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THE STORY AS I KNOW IT

Anthony W. Laughlin was born October 7, 1764 in Big Spring, Cumberland County, PA. His parents are believed to be John Laughlin and Mary White.

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.

After living in PA for several years John Laughlin moved his family to South Carolina about 1771. They settled in York County, Camden District.

In 1769 Judicial Districts were formed in South Carolina. There were seven districts in all. Camden District lay in a northwest to southeast line from center of the state bordering on North Carolina to border on the Georgetown District 50 miles from the coast. In 1785 Counties were formed within the districts. The Camden District contained nine counties in all by 1792. They were Chester, Clarendon, Claremont, Fairfield, Kershaw, Lancaster, Richland, Salem and York Counties.

 The LeBlanc Genealogy notes a source that said Anthony Laughlin fought in the Battle of Kings Mountain in the Revolutionary War on his sixteenth birthday. This took place on Oct. 7, 1780 in York County about 1-1/2 miles from the North Carolina border. He was paid for 27 days of service in the South Carolina Militia.  Stub Entries to indents in South Carolina Treasury, L-M, Book 1, page 61, #343  "Issued 18 October 1784 to Mr. Anthony Laughlin for 7 pounds, 18 shillings, and 6 pence, 3 farthings, for 27 days of militia duty."

Kings Mountain straddles the two Carolinas. A description of this battle in The American Heritage Book of the Revolution sums it up thus "Planning to expand his operations northward, Cornwallis sent his left wing, a Tory force under Patrick Ferguson, to sweep the interior of the Carolinas. On October 7 it was attacked at King's Mountain by what Ferguson called "backwater men....a set of mongrels" under Isaac Shelby and John Sevier. The rugged pioneers killed Ferguson and knocked out 80% of his command, a crushing defeat which disabused Cornwallis of any ideas of taking North Carolina in 1780."

The Cherokee Lands in the far west corner of the state became part of the Ninety-Six District. Of that Pendleton County was formed. It was later renamed Anderson County with some changes in its boundaries

Anthony married Sarah Wherry about 1789 probably in Pendleton District, South Carolina. A note in the Caldwell County Ky History Center Laughlin Surname file stated that they wed in Bullocks' Creek South Carolina.  that is between Spartanburg and Rock Hill.  They had the following known children:
1. John Lewis born about 1790 married Charlotte Durley in Caldwell County KY
2. Johnson born 1791 married Louisa Cook and then Mildred Waller. (both in Caldwell County)
3. William born about 1795 married Winifred Prescott in Caldwell County
4. Rosanna born about 1798
5. Reuben born about 1800
6. George born March 15, 1803, married Frances Harris in Caldwell County and second Martha Jane Davis in Pope County Ill.

The Wherry family was also known to be in both Cumberland County PA and Pendleton District SC.

Anthony Laughlin is on the South Carolina 1800 Census of Pendleton District. He then moved to Western Kentucky, probably with some brothers.

According to the Livingston County Deed Book, Anthony Laughlin bought land in 1805 in Livingston County, Ky. It was a grant of 200 acres including the farm where he was living. John Laughlin bought land there in 1807 and James Laughlin in 1808. The location became part of Caldwell County in 1809. The Kentucky Land Grants by Willard Rouse Jillson list Anthony Laughlin on October 16, 1824 with 200 acres on Donaldson's Fork and Trade Water. John and James Laughlin were brothers to Anthony.

The Caldwell County Tx List of 1814 lists the Laughlins on Donaldson Creek.  they were Johnston, James, John, Samuel, and Anthony.

The Caldwell County Deed Book E, page 42 states that Anthony sold land on September 5, 1825 to George Laughlin on Donaldson Fork. It was witnessed by Zebulon Blackburn and James Laughlin. On November 4, 1828 he sold land to Rueben Laughlin on Donaldson Fork as well as Rosanna Laughlin. The sale was completed in 1829. Anthony appeared in court a final time on April 30 1829.

The 1830 Caldwell county Census, page 152, image 28 has Anthony Laughlin
1 male 60-70 years old
1 female 60 - 70 years old
1 female 10 - 15 years old. 

The young woman would have been Winifred Prescott Laughlin, William and Winifred Laughlin's daughter. The Caldwell county KY Guardian Bonds, from Wester Ky Journal Vol VI, #4 note that Anthony Laughlin was appointed guardian for Winifred Prescott Laughlin, heir and infant of William Laughlin deceased on Jan 16, 1826.

It is not known when or where Anthony or his wife, Sarah  died.  Family trees on Ancestry state he died on May 18, 1837 and she died the same year.  However, none give the source for the information.

If you know the answer please CONTACT US

1. Get Cumberland County PA local information.

2. When and where did Anthony and Sarah die?

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Date created  7/12/1999
Date edited 7/1/2016