1755 - ?
Ireland or Virginia - Kentucky?
I am really making a lot of guesses with this man. If he was born in 1755, then he probably was born in Ireland, possibly in Roscommon County (although other Irish counties are also mentioned as possible places of origin for Terrance sr), because his brother Terrance supposedly came to America in 1757 - and presumably young John would have accompanied the family at that time. However it seems more likely that Terrance senior married after he arrived in America (especially if he was a convict???), so John's beginnings are shrouded in mystery.
According to Cecil Connor, he married Mary Brothers (daughter of Cornelius) on January 19, 1789 in Nelson County, Kentucky (Washington County was formed from it in 1792), and they had nine (or eight) children, according to the online genealogies:
Susan (~1792-?) - m. John Davis
Lewis (1790/1794 - 1849) - m Elizabeth "Betsy" Unknown
not included in Cecil Connor's list of children - and I no longer think he is a child of this John
Terrance (1790/1800 - bef 1850)
m. Nancy J. "Mary" Miller (12 Aug 1816 - 3 Feb 1901)
Rebecca (~1795 - ?) - m. 1 S. Reimer m. 2 Richard Skinner?
John "Jack" (~1797 - ?) - m Anna Main (~1900 - Jul 1849)
Joseph Alfred (~1800 - 1840/1850) - m. Nancy (Mary) Lang (~1800)
Nancy (~1800-10 - d? "young") m Amos Howard
Lucinda (~1814 - d?) - m Allen Chaffers (censuses call him Allen Chalfin)
Eliza (~1815 - d?) m George Vaughn
There were Terrances in Fairfax Co, Virginia in 1782 and 1785, but the only other Conner on the lists there was James in 1785. There were several Johns in Virginia and I am not sure which (if any) is this John -
Whites Slaves
1782 Monogalia --- John 4
James 5
John 6
1784 Nansemond - Hundals & Buxton --- John 5
Whites Dwelling other buildings
1785 Norfolk - n side of West Branch - list of Charles Connor
Charles 6 1 4
- from borough of Norfolk - list of Matthew Godfrey
Jno 5
1785 Orange - - list of Catlett Conway John Conner 4 1
1785 Stafford John 8 1
Greenbrier 1783-6 - list of heads of families --- Angel
Jno
I think he was the John Conner who appeared on the tax rolls of Washington County, KY in 1793. He continued there until 1799. (Terrance was on the rolls for 1796 and 1797; Terrance's son Dade was on the rolls for 1800. Other Conners in the county were: William in 1793, Bernard in 1796, and George in 1797. You would think some of these were relatives, but no genealogical file ever suggests they were.)
He might have been in Breckinridge County at least for a while while brother Terrance was there. There is a John who appears fairly often in the County Order books, mostly in 1803 - it could be this John's nephew John, but that John was only about 19 at the time? - John himself would have been about 48. Whoever he was, he seems to have been, for some reason, the victim of one or several attacks:
1803 Aug 16
p. 10 - The Grand Jury returned into Court and made the following presentments:
- against Joseph Carnes, who on August 2, 1803, with force and arms, towit, with stocks, staves, hand and feet, did assault on John Conner and “there did beat, wound and ill treat and other wrongs.” Information given by John Conner, stone mason, living on the waters of Sinking Creek . . . . .
1803 Nov 21 (p. 45) - Defendant asks prosecution to show security; John Connor, prosecutor, ordered to appear tomorrow and enter security. Ordered same dismissed with costs.
1803 Nov 22 (p. 51) - John Connor the prosecutor failed to appear and give security, and case was dismissed. Defendant to recover costs.
1803 Aug 16
p. 14 John Connor v Daniel Ferry .
Aug 20 (p. 41) - ordered continued
1803 Nov 25 (p. 75-6)- Clerks office judgement set aside. Case was for slander. Defendant said words spoken were true and he could “so speak well and lawfully.” Jury trial set for next court.
1804 Apr 17 (p 93) - Jo Allen who was special bail for Daniel Ferry at the suit of John Connor is released from his recognizance at the request of the plaintiff’s attorney.
1804 Apr 17 (p. 94) - Ansel Hyde on jury. Defendant found guilty, fined “half a mill.”
1803 Aug 20
p. 40 - John Connor v. Barney Miller, on trespass, assault and battery. Case entered.
1803 Nov 25 (p. 69-70)- Defendant pleaded not guilty. Found guilty, fined $1.50 damages + costs
p. 41 - John Connor v Christian Miller, on trespass with arms, case entered.
1803 Nov 25 (p. 72) - Defendant found guilty, fined 1¢ damages + costs
The reason I say he might have been in Breckinridge is that he might have been in Harrison Co, Ky for a while at least. It depends a great deal on whether or not Lewis is a child of his, because I got to John through his grandson Lewis - the names on the Helen Bennett Voorhees file - and then worked my way back.
Here is the Harrison County info:
1800 tax list, Harrison Co, KY - Conner, John tx 1800
1810 Ky Harrison 307 - John Conner 12210 22010
1m, 2f under 10 b 1800-10 Joseph A, Nancy, Lucinda
2m, 2f 10-16 b 1794-1800 Terrance, Jack, Eliza, Rebecca 1795
2m 16-26 b 1784-94 Lewis ? Philemon ?
1m, 1f 26-45 b 1755-74 John 1755, Mary 1765
1820 Harrison s side of Licking R
p. 160 Jno Conner 001211 // 11301 // 0600102032
1f under 10 1810-20 Eliza 1800-10
1f 10-16 1804-10 Lucinda 1800-10
1m 16-18 1802-4
3f 16-26 1794-1804 Nancy 1800-10, Rebecca 1795, Susan 1790
2m " Joseph A 1800, Jack 1797
- note - I think these two (Joseph and Jack) might have been in Perry County for this census - they might have been counted twice, or these might be some other people entirely.
1m 26-45 1775-94 Terrance 1790-1800
1m, 1f 45+ bef 1775 John 65, Mary 55
p. 162 Lewis C 300010 // 11110 // 0300100021 - s/o John s/o Terrance Ireland - according to Helen
3m, 1f under 10 1810-20 Lewis L 1814, Nelson 1820, Unkn male A, unkn female z
1f 10-16 1804-10 Unkn female y
1f 16-26 1794-1804 Unk female x - probably not their child?
1m, 1f 26-45 1775-94 Lewis 1790-94, Elizabeth 1790
p. 170 Philemon C 000010 // 0001 - s/o ?
Philemon, wife 26-45 1775-94After this the John in Harrison County doesn't really fit this John's profile.
1830 Harrison west
p. 137 Lewis 0111001 // 1110101 - s/o John s/o Terrance Ireland??
1f under 5 1825-30 Unk female v
1m, 1f 5-10 1820-25 Nelson 1820, unk female w or z
1m, 1f 10-15 1815-20 Lewis L 1814, unk female z
1m 15-20 1810-15 Unk male A
1f 20-30 1800-10 Unk female x or y or z
1m, 1f 40-50 Lewis, Elizabeth ~40
p. 149 Philemon 000001 // 00001 - s/o John s/o Terrance Ireland??
Philemon 30-40 1790-00
wife 20-30 1800-10
1840 Ky Harrison 134
John 121001 (30/40) 001011 - doesn’t really work for son Jack
1m under 5 1835-40
2m 5-10 1830-35
1m, 1f 10-15 1825-30
1f 20-30 1810-20
1m, 1f 30-40 1800-10
Lewis 2000201 10111101 - s/o John s/o Terrance Ireland?
Philemon 0000001 00001 - s/o John s/o Terrance Ireland??
Absolam 000001 (m 30-40) 000000001 (f 60-70) = Abram (living next to Mary in 1850)? Mary 75?
p. 164 - Jonathan H 10001 10001
1850 Ky Harrison Dist 2 p. 153
(page before - Thomas Furnish / James Eads
506-509 Elizabeth Furnish 62
Alpheus 29
(next p) Elizabeth 25 Ky / William T 2 / James B 6/12
507-510 Wm Laughlin 36 / Harriet 31 others
508-511 James J Laughlin 34 / Emily 25 others
509-512 Elizabeth Connor 60 KY
Nelson 30 Ky
widow of Lewis s/o John s/o Terrance Ireland?
510-513 EF Hendrick 57 chairmaker Ky / Sarah 49 / Mary C
511-514 Lewis Conner 36
Rebecca 34 (Furnish)
William J 12 / Eliza J 11 / Elpheus 9 / Sarah E 5
so Lewis s/o John s/o Terrance Ireland
512-515 Philomen Coner 56 Va / Lolly 48 Ky
s/o John s/o Terrance Ireland??
513-516 Mary Conner 85 VA
widow of John s/o Terrance Ireland?
514-517 Abram Conner 46 KY
515-518 Mary Pock 63 MD
Adam Byers 16 Ky / Jacob M 14 / Mary A 12
Elizabeth Molleny 84 MD
1850 Ind Ky Harrison Dist 2 p 163
718-724 John Conner 59 farmer VA
Mahala 48 Ky
John 22 / William 15 / Joseph 12 / James J 10 / Albert 6
1860 Ky Harrison Dist 2 Leesburg - p. 557 (103)
771-771 John Conner 68 / Mahaly 65
Wm 30 / Tilly 2 f
Albert 16 / James 20
1860 Ky Harrison Connersville Dist 2 p. 96
720-720 Philoman Conner 65 Va / Sarah 55 Ky
Sylvester Lancaster 10 Ky
721-721 Lewis Conner 44 / Rebecca 44
Wm 22 teacher / Eliza 21 / Alfeus 18 / Sarah 18 - all Ky
supposed s/o Lewis, s/o John, s/o Terrance Ireland
722-722 Mary Carder 62
1870 KY Harrison Leesburg 198
57-58 Conner, John J 44 / Ellena 42 / Lilly 11
Gaiter, Resau 45 male domestic servant / Nat 5 / Thomas 18 farm lab
59-60 Conner, Lewis L 56 / Rebecca 54
Crusan, Robt 36 Ind / Eliza J 31 Ky / Alpheus 4 Oh / Loulia B 2 Ky
Furnish, Eliza 81 no occ Ky
Conner, Nelson 52 farmer
Johnson, Walsh 12 black farm labor
1870 KY Harrison Leesburg 206
160-161 Conner, John H 57 no occ Ky / Thos 29 farmer / Elvira 26 KH / Joseph 7
Sarah E 4 John 1 / Albert M 27 farm lab - all KY
It's pretty interesting to see an aged Mary - exactly the right age for Mary Brothers - living right next to John's supposed grandson Lewis in 1850, no? But she is also next to Philemon - and when you look into that uncommon name, you find another John Conner, who married another Mary born 1765 - this one was Mary Lancaster - and lo! in 1860 Philemon has a young Lancaster living with him. And this family of Conners has LOADS of Lewises in their lineage.
I got the information about the Philemons from the Rootsweb file of Gary D Putnam. He does not provide children for John and Mary Lancaster Conner, but he does trace John's ancestors - this John b abt 1767 - father Philemon b abt 1739 (m Rachel Unknown) - grandfather John b abt 1715 (m Elizabeth Ann Kavanaugh - whose father was named Philemon).
So my best guess at this time is that Cecil is right, and Lewis is not a son of John-son-of-Terrance-from-Ireland, but rather the son of John and Mary Lancaster. (If Lewis was the son of our John, then surely there is a connection to the Philemon Conner people?????) So what happened to our John after 1803 in Breckinridge (supposing that was him)?
Well, at least five of his children married in Indiana, and his sons seem to have mostly remained there (unless you count Lewis). His daughters, however, mostly moved back to (or stayed in) Kentucky. If I had to guess, I would guess that he did move to Indiana at about the time of the general Connor exodus from Kentucky; I would further guess that he (and Mary) died sometime before 1830, and that several of their children then went to stay with older sister Susan in Hardin Co, Ky.
Lewis | Philemon | Terrance | Susan Ellender | Rebecca | John | Joseph Alfred | Nancy | Lucinda | Eliza
Lewis 1790/4 - 1849 - married Elizabeth (Betsy) Unknown
NOT A CHILD of this John according to Cecil Connor.
1800
1810 - with parents in Harrison Co, KY?
1814 - son Lewis L b
1820 - son Nelson b
1820 Harrison s side of Licking R
p. 162 Lewis C 300010 // 11110 // 0300100021 - s/o John s/o Terrance Ireland
3m, 1f under 10 1810-20 Lewis 1814, Nelson1820, Unk male A, unk female z
1f 10-16 1804-10 unk female y
1f 16-26 1794-1804 - x not their child
1m, 1f 26-45 1775-94 Lewis 1790-94, Elizabeth 1790
1830 Harrison west
p. 137 Lewis 0111001 // 1110101 - s/o John s/o Terrance Ireland
1f under 5 1825-30
1m, 1f 5-10 1820-25
1m, 1f 10-15 1815-20
1m 15-20 1810-15
1f 20-30 1800-10
1m, 1f 40-50 Lewis, Elizabeth ~40
1840 Ky Harrison 134 Lewis 2000201 10111101
1840-50 - died?
1850 Ky Harrison Dist 2 p. 153
509-512 Elizabeth Connor 60 KY
Nelson 30 Ky
widow of Lewis s/o John s/o Terrance Ireland?
Child Lewis L (~1814 - aft 1879) - m Rebecca R Furnish
their children: William b ~1838
Eliza Jane b ~1839
Alfheus b ~1842
Sarah Elizabeth b ~1845
Philemon 1794-aft 1860 - m Lolly or Sarah - apparently no children
NOT A CHILD of this John according to everybody.
1820 Harrison s side of Licking R
p. 170 Philemon C 000010 // 0001 - s/o John s/o Terrance Ireland?
Philemon, wife 26-45 1775-94
1830 Harrison west
p. 149 Philemon 000001 // 00001 - s/o John s/o Terrance Ireland?
Philemon 30-40 1790-00
wife 20-30 1800-10
1840 Ky Harrison 134 Philemon 0000001 00001
1850 Ky Harrison Dist 2 p. 153
512-515 Philomen Coner 56 Va / Lolly 48 Ky
s/o John s/o Terrance Ireland?
1860 Ky Harrison Connersville Dist 2 p. 96
720-720 Philoman Conner 65 Va / Sarah 55 Ky
Sylvester Lancaster 10 Ky
Terrance 1790/1800 - bef. 1850 - married Nancy J (Mary) Miller
their children: Melinda (22 Jan 1833 - 23 July 1902)
Matilda b ~1836 - m Joseph Smith -> 6 children
Amanda b ~1838
Edmund b ~1840
Hiram (Oct 1843 - 17 July 1913)
Elizabeth Sarah b ~1846
1830 - possibly in Perry Co - with an older woman? OR with an earlier wife and some children?
OR possibly in Hardin Co, Ky with sister Susan and her husband John/Jack Davis.
1830 Indiana Perry Tobin
p. 616 (309a) Terrence R Connor 000001 0000001 - WHO
1m 30-40 /
1f 40-50
?son of John b 1790-1800 m Nancy J Miller 1831 Perry
but who would the female be? sister Susan Davis b 1790??
(wife Nancy b 1816, mother Mary b 1765)
p. 620 (311a) Terrance Connor 2100001 100001 -WHO
?son of John b 1790-1800 m Nancy J Miller 1831 Perry
but who would the female be? a first wife???
2m, 1f under 5 b 1825-30
1m 5-10 b 1820-15
1f 30-40
1m 40-50
this one living next to
brother? Joseph A 01001 21001
1831 Dec 18 - m Nancy J Miller, Perry
1833 Melinda
1836 Matilda
1838 Amanda
1840 Ind Perry p. 209 (409?) Tarrence 0000001 21001
1840 Edmund
1843 Hiram
1846 Elizabeth Sarah
1846-50 - died?
1850 Indiana Perry Anderson p. 358
219 - Nancy 29 / Malinda 16 / Matilda 14 / Amanda 12 / Edward 10
Hiram 6 / Elizabeth 4
1860 Indiana Perry Tobin
785 Nancy 44 / Malinda 24 / Edward 18 / Mary 16 / Sarah E 14
1870 Ind Perry Rome 327
23-23 Conner, Nancy 55 KH KY / Edmund 28 farmer Ind / Hiram 25 // Bryant, Anna 11
1880 Ind Perry Rome 55b
Nancy J Conner 64 Ky / Edmund 38 / Nancy J Bryant 21 granddaughter
1901 - wife Nancy died
Susan 1792 - aft 1850 - m John Davis
apparently no children
1822 Mar 15 - m John Davis, Garrard Co, Ky
1830 Ky Hardin 343 Jack Davis 0000011 000111
1f 15-20
b 1815-20 Unk female
1f 20-30
b 1800-10 Unk female
1m, 1f 30-40 b 1790-1800 Unk male, Susan 38
1m 40-50
b 1780-90 John Davis 43
The ages do not work out well, but the young women could be her younger sisters, Lucinda b 1814 and Eliza b 1815 (Rebecca and Nancy were married by now) - the young man could be brother Terrance (supposing he is not already in Perry Co, where he married in 1831)
same page - Samuel Lusk 0121001 111001
James and John W Hall / Hiram, John, Joseph Chalfin / Moses Davis
1840 Ky Hardin 66 John Davis 00000001 00000001
next to Allen Chalfin
1850 Ky Hardin Dist 1 p. 335
431-431 John Davis 63 Ky
Susan 58 KY
1860 KY Hardin Dist 3 p. 40
326-323 John Davis 73 Ky
Susan 69 Ky
Rebecca 1795? - aft 1860? - m S Reimer / Richard Skinner??
I am not certain that she is the Rebecca Conner who married Richard Skinner. I have not been able to trace S. Reimer.
1800
1810
1820 Mar 25 - married Richard Skinner, Perry Co, Ind???
1830 Ky Bullitt Mt Washington 123 - Richard Skinner 000001 220001
1840 Ky Bullitt 489 - Richard Skinner 3100001 002201
1850 Ky Bullitt 172
337-337 Skinner, Richard 56
Rebecca 46
Margrette 24 / Eliza 22 / Isaac 20 / Jno C 17 / Nathan 15 / Charles C 12 / Karella 9
all b KY
1860 Ky Bullitt Dist 1, Bitterwater
Skinner, Rebecca 59
John C 26 / Nathan 23 / Corilla J 18 /
Jas Prewett 16 / Rebecca 13
Jas H Monroe 23 labor
John "Jack" ~1797 - married Anna Main (~1800-1849)
their children: Mary (26 Feb 1819 - 26 Feb 1860) - m. Andrew Jackson Mock
- both buried Connor Cem
Samuel (13 Apr 1822 - 9 Nov 1891)
m. Louisa Porter Wheeler (d bef 1857)
m Mary E Mallory
NOTE: the Mallorys intermarried with the Philemon Conners.
The mother of the Mary Lancaster who married John Conner,
was Mary Mallory.
John's uncle Lewis married Susan Mallory.
Eliza Ann (3 Aug 1829 - 16 Mar 1893) - m Albert D Connor (13 Feb 1825 - 21 Jun 1865)
-> 7 children
Benjamin Franklin ~1832
Melissa ~1834
Harriet ~1838 - bef 1864 - married Joseph Smith - one child, Samuel
(he later married her cousin Matilda)
1818 Oct 27 - m Anna Main, Perry Co
Connor, John - Main, Anna 22 Oct / 27 Oct 1818
1820 Ind Perry p. 225 John Conner 000200 20100 01
2f under 10 b. 1810-20
2m, 1f 16-26 b. 1794-1804
I think this is John s/o John - b 1797, m Anna b 1800 - other male = brother???
1830 Ind Perry p. 618 (310a) John Connor 020001 211001 WHO
2 f under 5 b 1825-30 Eliza Ann 1829, unknown f
2m, 1f 5-10 b 1820-25 Samuel 1822, Unknown m, Unknown f 1820
1f 10-15 b 1815-20 Mary 1819
1m, 1f 30-40
could be s/o John, but too many kids (died young?)
1840 Ind Perry p. 195 (380?) John 0102001 1210001
1f under 5 1835-40 Harriet 1838
1m, 2f 5-10 1830-35 Benj F 1832, Melissa 1834, Unk f
1f 10-15 1825-30 Eliza 1829
2m 15-20 1820-25 Samuel 1822, Unknown m
1m, 1f 40-50 1790-1800 John 1797, Anna 1800
1849 - wife Anna died
1850 Indiana Perry Tobin
p. 393a - John Conner 53 Ky farmer / Franklin 18 / Malissa 16 / Harriet 12 / all Ind
John “Jack” ~1797 - Anna Main (d 1849) - son of John, son of Terrance
Samuel
1850 Indiana Perry Tobin
p. 392b - Samuel Conner 3rd? 28m farmer / Louisa 26f - both Ind
Samuel 13 Apr 1822 - 1891 - Louisa Porter Wheeler, son of Jack (above)
Joseph Alfred ~1800 - 1840/1850 - married Nancy (Mary) Lang
their children: John Jefferson (12 Dec 1823 - 17 Dec 1850 - buried Connor Cemetery)
William ~1832
Susan Mary ~1834 -
m. Connor Frisbie (~1831 - bef 1855)
m Joseph Dodd
Lewis T (1837 March - )
m Elizabeth Dailey (d bef 1861)
m Mary Ann Raff
Albert ~1839 -
Alva ~1839 -
1830 Ind Perry p. 620 (311a) Joseph A 01001 21001
1840 Ind Perry p. 206 (403) (402) Joseph A 3201001 1201001
John Jefferson, Wm, Susan Mary, Lewis T, Albert, Alva - and some others!
1849 - died?
1850 Ind Perry Tobin p. 402a -
Nancy Conner 50f Ky / John J 26 laborer / William 18 / Susan 16 / Lewis T 14
Alva (m) and Albert both 11
Nancy (~1800-10 - d?)
1800
1810 -
1820 -
1825 July 27 - m Amos Howard, Vigo Co, Ind (marriage according to Cecil Connor)
1830
1840 Ind Spencer p. 376 indexed Rockport, actually James Bryants Co
Amos Howard 00001 00001
1850 Ind Spencer Hammond 75
1017-1018 Howard, Amos 34 wood chopper Oh
Mary 27 / Jno G? 9 / Nancy I 7 / Peyton 5 / Thos J 2 - all Ind
1860 Ind Spencer Huff Troy 88
Howard, Amos 49
Mary 40 / Daniel 19 / Nancy J 17 / Patin 15 / Thomas J 13 / Sarah 11
Ellen 2 / Daniel 51
Lucinda ~1814 -? - m Allen Chaffers
1820 -
1830
1833 Jul 1 - m Allen Chalfin, Harrison Co, Ind
1840 Ky Hardin 66 - Allen Chalfin 00001 21001
1850 Ky Hardin Dist 1 p. 335
429-429 Allen Chalfin 49 Ky
Lucinda 36
Maria 16 / Ann E 14 / Susan 12 / Washington 9 / Nancy 7 / Rebecca 3 all Ky
1860 KY Hardin Dist 3 p. 40
325-322 Allen Chalfin 49 farmer Ky
Lucinda 46 Ind
Washington 17 / Nancy 15 / Jane 12 / Martha 6 - all Ky
1870 KY Hardin West Point 443
32-39 Chalfin, Allen 57 carpenter Ky
Lucinda 55 Ky
Branch, Susan B 30
Chalfin, Jane 22
Martha 15
Branch, Branch 10
John B 8
Eliza ~1815-? - m George Vaughn
1820 -
1830
183x - m George Vaughan
1840 Ky Hardin 63 George Vaugn 000001 21001
1850 Ky Hardin Dist 3 p. 374
313-313 George Vaughn 53 blacksmith & farmer VA
Eliza 35
Mary A 17 / Jane 13 / Thomas 7 / Sarah M 5 / George W 2
1860 Ky Meade Garnettsville 120
836-832 Geo Vaughn (indexed Vaughen) 64 blacksmith VA
Eliza A 51 Ky
Mary A 25 / Jane 19 / Thomas 16 / Mildred 13 / George 10
1870 Ky Meade Garnettsville 357
60-58 Vaughn, Eliza 59
Sarah M 22
Back to Conner Home Page
Back to Home
To brother Terrance (I have no information about brother Sam)
Questions, comments, additions, corrections? Contact me at: lee@leesgenes.com
Page last updated 3 Dec 2007