I am searching for information leading me the James BEST b. abt. 1812.
According to an 1850
census, he was married or living with (could be a sister) a Sarah, who
also goes by the surname
BEST. Says he's a ships carpenter. Says he was born PA, and she in VA.
They are listed with these children ages and gender: James BEST, age 7
M (b. 1843, I believe this to be my gggrandfather, who d. 1904 Daviess
Co., IN); J. N. BEST, age 3 M; L. J. BEST ,
age 17 F Ann BEST age 18 F, M. C. BEST 10 F; C. E. BEST 8 F; M. F.
Sutton 13 F; and J. A.
Sutton, age 9 F.
I found James with his mother on a 1820 census, which is suppose to be
impart with the 1810
census (if I am correct), says he was born IN and his mother b. OH, her
name Sarah.
I keep finding Sarah throughout the history of Clark Co., with other
children.
I also find an Edward in another Co., and a Samuel in Scott Co., IN;
I did find James working as a ship's carpenter for James Howard Shipyard
in Clark Co., Jeffersonville.
James marries Catherine Cynthia Shannon, daughter of Samuel and Mary
Shannon in Floyd Co.,
IN. According to this 1850 census, she has died, leaving him with these
children.
Then I find this 1850 census when he's with Sarah BEST, who obviously
was married to a Sutton.
Then by 1870 he's married again to a Rebecca SMART, and they move from
Clark Co. to
Jackson Co., IN; they have several children.
I've been in contact with the BEST/Lopp descendants. A Mr. Beanblossom
wrote an account on
the BEST's of Harrison Co., which states that the earliest BEST, is a
John A., who married a
Susanna Lopp. This book says that John and his sister (no name) were
orphans.... I don't really
believe that, and that they with their family came thru the docks at
Leavenworth, IN abt. 1824,
when he was abt 16 yrs of age. They came thru KY from TN.
Can anyone elaborate more on this bunch of BEST's and Lopps?
All of these BEST's in the very southernmost part of IN have to tie in
together somehow, or perhaps this Mr. Beanblossom didn't have all his
facts straight? Can anyone help?
Melanie