160 years ago last week, one of my 4th Great Grandmothers passed away.
Elizabeth Ann Shoemaker was born in 1788, in Fincastle (Botetourt County), Virginia. Her parents were believed to have been William and Elizabeth (some say Woodrum, some say Hogg for her mother’s maiden name) Shoemaker. Fincastle still exists today, and in the 2020 census, was a town of 755 people.
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| built around 1783, Fincastle VA |
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| built around 1791, Fincastle VA |
In May of 1807, Elizabeth (age 22) married George Lavender (age 25). They were married in Botetourt County. They would go on to have 7 known children, daughter Elizabeth being my 3rd Great Grandmother. The young couple remained in Botetourt County for a while, appearing there in the 1810 census. George served in the Virginia Militia during the War of 1812. Sometime between 1812 and 1820, they packed up and moved into Kentucky. In the 1820 census, they were living in a place called Darnell's Parish, in Caldwell County, Kentucky. I have tried to find out where Darnell's Parish was...but have had no luck.
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| 1807 marriage record |
Around 1828, the family moved up into Illinois. In the 1830 census, they were in Pope County, and after that they lived out the rest of their lives in Hardin County. George Lavender died in 1856, and is buried in Lavender Cemetery (where I visit every Spring), land donated by the family to be the cemetery. Elizabeth was living with her son George and his family in the 1860 census. She died on December 6, 1863. Although her burial information is unknown, it’s likely that she rests beside her husband in an unmarked grave at Lavender Cemetery.
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