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THE STORY AS I KNOW IT

Sarah Wherry was born about 1763 maybe in Cumberland County, PA. It is possible that her parents were William & Isabella Wherry.

 Wherry is an unusual name, however, I have not been able to find any documentation to confirm this woman.. We know Sarah married a Laughlin. Wherrys & Laughlins were found in both Cumberland County PA and York County SC.  One IGI entry sates that anthony Laughlin wed Miss Wherry in cumberland county PA c 1781.

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 Cumberland County PA for several years John Laughlin moved his family to South Carolina about 1771. They settled in York County, Camden District. One of his sons was Anthony W. Laughlin.   It is very likely the Sarah Wherry's family moved to South Carolina with the Laughlin family, or because of the Laughlin family.

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 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.

The 1800 SC. Pendleton District Census, page 108 has four Laughlin families on the same page.  The first was Anthony, 2 down John Laughlin, halfway down the page was
John Laughlin and just below him was William Laughlin.  All the men were said to be between 26-44.  I would say they were brothers, except for the double John. A puzzle?
Anthony Laughlins family was said to be
2 males <10  (William and Reuben)
2 males 10-15 (Johnson and John Lewis)
1 male 26-44 (Anthony)
2 females under 10 - never mentioned!
1 female 26-44 (Sarah)

Our Sarah Wherry married Anthony W. Laughlin about 1789 probably in Pendleton District, South Carolina. 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 in Caldwell County
3. William born about 1795 married Winifred Prescott in Caldwell County
4. unknown daughter
5. unknown daughter
6. Reuben about 1800
7. George about March 15, 1803, married Frances Harris in Caldwell County and then Martha Jane Davis in Pope County Ill.

Anthony Laughlin is on the South Carolina 1800 Census of Pendleton District. But in the next few years he moved to Western Kentucky.   He is on record in Livingston County KY in 1805-7. It was a grant of 200 acres including the farm where he was living. The location became part of Caldwell County in 1809. The Kentucky Land Grants by Willard Rouse Jillson lists Anthony on October 16, 1824 with 200 acres on Donaldson's Fork and Trade Water.

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. Confirm that Sarah's parents were William & Isabella.

3. Where and when did he marry?

4. When and where did Anthony and Sarah die?

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Doc; gbwhe010.html
Date created: 2/23/1998
Date Edited 12/22/2014
Date edited 7/1/2016