Mahala Mary “Haley” (Cunningham) Ross - Parents!

Started by Erica Howton on Thursday, May 27, 2021
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5/27/2021 at 4:28 PM

I’ve heard from cousin Warren Sanford McLaughlin, III who reports that Joseph Cunningham & Phoebe Cunningham are probably “not” the parents of Mahala Mary “Haley” (Cunningham) Ross who married William Ashburn 'Old Billy' Ross (although likely related).

He writes:

“ I know there has been a mention of a Mahala Cunningham in a newspaper article in search of all possible heirs of Joseph Cunningham of Sweetwater. But she is not included in the final legal document as an heir. All 13 children (living and deceased) of Joseph Cunningham of Sweetwater are mentioned, and Mahala Mary Cunningham is not among them. Either she was found out to not be a legal heir, or she was another Mahala Cunningham, possibly a granddaughter of Joseph Cunningham of Sweetwater. There were some grandchildren mentioned. It may also show (or indicate) that Mahala Mary was at least a cousin or niece, if she is not a granddaughter?

All of Mahala Mary Cunningham's US Census records has her birthplace as Kentucky. Her children's 1880 US Census records have her birthplace(s) as Alabama, Kentucky, Tennessee, etc. I have been able to conclude that her correct parents (and DNA supports this) are Jospeh N. Cunningham (found in the 1820 US census in Hopkins, Kentucky) and Henrietta Elizabeth "Eliza" Clark.

Jospeh N. Cunningham and Henrietta Elizabeth "Eliza" Clark relocated to Jefferson County, Alabama after 1820, as they were living there in 4 May 1823 when their son Moses Cunningham married, and in 4 Aug 1825 when their daughter Charlotte Cunningham married.

Henrietta Elizabeth "Eliza" Clark Cunningham is found in the 1830 US Census living in Lincoln County, Tennessee. She is listed there with her other children, including Mahala Mary Cunningham. Her son Moses Cunningham is also listed in the 1830 US Census living there with his family. It seems possible that Moses may have moved there first, or they moved there together.

We do know that John N. Cunningham died prior to the 1830 US census. He either died in Jefferson County, Alabama, or he died shortly after the family moved to Lincoln County, Tennessee. My guess is he died in Alabama, then Eliza Clark Cunningham and family moved to Lincoln County, Tennessee where her son Moses was already living? That is just a theory though, with nothing to support it.

This is likely why Mahala Mary Cunningham Ross' children so often mentioned her birthplace as Alabama, as she lived there as a child, from before 1823, to about 1829. This is also how Mahala Mary Cunningham was in Lincoln County, Tennessee to eventually meet William Ashburn Ross, as William was also living there in 1830.

I had no DNA matches on ancestry.com with any Cunningham's until I cut loose Joseph Cunningham of Sweetwater and Phoebe Fine, and added John N. Cunningham and Eliza Clark. Then I received numerous ancestry.com 'ThruLines' direct connections to this Cunningham line. Also, Mahala Mary Cunningham Ross named several of her children after her mother and siblings, for instance Charlotte. And Charlotte named one of her daughters Mahala. ...”

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I’ll be adjusting her tree accordinly.

5/27/2021 at 4:43 PM
5/27/2021 at 8:37 PM

That should be John N. Cunningham, father of Mahala Mary Cunningham, not Joseph. Sorry about that, I was getting Joseph Cunningham of Sweetwater and John N. Cunningham mixed up as I was typing. Anyone please feel free to ask me any questions regarding this, as I know the descendants of Mahala Mary Cunningham and William Ashburn Ross are many.

Warren

5/28/2021 at 1:32 AM

Geni still leads me to Nehemiah Cunningham

Valley of 1,000 Cunninghams. :)

12/1/2021 at 10:45 PM

Warren Sanford McLaughlin, III

Writes:

I do not believe John N. Cunningham's (1779/80-1829) father is this listed Lt. Joseph Cunningham Sr. (1738-5 Feb 1801). He already has a son named John (9 Oct 1774-12 Feb 1859) (b. in Rowan County, North Carolina, d. in Cherokee County, Alabama), who married a Hannah Lewis on 28 Jan 1794. They might be related to the same Cunningham's of Virginia, but not here, or a separate line that came from Ireland to Virginia. Certainly more work needs to be done here to try and determine this.

I believe that John N. Cunningham's father may be either Jonathan Cunningham (son of Christopher Columbus "Watauga" Cunningham (husband of Mary Ann Musgrove), as I see to have DNA matches here, or his father might be James Cunningham (1749/50-1812) (b. Botetourt County, Virginia, d. Rockbridge County, Virginia), son of a Moses Cunningham (b. Ireland, d. Rockbridge (or Augusta) County, Virginia. John N. Cunningham's (1779/80-1829) may not be able to be determined, but I am pretty certain that it is not this listed Lt. Joseph Cunningham Sr.

12/1/2021 at 10:53 PM

I’m not showing a Jonathan as son of Old K Cunningham:

Christopher Columbus Cunningham, Sr.

Pages 3 & 4, Book 1 (names A-D), Washington County TN Wills, 1775-1875

Christopher Cunningham 10 Nov 1782 In the state of North Carolina.

To wife Mary: one third of all my household goods and moveables with one third part of all lands and tenements.

To my fifteen children: Elizabeth Gatril, Susanna Robertson, Lydia Cunningham, John Cunningham, Mary Job, Ann Orr, Sarah Cunningham, Jane Cunningham, Jacob Cunningham, Joseph Cunningham, Matthew Cunningham, Moses Cunningham, Aaron Cunningham, Alinar [Elinor] Cunningham, David Cunningham: equally divide all lands and tenements.

Daughters Elizabeth and Susanna are to have no part of the legacy that John Mesgroves left to Mary.

Lands to be undivided until the youngest child comes of age.

Executors: Mattew Talbot, Joseph Tipton. Witnesses: Robert Orr, Isaac Taylor.

12/2/2021 at 12:02 AM

A document shows that John N. Cunningham also served as the Justice of the Peace for Blount County, Alabama; Commissioned: 6 Mar 1825; Resigned: 6 Nov 1826. Blount County borders Jefferson County.

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