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Mary Ann "Polly" Stephens was born on Jan. 27, 1845 in Mississippi. "Polly", an old-time nickname for Mary, was the daughter of Whitmill Stephens (abt 1809-abt 1866) and Elizabeth Waters (abt 1807-bet 1871/80). Both of her parents are buried in the Stephens Family Cemetery which at that time was part of their farm. Polly's father, Whitmill, was one of the first, if not the first, adult burials in the little family graveyard. Most likely, he and his wife, had only field stones for markers which, unfortunately, are now missing leaving their grave sites unmarked.
Polly was born in Mississippi, the only known member of her family to be born there. Her family had migrated to Mississippi (location unknown) from Whitley Co. (now McCreary Co.), Kentucky in the mid-1840s. The reason for their migration is unknown. What is known is that they stayed there only 2-3 years, moving once again, about 1847, back to their old farm, which they had not sold, in Whitley Co., KY.
Not long after returning to Kentucky her father, Whitmill, sold his KY farm to Thomas Murray "Tom" King (1790-1880) and bought a farm near present day Isham in Scott Co., then still part of NW Campbell Co., TN. The little community of Isham, where his farm was located, is just across the KY/TN state line from present day McCreary Co., KY.
Polly's father, Whitmill, is thought to have been born in old Knox Co., KY. At that time Knox County was much larger that it is today. He was the son of Solomon Stephens (abt 1781-bet 1870/80) and Sarah Meadors (abt 1784-bet 1870/80). Solomon was born in the Territory of North Carolina, probably in Surry County (est. 1771) while Sarah is thought to have been born in South Carolina. Both died in the Marsh Creek area of McCreary Co. (then part of Whitley Co.), KY, however, their burial sites are currently unknown. Some believe that Williams's parents, Solomon and Sarah, are buried in the Jellico Creek Cemetery located near Williamsburg, Whitley Co., KY, in unmarked graves.
Little is known about Polly's mother, Elizabeth Waters. One thing we do know for sure is that she was NOT the daughter of Joseph Waters (1773-1842) and Celah Priscilla Sweeney (1780-1845) as shown in a number of Stephens family trees. Elizabeth's parents are currently unknown.
It is thought that Polly's mother, Elizabeth, was half or 1/4th Native American (Cherokee ?) & was raised from childhood by a currently unknown Waters family. They are thought to have given her the Christian name of "Elizabeth". That might explain, at least partially, why there is no info on her biological or adoptive parents.
The birth state of Polly's mother is also uncertain. The 1860 US Census shows her as been born about 1807 in Tennessee. The 1870 census shows her as born in Kentucky. She was probably born near the KY/TN state line which was uncertain and debated at that time.
We know that Elizabeth and Whitmill married about 1827 in Whitley Co., KY and had seven known children, of which Polly was the fifth. There were probably several other unknown children who died at/near birth or who did not survive childhood.
On Feb. 11, 1869, Polly married Jackson H. "Jack" King (1842-1919) in Scott Co., Tennessee. Jackson was 26, Polly 24. Most likely it was Jack's second marriage as he already had a young daughter, Rebecca Jane "Becky" King (1864-1950), about 4 years of age. It appears that Jack's first wife, who is currently unknown, died either from childbirth complications or from an unknown cause between 1864-69. Actually, nothing is known about her. Most likely, Jack's parents took care of his daughter, Jane, until their son could find another wife. He was so mean that it probably took a while to find someone.
Jack, born near Angel Valley in NE Scott Co. (then part of NW Campbell Co.) TN, was the son of Enos King (abt 1816-bet 1892/1900) and Nancy Ann Angel (abt 1820-bet 1892/1900). Enos was the son of Thomas Murray "Tom" King (1790-1880), the patriarch of the King family in McCreary County having moved to the Marsh Creek area of lower McCreary Co. (then part of Whitley Co.), KY, from Campbell Co., TN about 1819. Nancy, named after her mother, was the daughter of Archibald Andrew "Arch" Angel (abt 1775-1847) & Nancy Ann Trammell (abt 1782-1829), both migrants from present day North Carolina.
Polly and Jack were married for 41 years and had five known children. Again, there were probably other unknown children who died at/near birth or who did not survive childhood. Their known children were James Alvin King (1870-1961), Louisa King (1874-1967), Nancy King (1878- ?), Andrew "Andy" King (1879- ?) and my grandfather, Thomas Letcher "Tom" King (1881-1973). Polly raised Jack's daughter, Jane (then 4), as her own until Jane married at age 16 in 1880 to Thomas M. King (1857-1885).
Polly's youngest son, Tom (my GF), used to speak fondly of his mother (Polly) and told how, against his father's wishes, she used to take him and his siblings to church, probably the Otter Creek Baptist Church (1st) which was just about 2-3 miles from their farm. He also used to say that his mother was "part Indian" (1/2 or 1/4 ?). Tom obviously loved his mother but did not have much use for his father, a man well known for his irritable disposition and his all around general meanness.
Polly lived a hard life. Her husband, as indicated earlier was not very kind to her or their children. She had to work hard to keep the family going during her husband's numerous absences, often on bounty hunting trips ($15-$50). Fifty dollars was a lot of money in those days and could actually buy a small farm. I t is said that his family never benefited from any monetary rewards he would receive.
Polly died on Dec. 13, 1910 in Whitley Co. (now McCreary Co.), KY at the age of 65. She is buried in the Stephens Family Cemetery located in Isham, Scott Co., TN, where her parents (Whitmill & Elizabeth) are thought to be buried. The cemetery is located on the farm on which she was raised. Her small field stone marker has the faint initials "P.K." scratched on it. It is said that her husband, Jack, either could not or would not (probably both) pay for a small headstone to mark her burial site.
Polly's husband, Jack, died on Nov. 12, 1919, about nine years after Polly. He was living alone in his small house (shack ?) off present day Ross Road in McCreary Co, KY at the age of 77. Most likely, he had been dead for several days when his body was found.
In 1983, I was shown Polly's marker in the Stephens Family Cemetery and told the story of her husband's burial by Charles Lewis "Pete" Stephens (1924-2009), a GG-grandson of Whitmill Stephens and Elizabeth Waters. A rural mail carrier and preacher, he had lived next to the cemetery for most of his life and was very knowledgeable about the individual grave sites it contained. Unfortunately, he did not record his vast knowledge about the Stephens family and the family cemetery. Pete and his wife, Ethel Alene Wilson (1926-2000), who also loved genealogy, are both buried there now.
Pete told me what he had been told by older Stephens relatives. He said that Jack had been very hard on both Polly and their children. Consequently, was not liked by any of his children and most of his neighbors. He had lived alone in his small dilapidated house since the death of his wife in 1910. His children were deceased or had moved far away, all except his son, Alvin, who lived nearby. Pete told me that he had been told by old-timers that no one in the King family would claim Jack's body for burial, apparently due to his blatant meanness.
Pete went on to relate what he had been told, again by his older relatives, that, "out of respect for Jack's wife (Polly Stephens), his body was claimed by the Stephens family and buried in the Stephens Family Cemetery next to Polly". Most likely, there was no funeral service, just a burial with few attendees, if any.
The burial marker for Polly's husband was just a field stone (like her marker) that simply had the name "Jac" carved on it. The Kings and the Stephens were poor families by today's standards. Unfortunately, that field stone, along with several other of the cemetery's early field stone grave markers, was mistakenly removed decades later during a much needed cemetery clean-up.
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Information contained in this memorial for Mary Ann "Polly" Stephens, her husband, family members, ancestors & descendants, is thought to be correct. This memorial has been revised several times, however, since it was originally written in 2013.
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Mary Ann "Polly" Stephens was born on Jan. 27, 1845 in Mississippi. "Polly", an old-time nickname for Mary, was the daughter of Whitmill Stephens (abt 1809-abt 1866) and Elizabeth Waters (abt 1807-bet 1871/80). Both of her parents are buried in the Stephens Family Cemetery which at that time was part of their farm. Polly's father, Whitmill, was one of the first, if not the first, adult burials in the little family graveyard. Most likely, he and his wife, had only field stones for markers which, unfortunately, are now missing leaving their grave sites unmarked.
Polly was born in Mississippi, the only known member of her family to be born there. Her family had migrated to Mississippi (location unknown) from Whitley Co. (now McCreary Co.), Kentucky in the mid-1840s. The reason for their migration is unknown. What is known is that they stayed there only 2-3 years, moving once again, about 1847, back to their old farm, which they had not sold, in Whitley Co., KY.
Not long after returning to Kentucky her father, Whitmill, sold his KY farm to Thomas Murray "Tom" King (1790-1880) and bought a farm near present day Isham in Scott Co., then still part of NW Campbell Co., TN. The little community of Isham, where his farm was located, is just across the KY/TN state line from present day McCreary Co., KY.
Polly's father, Whitmill, is thought to have been born in old Knox Co., KY. At that time Knox County was much larger that it is today. He was the son of Solomon Stephens (abt 1781-bet 1870/80) and Sarah Meadors (abt 1784-bet 1870/80). Solomon was born in the Territory of North Carolina, probably in Surry County (est. 1771) while Sarah is thought to have been born in South Carolina. Both died in the Marsh Creek area of McCreary Co. (then part of Whitley Co.), KY, however, their burial sites are currently unknown. Some believe that Williams's parents, Solomon and Sarah, are buried in the Jellico Creek Cemetery located near Williamsburg, Whitley Co., KY, in unmarked graves.
Little is known about Polly's mother, Elizabeth Waters. One thing we do know for sure is that she was NOT the daughter of Joseph Waters (1773-1842) and Celah Priscilla Sweeney (1780-1845) as shown in a number of Stephens family trees. Elizabeth's parents are currently unknown.
It is thought that Polly's mother, Elizabeth, was half or 1/4th Native American (Cherokee ?) & was raised from childhood by a currently unknown Waters family. They are thought to have given her the Christian name of "Elizabeth". That might explain, at least partially, why there is no info on her biological or adoptive parents.
The birth state of Polly's mother is also uncertain. The 1860 US Census shows her as been born about 1807 in Tennessee. The 1870 census shows her as born in Kentucky. She was probably born near the KY/TN state line which was uncertain and debated at that time.
We know that Elizabeth and Whitmill married about 1827 in Whitley Co., KY and had seven known children, of which Polly was the fifth. There were probably several other unknown children who died at/near birth or who did not survive childhood.
On Feb. 11, 1869, Polly married Jackson H. "Jack" King (1842-1919) in Scott Co., Tennessee. Jackson was 26, Polly 24. Most likely it was Jack's second marriage as he already had a young daughter, Rebecca Jane "Becky" King (1864-1950), about 4 years of age. It appears that Jack's first wife, who is currently unknown, died either from childbirth complications or from an unknown cause between 1864-69. Actually, nothing is known about her. Most likely, Jack's parents took care of his daughter, Jane, until their son could find another wife. He was so mean that it probably took a while to find someone.
Jack, born near Angel Valley in NE Scott Co. (then part of NW Campbell Co.) TN, was the son of Enos King (abt 1816-bet 1892/1900) and Nancy Ann Angel (abt 1820-bet 1892/1900). Enos was the son of Thomas Murray "Tom" King (1790-1880), the patriarch of the King family in McCreary County having moved to the Marsh Creek area of lower McCreary Co. (then part of Whitley Co.), KY, from Campbell Co., TN about 1819. Nancy, named after her mother, was the daughter of Archibald Andrew "Arch" Angel (abt 1775-1847) & Nancy Ann Trammell (abt 1782-1829), both migrants from present day North Carolina.
Polly and Jack were married for 41 years and had five known children. Again, there were probably other unknown children who died at/near birth or who did not survive childhood. Their known children were James Alvin King (1870-1961), Louisa King (1874-1967), Nancy King (1878- ?), Andrew "Andy" King (1879- ?) and my grandfather, Thomas Letcher "Tom" King (1881-1973). Polly raised Jack's daughter, Jane (then 4), as her own until Jane married at age 16 in 1880 to Thomas M. King (1857-1885).
Polly's youngest son, Tom (my GF), used to speak fondly of his mother (Polly) and told how, against his father's wishes, she used to take him and his siblings to church, probably the Otter Creek Baptist Church (1st) which was just about 2-3 miles from their farm. He also used to say that his mother was "part Indian" (1/2 or 1/4 ?). Tom obviously loved his mother but did not have much use for his father, a man well known for his irritable disposition and his all around general meanness.
Polly lived a hard life. Her husband, as indicated earlier was not very kind to her or their children. She had to work hard to keep the family going during her husband's numerous absences, often on bounty hunting trips ($15-$50). Fifty dollars was a lot of money in those days and could actually buy a small farm. I t is said that his family never benefited from any monetary rewards he would receive.
Polly died on Dec. 13, 1910 in Whitley Co. (now McCreary Co.), KY at the age of 65. She is buried in the Stephens Family Cemetery located in Isham, Scott Co., TN, where her parents (Whitmill & Elizabeth) are thought to be buried. The cemetery is located on the farm on which she was raised. Her small field stone marker has the faint initials "P.K." scratched on it. It is said that her husband, Jack, either could not or would not (probably both) pay for a small headstone to mark her burial site.
Polly's husband, Jack, died on Nov. 12, 1919, about nine years after Polly. He was living alone in his small house (shack ?) off present day Ross Road in McCreary Co, KY at the age of 77. Most likely, he had been dead for several days when his body was found.
In 1983, I was shown Polly's marker in the Stephens Family Cemetery and told the story of her husband's burial by Charles Lewis "Pete" Stephens (1924-2009), a GG-grandson of Whitmill Stephens and Elizabeth Waters. A rural mail carrier and preacher, he had lived next to the cemetery for most of his life and was very knowledgeable about the individual grave sites it contained. Unfortunately, he did not record his vast knowledge about the Stephens family and the family cemetery. Pete and his wife, Ethel Alene Wilson (1926-2000), who also loved genealogy, are both buried there now.
Pete told me what he had been told by older Stephens relatives. He said that Jack had been very hard on both Polly and their children. Consequently, was not liked by any of his children and most of his neighbors. He had lived alone in his small dilapidated house since the death of his wife in 1910. His children were deceased or had moved far away, all except his son, Alvin, who lived nearby. Pete told me that he had been told by old-timers that no one in the King family would claim Jack's body for burial, apparently due to his blatant meanness.
Pete went on to relate what he had been told, again by his older relatives, that, "out of respect for Jack's wife (Polly Stephens), his body was claimed by the Stephens family and buried in the Stephens Family Cemetery next to Polly". Most likely, there was no funeral service, just a burial with few attendees, if any.
The burial marker for Polly's husband was just a field stone (like her marker) that simply had the name "Jac" carved on it. The Kings and the Stephens were poor families by today's standards. Unfortunately, that field stone, along with several other of the cemetery's early field stone grave markers, was mistakenly removed decades later during a much needed cemetery clean-up.
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Information contained in this memorial for Mary Ann "Polly" Stephens, her husband, family members, ancestors & descendants, is thought to be correct. This memorial has been revised several times, however, since it was originally written in 2013.
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Mary Ann "Polly" Stephens was born on Jan. 27, 1845 in Mississippi. "Polly", an old-time nickname for Mary, was the daughter of Whitmill Stephens (abt 1809-abt 1866) and Elizabeth Waters (abt 1807-bet 1871/80). Both of her parents are buried in the Stephens Family Cemetery which at that time was part of their farm. Polly's father, Whitmill, was one of the first, if not the first, adult burials in the little family graveyard. Most likely, he and his wife, had only field stones for markers which, unfortunately, are now missing leaving their grave sites unmarked.
Polly was born in Mississippi, the only known member of her family to be born there. Her family had migrated to Mississippi (location unknown) from Whitley Co. (now McCreary Co.), Kentucky in the mid-1840s. The reason for their migration is unknown. What is known is that they stayed there only 2-3 years, moving once again, about 1847, back to their old farm, which they had not sold, in Whitley Co., KY.
Not long after returning to Kentucky her father, Whitmill, sold his KY farm to Thomas Murray "Tom" King (1790-1880) and bought a farm near present day Isham in Scott Co., then still part of NW Campbell Co., TN. The little community of Isham, where his farm was located, is just across the KY/TN state line from present day McCreary Co., KY.
Polly's father, Whitmill, is thought to have been born in old Knox Co., KY. At that time Knox County was much larger that it is today. He was the son of Solomon Stephens (abt 1781-bet 1870/80) and Sarah Meadors (abt 1784-bet 1870/80). Solomon was born in the Territory of North Carolina, probably in Surry County (est. 1771) while Sarah is thought to have been born in South Carolina. Both died in the Marsh Creek area of McCreary Co. (then part of Whitley Co.), KY, however, their burial sites are currently unknown. Some believe that Williams's parents, Solomon and Sarah, are buried in the Jellico Creek Cemetery located near Williamsburg, Whitley Co., KY, in unmarked graves.
Little is known about Polly's mother, Elizabeth Waters. One thing we do know for sure is that she was NOT the daughter of Joseph Waters (1773-1842) and Celah Priscilla Sweeney (1780-1845) as shown in a number of Stephens family trees. Elizabeth's parents are currently unknown.
It is thought that Polly's mother, Elizabeth, was half or 1/4th Native American (Cherokee ?) & was raised from childhood by a currently unknown Waters family. They are thought to have given her the Christian name of "Elizabeth". That might explain, at least partially, why there is no info on her biological or adoptive parents.
The birth state of Polly's mother is also uncertain. The 1860 US Census shows her as been born about 1807 in Tennessee. The 1870 census shows her as born in Kentucky. She was probably born near the KY/TN state line which was uncertain and debated at that time.
We know that Elizabeth and Whitmill married about 1827 in Whitley Co., KY and had seven known children, of which Polly was the fifth. There were probably several other unknown children who died at/near birth or who did not survive childhood.
On Feb. 11, 1869, Polly married Jackson H. "Jack" King (1842-1919) in Scott Co., Tennessee. Jackson was 26, Polly 24. Most likely it was Jack's second marriage as he already had a young daughter, Rebecca Jane "Becky" King (1864-1950), about 4 years of age. It appears that Jack's first wife, who is currently unknown, died either from childbirth complications or from an unknown cause between 1864-69. Actually, nothing is known about her. Most likely, Jack's parents took care of his daughter, Jane, until their son could find another wife. He was so mean that it probably took a while to find someone.
Jack, born near Angel Valley in NE Scott Co. (then part of NW Campbell Co.) TN, was the son of Enos King (abt 1816-bet 1892/1900) and Nancy Ann Angel (abt 1820-bet 1892/1900). Enos was the son of Thomas Murray "Tom" King (1790-1880), the patriarch of the King family in McCreary County having moved to the Marsh Creek area of lower McCreary Co. (then part of Whitley Co.), KY, from Campbell Co., TN about 1819. Nancy, named after her mother, was the daughter of Archibald Andrew "Arch" Angel (abt 1775-1847) & Nancy Ann Trammell (abt 1782-1829), both migrants from present day North Carolina.
Polly and Jack were married for 41 years and had five known children. Again, there were probably other unknown children who died at/near birth or who did not survive childhood. Their known children were James Alvin King (1870-1961), Louisa King (1874-1967), Nancy King (1878- ?), Andrew "Andy" King (1879- ?) and my grandfather, Thomas Letcher "Tom" King (1881-1973). Polly raised Jack's daughter, Jane (then 4), as her own until Jane married at age 16 in 1880 to Thomas M. King (1857-1885).
Polly's youngest son, Tom (my GF), used to speak fondly of his mother (Polly) and told how, against his father's wishes, she used to take him and his siblings to church, probably the Otter Creek Baptist Church (1st) which was just about 2-3 miles from their farm. He also used to say that his mother was "part Indian" (1/2 or 1/4 ?). Tom obviously loved his mother but did not have much use for his father, a man well known for his irritable disposition and his all around general meanness.
Polly lived a hard life. Her husband, as indicated earlier was not very kind to her or their children. She had to work hard to keep the family going during her husband's numerous absences, often on bounty hunting trips ($15-$50). Fifty dollars was a lot of money in those days and could actually buy a small farm. I t is said that his family never benefited from any monetary rewards he would receive.
Polly died on Dec. 13, 1910 in Whitley Co. (now McCreary Co.), KY at the age of 65. She is buried in the Stephens Family Cemetery located in Isham, Scott Co., TN, where her parents (Whitmill & Elizabeth) are thought to be buried. The cemetery is located on the farm on which she was raised. Her small field stone marker has the faint initials "P.K." scratched on it. It is said that her husband, Jack, either could not or would not (probably both) pay for a small headstone to mark her burial site.
Polly's husband, Jack, died on Nov. 12, 1919, about nine years after Polly. He was living alone in his small house (shack ?) off present day Ross Road in McCreary Co, KY at the age of 77. Most likely, he had been dead for several days when his body was found.
In 1983, I was shown Polly's marker in the Stephens Family Cemetery and told the story of her husband's burial by Charles Lewis "Pete" Stephens (1924-2009), a GG-grandson of Whitmill Stephens and Elizabeth Waters. A rural mail carrier and preacher, he had lived next to the cemetery for most of his life and was very knowledgeable about the individual grave sites it contained. Unfortunately, he did not record his vast knowledge about the Stephens family and the family cemetery. Pete and his wife, Ethel Alene Wilson (1926-2000), who also loved genealogy, are both buried there now.
Pete told me what he had been told by older Stephens relatives. He said that Jack had been very hard on both Polly and their children. Consequently, was not liked by any of his children and most of his neighbors. He had lived alone in his small dilapidated house since the death of his wife in 1910. His children were deceased or had moved far away, all except his son, Alvin, who lived nearby. Pete told me that he had been told by old-timers that no one in the King family would claim Jack's body for burial, apparently due to his blatant meanness.
Pete went on to relate what he had been told, again by his older relatives, that, "out of respect for Jack's wife (Polly Stephens), his body was claimed by the Stephens family and buried in the Stephens Family Cemetery next to Polly". Most likely, there was no funeral service, just a burial with few attendees, if any.
The burial marker for Polly's husband was just a field stone (like her marker) that simply had the name "Jac" carved on it. The Kings and the Stephens were poor families by today's standards. Unfortunately, that field stone, along with several other of the cemetery's early field stone grave markers, was mistakenly removed decades later during a much needed cemetery clean-up.
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Information contained in this memorial for Mary Ann "Polly" Stephens, her husband, family members, ancestors & descendants, is thought to be correct. This memorial has been revised several times, however, since it was originally written in 2013.
***************************************************************************************
Mary Ann "Polly" Stephens was born on Jan. 27, 1845 in Mississippi. "Polly", an old-time nickname for Mary, was the daughter of Whitmill Stephens (abt 1809-abt 1866) and Elizabeth Waters (abt 1807-bet 1871/80). Both of her parents are buried in the Stephens Family Cemetery which at that time was part of their farm. Polly's father, Whitmill, was one of the first, if not the first, adult burials in the little family graveyard. Most likely, he and his wife, had only field stones for markers which, unfortunately, are now missing leaving their grave sites unmarked.
Polly was born in Mississippi, the only known member of her family to be born there. Her family had migrated to Mississippi (location unknown) from Whitley Co. (now McCreary Co.), Kentucky in the mid-1840s. The reason for their migration is unknown. What is known is that they stayed there only 2-3 years, moving once again, about 1847, back to their old farm, which they had not sold, in Whitley Co., KY.
Not long after returning to Kentucky her father, Whitmill, sold his KY farm to Thomas Murray "Tom" King (1790-1880) and bought a farm near present day Isham in Scott Co., then still part of NW Campbell Co., TN. The little community of Isham, where his farm was located, is just across the KY/TN state line from present day McCreary Co., KY.
Polly's father, Whitmill, is thought to have been born in old Knox Co., KY. At that time Knox County was much larger that it is today. He was the son of Solomon Stephens (abt 1781-bet 1870/80) and Sarah Meadors (abt 1784-bet 1870/80). Solomon was born in the Territory of North Carolina, probably in Surry County (est. 1771) while Sarah is thought to have been born in South Carolina. Both died in the Marsh Creek area of McCreary Co. (then part of Whitley Co.), KY, however, their burial sites are currently unknown. Some believe that Williams's parents, Solomon and Sarah, are buried in the Jellico Creek Cemetery located near Williamsburg, Whitley Co., KY, in unmarked graves.
Little is known about Polly's mother, Elizabeth Waters. One thing we do know for sure is that she was NOT the daughter of Joseph Waters (1773-1842) and Celah Priscilla Sweeney (1780-1845) as shown in a number of Stephens family trees. Elizabeth's parents are currently unknown.
It is thought that Polly's mother, Elizabeth, was half or 1/4th Native American (Cherokee ?) & was raised from childhood by a currently unknown Waters family. They are thought to have given her the Christian name of "Elizabeth". That might explain, at least partially, why there is no info on her biological or adoptive parents.
The birth state of Polly's mother is also uncertain. The 1860 US Census shows her as been born about 1807 in Tennessee. The 1870 census shows her as born in Kentucky. She was probably born near the KY/TN state line which was uncertain and debated at that time.
We know that Elizabeth and Whitmill married about 1827 in Whitley Co., KY and had seven known children, of which Polly was the fifth. There were probably several other unknown children who died at/near birth or who did not survive childhood.
On Feb. 11, 1869, Polly married Jackson H. "Jack" King (1842-1919) in Scott Co., Tennessee. Jackson was 26, Polly 24. Most likely it was Jack's second marriage as he already had a young daughter, Rebecca Jane "Becky" King (1864-1950), about 4 years of age. It appears that Jack's first wife, who is currently unknown, died either from childbirth complications or from an unknown cause between 1864-69. Actually, nothing is known about her. Most likely, Jack's parents took care of his daughter, Jane, until their son could find another wife. He was so mean that it probably took a while to find someone.
Jack, born near Angel Valley in NE Scott Co. (then part of NW Campbell Co.) TN, was the son of Enos King (abt 1816-bet 1892/1900) and Nancy Ann Angel (abt 1820-bet 1892/1900). Enos was the son of Thomas Murray "Tom" King (1790-1880), the patriarch of the King family in McCreary County having moved to the Marsh Creek area of lower McCreary Co. (then part of Whitley Co.), KY, from Campbell Co., TN about 1819. Nancy, named after her mother, was the daughter of Archibald Andrew "Arch" Angel (abt 1775-1847) & Nancy Ann Trammell (abt 1782-1829), both migrants from present day North Carolina.
Polly and Jack were married for 41 years and had five known children. Again, there were probably other unknown children who died at/near birth or who did not survive childhood. Their known children were James Alvin King (1870-1961), Louisa King (1874-1967), Nancy King (1878- ?), Andrew "Andy" King (1879- ?) and my grandfather, Thomas Letcher "Tom" King (1881-1973). Polly raised Jack's daughter, Jane (then 4), as her own until Jane married at age 16 in 1880 to Thomas M. King (1857-1885).
Polly's youngest son, Tom (my GF), used to speak fondly of his mother (Polly) and told how, against his father's wishes, she used to take him and his siblings to church, probably the Otter Creek Baptist Church (1st) which was just about 2-3 miles from their farm. He also used to say that his mother was "part Indian" (1/2 or 1/4 ?). Tom obviously loved his mother but did not have much use for his father, a man well known for his irritable disposition and his all around general meanness.
Polly lived a hard life. Her husband, as indicated earlier was not very kind to her or their children. She had to work hard to keep the family going during her husband's numerous absences, often on bounty hunting trips ($15-$50). Fifty dollars was a lot of money in those days and could actually buy a small farm. I t is said that his family never benefited from any monetary rewards he would receive.
Polly died on Dec. 13, 1910 in Whitley Co. (now McCreary Co.), KY at the age of 65. She is buried in the Stephens Family Cemetery located in Isham, Scott Co., TN, where her parents (Whitmill & Elizabeth) are thought to be buried. The cemetery is located on the farm on which she was raised. Her small field stone marker has the faint initials "P.K." scratched on it. It is said that her husband, Jack, either could not or would not (probably both) pay for a small headstone to mark her burial site.
Polly's husband, Jack, died on Nov. 12, 1919, about nine years after Polly. He was living alone in his small house (shack ?) off present day Ross Road in McCreary Co, KY at the age of 77. Most likely, he had been dead for several days when his body was found.
In 1983, I was shown Polly's marker in the Stephens Family Cemetery and told the story of her husband's burial by Charles Lewis "Pete" Stephens (1924-2009), a GG-grandson of Whitmill Stephens and Elizabeth Waters. A rural mail carrier and preacher, he had lived next to the cemetery for most of his life and was very knowledgeable about the individual grave sites it contained. Unfortunately, he did not record his vast knowledge about the Stephens family and the family cemetery. Pete and his wife, Ethel Alene Wilson (1926-2000), who also loved genealogy, are both buried there now.
Pete told me what he had been told by older Stephens relatives. He said that Jack had been very hard on both Polly and their children. Consequently, was not liked by any of his children and most of his neighbors. He had lived alone in his small dilapidated house since the death of his wife in 1910. His children were deceased or had moved far away, all except his son, Alvin, who lived nearby. Pete told me that he had been told by old-timers that no one in the King family would claim Jack's body for burial, apparently due to his blatant meanness.
Pete went on to relate what he had been told, again by his older relatives, that, "out of respect for Jack's wife (Polly Stephens), his body was claimed by the Stephens family and buried in the Stephens Family Cemetery next to Polly". Most likely, there was no funeral service, just a burial with few attendees, if any.
The burial marker for Polly's husband was just a field stone (like her marker) that simply had the name "Jac" carved on it. The Kings and the Stephens were poor families by today's standards. Unfortunately, that field stone, along with several other of the cemetery's early field stone grave markers, was mistakenly removed decades later during a much needed cemetery clean-up.
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Information contained in this memorial for Mary Ann "Polly" Stephens, her husband, family members, ancestors & descendants, is thought to be correct. This memorial has been revised several times, however, since it was originally written in 2013.
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