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Family Surnames -- Mewhinney, Davis, Turner, Philpott, Marshall, Mawhinney, Mitchell, Gokey, MacGillivray
A transcription found on the Turner family Coat of Arms states that "the old records indicate it is quite possible that the Turner family came over to England during the time of William the Conqueror in 1066. "The name 'Turner' was adopted from the trade they followed." Possibly some ancestor turned the bread before the open oven; or possibly a skilled workman at the lathe became known as John "the turner," hence John Turner.
The first colonist to come to America was Humphrey Turner, who settled in Plymouth, Massachusetts, about 1628. Before the 18th century the family had branched out and established homes in various colonies. The town Turner, Maine, was named after descendants of Humphrey Turner.
Both Stephen and Terisha began appearing in Virginia County records at about the same time (1750). Terisha named a son Stephen, and Stephen named a son Terisha. Both settled in Albemarle County and then moved to Amherst County. It is quite possible that Terisha was an uncle of James of Kentucky, our forefather. With respect to dating we are quite assured that it was in 1750 that Stephen began to appear in the county record. This is all the dating to be had as given by the American Genalogical Research Institute, Washington D.C. This material is supplied by the book "A History of the Turner Family" by William A. Roskey, copyrighted in 1972. It is to be regretted that in tracing the desired Turner lineage we are unable to go back farther than James Turner (11 August 1758 - 20 September 1851), who married Mary Johnson, who with his wife migrated to Kentucky, crossing the Appalachian Mountains through the Cumberland Gap, pushing westward, continuing over into the green valleys of the Kentucky-Tennessee region, and following the trail of Daniel Boone and others.
After residing in Nelson County for a time James and Mary with their two sons, William and James Jr., veered down the Green River Valley, locating between the confluence of two rivers, the Green River and the Barren River.
It was not in the wide open meadows that he settled, but in the woodsy region where both timber and wood for fuel were obtained. Between the hills there flowed the gentle winding streams, plentifully supplied with fish, and at different seasons, visited by wild fowls. It was here in this woodsy country that our forefather, James Turner, came to build a home, adapting to the rigorous demands of a fontier country. It was here that conditions produced a log cabin, the open fireplace, a home, a community, a country, and an Abe Lincoln or an Andrew Jackson, along with others who forged a nation.
It was here that James and Mary reared a large family. The homesite was located a few miles west of Greensburg. It was here that son Daniel established a home on a portion of the old home plantation.
It is interesting to stand beside the old homesite of Daniel Turner and look across the way and see the former homes of his descendants. A granddaughter, who married Coleman Woodward, lived across the country to the east. And looking northward across intervening hills and valley one can see the home of another granddaughter, who married William Cann. North and east is located the home of Milton Turner, grandfather of the Turners of Greensburg.
Near the old home stands the Old Salem church. The Cumberland Presbyterian Christians built the churdch and have worshiped there from that day until now. The Baptist also were permitted to worship there. It was here that James and family came Sunday after Sunday to worship. In one of the front seats, which was to the left of the speaker, sat out forefather, James, and his family, in worshipful manner. His descendants of many generations have gathered here and caught the spirit of the venerable past.
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