LOIS ASHERST
THE STORY AS I KNOW IT
Lois Asher was born November 6, 1792 in Surrey County, North Carolina. Her parents were William Asherst and Mary McChesney. This information is from a biography of William Asher, born 1762, Halifax County, VA by Kitty Gessner and Gregory Watson. It was found at the Caldwell County, KY library.
We have a copy of a document by William W. Blackburn, written April 17, 1900 in Princeton Kentucky. He writes about his family. He states that the Asher family moved to Hopkins County Kentucky when his mother was five years old. "He lived there a few years and moved to this then Livingston County and located on Donaldson Creek near where Farmersville is located. He said his father, Zebulon was born in NC and moved with his family to Tenn. and lived their until 1814 when they moved to Livingston County on Donaldson Creek He completes by saying "he was the only son of parents against whom I never heard aught." That part of Livingston county became Caldwell County.
Lois married Zebulon Blackburn in Caldwell County on August 30, 1815. Both Zebulon Blackburn and William Asher were active in Donaldson Baptist Church, organized in 1823. William Asher donated the land for the church. Zebulon was Church Clerk from 1846 to1854. His son, William W Blackburn replaced him and served until 1865.
Lois and Zebulon had at least seven children:
1. Mary M. Blackburn, born 1816 wed Wiley E. Calvert
2. Sarah A.F. Blackburn, born 1818 wed Thomas Jones. She died 1847
3. Adelia Jane Blackburn, born 1821 wed Robert B. Patterson
4. William Washington Blackburn, born 1823 wed 1st Catherine Street, 2nd Martha M. Traylor
5. Nancy M. Blackburn, born about 1827 wed George R. McDowell
6. Elizabeth A. Blackburn, born 1829 died 1852
7. Lois Blackburn Jr., born 1831, died 1847
Births above are from the Caldwell County Cemetery Book. Marriages are listed in the Caldwell County Marriage Book. All birth date and marriages are listed in Blackburn Family History. Copies can be found at the Caldwell Library.
The 1850 Caldwell County Census confirms some names, dates and adds to family picture.
Zebulon Blackburn age 56
Lois Blackburn age 57
Nancy Blackburn age 22
Elizabeth A. age 19
Sarah A. F. Jones age 6 the children of Sarah and Thomas Jones
Mary J. T. Jones age 10 Did Thomas die also?
Wiley E. Calvert age 38
Mary M. age 34
Nathaniel Calvert age 33 must be Wiley’s brother
Sarah L. Calvert age 1
William W. Blackburn age 26
Katherine S. Blackburn age 27
Nancy E. Blackburn age 1
Katherine Street age 61 – mother-in-law
Lydia & Robert Patterson and Nancy J.& George R. McDowell are not in the list. To be complete they should be found.
It seems a medical puzzle why 3 of the 6 daughters died between the ages 23 – 29?
Zebulon Blackburn died in Dec. 1863. Lois died just a few months later in Feb. 1864. He was buried in Morse Cemetery near Farmersville KY. Lois most likely was also.
RESEARCH QUESTIONS
If you know the answer please CONTACT US
1. Get 1850 census data on remaining 2 daughters.
2. Get 1860 census data.
3. Is there a medical explanation to the deaths of the 3 young women?
Maier_Associates: © Copyright 2001
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Date Last Edited: 1/15/2001