One issue I’ve had for quite some time, as most others struggle with in the endeavor to restore family history, is the use of the same name(s) across several branches of family and through multiple generations that quite frequently overlap birth years, as well as spousal surnames. It challenges us to the point of feeling as if our head could explode. And, just as exasperating, is the practice of only using middle initials in documents and on headstones. We do the same thing today and I guarantee some poor genealogist generations into our future will have the same issue with us.
The challenge I had spent several years avoiding was the struggle to sort out John H. from John H. from John H. and John M. and John W., and figure out their inter-connection to each John H. and John M. and James W. Then another James W. and a James D. popped up, so there’s also the question whether some of them might be Senior’s or Junior’s, Third’s or Fourth’s. And, I know your head is already spinning, just like mine always did. Then, throw into the mix that several of these John’s and James’ fought in the Civil War at the same time. So, which was in which unit? Which lived, which died? So, I’m going to sort out some of this mess for the sake of sanity.
Baldwin’s sons, Benjamin and Harrison are where we begin. The family of each will be designated “A” for Benjamin, and “B” for Harrison, then numbered/lettered by each successive generation. Remember that Benjamin (1796) was by Baldwin's first wife, Anna Ball. While Harrison C. (1803) was by his second wife, Judith Creel. I’ll show each of their families one at a time only using those son’s who used names beginning with “J,” and remember everyone’s surname is Lunceford/Lunsford.
Family Designation “A”
AB-1) Baldwin
A-1) Benjamin (1796 – 1869)
A-1) Benjamin (1796 – 1869)
A-2-a) James
William, Sr. (After 1818 – 1863)
A-3-a-1)
John Henry (1846 – 1934)
A-4-a-1) Thomas James
(1866 – 1950)
A-3-a-2)
James William, Jr. (1848 – 1935)
A-2-b) John M. (1823 – 1900)
A-3-b-1)
John Samuel (1865 – 1926)
A-3-b-2)
James Benjamin (1869 – unknown)
A-2-c) Arthur
Baldwin (1825 – 1891)
A-3-c-1
Joseph R. (1856 – unknown)
A-2-d) Elijah
Chilton (1829 – 1921)
A-3-d-1)
James R. (1862/3 – 1865)
A-3-d-2) Samuel Shelton (1861 – 1939)
A-4-d-2-1) James Shelby, Sr. (1903 – 1964)
A-5-d-2-1-1) James Shelby, Jr. (Living)
A-3-d-3) John Henry
(1865 – 1933)
A-2-e) Benjamin
Richard (1837/1840 – 1900)
A-3-e-1)
John Richard (1872 – 1945)
A-4-e-1-1) John Ellwood
(1914 – 1942)
A-3-e-2) Benjamin Harrison (1881 – 1931)
A-4-e-2-1) James Marshall (1921 – 1943)
A-3-e-3)
James M. (1883 – 1945)
Some notable facts:
A-2-b) John M. was appointed as executor to A-1)
Benjamin’s will, resulting in a Chancery suit (061-1873) to equally divide the
land between the eligible 11 inheritors.
A-2-a) James W. was deceased before A-1) Benjamin’s
will was executed in 1869, likely a casualty of the War. The Chancery suit
(061-1873), lists his 5 younger children as orphans, less than 21 years,
resulting in a counter-suit within the Chancery suit (061-1873) by his wife
Harriet (Bruin) to collect debts owed by A/B-1) Benjamin.
A-3-a-1) John Henry was a Scout for Col. John S. Mosby,
erroneously described in the book, Mosby’s Rangers, by James J. Williamson,1896,
as a deserter. He was also found to be a foreman for Lawrence Washington’s
estate called “Waveland.” He was captured at Big Cobbler Mt on 12 Oct 1864,
sent to Ft. Warren, Boston Harbor, and POW until the War’s end. He is found of
age in Chancery suit (061-1873). He signed an oath of allegiance at Ft Warren, Mass. on 15 Jun 1865.
A-3-a-2)
James William, Jr. served in Co. E, Mosby’s Rangers alongside A-2-d) Elijah
Chilton. James W., Jr. is not listed in J.J. Williamson’s book.
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| Confederate Prisoners (from Wikimedia ) |
Family Designation “B”
AB-1) Baldwin
B-1) Harrison
C. (1803 – 1894)
B-2-a)
James D. (Unknown – 1864)
B-2-b)
John Harrison (1845 – 1847
B-2-c)
Joshua Thomas (1829 – 1924)
Some notable facts:
B-1) Harrison is listed in, Maps and Notes Pertaining to
the Upper Section of Fauquier County, Virginia, by Curtis Chappelear, Esq., 1954, as pertains to Upperville is as follows: “Lots on the North Side of
Columbia Street No 23 – Site of Joseph Carr’s Store House, and later the home
of Harrison Lunsford, shoemaker.” Columbia Street is now Highway 50.
B-2-a) James D. is listed in, Nothing But Glory,
Pickett’s Division At Gettysburg, by Kathy Georg, 1993. Harrison and John W. Busey.
He served as a Private in Co. F “Blue Mountain Boys,” 8th VA
Infantry. He supposedly killed more men than any other during the assault at Gettysburg.
He was captured and sent to Ft. Delaware Prison located on Peapatch Island in
the Delaware River. Conditions were very dirty, damp and cold. Disease ran
rampant and James D. died of an inflammation of the lungs on 11 or 12 Mar 1864.
He was buried in a trench/mass grave at Finn’s Point National Cemetery,
Confederate section, located at Pennsville, NJ.
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| Fort Delaware (from Wikimedia ) |
Well, there you go. That isn’t too hard to understand, is it? In fact, you might wonder where all the confusion came from to start with. If you consider sitting with a list of names without dates, as I placed them in the beginning paragraph, you know. The dates sort them all out, obviously. I encourage everyone reading this to make certain you record the little, seemingly unimportant differences about you. Record your voice, take plenty of photos, and leave trinkets to people around you. Eventually, someone like yourself may be able to “bring you back to life.” Or, at the very least, be able to understand what makes you memorable. One of the best things I did was to record the voices of two older Lunceford’s sharing some memories, both of whom passed shortly afterward.
Tim Lunceford
Independence, MO
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