I’ve heard from cousin Warren Sanford McLaughlin, III who reports that Joseph Cunningham & Phoebe Cunningham are probably “not” the parents of Mahala Mary “Haley” (Cunningham) Ross who married William Ashburn 'Old Billy' Ross (although likely related).
He writes:
“ I know there has been a mention of a Mahala Cunningham in a newspaper article in search of all possible heirs of Joseph Cunningham of Sweetwater. But she is not included in the final legal document as an heir. All 13 children (living and deceased) of Joseph Cunningham of Sweetwater are mentioned, and Mahala Mary Cunningham is not among them. Either she was found out to not be a legal heir, or she was another Mahala Cunningham, possibly a granddaughter of Joseph Cunningham of Sweetwater. There were some grandchildren mentioned. It may also show (or indicate) that Mahala Mary was at least a cousin or niece, if she is not a granddaughter?
All of Mahala Mary Cunningham's US Census records has her birthplace as Kentucky. Her children's 1880 US Census records have her birthplace(s) as Alabama, Kentucky, Tennessee, etc. I have been able to conclude that her correct parents (and DNA supports this) are Jospeh N. Cunningham (found in the 1820 US census in Hopkins, Kentucky) and Henrietta Elizabeth "Eliza" Clark.
Jospeh N. Cunningham and Henrietta Elizabeth "Eliza" Clark relocated to Jefferson County, Alabama after 1820, as they were living there in 4 May 1823 when their son Moses Cunningham married, and in 4 Aug 1825 when their daughter Charlotte Cunningham married.
Henrietta Elizabeth "Eliza" Clark Cunningham is found in the 1830 US Census living in Lincoln County, Tennessee. She is listed there with her other children, including Mahala Mary Cunningham. Her son Moses Cunningham is also listed in the 1830 US Census living there with his family. It seems possible that Moses may have moved there first, or they moved there together.
We do know that John N. Cunningham died prior to the 1830 US census. He either died in Jefferson County, Alabama, or he died shortly after the family moved to Lincoln County, Tennessee. My guess is he died in Alabama, then Eliza Clark Cunningham and family moved to Lincoln County, Tennessee where her son Moses was already living? That is just a theory though, with nothing to support it.
This is likely why Mahala Mary Cunningham Ross' children so often mentioned her birthplace as Alabama, as she lived there as a child, from before 1823, to about 1829. This is also how Mahala Mary Cunningham was in Lincoln County, Tennessee to eventually meet William Ashburn Ross, as William was also living there in 1830.
I had no DNA matches on ancestry.com with any Cunningham's until I cut loose Joseph Cunningham of Sweetwater and Phoebe Fine, and added John N. Cunningham and Eliza Clark. Then I received numerous ancestry.com 'ThruLines' direct connections to this Cunningham line. Also, Mahala Mary Cunningham Ross named several of her children after her mother and siblings, for instance Charlotte. And Charlotte named one of her daughters Mahala. ...”
—-
I’ll be adjusting her tree accordinly.
