Pike County KyArchives Biographies.....Slone Chaney, Polly Ann November 11, 1852 - November 11, 1927 ************************************************ Copyright. All rights reserved. http://www.usgwarchives.net/copyright.htm http://www.usgwarchives.net/ky/kyfiles.html ************************************************ File contributed for use in USGenWeb Archives by: Rita Parker http://www.genrecords.net/emailregistry/vols/00021.html#0005073 August 9, 2009, 6:49 pm Source: Census, marriage, death and family records Author: Rita Parker The Mystery of Polly Ann Thacker Chaney Slone Polly Ann Chaney was James Slone’s (b bef. 1815) third wife. They married April 10, 1875 in the county clerk’s office. According to court documents she was 14 years of age. Polly's her husband, James Slone, was 62. In order to marry at so young an age, Polly required a guardian to give her away. James’ cousin, Archibald Slone, was appointed guardian for a day, long enough for a marriage to take place. Archibald Slone was also Polly Ann Chaney's granddaughter. Some Slone family researchers believe Polly Ann Chaney was born November 11, between 1855 and 1860. There is also some question whether or not Chaney was Polly’s surname. There was a family of Chaney’s in Pike County in 1870, but the only girl that would come close to filling her description was Mary Elizabeth Chaney then 13. If Polly were Mary E, she would have been born in 1857. According to Polly Ann's Death Certificate #28438: "Polly A. Justice, dpob/11 Nov 1852, dpod/11 Nov 1927, Parents Ap. Thacker & Bettie Slone of Pike Co. Ky, informant Sherman Slone undertaker, burial, cause of death, age 75 " Earlier census records place her date of birth around 1852. Polly Ann was the granddaughter of Archibald and Nancy Slone of Pike County. Polly Ann’s parents were Absalom “Ap” Thacker (born about 1824) and Elizabeth “Bettie” Slone (born about 1837- daughter of Archibald Jr, son of Archibald Slone, son of William Slone). Archibald’s second child, Elizabeth Slone, married Charles Chaney April 24, 1853. The marriage record stated the groom was born in Russell, VA; the bride's age was given as 15. Before marriage, however, Elizabeth had an affair with her brother-in-law Absalom “Ap” Thacker (born about 1824) who was married to Mary Jane Slone, her younger sister. “Ap’” and Mary Jane were married March 30, 1845. Betty and Ap Thacker's only child was Polly Ann Thacker. In June 21, 1861 Elizabeth “Betty” married Thomas Cole In the 1870 census Polly Ann Thacker Slone Chaney is living with her grandparents, Archibald and Nancy Slone. (In 1893 Polly Ann, on a later marriage document, noted her mother as a Bettie Slone.) First Husband James Slone James Slone’s first wife was Mary S. Havens. They married August 25, 1844. The 1870 Census (Pike Co, KY, Dist 4, #26) lists James’ children Mahala, 18 and son Green, 18 as being mulatto. Son Green died in 1925 in the Pike County poor house. He is buried in the Dils Cemetery according to his death certificate. James appeared to have divorced Mary and married Sarah Jane Slone (b 1848) on January 22, 1874. Sarah Jane Slone was Archibald and Nancy Justice 4th child. Sarah Jane was Betty's younger sister. At their marriage James was 58 and Sarah, was 23. They were married at her father Archibald Slone’s home. Sarah died childless within the year. At the time of her marriage Polly Ann used the last name of Chaney as her mother had been married to Charles Chaney. In the 1860 census Polly Ann lived with her Grandfather rather than her mother and Mr. Cole. Perhaps Mr. Cole was not happy to have Betty’s child living with them. . Polly and James had a son, William, born in Fishtrap, May 1877. The Census of 1880 (Pike Co, KY, ED 95, page 22), show James, age 67, wife Polly, 25 (actually age 19?), son William, 3, all listed as white, born in Kentucky, living on the Sandy River Fork. First wife Mary was listed on the 1880 Census living with Mahala, then 26. Mahala’s children William Slone, age 13, and Mary Jane age 5 were listed, as was Mahala, as mulatto. Mary, always designated as white, was noted as a widow, 67 years of age. In 1880 James, however, was married to Polly Ann, and had their child, William living with him on the Sandy River. “According to family oral tradition, Polly was supposedly "black," but she is listed as "white" on the census. There is similarly conflicting evidence with James's first wife Mary S. Havens... It wouldn't surprise me if she were a light-skinned black person, since two of James's brothers, Joab and Amos, also married women of mixed-race ancestry.” - Steven A Williamson Between 1880 and 1883 James Sloan dies. The land he inherited from his father, Absalom Slone has long ago been sold off. Polly Ann's Husbands and Paramours According to a death certificate of one of Polly Ann's children, Polly Ann had an affair with a Gilbert “Gil” Thacker (born around 1855) which produced 2 children John Morgan Slone, born August 12, 1885 in Fishtrap; and Malcolm Slone born October 1892 in Forks Precinct. Gilbert was married to Elizabeth Slone August 9, 1881. Gil was the son of John Thacker (born about 1817) and Emaline Adkins, son of Absolam Thacker and Sarah Adkins. Around 1883 Polly Ann marries Unknown Smith. This union produces child Frank Epp Smith (born 1883). In 1903 Epp married H ? by the 1910 census they had 3 (of 4) living children. Arland (4), Walter (2) and Willard (11 months). In 1910 Epp Smith lived on Frozen Creek Rd next door to John Morgan Slone, his half brother. John Morgan Slone had a wife, Pricey. John’s children at this time Lilly (2 yrs) and Polly (1 yr.). On November 22, 1893 Polly Ann marries Lindsey Justice. Polly gave birth to Liza Justice in 1895. On October 2, 1896 in Pike County, Kentucky William, then 19, marries Rhoda J. A. Thacker, age 16 at John Thacker’s both parents were in attendance. Rhoda or Rosa, was born in Tennessee. William’s stepfather, Lindsey Justice would have accompanied Polly Ann. William and Rosa had three children Susan E (born August 1895), Polly Ann (born April 1900), Nathaniel David (born September 24, 1903, died July 27, 1983). William then married Nancy Ann Adkins and they had 4 children Kallie, Lizie, Dorothea, and Plenny (born April 13, 1908, died April 7, 1998). He later married Martha Justice. In the 1900 census Polly Justice, age 30 (Italics mine. She should have been 39 years of age) reported to have been born May 1870 (rather than 1852). She was married 5, rather than 7 years, had 4 of 6 children living and lived in the Forks Precinct. (Pg. 101a, Fam 223) In 1900 sons Malcolm and John Slone live with Polly Ann. In 1910 we find Polly Justice living with son William “Bill” Slone and family in the Grapevine Precinct. In this census Polly Ann gives her age as 45. Polly Ann reports to have been married 12 years with 5 of 7 children living (Pg. 10a, Fam 166). In the 1920 census Polly A Justice is listed as a 61 year old widow living with her daughter Liza C, Charles and son-in-law Calahan Charles. They lived in Burning Fork (Prec #18, Pg. 8a, Fam 124). Polly Ann’s given age would have made her birth date in or around 1859. Cecil Slone said to a Slone researcher "My mother, Hazel (Pinion) Slone, told me that my grandmother, Elizabeth (Adkins) Slone, had said that John & Malcom Slone, Epp & Liza Smith were half brothers and sister to the William Slone that is listed as being the son of James Slone and Polly A. Chaney." F.E.M. All in all Polly Ann appeared to have had 7 children. She was mother to William Slone (born 1877), John (born 1885) and Malcom (born 1892) Slone/Thacker (both illegitimate), Epp Smith (born 1883) and Liza Justice (born 1895 in Forks Precinct). Polly Ann died November 11, 1927 in Kemper (Burning Fork Precinct, Sandy River Fork Township), Pike Co. Kentucky of Dropsy (Edema or swelling, often caused by kidney or heart disease). Polly Ann was buried November 14, 1927 in Kimper, Pike Co. KY. Photo: http://www.usgwarchives.net/ky/pike/photos/bios/slonecha499gbs.jpg File at: http://files.usgwarchives.net/ky/pike/bios/slonecha499gbs.txt This file has been created by a form at http://www.genrecords.org/kyfiles/