Dulcius Ex Asperis

DNA

Thomas Ferguson and Jane Thompson Inman

Family History

Thomas FERGUSON married Jane Thompson INMAN in Madison County, Alabama on October 9, 1834. They had four children, the first two who were daughters (Sarah Ann and Nancy Jane), followed by twin sons born on December 18, 1840 (Thomas H. and William Henry). It is unknown as to the exact date of the death of Thomas FERGUSON, but it is factually correct that it occurred sometime before June 12, 1843. The 1840 Federal Census for Madison County, Alabama, clearly lists Jane Ferguson as "Head of Household". Also accounted for in Jane's household are several children who represent the ages of her two daughters and four of her orphaned siblings. Given that Thomas FERGUSON is not accounted for in Jane's household in the 1840 Federal Census, and neither are her twin FERGUSON sons, we can only assume that Thomas FERGUSON is dead, and Jane is pregnant with the aforementioned twin sons. While the exact date of the 1840 Federal Census is not available, other Madison County, Alabama census years point to the Federal Census being conducted during the months of September through November for the area in which Jane lived. Hence, we believe Jane to be approximately 6-8 months pregnant when the 1840 Federal Census was conducted for her household. What is factually known is that Jane INMAN FERGUSON married second, George B. WOODRUFF, on June 12, 1843, when her twin FERGUSON sons were 2 and half years old. Within a year following Jane's wedding to George, the family removed from Alabama, along with related families, to Franklin County, Missouri.

Soon after the wedding of their mother to her second husband, and the subsequent relocation to Franklin County, Missouri, the four FERGUSON children of Thomas FERGUSON and Jane INMAN FERGUSON were "given" the surname WOODRUFF, though they were never legally adopted by George B. WOODRUFF.

Below is an excerpt from the book, "Tall Trees In The Forest" authored by Audry WAGNER WOODRUFF. The book, in other places not listed below, details the marriages of the two oldest sons of George B. WOODRUFF by his 1st wife, Sarah MANNING WOODRUFF, to the sisters of JANE INMAN FERGUSON WOODRUFF, who would become George's 2nd wife. Those pages describe fully the interesting INMAN and WOODRUFF family connections of which the FERGUSON children became a part, and whose story is told in part, below. Note that in Mrs. WOODRUFF's account, there are some misspelled names and other errors. Corrections have been made and are in red--records are available proving all corrections:

FROM "TALL TREES IN THE FOREST"
"Sometime during the period between 1841-1842, George B. Woodruff's wife (Sarah Manning Woodruff) died. I do not have a record of her death but she was around 60 (54) years of age. I do have an account of George B.'s second marriage to Jane Ferguson on June 12, 1843, by Edward H. Vann, J.P. I also have the account of an earlier marriage of Thomas Ferguson and Jane T. Inman on Oct. 9, 1834. Mrs. White writes that Jane's first husband died about 1840 and they had four children. They are: (End of excerpt.)

Vital Records

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