The Powers Family History

by Jan Maune

On the 1850 and 1860 Census the wife of David Powers born Washington VA 1830  was listed as Susan. Our oral family history stated that his "first wife  died during the Civil War." Since the death certificate of Billie Powers  born 1859 stated his mother's name was Lisa Fortune, this verified the oral tradition of Davey's wife as Susan Fortune along with the census records listing a "Susan". The informant for Billy Powers' death in Johnson KY was his second wife Ollie Jeff who signed her name as Ollie Cecil. This would be our "Aunt Ollie".

However, we later found out that Davey's SECOND wife married by 1880 was Eliza M. Fortune White, d/o Jessee Fortune of Floyd and Johnson KY from the death Certificate of Eliza M Powers in Boyd KY in 1918. This information is verified by the Civil War Pension of Eliza M. Powers of Boyd KY who filed for widow's pension of Richard White in 1916. The 1910 Miracode Census of Boyd Ky lists a David A Powers born VA and Eliza M Powers born KY. From the records of Albert Lee Powers in "A Boy Grows Up" he relates the family move to OK by taking a train from Ashland in 1810. On the journey to Ashland, they stopped in to say good bye to "Grandpa Davey" but he was so sick his "second wife" wouldn't let them see him.

Davey Powers died in 1911 in Boyd KY listed as born Washington VA and mother Sally Gobble. The informant was Emma Fortune Compton, sister of Eliza M. Powers.

The 1880 Census of Washington, VA has Davey Powers (son), Eliza M (d-i-l), George W. (grandson) and John B. (grandson) in the household of Henry Powers and Sarah/Sallie.

The death certificate of George W. Powers (son of Davey Powers) in 1953 was filed by his son Carl Powers and stated George's mother was Mary LILLY. Billie Powers would have been four or five years old when his mother died. 

George Powers born 1862/63 would have been a baby so we went searching for a death certificate of an older sibling and finally found the certificate of Crecy Powers Hurt born 1851 (death certificate) who married Francis Hurt and died in Pike KY in 1940. Crecy would have been either 13 or 14 and would have known her mother Susan much longer than the younger children.

The informant was Isaac Hurt (son - Johnson birth records).. He stated her birthplace was Washington, VA (agrees with census records), her deceased husband was Frank Hurt, her father was Dave Powers born VA and mother Susan LILLIE born Va. Susan's surname as being LILLY would make much more sense since they started their family when Davey was appx 15 and Susan 13 in Washington, VA with eldest sons Henry, Hardy and oldest daughter Martha born before 1850. (1850 Washington VA Census listed next to Henry and Sally Powers/Bowers)

Property bordering neighbors of the Powers in Washington VA were the sons of Hardy Lilly from NC to Washington Va circa 1810, David Lilly 60 and Bird Lilly 45.

The household of David Lilly and Lucretia Phelps Lilly of Washington VA had a daughter of Susan's age in the 1840 Census. No marriage record has yet been found but we believe that David's son Hardy was named for the patriarch Hardy Lilly and Crecy was named for Lucretia Phelps wife of David Lilly and Lucretia Phelps mother was also named Susan.

In the 1870 Census of Johnson KY we find the daughter of Davey and Susan Powers, Mary Powers house keeper , listed in the household of Joel Lilly and Elizabeth of Virginia.

This Joel Lilly and wife Elizabeth returned to Washington VA in 1880 with their family and finally ended out their lives in Russell VA. where Joel can be located in the 1910 Census. Mary Powers appears to have remained in the household but is now considered a "Lilly" as was often the case of families taking in other children.

Joel Lilly was the son of David and Lucretia Lilly and married Elizabeth Nunley 18 April 1861 in Washington VA. (Washington County Marriage Records 1853-1880 by Thomas Colley). This would make Joel Lilly the younger brother of Susan Lilly Powers.

Mary Powers "Lilly" died in 1891 in Washington VA of the measles within a few days of Clementine Lilly (younger "sister"). Mary's age and name is slightly inconsistent in the census records 1870 -1890 but her birth date was always before the marriage date of Joel and Elizabeth in 1861. Joel and

Elizabeth were listed as informants/parents for both deaths in 1891.A marriage record probably will never be found for Davey Powers and Susan Lilly because they were much closer to the county seat in Russell VA and unfortunately all of those records are "missing" until 1853.

With the above records and especially the death certificates of Crecy Powers Hurt and George W Powers, it appears the wife of David Powers of Washington VA born 1830 was Susan LILLY probably daughter of David Lilly and Lucretia Phelps and that all of the children of David (Davey born 1830)

Powers born before 1865 had the mother SUSAN LILLY.

These children would be:

 Be sure to view the Powers Family Album and see the Powers Family Death certificates

Visit the Powers Family Tree

Visit the WDC GenWeb - Descendants of David Powers

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