SO MANY QUESTIONS SO FEW ANSWERS

SO MANY QUESTIONS SO FEW ANSWERS

I was born March of 1946 about 9 months after my father Harvey Dee Leahman returned from WWII. He served in Africa. He and my mother were married in Petersburg Va October 17th 1942 while he was in training at Camp Lee. My older brother Dee was born in December 16, 1943 and was 18 months old when dad met him for the first time.

My maternal great grandfather is George Washington Brooks. Born 1857 in Franklin Co VA. His mother was Emeline Hyatt Forbes Born 1825. Father was Phillip Forbes Born 1818. There is a record of their marriage 1 October 1842. Philip was a silver smith. Later he is a blacksmith according to Census records. Also, in 1849 Book 21 of Franklin Co Deeds page 64 it is recorded that Phillip and Emeline deed over to a James Robertson and Cluff M Brooks "to secure a debt". Blacksmith tools, furniture, and household items and all interest in land of his mother Agnes Forbes by will of his deceased father John Forbes. Agnes, Philips mother had 3 children but no record can be located that she ever married.

Copied from Peevish Pen written by Becky Mushko

On December 13, 1855, at Franklin County, VA, D.B. 24/226, Agnes Forbes gifted land to her son Otey T. Forbes (1813-1901).

In the 1860 census, 73-year-old Agnes is a member of Otey’s household. They lived next to Greenbury Forbes (1827-1912), son of Agnes's brother Peter B. Forbes (1800-1883). Greenbury Forbes married Mary Wright (abt. 1833-1865), daughter of Catherine "Kitty" Forbes Wright (1810-1850) and granddaughter of Agnes Forbes.

She likely deeded her property to her son Otey to prevent Philip from having to sign over any of her property.

There are many posts on Ancestry that Agnes married a John Forbes. However, the records above show her father was John Forbes, and he married Sarah Sally Bernard. He was born in 1765 and Agnes was born in 1786. No record can be found that she married, but she had 3 children Catherine (Kitty), Otey and Philip. She petitioned for her daughter Catherine to be allowed to marry. Again there was no mention of her father.

Also on Becky Mushko's blog : From evidence, it's clear that John Forbes was the father—not the husband—of Agnes Forbes and was grandfather—not the father—of Agnes's three children.

Some facts to correct the errors that are rampant on the internet:

• John Forbes, of Franklin County, Virginia, did not die in 1826; he died in 1832—as proved by his will probated on 6 August 1832.
• Sally R. Bernard was John's only wife. Sally did not die in 1806. She died sometime after 1832 but before the 1850 census. Thus, John did not remarry in 1806.
• Agnes Forbes —the daughter, not wife—of John Forbes never married but had three children: Catherine "Kitty" Forbes (1810-1850), Otey Forbes (1813-1900), and Philip Forbes (1818-1901). Since she was unmarried but had a family and no home of her own, her father John provided in his will that—after his wife Sally's death—"both the above mentioned lots or parcels of land I leave to my daughter Agnes Forbes to her and her heirs forever."
• John Forbes' will, dated 22 July 1832,  names the following legatees (p. 287 in online version, will # 516 in Virginia, U.S., Wills and Probate Records, 1652-1900; Will Books, Vol. 3-4, 1825-1840):  "My beloved wife Sally;" Daughter Agnes Forbes and her heirs forever;  Daughters Sally Wray, Betsy Bradley, and Polly Lyon; Grandson Philip Forbes; Son John R Forbes; Son Peter B. Forbes; Son Thomas J Forbes; and Heirs of my son William Forbes. 

It is commendable that John Forbes saw fit to provide for his daughter Agnes and her three illegitimate offspring. I was unable to find any clue as to who might be the father (fathers?) of Agnes's children or why Agnes never married. Might the father have been married to someone else and was thus unable to marry her? Or was there another reason?

It remains a mystery.

In 1860 Census records indicate that Emeline, my second great grandmother, is living in a home with her 3 sons. Phillip and their daughter Julia are recorded in the home of Thomas Bernard. He is a gunsmith and Philip a silver smith. Could he have been working with Thomas Bernard? In Census records 1870 until 1890 Emeline is living in the home of Clifford Martin Brooks. I met a fellow researcher named Basham, in the genealogy library at the LDS church some years ago who recognized Emelines name and thought she had died and Phillip listed himself on a census as widowed. However, they were both living in 1880 according to census records. One of the records shows her listed as servant in Cluff's home. He had 2 prior marriages and five children from those marriages. There is no record of a marriage between Emmeline and Clifford Martin Brooks. Also no divorce record can be located. Though Philip listed himself as widower on census of 1870, Emeline is still alive. He died in 1902 and she died in 1894.

I wish I could find more information about why Phillip lost everything to Robertson and Cluff Brooks. Or get a copy of the deed that is recorded in the Deed Book mentioned above. Would like to know more about why they separated. Could she have been endentured to work in Cluff's home to help pay the debt she and Philip owed? The lawsuit is recorded before the Civil War.

Philip applied for a pension in 1900 and then died in 1902. This was the first indication he served in the Civil War that I have seen. Did their separation have something to do with the Civil War?

So many questions and so few answers.

Cathy Thompson

cleahman@msn.com