2009 Early Family Reunion

The Early Family 2009 reunion took place in Cumberland Falls State Park at the historic Dupont Lodge on August 1. Though the economy likely contributed to an overall slight decrease in attendance from 2007, all participants were enthusiastic! The competition for those who came the greatest distance was close: Jeri Turner drove all the way from Texas with her mother, Ethellea Jane Early Robison and her two boys, Jackson and Justin Turner while Jennifer Early Kiser and her husband Gene also made the long trek from Houston, Texas with their boys, Jacob and Joshua. Other participants came from all over Kentucky, Ohio, Virginia, and South Carolina. Activities began Friday evening with a cookout at the Picnic Shelter overlooking the Cumberland River which lasted until after sunset.

There were several highlights from Saturday morning’s gathering, not the least of which was the time to visit and catch up with other cousins. Highlights of the previous year’s gathering in Bristol to explore the earliest known Early family connections in Washington County, Virginia were presented. Visits to Green Springs and Sinking Springs Cemeteries with Mr Gene Mathis were recounted. A video interview recorded at our 2008 meeting with local historian and genealogist Bud Phillips was viewed, in which he shared some entertaining and insightful vignettes about some of our Allied Families who were prominent in this area, including the Sharps, Pembertons, Draytons. Jay Robison shared information he received from our cousin James Early in Cincinnati about William Pemberton and also postulated an interesting theory suggesting that the “miserable date” that William Early was born on – ( as indicated on the earlier headstone inscription) may well have been during the Battle of Black’s Fort, now Abingdon. However, there is little other information to date about the families who were huddled in this fort. Jennifer Kiser shared her findings about a possible Early connection as an indentured servant to a Pemberton, which is a promising lead back to the immigration of even earlier ancestors. Dennis Earley shared his discovery of William Early on the muster rolls during the War of 1812.

Jack Early provided a complete review of the multiple prestigious genealogic societies that Early family members are eligible to join. Among these are Society of the War of 1812, of which Jack has been president. Jack recounted that the term “ Kentucky Colonel” comes from Issac Shelby’s efforts to raise 3000 men after the Battle of the Thames during the War of 1812, during which William and Joseph Early served. Depending on the line, many descendants are also eligible for the following:

1) The Society for Sons/Daughters of American Colonists

2) Society of Colonial Wars / Society of Colonial Dames ( via Mary Price, from Thomas Price 1754-55)

3) Sons/Daughters of the American Revolution

4) First Families of Kentucky (via Rebecca Sammons the 2^nd wife of James Harvey Early and Charles Gatliff , 1792)

5) Military Order of the Loyal Legion of the United States (MOLLUS) – Descendants from officers of United States during the Civil War

Jack Early, like another of our cousins, Edna Early (Thomas) Chandler, has been actively involved in nearly all of these important societies and an officer in many. Edna could not attend this year due to illness, but Jack offered to assist any family members interested in joining these genealogic organizations.

Dennis Earley was elected to a 2 year term as President and Jennifer Kiser provided an overview of finances for the family reunion. Dennis and brother, Ronald Earley and their families were recognized for their contribution as “grounds keepers” in maintaining the family cemeteries and organizing the afternoon cemetery tours. Additional items discussed besides the timing and location of our next reunion in the summer of 2011 included the possibility of alternating every other the reunion (for example, in 4 years 2013) to another area of the country that might be more centrally located for other Early descendants such as the Gatliffs in Iowa, or perhaps Arkansas or Texas. However, every other reunion (2011, 2015, 2019 etc.) would be based in Kentucky in the Williamsburg area. No decision was made about the best way to update Col. Early’s book. It will take some dedicated effort and resources that the family currently does not have, but is felt by all to be so important that we will continue to explore possibilities. The current website, http://earlyfamiliesofknoxandwhitleycounty.blogspot.com/ will continue to be maintained while we explore other methods of expanding a presence on the web. The afternoon cemetery tour also included an excursion to the Laughlin cemetery, which was a real treat since it is more difficult to access. Almost certainly Hannah Laughlin Early, the wife of William Early, is buried here, and discussion and exploration regarding the actual location of her site was of great interest. Concern about the possible deterioration of William Early’s marker precipitated a discussion about the best way to preserve the marker. Several family members vowed to explore the best methods to do this further.