Wife of John Runyon born 1751 - Uncertainty
Jan 28, 2007 12:34:48 GMT -5
Post by Ira A. Runyan on Jan 28, 2007 12:34:48 GMT -5
The following was in The Jan.-Feb. 2007 Runyon Tidbits at home.satx.rr.com/runyontidbits/
Uncertainty seems to follow all genealogies, but perhaps none more so than Isaac Runyon (1738 to ca 1821). Not only is there no proof to verify the identity of his parents or the location of his marriage, but his son, John, born 1761, married a woman whose name also is not agreed upon. She was identified as Betsy Raemer in Runyon Genealogy by Robert and Amos Runyon (published in Brownsville, TX, in 1955). The authors noted in the book that the spelling of the surname was uncertain. Other persons have said her name before marriage to John was Renner or Runner. In 1988, Clyde Runyon of Belfry, Ky., son of Runyon Genealogy co-author Amos Runyon, shed some light on the controversy. He said Robert and Amos Runyon, in researching their book, traveled to Kentucky to interview elderly Runyon relatives who had memories of Isaac Runyon’s ancestors. One such person was Mrs. Nancy Jane Varney of Road Fork, Ky., who in their presence pronounced Elizabeth’s surname as Raemer and that’s how it got into the book. Clyde wrote, however, that he had found published information that made him definitely decide that John’s wife was really Elizabeth Runner, a daughter of Adam Runner. His source was Early Adventures on Western Waters Vol. II by Mary B. Kegley published by Kegley Books in 1982. “This checks well with the uncertain memory of Mrs. Nancy Jane Varney,” wrote Clyde Runyon. “John Runyon and Elizabeth may have lived in that portion of Wythe County, Va., which was taken to help form Tazewell Co., Va., around 1800. They came to Pike Co., Ky (then part of Floyd Co.), around 1817.” The next question about Elizabeth is whether she was married before John. There is evidence suggesting that she was probably older than John and perhaps was married to a man named Nicholas Harris. More research is needed to confirm this suggestion. (Personal correspondence. Clyde Runyon. 1 Oct. 1988.)
Uncertainty seems to follow all genealogies, but perhaps none more so than Isaac Runyon (1738 to ca 1821). Not only is there no proof to verify the identity of his parents or the location of his marriage, but his son, John, born 1761, married a woman whose name also is not agreed upon. She was identified as Betsy Raemer in Runyon Genealogy by Robert and Amos Runyon (published in Brownsville, TX, in 1955). The authors noted in the book that the spelling of the surname was uncertain. Other persons have said her name before marriage to John was Renner or Runner. In 1988, Clyde Runyon of Belfry, Ky., son of Runyon Genealogy co-author Amos Runyon, shed some light on the controversy. He said Robert and Amos Runyon, in researching their book, traveled to Kentucky to interview elderly Runyon relatives who had memories of Isaac Runyon’s ancestors. One such person was Mrs. Nancy Jane Varney of Road Fork, Ky., who in their presence pronounced Elizabeth’s surname as Raemer and that’s how it got into the book. Clyde wrote, however, that he had found published information that made him definitely decide that John’s wife was really Elizabeth Runner, a daughter of Adam Runner. His source was Early Adventures on Western Waters Vol. II by Mary B. Kegley published by Kegley Books in 1982. “This checks well with the uncertain memory of Mrs. Nancy Jane Varney,” wrote Clyde Runyon. “John Runyon and Elizabeth may have lived in that portion of Wythe County, Va., which was taken to help form Tazewell Co., Va., around 1800. They came to Pike Co., Ky (then part of Floyd Co.), around 1817.” The next question about Elizabeth is whether she was married before John. There is evidence suggesting that she was probably older than John and perhaps was married to a man named Nicholas Harris. More research is needed to confirm this suggestion. (Personal correspondence. Clyde Runyon. 1 Oct. 1988.)