Angeline Brinegar's Headstone

One of my 3rd g-grandmother's was Angeline Brinegar, daughter of Jacob & Elizabeth Hughes Brinegar. Angeline was an interesting old soul, having 4 husbands of her own, not to mention those of others <g> She had at least 5 children, 3 in wedlock and a suspected 6th child, also illegitimate. Thanks to the 1880 census, I believe I've found the fathers' names on the 3 illegitimate ones.

Her first marriage was to Martillus Patton. I believe this occured in Clark Co. In going through my research, I found a date of 22 Dec 1841 in Clark Co., but am not sure where I found this. Angeline filed divorce papers against Martillus in 1846. Their divorce records shows that they had only been married 4 months. Martillus abandonded her and went to Indiana. This is strangely ironic when you see what happened to marriage #2.

Her second marriage (and the one I descend through) was to John W. Henry. I don't know where they were married. John and Angeline had 2 children: Elizabeth Frances, b. 08 Jan 1846, and John, b. Aug 1849. Evidentally, although Angeline was a friendly sort, she wasn't a loving one and abandoned John when he was ill. This brought an end to their marriage as John sued for divorce in Oct. 1850 and later moved to Johnson Co., IN. John was the son of Moses and Elizabeth Riddle Henry.

Husband #3 came along on 26 Feb 1852 in the form of James Dunaway. About 1855, they had a son, Lycortus Dunaway. I'm not sure how this marriage ended, but she was home with her father by the 1860 census. James was the son of Isaac and Sarah Rogers Dunaway.

Angeline took a break from marriage for the next 13 or so years, but not from men. In 1865, James Maupin took out a peace bond against her. The 1870 Estill census show sons Dillard S. Brinegar (b. abt 1862) and James W. Brinegar (b. abt 1866). Son John Henry is working at Cottage Furnace and son "Locortes" are living with her as well.

Husband #4 was living next door to her on 1870 Estill Census - Taylor Sparks. On that census, he was 21 to Angeline's 44. They were married on 27 Sep 1873 in Estill Co. Taylor and Angeline loved to entertain. So much so, their occupations are listed on the 1880 Estill Census as professional gambler and prostitute. The transcribed version of this census states "Look it up yourself" for Angeline. Dillard & James now are listed with the last name of Neal and there's a 9 y/o little girl named Mattie Blackwell. Taylor was the son of Taylor and Martha "Patsy" Powell Sparks.

Evidentally once again, love was not to stay for Angeline as sometime during the next 20 years, they divorced and Angeline is found on the 1900 Estill census living in Irvine with son Dillard. Dillard's name is back to Brinegar again as is his brother James.

Angeline left this world sometime between 1900 and 1910. She's buried in an overgrown thicket in the Chestnut Stand Cemetery.

Last updated - Monday, August 30, 1999 05:16:52 PM