Re: Gershom Clemens
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In reply to:
Gershom Clemens
Laura Hawley 6/06/10
I would like to correct the previous post, the information given by Gordon Thompson is incorrect.First, Gershom Clemens was married to Jane Usher, April 22, 1791 in Augusta Co., Va, she was the daughter of David Usher and Rebeccas Erwin.she was born in Augusta and died inDecember 6th in Livingston Co. Ky.
His last and final wife was Margaret Gillespie, m. January 31, 1817 in Livingston Co., Ky. She was the daughter of William Gillespie and Francis Pickens and was born June 19, 1780 in Abbeville District, South Carolina.It is well known in the area that Gershom Clemens sold his island property now called Rondeau Island in the Ohio River to the Rondeau family sometime around 1798.Gershom lived on the mainland near the village of Carrsville, Ky but probably owned land in Carrsville, adjacent to the Island property. That is not proven, though his grandson, Dr. James Newton Clemens lived in Carrsville in a small home that is called a "victorian river architectural design".It still stands and is privately owned. His sons by Margaret Gillespie Trimble were James Ford Clemens and Gershom Gillespie Clemens,James Ford was named for the famous river pirate who had a gang operating out of the Cave-in-Rock area and near Golconda, Illinois.When Margaret Gillespie Trimble's property settlement from her deceased husband was done, Gershom hired James Ford as her attorney, he was known as a good attorney, though he had criminal aspects to his character. They remained friends and named their first child after him.There are many errors in Gordon Thompson's genealogy.Gershom never had an affair with Sarah Lusk, nor did he have a child by her.Gershom and his siblings,were indeed descended from Jeremiah Clemens who married Elizabeth Moore, b. Trenton, N.J, daughter of Gershom Moore and Mercy Fish. There was a property dispute in Rockbridge Co., Va.in 1788 that sworn information details the line of descent from Jeremiah Clemens and specifically names Eziekel, Gershom and James, then later written testimony given by Samuel Clemens, Mark Twain's grandfather.
I haven't a clue who Adam Clemens was, but Samuel Clemens did joke about knowing that his original ancestor must have been Adam, meaning the biblical Adam and Eve.Mr. Thompson claimed that Samuel Clemens/Mark Twain did not know his family descent, but in the autobiography of Mark Twain, he (Mark Twain) refererences Jere (Jeremiah Clemens) as his ancestor as well as his descent from the "northern" Haverhill Clemens's.I might also add that Mr. Thompson said that James Clemens King, grandson of Gershom Clemens never married, I am proof that he did, I descend from his son George King who was born October 20, 1865 in Williamson Co., Illinois.There is more, but this could be very lengthy trying to explain all the errors in this Gordon Thompson genealogy.He also didn't have a clue where his father got his first land in Illinois, but he could find that answer in James King's will dated 1839 in Pope Co.It was deeded to him by my gggg-grand father James King upon his death.To my kniowledge money never exchanged hands, but a deed was drawn for the property because Mr. Thompson was married toElizabeth Clemens King's favorite niece, daughter of her brother David Bell Clemens.There is more, but let me say, that David Gordon Thompson did have his comtemporaries mostly correct, and some would not allow him to print their history or family.I am Gershom Clemens's ggggg-grandchild.
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Re: Gershom Clemens
Betty Moake 8/19/14