Ingram Family HistorySubmitted by Wendy Ingram Norman
The surname "Ingram", according to a news article of unknown origin, is an old German compound name from either Angilramnus or Ingilramnus. The first element (Angil or Ingil) is a derivative of Ingi, an old hero name of unknown meaning. The second part (ramnus) means raven. The effect would be Angil Raven or Ingi's raven. The corresponding English names, Engelram and Ingilram, were popular in England from about 1086 - 1600. In 1086, William the Conqueror had all land owners registered in tax volumes called "The Doomsday Book." The count of Ponthieu, a brother-in-law of William, was listed in this book as an "Ingelram". Other early recorded names were those of John Engleram and John Ingleram, both living in Yorkshire in 1132. The book, "Surnames of Scotland", show Ingram as coming from the names Ingelram and Ingeram. As a personal name, Ingram has been recorded in Scotland since the twelfth century, when one Engleram, Rector of Peebles and Archdeacon of Glasgow, became Chancellor of Scotland in the reign of Malcolm IV. In 1330, a John Ingeram was recorded as a caretaker on land belonging to the Abbot of Arbroath. Sir William Ingelram was a Chaplin of Stirling in 1476, and William Ingerim of Tullobeg was mentioned in 1716. The Ingram coat of arms was granted in 1763 to Archibald Ingram, Provost of Glasgow, and consists of a shield emblazoned with a horizontal ermine or red banner with three gold scallops or shells centered on it. At the top of the shield is an armored helmet with a naturally colored rooster sitting on top of it. Reportedly the family motto is "Ad Sidera Vultus", translated as "Look to the Stars." Within the United States Library of Congress is a book entitled "The Ingrams of Temple Newsman and the Ingrahams of America." This book talks of early Ingrams in England and directs attention to the Temple Newsom, located about five miles from Leeds. Temple Newsom, a Cistercian house founded in 1147 by Henery De Lacy, was one of the great houses of England and the seat of the Ingram family name, known in America as the Ingrahams. The house was purchased by Sir Arthur Ingram in 1602 and remained in the family until 1778 when Charles Ingram died, leaving three daughters but no male heir, and the title became extinct. Notable bearers of the Ingram name include the Reverend Robert Ingram, who published the book "Ten Tribes of Israel in America" in 1792, James Ingram, an Anglo-Saxon scholar who published a translation of the "Saxon Chronicle" in 1823 and Herbert Ingram, who established the "Illustrated London News" in 1842. I do not wish to imply that the above mentioned Ingrams or Ingrahams are, in any way, connected to our family line, but merely suggest that our family name was registered there. English settlers had begun sailing for America in 1607 when Captain Christopher Newport brought three ships into the Chesapeake Bay; but those ship carried only men. These early settlers were confronted with many, often fatal, hardships, so that in 1619 there were only about two thousand people in Virginia. But a ship from England arrived that year transporting a very precious cargo - 90 women to be wed to the settlers who had paid the transportation costs of a hundred and twenty pounds of tobacco for each of the ladies. Virginia's population subsequently began to increase. Early settlers came to America for several reasons: soaring costs, abusive landlords, unfair government policy and extreme punishment for minor offenses were but a few. They also came in search of religious freedom and hopes of "better bread" (or a better life). In 1976, while recovering from a serious illness, I began to look at my own life and realized that I knew very little of my ancestry. What began as asking some basic questions about my grandparents soon turned into a burning desire to know everything there was to know about these people from my past. During one of the early discussions with my mother, she reminded me that in my late teens we had lived up the road from the old Ingram farm on Buck Creek, but I was not aware of its significance at the time. The log cabin, build by my great-grandfather, James Marion Ingram, and still standing in 1989, was made of two large rooms separated by an alcove. Each of the rooms, one for sleeping and the other for living and cooking, had a fire place. I have been told that the milk cow was brought into the alcove during bad weather and that the alcove was also very handy during cold winter nights or otherwise stormy weather. I remembered that, while living there, I spent most of my free time exploring the old log house and the natural gas bubbling up from the creeks and small streams. Many happy hours were spent with cousins riding horseback through the meadows, bursting with beautiful wild flowers of every color and poplar trees flourishing all around; how I loved the peace and quiet. Directly behind the log cabin is a mountain, on top of which is located the old Macedonia combination church/school and the Ingram family cemetery (Chesney Young Ingram, my great-grandmother, appears to have been the first person there in 1917). I remember my mother telling me of how her father, Enoch Stamper, helped convey my grandmother Marion's body, from South Irvine, in a horse drawn wagon to Buck Creek, transferring him to a sled, and pulling him up the mountain to the cemetery for burial. In 1980, as I walked among the headstone of my ancestors and stood in the old church/school house and looked at the wooden benches, teachers podium, and names carved in the benches and written on the walls, to which I added my own, I was almost able to see the people and a life style of an age long past - that I could not readily identify with, having spent most of my life in modern cities. While Harden's farm at Rosses Creek and James' Buck Creek farm no longer belong to the Ingram family, they do provide a romantic place in our family history. In conducting this family history, my husband, Chuck, and I have spent long days, that often turned into weeks, in public court houses, libraries, and genealogical centers (once traveling as far as Salt Lake City, UT, to visit the Latter Day Saints Genealogy Library and Archives) gathering the information available and storing it into our home computer. I don't mean to give the impression that all of my free time over the last 24 years has been spent on this venture. Clearly, as with many hobbies during my lifetime, I would alternately spend several weeks or months at this and then not think of it again for several months or a year, but I have never once, in the last several years, lost sight of one day completing this family history. Some official documents that I have relied upon during this research effort are census records, marriage bonds, military records, tax rolls, wills, and other courthouse records. I have also called upon previously researched information abailable from historical societies and other genealogical groups. Exactly when, from where, or for what reason the first ancestor in our direct lineage came to America, I have, as of this writing, been unable to determine. I acknowledge the possibility of errors in this accounting of my family history and earnestly seek any documented corrections. Wanda Ingram Norman William Ingram was born about 1796 in either Virginia or Tennessee (as reported in differing documents). William and Elizabeth were married at Station Camp, in 1817, by her uncle, The Rev. Joseph Proctor. Joseph Proctor and his wife, Polly Horn, were among the first Estill County settlers, migrating to the area, from Virginia, in 1778. Joseph fought with Daniel Boone and Captain James Estill (for whom Estill County is named in the early Indian Wars of frontier Kentucky. The Station Camp area was a hunting ground and trading camp of the Suwanee Indian Nation in the late 1700's prior to the arrival of Daniel Boone and other white settlers. Children of William Ingram and Elizabeth (Betsy) Horn:
After William's death in 1826, Elizabeth Horn Ingram married William Watson in 1827 and had two sons:
Hardin Ingram, son of William Ingram, was born in Estill Co., KY in 1820 and married Deborah (Debory) Alcorn in 1845. She was the daughter of William Alcorn and Deborah Philips. Hardin and Debory purchased a small piece of property on Rosses Creek in 1853 and bought an additional 50 acres in 1858. In November 1860, they sold the 50 acres purchased in 1858. Deborah died in the spring of 1861 as a result of the birth of their youngest child, Sarilda. Hardin enlisted in the Union Army, Company , 8th Regiment, Kentucky Infantry, in Estill Springs, Y in October 1861. He was wounded at Murfreesboro (Stones River), TN in December, 1862. After recovering from his wounds, Hardin was returned to duty and fought at the Battle of Lookout Mountain, TN in 1863. In early 1864, Hardin was transferred to Company D, 8th Battalion, Kentucky Infantry. Hardin was wounded a second time in April 1864 and was reported to have died in the hospital at Louisville. However, the muster roll for May-June 1864 reports him present but sick. He received his discharge at Chattanooga, TN in November 1864. In January 1865, Hardin married for the second time to Mary Patrick in Estill County. In September 1865, Mary Ingram purchased the same 50 acres on Rosses Creek that Hardin and Deborah had sold in 1860. This property, on the south side of Rosses Creek, was in Estill County prior to the War, but was annexed into the newly formed Lee County in 1870. The 1880 Lee County census has Mary Ingram listed as housekeeper for another family and Hardin as divorced and living with another family. Hardin married for the third time to Elizabeth Stamper in Lee County, KY in March 1882, at the residence of Joseph C. & Malinda Sparks in Lee County. Hardin states, on the marriage bond to Elizabeth, this his father was born in TN, but we don't know if Hardin is speaking of his natural father, William Ingram, or his step-father, William Watson, who raised his from the age of 6 after William Ingram's death in 1826.
Some prominent friends and acquaintances of Hardin's were Joseph C. & Malinda Jane (Barnes) Sparks. Nancy & Hiram Estes, Alice and W. W. Henderson (notary public), A. R. Bryant, minister of the gospel. Thomas Kidwell and J. B. Ashcraft, attorneys, were also among Hardin's parents. When Hardin applied for his pension, he had lived in Whynot, KY in Lee Co. and Station Camp in Estill Co. Debbie's mother stayed with the children while he was in the army. Hardin was discharged at Chattanooga, TN on 17 Nov 1864. He had been shot by a gun in his left side at the Battle of Stone River in 1863. His pension number was #220637. He got $4.00 per month, stating 21 Oct 1891. The amount was increased to $6.00 on 04 Apr 1892. When Hardin applied for his army pension, the following depositions were given: Deposition of Elizabeth Ingram, 70 years old in 1904 - "I was never married until I married the soldier Hardin Ingram. We lived together 23 years. I moved back to Owsley Co., Vincent, KY, until 1903 when I moved to Wagersville, KY. Soldiers who 'tuck him in' were Isaac Botner, Eliga Griffy and Eliga Reece." Deposition of Joseph Sparks, 87 years old in 1904 at "Evelene", Lee Co., KY - "I have known Hardin for 70 years. I made his coffin. I was in the same regt. in the fall of 1861 after serving our term in the 8th, we returned to the same neighborhood." Deposition of Isaac Sparks, 68 in 1904 at Wagersville, KY - "My wife was sister to Debbie Alcorn. Their marriage license were issued in Lee Co., KY, but they were married at Joseph Sparks' on Rosses Creek by Allie Briant. Joseph Sparks made Debbie Alcorn's coffin. I also enlisted in Co. K, 8th Regt. KY Inf." Deposition of John S. Turner, M.D., a doctor in Irvine, 48 in 1904 - "Hardin had a disease of the kidneys, rheumatism in his knees, shoulders, and neck and also disease of the heart. He suffered continuously for about six weeks before his death. Deposition of Lucinda Hoover, 66 in 1904, lived 3/4 miles from Hardin at Wagersville, KY - "Mary Patrick was staying at my house at the time Hardin returned home after being mustered out of the service. Hardin came there one day and hired her to go to his house and do some house work such as washing and cleaning up. She was to also make his children some garments. They agreed on a price and she went to his house as agreed. He afterwards got me several times to go to his house and cut his children some clothes as Mrs. Patrick was not a good hand to cut a garment." Deposition of Joseph Angell, 54 in 1904 at "Eveline", KY - "Debbie's mother was a widow woman and remained with the children until she died near the close of the war. Mary Patrick was hired by Hardin after he came home from service. After the war, he found the children at loss and everything dirty and in a bad shape. Later, Mary burned his house and ran off with a man in the neighborhood. Mary Patrick lived with other people." Deposition of Hiram Estes and Nancy Estes of Wagersville; Hiram was 68 in 1904. Nancy Estes visited Debbie when she was on her death bed. Hiram Estes said Hardin was buried by the "Grand Army". He also stated that Hiram lived in the same place after he returned from the war until his death. Hiram left little property which the applicant soon disposed of to live on. Deposition of John Hoover, 65 in 1904 - John had known Elizabeth since she was 18 years old. Also mention were Vera Henderson, Barbara Henderson, James G. Gentry, Henderson Brandenburg, Alice Henderson, Isabell Angell, John Evans, Hanna Morris, and George Brinegar. Children of Hardin Ingram and Deborah (Debory) Alcorn:
In 1879, James purchased 50 acres of property on Buck Creek (which resides in Estill County) for a grandfather clock, a hog rifle, and $50.00 from Simpson and Julia Horn. In 1880, he purchased an additional 75 acres for $250.00, but the exact location is unknown. James build a log cabin (which was still standing in 1989) on the 50 acre Buck Creek property in the 1880's and some surviving family members remember living there.
Some time after his death, a suit was filed in Estill County Circuit Court by James' daughter, Clara Ingram McKinney and her husband Jesse, against Mandy Ingram Durbin and other heirs. In May, 1934, the Estill County Circuit Court, in settlement of this suit, ruled that the Buck Creek land should be sold at public auction to the highest bidder. Subsequently, the property was auctioned off in July, 1834, and Flora Ingram Fike, another daughter of James, bought the 50 acre farm for $700. Children of James Marion Ingram and Nancy Jane Chesney Young:
Children of Houston Ingram and Louise Durbin:
Children of Simpson Mirrell Ingram and Elizabeth Durbin:
Children of Clara Ingram and Jesse McKinney:
Children of Flora Ingram and Pryse C. Fike:
Children of Vernon Lee Ingram and Rosie Cox:
Francis Marion Ingram, son of James Marion Ingram, was born in Lee County, Kentucky in 1872. He married Flora Bell Cornett (her second) in Lee County, at the home of Mary Cornett, in 1897. Flora Belle had previously been married to Scott Schull, a Lee County Coal Miner, in 1894, and had a daughter named Addie, who was born in 1895. Marion and Flora Belle had four daughters before she died giving birth to their only son in 1910 Children of Francis Marion Ingram and Flora Bell Cornett:
Francis married for the second time to Louanna Sparks in 1913 at Yellow Rock in Lee County, Kentucky. She was the daughter of William Joseph Sparks and Malinda Jane Lynch. Louanna brought a son, Clarance, born in 1910, into the marriage. Marion and Louanna had eleven children together: three sons and eight daughters with three of the daughters dying in infancy. Their first six children were born in Lee County and the last five in Estill County. Marion's father, James, died in 1925 and sometime thereafter, Marion moved his family to James' far on Buck Creek where they lived until about 1934. Marion died in Estill County, Kentucky in October, 1938, and is buried in the Ingram Family Cemetery, behind the Macedonia School/Church located at the top of the hill above the Buck Creek Farm. Marion's infant son and his first wife, Flora, are buried in the larger and older cemetery across the road. After Marion's death, Louanna married James (Jim) Kaylor about 1943 and they resided in College Hill, KY until his passing. Louanna moved to Richmond, Kentucky where she lived until her death in 1973. She is buried at Richmond Cemetery under the name of Lou Ingram Kaylor. Children of Francis Marion Ingram and Louanna Sparks:
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