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Surnames: Dennis, Hunter
Classification: Query
Message Board URL:
http://boards.ancestry.com/mbexec/msg/rw/yh.2ADI/1507
Message Board Post:
I'm searching for information about James Thaxton Dennis and Lucinda Hunter. Known
about them so far:
1. James was born in Apr 1818 in Overton Co TN. The identity of his parents is not yet
known. James' 1880 census record indicates that both of his parents were born in NC. I
don't know if James' middle name of Thaxton is a family name.
2. Lucinda was born in Apr 1815 in SC. Her parents are James Hunter and Rachel Weber (my
4G-grandparents).
3. I don't know when or where James and Lucinda were married, but I suspect it
occurred while they were residing in Overton Co. Eight known children were born to them:
a. George Washington Lafayette (b. 2 Jun 1837 TN)
b. Mary Emeline (Polly) (b. 4 Jul 1840 TN)
c. John M. (b. 9 Mar 1844 TN)
d. Nancy Catherine (b. 12 Sep 1846 TN)
e. Sarah Roberts (b. 20 Oct 1848 TN)
f. Martha Sarah (Patsy) (b. 3 Feb 1851 TN)
g. James Madison (b. 27 May 1854 TN)
h. Lucinda Jane (b. 8 Feb 1857 TN)
4. It is believed that at least George and Polly were born in Overton Co., but I've
not been able to find James listed as a head of household in the 1840 Overton Co TN census
record. A James M. Thaxton is listed as a head of household in the 1840 Overton Co census
but his information does not match the known family configuration and age ranges for James
and Lucinda and their two known children as of 1840.
5. Some researchers believe that James and Lucinda may have moved to Morgan Co IL
sometime in the 1840's. I believe that this assumption is based in large part on a
genealogy manuscript about Lucinda's sister, Rachel Hunter Davis, who is said to have
visited Lucinda and her husband (name not stated) in Morgan Co on their way to Nauvoo IL
to join the Mormon settlement there. No date is given for this visit and I've not
found any independent evidence that James and Lucinda ever lived in Morgan Co IL.
6. I've not found James and Lucinda in the 1850 US census records so far. There is a
Lucinda Dennis listed in the 1850 US census for Morgan Co IL, but she's shown to be
married to a Gabriel Dennis and her biographical details, including the names and dates of
her children, do not match those listed above for James and Lucinda.
7. James and Lucinda are shown in the census records of Dent Co MO in 1860, 1870 and
1880. The children listed above are referenced in these census records.
8. James died about 1892 in Dent Co MO. Lucinda died in Aug 1892 also in Dent Co MO.
Their burial location has not yet been found.
Any information or leads about James and Lucinda would be appreciated. I've seen a
reference to a biography about James and Lucinda in the book Dent Co. Ozark Heritage,
volume 1, page 163, but I've not seen this text yet. I'm particularly interested
in learning more about James' parents and siblings--I've found a number of Dennis
family names in Overton Co TN and Morgan Co IL in the mid-1800's, but I've not
been able to make a connection of James with those Dennis family members.
Regards, John Reid
P.O. Box 7164
Libertyville IL 60048