The Florence Observer noted that they had lost one of their "most promising young men", that he was cleaning a gun and that it had accidentally discharged. He, leaving, a widow and 'two little children'.
It was not noted whether or not these two children were male or female. However, in her will dated 1888, Robert's mother, Ellen, mentions a division of property in thirds, one third for son John S. Kernachan, one third for son William J Kernachan and one third to be split between grandsons Robert and Moore.
Robert and Moore were the surviving minor children of eldest son Robert, who had passed 3 years prior to Ellen devising her will. Her will was witnessed by H. C. Jones and George P Jones. They were brothers of Jenny Keyes Jones Kernachan, who married William Jones Kernachan. Or perhaps father and brother, as both were named Henry Cox Jones and George was brother George Presley Jones. They were also distant relatives of Ellen's, being out of the the same old Virginia Jones/Simmons tree.
These witnesses verified that the will was Ellen's and that she was of sound mind when the will was probated in 1992. There were no changes nor codicil's indicating that Robert and Moore were still alive in 1892.
I can find several mentions of their mother, Blanche Moore Kernachan, in records and newspapers, but no more mention of Robert or Moore.
Blanche returned to her home county of Mecklenburg, Virginia, by 1920 and is also in the 1930 and 1940 censuses. However, she can not be located in the 1900 or 1910 census records.
The November 14, 1891 edition of the Times Daily, of Florence, Alabama records:
Mrs. Blanche Kernachan, who has been attending the New England Conservatory of Music, returned last Saturday, and is now at her home in the Reserve. Coming south, she spent several days at her old home in Virginia.
This was the year before her mother-in-law Ellen died.
We find out that in 1897, she had been "absent in Boston for two years past" and had returned home.
Blanche's return home from Boston
She is listed in the Boston University Catalogue as being in Dorchester, Massachusetts:
Boston University Catalogue
We learn that in 1903, she was leaving Alabama again to 'pursue her studies in music'.
Article from Florence Times
Ms. Blanche made the newspapers in both Alabama, her husbands home state; Virginia, her home state, and Massachusetts, where she attended school and taught. She also attended college in Tennesee.
Before her marriage, she is listed as attending Belmont College in Nashville, Tennesee.
Milady in Brown Yearbook.
Her nieces by marriage, Carrie Moore Kernachan and Ellen Simmons Kernachan II also attended Belmont.
Sale of Lots 5 and 9 in Florence, Alabama
In 1916, she sold two lots in Lauderdale County. She does not show up in either the 1900 or the 1910 census.
In 1927, she is listed as an instructor at the College of William and Mary, one of the oldest in Virginia.
Catalogue College of William and Mary
In the census records, we can pick Blanche up as a child. She and her sister Elva both married Kernachan brothers. They were distant relatives through the Simmons line. Their father, Samuel T. Moore was the son of Robert Moore 1800-1836 and Elizabeth James "Betsy" Simmons 1802-1852 from Mecklenburg County, Virginia.
| Blanche Moore | |||||||||||
| Age in 1860: | 1 | ||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Birth Year: | abt 1859 | ||||||||||
| Home in 1860: | Regiment 98, Mecklenburg, Virginia | ||||||||||
| Post Office: | Tanners Stone | ||||||||||
| Value of real estate: | View Image | ||||||||||
| Household Members: |
|
|
It is after this census that Blanche Moore disappears from the censuses until 1920. Her family appears in the 1880 Mecklenburg County, Virginia census without her, even her older sister Carrie.
She may have been in college at this time. What is on record is her marriage to Robert T. Kernachan in Mecklenburg County, Virginia on January 18, 1881 noted as the daughter of S. T. Moore. Robert had traveled to Virginia to marry her. How had he met her? Or did the Simmons distant cousins keep in touch and decide this to be a proper match?
The two sons would have been born between the 1881 marriage and the 1885 death of their father as they are mentioned in the obituary.
They were alive in 1888 when their grandmother Ellen Simmons Kernachan died and mentioned them in her will.
By 1902, Blanche shows up as a music teacher in Roanoke, Virginia.
| Mrs Blanche Kernachan | |
| Gender: | F (Female) |
|---|---|
| Residence Year: | 1902 |
| Street Address: | 355 Highland Av SW |
| Residence Place: | Roanoke, Virginia |
| Occupation: | Music Tclir |
| Publication Title: | Walsh's Roanoke, Virginia City Directory |
By 1916, She has been nominated as
| Blanche Kernachan | |
| Post Office Location: | Radcliffe, Mecklenburg, Virginia |
|---|---|
| Appointment Date: | 13 Mar 1916 |
| Volume #: | 80 |
| Volume Year Range: | 1891-1930 |
Then by 1920, she is back living in the town of her birth, South Hill, with her younger sister Nina Moore Allen.
| Birth Year: | abt 1865 | ||||||||||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Birthplace: | Virginia | ||||||||||||||||||||
| Home in 1920: | South Hill, Mecklenburg, Virginia | ||||||||||||||||||||
| Race: | White | ||||||||||||||||||||
| Gender: | Female | ||||||||||||||||||||
| Relation to Head of House: | Sister-in-law | ||||||||||||||||||||
| Marital Status: | Widowed [Widow] | ||||||||||||||||||||
| Father's Birthplace: | Virginia | ||||||||||||||||||||
| Mother's Birthplace: | Virginia | ||||||||||||||||||||
| Able to Read: | Yes | ||||||||||||||||||||
| Able to Write: | Yes | ||||||||||||||||||||
| Neighbors: | View others on page | ||||||||||||||||||||
| Household Members: |
|
In 1930, she and another sister, the never-married Willie, are living together.
| Blanch Kernachan [Blan A Hemacan] | |||||||
| Gender: | Female | ||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Birth Year: | abt 1859 | ||||||
| Birthplace: | Virginia | ||||||
| Race: | White | ||||||
| Home in 1930: | South Hill, Mecklenburg, Virginia View Map | ||||||
| Marital Status: | Widowed | ||||||
| Relation to Head of House: | Head | ||||||
| Father's Birthplace: | Virginia | ||||||
| Mother's Birthplace: | Virginia | ||||||
Occupation:
Education: Military Service: Rent/home value: Age at first marriage: Parents' birthplace: |  | ||||||
| Neighbors: | View others on page | ||||||
| Household Members: |
|
A 1922 Lawsuit Moore v Kernachan, is brought up as a cited case and took place in Mecklenburg County, Virginia. It is a suit involving S. T. Moore, in his own right, as executor of E. A. Moore, deceased against one Kernachan and others. As S. T. Moore was likely Samuel Moore, Jr. and E. A Moore, their mother Elva and the Kernachan he vs. was likely Blanche, the only known Kernachan in Mecklenburg County, Virginia at that time.
Moore vs Kernachan, Mecklenburg County, Virginia
| Blanche Kernachan | |||||||||||||||||
| Age: | 81 | ||||||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Estimated Birth Year: | abt 1859 | ||||||||||||||||
| Gender: | Female | ||||||||||||||||
| Race: | White | ||||||||||||||||
| Birthplace: | Virginia | ||||||||||||||||
| Marital Status: | Widowed | ||||||||||||||||
| Relation to Head of House: | Sister | ||||||||||||||||
| Home in 1940: | South Hill, Mecklenburg, Virginia View Map | ||||||||||||||||
| Inferred Residence in 1935: | South Hill, Mecklenburg, Virginia | ||||||||||||||||
| Residence in 1935: | Same House | ||||||||||||||||
| Sheet Number: | 7A | ||||||||||||||||
| Attended School or College: | No | ||||||||||||||||
| Highest Grade Completed: | College, 1st year | ||||||||||||||||
| Weeks Worked in 1939: | 0 | ||||||||||||||||
| Income: | 0 | ||||||||||||||||
| Income Other Sources: | Yes | ||||||||||||||||
| Neighbors: | View others on page | ||||||||||||||||
| Household Members: |
|
She is buried in Mecklenburg County, Virginia, and noted as the wife of Robert T. Kernachan, but where are her sons? They are not buried with her.
| Blanche Moore Kernachan | |
| Birth Date: | 1859 |
|---|---|
| Age at Death: | 83 |
| Death Date: | 1942 |
| Burial Place: | South Hill, Mecklenburg County, Virginia, USA |
| URL: | http://www.findagrave.com/cgi-... |
Her sister and at the same time, sister-in-law Elva, named for their mother, died young at age 59. They had married brothers. Blanche is mentioned in her obituary, yet an obituary for Blanche can not be located. Elva named her son Robert T. Kernachan. He would have the the fifth Robert in the known line.
So what happened to the young sons of Robert and Blanche? Did they die between 1888, when mentioned by their grandmother and their mother's return to college? Did she leave them with relatives?
What happened to Robert 4 and Moore? Two little boys of no further mention.
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