My Maternal Direct Line "Brick Wall"

"How far back can any of you take your direct female line?" That is the question someone asked this week on the Rockcastle and Laurel County, Kentucky Facebook group page. I gave a quick answer but thought it deserved a closer look in honor of Women's History Month. 

Starting with my maternal grandmother my direct female line is: 

Emma Ewers Taylor 

(1900 - 1978)

Emma Jane Owens 

(1882 - 1968)

Cecilia "Celia" Owens

(1839 - 1908)

Louis A. Mullins

(abt. 1802 - bef. 1860)

Mary King

(d. aft 1860)

Felicia Lewis

(d. 1849)

Felicia Lewis was my 5th great-grandmother. I have no idea when or where Felicia was born or who her parents were. She married Edward King in January 1767 in Wilkes County, North Carolina and died on 20 Nov 1849 in Ashe County, North Carolina. Edward died there 49 years earlier in 1800. They had 10 children but only two survived Felicia.

All of that information comes from Edward's Revolutionary War Pension application which was filed in Rockcastle County, Kentucky in 1851 by his children, Mary King Mullins and John King - the only two who survived their mother. 

This is one of those "Brick Walls" that may only exist because I haven't done any work at all so it's about time to at least create a few research "to do" items. 

Next steps:

1. Download and review Edward's 129-page pension file from Fold3 (as opposed to the 7-page copy from Heritage Quest that I have).
2. Check for Will/Probate Records for Edward and Felicia in Ashe County, North Carolina. (The pension file indicates that Mary's husband, Spencer Mullins, was administrator of Felicia's estate so there should at least be a record for Felicia.)
3. Check for Edward and Felicia's marriage record in Wilkes County, North Carolina. (According to pension application, no record could be found in 1851.)
4. Review Wilkes County, North Carolina records for anyone named Lewis.

If you have any connection to Edward King and Felicia Lewis, please e-mail me.