Name Researching: BEST/SHANNON
Time Period: 1800-1880
Where: Harrison, Clark, Floyd, Daviess, Jackson Counties
Whom: James BEST family, b. 1811, married several times
Patrick BEST, b. ? (it was said he'd been in a bear fight
on a hunting trip, and there was
a monument built toward this
bravery. Unknown dates.
Why: James BEST is my furthest ancestor that I'm researching, he is my
ggggrandfather.
Patrick BEST, is said to be one of his sons, thru one of his
marriages, I am trying to prove
the information I have on this person, and can find nothing.
Although his name may not
be Patrick, it could be something else, this is the name I
have in old letters that I have. This
Patrick may not be a son afterall, it could be a brother of
this above James.
Marriages: James was married to Catherine Shannon, Mary BEST (unknown
maiden name), Sarah Sutton(prev. married name, unknown maiden name),
Rebecca Smart, and could have been
married another time or two. These name were given in the exact
marriage order that I have found.
I am searching for other family members of this James BEST. I am
wondering if this John BEST
who married the Lopp, isn't one of his two/three known sons. Which
John BEST would be from
James first marriage to Catherine Shannon?
After James third/fourth marriage to Rebecca Smart, he packed his
remaining family up and moved them to Jackson Co., for about 10 years,
where he and Rebecca had more children.
After they had grown, these children, along with James and Rebecca moved
once again, this time
to AL. James' son, James Thomas BEST, a son from his first marriage,
was married and lost
his family to death in Jackson Co., where he was living when the fire
occurred, leaving him with
the child that survived the fire that we know of. The mother of these
children died of meningitis
the previous winter. James (the son) moved him and his son Wm. Edgar
to Martin Co., and then
on the Daviess Co., by 1880. This is the line I'm off of.
I have the family lines of the Lopp family in Harrison Co., IN.
What I am wondering if anyone has anything further back than what is in
this book, on John BEST?
In a census of 1880 AL, James (the father) said his father was from
Germany, and his mother from Ireland.
Is anyone familiar with this BEST line? I do know there are several
BEST's still living in this area,
and most say they aren't related to each other. Would someone please
inquire around the Harrison Co., area, to see if anyone has discovered
anymore information, on this John BEST?
Thank You,
Melanie Wayman
nwayman(a)rtccom.net