John Connerly, c.1716-1751, NC

John Connerly, my paternal 6th great-grandfather, was born c. 1716 in Johnston County (formerly Craven County), North Carolina.  He married Keziah Herring, daughter of Samuel Herring and Anne Williams.  She was born c. 1715 in Isle of Wight County, Virginia.  (John Connerly was mentioned in the will of Samuel Herring, dated October 22, 1750, probated December 1750 in Johnston County, NC.  Samuel Herring leaves "one grey mare excepted- she: I give and bequeath to my son-in-law Jno Conerly").

John Connerly was issued a land grant of 300 acres in the County of Duplin, North Carolina.  (Duplin County Grant Book 10, p. 264, File 99. Dated April 2, 1751)

John made will October 1751.  He died 17 November 1751.  His will mentions three children- William, Patience and Cullen.  Also mentioned in his will were Stephen Herring, the brother of his wife, Keziah and brother "Richard Jones" (it is uncertain of the actual relationship, if any, of John to Richard Jones).

Will of John Connerly:

In the name of God Amen the seventeenth of Oct. 1751, I, John Connerly, of the County of Johnston, being very sick and weak in body but of perfect mind and memory Thanks be given to Almighty God therefore calling unto mind the mortality of my Body and knowing that it is appointed for all men once to die do make and ordain this my last Will and testament that is to say principally and first of all I give and recommend my Soul into the Hands of God that in descent Christian Burial at the discretion of my executor.  Nothing doubting but at the general resurrection I shall receive the same again by the mighty power of God and as touching such Worldy Estate wherewith it hath pleased God to bless me in this life.  I give demise and dispose of the same in the following manner and form imprimis I give and bequeath to my well beloved wife Kesiah Connerly the young mare that was left me by her Father gave her at her marriage and the feather bed she had at the time of marriage and the Plantation whereon I now live with one hundred and fifty acres of land more or less being part of the survey.  Item I give and bequeath to my brothers, Richard Jones and Stephen Herring the remainder of the Survey to be Divided as hath been agreed on the said Stephen paying his part of the caust.  Item I give and bequeath to my well beloved son William Connerly my bay maire and colt my son Cullen to have the first colt the Mair brings.  Item I give and bequeath to my well beloved daughter Patience Connerly my black mair and her increase.  Item I likewise give and bequeath to my three children whose names are above written at the time of coming to age or at the day of marriage five cows and calves to each.  Item I give and bequeath to my sons William and Cullen each of them one feather bed.  Item I give to my daughter Patience two iron pots, two pewter basons, four plates, one dish.  Item I give to my two sons three hundred acres of land lying on the North East of Cape Fear in Duplin County to be equally divided between them.  Item I give to my son William my gun.  Item what I have by me and what is due and the remains of my stock I desire to be put to the use of buying a young negro woman and if she should breed I desire her increase to be equally divided among my children and if that cannot be done the money debts and Stock last mentioned to be equally divided among my three Children herein this will mentioned.  Item I give to my wife my horse and all my other moveables I likewise constitute make and ordain Anthony Herring, Blacksmith, to be my sole executor of this my last Will and Testament and I hereby utterly disallow revoke and disanul all and every other former Testaments Wills Legacies and Bequests and Executors by me in any ways before named willed and bequeathed Ratifying and Confirming this and no other to be my last Will and Testament in Witness whereof I have here unto set my Hand and Seal this 17 Day of October 1751.

Signed and Sealed and Published Jn Connerly (his mark) in presence of us.

Elizabeth Jones (her mark) Griffin Jones

Johnston County March Court 1752 Present His Majestys Justices the last Will and Testament of John Connerly late of Johnston County deceased was exhibited into court and proved by the Oaths of Elizabeth Jones and Griffin Jones.  Evidence there to who swore that they saw the Testator sign seal publish and declare the same to be his last Will and Testament and was at the time thereof of sound and disposing memory after which Anthony Herring Exr herein mentioned appeared in Court and was qualified by taking the Oath of an Exrs 

Ordered that Mr. Secretary have notice that letters issued accordingly.  Test letters granted and issued 9 July 1752.  Chas Young C.C.

(Information from  Descendants of John Connerly (    - 1751) NC and Cullen Conerly (ca 1745- 1811) NC To The Present 1986, Lampton, William A. and Irma, Marion County Public Library, Columbia, Miss. *929.2 L)

                                                                   
Children of John Connerly and Keziah Herring:


i.    William Conerly (1740-1807), married Margaret Jackson
ii.   Patience Conerly (1741-1845)
iii.  Cullen Conerly (1745-1811), married Letitia (Telisha) Ward

Cullen Conerly (RS), c. 1745-1811, NC

My paternal 5th great-grandfather, Cullen Conerly, was born c. 1745 in Craven County, North Carolina and died c.1811 in Duplin County, North Carolina.  He was the son of John Connerly and Keziah Herring.  Family history states he was a Revolutionary War soldier, enlisted in Captain Kenan's and Captain Bowden's companies of North Carolina.  He married Letitia (Telisha) Ward, the daughter of Luke Thomas Ward and Bridget Draughon.  She was born 04 April 1746 in Bertie County, North Carolina and died 26 August 1846 in Duplin County, North Carolina.

Cullen Conerly's will was dated 11 November 1811 and proven in court January 1812:

Will of Cullen Conerly:  IN THE NAME OF GOD, AMEN, The eleventh day of November in the year of our Lord One Thousand Eight Hundred and Eleven-  

I, Cullin Connerly of the State of North Carolina and County of Duplin being now advanced in age and just recovering from a severe illness, but of sound disposing mind and memory and reflecting on the uncertainty of life and the certainty of death have now determined to settle my worldly affairs for which purpose-

I make and ordain this to be my last will and testament in manner and form following (that is to say) 

First, it is my will and desire that all my just debts and funeral charges should be duly paid by my executors herein after named, out of such part of my estate as they may think proper and the residue to be distributed in the following manner (to wit)

And secondly, I lend to my beloved wife, Telisha Connerly the plantation and house where I now live and all working tools thereunto belonging and three mares and two colts and six cows and calves and stock of sheep together with the following negroes, viz:  Major, Easter, Jim, Charles, Cisar, Willis, Bob, Tena and Clary during her natural life or widowhood and then to be distributed as is hereinafter mentioned.

And thirdly, I give and bequeath to my son John Connerly all my lands lying on the North side of the Poly Bridge Branch together with the one half of a tract of land purchased of John Blount lying above the fork of said branch, only reserving such part of said lands as Mill Overflows, I also give him the privilege of grinding his own grain in said mill, toll free as long as he helps to keep said mill in repair, and also one bed and furniture one cow and calf one horse bridle and saddle and two head of sheep to him and his heirs forever.

And fourthly, I give and bequeath to son Owen Connerly the four hundred and fifty dollars I paid towards the lands he now lives on and one horse bridle and saddle one bed and furniture one cow and calf and two head of sheep to him and his heirs forever.

And fifthly, I give and bequeath to my son William Connerly all that tract of land I purchased of Samuel Stanford one horse bridle and saddle one bed and furniture one cow and calf and two head of sheep to him and his heirs forever.

And sixthly, I give and bequeath to my son Luke Connerly all my lands on the South side of the Poly Bridge Branch including the lands I bought of Robert Byrd and also the one half of a tract I purchased of John Blount, it being the half of the tract I bequeath to my son John Connerly lying above the fork of said Poly Bridge Branch one horse bridle and saddle one bed and furniture one cow and calf and the Blacksmith tools and also my still and two head of sheep to him and his heirs forever.

And Seventhly, I give and bequeath to my daughter, Polly Guy, one Negro woman named Dinah one bed and furniture two cows and calves one woman's saddle and two head of sheep to her and her heirs forever.

And Eightly, I give and bequeath to my daughter Tibitha Laws one negro woman named Rose one bed and furniture one woman's saddle two cows and calves and two head of sheep to her and her heirs forever.

And Ninthly, I give and bequeath to my daughter Frances Dunkin one negro girl named Ginny one bed and furniture two cows and calves, one woman's saddle and two head of sheep to her and her heirs forever.

And Tenthly, I give and bequeath to my daughter Susan Page one negro girl named Lucy one bed and furniture two cows and calves one woman's saddle and two head of sheep, to her and her heirs forever.

Eleventhly, I give to my daughter Chelly Blount one negro girl named Rachel one bed and furniture two cows and calves two head of sheep and fourteen dollars in lieu of the woman's saddle to her and her heirs forever.

Twelvthly, I give and bequeath to daughter Betsey one negro girl named Doll and also at my wife's death one other negro girl named Tenah one bed and furniture two cows and calves one woman's saddle and two head of sheep to her and her heirs forever.

And further it is my Will and desire that after my wife's decease, that my son John Connerly shall have my Negroman Jim and my son Owen Connerly my Negro boy Charles and my son William Connerly my Negro boy Cesar and my son Luke Connerly my Negro man Moses which said four negroes I give and bequeath to them forever only reserving four hundred dollars from my four sons above mentioned for my six daughters to be divided between them share and share and it is further my will and desire that after the death of my said wife all the rest of my negroes and all the rest of my property that has not been herein disposed of should be equally divided among my said six daughters share and share only reserving one third part of all the sixth part that is bequeath to my daughter Polly Guy after her mother's death for the use and benefit of her two children she had by her first husband William Bennit and that third part to be equally divided between them that is to say between Letha Bennett and John Bennet which I give and bequeath to them and their heirs forever, and it is further my will and desire that my four sons pay the above mentioned four hundred dollars in proportion to the value of their negroes herein bequeathed at the time they receive them.

And lastly I do by those present ordain, Constitute and appoint my beloved sons, John Connerly and Luke Connerly my Executors to this my last Will and Testament hereby revoking and disannulling all other Wills or Testaments by me heretofore made declaring this and this only to be my last Will and Testament.  (Seal made by Cullen Conerly).  Signed, sealed pronounced and declared by the Testator to be his last Will and Testament in the presence of D. Wright, Alfna Beek, Lewis Dickson.

January Term 1812  Then the within will was produced in Court, by John Connerly & Luke Connerly, the executors named in said will and proved in due form of law, by the oath of David Wright and Lewis Dickson two of the subscribing witnesses thereto, that the same time John Connerly one of the executors, named in the said will came forward and qualified by taking the oath of an executor according to law.

Ordered that letters issue accordingly.  Test-   Wm. Dickson, CC

Above information from "Descendants of John Connerly and Cullen Conerly NC To The Present 1986", Lampton, William A. and Irma, Marion County Public Library, 929.2L, pages 1-58.

Children of Cullen Conerly and Letitia Telisha Ward:
i.    John Conerly (1775-1839), married Susannah Newton
ii.   Owen Conerly (1777-1849), married Mary Wilkinson
iii.   Mary "Polly" Conerly (1779-1845), married (1) William Bennett  (2) Jesse Guy
iv.  Tibitha Conerly, born c. 1781, married John Laws
v.   Frances Conerly (1782-1860), married (1) Jacob Cullen Duncan  (2) Elijah Jackson Turnage
vi.  Susan Conerly (1784-1850), married Joseph Page
vii. Chelley Conerly (1786-1857), married Needham Blount
viii.William Conerly (1788-1848), married Sarah Brown
ix.  Elizabeth "Betsy" Conerly (1790-1860), married Isaac Newton
x.   Luke Conerly (1792-1859), married Rebecca Wilkinson

William Conerly, 1788-1848, NC>MS

William Conerly, my paternal 4th great-grandfather, was born 10 June 1788, Duplin County, North Carolina and died July 1848 in Marion (now Walthall) County, Mississippi.  He was the son of Cullen Conerly and Letitia Ward.  He married Sarah Brown on 24 November 1814 in Duplin County, North Carolina.  (William Connerly and John Connerly, made bond for the sum of five hundred dollars for Application for a License for a Marriage between William Connerly and Sarah Brown, witnessed by Wm Dickson, CC. and seal marked by William Conerly and John Conerly. Descendants of John Connerly and Cullen Conerly, William & Irma Lampton, 929.2, Marion Co. Library).  She was born c. 1799 in Duplin County, North Carolina and died c. 1860 in Mississippi.  She was the daughter of Stephen Brown and Sarah Middleton.   

Children of William Conerly and Sarah Brown:
i.    Jesse Conerly, born c. 1819, married Pheribe Cox
ii.   Amanda Conerly (1821-1898), married John Pigott Stogner
iii.  Stephen Conerly, born c. 1823, married Margaret Wilda Magee
iv.  Elizabeth Jane "Betsy" Conerly (1826-1910), married George W. Hodge
v.   Sarah T. Conerly, born c. 1828, married James McNabb
vi.  Elisa Conerly (1833-1870), married David Blackwell
vii. Mary Ann Conerly (1836-1907), no further info
viii.Nancy Caroline Conerly (1837-1855), no further info
ix.  Melissa Ann Conerly (1839-1903), married Absolum Hardy
x.  William James Conerly, born October 1841, married Susan Dearman Whiddon
xi.  Sarah Ann Conerly, born 18 February 1845, married Mitchell Coleman
xii. Winney Conerly (1847-1860), no further info

John Pigott Stogner, c.1817-1885, GA>MS

John Pigott Stogner, my paternal third great-grandfather, was born 1817 in Liberty County, Georgia, the son of Ezell Stogner and Martha Pigott.  He was the only one of his siblings born in Georgia.  When he was a young child, his parents moved westward to settle into new lands opened in Mississippi.  John was probably named after his maternal grandfather, John Pigott Sr.  He remained in the household with his parents, whom resided in Marion County, Mississippi until he married Amanda Conerly, the daughter of William Conerly and Sarah Brown, on 17 July 1836 in Marion County, Mississippi.  Amanda was born 22 January 1821 in Duplin County, North Carolina.  Her family migrated to the Mississippi territory in the early 1800's as well.  

John was issued 40 acres of land in Section 10, Township 1, Range 13E in the district of Sands dated 10 November 1840.  This was a cash sale entry, document no. 4980, Washington office of lands records division. 

Land purchase record for
John Pigott Stogner, 10 Nov 1840

The 1850 census listed only the initials of the Stogner family whom we have come to identify as John Pigott Stogner and his family.  By then, John and Amanda had six children- Seaborn William, Sarah Ann, Jesse J., Martha E., Stephen E. and Thomas Jefferson.  The census record also reflects that John was a "chairmaker" and he was born in Georgia; it also shows that his wife, Amanda, was born in North Carolina.  A chairmaker back in the 1800's was what we now know as "furniture builder".  I would imagine that John built furniture for extra income, but he probably spent a great deal of his time farming, like most men of that era.  Since the family shows no ownership of slaves, someone had to hunt game and grow produce in order for the family to eat.

1850 Federal Census, Marion County, Mississippi

On the very first page of the 1860 census of Marion County, Mississippi, John P. Stogner is the last name written.  This is the first census record that actually identifies his family by names.  The next page of the census listed all of his children.  By then, John and Amanda had another child, a son, John Washington.  Their eldest son, Seaborn William, had married to Margaret Turnage and the couple resided in John and Amanda's home.  Living next door to John and Amanda was John's brother, Seaborn.  John's mother, Martha, who was widowed by then, lived in the household with Seaborn.  Also nearby was another brother of John's, Thomas Ezell Stogner and his family.  

1860 Federal Census, Marion County, Mississippi

John was 43 years old when the Civil War began.   Family history states that John served in the Confederate Army, Company G, Third Brigade of the Second Regular Mississippi Militia.  Thus far that information is unproved to my knowledge.  I found the Company Muster Roll for two periods, one dated 29 July 1862- 04 September 1862, and another dated 23 September 1862- 28 February 1863.  According to the documentation on these muster rolls, J.P. Stogner enlisted 21 July 1862 to serve for a period of twelve months in the Confederate army as a Private with Company G, 2nd Reg't Miss, State Troops, Quinn's.  However, each muster roll shows that John was absent without leave.  The reasons for his absence are only guessable, there could have been so many possibilites.   I have not found any further military records for him.

Company Muster Roll 1
J.P. Stogner

Company Muster Roll 2
J.P. Stogner

The spelling on census records never ceases to amaze me.  An example of this is the 1870 census, where I find John listed as John P. "Stayner"- no wonder our kinfolks are sometimes hard to find!  By then, John and Amanda had only three of their unmarried children living at home- Thomas, Sarah and John.  Their daughter, Martha, who had married, was left a young widow.  She and her two young children, the youngest being only about six months old, were residing with her parents, John and Amanda.  Their son, Stephen, was married and lived in the next house below them.  John's brothers, Seaborn and William Rankin, are also listed on the same page of the census with their families.  The next page of the census (I did not post it here) shows that John and Amanda's son, Seaborn William, and his wife had moved into their own home and were the parents of four children.

1870 Federal Census, Marion County, Mississippi

I didn't post the image of the 1880 census record because it is blurred and of poor quality.  By 1880, John and Amanda's children had all moved out.  A nephew resided with them, Stephen M. Conerly, age 19, whom worked on the farm.  John was aging, then in his 60's, and was probably retired from building furniture.  He was listed as a farmer on the census.  John and Amanda's youngest child, John Washington, had married and was living in the house next door with his wife Francis and their only child at the time, Rosa.

According to family history, John Pigott Stogner died in March 1885.  I have no knowledge of where he may be buried.  His wife, Amanda, died in 1898.

A summary of their children:
i.    Seaborn William Stogner, married Margaret Turnage
ii.   Sarah Ann Stogner, married Felix Henry Hines
iii.  Jesse J. Stogner, married JoAnna Stubbs
iv.  Martha E. Stogner, married a Conerly (first name unknown at present)
v.  Stephen E. Stogner, married Mary (maiden name unknown)
vi. Thomas Jefferson Stogner, married Elizabeth Stubbs
vii. John Washington Stogner, married Francis J. Ryals