Brewsaugh Hargis Shaw Home

Blevins

Also including the surnames:

Beaman ~ Beeman ~ Brewsaugh ~ Brooks

Coker ~ Davis ~ Gauger ~ Green ~ Griffin

Filmer ~ Hart ~ Hudlar ~ Hurley ~ Jackson

Lee ~ Owen ~ Parks ~ Pennington ~ Sexton

Sharp ~ Sheets ~ Sizemore ~ Stamper

Standards ~ Thompson ~ Walker

Wallace ~ Ward

Blevins origin

The Blevins name was originally Welsh, meaning “little wolf.” It evolved from the given name Bleiddyn, which meant “wolf cub.” Blaidd was often used among the early Welsh to describe a hero, and on its own means “wolf.”

The Wells Ward and James Blevins Families of Grayson County, Virginia

1 – Wells Ward – b-abt 1725, Henrico County, VA

d-1821, Grayson County, VA

s – Rebecca (surname unknown)

2 – Elizabeth “Lizzie” Ward – b-1742, Bridle Creek, Grayson County, VA

s – James Blevins – b-1740, England

3 – Joseph Blevins – b-abt 1760

d-abt 1840, Ashe County, NC

s – Mary B. Blevins – b-abt 1767

4 – William Blevins – b-abt 1793

m-February 14, 1816

d-abt 1870

s – Rhoda Pruitt – b-abt 1795

5 – Elizabeth “Betsy Blevins – b-1818

s – Williamson Ham

5 – Sarah Blevins – b-abt 1820

m-February 23, 1848, Ashe County, NC

s – Granville Ham

5 – Granville H. Blevins – b-abt 1825

m-October 8, 1849

s – Polly Doughton

5 – Silvester Blevins – b-1825

m-February 19, 1848

d-February 15, 1875

s – Polly Moxley

5 – Andrew Franklin Blevins – b-November 9, 1827

m-abt 1846

d-January 1897

s – Susannah Joines

5 – Alvis H. Blevins* – b-March 18, 1828

d-September 22, 1905

s – Martha Blevins* – b-abt 1829

d-1911

5 – Josiah Blevins – b-abt 1830

m-July 2, 1868

s – Nancy Jane Spurlin Blevins

5 – Frances “Franky” Blevins – b-abt 1832

5 – Ralph “Devil Rafe” Blevins – b-September 1836

m-April 1857

s – Mary J. Crouse

5 – Jonathan Blevins – b-1838

m-abt 1854

d-1863

s – Nancy Jane Spurlin

4 – Joseph Blevins, Jr. – b-1799

s – Nancy (surname unknown)

5 – Mary “Polly Blevins – b-abt 1823

5 – Elizabeth Blevins – b-abt 1829

s – Wesley Holdaway

5 – James Blevins – b-abt 1831

5 – Alvis Blevins – b-abt 1836

m-June 3, 1866

s – Celia Richardson

5 – Eli Blevins – b-1838

5 – Nancy Blevins – b-1841

4 – John S. Blevins – b-1801

m-January 7, 1824

2nd m-October 16, 1869

d-1891

s – Nancy Pruitt

5 – Verlinty Blevins – b-abt 1826

s – Marion Woody

5 – Martha Blevins* – b-abt 1829

s - Alvis Blevins* – b-March 18, 1828

d-September 22, 1905

5 – Cynthia Blevins – b-abt 1831

s – Jacob Wagoner

5 – Matilda Blevins – b-November 21, 1833

m-January 31, 1859

d-February 25, 1924

s – George Hamilton Brown

5 – Andrew Jackson Blevins – b-1835

s – Frances Millicent Smoot

5 – Ralph Blevins – b-abt 1836

d-aft 1880

5 – Louisa Jane Blevins – b-Mary 13, 1843

m-1867

d-April 1919

s – Moses Franklin Richardson

2nd s – Eveline Carter

5 – William Callaway Blevins – b-February 12, 1871

d-September 30, 1944

s – Pearl Upchurch

5 – John F. Blevins – b-January 13, 1873

d-July 28, 1946

5 – Millard Monroe Blevins – b-September 13, 1874

m-January 17, 1899, Allegheny County, NC

d-June 1, 1959

s- R.C. Blevins

2nd s – Katherine Wyatt

4 – Daniel Blevins – b-1803

d-1870

s – Elizabeth Bracins

5 – female (name unknown) – b-abt 1829

5 – Nancy Blevins – b-abt 1831

5 – Polly Blevins – b-abt 1833

5 – Levi Blevins – b-abt 1835

m-November 24, 1855

d-abt 1867

s – Ada Thompson

5 – Sarah Blevins

5 – Isom Blevins – b-February 25, 1838

m-April 19, 1866

d-June 30, 1918

s – Mary Yates

5 – Eli Blevins – b-abt 1843

5 – Shubel Blevins – b-April 1846

m-October 22, 1869

s – Ada Thompson Blevins

5 – Thomas Jefferson Blevins – b-abt 1846

d-May 26, 1908

s – Christina Thompson

5 – John Blevins – b-abt 1849

2nd m-November 12, 1886

s – Haley (surname unknown)

s – Martha Waters

5 – Elizabeth “Betty” Blevins – b-1852

m-June 16, 1877, Allegheny County, NC

d-July 1917

s – William Hodges

5 – Rosann Blevins – b-abt 1854

4 – Andrew Z. Blevins – b-1805

m-1825

d-March 4, 1889

s – Charity Wyatt

5 – Granville Blevins – b-1825, Grayson County, VA

s – Polly Blevins – b-1833

5 – Alpha Blevins – b-abt 1826, Grayson County, VA

5 – John Ander Blevins – b-September 23, 1828, Grayson County, VA

m-October 25, 1849, Grayson County, VA

d-January 24, 1910

s – Susan Hayes – b-1831

d-1910

5 – Sarah Blevins – b-June 18, 1830, Grayson County, VA

m-February 23, 1848, Ashe County, NC

d-June 16, 1900, Smyth County, VA

s – William Granville Hayes – b-1827

d-1914

5 – Jonathan Blevins – b-1832, Grayson County, VA

d-January 24, 1910

5 – Elisha Blevins – b-1833, Grayson County, VA

m-January 1, 1854

2nd m-July 14, 1888

s – Nancy Adams

2nd s – Martha Wagoner

3 – John Blevins – b-abt 1760, Albemarble County, VA

d-August 10, 1816, Grayson County, VA

s – Catherine Cox

3 – Nathan Blevins – b-1761, North Carolina

3 – Daniel Blevins – b-abt 1763

3 – Wells Blevins – b-abt 1765, Grayson County, VA

d-1840, Ashe County, NC

s – Nancy Strunk

3 – Elisha Blevins – b-1770

d-June 3, 1839

3 – James B. Blevins – b-abt 1775, Grayson County, VA

d-November 20, 1820

s – Lydia Sizemore – b-abt 1775

(SEE CHILDREN IN THE JAMES B. BLEVINS AND LYDIA SIZEMORE FAMILY SECTION BELOW)

3 – Levi Blevins – b-1770

2 – Abigail Ward – b-December 1, 1759, Chesterfield County, VA

d-May 11, 1859, Grayson County, VA

2 – Nathan Ward – b-1761, North Carolina

d-1835, Grayson County, VA

2 – Wells Ward, Jr. – b-Chesterfield County, VA

2 – James Ward – b-Chesterfield County, VA

2 – Stephen Ward – b-Chesterfield County, VA

2 – Benjamin Ward – b-Chesterfield County, VA

*Martha Blevins and Alvis Blevins were first cousins

Notes on the Wells Ward and James Blevins families:

Wells Ward and his son-in-law, James Blevins, fought in Lord Dunmore’s War against the Shawnees in 1774. A Daniel Blevins also fought, and was always mentioned in connection with James and Ward, so it’s likely this was James’s brother. Grayson County had a plethora of Blevins named James, Daniel, and Wells.

Nathan Blevins fought in the Revolutionary War from 1783 to 1785. Rosters from Montgomery County, North Carolina, for the territory which became Grayson County, also show James Blevins and Daniel Blevins as Revolutionary War soldiers.

Andrew Blevins and Charity Wyatt had eighteen children, but these are all I have details on.

John and Nancy Blevins’ son Ralph was said to be insane.

The Abram Pennington Family of Ashe County, North Carolina

1 – Ephraim Pennington – b-1745, Pennsylvania

2 – Abram Pennington – b-1775, Ashe County, NC

m-abt 1808, Ashe County, NC

s – Margaret “Margery” Lewis – b-abt 1787, Ashe County, NC

3 – Andrew Pennington – b-October 11, 1809, Ashe County, NC

d-October 11, 1882

s – Hester Ann Blevins* – b-May 12, 1812, Ashe County, NC

4 – Able Pennington – b-May 17, 1836, Ashe County, NC

d-September 18, 1920, Washington County, VA

4 – William Calloway Pennington – b-1838, Ashe County, NC

4 – Eli Pennington – b-1840, Ashe County, NC

d-aft 1906, Ashe County, NC

4 – Matilda Pennington – b-July 11, 1840, Ashe County, NC

4 – Naomi Pennington – b-1843, Ashe County, NC

4 – Samuel Pennington – b-September 7, 1845, Ashe County, NC

m-January 26, 1867

d-June 30, 1932

s – Sarah Ann Huffman Lewis

4 – Hiram Pennington – b-1846, Ashe County, NC

4 – Andrew Jackson Pennington – b-1848, Ashe County, NC

4 – Rebecca Pennington – b-1850, Ashe County, NC

4 – Abraham “Asa” Pennington – b-1853, Ashe County, NC

4 – Emeline Pennington – b-October 10, 1856, Ashe County, NC

3 – Artramecia “Mecy” Pennington – b-1810, Ashe County, NC

d-February 27, 1897

s - James Blevins, Jr. – b-1809

d-December 23, 1867

(SEE CHILDREN IN THE JAMES BLEVINS AND LYDIA SIZEMORE FAMILY SECTION BELOW)

3 – James Pennington – b-abt 1815, Ashe County, NC

s – Katherine “Katie” Sexton** – b-abt 1815, Grayson County, VA

4 – Andrew Pennington –b-1834, Ashe County, NC

4 – Peggy Pennington – b-1838, Ashe County, NC

4 – Margaret Pennington – b-1838, Ashe County, NC

4 – Thornton Pennington – b-abt 1838, Ashe County, NC

4 – Able Pennington – b-1842, Ashe County, NC

4 – Easter Pennington – b-abt 1842, Ashe County, NC

4 – Abraham Pennington – b-abt 1843, Ashe County, NC

4 – Artramecia Pennington – b-abt 1845, Ashe County, NC

4 – James Pennington – b-1848, Ashe County, NC

4 – Marshall Pennington – b-1852, Ashe County, NC

*Hester Ann Blevins is sister to James Blevins, Jr., my direct ancestor above, both children of James Blevins and Lydia Sizemore. See the James Blevins and Lydia Sizemore Family section below.

**Katherine Sexton is a sister to Reuben Sexton in my direct line. See Sexton Family section below.

The Lewis Connection

1 – James Theopholus Lewis – b-1736, Wales, England

s – Winedrey “Winnie” Henson –b-before 1765

2 – Margaret “Margery” Lewis – b-abt 1787, Ashe County, NC

m-abt 1808, Ashe County, NC

s - Abram Pennington – b-1775, Ashe County, NC

Notes on the Pennington Family:

Artramecia Pennington, who married James Blevins, Jr., is sister to Andrew Pennington, who married James’s sister, Hester Ann.

Abram’s name may have been Abraham; there are conflicting records.

Andrew Pennington is buried in Laurel Cemetery, Smythe, Virginia.

At least four of Andrew and Hester Ann’s sons served in the Confederate Army during the Civil War:

~Able Pennington enlisted in Company F on May 6, 1862 at Glade Springs. (No state given, but likely Virginia, as he was resident of Washington County, Virginia at this time.) He was listed as “sick at home” on May 3, 1863, AWOL from September 21, 1863 to February 10, 1864, and AWOL again on June 25, 1864. He deserted on July 11, 1864 at Marietta, Georgia, but “took the oath” at Chattanooga, Tennessee, on July 14, 1864. Released north of the Ohio. He also served in the Washington County, Virginia Militia. He filed a pension application on July 20, 1907 in Washington County.

~William Calloway Pennington enlisted in 26th North Carolina Infantry in Ashe County on March 27, 1862. He was wounded in the left leg at Gettysburg on July 1, 1863, taken POW, and confined at various Union hospitals until confined at Baltimore, Maryland on September 25, 1863, and transferred to City Point for exchange on September 27, 1863. He returned to duty by February 28, 1864 and was again taken POW, this time at Deep Bottom, Virginia on August 16, 1864. After being sent to Point Lookout, Maryland, he was released. It also appears that after this time he changed sides, enlisting as a private in the Union Army, the 4th U.S. Volunteer Infantry, where he served from October 17, 1864 to July 2, 1865.

~Eli Pennington enlisted on May 6, 1862 at Glade Springs. Along with brother Able, he deserted at Marietta, Georgia on July 1864 and took the oath at Chattanooga on July 14, 1864. Also a resident of Washington County at the time, he was released north of the Ohio.

~Samuel Pennington enlisted in the 63rd Virginia Infantry on January 28, 1864, in Dalton, Georgia by Captain Eller. He was hospitalized in Griffin, Georgia on May 25, 1864, after which there is no further record. However, according to a family tradition, he enlisted prior to the Battle of Chickamauga and received a minor wound at a battle somewhere in Georgia. Further, he could supposedly shoot the eye out of a squirrel at one hundred yards and swam the Chattahoochee River with General S.D. Lee.

~Andrew Jackson Pennington also likely served in the Confederate Army, but nothing more is known.

And at least three of James and Katie’s sons served in the Confederate Army, as well:

~Andrew Pennington enlisted in Ashe County on August 10, 1861 in the 34th North Carolina Infantry. He was AWOL on April 23, 1862, returned to duty by June 30, 1863, but deserted on August 27, 1863

~Thornton Pennington served in the Confederate Army, but nothing more is known

~Abraham Pennington served in the 63rd Virginia Infantry, and was a resident of Washington County, Virginia at the time.

Civil War records describe Able Pennington as being 5’11’, having a dark complexion, dark hair, and blue eyes. He is buried in Green Cove Cemetery, Washington County, Virginia.

Samuel Pennington is buried in the Troutdale Cemetery, Grayson County, Virginia. His wife, Sarah, was the widow of Confederate veteran William Lewis.

The Green/Filmer/Jackson/Sizemore Connection

1 – Thomas Green – b-abt 1500

2 – Henry Green – b-abt 1550

3 – Thomas Green I – b-after 1575, Bobbong, England

s – Martha (surname unknown)

4 – Thomas Green II – b-1635, England

d-1714, Virginia

s – Martha Elizabeth Filmer – b-abt 1640, East Sutton, Kent, England

5 – Henry Filmer Green I – b-abt 1660, Virginia

s – Mary Walker – b-abt 1662, Virginia

6 – Henry Filmer Green II – b-abt 1704, Lunenburg County, VA

m-abt 1723

d-aft October 15, 1748, Lunenburg County, VA

S – Elizabeth Griffin – b-1707, Meclenbury County, VA

(continued from directly above with new generation numbers)

1 – Henry Filmer Green II – b-abt 1704, Lunenburg County, VA

m-abt 1723

d-after October 15, 1748, Lunenburg County, VA

s – Elizabeth Griffin – b-1707, Meclenbury County, VA

2 – John Green – b-1722/23, Prince George County, VA

2 – Dorcas Green – b-September 27, 1726, Bristol Parrish, Prince George County, VA

d-After 1761

s – William Jackson

3 – Elizabeth Rachael Jackson

s – Edward “Ned” Sizemore – b-abt 1725, Hanover, VA

d-1780, Wilkes County, NC

4 – Edward Sizemore – b-abt 1740, Virginia

d-abt 1810, Hawkins Co., TN

4 – John H. Sizemore – b-abt 1743, Virginia

d-abt 1804, Halifax Co, VA

s – Molly Gregory

4 – Hiram Sizemore

4 – Ephraim Sizemore – b-1748, Lunenburg County, VA

m-May 15, 1775

d-1810, Spartanburg, SC

s – Winnie (surname unknown)

4 – George Edward Sizemore – b-abt 1750, Virginia

m-1770

d-after 1820, Ashe County, NC

s – Anna/annie Elizabeth Hart

(see children in the george sizemore family section below)

4 – Owen Sizemore – b-abt 1755

d-1836, Hawkins Co., TN

s – Elizabeth “Betsy” Brigham

3 – Henry Jackson – b-abt 1750?

2 – Winefred Green – b-March 17, 1730/31, Meclenbury County, VA

s – William Ephraim Sizemore

2 – Henry Green

2 – Frederick Green

2 – Richard Green

2 – Stephen Green – b-1742, Virginia

The Filmer Connection

1 – Henry Filmer

s – Elizabeth Standards

2 – Martha Elizabeth Filmer – b- abt 1640, East Sutton, Kent, England

s – Thomas Green II – b-1635, England

d-1714, Virginia

The Griffin Connection

1 – William Griffin

2 – Elizabeth Griffin – b-1707, Meclenbury County, VA

m-abt 1723

s – Henry Filmer Green II – b-abt 1704, Lunenburg County, VA

d-after October 15, 1748, Lunenburg County, VA

The Sizemore Connection

1 – William Sizemore – b-1671, Henrico County, VA

m-abt 1705

s – Mary Owen

2 – William Sizemore – b-abt 1706

s – Hart Jackson

3 – Edward “Ned” Sizemore – b-abt 1726, Hanover, VA

d-1780, Wilkes County, NC

s – Elizabeth Rachael Jackson

The Hart Connection

1 – James Hart

2 – Anna/ANNie Elizabeth Hart – m 1770

s – George Edward Sizemore

Notes about the Green/Filmer/Jackson/Sizemore Connection:

I have problems surrounding the birthdates of Elizabeth Jackson Sizemore and her mother, Dorcas Green Jackson. Dorcas was born in 1726 – many sources say this. However, Elizabeth had her first child by 1743, a mere 16 years after her mother was supposedly born. I’ve looked for evidence that Dorcas’s birthdate might be earlier, but can’t find anything to support that. And her mother, Elizabeth Griffin, was born in 1707, so even if I was able to push back Dorcas’s birth, I’d run into suspect dates a generation earlier. Despite this, I’m leaving the connection listed as is. I have doubts about it, but many sources place Dorcas as Elizabeth’s mother and Elizabeth as Ned Sizemore’s wife, and one source I have a great deal of faith in agrees that Elizabeth is Ned’s wife and states that Ned definitely had close connections with the Greens, Griffins, Owens, and Jacksons. Hopefully the above is true and the dates are just skewed.

According to the 1774 Surry Co, NC tax list, Edward “Ned” was sharing a household with James Hart, father of his daughter-in-law, Anna/Annie Hart. Incidentally, these taxes were collected by Benjamin Cleveland, who, later, it’s believed, hanged Ned for being a Tory. (See below for details.)

A comment on Edward “Ned” and other such names: I have read that in the mid-1700s it was very rare to have a middle name and was, in fact, illegal in the Church. However, it was also a time when nicknames, even some which may seem unlikely, were very popular. Hence, Ned may well have been a nickname for Edward, and in the case of Ned’s son, “George Edward”, Edward might have been a nickname given to George, calling him after his father. This is purely speculation, but a thought on why so many ancestors appear to have two names in a time when it would have been uncommon.

All About The Sizemore Family:

The Connection to Jamestown Settlement,

The Revolutionary War,

and our Cherokee Heritage

Researching this part of the family has been wildly challenging, due to there being more than one William Sizemore, Edward Sizemore, and George Sizemore, all born around the same time and place (likely cousins), not to mention conflicting stories of Native American heritage, including many dramatic captures and rescues. However, I feel fairly confident with what I’m presenting here, at least following the Sizemore line in specific.

The Sizemores immigrated from England to the very first English settlement in America, Jamestown. William and Martha Sismore are listed on records from 1623 and 1624 as living in this area, specifically in an area called West Sherlow. Although there are no records indicating William and Martha had children, over the next fifty to a hundred years, Sizemores seemed to spread out and appeared at Henrico Co., Hanover Co., Lunenburg Co., and Martin’s One Hundred (a huge plantation very close to Jamestown and Williamsburg, Virginia.) My oldest known direct descendant is William Sizemore of Henrico County, Virginia, listed in the section above.

From records, it would appear that around 1750, Edward “Ned” Sizemore left Virginia for South Carolina, where he lived for about fifteen years, then spent about eight years in Georgia before appearing on a Surry Co., North Carolina tax list in 1774. In 1776, he signed a loyalty oath in Virginia. Records further indicate that Ned and his sons Owen and George were apparently Tories during the Revolutionary War, and it is likely that Ned was the “the Tory Sizemore” hung by Colonel Benjamin Cleveland in Wilkesboro, NC in 1780. In 1781, South Carolina Loyalists pay records include Edward, Owen, and George Sizemore. (If Edward “Ned” was indeed hung in 1780, the Edward on this list would likely be Ned’s son.)

The woman believed by some to be Ned’s mother, Hart Jackson, was said to be a member of the Eastern Band of Cherokee Indians, likely a member of the Whitetop Laurel Band. The Eastern Band of Cherokees were those (and are today their descendents) who, in the late 1830’s, remained in the mountains of North Carolina rather than be forced to march the infamous “Trail of Tears” to Oklahoma. It is also said that Edward “Ned” Sizemore, who married Elizabeth Jackson, was Chief of the Whitetop Laurel band for a short time prior to his death. Elizabeth’s parents, William Jackson and Dorcas Green, were also said to be part Cherokee, and William Jackson was probably related to Hart Jackson.

Later, William H. Blevins, son of Armstrong Blevins and grandson of Lydia Sizemore Blevins became Chief of the Whitetop Band and worked to procure the government’s reimbursement for the Sizemore claimants. These applications provide a lot of first hand knowledge and memories about the Blevins/Sizemore ancestors. Celia Hart, a descendant of James Blevins and Lydia Sizemore, stated, “I have seen Ned Sizemore, and have seen Lydia Sizemore … She was a red-faced woman with dark hair … My grandmother’s father (Edward “Ned”) was always called a full-blooded Indian.” Frances Woody’s application described Ned Sizemore as “a great, big-boned fellow. His hair was long and straight, he had a beard, and his complexion was dark, and he had high cheekbones.” Claborn Pennington said, “Old Ned Sizmore lived on a creek called Blackwater, that ran into Clinch River.” He goes on to say the Sizemores “were farmers, like everyone else in that day and time. I suppose they were recognized white people, for there was nothing about Indian or Negro in those days. Owen Sizemore was a tolerable dark, heavy set man, with black hair and beard, George Sizemore was not quite as dark as old Ned, but he was kind of dark.” One application said that Ned came from the Catawba Nation, but if this is true, it is still possible for him to have become a Cherokee, as the Cherokees took in remnants of many defeated bands and tribes. Besides which, I personally doubt he could have been full-blooded considering the Jamestown connection. It is much more likely that an earlier Sizemore man married an Indian woman, or even that this occurred several times over several generations.

Despite the efforts of William Blevins, over time, all the Sizemore claims were rejected by the federal government on the grounds that it did not appear “any of the claimants or their immediate ancestors ever lived as Indians with the Cherokee Nation or with the Eastern Cherokees.”

And all of this leads us to …

Our Possible Melungeon Heritage

The “Melungeons” are a group of dark-skinned people of mixed ethnic heritage. Unfortunately, information on who the Melungeons were and where they came from is sketchy, and my reading on the subject has revealed two distinct camps: those who believe the Melungeons were a very small group with a very specific ethnicity located in Johnson County, Tennessee, established there by around 1830, and those who believe the group is much wider spread, mostly throughout eastern Tennessee, eastern Kentucky, western North Carolina, southwestern Virginia, and southern West Virginia. From my admittedly limited study of the evidence, I tend to lean toward the second camp, which seems to look on the Melungeons as more of a large social group made up of many common ethnicities. The other theory seems narrow-minded and unlikely to me based on simple logic – it seems to suggest that the families in the group never married outside themselves or drew in new ethnicities. This in a time when there were just weren’t that many people around and ethnicities in the Eastern U.S. were indeed mixing, something the conservative camp readily admits to. That said, the following is based on what I’ve learned and believe to be likely.

The Melungeons were not a “race”, but a mixture of various ethnic groups who gathered together over time and place. The formative period of this group was from about 1700 to 1860. Related Native American tribes may include but are not limited to the Cherokees and Catawbas. It’s hard to say what other nationalities or races comprise the Melungeons, but it is generally believed they are part white, part black, and part Indian, with Spanish, Portuguese, Turkish, Iraqi, Iranian, North African, Greek, Cuban and other influences also possibly in the mix. In the simplest terms, it's believed that travelers from these places (early settlers and explorers, as well as the sailors traveling with them) mixed with the white and Indian population present in the 1600s around the coastal areas of Virginia and North Carolina.  As a specific example, it's known Sir Francis Drake stopped at Roanoke Island for several months with sailors of some of these descents. Many Melungeon words have been linked to Ottoman period Arabic and Turkish words with the same definitions and pronunciations. Additionally, prior to English settlement, more than one Spanish settlement existed in these areas, and some of the inhabitants were originally from Portugal. It's also believed that many slave men had children with white indentured women, and if these children were free they often blended with Indian tribes because it was a place they could fit in and be accepted. 

I’ve read that one hint to a Melungeon background are stories of Indian heritage that are unsubstantiated.  This resulted from Indians marrying into the Melungeon culture, which was common, especially considering that most tribes were forced to disband, leaving only remnants of their former populations. As a side note, I have often scoffed when hearing person after person claim a Cherokee relative, but my recent studies have actually made this seem much more likely. Added to the mixing of ethnicities, common especially prior to the 1700s, I’ve learned that many remnants of other tribes joined the Cherokees, so that having “a Cherokee ancestor” in the Eastern U.S. may likely just mean you have an Indian ancestor who may or may not have been Cherokee but who joined that tribe at some point.

Thus the combination of all of these people created an ethnic group which was difficult to identify.  This led to discrimination and racial tensions. It’s said the Melungeons were often viewed as being unclean, untrustworthy, undependable, and inhuman. Therefore, they formed their own communities and often intermarried. They moved specifically into a tier of counties at the top of North Carolina and the bottom of Virginia which were being fought over by both states.  These counties were not governed by either state at the time, so again, it was a good place not to be noticed.  Although similar groups spread throughout the southeast, the main group gradually migrated west into the mountains as populations grew; again, it was easier to exist in less populated areas.  Later generations were often raised to believe they were white, to avoid discrimination, and many moved away to seek a better life.  

I’ve read that Ashe County, North Carolina and Grayson and Washington Counties in Virginia were places with large Melungeon communities. I have also found frequent mention of Blevins, Sexton, Sizemore, Hart, and Stamper either being Melungeon names or being related to Melungeon and definitely in Melungeon communities. What I have not found is any indication on censuses that my Blevins or Sextons were anything but white, yet by all accounts, Melungeons passed for white if they could. It goes without saying if you look at my Blevins/Sexton/Sizemore line, there was much intermarrying taking place, often with Penningtons, Stampers, and Harts, as well. My great grandfather, Albert Winton Blevins, and my grandfather Charles Blevins, in particular, were dark-skinned with dark hair. And Civil War records describe many members of my Blevins and Sexton lines as having dark complexions and dark hair. Additionally, my grandfather always told us his grandmother was a full-blooded Cherokee who he remembered wearing long braids and smoking a pipe on the porch of a mountain cabin, and I have since found that this simply isn’t true. The grandmother he indicated turned out to be Mary Beaman Sexton, whose picture is on the Blevins photo page. Mary – like many of my Blevins ancestors – descends from Edward “Ned” Sizemore and the Stampers, so she may be part Indian or Melungeon, but the story my grandfather told simply doesn’t compute. Also, his parents moved away from the area to a large city when he was a small boy, so I’ve begun to wonder if perhaps the story of his Cherokee grandmother is something they told him to explain away dark skin. Incidentally, I have recently been told by Mary’s only surviving grandchild that Mary referred to herself as Black Dutch, a term that seems to mean many things to many people, but one definition says it was a term used to disguise being Melungeon.

All that said, I cannot be certain if we are of Melungeon descent or Indian descent, something fairly impossible to figure out given the wildly differing opinions from researchers. For instance, according to Pat Spurlock Elder of the conservative camp, Edward “Ned” Sizemore came from a family that professed to be white with Indian ancestry, yet N. Brent Kennedy of the other camp states that “Ned” was definitely either Indian or Melungeon, and the physical descriptions in the above section seem to lend themselves to that. This is just one minor point of the many, many issues on which the two camps vehemently disagree, so it leaves the layperson without much recourse but to form their own opinions.

I hope to continue researching this interesting part of my family, but most likely, the truth will never be completely known. Personally, I believe we are probably part Cherokee or Catawba via “Ned”, probably additional parts Cherokee through other assorted early ancestors, and probably part Melungeon, too.

The George Sizemore Family

The James B. Blevins and Lydia Sizemore Family

1 – George Edward Sizemore – b-abt 1750, Lunenburg County, VA

m-1770

d-after 1820, Ashe County, NC

s – Annie Elizabeth Hart

2 – Catherine “Dolly” Sizemore – b-abt 1770, Wilkes County, NC

s - James Hart

2 – Lydia Sizemore – b-abt 1775

m-1794

d-abt 1830

s – James B. Blevins – b-1775, Grayson County, VA

d-November 30, 1820

3 – Wells Blevins – b-October 8, 1795

d-December 25, 1865

s – Elizabeth Pennington

3 – Mary “Polly” Blevins – b-abt 1797

d-May 22, 1884

s – John Thompson

3 – Elizabeth Blevins – b-abt 1799

d-1862

3 – Eli Blevins – b-abt 1804

d-December 6, 1866

s – Malinda “Milly” Brinegar

3 – James Blevins, Jr. – b-1809

d-December 23, 1867

s - Artramecia “Mecy” Pennington – b-1810, Ashe County, NC

d-February 27, 1897

(SEE CHILDREN IN JAMES BLEVINS, JR. FAMILY SECTION BELOW)

3 – George Blevins – b-abt 1810

d-March 1864

s – Lydia Duncan

3 – Hester Ann Blevins – b-May 8, 1812

d-October 19, 1890

s- Andrew Pennington* – b-October 11, 1809, Ashe County, NC

d-October 11, 1882

3 – Daniel Blevins – b-abt 1814

d-July 12, 1864

s- Anna Dickson

3 – Armstrong Blevins – b-abt 1815

d-June 1868

s – Catharine Hart

3 – Edward Blevins – b-abt 1819

d-March 1884

s – Nancy Blevins

2 – Sarah “Sally” Sizemore – b-abt 1778, Wilkes County, NC

d-abt 1839

s – Elias Osborne

2 – Owen Sizemore – b-May 9, 1786, Wilkes County, NC

d-abt 1879, Clay County, WV

s – Rebecca Anderson

2 – Elizabeth “Betsy” Sizemore**– b-abt 1787

m-abt 1804

d-abt 1867

s – Rev. Solomon Stamper**– b-1788

2 – Edward B. Sizemore – b-abt 1788

d-1866

s – Annie Baldwin

2 – Rev. George J. Sizemore – b-abt 1797, Ashe County, NC

m-1815, Ashe County, NC

d-1877, Cedarsburg, Wyoming County, WV

s – Virginia “Jennie” Jane Baldwin

*Andrew Pennington is brother to Artramecia Pennington.

**Elizabeth Sizemore and Solomon Stamper are also my direct ancestors through another line. See the Solomon Stamper and Elizabeth Sizemore Family section below.

Notes on the James B. Blevins and Lydia Sizemore Family:

As mentioned earlier on this page, Artramecia Pennington, who married James and Lydia’s son, James, is sister to Andrew Pennington, who married James’ sister, Hester Ann.

Lydia Sizemore’s sister, Elizabeth is also my direct ancestor through the Beeman/Thompson/Stamper line below.

James and Lydia’s sons, Armstrong and Edward, served for the Confederacy in the Civil War.

It is worth noting that through many generations of Blevins families, the names Hester, Esther, and Easter seem interchangeable. For instance, Hester Ann Blevins is referred to as Esther Blevins in some records. I have recorded the names as seems most common.

In the Eastern Cherokee Application for James Franklin Blevins, my great, great grandfather, he states that Lydia Sizemore was “daughter of Owen Sizemore, who was a son of Ned Sizemore, a Cherokee of blood.” And, although some ECAs make this same statement, the vast majority of ECAs filed by Lydia’s descendants say she was a daughter of Ned Sizemore. However, according to respected researcher Ron Blevins, other than the ECAs, all records available point to Lydia actually being the daughter of George and granddaughter of Ned. It also bears pointing out that the ECAs were not submitted until 1906-7, a couple of generations after Lydia lived, and were based on family tradition. In a time when nicknames were heavily used and the same names used repeatedly in subsequent generations, it’s understandable that errors occurred.

The James Blevins, Jr. and Artramecia Pennington Family

The Alfred Blevins Family

The James Franklin Blevins Family

1 - James Blevins, Jr. – b-1809

d-December 23, 1867

s - Artramecia “Mecy” Pennington – b-1810, Ashe County, NC

d-February 27, 1897

2 – Alfred Blevins – b-August 8, 1832

m-December 22, 1857

d-March 16, 1884

s – Margery Sheets – b-1843

3 – Elizabeth Blevins – b-May 8, 1859, Ashe County, NC

s – John Tolley

3 – Meacy A. Blevins – b-September 22, 1860, Ashe County, NC

m-December 20, 1883

d-April 29, 1943, Silas Creek, Ashe County, NC

s – W. Franklin Barker

3 – Joseph Horton Blevins – b-December 16, 1861, Ashe County, NC

m-September 24, 1902

s – Nancy Hurley Brooks

3 – Mary E. Blevins – b-May 17, 1864, Ashe County, NC

d-February 6, 1941

s- Ervin Dickson

4 – Ada Dickson – b-March 9, 1884

d-September 10, 1944

s – Arthur McClure

3 – Easther E. Blevins – b-July 3, 1866, Silas Creek, Ashe County, NC

d-March 3, 1941, Silas Creek, Ashe County, NC

3 – James Franklin Blevins – b-May 17, 1868, Helton, Ashe County, NC

m-February 3, 1883

2nd m-January 28, 1896

s – Sarah Blevins

4 – Albert Winton Blevins – b-June 15, 1889, Ashe County, NC

m-October 29, 1906

d-abt 1963, Cincinnati, Hamilton County, OH

s – Hester Roseabell Sexton – b-March 9, 1890, Ashe County, NC

d-1945, Cincinnati, Hamilton County, OH

(SEE CHILDREN IN ALBERT BLEVINS AND HESTER SEXTION SECTION BELOW)

4 – Joseph Horton Blevins – b-July 25, 1891

4 – Willy G. Blevins – b-March 18, 1893

2^nd s – Dory Lee Hurley – December 21, 1874, North Carolina

4 – Cornelius Blevins – b-January 16, 1897

4 – Minnie/Winnie Blevins – b-May 7, 1898

4 – Gova/Gove (son) Blevins – b-August 1900

4 – Johney Blevins – b-May 4, 1901

4 – Carson Blevins – b-January 15, 1905

3 – Julia Blevins – b-December 1869

3 – Eugene Blevins – b-February 21, 1872, Ashe County, NC

m-March 8, 1897

s – Emanor Eller

3 – Emma V. Blevins – b-May 11, 1874, Ashe County, NC

m-September 4, 1891, Ashe County, NC

s – John Stuart

4 – Maggie Stuart – d-April 16, 1980, Virginia

s – Farmer Spencer

5 – Alta Spencer

5 – Jimmy Spencer

5 – Ernest Spencer – d- March 4, 1979, Virginia

5 – Ruby Spencer

5 – Cecil Spencer

5 – Robert Spencer

5 – Johnnie Spencer – d-February 10, 1979

s – Wilma (surname unknown)

5 – Jerry S. Spencer

4 – Myrtle S. Stuart

5 – Bryant Stuart

4 – Robert L. Stuart – d-January 31, 1968, Virginia

s – Lena Izetta

5 – Carson Stuart

5 – Gary Stuart

5 – Velma Stuart – d-1993, Virginia

4 – Walter L. Stuart – d-January 20, 1982

s – Faye Marie

5 – Judy Stuart

5 – Linda Stuart

5 – Shirley Stuart – d-1991, Virginia

4 – Ruby Stuart – d-March 30, 1982, Maryland

s – Leonard Thompson

5 – Ruth Thompson

5 – George Thompson

5 – Emma Thompson

4 – Charles Stuart – d-1969, West Virginia

s – Geneva (surname unknown)

5- John Stuart

5 – Jimmy Stuart – d-April 7, 1997, West Virginia

5 – Lester Stuart

5 – Kenneth Stuart

5 – William Stuart

5 – Barry Stuart

5 – Emma Stuart

5 – Robert Stuart – d- March 13, 1997, West Virginia

4 – Hazel Stuart

4 – Lester Stuart – b-August 11, 1892, Ashe County, NC

d-February 28, 1951

s-Laura (surname unknown)

4 – Oscar Stuart – b-May 10, 1894, Ashe County, NC

d-1944, Virginia

s – Ella Belle Wilson

5 – Morris Beryl Stuart – b-1926

m-September 13, 1947

d-April 3, 1984, Manassas, Prince William County, VA

s – Violet Ann Kirk

6 – Rita Stuart – b-June 22, 1948

6 – Ronnie Kirk Stuart – b-August 20, 1957, Manassas, Prince William County, VA

m-October 7, 1978, Manassas, Prince William County, VA

7 – Byrony Elizabeth Stuart – b-September 14, 1980, Manassas, Prince William County, VA

7 – Benjamin Anthony Stuart – b-July 18, 1983, Manassas, Prince William County, VA

5 – Blanche Stuart – d-1995

5 – Ray Harlan Stuart – d-June 17, 1970, Maryland

5 – Henry Ford Stuart – d-January 31, 1996, Virginia

5 – Walace W. Stuart – d-April 7, 1994, Maryland

5 – Nancy C. Stuart

5 – Chester Stuart Stuart – died young

4 – Luther Stuart, Sr. – b-April 4, 1898, Ashe County, NC

d-June 9, 1977, Virginia

s – Mintie Parks

5 – Luther Stuart, Jr.

5 – Claude Stuart

5 – Jettie Stuart – d-April 2, 1972, Virginia

4 – Troy W. Stuart – b-June 13, 1900, Ashe County, NC

d-April 1997

4 – Ida Stuart – b-April 6, 1902, Ashe County, NC

d-April 1997

s – Virgil Phillips

5 – Lester Phillips

5 – Ford Phillips – d-November 29, 1995, Virginia

s – Albert Hash

5 – Jake Hash

5 – Carol Hash

5 – Treeva Hash

5 – Ellen Hash

5 – Robert Hash

4 – Lula Stuart – b-August 5, 1904, Ashe County, NC

d-1986, Virginia

s – Roy M. Shumate

5 – Lundy Shumate – d-August 19, 1990, Virginia

5 – Jessie Shumate – d- 1998, Virginia

5 – Tracy Shumate – d-April 30, 1949, West Virginia

3 – Green Berry Blevins – b-April 4, 1878, Ashe County, NC

m-October 8, 1898

d-1957

s – Hannah Testerman

3 – Maude Durilda Blevins – b-June 13, 1881, Ashe County, NC

m-December 6, 1898

d-January 23, 1956, Glade Spring, Washington County, VA

s – Samuel Andrew McClure

4 – Glen McClure – b-October 23, 1899, Silas Creek, Ashe County, NC

d-July 13, 1954

s – Eva Belle Blevins

5 – Doss McClure – b-1925

5 – Samuel Roger McClure – b-1932

d-1980

5 – James Carol McClure – b-1934

5 – Lessie Edith McClure –b-1936

5 – Vannie Mae McClure – b-1939

4 – Alger Wales McClure – b-February 2, 1901, Silas Creek, Ashe County, NC

m-July 30, 1919

d-January 4, 1965, Damascus, Washington County, VA

s – Flossie Jane Testerman

5 – Ora Jewell McClure – b-1920

5 – Ossie Ophelia McClure – b-1922

d-1990

5 – Henry Ford McClure – b-1924

d-1973

5 – Clifford Theodore McClure – b-1926

d-1948

5 – Lucy Myrtle McClure – b-1928

5 – Lonnie Lee McClure – b-1930

d-1977

5 – Dorothy Louise McClure – b-1933

d-1983

5 – Lorraine Mae McClure – b-1938

4 – Millard Fillmore McClure – b-December 18, 1902, Silas Creek, Ashe County, NC

m-August 28, 1926

d-February 28, 1972, Saltville, Smyth County, VA

s – Stella Virginia Musselwhite

5 – Edna Lois McClure – b-1927

5 – Loretta McClure – b-1933

5 – Laila Sue McClure – b-1936

5 – Leda Mae McClure – b-1940

5 – Lamond Thomas McClure – b-1945

4 – Della Marylou McClure – b-December 5, 1904, Silas Creek, Ashe County, NC

m-August 29, 1924, Ashe County, NC

d-August 25, 1971, Abingdon, Washington County, VA

s – George Winfield Barker

5 – Ralph Elwood Barker – b-1925

s – Robbie LaVera Barrentine

5 – Earl Dean Barker – b-1927

d-1980

5 – Harry Kelly Barker – b-1929

d-1971

4 – Margie Ethel McClure – b-April 21, 1907, Silas Creek, Ashe County, NC

m-October 28, 1935

d-March 26, 1989

s – Ernest Franklin Norris

5 – George Hall Norris – b-1936

5 – Nancy Jane Norris – b-1937

5 – Ernest McDonald Norris – b-1940

5 – Katie Lee Norris – b-1945

5 – Walter Andrew Norris – b-1947

4 – Rachel Goldie McClure – b-February 13, 1909, Silas Creek, Ashe County, NC

s – Fred Nichols McGlocklin

5 – Ellen Lajene McGlocklin – b-1938

5 – Glenna Jackie McGlocklin – b-1940

5 – Jennifer June McGlocklon – b-1946

4 – Brison Thomas McClure – b-October 10, 1911, Silas Creek, Ashe County, NC

m-June 1934

s – Minnie Katherine Counts

5 – Jolene Anna McClure– b-1935

5 – John Brison McClure– b-1936

5 – Thomas Samual – b-1940

d-1979

4 – Wayne Howard McClure – b-September 21, 1913, Silas Creek, Ashe County, NC

s – Sally Estep

5 – Lucy Joesphine McClure – b-1936

d-1981

5 – Dorothy Fay McClure – b-1939

5 – David Wayne McClure – b-1940

5 – Mary Ada McClure – b-1941

5 – Charlotte Ellen McClure – b-1947

4 – Georgia Lee McClure – b-February 29, 1916, Silas Creek, Ashe County, NC

m-December 23, 1933

d-September 22, 1994, Abington, Washington County, VA

s – William Joseph Owens

5 – Charles Hankley Owens – b-1936

5 – Virginia Joan Owens – b-1937

5 – Raymond Millard Owens – b-1940

d-2002

5 – James Douglas Owens – b-942

5 – Brenda Kay Owens – b-1944

4 – Faye Etta McClure – b-April 15, 1919, Silas Creek, Ashe County, NC

d-April 20, 1995, Brooksville, Hernando County, FL

s – Millard Philip Ritenour

5 – Bonnie Ritenour – b-1950

4 – Edison Warren McClure – b-February 23, 1921, Silas Creek, Ashe County, NC

d-August 3, 1991, Harlingen, TX

s – Gloria Sally Salinas

5 – Cynthia Jeanette McClure – b-1948

5 – Debbie Beth McClure – b-1951

5 – Desiree Marie McClure – b-1955

4 – Dorothy June McClure – b-June 21, 1923, Silas Creek, Ashe County, NC

d-June 12, 1984, Richmond, VA

s – William Irwin Hughes

5 – William Irwin Hughes – b-1945

5 – Cheryl Darlene Hughes – b-1946

5 – Gerald Hughes – b-1948

5 – George Thomas Hughes – b-1952

2 – Daniel Blevins – b-March 25, 1834

2nd m-October 18, 1866

d-abt 1874

2nd s – Laura Peacock

2 – Easther Blevins* – b-November 19, 1836

d-1885

s – Reuben Sexton*

2 – Horton Blevins – b-June 6, 1839

d-abt 1864

2 – Felix/Phelix Blevins – b-April 10, 1841

s – Mary Pennington

2 – Albert Blevins – b-March 20, 1843

m-January 23, 1866

d-April 16, 1914

s – Caroline Pennington

2 – Calvin J. Blevins – b-March 25, 1844

m-August 30, 1866

d-January 13, 1914

s – Mary Ann Simmons

2 – Owen Blevins – b-April 23, 1846

d-July, 1918

s – Sarah Simmons

2 – Catharine Blevins – b-abt 1848

2 – Joyce/Joicy Blevins – b-April 15, 1851

d-April 16, 1922

s- Ira Stamper

2nd s – Eli J. Phipps

*Easther Blevins and Reuben Sexton are my direct ancestors, as well – but their children are listed in the Sexton section. See explanation in notes below.

The Hudlar/Sheets connection

1 – Joseph Hudlar/HUDLER – b- abt 1807

s - Elizabeth (surname unknown) – b-abt 1823

2 – Margery Sheets – b-1843

m-December 22, 1857

s – Alfred Blevins – b-August 8, 1832

d-March 16, 1884

Notes on the James B., Alfred, and James F. Blevins Families:

James and Artramecia Blevins lived their adult lives in Ashe County, North Carolina

At least four of James and Artramecia’s sons served in the Civil War, fighting for the Confederacy, all in the 26th North Carolina infantry:

~Horton Blevins enlisted in Ashe County on May 17, 1861, at age 22. He was taken POW at New Bern, North Carolina on March 14, 1862, paroled March 25, 1862, and returned to duty prior to August 14, 1862. He was wounded in the forehead at Gettysburg on July 1, 1863 and returned to duty November 1863. He was in the hospital as of January 6, 1864, and promoted to Corporal on March 6, 1864.

~Felix Blevins enlisted in Ashe County on May 17, 1861 around age 20. He was wounded in the right foot at Gettysburg and captured as POW. His foot was amputated. He was sent to David’s Island, New York on July 24, 1863 and held there until he was exchanged to Confederate Army on September 23, 1963. He was absent from the rest of the war due to disability.

~ Albert Blevins enlisted in Ashe County on March 27, 1862, at age 19. He was wounded in the leg at Gettysburg on July 1, 1863, and returned to duty before January 1, 1864. He remained in active duty through February 28, 1865.

~Calvin J. Blevins enlisted in Ashe County on May 17, 1861, around age 16 or 17. He may have lied about his age because records say he was 28 at the time of enlistment, yet all other dates in records point to this being the Calvin J. Blevins indicated here. He was elected 3rd Lieutenant on April 21, 1862. He resigned due to “healthy and family condition” on July 19, 1862, but re-enlisted as a Private on July 10, 1864. He was wounded at Petersburg, Virginia on February 2, 1865, and his leg was amputated.

Albert Blevins is buried in the Pleasant Home Baptist Church Cemetery, Grassy Creek, Ashe County, North Carolina.

Joseph Hudlar was a schoolteacher. Records list his daughter’s name as Margery Sheets, although there is no explanation for the different last name. Perhaps he and his wife raised her, but were not their biological parents, or perhaps there is an unknown first husband for Margery (although that seems unlikely since she seems to have married Alfred around age fourteen.) In the 1850 Ashe County census, her name is listed as “Marga E” and in the 1870 census, the handwritten name looks like Maryann or Morgasa.

Alfred E. Blevins is the father of James F. Blevins and grandfather of Albert Winton Blevins. Easther Blevins is the mother of Albert Sexton and the grandmother of Hester Roseabell Sexton. Albert Winton Blevins and Hester Roseabell Sexton married and were my great grandparents. I believe that makes them second cousins.

Alfred Blevins worked on a farm as of 1870; at that time his real estate was worth $300.

Julia Blevins, daughter of Alfred Blevins and Margery Sheets, died young.

The Joseph Sexton Family of Virginia

The Pryor Sexton Family of Virginia and NC

The Thornton Sexton Family of Virginia and NC

The Reuben Sexton Family of Ashe County, NC

1 – Joseph Sexton – b-January 4, 1730, Huntington, Long Island, NY

d-October 9, 1804, Wythe County, VA

s – Mary Lee – b-abt 1726, England

2 – Joseph Sexton – b-abt 1745, Wythe County, VA

2 – William Sexton – b-February 4, 1748, Grayson County, VA

2 – Charles Sexton – b-abt 1750

2 – Archibald Sexton – b-abt 1752

2 – Benjamin Sexton – b-1752

2 – Pryor Sexton – b-1754

d-September 1834, Grayson County, VA

s – Catherine “Caty” Coker – b-1755, North Carolina

d-aft 1850

3 – Prior Sexton, Jr.

3 – David Sexton

3 – William Sexton –b-North Carolina

3 – Thornton Sexton – b-abt 1785, Virginia

m-August 1, 1813

d-abt 1872, Ashe County, NC

S – Easter Wallace – b-abt 1785, Virginia

4 – Pryor Sexton – abt 1810

4 – William Sexton – b –August 1, 1813

4 – Katherine “Katie” Sexton – b-abt 1815, Ashe County, NC

s – James Pennington* – b-abt 1815, Grayson County, VA

4 – Rosamond Sexton – b-abt 1820

4 – David Sexton – b-February 22, 1823

4 – Nancy Sexton – b-abt 1825, Ashe County, NC

4 – Hiram Sexton – b-November 6, 1827, Ashe County, NC

4 – Reuben Sexton – b-abt 1833, Ashe County, NC

d-May 6, 1885, Little Helton Creek, Ashe County, NC

s – Easther Blevins** – b-November 19. 1836

5 – James Sexton – b-abt 1854

5 – Albert Sexton – b-March 1860, Ashe County, NC

m-December 31, 1880, Ashe County, NC

d-Horse Creek, Ashe County, NC

s – Mary SELINA Beeman – b-May 1862, Ashe County, NC

d-1950, Salem Virginia

(SEE CHILDREN IN THE ALBERT SEXON AND MARY BEEMAN FAMILY SECTION BELOW)

5 – Josey/Joicy Sexton – b-abt 1861

5 – Mary Sexton – b-abt 1863

5 – Josiah/Joseph C. Sexton – b-May 1864

m-September 11, 1889, Volney, Grayson County, NC

d-1936

s – Martha Alice Sebastian*** – b-July 12, 1870, Wilson Creek, Grayson County, NC

5 – Cora Sexton – b-December 1869

5 – Easter Sexton – b-December 11, 1871

5 – Sidney Sexton – b-abt 1874

5 – Thomas Jefferson Sexton – b-February 25, 1874

4 – Enoch Sexton – b-abt 1834

4 – Joseph Sexton – b-abt 1835

d-January 15, 1865, Elmira, NY

3 – Elizabeth Sexton – b-abt 1788

3 – Ruth Sexton – b-abt 1795, North Carolina

3 – Leah Sexton – b-abt 1795, Grayson County, VA

2 – Zadock Sexton – b-abt 1756

2 – James Sexton – b-abt 1758

2 – John Sexton – b-abt 1762

*James Pennington is brother to my direct ancestor, Artramecia Pennington. See Pennington section above.

**In addition to being a direct ancestor here on my Sexton side, Easther Blevins is also the daughter of James Blevins, Jr. and Artramecia Pennington, making her sister to my direct ancestor on the Blevins side, Alfred Blevins.

***Martha Alice Sebastian is Mary Beeman’s first cousin, as shown in Beeman section.

The Coker/Gauger connection

1 – Peter Gauger – b-abt 1700, Germany

s – Eveles (surname unknown) – abt 1709, Germany

2 - Johan Michael Gauger (John Michael Coker) – b-1729, Germany

d-April 24, 1789, Grayson County, VA

s – Susanna (surname unknown) –b-abt 1733

3 – Catherine “Caty” Coker – b-1755, North Carolina

d-after 1850

s – Pryor Sexton – b-1754

d-September 1834, Grayson County, VA

3 – Susanna Coker – b-1757

3 – Sally Coker – b-1759

Notes on the Sexton Family:

In some places, Thornton Sexton’s first name appears as Horton. As of 1850, Horton was a farmer; his real estate was valued at $1,000.

I tend to question the birthdates of Thornton Sexton and Easter Wallace’s first two children, one listed as being born 3 years before their marriage, the second on the very day of their marriage. Of course, these dates could be correct, as well – but it would have been highly unusual to have a baby prior to marriage in those days, especially considering the child bore the name of his paternal grandfather.

At least four of Thornton and Easter Sexton’s sons served for the Confederacy in the Civil War:

~David Sexton served in the 97th North Carolina Militia. He is known to have suffered from asthma.

~Hiram Sexton also served, but I have no further information.

~Reuben Sexton enlisted in Ashe County on August 27, 1861 in the 37th North Carolina Infantry. He was wounded in the shoulder and captured as POW at Hanover Courthouse on May 27, 1862, and hospitalized in New York City on June 25, 1862. He was sent to Fort Columbus on August 14, 1862 and transferred to Fort Delaware on August 23, 1862. Finally, he was exchanged back to the Confederate Army at Aiken’s Landing, James River, on October 10, 1862. Thereafter “absent and disabled with wounds,” he was discharged on January 17, 1864. Later, he was shown in the 97th North Carolina Militia. He also had a couple of children during the war years, which indicates he must have come home for some time after being released as POW. A medical exam on October 20, 1864 indicated he was suffering from paralysis of the right arm from gunshot wound.

~Joseph Sexton enlisted in Iredell County (although a resident of Ashe County) on August 15, 1862 in the 37th North Carolina Infantry. He was AWOL on September 1, 1863 and returned to duty by April 30, 1864. He was taken as POW at Petersburg, Virginia in July 1864, sent to Point Lookout, then transferred to Elmira New York on August 8, 1864. He died there of variola (small pox) on January 15, 1865.

Reuben Sexton and wife, Easther, farmed for a living. In 1870, their real estate was valued at $,1000 and their personal value was $200. Despite fighting for the Confederacy, it is said Reuben claimed to have voted for Abe Lincoln in the 1860 election. Reuben was shot and killed near his home on Little Helton Creek, Ashe County, North Carolina, in May 1885 by Floyd West. He is buried in the family cemetery on Helton Creek.

Reuben’s sister, Katherine married James Pennington, brother to my direct ancestor, Artramecia Pennington.

The Solomon Stamper Line

1 – PHILIP STAMPER

s – WINIFRYDE (surname unkown)

2 – JOHN STAMPER – b-1647, England

d-March 1690, Virginia

s – DORCAS (surname unknown)

3 – POWELL STAMPER – b-1682, Virginia

m-April 10, 1708

d-March 22, 1726

s – MARY MARTHA BROOKS

4 – JONATHAN BROOKS STAMPER – b-April 21, 1719, Virginia

m-December 3, 1748

d-1799, Wilkes County, NC

s – RACHEL PARKS MOORE

5 – JONATHAN STAMPER – b-1757

d-1831

s – MARY DAVIS – d-1800

6 – Joshua Stamper – b-1785, Wilkes County, NC

m-abt 1805

d-1850, Ashe County, NC

s – Mary Polly Blevins

6 – SOLOMON STAMPER* – b-1788

m-abt 1804

s – ELIZABETH “BETSY” SIZEMORE* – b-abt 1787

d-abt 1867

(SEE CHILDREN IN THE SOLOMON STAMPER SECTION BELOW)

6 – Susannah “Susie” Stamper – b-1790

*Solomon Stamper and Elizabeth Sizemore are also listed the James Blevins and Lydia Sizemore section. Elizabeth was Lydia’s sister.

The Parks connection

1 – JOHN PARKS

s – MARY SHARP

2 – RACHEL PARKS MOORE – m-December 3, 1748

s – JONATHAN BROOKS STAMPER– b-April 21, 1719, Virginia

d-1799, Wilkes County, NC

Notes on the Solomon Stamper line:

Solomon’s mother, Mary Davis, was said to be murdered by two men trying to steal her gold, buried in her yard.

As noted previously on this page, Elizabeth Sizemore, wife of Solomon Stamper, is sister to Lydia Sizemore, who married James Blevins. Both women are my direct ancestors through different lines and Lydia is in my direct line twice. This means that their father, George Sizemore, and his father Ned, are my ancestors three times over.

The Solomon Stamper and Elizabeth Sizemore Family

The Christopher Thompson and Sally Stamper Family

1 – George Edward Sizemore – b-abt 1750, Lunenburg County, VA

m-1770

d-after 1820, Ashe County, NC

s – Annie Elizabeth Hart

(SEE OTHER CHILDREN AND ANCESTORS IN SIZEMORE SECTIONS ABOVE)

2 – ELIZABETH “BETSY” SIZEMORE – b-abt 1787

m- abt 1804

d-abt 1867

s – SOLOMON STAMPER – b-1788

3 –SARAH “SALLY” ELIZABETH STAMPER – b-1805

s – CHRISTOPHER THOMPSON – b-1800

d-abt 1862

4 – HILEY THOMPSON – b-abt 1825

d-May 27, 1910, Wise County, VA

s – Jacob Stitt – b-abt 1793

5 – William Welborn Stitt – b-June 13, 1844, Ashe County, NC

m-April 26, 1861, Allegheny, NC

d-November 11, 1913

s – Clementine “Tenny” Roop

5 – Tamsey Stitt - b-abt 1845

s – John Hudler

5 – Elijah Stitt – b-abt 1850, Ashe County, NC

s- Martha Wyatt

6 – Clyde May Stitt – b-1891, Ashe County, NC

2nd s – FRANCIS MARION BEEMAN – b-1837

(SEE CHILDREN IN THE FRANCIS BEEMAN FAMILY SECTION BELOW)

4 – Tamsey Thompson

s – (first name unknown) Jones

3 – William Stamper – b-1807

3 – Jonathan Stamper – b-abt 1809

3 – Mary Stamper – b-1810

3 – Susanna Stamper – b-November 11, 1812

3 – George Stamper – b-1815

3 – Riley P. Stamper – b-1819, Allegheny County, NC

3 – Solomon Stamper – b-abt 1820

3 – Frances Stamper – b-abt 1822

3 – Nancy Stamper – b-1830

3 – Wilborn Stamper – b-1832, Ashe County, NC

Notes on the Solomon Stamper family:

Two of Solomon and Betsy Stamper’s sons served in the Civil War, although well into their adulthood:

~Solomon Stamper, Jr. was Captain of the Cranberry District’s 96th North Carolina Militia, commissioned October 26, 1861.

~Riley P. Stamper enlisted at Flint Hill, Ashe County on July 13, 1864, in the 5th North Carolina Senior Reserves. He was promoted to 1st Lieutenant on December 12, 1864, but deserted on February 2, 1865. Most of his company served as prison guards at Salisbury, North Carolina, and most of them had gone AWOL by February 28, 1865.

Civil War records list both men as farmers, and describe Riley Stamper as having a dark complexion, dark hair, and blue eyes.

The Beeman/Beaman Family of North Carolina and Virginia

The Albert Sexton and Mary Beeman Family of Ashe County, North Carolina

1 – JOSHUA BEEMAN – b-abt 1811, Surry County, NC

m-May 13, 1827, Rowan County, NC

d-abt 1865, Grayson County, VA

s – LYDIA MOORAN – d-abt 1848, Surry County, NC

2 – Sarah M. Beeman – b-abt 1832, Surry County, NC

2 – William T. Beeman – b-abt 1834, Surry County, NC

m-December 13, 1856, Ashe County, NC

s – Caroline Blevins

2 – Francis Marion Beeman – b-abt 1837, Ashe County, NC

m-Ashe County, NC

d-aft 1880

s – Hiley THOMPSON – b-abt 1825

d-May 27, 1910, Wise County, VA

3 – Jacob S. Beaman – b-1858, Ashe County, NC

3 – Mary Selina Beeman – b-May 1862, Ashe County, NC

m-December 31, 1880, Ashe County, NC

d-1950, Salem, Virginia

s – Albert Sexton – b-March 1860, Ashe County, NC

d-abt 1940, Horse Creek, Ashe County, NC

4 – Minnie H. Sexton – b-July 1881

4 – Ida Mae Sexton- b-October 1884

d-1950

s – William Hoge Odham

4 – Gordon R. Sexton – b-October 1886, Virginia

4 – Hester Roseabell Sexton – b-March 9, 1890, Ashe County, NC

m-October 29, 1906

d-1945, Cincinnati, Hamilton County, OH

s – Albert Winton Blevins – b-June 15, 1889, Ashe County, NC

d-abt 1963, Cincinnati, Hamilton County, OH

(SEE CHILDREN IN ALBERT WINTON BLEVINS FAMILY SECTION BELOW)

4 – Vina R. Sexton – b-August 1893

4 – Joseph A. Sexton – b-May 1896

4 – Francis “Frank” M. Sexton – b-February 1900

3 – Jincey/Vinry Beaman** – b-1863, Ashe County, NC

m-May 26, 1885, Grassy Creek, Ashe County, NC

s – James B. Stamper** – b-1857

d-1930

3 – William M. Beaman – b-July 14, 1864, Chestnut Hill, Ashe County, NC

m-August 4, 1882, Ashe County, NC

d-November 14, 1904, Big Stone Gap, Wise County, VA

s – Milly Blevins – b-February 9, 1860, Ashe County, NC

d-July 23, 1916, Groseclose, Smyth County, VA

4 – Francis Lester Beaman – b-November 7, 1892, Big Stone Gap, Wise County, VA

m-abt 1827

d-July 12, 1973, Portland, Multnomah, OR

s – Hazel Ivadel Combellick – b-1891

d-1987

2nd s – Pauline (surname unknown)

4 – Robert Theodore Beaman – b-December 2, 1894, Big Stone Gap, Wise County, VA

m-October 11, 1916, Marion, Smyth County, VA

d-October 16, 1933, Dayton, Montgomery County, OH

s – Lena Belle Heldreth – b-1897

d-1990

4 – Sarah E. Beaman – b-December 1898, Big Stone Gap, Wise County, VA

d-1968

s – Walter Zinkham

4 – Cecil Jack Beaman – b-May 24, 1903, Big Stone Gap, Wise County, VA

d-May 20, 1985, Ironton, Lawrence County, OH

3 – Joshua L. Beaman – b-March 26, 1867, Chestnut Hill, Ashe County, NC

m-May 24, 1888, Ashe County, NC

2nd m- bef May 18, 1944

d-September 13, 1956, Anderson, Madison County, IN

s – Susanna Wyatt - b-February 1872, Chestnut Hill, Ashe County, NC

d-September 3, 1937, West Jefferson, Ashe County, NC

4 – Chloe Ethel Beaman – b-March 12, 1889, Ashe County, NC

d-July 23, 1980, Indianapolis, Marion County, IN

s – Ralph Thomas Hauck – b-1889

d-1946

4 – Margaret Ellen Beaman – b-December 7, 1890, Ashe County, NC

m-December 29, 1911

d-September 11, 1972, Big Stone Gap, Wise County, VA

s – Lindsey John Horton – b-1888

d-1959

4 – Hattie Beaman – b-January 1893, Ashe County, NC

d-February 1910, Big Stone Gap, Wise County, VA

4 – Lelia Etta Beaman – b-abt 1894, Ashe County, NC

d-April 13, 1921, Denver, Adams County, CO

4 – Herbert Beaman – b-abt 1895, Big Stone Gap, Wise County, VA

d-at early age, Big Stone Gap, Wise County, VA

4 – Leonard Beaman – b-1896, Ashe County, NC

d-abt 1897, Ashe County, NC

4 – Golden “Goldie” Elizabeth Beaman – b-December 7, 1898, Ashe County, NC

d-November 22, 1979, Anderson, Madison County, IN

s – Tom Sloot

2nd s – Fred/Frank Lawrence

4 – Trula Virginia Beaman – b-September 13, 1903, Big Stone Gap, Wise County, VA

d-October 1993, Scottsdale, Mariposa County, AZ

s – Joseph Kenneth Fowler – b-1904

d-1972

2nd s – Martin O’dell – b-1902

d-1976

4 – Anderson “Andrew” Alexander Beaman – b-April 9, 1907, Big Stone Gap, Wise County, VA

m-July 28, 1934

d-August 13, 1967, Montgomery, Montgomery Co., AL

s – Josephine Clarire McDermott – b-abt 1910

4 – James Byron Beaman – b-December 25, 1910, Big Stone Gap, Wise County, VA

m-April 23, 1932, Covington, Kenton County, KY

2nd m-February 14, 1954, Ellensburg, Kittitas County, WA

d-February 14, 1983, Salem, Marion County, OR

s – Marjorie Willetta Coulter – b-1908

d-2002

2nd s – Dorothy Poole – b-1912

4 – Zella Ruth Beaman – b-June 12, 1913, Big Stone Gap, Wise County, VA

m-April 14, 1933, Anderson, Madison County, IN

2nd m-August 1, 1965, Anderson, Madison County, IN

d-October 11, 1999, Muncie, Delaware County, IN

s – Joel Howard Hull – b-1910

d-1964

2nd s – Leonard Warren – b-1908

d-1991

4 – Iris Maxine Beaman – b-February 19, 1918, Anderson, Madison County, IN

s – Charles Harry Graybiel – b-1913

d-1982

2nd – Marie Christina Holm – b-1890

d-1968

3 – Joseph S. Beaman – b-August 3, 1869, Chestnut Hill, Ashe County, NC

m-April 11, 1887, Grassy Creek, Ashe County, NC

2nd m-May 19, 1917, Wise, Wise County, VA

d-September 22, 1949, Big Stone Gap, Wise County, VA

s – Lucinda Porter – b-1867, Ashe County, NC

4 - Charlie S. Beaman – b-January 1889, Big Stone Gap, Wise County, VA

m-July 14, 1910, Big Stone Gap, Wise County, VA

s – Lizzie E. Palmer

4 – Nannie Beaman – b-January 1893, Big Stone Gap, Wise County, VA

4 – Nora H. Beaman – b-June 1895, Big Stone Gap, Wise County, VA

4 – Imogene Beaman – b-July 6, 1897, Big Stone Gap, Wise County, VA

m-September 6, 1916, Wise County, VA

s – John Pleas Hamilton – b-1881

4 – Etta Mae Beaman – b-February 2, 1900, Big Stone Gap, Wise County, VA

d-April 3, 1964, Norton, Wise County, VA

s – Schuyler Thomas Hamilton – b-1892

d-1955

4 – Gladis E. Beaman – b-1902, Big Stone Gap, Wise County, VA

4 – Everett Beaman – b-1905, Big Stone Gap, Wise County, VA

4 – Beatris Beaman – b-1907, Big Stone Gap, Wise County, VA

4 – Margaret V. Beaman – b-1910, Big Stone Gap, Wise County, VA

2nd s – Effie Pearson – b-1887

d-1967

3 – Alice Beaman – b-1872, Chestnut Hill, Ashe County, NC

d-May 11, 1910, Big Stone Gap, Wise County, VA

2 – Mary Salina Beaman – b-abt 1843, Ashe County, NC

m-May 20, 1869, Grayson County, VA

d-aft 1880, Grayson County, VA

s – Madison L. Sebastion – b-July 4, 1849, Wilkes County, NC

d-January 16, 1929

3 – Mary Alice Sebastian – b-July 12, 1870, Wilson Creek, Grayson County, VA

m-September 11, 1889, Volney, Grayson County, VA

s – Josiah/Joseph C. Sexton* – b-May 1864

d-1936

3 – Elizabeth “Bettie” Sebastian – b-July 1872, Grayson County, VA

m-July 4, 1891, Grayson County, VA

s – Joseph Peak

3 – Eunice Sebastian – b-abt 1875, Grayson County, VA

d-February 19, 1924, Grayson County, VA

3 – Elijah Sebastian – b-March 6, 1876, Grayson County, VA

s – Minnie Pugh

3 – Rosa E. Sebastian – b-abt 1879, Grayson County, VA

3 – Robert A. Sebastian – b-September 1, 1880, Grayson County, VA

m-March 18, 1881

3 – Winton Sebastian – b-February 22, 1882, Grayson County, VA

d-March 1, 1950

s – Martha Jane Richardson

2 – James W. Beeman – b-abt 1847, Surry County, NC

*Josiah/Joseph C. Sexton is brother to Albert Sexton, my direct descendant who married Mary Beeman.

**Jincey Beaman and James Stamper were second cousins. Like Jincey, James great grandparents were Solomon Stamper and Elizabeth “Betsy” Sizemore.

Notes on the Beeman/Beaman Family:

The Beeman/Beaman spelling seems to change at will. I am recording the individual uses to the best of my ability.

According to a story in the Wells family, Joshua Beaman and his daughter Lina (Mary Salina) came to Grayson County, Virginia during the 1850’s, from Wilkes County. Joshua was looking for work and, upon discovering he was a miller, Allen Wells employed him to work in his mill. Apparently, one day Joshua was working in the fields, grew very hot, drank a great deal of cold water, then died, likely of a heat stroke. He is buried in an unmarked grave in the Wells Cemetery in Volney, Grayson County, Virginia. It is said the Wells took Mary Salina in as their daughter and Allen Wells left her land on York Ridge in his will. How this fits in with the rest of Joshua Beaman’s and their whereabouts at the time, I don’t know. Mary Salina Beaman Sebastian is buried in Anderson Cemetery, Troutdale, Grayson County, Virginia. Her husband, Madison Sebastian, is also buried in Troutdale.

In 1870, Mary Beeman’s father, Francis “Marion” did farm work for a living; by 1880 he was listed as a laborer, which may or may not mean the same thing. His wife, Hiley Thompson, was twelve years his senior.

Marion Beeman served in the 37th North Carolina Infantry during the Civil War. He was hospitalized in Richmond on 7/20/63. He was AWOL by 12/31/63, but returned to duty by 2/29/64. He was absent on the 6/30/64 muster roll, AWOL again by 8/8/64, and had deserted by 11/30/64.

Marion’s wife, Hiley, might also have been known as Mahila, according to an application for Eastern Cherokee status. She was also known as Mohiley and Hylia in various records. She is buried, along with her sons William and Joseph at Glencoe Cemetery, Big Stone Gap, Wise County, Virginia. Daughter Alice is likely buried there, too. Hiley’s cause of death was paralysis.

Milly Blevins was the daughter of David Blevins and Sarah Mandaville Blevins (1833-aft 1880). After the death of her father, Milly was raised by her mother and her mother’s second husband, Jacob Hamm. After the death of Milly’s husband, William, her half brother, Famos Hamm, took Milly and her family to Atkins, Virginia, then on to the Groseclose, Virginia. Milly is buried at St. Paul Cemetery, Smyth County, Virginia, and her son, Francis Lester Beaman, is buried at Sunset Hills Cemetery, Portland, Multnomah, Oregon. Francis Lester Beaman served in the military from September 14, 1918 to April 28, 1919, when he received a medical discharge. William and Milly’s son Robert, was buried in Groseclose, Smyth County, Virginia, in Pleasant Hill Cemetery. Their son Cecil is buried in Highland Memorial Gardens, South Point, Lawrence County, Ohio.

Around 1894, Marion and Hiley’s son Joshua moved his family in a covered wagon from Ashe County, near West Jefferson, to Bristol, a town situated in both Washington County, Virginia and Johnson County, Tennesee. In Bristol, they sold the wagon and moved on to Big Stone Gap, Virginia by train. Daughter Margaret Ellen Beaman was around 4 years old at the time and recalled a big bushel basket of apples and eating a lot of apples along the trip. This story was passed down by Margaret’s daughter, Betty Falin. Around 1913, Joshua moved at least some of his family on to Anderson, Indiana. There he was a member of the Park Place Church of God. Joshua is buried in East Maplewood Cemetery, Anderson, Madison County, Indiana. (Incidentally, some of my Shaw relatives from other side of family are buried in this cemetery, as well.) Joshua died at home in Anderson and between 1920 and 1950 he built homes in that area.

Joshua’s wife Susanna died rather suddenly on their first trip back to North Carolina, on a stopover in Big Stone Gap at the home of daughter Margaret. Feeling very tired from the travel, she lay down to rest, and died. The official cause of death was food poisoning, but the family felt her heart had given out. She is buried, along with her husband in East Maplewood Cemetery, Anderson, Madison County, Indiana.

Buried in the same cemetery are Joshua’s daughters, Chloe, Trula, and Zella. As of June 13, 1910, Chloe was employed at the Gospel Trumpet Publishing House in Anderson. Sister Lelia was employed by the same place as on June 10, 1912, as was sister Golden as of 1917 and sister Trula as of July 21, 1919. Their brother James Beaman was employed there on October 24, 1927. Margaret Ellen Beaman is buried in Glencoe Cemetery, Big Stone Gap, Wise County, Virginia, as is sister Hattie, who died at age 17. Golden was laid to rest in the Resurrection Mausoleum in the Maplewood Cemetery in Anderson, Indiana. Lelia, who died at 26, as well as sister Iris, were buried in Anderson, Indiana, likely in East Maplewood Cemetery with other family members. Anderson was buried in Greenwood Cemetery, Montgomery, Alabama, and James Byron was buried in City View Cemetery, Salem, Oregon.

Joseph S. Beaman was a carptenter. He and his wife, Lucinda, divorced. He is buried in Glencoe Cemetery, Big Stone Gap, Wise County, VA.

The Albert Blevins and Hester Sexton Family

The Charles Blevins Family of Ohio and Kentucky

1 - Albert Winton Blevins – b-June 15, 1889, Ashe County, NC

m-October 29, 1906

d-abt 1963, Cincinnati, Hamilton County, OH

s - Hester Roseabell Sexton – b-March 9, 1890, Ashe County, NC

d-1945, Cincinnati, Hamilton County, OH

2 – Luther Blevins – b-May 9, 1909

2 – Mamie Blevins – b-June 30, 1910

2 – James Blevins – b-March 15, 1912

d-between 1982 and 1987

s – Ruby Reid

3 – James Valentine “Val” Blevins

3 – Sandra Kay Blevins

2nd s – Clara (surname unknown)

2 – Gordon Blevins – b-October 9, 1915

d-abt 1956

2 – Sidney Blevins – b-June 11, 1916

d-April 6, 1964

s – Elnore (surname unknown)

3 – Barbara Blevins

3 – Patricia Blevins

2 – Carl Blevins – b-September 13, 1917

2 – Charles Raymon Blevins – b-June 15, 1919, Washington, County, VA

m-April 11, 1941

d-November 24, 1994, Grant County, KY

s – Mary Irene Hargis – b-January 8, 1922, Morehead, Rowan County, KY

d-March 27, 1992, Grant County, KY

3 – Rita Jane Blevins – b-October 16, 1942, Cincinnati, Hamilton County, OH

m-June 27, 1964, Erlanger, Kenton County, KY

s – Talc Eugene Brewsaugh – b-December 22, 1942, Covington, Kenton County, KY

4 – Toni Lynn Brewsaugh – b-October 16, 1965, Covington, Kenton County, KY

m-September 23, 1989, Ft. Thomas, Campbell County, KY

s – Clifford Blair Herzog – b-December 31, 1964, Dayton, Campbell County, KY

3 – Billie Delores Blevins – b-August 25, 1948, Cincinnati, Hamilton County, OH

m-February 1966

2nd m-March 1967

d-April 18, 1979

s – Dave (surname unknown)

2nd s – Gary Tungate – b-November 3, 1946

4 – Angi Marie Tungate – b-July 20, 1967, Biloxi, MS

m-September 23, 1983

2nd m-March 17, 1993

s – Robert “Bobby” Collier Spencer II – b-June 8, 1964

5 – Robert “Robby” Collier Spencer III– b-June 27, 1984

mother of child – Nicole Lynn Boshers – b-May 29, 1986, Hamilton, Butler County, OH

6 – Desire’ Marie Spencer – b-July 16, 2002, Edgewood, Kenton County, KY

5 – Nikkolas Allister Spencer – b-July 16, 1987

5 – Cecili Marilynne Spencer – b-August 18, 1989

2nd s – Rick Hunter – b-June 19, 1966, Ohio

5 – Dakota William Jacob “D.J.” Hunter – b-October 17, 1990

5 – McKenzie Mariel Hunter – b-August 15, 1992

Billie’s other children:

4 – Lisa Porter – b-June 3, 1969

s – Tony Brewer – d-April 1991

2nd s – Craig King

4 – Leslie Porter – b-June 3, 1969

s – Greg Stevens

5 – Sara

5 - Cameron

4 – April Elaine Wyatt – b-August 31, 1972

m-January 29, 1998

s – Troy Stephens – b-January 29, 1970

4 – Eric Alan Tungate – b-August 27, 1977

d-1977

3 – Debbie Jean Blevins– b-September 21, 1956

m-1974

s – Rick Wright

4 – Joe Wright – b-October 4, 1974

s - Joanne

4 – Shaun Wright – b-1975

d-1975

4 – Nakia “Niki” Wright – b-January 29, 1976

5 – Casey

5 – Eric

3 – Harold Garrett Blevins – b-February 5, 1959

d-1959

3 – Pamela Hester Blevins – b-April 12, 1961

m-abt 1980

s – Larry Browning

4 – Bo Ryan Browning – b-October 16, 1981

4 – Blake Browning – b-July 28, 1984

4 – Becky Browning – b-May 8, 1986

4 – Sonny Lee Browning – b-July 20, 1987

2 – Irene Blevins

s – Luther Potter

3 – Ralph Potter

2nd s – Andrew George

2 – Pearl Blevins – b-July 24, 1923

m-April 5, 1941

d-abt 2001

s - Theodore “Ted” E. Cox

3 – Charmaine Cox – b-August 17, 1946

s – unknown

4 – Paula Jane

4 – Cherri Lynn

4 – Kersten Ann

2nd s – Allen Redd

3 – Joyce Ann Cox – b-July 12, 1947

s – George Campbell

4 – Christen Mechell Campbell – b-abt 1980

3 – Theodore “Teddy” E. Cox, Jr. – b-July 25, 1949

s – Barbara (surname unknown) – b-Germany

4 – Charmaine Cox

2nd s – unknown

4 – Ruthie Elizabeth Cox – b-abt 1985

4 – Jacob Lody Cox – b-abt 1987

3 – Kent Cox – b-April 30, 1951

m-Athens, Greece

s – Marilyn Ried

4 – Larissa Michelle Cox – b-abt 1974

4 – Aaron Christopher Cox – b-abt 1977

3 – Arlene Cox – b-May 3, 1954

s – Timothy Cantwell

3 – Richard Cox – b-August 23, 1956

s – Ethel Muller – b-Germany

4 – Jennifer Ann Cox – b-abt 1975

2 – Warren Blevins – b-June 24, 1924

2 – Orvil Blevins – b-August 18, 1926

2 – Robert Blevins – b-December 12, 1927

2nd s – Ada (surname unknown) – b-1891

Notes on the Albert Winton Blevins Family:

In many places, Hester’s name appears as Esther or Easter; even on my grandfather’s birth certificate, she is named Easter. However, in my family we have always referred to her as Hester, and her tombstone says Hester, so I am following that tradition here.

Hester Sexton Blevins had a facial deformity.

Albert and Hester’s family resided in Washington County, Virginia. Towns mentioned by my grandfather were Clinchburg, Bristol, and Atkins or Atkins Tank. Albert spoke to his children of North Carolina, where his family was from. Around 1925, Albert and Hester moved their family to Cincinnati, Ohio. Albert worked at Witt Cornice Galvazine Can Company, then later at the Spring Grove Cemetery, first as a night watchman, later as a gravedigger. Both Hester and Albert are buried in Spring Grove Cemetery in Cincinnati, Ohio. Albert shares a tombstone with his second wife, Ada, but Hester’s tombstone is next to his.

Five of Albert and Hester’s sons died young: Luther, Carl, Warren, Orvil, and Robert. Their daughter, Mamie, was killed in her youth by a train while walking across a train trellis in Washington County, Virginia.

James Blevins was a long-distance truck driver and he served in the navy in World War II. Later in life, he relocated to Florida and is buried there.

Gordon Blevins is said to have done a lot of traveling and he relocated to California. I have photos of him taken about 1955 in California. He died in the mid-50’s, so the pictures are probably taken near the end of his life. He was quite a handsome, hip-looking guy.

Sidney Blevins worked as an iceman for Queen City Ice in Cincinnati and was also a postman. He served in World War II and is buried in Spring Grove Cemetery, Cincinnati, Ohio.

My grandfather’s name was Charles Raymon Blevins, but strangely enough, he spent most of his life thinking his name was William Charles Blevins! All his life, he was called Bill or William, and only in 1976, when he was in his mid-50’s, was it discovered that his birth certificate actually said Charles Raymon Blevins. It seems that as a child, he spent a lot of time with his Uncle Willy, Albert Blevins’s younger brother. His uncle took him to church, bought him clothes and gifts, and apparently his family began calling him after Willy and it stuck. Within a few years of the discovery, however, people began calling him Charles or Charlie, and he became Charles for the remainder of his life.

Charles met his wife Mary, around 1940, when she was visiting her sister in downtown Cincinnati, Ohio. Mary and some of her sisters often sang together, (songs of the period, one example she once mentioned was “Don’t Sit Under the Apple Tree,”) so one day they were singing in a schoolyard and a crowd gathered to listen. When the crowd dispersed, a young man on a bike remained, and he asked Mary to go for a ride on the handlebars. She accepted, and later married him – Charles Blevins.

Charles and Mary’s fourth child, Harold Garrett, was born premature and died. They also had a first baby before Rita who died, premature.

Mary and Charles lived in Cincinnati until 1950, when they moved to northern Kentucky, just across the Ohio River. They returned to Cincinnati once again, but settled back in Kentucky for good in 1954. While in Cincinnati, they resided in several parts of town: Avondale, downtown, and on Colerain Avenue on the West Side. In Kentucky, they lived in a then-rural part of Erlanger in Kenton County. In 1975, Mary and Charles moved to Williamstown, Grant County, Kentucky, where daughter Rita and her husband Talc had relocated a couple of years earlier. Mary and Charles are buried together in the Williamstown Cemetery.

Mary and Charles’s daughters:

~Rita Blevins and Talc Brewsaugh moved to Grant County, Kentucky in 1972 and still reside there. In addition to being a truck driver and welder, Talc has worked primarily in construction, for awhile owning his own business, and is very good at his trade. Their daughter, Toni (me), is a novelist. She and her husband Blair live in Kenton County, Kentucky.

~Billie Blevins gave her twins, Lisa and Leslie, up for adoption, as well as her daughter April. Billie died young, of pneumonia, and is buried in the Williamstown Cemetery, Grant County, Kentucky. Her infant son, Eric Alan, is buried there, as well. Billie’s daughters, Lisa and Leslie, were raised in Ashland, Kentucky. Lisa’s husband Tony was killed in an auto accident. Billie’s daughter, April was raised in Pendleton County. Angi’s family resides in Grant County, Kentucky and Angi is an account executive for a human resources firm.

~Debbie Blevins’ second child, Shaun, died of crib death. Debbie’s family resided in Independence, Kenton County, Kentucky while her children were growing up. She and Rick divorced in 1991. Debbie is now a real estate agent.

~Pam Blevins’ family resided in Grant County, Kentucky for many years. In 2002, she and Larry divorced. Her son, Bo, serves in the marines.

Irene Blevins is buried in Forest Lawn Memory Gardens in Florida. Her son Ralph lives in California. He is married and had two daughters.

Pearl and her husband Ted resided in Cincinnati, Ohio. Their son, Ted, Jr., has a heating/air conditioning business and also resides in Cincinnati. Ted, Jr. served in the Vietnam War. Their son, Kent, resides in California and his wife, Marilyn, is a nurse.

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