My John was in SC for the births of at least two of his 4 kids...this comes
from their enumerations in the 1850 KY census. Arlene Rickenbaugh in her 1929
book "Our Heritage" says that he was in Old Pendleton Dist., but does not give
sources for her info. There is one John, wife Frances, who fits what we know
of him at that time, and it's very tempting to accept him as ours on that
premise, but as you all know that is not "quality research".
The earliest factual documentation is in the marriage records of his kids,
Caldwell Co., KY. And there are tax docs that show him owning land there.
In 1819 he marries (for the 3rd time??) Rachel WOOTEN....he sells his land to
son, Israel, who owns the property next door in 1822 and yup..."disappears"!!
There are several possibilities as to where he went....to ILL to be near his
eldest dau.....to "somewhere" to be near his new wife's family......back to
his home wherever that was, perhaps SC.....you see, the possiblities are
endless. One thing we do know is that he did not make a pension claim in 1832 for
services in the RW, but I can't imagine that he did not fight in the war, he
just didn't live long enough to claim it.
John, oh John...wherefore art thou??
Janice