MAY 22, 2008 - JOSEPH BROWN AND REBECCA JANE WITHROW

I found the marriage record of Joseph Brown & Rebecca Withrow. They were married by Lewis Dickerson on Sept. 9, 1866 in Scott County, Missouri. I also reread the statement that Joseph Brown's uncle Ezekiel Ashley verified that he had drowned in July 1867 on the Mississippi River.

I looked into the Ashley's of McCracken Co/Ballard Co., KY & Scott Co., MO to see how they are connected. I also found a marriage record for William Ashley b. 1782 to Ann Billington b. 1809 dated 1833 in McCracken Co., MO.

William Ashley was born in NC and he settled in McCracken County, KY where his brother James Ashley resided. James was relocating to Texas so he was selling large parts of his land to William. There are several transactions in the tax rolls between William & James in the early to mid 1830's. James Ashley had several children then relocated with the family to Texas.

William Ashley probably married his first wife in North Carolina since their oldest son Robert Ashley was born there. They they must have lived in Louisiana for a short period of time because Mary Ashley & Edward Ashley are listed as being born there. There were also 2 other daughters born in the 1820's.

Edward Ashley was still living with William Ashley and his second wife in the 1850 census. He was age 20. The 1840 census does not list names but does list the gender and ages of the household. I do not believe Mary Ashley was married to a Mayberry till after 1840. Probably 1841 or 1842. She was married to Frederick Withrow by 1846.

Below are the children born to William Ashley & Ann Billington:

Ezekiel Ashley born ca 1835 in Ballard Co., KY.
James Ashley born ca 1837 in Ballard Co., KY.
John William Ashley born ca 1840 in Ballard Co., KY.
Augustina Ashley born ca 1842 in Ballard Co., KY
Jaratt Moreland Ashley was born ca 1845 in Ballard Co., KY.

I noticed that William Ashley's youngest son and a couple of James' children have Moreland as a middle name. I think this might have been a surname that ran in the family. Possibly William Ashley & James Ashley's mother was a Moreland.

Also Ezekiel Ashley wasn't married until 1871, therefore his nephew Joseph Brown has to be a blood nephew and not a nephew by marriage. Joseph Brown's mother & Rebecca's mother were sisters making the couple 1st cousins. This does make for a fascinating story.