Sarah Burns1

F, #346, b. bt 1797 - 1800, d. 20 Apr 1881
Last Edited15 Nov 2014
FatherWilliam Burns1,2 b. c 1756, d. a 1840
Birth*between 1797 and 1800 Analysis and conclusion by Wanda Hunter Day: Sarah Burns was born between 1797 and 1800 in Virginia. She married 10 Apr 1817, and her father filed consent for her marriage on the same date. Thus, she was less than 21 when she married.1 See citation S163 regarding statute laws of Kentucky.3 In addition, note the discrepancies in ages in census enumerations for Sarah (Burns) Bishop:
  • 1850c; age 40: she would have been born in 1809-10 and age 7-8 when she married. It is unlikely that Sarah Burns married at such a young age.
  • 1860c; age 63: she would have been born in 1796-97 and age 20-21 when she married. Born in 1797 (age 20) is possible.
  • 1870c; age 70: she would have been born in 1799-1800 and age 17-18 when she married. Born in 1799-1800 is possible.
  • 1880c; age 90: she would have been born in 1789-1790 and age 27-28 when she married. Born in 1789-1790 is unlikely since a marriage consent would not have been filed.
Thus, at this time, I conclude that Sarah Burns was born between 1797 and 1800.4,5 
Marr Consent10 April 1817Marriage consent transcribed by Wanda Hunter Day: "April 10th 1817 Sir, this is to certify that I do privilege William Biship to obtain Marriage Licence to marry my Daughter Sarah Burns. I hope sir you will on this grant them. I am sir [illegible, 1 word] William Burns" [Witnesses: Brice Burns and John Burns].1 
Marr Bond10 April 1817William Bishop and bondsman Brice Burns filed a marriage bond on 10 April 1817 in Clay County, Kentucky.1 
Marriage License10 April 1817Sarah Burns and William Bishop obtained a marriage license on 10 April 1817 in Clay County, Kentucky.1 
Marriage*10 April 1817Sarah Burns married William Bishop on 10 April 1817 in Clay County, Kentucky. Minister's return, recorded on back of marriage license, transcribed by Wanda Hunter Day: "This marriage executed April th10 1817 by me John Turner." [Recorded in pencil: 4-10-17]1 
Taxbetween 1817 and 1825 William Bishop appears on the 1817-1825 tax lists, Clay County, Kentucky.6 
Widowedcirca 1826 I have found no additional records for William Bishop after the 1825 tax list. Thus, at this time, I conclude William Bishop probably died circa 1826 in Clay County, Kentucky.6,5 
Tax*between 1826 and 1840 Sally/Sarah Bishop appears on the 1826-1840 tax lists, Clay County, Kentucky.6 
Death*20 April 1881Sarah Burns died on 20 April 1881 in Clay County, Kentucky.7,8,9 
Burial*She was buried in the Bishop Cemetery, Newfound, Clay County, Kentucky, 37.336017, -83.653283. Driving directions, by Wanda Hunter Day, from Manchester, Clay County, KY to Bishop Cemetery, Newfound, Clay County, KY: Hwy 11 to Oneida, KY; continue on Hwy 11. Turn right onto Rocky Branch Rd; cross South Fork, Kentucky River; continue on Rocky Branch Rd; becomes Newfound Rd (blacktop, then gravel); drive 3-4 miles; turn left onto Cedar Valley; drive 1/4 mile; arrive at Bishop Cemetery on the right.8,9 

Family 1

 William Bishop b. c 1796, d. c 1826
Children 1.Samuel Bishop4,10,11,12 b. c 1820, d. b 19 Jun 1880
 2.Andrew Bishop+10 b. c 1822, d. c 3 Feb 1873
 3.Cassandra Bishop10,4 b. c 1824
 4.William B. Bishop4,10,13 b. 6 Mar 1825, d. 4 Mar 1905

Family 2

 Thomas Miller
Children 1.Alford Bishop4,10,11 b. c 1831
 2.Perry Bishop+4,10,14 b. 6 May 1836, d. 8 Feb 1920
 3.Mary Bishop4,10 b. c 1837

Copyright Notice


Citations

  1. [S78] Clay County, Kentucky, Marriage Book, 1817-1824. William Bishop and Sarah Burns, recorded consent, bond, license, and minister's return, all dated 10 April 1817; County Clerk's Office, Manchester. Photographed by Wanda Hunter Day, 18 October 2011.
  2. [S267] 1840 U.S. census, Clay County, Kentucky, page 319 (stamped), line 29, for William Burnes Sr., pensioner in Sarah Bishop household; digital image, Ancestry.com (http://www.ancestry.com : accessed 13 Aug 2010), citing National Archives microfilm publication M704, roll 108.
  3. [S163] Roseann Reinemuth Hogan, Kentucky Ancestry: A Guide to Genealogical and Historical Research (Salt Lake City, UT: Ancestry, 1992), p 83. "Beginning in 1799, the Kentucky General Assembly amended its 1798 act so that both parties had to have the consent of the parent or guardian prior to a marriage if either the bride or the groom was less than twenty-one years old. Thus, the consent of a parent or guardian was required for the first time (Conrad, 1988, 107-08)." The author cites "Conrad, John. 1988. 'Marriage in Virginia and Kentucky.' Bluegrass Roots, vol. 15, pp.104-111."
  4. [S271] 1850 U.S. census, Clay County, Kentucky, population schedule, Kentucky District, page 130A-130B, dwelling 449, family 449, Sarah Bishop; digital image, Ancestry.com (http://www.ancestry.com : accessed 11 Apr 2011), citing National Archives microfilm publication M432_197. Household includes: Sarah Bishop 40 [If age 40 as enumerated in 1850, she would have been born in 1809-10 and age 7-8 when she married. It is unlikely that Sarah (Burns) Bishop married at such a young age. Age 50 is more likely.], real estate valued at $150; Samuel 30; Cassy 23; William 21; Alford 19; Perry 16; Mary 13; Robert 1; Cassy 4; all enumerated as b. KY. [According to S133, Sarah (Burns) Bishop was the mother of 7 children: Samuel, Andrew, Cassandra, William, Alford, Perry, and Mary. Thus, Robert age 1 and Cassy age 4 are not her children. Perhaps they're her grandchildren.]
  5. [S16] Analysis by Wanda Hunter Day, http://www.heritagehunter.info.
  6. [S262] Clay County, Kentucky, 1807-1840 Tax Lists (missing: 1810, 1827, 1833, 1839), unpaginated entries arranged chronologically; all years read for all entries relating to Bishop; William Bishop appears on the 1817-1825 tax lists; Sally/Sarah Bishop appears on the 1826-1840 tax lists; microfilm roll KHS 73-0082, 1977, Kentucky Historical Society, Frankfort.
  7. [S190] Membership application, National no. 908376, on William Burns, approved 18 Jul 2012, National Society Daughters of the American Revolution, Office of the Registrar General, Washington, D.C.
  8. [S217] Bishop Cemetery (Newfound, Clay County, Kentucky), Sarah Bishop marker, photographed by James C. Davidson, 04 Apr 2009.
  9. [S226] "Public Member Trees," database, Ancestry.com (http://trees.ancestry.com/tree/9429474/recent : accessed 11 February 2012), "Northern Clay and Southern Owsley Counties of Kentucky," entry for Sarah Burns (b. 1801); photo of cemetery marker submitted 14 Jun 2009 by James C. Davidson.
  10. [S133] Perry Bishop (Pvt., Co. I, 14th KY Cav., Civil War), pension no. Inv. 395,000, Case Files of Approved Pension Applications . . ., 1861-1934; Civil War and Later Pension Files, Department of Veteran Affairs, Record Group 15; National Archives, Washington, D.C. Deposition by William B. Bishop, 13 August 1884, transcribed by Wanda Hunter Day from copy held by same: "Q: What relation are you to Perry Bishop: A: Half-brother. Q: What was his father's name? A: Thomas Miller. Q: How long were you acquainted with him [Thomas Miller]? A: About 13 years, from the time, or about the time, I was born. He left & went to Indiana. Q: How many brothers or sisters or such supposed relative, did Perry Bishop have? A: One sister and one brother. Q: What are the names of your brothers and sisters? A: Andy and Sam are the brothers and one sister named Cassy. That's all there ever was. Q: What did they die of? A: Andy died of some disease unknown to me. Sam had white swelling. Cassy is living in good health. Q: What was the cause of your mother's death? A: Old age. Q: What did your father die of? A: The fever."
  11. [S278] 1860 U.S. census, Clay County, Kentucky, population schedule, Manchester, page 100, dwelling 632, family 632, Sarah Bishop; digital image, Ancestry.com (http://www.ancestry.com : accessed 12 Nov 2011), citing National Archives microfilm publication M653_363. Household includes: Sarah Bishop 63, b. NC, farmer, real estate valued at $300, personal property of $100; Samuel 43, b. Clay Co., KY; Alford 28, b. Clay Co., KY; Casida 16, b. Clay Co., KY; Robert 11, b. Clay Co., KY. /[According to S133, Sarah (Burns) Bishop was the mother of 7 children: Samuel, Andrew, Cassandra, William, Alford, Perry, and Mary. In 1860 Cassandra, the daughter of Sarah (Burns) Bishop, is enumerated in the household of her husband Samuel Combs. Thus, Casida age 16 and Robert age 11 are not the children of Sarah (Burns) Bishop. Perhaps they're her grandchildren./].
  12. [S279] 1870 U.S. census, Clay County, Kentucky, population schedule, Manchester, page 194A, dwelling 170, family 170, Sarah Bishop; digital image, Ancestry.com (http://www.ancestry.com : accessed 07 Feb 2014), citing National Archives microfilm publication M593_456. Household includes: Sarah Bishop 70, b. VA, housekeeper, real estate valued at $150; personal property of $60; Samuel 46, b. KY.
  13. [S280] 1880 U.S. census, Clay County, Kentucky, population schedule, Bull Skin, page 526D, dwelling 324, family 325, William B. Bishop; digital image, Ancestry.com (http://www.ancestry.com : accessed 17 Nov 2011), citing National Archives microfilm publication T9_410. Household includes: William B. Bishop 53, b. KY, farmer; Mary Ann 40, wife, b. KY; Hugh 13, son, b. KY; Emily 12, daughter, b. KY; John 11, son, b. KY; Mandy 8, daughter, b. KY; George 6, son, b. KY; James 4, son, b. KY; Nancy 2, daughter, b. KY; Sarah 90, widowed mother, b. VA.
  14. [S161] "Kentucky, Death Records, 1852-1953," database, Ancestry.com (http://www.ancestry.com : accessed 02 April 2011), entry for Perry Bishop, 08 February 1920, Clay County; citing "Various death records, microfilm, Kentucky Department for Libraries and Archives, Frankfort." Informant: Thomas Bishop, his grandson.