Benjamin Clemons, I

Benjamin Clemons, I
Birthdate:	October 13, 1792
Birthplace:	Lee County, Virginia, United States
Death:	May 19, 1862 (69) Breathitt County, Kentucky, United States
Place of Burial:	Breathitt County, Kentucky, United States
Immediate Family:	Son of William Clement; William Francis Clemons and Rebecca Clemons Husband of Mary Polly Clemons Ex-husband of Mary Clemons Father of John Clemons; Francis “Frank” Clemons; Rhoda Clemons; Mary Jane Clemons; Katherine D. Clemons and 13 others Brother of Elizabeth Betsy McQuinn; Nancy Jane Clemins; Margaret Clemons; Sarah Clemons; Richard Clemons and 3 others Half brother of William Clemmons

Managed by:	Erica Howton
Last Updated:	January 5, 2022

View Complete Profile

view all 35

Immediate Family

About Benjamin Clemons, I

Benjamin CLEMONS Sr, M. Born on 13 Oct 1792 in Lee County, Virginia.1 Benjamin died in Breathitt Co Ky, on 19 May 1862; he was 69. Buried in Laurel Cemetery, Breathitt Co, KY.

On 19 Mar 1819 when Benjamin was 26, he first married Mary (Polly) HAMMON, F, daughter of John HAMMON, M (1781-1854) & Margaret EVANS, F (1786-1855), in Floyd County, KY. Born abt 1804 in Montgomery/Floyd Co, KY. Mary (Polly) died in Near Tygart Creek, Carter Co, KY, in 1879; she was 75. Buried in probably Carter Co, KY.

They had the following children: i. Dora (Vicie), F (1827-<1840) ii. Katherine (Katie)1, F iii. Francis (Franklin), M (1822-~1865) iv. John, M (1822-1889) v. Rhoda, F (~1823-1855) vi. (Mary) Jane, F (~1827-1840)

Abt 1840 when Benjamin was 47, he second married Mary (Polly) FUGATE, F, daughter of Jonathan FUGATE, M (1778-1859) & Lettie (Leticia) WELLS, F (1777->1860), in Breathitt Co Ky. Born in 1813 in Breathitt Co Ky.2 Mary (Polly) died in Breathitt Co Ky, on 24 Sep 1887; she was 74. Race: 1/2 NA.

They had the following children: i. Isaac, M (1832-1864) ii. (Doctor) Moses, M (1833-1897) iii. Benjamin Fugate Jr3, M (1835-1929) iv. Francis, M (1836->1865) v. Elizabeth, F (~1838-1893) vi. Sarah (Sally), F (~1839-) vii. Rebecca, F (1842-) viii. William, M (1842-1914) ix. Andrew Jackson, M (1845-1914) x. Johnston (Jonathan), M (1846-1918) xi. Nancy, F (1850-) xii. Lewis, M (1852-)

Please go to http://familytreemaker.genealogy.com/users/n/o/r/Judith-J-Norman/OD... for list of children and grandchildren.

DNA Clemons Information: Francis Clement (Wm Sr, John) born c 1720, d 1764 Charlotte Co VA wife Elizabeth Cox, children (underage in 1764) Wm (Wm Francis?), Stephen, Judith, and Mary. A William Francis Clements /Clemmons migrated to Breathitt Co KY. Descendants there have a family tradition that he had been born in Pittsylvania Co VA and migrated to western VA and on to KY. His first son was named Benjamin, possibly after his uncle in Pittsylvania Co VA who probably raised the small children after their father died in 1764. There are 2 descendants of this line in the DNA project whose results match those of the rest of the family of John of Hanover and Wm of Amelia.

One of the Clemons tested was a descendent of William Francis Clements of Breathitt Co., Kentucky. According to the website, which tested a numer of Clement/Clemons descendents, the DNA results of this ancestor placed him in Group Nine, which were all descendents of a John Clements of King William, Hanover Co., VA 1660-1749. John of Hanover had four sons William of Amelia Co., VA; Stephen of Goochland Co., VA; Simon of Granville Co., SC and John. William Francis appears to go through the line of William of Amelia Co. There's lots of information available about John of Hanover and his family in Jamestown, Va, and England on Rootsweb.

Basically according to the DNA testing at Family Tree DNA.com a descendent of William Frances Clemmons of Breathitt Co., Ky, test result placed him as a descendent of John Clements of King William/Hanover Co, VA b. 1660, in Gloucester Co., Va. d. 1749 in Hanover Co. A second test participant who was listed as a descendent of William Francis Clements of Pittsylvania, VA also tested in the same group. Apparently John of Hanover had four sons and perhaps other children. They were William of Amelia Co., Va; Stephen of Goochland Co., VA; Simon of Granville Co., VA; and John. Apparently John, Stephen and William are from first wife, Elizabeth (last name unknown.) Simon is from second wife Isabell.

From the DNA website: "William Francis Clemmons may be the son of Francis Clements who died Amelia Co, VA 1764, son of William of Amelia Co., VA, d. 1760, son of John of King Wiliam, Hanover Co., VA." The test participant for William Francis Clemmons had one mutation on the 3rd marker which made him an 11/12 match. However a second test participant for the same descendent had a 12/12 match.

According to the DNA website:

William of Amelia Co. (1680-1760) first son of John of Hanover

John (1687 Abingdon Parish Records-1748) son of John of Hanover; widow Mary

Stephen of Goochland (1692-1746) son of John of Hanover

Simon, youngest son of John of Hanover.

Captain Benjamin Clement, son of William of Amelia Co.

William Clement, died 1764, Amelia Co., was son of William Sr. of Amelia Co.

The test separated out descendents of each brother based on their DNA makeup. I would recommend anyone interested in this line read the report,.

John of Hanover lived to be about 80 plus years and owned a plantation. Portion's of John's will were online at Rootsweb, but I did not write down the specific site.

Apparently there is debate whether John of Hanover's father was Frances Clements b. 1632 in Gloucester, VA or John Clements b,. 1631 in Gloucester Co., VA. They were brothers and both sons of Jeremiah Clements and Edy (Edie, Edith) of London. Possibly her last name was Pierce.'

********************************************************************

Benjamine CLEMONS SR b 1792 according to his gravestone was the son Of FRANCIS CLEMENT/CLEMONS of VA. FRANCIS is related (probably nephew) to BENJAMIN CLEMENT OF PITTSYLVANIA CO VA. Everyone trying to het all those families straightened out. They all go gack to JEREMIAH CLEMONS of Jamestoewn area. Jeremiah was son of Geofrey and ELIZABETH CLEMENT of London England

From Notes of Patricia L Clemons

Well, Francis has to be the father of Benjamin. But I am afraid we are stuck with family tradition, rather than records. In 1962 I went to Breathitt County KY. I found William and Katy Fugate Clemons. William was the grandson of Benjamin Clemons, and had a vast store of memories passed down by the family about the trip from VA to Breathitt Co. I copied down as much as I could. I had a tape recorder, but they had no electricity so I wrote. Later I checked William's info against the census, and found him to be amazingly accurate.

He said that the original Benjamin came into Breathitt with Jonathan Fugate. Benjamin came from a wealthy plantation some where in VA and brought two slaves. He said that Benjamin’s wife had cheated on him in VA and he got his slave to help him catch her, then freed him as a reward. However when Benjamin came to KY the free slave came with him. Benjamin left his cheating wife and a daughter bringing his son John with him. He remarried in (I think ) Floyd Co., KY, which later became Breathitt, a Polly Harmon, and raised a slew of kids.

However, as accurate as William was about most of it, right away I noticed a discrepancy. In the census reports there was always listed a Francis Clemons living near Benjamin, on the So Fork of the Quick Sand River. Francis was older than Benjamin, and he and Jonathan Fugate were around the same age. Francis was born in Va. Benjamin was born in VA but John, Benjamin’s son was born in KY in 1822. Benjamin married Polly Harmon about 1820-21 (am writing this from memory so if it fits you needs I'll get out my books), so William was off by a generation.

It was Francis that came to Breathitt with Jonathan Fugate, who was on the run when he left VA, because he changed his name from Walker to Fugate, which was his mother’s maiden name. The Clemons and Fugates are supposed to have come from Scarpy Flow Scotland. Not so long ago, I found an inquiry on the internet about Francis Clement of Pittsylvania Co VA, father of Benjamin Clemons/Clement of Breathitt Co Ky. I knew the name had been Clements so I checked Pittsylvania, Co VA and the first thing I found was record of Benjamin Clement of Clement Hill. Rich plantation owner listed with slaves on the tithable records. The Clement Hill house is preserved. Haven't had chance to check these records any farther. There is a book on Pittsylvania Co. I want to get when I can afford it.

Also William Clemons told me that the Clemons family came from Siberia. I couldn't figure that out for years. Finally found another Clemons that corrected William and said that it was Iberia that they were from (Ancient Spain) but when I started researching VA, I ran into a few references to Iberia and discovered that there is a New Iberia Co., Louisiana. Checked it out and it is loaded with Clement families.....If you find anything on Clement Hill and Captain Benjamin Clement (the first man to make gunpowder in VA) let me know. Patricia Lindsay Clemons

Changed name from Clement to Clemons in this generation. No reason known for name change. Francis moved his family to Quicksand, Kentucky circa 1815 from Pittsylvania, Virginia. It is believed they moved to the area with a Fugate family.

GEDCOM Note

General Notes:

Notes from Other Researchers:

www.Our Clemons Family.com http://www.myheritage.com/person-2001543_357483_357483/benjamin-cle...

General Notes: Patricia Lindsay Clemons - Copied the following from a stone at Laurel Cemetary in Breathitt County KY: Upright rounded top, crudely carved stone read as follows: "This man was the father of at least 21 children by 2 wives both called Polly"

He had 6 children with his first wife Mary "Polly" Harmon. Harmon is often Hammon...was spelled Harmon on the marriage record in Floyd County 1819.

Polly became angry and went back to live with or near her parents in Morgan County KY. Family tradition has it that John was the only one that stayed with his father.

Benjimin sued his father-in-law for alienation of affection saying he lured his daughter and children away. The law suit got him no where. He then married another Mary "Polly" Fugate and proceeded to have 15 children, naming some of them the same as his first family. Francis for sure. WIlliam and Benjimin Possible.

Several children, possibly Isaac, Bennie, Francis served in the civil war. One of them is rumored to have been locked up at Andersonville Prison. 2 of them, poss Francis & Bennie didn't get along after the war. Son William may have been in Confed. army - see william's info for adtl info.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

CENSUS: 1850 Federal Census, Breathitt County KY 1850 STATE: KY COUNTY: Breathitt DIVISION: District 2 REEL NO: M432-193 PAGE NO: 7A 91-91 CLEMONS Benjm., 53, Farmer Polly, 39, F, KY Isaac, 18, M, Farmer, KY Moses, 17, M, Farmer, KY Benjm., 15, M, Farmer Francis, 14, F Elizabeth, 12, F Sally, 11, F William, 7, M Jackson, 5, M Rebecca, 8, F Johnston, 4, M Nancy, 9/12, F

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
CENSUS: 1860 Federal Census, Breathitt County, KY 513/513 CLEMONS Benjamin, 65, M, Farmer, Virginia Polly, 50, F, Perry William, 18, M, Breathitt Rebecca, 16, F Jackson, 14, M Johnson, 12, M Nancy, 10, F Lewis, 8, M Emry, 2, M
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Benjimin married Mary Polly HARMON [292] [MRIN: 106] about 1819 in Floyd County, KY. (Mary Polly HARMON [292] was born about 1801 in Perry County, KY.)

Benjimin next married Mary Polly FUGATE [265] [MRIN: 105] about 1832 in Unknown. (Mary Polly FUGATE [265] died on 24 Sep 1887 and was buried in Laurel Cemetary, Breathitt County, KY.) --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------General Notes: