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Descendants of John Conway - June 24, 2003


3. SAMUEL2 CONWAY (JOHN1) was born 23 Oct 1756 in Fincastle Co, VA (now Montgomery Co, VA), and died 17 Sep 1830 in Marion Co, MO. He married (1) ELIZABETH CLEMENTS 1784 in Virginia or Kentucky. She was born 08 Aug 1765, and died 10 Jul 1806 in Pendleton Co, KY. He married (2) MARGERY ACKLES 07 May 1812 in Pendleton Co, KY (no children), daughter of .. ACKLES and MARY ... She was born Bet. 1770 - 1780 in Pennsylvania, and died Abt. 1850 in Marion Co, MO.

Notes for SAMUEL CONWAY:
Primary source of information on this family comes from the Samuel Conway Bible, copies obtained from Mia K. Adkins Fleegle. Mia also provides results of her personal research. Other researchers contributing are Karen M. Green and Mildred Belew.

Additional information may come from Marion County, Missouri, marriage and deed records. One such deed in 1838 lists the heirs of Samuel Conway.

According to Evelyn Woods Barclay, Samuel Conway enlisted from Southwest Virginia to serve in the American Revolution.

Evelyn gives these sources of information:

"Ansearchin' News" - Memphis Genealogical Society, July 1963, Vol. X, #3

"Revolutionary Soldiers Buried in Missouri," 1966, Mrs. Hale Houts, p. 57-58

Henry C. Ogle of Paris, KY, wrote in his 1903 account that Samuel Conway was not a soldier, but manufacturered powder for the Army. Prior to the Revolution, he was a soldier in a war prosecuted by Virginia against the Indians commonly known as "Dunmore's War," and was in the Sanguiary battle of Old Point Pleasant where the whites were commanded by Col. Lewis and the Indians by Cornplanter.

DAR Patriot service shows that Samuel Conway was a corporal in Capt. John Stith's Company, 4th Virginia Regiment; also captured at Ruddle's Fort in 1780.

Samuel Conway appears on the following additional records:
Tax lists of Pendleton County, KY 1799
Jury, Pendleton County, KY 31 May 1815

An article in the Palmyra, Missouri, "Palmyra Spectator" dated 30 Sep 1936 appears to be written from the Ogle account, but adds a few details on Samuel Conway. It states that he was born in Fincastle County, Virginia (source given is his pension record).

A second article from the above source, dated 4 Sep 1936, states that Samuel enlisted in the army from Montgomery County, Virginia, and was serving in the army in Virginia at the time his parents and younger siblings were captured at Ruddell's Station.

"Old Kentucky Entries And Deeds," Jillison, p. 325:
      Military Warrants:
      Conway, Samuel, 200 acres, Warrant #2543
            3 Yrs. Corporal, Virginia
            19 Feb 1782

Mabel White writes to Mia Fleegel 17 Apr 1982 additional information: "For his services as Corporal for a period of three years or more, he received a Bounty Warrent (this was 1784) which entitled him to 200 acres of land in addition to his pay. At the close of the Revolution all of the present state of Kentucky was still a part of the Old Dominion. As Virginia had these vast stretches of forests west of the Blue Ridge Mountains all her soldiers were given land, provided they had given service of required duration. According to a November 1936 article in the Palmyra (Missouri) Spectator, Samuel Conway assigned this warrant for cash to Frances Graves who was to get the land that was due to Conway. His pay was 70 pounds, 18 shillings, 8 pence.

Still from the Ogle account: Following the Revolution, Samuel came to Kentucky, first settling in Bourbon County near his father, (which had become the name of the county where his father's land was located -- formerly Fayette County), but when the wild game became scarce, moved and settled at Main Licking River about 40 miles north of Cincinnati in what is now Pendleton County. In the same neighborhood were two of his brothers-in-law, Joseph and William Daugherty (note that here the brother of William is called Joseph instead of John); the Wells family and the Clemons/Clements family, related to the wife of Samuel Conway and several other families that came from Virginia.

The tax list of 1799 shows that he owned 500 acres on the Middle Licking River in Pendleton County, and owned one slave. His brothers John and Jesse Conway were also living in the county at the time.

The 1810 Census of Pendleton County, page 111 shows "Samuel Conaway" with 2 mailes under age 10; 2 males age 10-15; one male over age 45; 1 female under age 10; 1 female age 10-15; 1 female age 26-45.

On 7 Aug 1818, Samuel Conway and his wife, Margery, sold 587 acres land on the Licking River in Pendleton County. The land adjoined that of John Rush on one side and on the other side, that of William McRae.

Samuel shortly moved to Marion County, Missouri, where he can be found on the Federal Census in 1830 on page 42. In this census record is recorded one male age 70-80; one female age 50-60; slaves 3 males under age 10; 1 female age 10-24.

Samuel Conway came to Marion County, Missouri, with his family. They settled on the southwest quarter of Section 10, Range 5, Township 57, the eastern part taken by Samuel and the western half by his son, Simeon. Each had 80 acres. The land was held by patent certificate issued with the U.S. Land Office was located in St. Louis.

Samuel made a General Warranty Deed in March 1827 for 1-1/2 acres of this land to the Miller School District.

The Conway family were members of the Bear Creek Congregation of the Baptist Church, which had been established in 1821 in Miller County, Missouri. The old church records showed the following persons: Charles Turner, Phebe Turner, John Bush, Margaret Rush, Frances McRae, George Turner, Ann Turner, Samuel Conway, Susannah Gregory and Fanah Wasson. Nine of these came to Marion County from the same neighborhood in Kentucky.

In 1828, Samuel Conway paid $2.07 tax, 75 cents being tax on his land, 50 cents was poll tax, and 82 cents on personal property of one slave, two horses, and three head of cattle.

The following deeds are found at Marion County, MO:

Grantor Index 1827 - 1852

CONWAY, Samuel and wife to Miller School District trustees Mar 1827 filed 20 Oct 1827. Part of SW 1/2 of S10, T57 NR5W for $3. Book A, p. 32 (wife is Margery, found on deed.)

CONWAY, Samuel Sr. deceased by (comrs?) to Simean Conway 18 Aug 1835 by (caners?) filed 3 Jun 1837. E 1/2 of SW 1/4 S10, T57, R5 for $200. Book E, p. 110. Deed lists heirs: Mary Conway md. to Jas. Brownfield; children of Nelson W. Becket and Susana Conway, deceased; children of Jas. Smith and Elizabeth Conway, deceased; children of William Smith and Sarah Conway deceased; children of Benjamin Conway deceased; Gideon Miller and wife Anna.

Samuel Conway was ill for some days prior to his death. On 13 Sep 1830. Dr. James Morrison made a visit and spent the night. The next day, he returned and left medicine consisting of pills and sudorific powder. On September 15 he again visited and applied plasters to the body and left a prescription similar to quinine. The next day, he left more sudorific powders. Dr. Morrison returned and spent the night of September 17, 1830 in the Conway home. It was during this night that Samuel passed away, surrounded by his family and attended by the family physician.

His obituary was published in the "Missouri Intelligencer" and "Boone's Lick Advertiser" and lists probate information given below.

The estate of Samuel Conway was settled by the Probate Court of Marion County, Missouri. Moses D. Bates, William McRae and James McWilliams were appointed commissioners at the February term of court in 1833 and in October 1833, filed their report to determine the interest of the heirs. It was determined that the land was too small to be divided among the heirs, so they ordered it sold at the February, 1834 term. Only five of his children were living at this time: Susanna Beckett, Elizabeth Conway Smith, and Sarah Conway Smith who resided in Kentucky had died. Two sons who had come to Missouri were dead: Samuel Conway Jr., and Benjamin Conway. Those surviving were Mary Brownfield, Anna Conway Miller, Dorcas Conway Hendricks, Simeon Conway, and Joseph Conway. Letters of administration were granted on his estate 29 Sep 1830. The appraisers were James McWilliams, William McRae, and Gabrial Rush. The appraisment list was filed 29 Oct 1830 and the bill of sale returned to the court 29 Nov 1830.

Listed in the inventory were four slaves: a negro woman named Dicy or Dixie ahd her three small children, Felix age 5, Stephen age 3, and George age 1 year. The boy Stephen was held by Simeon Conway under contract until he reached the age of 14 years and 6 months. Daniel Hendricks had such an arrangement to hold the youngest child, George, until he became 16 years old.

According to the orders of the Commissioners, the 80 acres of land owned by Samuel Conway was sold and it was purchased by his son Simeon Conway for the sum of $200. On 18 Aug 1835, he received a deed from the commissioners for the tract of land. It consisted of 55 acres off the south end of the tract. About 3 months later, Simeon Conway sold this land to John Bush and it remained in the possession of the Bush family.

The deed, found in Book #, p. 110-111 in Marion County, Missouri, describes the land as follows: east half of the southwest quarter of Section 10 in Township 57, Range 5 West, lying and being in the County of Marion. The deed was to divide the property among the heirs:

James Brownfield and Mary his wife, formerly Mary Conway; Children and heirs of Nelson W. Beckett and wife Susana, formerly Susanna Conway; Children and heirs of James Smith and Elizabeth his wife formerly Elizabeth Conway deceased; Children and heirs of William Smith and Sarah his wife formerly Sarah Conway deceased; Children and heirs of Samuel Conway Junior deceased; Children and heirs of Benjamin Conway deceased; Gideon Miller and Anna his wife formerly Anna Conway; Daniel Hendricks and Dorcas his wife; Joseph Conway and Simeon Conway heirs and representatives of Samuel Conway Sr. deceased.

Fifty-three acres off the south end of the track were conveyed to Simeon Conway. The balance of the tract assiened to dower for Margery Conway.

The 27 acres on the north end of the tract was held by Margery Conway, the widow, as her dower. This land held the cemetery.

The Conway Cemetery in Marion County, MO is located 7 miles east of Palmyra, near Mt. Zion, on Dr. F. W. Bush farm. Samuel Conway's grave marker was dedicated sometime prior to November 1936, when an article appeared in the Palmyra (Missouri) Spectator. Speaker was Mrs. George Pohlman. Remnants of the orchard planted by Samuel Conway were still evident at that time.

It was on this tract of ground that Samuel Conway lived from his arrival in Missouri until his death. His home was a double log house with a wide hall between the rooms. The house was two stories, with a chimney at each end of the house. The remains of the foundation were visible in 1936, with mounds of rock marking the location of the chimney.

Margery Conway relinquished her rights some years later and went to live with her daughter, Susan Miller Litzenby, in Lewis County. This 27 acres was sold and it also came into the possession of John Bush. The house stood for some years before it was torn down. Some of the board from the floor went to build a barn for Dr. Bush.

By 1936, there was not a single descendant in Marion County or in Missouri bearing the Conway name, and also none in Kentucky.

Samuel Conway's gun and bullet mold are housed in a museum in Portland, Oregon, where some of his descendants located. The gun was carried during the Revolution by Conway and was known as "Bull Douglas," for unknown reasons. The gun was given to Simeon Conway at the father's death, but at his own death, it went to his brother, Capt. Joseph Conway. Joseph was a machinist and skilled gunsmith and converted it from a flintlock. After Joseph's death, it was given to his son, Samuel M. Conway, and after him to another son, Daniel Marion Conway. Marion Conway was a local preacher and schoolteacher. He took the gun with him to Portland, Oregon, and during the summer of 1919 presented it to the Sons of the American Revolution.

Burial is listed in "Revolutionary Soldiers Buried in Missouri" (Houts, 1966), p. 57

Samuel Conway Family Bible:

BIBLE: CONWAY, Samuel - Marion County, Missouri

From: Margaret R. Bates <mrbates@swbell.net>

Date: Mon, 27 Mar 2000


Samuel Conway was the son of John Conway and Elizabeth Bridgewater, and was born in Montgomery County, Virginia. Many of his children were married in Pendleton County, Kentucky. Later in life, he moved his family to Missouri and settled in Marion County. The publishing date on the Bible is 1816. Some of the notations were entered under another heading (e.g. a death under "births"), and for simplicity's sake, they have been noted under the appropriate heading.

MARRIAGES

Abdin Miller and Margerry Ackles was Married May, the 18th, 1792
David Rush and Susanna Miller was married August, the 11th, 1814
Samuel Conway and Margery Miller was married May, the 7th, 1812
Simeon Conway and Mary McRae the daughter of William McRae was
      married the 2nd day of October, 1823
Albert H. Penewill and M/Belinda Thrasher was married
      February, 23rd, 1859
Menerva J. Penewill was bornd, May, the 10th, 1861
Mary Ann Penewill was bornd July, the 19th, 1862
Ellie B. Penewill was bornd April the 7th, 1864

BIRTHS

Drussellar Conway born Janur - the 11th, 1753
Mary Conway born Janr the 14th, 1755
Samuel born Oct the 23d -- 1756
John Conway born August the 10th - 1758
Elizabeth Born April the 16th - 1760
Jessey Conway Born Decr the 17th, 1761
Joseph Conway Born Decr the 14th, 1763
Nancy Conway Born Janur the 28th, 1770
Sarah Conway Born June, the 25th, 1773

* * * * * * *

John Andrew Miller Born March the 21st - 1793
Gideon and William Born Februar the 24th 1795
Susanna Miller Born Febr the 16th, 1797
Joseph Miller Born June the 25th - 1799
Jas C. Miller Born May, the 24th, 1801
Samuel Miller Born Oct4 23rd, 1803
Polly M. Miller Born May the 16th - 1806

* * * * * * *

Negro Felix was born the 17th of February - 1825

* * * * * * *

Samuel Conway born the 23d of Oct. 1756
Elizabeth his wife Born August the 8th 1765
Mary Conway Born April the 9th 1785
Elizabeth Born Octer the 18th 1786
Susanna Conway Born Janr 16th 1790
Sally Born March, 20th 1792
Samuel Conway, Junr, Born June 19, 1794
Anna Conway Born, July the 21, 1796
Benjamin Born June, the 15th 1799
Darcus Conway Born Aprl the 24th 1801
Simeon Conway Born Septr the 19th 1803
Joseph Conway Born Decr the 13th, 1805

* * * * * * *

Simeon Conway Born Sept. the 19th - 1803
Mary his wife Born May, the 22nd - 1808

* * * * * * *

Negro Stephen Born - the 13th of March - 1825
Negro George Born - the 7th of March - 1829
Cerylda Jane was born the 23rd of August, 1831

DEATHS

John Conway died December, the 4th, 1801
His wife Elizabeth died July, the 30th, 1809
John Andrew Miller departed this life the 21st
      of July - 1818 (Note: this was scratched out;
      information may be incorrect)
Abdell Miller departed this life March, the 9th, 1809
John A. Miller departed this life, July, the 17th, 1818,
      aged 25 years
Polly M. Miller departed this life October the 13, 1825,
      Age 21 years
Joseph Miller died January 1st, 1835 - Age 35 years
Simeon Conway departed this life, September, 4th, 1857
Joseph Conway departed this life June the 25th A.D., 1860
Anna Miller Daughter of Samuel Conway departed this life
      Nov. 20th - 1866, Age 69yrs and 7 months
Mary Brownfield daughter of Samuel & Elizabeth Conway
      departed this life on the 2nd day of April, 1842,
      in the 57th year of her age

* * * * * * *

Elizabeth Clemings the wife of Samuel Conway departed
      this life July, the 10th, 1806, in the
      41st year of her age
Sally Conway departed this life January, the 17, 1818,
      Aged 26 years
Mary McRae the wife of Simeon Conway departed this life
January, the 13th, 1825, in the 17th year of her age
Elizabeth Conway departed this life January, the 28th, 1824,
      in the 38th year of her age
Benjamin Conway departed this life August, the 18th, 1825,
      age 26 years
Samuel Conway departed this life February the 14th 1825,
      age 31 years
Samual Conway, Senior, departed this life Sept.
      the 17th, 1830 Age in October following, 74 years.


Notes for ELIZABETH CLEMENTS:
The family of Elizabeth Clements/Clemmings lived nearby them in Pendleton County, as well as the families of Basil Wells and William Daugherty.

Notes for MARGERY ACKLES:
Margery Ackles Miller appears on the Census of Pendleton County, KY in 1810 as follows:

Margaret Miller
Males under 10, three; 10-15, one; 16-25, one
Females under, one; 10-15, one; 26-45, one
No slaves

Margery married Samuel Conway in 1812 after Abdin Miller died, and after Samuel died in1830, she married a Methodist preacher named Horace Brown, who also died.

Margery was judged a very handsome woman in her youth, and was slim and just over 5 feet tall. Later in life, she grew quite stout. She was noted for her piety, and became a member of the M. E. Church early in life. Margery died in the home of her son, Gideon Miller about 1850.
     
Children of SAMUEL CONWAY and ELIZABETH CLEMENTS are:
  i.   MARY3 CONWAY, b. 09 Apr 1785; d. 02 Apr 1842, went to Champagne/Urbana, IL; m. JAMES BROWNFIELD, 03 Mar 1808, Pendleton Co, KY; b. Unknown; d. Unknown.
11. ii.   ELIZABETH CONWAY, b. 18 Oct 1786; d. 28 Jan 1824, res in Kentucky.
12. iii.   SUSANNA CONWAY, b. 16 Jan 1790; d. Bef. Jun 1837, res Kentucky.
13. iv.   SARAH CONWAY, b. 20 Mar 1792, "Sally"; d. 17 Jan 1818, res Kentucky.
14. v.   SAMUEL CONWAY, JR., b. 10 Jun 1794; d. 14 Feb 1825, Missouri.
15. vi.   ANNA CONWAY, b. 21 Jul 1796, Kentucky; d. 20 Nov 1866, Marion Co, MO.
  vii.   BENJAMIN CONWAY, b. 15 Jun 1799; d. 18 Aug 1825, Missouri.
  Notes for BENJAMIN CONWAY:
Benjamin Conway, according to Samuel Conway's will, married and had children, who were named in the will. According to Henry C. Ogle, however, he had no children.

Benjamin died from being hurt by a pitch fork while working in a meadow.

16. viii.   DORCAS CONWAY, b. 24 Apr 1801; d. Aft. Aug 1835, Missouri.
17. ix.   SIMEON CONWAY, b. 19 Sep 1803, went to Clark Co, MO (had 12 children); d. 04 Sep 1857, Lewis Co, MO.
18. x.   JOSEPH CONWAY, b. 13 Dec 1805, Kentucky; d. 25 Jun 1860, Missouri.

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