JOHNSON LAUGHLIN
THE STORY AS I KNOW IT
Johnson Laughlin was born in 1791 in Pendleton District or York County, South Carolina. His parents were Anthony W. Laughlin and Sarah Wherry. Anthony had moved to York County with his family about 1771. He was on the Pendleton district 1800 census.
A genealogy by Eva Laughlin LeBlanc named Descendants of John Laughlin from the Atlantic to the Pacific is available from the LDS library. Much of the information in this piece comes from that source.
The Anthony Laughlin family moved to Livingston County Kentucky by 1805. He had a land grant of 200 acres. That area of Livingston County became Caldwell County in 1809.
Johnson married Louisa L. Cook. Bonds were posted Dec 21, 1818 and John Travis J.P. married them Dec.30. This is from Caldwell County Marriage Book 1 page 44.
A bit of oral family history came from Anna Lucielle Kennaday via her grandson. It held that Johnson Laughlin was an Irish pioneer from NC. A surveyor of note and owner of vasts estates of land. The boundaries were known by low ax cuts on trees – as he was very short.
On the 1820 Caldwell County Census we find the Johnson
Laughlin family listed with 1 male 16-26, 1 male and
1 female less than 10. For some reason, Louisa was not on
the census. But on the 1830 Caldwell County
Census we find the Johnson Laughlin family
listed as 1 male 40-50, 1 male 20-30, 1 male 10-15, 2
females 5-10, and 2 females under 5. Three more children
and still no wife listed. Also the ages don't match.
The male 20-30 was probably not a son, possibly George
Laughlin his younger brother.
In fact, tracking census records just adds to the
confusion. I cannot relate the data with known
people.
Walter Blackburn, a researcher in Princeton, Ky sates that Johnson Laughlin and Louisa Cook had at least two daughters: Rosanne who wed Lewis Blackburn and Sarah Jane.
My ancestor Sarah Jane Laughlin
was born in Jan 1826. She could/would have been one of the
females under the age of 5. Johnson Laughlin was
her witness at her wedding. However, I need stronger
evidence that Johnson was indeed her father, and
then clarity on whom was her mother.
Johnson Laughlin married a second time to Mildred Waller or Walker January 1831. Caldwell County Marriage Book 1 page 138.
Willard Rouse Jillson lists Johnson with a number
of grants in The Kentucky Land Grants. He is
listed with:
100 acres on Caney Creek in Livingston County on
Jan 18, 1806,
160 acres on Trade Water on Dec 1834,
100 acres on Trade Water on Dec. 1841.
Johnson Laughlin was appointed Commissioner to layout the School Districts in Caldwell County in 1839. He was an active surveryor and his name is found on many Caldwell County deeds. This was found in the Family Files of the Caldwell County Library.
The Caldwell county Deed Books list the the following transactions. From Deed book Q on March 21, 1853 Johnson Laughlin sold land on Tradewater "received by patent #25472". From Deed book V page 253, on April 10, 1865 Johnson Laughlin sold land to Lewis Blackburn , his son-in-law for $2. It was witnessed by WW Blackburn and James C. Blackburn.. He was still actively trading with Mildred, his wife in 1868.
The Administrator Bond, page 190 Book 1863-1878 for Caldwell County KY contains the following statement " I, Mildred Laughlin do humbly waive my right to adminsitstor on my deceased husbands estate and would ask the Caldwell County Court to make an appointment. This 17 day of August, 1868." It is signed with her mark, and the testator was John Holman. J.H. Leech was appointed administrator. The oral history states that he Johnson Laughlin is buried in Laughland Place north of Princeton.
RESEARCH QUESTIONS
If you know the answer please CONTACT US
1. What was his birth date?
2. What happened to Louisa?
3. Who was the 20 - 30 year old man living there in 1830?
7. What were his children's names and birth dates?
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Doc; gblau020.html
Date created 7/11/1999
date edited 7/24/2016
date edited 8/14/2016