John David Letcher and was born in Edgefield District, South Carolina and died in Monroe County, Alabama. He was married to a Ann Matilda Bozeman Letcher.∼Note: "Dates on Grave Marker:" John D Letcher's birth date appears to be Feb 27, 1809, though family and census shows Feb 27, 1804, 1850 census shows abt 1809 (40yrs old), 1860 shows abt 1804 (57yrs old), 1870 or 1880 not found, at this time. John's Death date appears to be Jan 25, 1894 on the grave marker, the family has always shown, he died Sep 1, 1877. As we know Grave marker dates are very prone to errors, and usually depends on a family members memory, and the fact that this marker appears as a possible replacement marker, for an old one. Sometime after 1880, Ann, John's wife was living with her children in Rockford, Milam Co Texas, and buried in that county. I am changing the birth/death dates to reflect what the grave marker shows, so, update your records, but note the descrepancies. Will update this if I can prove otherwise.

John D Letcher, was the son of Giles & Agnes [Talbert] Letcher. Grandson of James & Malinda "Milly" [Key] Letcher. John married Ann Matilda Bozeman on Feb 17, 1835, in Lowndes County Alabama.

Their children were:
Dr Francis Marion Letcher, Susanna Letcher Chapman, Harriet letcher Davis, Mary Letcher King, Nathan Letcher, John Letcher, Dr Joseph letcher, Louisa "Lula" K Letcher Hughes, Tolbot (JT) Letcher.

John's mother, Agnes, moved the family to Alabama after the War of 1812, and the mysterious death of her husband, Giles, who may have died in that service, family lore has it, that he was killed by indians in AL, while surveying land, he obtained from his military service. Giles served in Austin's Regiment South Carolina Militia, as a PVT, under command by his Uncle, Capt John Key's Company. Agnes moved the family before 1820 to AL, with her children, by that time, most of the Creek Indians had been removed from the State. They were living in Edgefield County South Carolina, prior to 1820, in fact, Giles father, John's grandfather, James Letcher, served in the Revolutionary War, from that county in SC, he lost his life in service to his country in 1783.

In 2006 a 12 marker Genetic DNA Test of two Letcher males, one belonging to John's lineage, and another on his brothers lineage, Stephen Tolbert Letcher, was a perfect match.

In 2014, we were able to retest Howard and they still had Neal's DNA in storage, even though he was deceased, we tested the 12, 25, 37 and 67 markers, 12 thru 37 were a perfect match, 67 had a genetic distance of 2 between Howard and Neal's test. This doesn't mean they aren't cousins, only that over time, the DNA markers may vary or mutate slightly down 2 different branches of a family tree.
If Howard and Neal were brothers, we would expect a perfect match on all DNA markers, but between two branches of a family, we can expect some variations. DNA test today, still cannot tell us with 100% certainty, that two folks on separate branches are brothers, but can at least, assure us, we are on the right trail.