approximate; his father, William, was born in 1688 and died 1756, aged sixty-eight years; my grandfather, Clement Hearne (born 1763 and died 1851), always said this Samuel Hearne was the one who was first in his day to leave the final e off the name of Hearne, and my recollection is that was about 1770, and that Samuel Hearne was then about forty years of age, which would place his birth about 1730. He was a surveyor by profession as well as farmer, and a man of considerable influence in the community and strong force of character; he accumulated a fine property, which was estimated at $40,000 at the time of his death, when he had already made some advances to his children, whose names were: Jonathan, Thomas[2], Benjamin, Nancy (who married Ellis), Hannah (who married Hastings), Polly (who married Nelson), Betsy (who married Parsons), and William, born Sept. 30, 1785, removed to Alabama, and died Nov. 12, 1842, leaving a large family, many of whose descendants arc now living in Alabama, Louisiana and Texas. Samuel Hearne was married twice; his first wife was named Rhoda Parker, daughter of Jacob and Mary Parker, and was the mother of his children; the second wife, who survived him, was named Elizabeth, as mentioned in the will. Jonathan, the eldest son, was born April 11, 1760, and left Sussex County, Delaware, Jan. 7, 1792, and removed to Hancock County Georgia, where he lived eight years and then removed to Jackson County, where he lived nine years; about 18o9 he removed to Putnam County, the same state, where he died April 13, 1827.

Following are the dates of birth and death of children of Jonathan Hearne (do not know the name or dates, etc., of wife): Asa, born Dec. 21, 1783, died May 27, 1831; Zabel (also called Zebedee), born Nov. 22, 1785; died Dec. 17, 1833; Seth, born Jan. 2, 1788, died Feb. 17, 1821; Lot born Mar. 12, 1790, died Nov. 30, 1844; Polly[1], born April 25, 1792, died April 20, 1837; Samuel, born Jan. 31, 1795, died Apr. 27, 1830; Jacob, born July 29, 1797; Elizabeth, born Jan. 29, 1799, died 1859; Judah, born July 2, 1801, died October 1, 1802; William, born Aug. 31, 1803, died Nov. 10, 1873. One of the girls married a Hardin, one a Mattox, and one a Hamilton[1]. Lot Hearne (as well as several of the family) was a zealous member of the Baptist church and distinguished for his love of music, especially vocal; he gave largely of his means to his church.

[Continued on page 56]

[1] Mary Posey Hearne married Samuel Hamilton (source: Margaret Lewis)

[2] James B Hearn and his son Jay Hearn (James B Hearn, Jr) have provided the descendants of Thomas Hearne, an entire branch of the Hearn family that was left out of Hearne's History. This came about, apparently as WT's retalliation for refusal of Samuel Batson Hearn (son of Kendal Batson Hearn) to contribute money to the monument WT was organizing.

In Virginia, during those early years of farming, it has been said that Sam and Mary had a visitor “come calling.” His name was William T. Hearne of Independence, Missouri. Mr. Hearne was writing a book on the history of the Hearne family and desired to include all the family spread throughout the country. He also wanted donations which would be used, among other things, to erect a large stone marker at the original Hearne property and burial ground outside Delmar, Maryland and enclose the cemetery in an iron fence. Samuel's reply was a simple one: “I am concerned with the future and education of my children, not the past!” To this, we were told, his guest replied, “Well then, I'll have to leave your family's pages out of my book.”59 We have always thought that this is as clear a picture as any as to why the branch of Kendal Batson Hearn, his brothers and parents were not included in the book: “Brief History and Genealogy of the Hearne Family,” printed in 1907 or the Addendum that followed in 1912!" (Source: The Making Of A Southern Gentleman by James Batson Hearn, Jr., at http://www.highlanderglory.net/id47.htm)

The following is a list of the descendants of Thomas Hearn & Sarah Coffin, researched by James and Jay. Thomas Hearn was a descendant of Samuel Hearn(e) and Rhoda Parker or Mary Elizabeth. While there is some disagreement, as to who the mother of the children was, all are descendants of Samuel. This information was gathered from the descendants by Jay and James either by personal interview, by telephone or by response to letters and also by the results of a questionaire they handed out at a family reunion in Smithfield, Virginia, about 35 years ago. It is believed all listed are deceased.

Updated August 7, 2007 with information on the descendants of Nehemiah Burton Lecates and (Irene) Letitia Ross Hearne provided by Maj. Charles E. Dickens of Midlothian, VA.