1783 - 1863
Virginia - Kentucky - Indiana
The second son of Terrance Connor and Sarah Speake, Samuel was (to quote the History of Perry County, p. 18) "a conspicuous figure in his generation." He was also the father of a Nancy Connor born 1831, and the grandfather of a Nancy Connor born 1832 - both of an age to be my Nancy.
He himself was born 15 May 1783 in Virginia, most likely in Fairfax County. Not long after he was born, the family moved to Kentucky - first Washington County, and then Breckinridge.
He himself appears in the Breckinridge County records starting in 1803 and continuing until 1808 (after he had moved across the river to Perry County). One of the first mentions is his marriage, to Elizabeth Claycomb, on 1 April 1803.
April 1, 1803. Samuel Conner to Elizabeth Claycomb. Bond, John Walker, Torrance Conner
Cook, Michael L. and Bettie Anne Cook. Breckinridge County, Kentucky Records, Volume 1 (Evansville, Indiana: Cook Publications, 1977) "Marriage Records 1800-1857 (Reconstructed)" p. 193
Samuel and Elizabeth had eight children, the first two born in Kentucky, the rest in Indiana:
Nicholas
(26 Dec 1803 - 27 Feb 1804)
Samuel jr (2 Apr 1805 - 3 Jul 1849) - m. (1 Apr 1827) Margaret Groves
d. Nancy b. ~1832
This Nancy supposedly married Wm L Cart
Frederick James (27 Dec 1806 - 28 Jan 1873) - b. Tobinsport, Perry County, Indiana
m Susan Kyler 11 Sep 1814 - 26 Mar 1859 Troy
Elizabeth R. "Eliza" (4 May 1809 - 29 Jul 1861)
m. (12 June 1828) Robert Gardner (1791 - 12 Feb 1861)
Terrance (7 Nov 1810 - 10 Sep 1859)
m (1) Mary Catherine "Polly" Hyde
m.(2) Nancy Tate
Katherine (25 Sep 1812 -15 Apr 1826)
Robert (28 Feb 1815 - 23 Apr 1834)
Franklin (1 Jan 1817 - 7 Aug 1821)
In Breckinridge county, he was a member of a jury at least 7 times, as well as appearing before one on several occasions - a couple of times for assaults of various kinds, once for an illegal fence, and once for profane swearing.
Breckinridge Co, KY records
Court Order Book 1
1803 Aug 19 - Dade & Samuel Connor on jury
1804 Apr 17 -
p. 92-3 - John Cofman v Thomas G Alvey, Samuel Connor, Henry Faith & John Brothers.
Defendant found guilty, fined $4.26 + costs
1804 Oct 15 - p. 153 - Grand Jury returned the following indictments:
-against Samuel Connor, late of said County, for “making a fence in and across the road leading from the mouth of Sinking (Creek) in said County to Elizabeth(town) in the County of Hardin, on the 13th day of October in the year 1804 . . . and obstructed road for a good 8 and 40 hours . . .to the great nuisance of the good citizens of this Commonwealth.” Information furnished by Daniel Hardin & Abraham Hiley.
1805 July 15 - fined 12 shillings and costs
1805 July 16 - Samuel Connor on jury
1805 July 17
p. 208-9 - James Critcheloe v Samuel Connor.
Judgment in clerk’s office was set aside and jury trial ordered.
1805 Oct 22 - case continued
1806 Apr 23 - Samuel guilty, assessed damages of $6.00
1805 Oct 23 - Torrance & Samuel on another jury
1806 Apr 21 - Samuel Connor on jury
1806 Apr 22 - Samuel Connor on jury
1806 Apr 23 - Samuel & Terrance Connor on anther jury
1807 July 22 - Samuel Connor on jury
(p. 410) Daniel Beedle v Samuel Connor - continued
1807 Oct 21 - trespass & assault & battery.
Defendant found guilty, assessed damages of $3.50 and costs.
1808 Oct 16 (p. 535) The Grand Jury returned to Court the following indictments and presentments:
Presentments: - against Samuel Connor, for profane swearing
1808 Oct 17
p. 540 - Commonwealth v Samuel Connor - ordered that capias issue and that security be taken for $100.00
1808 Oct 19
p. 544 - Samuel Connor (assignee of John Riley) v Thomas G Alvey, on debt.
trial deferred to next court
1808 Oct 19 p. 556-7 - Defendant claimed he already paid debt, but then relinquished his plea. Court ordered plaintiff to recover against defendant $135. with interest of 6% since June 13, 1808.
In 1806, Samuel moved on to Perry County, Indiana. He may have been acting as an advance party for the rest of the family - or he may simply have been looking for a better place to raise his own growing family. His parents moved to Perry county six years later:
Near the present site of Rome, in Section 3, Township 7, south; Range 3, west; on august 21, 1807, 182.3 acres were bought by Samuel Connor, who was a conspicuous figure in his generation. The son of a Revolutionary veteran, Terence Connor (or O'Connor), he was himself a captain during the War of 1812, and later a brigadier general of militia. Terence Connor entered land in 1812 . . .
de la Hunt, James. History of Perry County. (Indianapolis: The W. K. Stewart Company, 1916) p. 18
According to "The Genealogy of Meda Estelle Dodd Long" (DAR Book, State Library Indianapolis, IN), quoted by Helen Voorhees in her Rootsweb file:
Samuel Connor is reported to have moved with his wife "to the Indiana Territory in 1806 where he accumulated much property and lived a long and useful life on the beautiful banks of the Ohio River near the town of Rome which was founded on a part of his land in 1811. He was the first sheriff of Perry County and as such called the first grand jury. Samuel Connor was county agent at one time, school commissioner at another and was a member of the first great convention held under the historic Elm at Corydon, which gave Indiana her original State Constitution. He was a Representative from Perry County and for the lack of railroad facilities walked fifty miles to Corydon. The first General Assembly convened at Corydon, Harrison County, November 4, 1816. He was also a member of the Indiana Legislature held at Corydon."
The History of Perry County also mentions Samuel's service as the first Sheriff of the county, and his calling the first Grand Jury into session in 1817. (pp 28, 30) It also mentions his service in the War of 1812:
Perry County's most conspicuous representative in the War of 1812 was Captain Samuel Connor, who raised a company in the county, with some reinforcements from the Kentucky side of the river oppisite Tobin Township, the home of most of the privates. Captain Connor's company was mustered in for theree months' service, in August 1812, at Princeton, as part of the regiment commanded by Colonel Ephraim Jordan.
They were sent to Vincennes and assigned for duty north of that point, althought their actual service could not be more deifintely ascertained. Squads of the company were engaged as guards for transport wagons and mail carriers in their course along the banks of the Wabash between the post at Vincennes and Fort Harrison near Terre Haute. . . .
Among the enlisted men . . . Terence Connor jr . . . (p. 51)
And from Helen Voorhees:
In the Border War in 1812, he had raised and commanded a company under Col. Jordan. He was paid for services from August 11th, 1812 under Col. R. M. Evans and Major John Tipton. He received bounty land, Warrant #31403, which was located in Logan Co., Ohio.
In 1819 (March 14), he was commissioned a Brigadier General, of the 9th Brigade of Indiana Militia,
by Governor Jonathan Jennings; he resigned as
such on May 17th, 1824, at Corydon, Indiana, which was then the State
Capitol. (This also comes from the Helen Vorhees file - both of these come from a letter she received which quotes from "Items of Historical Interest Concerning my Ancestory" by Mabel Louise Connor Murr.)
He was on the 1820 census for Perry County:
Perry p. 225 - Samuel 320032 11010 05
3m, 1f under 10 b. 1810-20 Franklin, Robert, Terrance, Katherine
2m, 1f 10-16 b. 1804-10 Samuel, Fredrick James, Eliza
3m, 1f 26-45 b. 1775-94 Samuel 1783, Unknown m, Unknown m, Elizabeth 1786
2m over 45 b. before 1775 Unknown m, Unknown m
I have no idea who those extra men were, since his parents and brothers were already accounted for on the census.
Elizabeth died in October, 1820, and is buried at the Connor Burying Ground
Elizabeth Claycomb - d/o Balser Claycomb b/1745 & Catherine Rice.
b. 2/9/1786 Breckenridge Co.Ky. - d. 10/30/1820 Rome, Perry Co.Ind.
This is from Harold Connor's cemetery list - I am not sure if the stones contained all this information, or if Harold supplied it himself. Harold very kindly allowed me to post his listing here.
Shortly after Elizabeth's death, Samuel married Nancy Carr Hyde.
Connor, Samuel Hyde, Nancy Carr 14 Dec 1820
Connor, Samuel Hyde, Nancy 04 Jan 1821
from - www.rootsquest.com/~jmurphy/perry/marriage.htm - accessed 19 Dec 2004
They had six children, including a Nancy, born about 1831, who might be my Nancy - very little information is available about her online. Their children:
Sarah Jane (5 Oct 1821 - 17 Sep 1866) m. Elijah Huckaby
John Tipton (21 Mar 1824 - 22 Jan 1907) m. Sarah Mgt Robinson
Albert D.(13 Dec 1825 - 21 Jun 1865) m. Eliza Ann Connor (his second cousin- daughter of Jack)
Ann Mariah (16 Nov 1829 - 25 Aug 1914) - m. Randolph B Hall
Nancy (~1831)
Mary Willing (1832-1907) m Thomas Cutler
Lydia Bates (14 Sep 1834 - 26 Mar 1918) - m. Jonathan Porter Hall
Two of the children, Franklin and Katherine, died and were buried in the Connor Burying Ground:
Franklin Connor S/O Samuel & Elizabeth Connor
B.1/1/1817 Rome,Perry Co.Ind.
D.8/7/1821 aged 4 yrs. Rome,Perry Co.Ind.
Katherine Connor D/O Samuel & Elizabeth Connor
B. 9/25/1812 Rome,Perry Co.Ind.
D.4/15/1826 aged 14 yrs.
In 1827, son Samuel married Margaret Groves, and in 1828, daughter Eliza married Robert Gardner
Connor, Samuel Jr Groves, Margaret 01 Apr 1827
Connor, Eliza Gardner, Robert 18 Jun 1828
from - www.rootsquest.com/~jmurphy/perry/marriage.htm - accessed 19 Dec 2004
"Samuel Connor kept the ferry at Rome in 1828. At that time he was authorized by legislative enactment to build a warehouse on Water Street in Rome." (from The Connor Family, quoted in Helen Voorhees's file) She herself adds: Samuel Connor and his son, John Tipton, were engaged in building barges, then called flat boats to be loaded with farm products and "Run" down the river to New Orleans to be sold. He also, according to the History of Perry County, kept a distillery:
Two corn-mills and distilleries were operated in the neighborhood, by Samuel Connor and Uriah Cummings respectively. Everybody - men wome and children alike - in that early time drank whiskey whenever they could get it, regarding it as necessary to the system. A decanter stood on every sideboard and no reaping, corn-husking , house raising, or shooting match could be carried on, it was thought, without a liberal supply of liquor, and a change of sentiment came about only by slow degrees. (p. 55)
He also was a Master Mason, a member of Pisgah Lodge, #5, F. and A.M. at Corydon, Indiana from April 2nd, 1811 until his death on July 28th, 1863, aged 80 years, 2 months and 13 days. (from The Connor Family, quoted in the Helen Voorhees file)
And here is a little personal note:
"Wild animals became scarce soon near Rome, though by going north into the hills all the varieties could be found, including bears. Samuel Connor in releasing his dog from a bear's embrace, received a severe wound from the animal on the knee. Several of the early settlers killed bears, and nearly or quite all killed deer. It is said that Dade Connor killed the last bear about 1844."
History of Warrick, Spencer, and Perry Counties, Indiana. [Chicago, Goodspeed, Bros. & Co., Publishers, 1885 (Unigraphic, Inc. reproduction, Evansvile, IN 47711 1977)] pp. 590-591
He is on the 1830 census, as are his married children, son Samuel and daughter Eliza:
1830 Indiana Perry Troy 298 - Samuel 1101201 2001
1m, 2f under 5b. 1825-30 Albert D 1825, Ann Mariah 1829, Sarah Jane 1821
1m 5-10 b. 1820-25 John Tipton 1824
1m, 1f 15-20 b. 1810-15 Robert 1815
2m 20-30 b. 1800-10 Frederick 1806, Terrence 1810
1m 40-50 b. 1780-90 Samuel 1783, Nancy 1798Samuel 1805 - 1849 m Margaret Groves 1811-1882
1830 Indiana Perry Tobin 312 - Saml jr 00001 2001
2f under 5 Eliza 1828, Mary Jane 1830
1f 15-20 b. 1810-15 Margaret 1811
1m 20-30 b. 1800-10 Samuel 1805
Eliza 1809-1861 m Robert Gardner
1830 Indiana Perry Tobin 310 - Robert Gardner 000001 10001
1f under 5 Elizabeth b. 1829
1f 20-30 Eliza b. 1809
1m 30-40 Robert
Two more of his children got married in the next decade, one of them twice:
Connor, Frederic Kyler, Susan 30 May 1832
Connor, Terrence Jr. Hyde, Mary 27 Nov 1834
wife Mary apparently died in or of complications of childbirth in 1836
Connor, Terrence Tate, Nancy 06 Jun 1839
Son Robert died in 1834, but he is not on the list of the people in the Connor Burying Ground - possibly he is one of the unmarked graves.
Here are the people I have been able to find on the 1840 census:
1840 Indiana Perry Tobin p. 213 (417) (416) Sam senr 00121001 0211001
2f 5-10 b. 1830-35 Lydia 1834, Mary 1832, Nancy 1831
1m, 1f 10-15 b. 1825-30 Albert 1825, Ann Maria 1829
2m, 1f 15-20 b. 1820-25 John T 1824, Sarah Jane 1821 Unknown m
1m 20-30 b. 1810-20 Unknown - it could be Terrance, but T. was married???
1f 40-50 b. 1790-1800
1m 50-60
Samuel 1805
Indiana Perry Tobin p. 194 (378) Saml jr 100001 12101
Frederick James 1806
Indiana Perry Tobin p. 208 (407)(406) Frederick 200001 02001
Eliza 1809-1866 m Robert Gardner
1840 Ind Perry 200 - Robert Gardner 2200001 011001
In the decade of the 1840s, more of his children married:
Connor, Sarah Jane Huckeby, Elijah 12 Jan 1842
Connor, Ann Maria Hall, Randolph B. 08 Oct 1846
Connor, John Tipton Robinson, Sarah M. 05 Sep 1848
Connor, Albert Connor, Eliza Ann 20 Sep 1848
And here they are in 1850:
Sam himself
1850 Indiana Perry Tobin
p. 405b - Samuel Conner 67m 4300 Va / Nancy 52
Mary 18 / Lyda 16 / Lewis 20 // John W Bonds
Samuel 1805 - 1850 Margaret Grove
1850 Indiana Perry Tobin 408 - 911-926
Margaret Connor 38 / Nancy 18 / Margaret 16 / Francis M 14 / Elizabeth 11 / Harriet 9 / America 7 / Robert 3
1850 Mortality Schedule - Samuel Conner 45 Ky d. Jul 1850 of Cholera 1850 Mortality Schedule - Samuel Conner 45 Ky d. Jul 1850 of Cholera
According to Harold Connor's Cemetery listing:
Samuel Connor s/o Samuel Sr.Connor & Elizabeth
b.4/2/1805 d.7/3/1849 sp.Margaret Groves
married 4/1/1827
Frederick James 1806 m Susan Kyler
1850 Indiana Perry Troy
p. 364a - Frederick Conner surveyor 42 Ind / Susan 36 or 4 / Ann J 17 / Elizabeth 16
Samuel 14 / Robert 11 / Mary 8 / Ogden 6 / William C 3 / George 1 - all Ind
Eliza 1809-1866 m Robert Gardner
1850 Indiana Perry Tobin 404 - 6 Sept
Robert Gardner 60 Pa / Eliza 48 Ky
Samuel 19 / Catherine 16 / William 15 / Robert 13 / James 11
WG Reynolds 31 Ky / Elizabeth 22
Terrance 1810-1859 m. (1) Polly Hyde (2) Nancy Tate
1850 Indiana Perry Tobin p. 403a
Torrence Conner 39m farmer $500 / Nancy 27
Frederick D 9 / John T 7 / Eliza J 5 / America 3 / Torrance 5/12 - all Ind
Sarah Jane 1821-66 m Elijah Huckaby
1850 Indiana Perry Tobin 403
Elijah Huckeby 39 / merchant Ky / Sarah A 28 / Robert F 11 / George P 10 /
Albert M 7 / Nancy 6
John Tipton 1824-1907 m Sarah Margaret Robinson
1850 Indiana Perry Tobin
p. 402b - John T Conner 26 farmer $300 Ind / Sarah M 19
Albert 1825-65 m. Eliza Ann Conner (d/o Jack, s/o John, s/o Terrance I)
1850 Indiana Perry Tobin - ???
p. 405b - Abner Conner 24 / Eliza 21 / Jane 10 / Robert F 5/12
Ann Mariah 1829-1914 m Randolph B Hall
1850 Indiana Perry Tobin
p. 405b - 860-877 RB Hall 28 KY /
Ann M 20 /
Alphanzo 3 / May R or B 11/12
Luther 18 / Isaac 22
Nancy Conner 19 - all Ind
William Finley 27 shoemaker Scotland
Nancy 1831
1850 Indiana Perry Tobin
p. 405b - - Nancy Conner 19 Ind - with RB Hall 29 / Ann M 20 .
Samuel is still going strong in 1860:
1860 Indiana Perry Rome 790
Samuel Conner sr 77 farmer Va / Nancy 61 Ky
His children:
Samuel 1805-1850 - m. Margaret Groves
1860 Indiana Perry 820 - Margaret 48 farming / Margaret 26 / Francis M 23 / Harriet 18 /
next page? America 16 / Robert 12
Frederick James 1806-1873 m Susan Kyler - not found
Eliza 1809-1866 m Robert Gardner
1860 Indiana Perry Tobin (Rome) 785
? Claycomb 61 river pilot / Cythia 22
Robert Gardner 70 sadler PA / Eliza R 51 Ind
CA Scribner 3 m (index says OA 2)
RF Gardner 26 farmer
Jacob Ausbach? 50 merchant Prussia / Louisa 42 Ky / Adam? 12 / FG 6
next to NR Gardner 26 sadler / Charlotte? 25
Terrance 1819-1859 m. (1) Polly Hyde (2) Nancy Tate
1860 Indiana Perry 792 (Rome)
Nancy Conner 37 / Frederick 19 teacher / John T 17 / Eliza D 15 / Mary C 12 /
Terence 10 / George H 7 / Emilia A 5 / Nancy A 2 / Media 2/12
Sarah Jane 1821-66 m Elijah Huckaby - not found
John Tipton 1824-1907 m Sarah Margaret Robinson
1860 Indiana Perry Rome 790
JT Connor 36 Farmer / Sarah M 29 / Lucy F 7 / Orval? E 4 / Eliza A 1
Albert 1825-65 m. Eliza Ann Conner (d/o Jack, s/o John, s/o Terrance I)
1860 Indiana Perry Rome 790 Albert Conner 34 (32) farmer / Eliza Ann 30 / Robert F 10 /
Emma J or I 8 / Theodore F 6 / Sarah/Laura L 3 / Louisa E 1
Ann Mariah 1829-1914 m Randolph B Hall
1860 Indiana Perry Tobin (Rome) 787
RB Hall 39 farmer KY / Ann 30 Ind / Alphonso 12 Ky /
Nancy B 10 Ind (index says Marcy B) / Idora C 8 (index = Adora) / Eugene L 6
Nancy 1831 - not found - unless she is my Nancy
?Mary Willing 1832-1907 m Thomas Cutler
1860 Indiana Perry Anderson 1092
Edward Cutler 37 farmer NY / Mary 25 Ind / Eugene 11 / Thos 9 / Jane 7 / Mary 7 /
Michael 3
Lydia Bates 1834-1918 m Jonathan Porter Hall
1860 Indiana Perry Tobin (Rome) 790
James P Hall 25 farmer Ind / Liddia B 26 / William A 2
Samuel died on 28 Jul 1863 and is buried in the Connor Burying Ground
Samuel Connor S/O Terrance & Sarah Jane Connor
b.5.15/1783 Fairfax Co.Va. d.7/28/1863 Rome, Perry Co, Va.
Nancy lived until 1889. In 1870, she was living with her son John Tipton:
1870 Indiana Perry Tobin 300 line 13 16-15
Connor, John T 46 farmer 10,000 / Sarah M 39 KH / Lucy F 18 / Orville E 14 farmer /
Eva G 11 / Albert R 7 / Helen J 2
Nancy 72 KY
Robinson, Harriet 59 KY
Connor, George 18 farm labor Ind
I don't know where she was in 1880. She died 24 March 1889 and was buried in the Connor Burying Ground.
Nancy Hyde D/O Ansel Hyde & Mary Miller
b. 9/27/1798 d.Mar.24,1889
Hardinburg, Breckenridge Co.Ky.
Back to Conner Home Page
Back to Home
Back to father Terrance
to brothers: Dade, John, Terrance
to children of Samuel
Questions, comments, additions, corrections? Contact me at: lee@leesgenes.com
Page last updated 7 Nov 2007