(This page is a work in progress)
John Cunningham married Ann/Nancy Davis who is probably the daughter of Absalom Davis who had several sons that served as Patriots in the Revolutionary War with John. Ann noted in her widow's pension application that they were married while John was garrisoned at "Fort Clark" or "Clark's Fort" in 1781. If one examines the early land records for Wilkes County the names of John Cunningham and Absalom Davis can be found adjoining one another on land at the mouth of Mill Creek just south of the massive plantation of General Elijah Clarke that was sometimes referred to as "Fort Clark" located at the junction of the Savannah River and Fishing Creek. Much of Elijah Clarke's plantation is now underwater after the Clark's Hill/Thurmond Lake dam on the Savannah River was completed in 1954. The grave of Elijah and his wife were relocated to the Elijah Clark State Park farther downstream in present day Lincoln County; The state park site is also where General John Dooly was killed by a group of British Loyalists.
Many of Absalom Davis's sons also served and they too can be found owning land on plats that were fairly close to John and Absalom (Abaslom Jr., Chesly, Gideon, Lewis and Wiley).
Ann (Nancy) Cunningham 1838 Widow's Pension Elbert County GA
(The entire 159 page pension application and supporting documentation is available on FOLD3.COM)
Highlights:
Ann/Nancy age 76 or 77 in 1838; Widow of Colonel John Cunningham who died March 12, 1829; He was a Major and Lt. Colonel in the Revolutionary War; They were married August 10, 1781; Met him 3 years before when he was acting as a Major in the State of SC, Abbeville District; Served under Pickens, Green and Clarke; Battle of Cowpens, Siege of Augusta and others.
Certified by F.B Cunningham (son Franklin B. Cunningham)
Ann/Nancy died March 19, 1849 in Elbert County; Survived by only 3 of their 6 children, Franklin and John Cunningham and Elizabeth Wanslow.
Children of Ann/Nancy and John Cunningham:
Son: Franklin b Aug 14, 1784
Son: Johnson b Feb 14, 1784?
Son: Joseph b March 11, 1788 d Sept 18 1809
Son: James S b March 9, 17__ died Dec 29, 1824
Son: John A b Dec 14, 179_
Daughter: Elizabeth b Feb 20 1783, married Wanslow (See Footnote [1] below - Elizabeth married Reuben Wansley son of Rev War soldier John Wansley.)
Colonel John Cunningham's parents appear to be James and Jean/Jane Cunningham, immigrants from Northern Ireland that settled in the Abbeville District of SC. They both are likely buried in the Old Rocky River Presbyterian Church located just east of the Savannah River between Lowndesville and Calhoun Falls.[2] The Wills of both James and Jane can be found online and from the SC Archives.
- 1798 Will of James Cunningham, Abbeville District
Wife: Jane/Jean
Children:
John Cunningham
James Cunningham
Samuel Cunningham
Jean Carson (later married John Moore)
Sara Fleming (married Moses Fleming)
- 1811 Will of Jane/Jean Cunningham, Abbeville District (Widow of James)
200 acre plantation
Children:
James
John
Samuel
(John and Samuel she notes as her 2 oldest sons)
Jane Moore
Sarah Fleming
- We also have the Wilkes County Georgia record dated June 30, 1787 for James Cunningham of Abbeville, SC where he notes daughter Jane Carson and wife Jean Cunningham. Moses Fleming and John Cunningham (JP) are witnesses.[3]
James Cunningham Will 1826 Pendleton District (Son of James and Jean/Jane)
- James Cunningham's Will notes his brother John and John's daughter Elizabeth Waudily (Wansley), sister Jane Moore, and his plantation on Weems Creek that he bought from Samuel Taylor.[4] He notes lands in the State of Georgia granted to Moses Fleming for which he claims a right.
Weems Creek, a tributary of the Savannah River, currently runs from just west of Starr, SC where it joins Big Generostee Creek at the Savannah just below the Hartwell Dam and very close to the Georgia lands owned by Chesley and Wiley Davis and Moses Fleming.
Sarah Cunningham Fleming 1851 Will Elbert County, Georgia
Beneficiaries:
Rutha Elmira Theodosia Fleming
Sarah Fleming, daughter of John Fleming
Nancy and Sarah Ann Fleming, daughters of David C. Fleming
John A. Cunningham and his children
Franklin Cunningham
Elizabeth Wanslow
(John A. Cunningham, Franklin Cunningham and Elizabeth Wanslow are noted in the same paragraph indicating a familial relationship)
Samuel Fleming's children
Moses T. Fleming
John Fleming's children
David C. Fleming
David Fleming's children (David, deceased; brother of her husband)
(Sarah married Moses Fleming. Samuel, the brother of Moses fathered Moses T. Fleming)
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[1] There are no specific records which prove that Reuben married Elizabeth Cunningham, the daughter of John and Ann, but through an examination of numerous Wills and records I concur with the conclusion that many others have made that they did marry. One telling record is the land plat for Franklin Cunningham (brother of Elizabeth) which bordered present day Luther Burton Road in Elbert County on Coldwater Creek. This land is less than 5 miles from the Wansley Family Cemetery that is located near the Coldwater Creek boat ramp (south side) and Highway 368. This provides another piece of the puzzle indicating that Elizabeth married a Wansley but it doesn't show which Wansley she married. Also, Reuben and Elizabeth had sons named Fleming and Johnson - another piece of the puzzle.
[2] Some claim that their sons James and Samuel are also buried in the same cemetery.
[3] Michael Martin Farmer, Wilkes County, Georgia, Deed Books A-VV, 1784-1806, (Farmer Genealogical Company, 1996) p.69
[4] This Samuel Taylor is likely Major Samuel Taylor the Revolutionary Was soldier. Major Taylor owned near present day Clemson, SC - very close to the lands of Col. Robert Anderson and General Andrew Pickens. Major Taylor's plantation is now mostly a part of the Clemson University campus (The Clemson golf course is almost directly adjacent).
(This page was updated on 10/3/2021)