Surname Saturday: LEMASTER

The LEMASTER surname is my paternal line.  The origins of the surname are French, with variations of the surname being either spelled "Le" or "La", with or without a capital "m" and with or without an ending "s".


Stories and History:


Ahnentafel # 8: Luman Cooper LeMASTERS (1867-1933). Luman was born May 27, 1867 in Jay County, Indiana. He married November 11, 1886 in Jay County, Indiana to Barbara Isabel WEHRLY (1869-1930). Barbara was born March 14, 1869 in Madison Township, Jay County, Indiana. After their marriage they moved to Valley County, Nebraska for a few years before returning to Jay County before 1890 where they remained the rest of their lives. Luman was a farmer and a rural mail carrier in Salamonia, Indiana.  They had 13 children, 12 of whom survived. Barbara died February 6, 1930 in Union City, Randolph County, Indiana. Luman died February 10, 1933 in Salamonia, Jay County, Indiana. They are buried in the Salamonia Cemetery, Jay County, Indiana.


Anhnentafel # 16: Luman Walker Lemasters Jr. (1842-1931). Luman was born October 19, 1842 in Shelby County, Ohio.  He married October 2, 1864 in Versailles, Darke County, Ohio to Mary Keziah CHEW (1847-1927). Mary was born February 13, 1847 in Mt. Holly, Burlington County, New Jersey. They lived in Madison Township, Jay County, Indiana where Luman was a farmer.  Luman served in Company C, 39th Indiana Infantry during the Civil War.  This regiment was later converted to the 8th Indiana Cavalry.  He was severely wounded at Deckards Ford, Tennessee on July 3, 1863 and discharged.  They had 11 children.  Mary died February 22, 1927 in Salamonia, Jay County, Indiana.  Luman died November 18, 1931 in Salamonia, Jay County, Indiana. Both are buried in the Salamonia Cemetery, Jay County, Indiana.


Ahnentafel # 32: Luman Walker Lemasters Sr. (1808-1888). Luman was born March 11, 1808 in Mason County, Virginia (now West Virginia).  He married January 19, 1832 in Shelby County, Ohio to Nancy YOUNG (1812-1904). Nancy was born June 2, 1812 in Pickaway County, Ohio.  Luman was a Methodist Episcopal minister and farmer. They moved from Shelby County, Ohio to Jay County, Indiana in 1854, settling in Madison Township.  They raised 11 children.  Nancy died August 26, 1904 in Salamonia, Jay County, Indiana.  Luman died April 15, 1888 in Jay County, Indiana.  Both are buried in the Salamonia Cemetery, Jay County, Indiana.


Ahnentafel # 64: Jacob Lemasters (1770-1852).  Jacob was born March 21, 1770 in Pennsylvania, according to census and tombstone records.  He married circa 1794 to Hannah ________ (1778-1849).  Hannah was born September 30, 1778 in either Pennsylvania or Maryland.  They had 8 children.  They moved to Champaign County, Ohio circa 1815 and then to Shelby County, Ohio by 1818.  Jacob was a farmer.  Hannah died June 16, 1849 in Shelby County, Ohio.  Jacob died September 21, 1852 in Shelby County, Ohio.  Both are buried in the Roberts Cemetery, Shelby County, Ohio.


The remaining lines of this ahnentafel are speculative, and remain to be proven.  The hypothesis put forth by Ralph D. Smith of Port Orange, FL in his books on the Lemasters family is that Jacob (1770-1852) is the son of another Jacob.  This has not been definitively proven, as our Jacob seems to have dropped in Mason County, Virginia in 1804 with no prior history. In the past, I have considered these additional lines valid, but I am re-thinking my position due to lack of evidence.


Ahnentafel # 128: Jacob Lemaster (bef 1734-aft 1775). Jacob was born before 1734 in Charles County, Maryland.  He resided in Frederick County, Maryland in 1766.  He served at Fort Pitt as a member of the Virginia militia just prior to the Revolution.  He had 3 children.  Jacob died sometime after 1775, probably Frederick County, Maryland.


Ahnentafel # 256: Isaac Lemaster (c1695-aft 1771). Isaac was born circa 1695 in St. Mary's County, Maryland.  He married before May 1730 in Charles County, Maryland to Catherine Ward.  They had 7 children.  Isaac died after 1771 in Prince George's County, Maryland.


Ahnentafel # 512: Richard Lemaster (bet. 1668/70-aft. 1735). Richard was born between 1668 and 1670 in St. Mary's County, Maryland.  He married Martha ________ (c1668-bet. 1713/23).  Martha was born circa 1668.  They had 6 children.  Richard was a carpenter. Martha died between 1713 and 1723 in Charles County, Maryland.  Richard died after 1735 in Charles County, Maryland.


Ahnentafel # 1024: Abraham Lemaster (bet. 1636/39-1722).  Abraham was born between 1636 and 1639 in Ste. Marie's Parish, Isle of Jersey.  He immigrated to St. Mary's County, Maryland circa 1661.  The name of his wife is unknown.  He had 6 children.  Abraham died December 6, 1722 in Charles County, Maryland.


The surname is found in records spelled in a variety of ways.  In my immediate lines, the 'm' was capitalized in Luman Cooper LeMasters generation, but many of his children dropped the final 's'.  


Our line is found in Chapter 13 of the Lemasters, U.S.A. 1639-1965 book by Howard M. Lemaster and Margaret Herberger.

Family Milestones: September 4th

My maternal 3rd-great granduncle, George G. LAMBERTSON, was married on this date in 1851 in Butler County, Ohio to Harriett JONES.  George was the son of John and Sarah (WILLSON) LAMBERTSON, and the older brother of my Carey W. LAMBERTSON.  George was born July 5, 1831 in Warren County, New Jersey.  Harriett was born circa 1834 in Ohio.  They had 2 children and resided in Butler County, Ohio and Mason County, Kentucky where George was a Methodist minister.  George's death is unknown.  Harriett died between 1900 and 1910, probably in Butler County, Ohio.


My paternal 5th-great grandaunt, Abigail PHILBRICK, was born on this date in 1737 in Hampton, Province of New Hampshire.  Abigail was the daughter of John and Judith (SANBORN) PHILBRICK, and the older sister of my John PHILBRICK.  Abigail married ________ PARTRIDGE.  Nothing further is known at this time.

Family Milestones: September 3rd

My maternal 3rd-great grandaunt, Almira P. PIERCE, married on this date in 1868 in Madison County, Indiana to Andrew Jackson SIGLER, son of Daniel and Elizabeth (SHANK) SIGLER.  Almira was the daughter of Francis S. and Rebecca (PAGE) PIERCE, and the younger sister of my Edmund G. PIERCE.  Almira was born March 8, 1849.  Andrew was born March 8, 1846.  They had 4 children and lived in Pipe Creek Township, Madison County, Indiana.  Almira died July 24, 1926 in Elwood, Madison County, Indiana.

My maternal 3rd-great grandaunt, Margaret P. PIERCE, married on this date in 1868 in Madison County, Indiana to William Henry Harrison SOMMERS.  William's parentage is unknown. Margaret was the daughter of Francis S. and Rebecca (PAGE) PIERCE, and the younger sister of my Edmund G. PIECE.  Margaret was born October 17, 1840.  They had 8 children.  Nothing further is known at this time.

My maternal 3rd-great grandfather, Daniel KING, was born on this date in 1820 in Ohio.  Daniel was the son of William and Sarah (SULLIVAN) KING.  Daniel married December 5, 1847 in Madison County, Indiana to Elizabeth SHAW, daughter of William and Mary (HECK) SHAW.  Elizabeth was born October 1827 in Ohio.  They lived in Monroe Township, Madison County, Indiana and had 10 children.  Elizabeth died October 10, 1900 in Frankton, Madison County, Indiana. Daniel died February 24, 1876 in Frankton, Madison County, Indiana.  Both are buried in the Howard Cemetery, Pipe Creek Township, Madison County, Indiana.

My paternal 4th-great granduncle, Jesse C. CHEW, was born on this date in 1788 in Gloucester County, New Jersey.  Jesse was the son of Nathaniel and Sarah (SPRINGER) CHEW, and the younger brother of my Nathaniel CHEW.  Jesse married April 7, 1806 to Martha DRIVER.  Martha's parentage and dates of birth and death are unknown.  Jesse died April 18, 1846.  Nothing further is known at this time.

My paternal 4th-great granduncle, John PHILBRICK, was born on this date in 1771.  John was the son of Deacon John and Sally (JEWETT) PHILBRICK, and the older brother of my Joel PHILBRICK.  John married Anna MELVIN.  Anna's parentage and dates of birth and death are unknown.  John died December 8, 1825.  Nothing further is known at this time.