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Most surname families have someone considered the "top" researcher for that
family. I am looking to contact the person most knowledgeable about William H
Clemens/Clemmens/Clemmons, shown above, and his proven marriages.
All information that I've found says that William was first married to Manerva
Jane Windrix, widow of David Windrix. From what I've been able to fathom from
all of the data that I've seen, William was married 3 times. Some say 2nd wife
was Melvina Short and 3rd to a Mattie J Brown. I believe there is confusion
regarding Manerva Jane and Mattie J. I would like to contact the person who
really knows about these marriages and the order in which they took place.
I'm specifically looking to correct the information regarding Manerva
Jane Windrix/Wenrick. Manerva Jane was born ca 1847 in GA to William and Sarah
Wilson. She is shown on the 1850 West Amuchee, Walker Co GA census and the 1860
Lebanon, DeKalb Co AL census with her family. She is found on the 1870 Jackson
Co AL census, age 22 (indicating d/o/b as ca 1848), living with husband David
Wenrick, her father William Wilson and some unknown (to me) child by the name of
Josephine Chambers/Chumler/Chamler, etc. David's surname name has since been
corrected by a family member as being correctly spelled Windrix. Josephine's
surname is not clear on this 1870 census. Manerva and David married in 1869
Madison Co, AL.
Looking for Civil War records for David Windrix I found an application for
Manerva J Windrix for a widow's pension; date is unclear but looks to be in
1880. The application was apparently turned down, probably because she had
remarried. Next, I find where she has applied for benefits for a minor child,
William M Windrix. There is a guardian listed shown as William H Clemens. This
application is dated Sept 1887. I believe Manerva died sometime after 1890.
In 1880, a William Clemens and Jane Clemens are living in Jackson Co AL. This
census would indicate Manerva was born in 1855. If William Clemens really was
born ca 1859, there is a huge difference in age between them. I do know that the
birth date for Manerva shown on the 1870 census is correct. This 1880 census
shows William and Manrva with 2 children that I believe to be Dollie Windrix and
William M Windrix, not Clemens as stated on the census. Dollie was born ca
1870 and William in 1873. This indicates that these were the children of Manerva
and David Windrix, not William Clemens. I believe young William to be the minor
that was shown on Manerva's 2nd pension application with William Clemens listed
as guardian. I take from this that Manerva and William Clemens married after
1873 and before Sept 1887. Some family tree records indicate that Manerva and
William Clemens had at least one son, David Monroe Clemens, born 1880 - died
1953. Also says there was a foster son named Charles, born ca 1883, died
unknown.
William is next shown to marry a Melvina Short in June 23, 1897 in Jackson Co
Al. Next shown to marry 3rd wife, Mattie J (possibly a Jane?)
Brown on March 21, 1899. I believe Mattie brought a daughter, Lillie Mae Brown,
born in 1889, to that marriage.
Would like to sort these people out and put time-line in perspective. There is
so much obvious mis-information in some of the Ancestry family trees regarding
these families. Clarification would benefit everyone. Anyone able to do this?
All help appreciated.
Paula