On May 14, 1855 her mother, Martha, and Moses were married. Apparently, Moses was the only father Margaret Jane ever knew as he was given as the name of her father on her death certificate. However, her marriage record to James K. Polk Epperson uses Williams as her last name. Her death certificate gives her mother's name as Martha Alford and gives Moses Falwell as her father.
"The family story is this: Martha went to live with her sister, Sarah, and her husband, Moses Falwell, when Sarah became ill (illness not known). Martha became pregnant by Moses while she was there and the birth of Margaret Jane Falwell (Williams) occurred in 1844. Then of course Sarah died I believe in 1848. So if this is true, Sarah must have been ill for a few years. Anyway, that is the story that my grandfather told me that he had heard from his mother, probably. Now, we don't know how the Williams part comes in. Martha married Moses Falwell on 5/14/1855 in Marshall County. I eventually located the estate record of Martha Alford Falwell's father, Andrew Alford." ~ Story by Barry Lamb, July 2016. Margaret Jane was his Great Great Grandmother.
UPDATE: October 2018 - A recent Ancestry DNA match to me of Margaret Jane's 4th great grandson should prove that Margaret Jane was, indeed, the daughter of Moses!
Margaret married James K. Polk Epperson on January 26, 1860 in Marshall County, Tennessee. Some of their children are:
Martha Ella Epperson, John Thomas Epperson, and Sara "Sally" Elizabeth Epperson.
***************************************
1850 United States Federal Census
Name: Martha Williams
[Martha Alford]
Age: 61 (Should be 41 - transcription error)
Birth Year: abt 1789 [1809]
Birthplace: North Carolina
Home in 1850: District 8, Marshall, Tennessee
Gender: Female
Family Number: 509
Household Members:
Name Age
Moses Fallwell 46
Elisha L Fallwell 11
Elizabeth M Fallwell 9
Martha M Fallwell 7
William T Fallwell 5
Jas T Fallwell 3
Mahala Alfred 36
Martha Williams 61 (Should be 41 - transcription error)
Margaret Williams 5
***************************************
Tennessee, Death Records, 1914-1955
Name: Margrett Jane Epperson
Event: Death Event Date: 13 Mar 1922
Event Place: Marshall, Tennessee
Gender: Female Marital Status: Widowed
Race or Color: White Age: 28
Birth Date: 06 Jan 1844 Birthplace: Marshall Co., TN
Father: Mose Falwell (Moses Falwell)
Father's Birthplace: N.C.
Mother: Marthey Alford (Martha Alford-Williams Falwell)
Mother's Birthplace: N.C.
Cemetery: Joyce Burial Date: 14 Mar 1922
Digital Folder Number: 4184087 Image Number: 1857 Film Number: 1299747
Volume/Page/Certificate Number: v 39 cn 261
On May 14, 1855 her mother, Martha, and Moses were married. Apparently, Moses was the only father Margaret Jane ever knew as he was given as the name of her father on her death certificate. However, her marriage record to James K. Polk Epperson uses Williams as her last name. Her death certificate gives her mother's name as Martha Alford and gives Moses Falwell as her father.
"The family story is this: Martha went to live with her sister, Sarah, and her husband, Moses Falwell, when Sarah became ill (illness not known). Martha became pregnant by Moses while she was there and the birth of Margaret Jane Falwell (Williams) occurred in 1844. Then of course Sarah died I believe in 1848. So if this is true, Sarah must have been ill for a few years. Anyway, that is the story that my grandfather told me that he had heard from his mother, probably. Now, we don't know how the Williams part comes in. Martha married Moses Falwell on 5/14/1855 in Marshall County. I eventually located the estate record of Martha Alford Falwell's father, Andrew Alford." ~ Story by Barry Lamb, July 2016. Margaret Jane was his Great Great Grandmother.
UPDATE: October 2018 - A recent Ancestry DNA match to me of Margaret Jane's 4th great grandson should prove that Margaret Jane was, indeed, the daughter of Moses!
Margaret married James K. Polk Epperson on January 26, 1860 in Marshall County, Tennessee. Some of their children are:
Martha Ella Epperson, John Thomas Epperson, and Sara "Sally" Elizabeth Epperson.
***************************************
1850 United States Federal Census
Name: Martha Williams
[Martha Alford]
Age: 61 (Should be 41 - transcription error)
Birth Year: abt 1789 [1809]
Birthplace: North Carolina
Home in 1850: District 8, Marshall, Tennessee
Gender: Female
Family Number: 509
Household Members:
Name Age
Moses Fallwell 46
Elisha L Fallwell 11
Elizabeth M Fallwell 9
Martha M Fallwell 7
William T Fallwell 5
Jas T Fallwell 3
Mahala Alfred 36
Martha Williams 61 (Should be 41 - transcription error)
Margaret Williams 5
***************************************
Tennessee, Death Records, 1914-1955
Name: Margrett Jane Epperson
Event: Death Event Date: 13 Mar 1922
Event Place: Marshall, Tennessee
Gender: Female Marital Status: Widowed
Race or Color: White Age: 28
Birth Date: 06 Jan 1844 Birthplace: Marshall Co., TN
Father: Mose Falwell (Moses Falwell)
Father's Birthplace: N.C.
Mother: Marthey Alford (Martha Alford-Williams Falwell)
Mother's Birthplace: N.C.
Cemetery: Joyce Burial Date: 14 Mar 1922
Digital Folder Number: 4184087 Image Number: 1857 Film Number: 1299747
Volume/Page/Certificate Number: v 39 cn 261
Family Members
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See more Epperson or Williams-Falwell memorials in:
- Joyce-Epperson Cemetery Epperson or Williams-Falwell
- Bedford County Epperson or Williams-Falwell
- Tennessee Epperson or Williams-Falwell
- USA Epperson or Williams-Falwell
- Find a Grave Epperson or Williams-Falwell
Records on Ancestry
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