and mule. Elsie Arnold attended this funeral. Thomas was the twin brother of my grandfather William Durham.
Children of THOMAS DURHAM and MALVINA are:
ii. GEORGE DURHAM, b. June 17, 1913.
Children of THOMAS DURHAM and CLISTA LAWSON are:
iv. MARY DURHAM, b. May 1887.
v. FREDDIE H. DURHAM, b. June 1891.
9. WILLIAM M.4 DURHAM, JR. (WILLIAM3, WILLIAM GREEN2, SAMUEL1) was born March 12, 1861 in Kentucky11, and died June 17, 1945 in Rockcastle County, Kentucky12. He married (1) SARAH JANE MOORE December 31, 1884 in Rockcastle County Kentucky, daughter of JOHN MOORE and ALLINA MOORE. She was born August 1869 in Kentucky13, and died Aft. 1909 in Pulaski County Kentucky14. He married (2) LIZA DENNY, KENDRICK, DURHAM 1911 in PULASKI COUNTY, KENTUCKY, daughter of JESSE DENNY. She was born 1874, and died 1955.
Notes for WILLIAM M. DURHAM, JR.:
INFORMATION TAKEN FROM ROCKCASTLE COUNTY CENSUS BOOKS AND FROM KATHALENE HUNT WHO HAS HELPED IN ALL MY SEARCH. SHE LIVES IN MT. VERNON KY AND IS THE HEAD OF HISTORICAL SOCIETY THERE.
I WAS TOLD THAT MY GREAT GRANDFATHER DELIVERED MAIL AT MULLINS STATION KENTUCKY UNTIL HE WAS TO OLD AND SICKLY TO CARRY. HE LOVED HIS FIDDLE AND CARRIED IT WHERE EVER HE WENT WRAPPED IN A BLANKET. THIS CAME FROM HIS GRANDDAUGHTER ELIZABETH DURHAM. SOME OF MY INFO CAME FROM GRANDSON RAYMOND DURHAM AND GRANDDAUGHTER ELSIE ARNOLD.
I WAS TOLD BY THE GRANDDAUGHTER, THAT WILLIAM CARRIED HIS FIDDLE EVERYWHERE HE WENT. HE ALSO BUILT FIDDLES. HE MARRIED A SECOND TIME TO A LIZA KINDRIC OR KINDRICK. IT COULD EVEN BE ELIZABETH KINDRICK.
HE DIED OF VALVULAR HEART DISEASE AND HE ALSO HAD BRONCHIAL ASTHMA
Notes for SARAH JANE MOORE:
WILLIAM B. DURHAM WAS A FIDDLE PLAYER. WHENEVER HE WAS SEEN WALKING HE WOULD ALWAYS BE CARRYING HIS FIDDLE.
Children of WILLIAM DURHAM and SARAH MOORE are:
Notes for THOMAS JEFFERSON DURHAM:
information for this history has been taken from 1800's census books of Rockcastle County, Kentucky, History book of Rockcastle county Kentucky and Kathalene Hunt whom lives in Rockcastle County and is a Historical Researcher and helps very much with history.
Ihave been told by many family members that grandfather loved the Indians and sent most of his money to them. I also have been told that he was a preacher. Family members have stated that he had a very strong personality and was a very good musician as were all the Durham's.
July 6, 1998: Talked with Elsie Arnold. She told me just before grandfather went into the service he had sassed his mother, Sarah Jane Moore Durham, and she "slapped the fire" out of him and told him "just because he was going to be a soldier, gave him no right to sass".
Notes for PEARL MAE MORRIS:
When I was a young girl, granny took me bus riding once on a Sunday bus pass. She always visited on Sunday. She sand her church music and made us change our radio station from rock and roll to gospel. I can still hear her singing "LORD I'M COMING HOME". She called my dad "LINVILLE" which was his middle name.
Granny had five brothers, FRED, TOM, CLYDE, JOHN AND SHERMAN. My dad was named after her brother SHERMAN.
She was only 15 years old when she married my grandfather.
Granny Pearl's brother TOM "BIG SID" killed himself with his rifle after asking to borrow a hand gun from several and they would not loan him one. He was veru o;; and could not take the pain any longer so he took his own life.
Her son, Homer Lincoln took his own life with a gin in Kentucky at his daughters house. I don't suppose we will ever know why he did that.
It is said by family members that she had a nervous breakdown at some point and was put in the Lakeland Hospital for the Insane in Kentucky. Granny Pearl, as we called her always seemed like a big woman to me. I can remember her well. She always tried to get us to pray. She always colored her bible with different colors of crayon. As most young people do, I let her get away from me before I got interested in family history. I was just too young to care much about family at the time. I don't remember her telling us any family stories but I do remember her always wanting us to pray. She would wake us up at night when she came to bed to make us get up on the cold floor in the winter to say our prayers. She usually spent the night with us when she came on Sunday's.
Marriage Notes for THOMAS DURHAM and PEARL MORRIS:
WALTER MEECE MARRIED GRANNY PEARL AND THOMAS JEFFERSON
ii. DONIE DURHAM, b. May 28, 1889, Rockcastle County, Kentucky; d. October 6, 1967, Pulaski, County Kentucky; m. GEORGE VICTORY HARGIS, 1911, Pulaski, County Kentucky; b. 1890; d. 1970, Pulaski, County Kentucky..
Notes for DONIE DURHAM:
Information taken from death certificate, census books for Kentucky, news articles from Kathalene Hunt,
Dona was buried in Hazedell Cemetery Church lot on Oct 8, 1967. I don't believe there is a head stone as I have looked in the cemetery. Funeral director was Farris-Morris-Hislope at Science Hill, KY.
iii. MATILDA CATHERINE DURHAM, b. April 29, 1892, Rockcastle County Kentucky; d. April 13, 1941, Shelbyville, Shelby County, Kentucky; m. (1) VIRGIL HARGIS; m. (2) RICHARD PROWS; m. (3) W. G. RUCKER.
Notes for MATILDA CATHERINE DURHAM:
Matilda married three times. First to Richard Prows, 2nd to Virgil Hargis and 3rd to W.G. Rucker. She is said to have comitted suicide according to her death certificate. Several people believe that W.G. Rucker killed her. She was only 48 years 11 months and 4 days old when she died in Shelby county Kentucky. She was born to William Durham who was born March of 1861. She died on April 4th, 1941 of severed carotid artery.
Matilda sang all the time according to Elsie Arnold, her niece. One song she remembers very well that Aunt Tildie sang like a bird was "Little Joe". Aunt Tildie took care of her great grandfather's grave up until the time she died. Story goes that she is the one who put a little fence around his grave.
iv. FRANCIS MARION DURHAM, HOSS, b. February 7, 1894, Rockcastle County, Kentucky17; d. April 9, 1948, Lincoln County, Kentucky17; m. (1) GRACE ALCORN; m. (2) ANNIE ELIZABETH SIMPSON, October 13, 1923, Somerset, Pulaski County, Kentucky; b. May 15, 1904, Casey Coutny, Kentucky; d. Clermont County, Ohio;.
Notes for FRANCIS MARION DURHAM, HOSS:
World War I, Social Security #400-32-2203, information taken from son Raymond Durham and Sister Elsie Durham ARnold, Death Certificate, census records and news paper obit from Mt. Vernon. Stationed at Camp Taylor, Ky now called Camp Campbell.
I have been told that Marion Killed a man named Squire Singleton. An argument Oover some real estate was the cause. Squire was going to shoot him first. OCT 1995, found court records of the shooting case. Marion did kill Squire Singleton in Rockcastle County with a Winchester Rifle from 125 yards. Squire was shooting at him first. Shooting took place February 1919.
He died in the Stanford Hospital in Kentucky. Car accident when he stepped in front of a car. He was buried in Mt Vernon Cemetery in Mt Vernon, Kentucky.
He was divorced from Annie Simpson in 1944 in Rockcastle county, Kentucky according to civil suits of that county held in the Frankfort archives. Daughter Elsie said they were married in Jelico, TN. He was married to Grace Alcorn when he died.
v. PEARL ALICE DURHAM, b. September 14, 1897, Rockcastle County, Kentucky; d. June 9, 1961, Pulaski County, Kentucky; m. WILLIAM W. PING, 1916, Pulaski County Kentucky.
vi. JULIA ANN DURHAM, SIMPSON, b. April 11, 1899, Rockcastle County Kentucky; d. April 20, 1950, Boyle, County Kentucky; m. (1) WILLIAM O. BRADLEY DUDLEY SIMPSON; b. November 1897, Casey Coutny, Kentucky; d. December 18, 1936, Stanford, Lincoln County, Kentucky; m. (2) MOORE.
vii. BILL JANE DURHAM, b. September 16, 1901, Orlando, Rockcastle County, Kentucky; d. June 30, 1967, Cincinnati, Hamilton County, Ohio; m. ETHEL MAE MCGUIRE; b. March 22, 1910, Rockcastle County Kentucky; d. January 15, 1992, Rockcastle County Kentucky.
Notes for BILL JANE DURHAM:
Information Taken from death certificate, nephew Raymond Durham son of Francis Marion Durham. He died with Throat cancer and acute Lobular Pneumonia, he is buried in Briarfield Cemetery, Brush Creek, Kentucky. Funeral home was Sparks Funeral Home, Mt Vernon, KY. He was in Ohio for 4 months before his death.
viii. LETTIE FRANCES DURHAM, b. April 24, 1904, Rockcastle County Kentucky; d. June 13, 1972, Danville, Boyle County, Kentucky; m. ARTHUR SIMPSON.
Notes for LETTIE FRANCES DURHAM:
Lettie died on June 13, 1972 at the Kentucky State Hospital in Danville, she lived at 438 Dillehany St. in Danville. She was a housewife. Her social security #405-09-3541. She is buried in Bellevue Cemetery in Danville, KY.
ix. JOHN MORRIS DURHAM, b. August 17, 1905, Kentucky, Rockcastle County; d. June 30, 1967, Danville, Boyle County, Kentucky.
Endnotes
1. Will Book 2, 327-331, Greensburg Court House, Green County, Kentucky.
2. descendant, information from Scotty Rawson, Rufus Bruner, Leoneita Milner. All descendants of W.G. Durham.
3. Laurel County census records, 1850-1870
4. Green County marriage records
5. 1840,1850, 1860, 1870, 1880, 1900 census
6. headstone, Luther Mullins, census Mt. Vernon, Rockcastle County newspaper for July of 1900
7. Census records of Rockcastle County Kentucky1860
8. census records KY & AR
9. census records, family members
10. Census records of Rockcastle CountyFamily members
11. census records, family membersHeadstone in Mt. Vernon cemeteryDeath certificateCourt records
12. death certificate Rockcastle County, KY
13. Rockcastle County Kentucky marriage recordsand census records
14. Family members and burial records of Hazel Dell cemetery in Pulaski County, KY
15. census rcords, family members
16. death cert in KY
17. death cert, Kentucky