Person:Mary Carn (1)

Information on Mary Magdelena Carn

Bedford County Marriage Bonds have Apr. 2, 1778; Henry Mayberry & Magdalene Carn; Michael Carn, Surety.

F. Landis Weaver writes:

There are conflicting stories from descendants in the Hickman-Maury-Wil liamson county areas of Tennessee about the father of Mary Magdalene (K arnes) Mayberry. Many say that she was a daughter of Gabriel Karnes, wh o was executed in Wurthemburg Germany. They say that she and her mother , Dorcus, came to America and settled in Bedford County, VA. They claim t hat there was a Karnes family Bible, showing this to be true. But all c ontacts with any descendants, and with Tennessee Historical Societies h ave failed to produce the Bible or any copies from its pages. Meanwhile, other descendants have claimed that Michael Karnes (c.1729-1 807) of Bedford County, VA. was her father. Michael Karnes did post the b ond for her to marry Henry Mayberry. Michael Karnes also mentioned a da ughter named "Mary" in his Will of 1803.

Since there are, at least two valid records in Bedford County which con nect Mary Magdalene with Michael Karnes, and no records have been found t o connect her with Gabriel or Dorcus, it seems most prudent to show her a s a daughter of Michael. It also seems to be significant that Henry & M ary Magdalene Mayberry had seven sons, before they named one "Gabriel". T heir fourth son was named "Michael". In those times, it was common for a c ouple to name the second, third or fourth son after the father of the b ride. It also appears that their first daughter was named "Elizabeth"(b .1783), and first or second daughters were commonly named after the mot her of the bride. So the total of hard evidence we've been able to find , would seem to imply that Mary Magdalene (Karnes) Mayberry was a daugh ter of Michael & Elizabeth Karnes.

Although the story of Gabriel and Dorcus seems reasonable and can't be d isproven, it seems to be "family tradition", without proof. Perhaps the s tory is basically true, but Gabriel & Dorcus were actually one or two g enerations earlier in the family lineage. Until more evidence is found, i t seems that the story will probably remain as an unsubstantiated but i mportant part of the Karnes-Mayberry family heritage.

FOOTNOTE: Very little information about the lives of Henry & Mary Magdaline in Bedford County, VA. has been found. Most of the information sho wn about their family has been collected from articles and research done by descendants in the Hickman-Maury-Williamson Counties Tennessee are a. While there may be some errors, it appears that a considerable amoun t of work has been done to ensure that it is mostly correct.