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On a website entitled "Aboard the Underground Railroad: A National Register of Historic Places Travel Itinerary", it documents that the farmstead of James and Sophia Clemens "is one of the oldest and last remaining agricultural resources in one of Ohio's earliest black settlements, Longtown (Greenville settlement)."
The article goes on to state, and the reason for my query, that "the records of the first landowners of Darke County, Ohio, show that James Clemens was the first free black man to purchase land in German township. Arriving with his wife Sophia in 1818 from Virginia, he soon built a thriving farm business. Sophia's maiden name was Sellers, and she is believed to be the daughter of Adam Sellers of Rockingham County, Virginia the former slave owner of James Clemens."
While in general the stated facts seem to be supported by my own records, I would like to correspond with anyone who has more detailed genealogical or family history info concerning Sophia (Sellers) Clemens
Adam Sellers was my 5th Great Grandfather. Born in 1742 in presumably Lancaster County, PA of German descent, he spent most of his life in Rockingham County, Virginia, before moving to Warren County, Ohio, in 1817. In an 1887 letter from his grandson, also named Adam Sellers, to a Sellers cousin, grandfather Adam's move to Ohio was quite detailed. The letter mentioned the fact that he not only freed his Virginia slaves but also transported them to Darke County, Ohio and provided for them financially until his death in 1821. He spent some time in Darke County, Ohio seeing that his former slaves were established before pushing on to Warren County to join a son, daughter, and their families.
The article mentioned above says that Sophia (Sellers) Clemens is believed to "be the daughter of Adam Sellers of Rockingham County, Virginia the former slave owner of James Clemens". I'm not altogether sure what the article means by "daughter". I do not believe Sophia was an actual daughter of Adam's but rather took the name of Sellers. Nothing in my family records mentions Sophia as a daughter of Adam's.
So, overall, I'm hoping to correspond with anyone who might be descended from or knowledgeable of the family of James and Sophia (Sellers) Clemens and/or anyone that knows anything about them. I would like to determine the actual relationship between the Clemens and Adam Sellers, if indeed they were former slaves of Adam's and if anyone's history has anything concrete about any of them at all.
Thanks!
Michael Sellers
5th Great Grandson of Adam Sellers
My Samuel is related to David Clemens. They had/have
descendant's in Missouri and Iowa as well as many
southwestern area's of the U.S.
Anyone who would like to find out if their is a
connction, may reply here, or send private inquiries
and I will forward a file of my Clemens relatives.
Denise
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Dear Phyllis:
While once we thought to be related to Samuel L. Clemens, we have not bee
able to establish any connection between our families. Samuel L,;s wife,
according to his biography is not the same as the wife of our Samuel
candidate.
Thanks for your inquiry. I would be glad to share any pertinent information.
Glenn Edmison
Researching Edmison/Edminson, Clemens/Clemans and Morehead families.
I have been trying to find the parents of Mary Ann Clemens. She b. 17 Oct
1796. She may have been born in Glouchester Co., NJ.
She m. William Peden b. 1790 Londonderry, County Derry, Ireland. The are
buried in Johnstown, Cambria Co., PA.
Sharie
Oceanside, CA
----- Original Message -----
From: <GEdmison(a)aol.com>
To: <CLEMENS-L(a)rootsweb.com>
Sent: Tuesday, April 01, 2003 4:18 PM
Subject: Re: [CLEMENS] Samuel
> Dear Phyllis:
>
> While once we thought to be related to Samuel L. Clemens, we have not bee
> able to establish any connection between our families. Samuel L,;s wife,
> according to his biography is not the same as the wife of our Samuel
> candidate.
>
> Thanks for your inquiry. I would be glad to share any pertinent
information.
>
> Glenn Edmison
> Researching Edmison/Edminson, Clemens/Clemans and Morehead families.
>
>
> ==============================
> To join Ancestry.com and access our 1.2 billion online genealogy records,
go to:
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>
>