First, I would like to apologize to all Casey researchers for my
contribution in propagating the earlier Casey research of George and
Abner Casey via my and my father's 1980 book, "Casey Family History." I
no longer feel it is in the best interest of Casey family research, to
include the first four generations presented in their 1960s Casey
manuscript. This earlier research is no longer included in my updated
"Casey Family History" which is now available at my web site:
http://www.rcasey.net/casey/casstart.htm
I am a descendant of Ambler Casey who married Polly Ellison. I will
continue to mention that George and Abner Casey lists Ambler as a son of
Jesse Casey but will indicate that there has been no proof ever found
linking any Jesse Casey of Roane County, TN to any children or
siblings. Since there is no proof (or even remote implications of
proof), I do not plan on researching any earlier Casey lines as
presented by George and Abner Casey. Children of Jesse Casey (father of
Aaron Casey) were based merely on the 1790 census as stated in their
manuscript (I will not support this quality of research). The children
of Aaron Casey and the wife of Aaron Casey have been proven to be
incorrect by existing probate records of Aaron Casey and his wife, Sarah
Casey. Why does everyone continue to claim this lineage? I apologize
again for my 1980 book and its contribution to preserving this lineage
(my father, before he died in 1991, felt the same way).
There appears to be at least two men named Jesse Casey that lived in
Roane County, TN. I would speculate that one would be Jesse E. Casey
who Patsy Coe and is well covered by Vonda Dihm (who publishes regular
updates on this line and I publish the earlier generations of this line
at my web site as well). The other appears to be an older generation
because the older Jesse Casey had land surveyed in 1807 (this was when
Jesse E. Casey was believed to be only 10 years old). It also appears
that Jesse "Kasey" received a pass to travel to Cherokee territory to
what later became Kingsport, TN sometime between 1801 and 1804.
Because there was an earlier Jesse Casey in Roane County, TN, this Jesse
would be a candidate for the father of Ambler Casey as well as other
younger generation Casey individuals, ie., Jesse E. Casey. However,
there are at least five to ten other Casey men in Roane County,
Tennessee that could be Ambler Casey's or Jesse E. Casey's father as
well. I have found no proof linking any children to the older Jesse
Casey (of Roane County, Tennessee). I have also found no proof any
connections of the Roane County, TN Casey men to South Carolina
(although this is possible). There is evidence of Jesse Casey living in
South Carolina but making the connection to our Roane County, TN Casey
families has never been proven for any Casey family to my knowledge.
In the spirit of sharing information of the George and Abner Casey
manuscript, I will put an exact copy of the two versions that are
circulating the Casey researcher network. The first is what I believe
to be the last type-written version of the George and Abner Casey
manuscript which is on legal paper and has annotations written in
George's handwriting. The second version is condensed by Edith (Casey)
Lewis many years ago. I estimate that 90 percent are same but there are
major differences - obviously Edith and my father received different
versions.
Both manuscripts are the same for the sketch of Jesse Casey, said to be
the father Ambler Casey and Jesse Casey, Jr.:
Page 212 (handwritten by George Casey)
Page 114 (typed by Edith Lewis)
Begin Quote
JESSE CASEY (152-36)
Jesse Casey, son of Aaron Casey, was born in South Carolina about 1768.
It is likely he spent a few years in Georgia between 1800 and 1810. He
married in South Carolina and we find the family in Roane County,
Tennessee as early as 1809. About 1834, the family moved to Missouri,
and two years later, to Newton County, Arkansas.
We do not know the name of Jesse Casey's wife, but they were the parents
of two children that we know of:
Ambler Casey (410-152)
Jesse Casey, Jr. (411-152)
End Quote
Notes: The 1809 date is probably based on Ambler Casey's marriage to
Polly Ellison in 1809 in Roane County, Tennessee. The family movement
starting in 1834 is probably based indirectly on the book, "Reminiscent
History of the Ozark Region," published by Goodspeed in 1894. This book
states: "Jesse E. Casey left Tennessee and moved to Franklin County,
Missouri around 1834, moved to Johnson County, Arkansas in 1836 and then
moved to Newton County, Arkansas around 1841." It appears that George
and Abner obtained this widely available book from a secondary source as
information was lost in the process (Johnson County, AR and Franklin
County, MO, Jesse "E." Casey and "1841" to Newton County, Arkansas
are
not mentioned). Their version implies a direct move to Newton County,
Arkansas.
The birthdate of Jesse Casey is probably an approximation based on the
birthdates of Aaron Casey (born 1748) and Ambler Casey (born 1785).
This means that Jesse's father would have to be 20 when Jesse was born
and Jesse was 17 when his oldest son, Ambler Casey was born. Obviously,
this should raise a red flag as this is pretty aggressive in time
between generations (but possible). To give them a break, it is known
that Ambler Casey was actually born around 1790, thus it would make
Jesse Casey 22 when Ambler was born. But the birthdate for Jesse Casey
has very little room for variance and was probably derived in this
fashion.
This leaves the big question - the linkage between Jesse Casey and his
two sons: Ambler and Jesse E. Casey. I have numerous letters from both
George and Abner Casey and it is the same lineage presented over and
over. There were never any sources mentioned (documented or
undocumented) on these vital facts. Speculation on this source would be
appreciated. My guess is that Ambler and Jesse E. descendants wrote
them, they were not part of their line (Abner Casey), they got put
together with a possible candidate (Jesse Casey) and history was
literally made. Some descendant probably suggested this connection and
this speculation become family history over time.
Please thank Vonda Dihm and Mary E. Casey for their solid research
(Vonda for getting me to add fuel to this Casey research fire). I am
concentrating on linking various Casey families together. Mary and
myself are now confident that Moses Casey is a son of Ambler Casey. We
are working hard on connecting Susan Casey and Henson Casey as well. I
will continue to update other Casey lines as well that come from Roane
and McMinn Counties, Tennessee or resided in either Arkansas and
Missouri with Tennessee connections. See my web site for lines covered.