Mary Cunningham

Mary Musgrove was born 1738 in Fairfax County, Virginia (2) and died 1809 in Washington County, Tennessee. She has been also known as Mary Musgrave, Mary Mesgroves, and seems to be erroneously listed on an IGI (FamilySearch.org) record as Mary Morgan. Another source has her listed as the widow of John Musgrove: this seems incorrect.

Parents: John Musgrove, Sr (1683-1746) and (?) (1695-1747). Possibly "Elizabeth" but she is "said" to have died in 1732 / other sources have 1742. There is a gap in children's births; did John have a 2nd wife? Also, who was her guardian after John's death when she was 8 years old?

• from the will of John Musgrove probated 1746 in Fairfax VA: Item I give to my well beloved daughter Mary Musgrove that plantation that is now held by Jeremiah purling with all things pertaining thereunto with one negro woman called Hannah with her saddle and briddle.

Married:

1. about 1746 to unknown Jackson. n.b. not legally married.
2. about 1750 in North Carolina to Christopher Cunningham (1710-1782), as his second wife.

Children of Mary Musgrove and unknown Jackson:

1. Rachel Jackson

Children of Mary Musgrove and Christopher Cunningham:

1. Lydia Cunningham, b. Abt. 1752, d. 1800, Missouri
2. John Cunningham, b. Abt. 1754, d. 09 Mar 1812, Washington County, Tennessee
3. Mary Cunningham, b. Abt. 1756, d. date unknown, Missouri
4. Jane Cunningham, b. Abt. 1757, d. 1818, Carter County, Tennessee
5. Sarah Cunningham, b. Abt. 1757, d. date unknown.
6. Ann Cunningham, b. Abt. 1758, d. date unknown.
7. Jacob Cunningham, b. Abt. 1759, d. Bef. 1852.
8. Joseph Cunningham, b. 03 Nov 1767, Tennessee, d. 21 May 1858, Sweetwater, Monroe County, Tennessee
9. Moses Cunningham, b. 14 May 1771, Carter County, Tennessee, d. Aft. 1850, Sevier or Blount County, Tennessee.
10. Matthew Cunningham, b. 18 Jan 1772, d. Aft. 1852, Texas
11. Aaron Cunningham, b. 14 May 1774, d. Abt. 1845, Hardin County, Tennessee.
12. David Roe Cunningham, b. Oct 1775, Virginia, d. Bef. 1831, Hampton, Elizabeth City County, Virginia.

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Notes

• On 18 Sep 1798, Mary Cunningham, widow of Christopher, conveys 590 acres to Isaac and Nathanial Taylor. Land "willed me during my life by Christopher Cunningham, a field occupied by Aaron Cunningham, lying next to Jesse Whitson's" . Wit: Andrew Taylor and William McNabb.
• Christopher's estate records revealed that Mary, at age 16, had given birth to an illegitimate daughter who was "now known as Rachel Jackson."

source:

• Mildred Fournier [http://wc.rootsweb.ancestry.com/cgi-bin/igm.cgi?op=GET&db=tlallman&...]
• [http://members.fortunecity.com/mfournier/d49.htm#P654]

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Christopher Cunningham's Will

Pages 3 & 4, Book 1 (names A-D), Washington County TN Wills, 1775-1875

Christopher Cunningham 10 Nov 1782
In the state of North Carolina.

To wife Mary: one third of all my household goods and moveables with one third part of all lands and tenements.

To my fifteen children: Elizabeth Gatril, Susanna Robertson, Lydia Cunningham, John Cunningham, Mary Job, Ann Orr, Sarah Cunningham, Jane Cunningham, Jacob Cunningham, Joseph Cunningham, Matthew Cunningham, Moses Cunningham, Aaron Cunningham, Alinar [Elinor] Cunningham, David Cunningham: equally divide all lands and tenements.

Daughters Elizabeth and Susanna are to have no part of the legacy that John Mesgroves left to Mary.

Lands to be undivided until the youngest child comes of age.

Executors: Mattew Talbot, Joseph Tipton. Witnesses: Robert Orr, Isaac Taylor.

from: http://www.tngenweb.org/washington/peoplemisc/WillBks1_4.htm#Cunnin...

Disambiguation

As of 19 November 2022, https://www.wikitree.com/wiki/Musgrove-263 claims this Mary Musgrove, born in Fairfax County, Virginia in 1738, daughter of John Musgrove and named in his 1746 will; as born 1738 in Baltimore, Maryland, and daughter of Charles Musgrove. But his daughter is seen as Mary Reeves.

See his Will at https://www.wikitree.com/wiki/Musgrove-619:

Charles Musgrove wrote his Will 16 February 1744 (probate 4 May 1751) at Charles County, Maryland (Wills 1734-1752, volume 4, folios 336-337). … On 18 July 1752, Catherine Musgrave, Executrix, recorded an account of Charles estate. The record noted that the balance of the estate was bequeathed to the widow during her natural life, then to be equally divided between six of Charles Musgrave’s children: Charles, Harrison, Eliz, Lidya, Heneritta, and Charity Musgraves (Administration Accounts 1738-1759, folios 386-388).[6]

There was a Mary Musgrove born 1748 in St. Mary’s County, Maryland, daughter of Charles Musgrove (see https://www.colonial-settlers-md-va.us/getperson.php?personID=I1436...). That “Mary MUSGROVE was born 1748, and died 1836. She was the daughter of 2. Charles MUSGROVE. She married Benjamin Vernon POSEY.”

Wikitree has not built out the profile for John Musgrove (1683-1746) https://www.wikitree.com/wiki/Musgrove-261. But he’s at Mike Marshall’s database: https://www.colonial-settlers-md-va.us/getperson.php?personID=I1391.... Document is attached.

The name “Morgan” seen for Mary (Musgrove) Cunningham is thought to be a misreading of John Musgrove’s will. There is some lingering thought that Mary was a young widow of John and not his daughter.

References

• http://wc.rootsweb.ancestry.com/cgi-bin/igm.cgi?op=GET&db=tlallman&...
• http://familytreemaker.genealogy.com/users/h/o/l/Jimmy-d-Holloway/W...
• http://www.tngenweb.org/washington/peoplemisc/WillBks1_4.htm#Cunnin...
• Sycamore Shoals History
• https://www.colonial-settlers-md-va.us/getperson.php?personID=I4012...