Newman Smith and Martha Lemaster, Shelby County, Ohio, 1861

Received an exciting email this week from a potential cousin on my LeMaster side who wrote:

my 2xggfather's brother Newman Smith wife was Martha J. Lemaster, they married in Shelby county Ohio on August 25, 1861. He was also known as Rev Smith a minister of the Methodist church of Kansas, Oklahoma and Arkansas. I think she is the daughter of Luman Walker Lemasters (1808 - 1888) (also a minister of the Methodist church )and   Nancy Young Lemasters (1812 - 1904).  Can you please confirm this?

It is always exciting to make possible new connections, and I don't usually find them on my surname that are close.  Luman Walker Lemasters and Nancy Young Lemasters are my paternal 3rd great grandparents.  As they were married in Shelby County, Ohio and lived there until the mid-1850s, any other Lemaster in that vicinity has a good chance of being a close relative.

I was not aware of the marriage record of Newman Smith and Martha J. Lemaster in Shelby County, Ohio.  A quick search of Familysearch located the record:

"Ohio, County Marriages, 1789-1997," index and images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/pal:/MM9.1.1/XDPP-FQJ : accessed 06 Nov 2014), Newman H Smith and Martha Lamaster, 25 Aug 1861; citing Shelby, Ohio, United States, reference volume 4 page 184; county courthouses, Ohio; FHL microfilm 562859.

I quickly wrote him back and let him know that I did not think that the connection came through Luman Walker Lemasters and Nancy Young, as their daughter Martha was born too late to be the one who married in 1861.  Their Martha J. was born circa 1851 and married in 1872 in Jay County, Indiana to William Loofborrow.

That Newman was a Methodist minister is interesting, as that was the occupation of Luman Walker Lemasters and other members of the extended family.  They were closely associated with the Methodist church.

However, where I think there might be a connection is through Luman's brother, Lemuel Quin Lemasters (1811/2-1843) and Hannah Albright.  Lemuel died young, but he did have one son and three daughters.  One of those daughters was named Martha, who was born circa 1837.  She would be the right age to be the one who married Newman Smith in 1861.

I checked out Newman Smith's FindAGrave memorial and noticed that he had a son named Perry Quin Smith and that Perry named his son Lemuel.  Circumstantial evidence, I know, but the use of the uncommon names may indicate a connection.

I need to dig into the records in Shelby County, Ohio and see what I can find on Lemuel's family after his early death.  I believe at one time I requested his estate records, but I haven't sourced them into my database.

I'm waiting with fingers crossed to see if this potential cousin responds with more information and whether or not I'll be able to add more cousins to the tree.  I wonder if he has done any DNA testing?

DNA: Eileen's Lewis Match

Recently made a connection with one of Eileen's matches at 23andMe that turns out to be her 3rd cousin once removed on her maternal Lewis line.

23andMe predicted that Michael and Eileen were 3rd cousins and turns out they match on 5 segments. Michael listed Lewis as one of his family surnames, so that was where I concentrated on when corresponding began.  

Michael was able to name his 2nd-great grandfather and his wife, who I was able to find in my database and make the connection.  I quickly wrote back to him to share the connection and ask for more information on his line down from the common Lewis ancestors.

The common ancestors between Michael and Eileen are Jacob Lewis (1847-1898) and Marietta Cook (1855-1942).  Michael's 2nd-great grandfather and Eileen's great grandfather were brothers.  The line of descent goes like this:

Jacob Lewis & Marietta Cook

Wilfred Lewis - brothers - Lawrence Solomon Lewis

Glenn Lewis - 1st cousin - Leota Marie (Lewis) Pefley

Michael's grandfather - 2nd cousin - Eileen's mother

Michael's father - 3rd cousin - Eileen

Hopefully, this will spark some correspondence that will generate more family information on these Lewis relatives, as I don't have information on Wilfred's line right now in my database.

Surname Saturday : Barker

The BARKER surname is in my maternal line.  The origins of the surname are likely English, and this particular line of Barkers were Quaker.

Stories and history : 

Ahnentafel # 235 : Mary Barker (1793-1890).  Mary's birth was recorded 11th month, 24th day of 1793 at Cane Creek MM, North Carolina.  She married John Davis (1794-1877) on 10th month, 12th day, 1814 at Cane Creek MM, North Carolina.  John's birth was recorded 10th month, 31st day of 1794 at Cane Creek MM, North Carolina and died August 2, 1877 in Hamilton County, Indiana.  They were the parents of 11 children and moved to Indiana before 1850.  Mary died January 30, 1890 at Westfield, Hamilton County, Indiana.  Both are buried at the Old Friends Cemetery, Westfield, Hamilton County, Indiana.

Ahnentafel # 470 : Abner Barker (1768-   ).  Abner's birth was recorded 8th month, 11th day of 1768 at Cane Creek MM, North Carolina.  He married Lydia Osborne (1767-   ) on 5th month, 26th day, 1791 at Center MM, North Carolina.  Lydia's birth was recorded 1st month, 24th day of 1767 at New Garden MM, North Carolina. They were the parents of 8 children and were members of Cane Creek and Back Creek MM, North Carolina and Piney Grove MM, South Carolina.

Ahnentafel # 940 : Nicholas Barker (1737-1826).  Nicholas was born March 8, 1737 in North Carolina.  He married Hannah Allen (1741-1834) on June 9, 1760 in Guilford County, North Carolina.  Hannah was born July 10, 1741 in Chester County, Pennsylvania and her death was recorded 12th month, 10th day, 1834 at Holly Spring MM, North Carolina.  They were the parents of 7 children.  Nicholas was recognized by the DAR for supplying the local militia.  Nicholas' death was recorded 3rd month, 24th day, 1826 at Holly Spring MM, North Carolina.

Ahnentafel # 1880 : Daniel Barker (1704-1748).  Daniel was born in 1704 in North Carolina.  He married Elizabeth Nicholas (c1709-    ).  Elizabeth was born circa 1709 in New Castle, Delaware.  They were the parents of at least two children.  Daniel died in 1748.

Ahnentafel # 3760 : Samuel Barker (c1650-1720).  Samuel was born circa 1650.  The name of his wife is unknown.  He emigrated in 1683 to New Castle, Delaware.  He died in July 1720 in Wilmington, North Carolina and is buried in Old Swedes Churchyard, Wilmington, North Carolina.



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