“The challenge: have one blog post each week devoted to a specific ancestor. It could be a story, a biography, a photograph, an outline of a research problem — anything that focuses on one ancestor.”
This is entry #51 in Amy Johnson Crow’s Challenge: 52 Ancestors in 52 Weeks.
We are nearly there! I’ve made it this far – didn’t miss a week – this one and then THE LAST!!!
#51 Nancy BEASLEY, wife of Dennis CLAUNCH or Dennis CLONCH
My 4th great-grandmother Nancy BEASLEY is another one of my brick walls. I have no idea who her parents were or where they came from. She was first seen in Mecklenburg County, Virginia, on 8 November 1803. On that day William JUSTICE was security on Nancy’s marriage to my 4th great-grandfather Dennis CLAUNCH.1
Nancy was born in Virginia before the end of the American Revolutionary War (19 Apr 1775-14 Jan 1784). From early census listings I calculate her birth at about 1781-1784.
Year Range (Calculated)
1810 26 thru 44 (26 thru 29)
1820 26 thru 44 (36 thru 39)
1830 40 thru 49 (46 thru 49)
1840 50 thru 59 (56 thru 59)
1850 75 (66 thru 69)
In 1850 she was listed as 75. This is not reliable as it doesn’t match the age range on the pre-1850 censuses which appear to be consistent. I took the 1840 range of 50 thru 59 and worked back; 1830 was 40 thru 49; 1820 would be 30 thru 39; 1810 would be 20 thru 29. Since the 1810 range was 26 thru 44, the range 20 thru 29 can be narrowed further to 26 to 29. Then I added 10 years for each decade as seen in the parenthesis. The range 66 thru 69 for 1850 is off by 6-9 years compared to what is seen on the actual 1850 census. Could it be that the 1850 age of 75 was correct and the previous years were off?
Following their marriage, Nancy’s husband Dennis CLAUNCH was seen on the 1804 and 1805 tax lists of Mecklenburg County.2 By 1806 Nancy and Dennis had moved to Kanawha County in what would later become West Virginia. Her husband Dennis was on the 1810 census of that county with his name spelled CLOUNCH.3 Nancy had given birth to two girls and a boy by this time.

Following the 1810 census Dennis CLOUNCH, as he was last seen, disappears and it is believed that he died between 1811-1820 as Nancy is seen with her own household from 1820 until 1850.4 Nancy and Dennis’ children were most likely all born in Kanawha County:
◉ Child 1: _____ CLONCH, born bet. 1805-1809. A tick for her is on the 1810 and 1820 censuses. This daughter remains nameless.
◉ Child 2: Elizabeth CLONCH, born bet. 1805-1809. She married Meridith PARSONS (1805- ) on 26 February 1825 in Mason County, (West) Virginia.5 She died before 1840.
◉ Child 3: William CLONCH (1807-1863) was born about 1807. He married Ann Eliza HILL (1812-1895) on 20 August 1832 in Gallia County, Ohio.6 They went separate ways and William had a relationship with Mary E. “Polly” DOSS with whom he had 8 children. He died on 20 January 1863 in Mason County, (West) Virginia.7
◉ Child 4: John CLONCH was born about 1810. He married Elizabeth DOSS (1817-1880), sister of Mary E. “Polly” DOSS, on 15 September 1842 in Gallia County, Ohio.8 He died between 1844-1847 most likely in Mason County. His widow married again in 1848.9
◉ Child 5: Sarah CLONCH was born about 1811. She married William WILLIAMS (1808-the 1850s) on 4 January 1832 in Mason County.10 After his death and before 1860 she married James William GALLIWAY (1832-1880). She died after 1880.

1820 U.S. Federal Census11
Mason County, (West) Virginia
Page 121
Name: Nancy Claunch
Enumeration Date: August 7, 1820
Free White Persons – Males – Under 10: 2 (John and unknown b. bet. 1811-1815)
Free White Persons – Males – 10 thru 15: 1 (William)
Free White Persons – Males – 16 thru 25: 1 (John W. Clark? age 24-25)
Free White Persons – Females – Under 10: 1 (Sarah)
Free White Persons – Females – 10 thru 15: 2 (Elizabeth & unknown b. bet. 1805-1809)
Free White Persons – Females – 26 thru 44: 1 (Nancy)
Number of Persons – Engaged in Manufactures: 1
Free White Persons – Under 16: 6
Free White Persons – Over 25: 1
Total Free White Persons: 8
Total All Persons – White, Slaves, Colored, Other: 8
Nancy was engaged in some kind of manufacturing in 1820. She wasn’t involved in agriculture or commerce. What was she doing to earn a living for her family? Who was the young man living in her household? Is the other unknown younger male seen in her household another son born between 1811-1815?
Nancy’s oldest known daughter Elizabeth married Meridith PARSONS (1805- ) on 26 February 1825 in Mason County.

1830 U.S. Federal Census12
Mason County, (West) Virginia
Page 138
Name: Nancy Claunch
Free White Persons – Males – 15 thru 19: 2 (John and unknown b. bet. 1811-1815)
Free White Persons – Males – 20 thru 29: 1 (William)
Free White Persons – Males – 30 thru 39: 1 (John W. Clark? age 34-36)
Free White Persons – Females – 10 thru 14: 1 (unknown b. bet. 1816-1820)
Free White Persons – Females – 15 thru 19: 1 (Sarah)
Free White Persons – Females – 40 thru 49: 1 (Nancy)
Free White Persons – Under 20: 4
Free White Persons – 20 thru 49: 3
Total Free White Persons: 7
2 persons cannot read & write
Total – All Persons (Free White, Slaves, Free Colored): 7
By 1830 Nancy’s children William, John, and Sarah are still at home. But, as in 1820, there are also other persons in the household who cannot be identified. I wonder if the age range for the girls is correct. Could the older girl be the unknown daughter and the younger girl Sarah? This census did not include the column for the occupation of the adults in the household. Was Nancy or the man living in her household still working in manufacturing or in agriculture as seen later in 1840?
Two of Nancy’s children married in 1832, her youngest daughter Sarah and her oldest son William. Her oldest known daughter Elizabeth died during the 1830s.

1840 U.S. Federal Census13
Mason County, (West) Virginia
Page 219
Name: Claunch, Nancy
Free White Persons – Males – 20 thru 29: 1 (John)
Free White Persons – Males – 40 thru 49: 1 (John W. Clark? age 44-46)
Free White Persons – Females – 20 thru 29: 1 (unknown b. bet. 1816-1820)
Free White Persons – Females – 50 thru 59: 1 (Nancy)
Persons Employed in Agriculture: 1
No. White Persons over 20 Who Cannot Read and Write: 4
Free White Persons – 20 thru 49: 3
Total Free White Persons: 4
Total All Persons – Free White, Free Colored, Slaves: 4
In 1840 one person in Nancy’s household was engaged in agriculture. This was most likely the older man who was living in her household or perhaps her youngest son John who would be marrying in 1842. And who is this young lady born between 1816 and 1820? Is it possible I’ve gotten the family group wrong and Nancy had a daughter younger than Sarah and the older daughter was married by 1820?
Nancy’s son John CLONCH died between 1844 and 1847 most likely in Mason County, (West) Virginia. Her son William’s wife Ann Eliza left him leaving two children. William raised their daughter Mariah Jane but the “son” Dennis lived with his grandmother Nancy.
It is my belief that Dennis was the son of Ann Eliza HILL and may not have been acknowledged by her husband William CLONCH as his. Could this be the reason they parted ways? Dennis CLONCH (1838-1893) was born on 8 March 1838 in (West) Virginia.14 He married Mary Ann BAKER (1842-1920) on 16 Nov 1858 in Gallia County, Ohio.15 They had a son named John William CLONCH born on 19 March 1860 and died on 9 February 1861.16,17 The first name given to the child may have been what caused an earlier researcher to assume that he was the son of John. Dennis began using the HILL surname on 21 February 1862 when he enlisted in the Union Regular Army at Gallipolis, Ohio.18 Neither Dennis CLONCH nor Dennis HILL was mentioned in the will of William CLONCH in 1863.18 He moved to Missouri about 1871 and died in Miami, Saline County, Missouri on 31 July 1893.19
In 1850 John W. CLARK is the head of the household that Nancy and Dennis are living in.

1850 U.S. Federal Census20
Mason County, (West) Virginia
The 38th District, Sheet No. 385A
Enumerated by me on the 14th day of August, 1850. C. B. Waggener, Ass’t Marshal.
HH #333-334
John W. Clark 56 M Laborer Virginia cannot read & write
Nancy Clonch 75 F Virginia cannot read & write
Dennis Clonch 12 M Virginia
Nancy BEASLEY died between 1850-1860 most likely in Mason County, (West) Virginia. Surviving were two children: her son William, my 3rd great-grandfather, and her daughter Sarah. John W. CLARK must have had a close relationship with the CLONCH family as he was found in William’s household in 1860.21

As early as 1820 Nancy had a male in her household who was not a son. He consistently shows up in the later census listings until we see Nancy living in the household of John W. CLARK in the 1850 census. There are also a male and a female seen in 1820 and 1830 who could have been children of Nancy and her husband Dennis but I wonder if they could be children of John W. CLARK. The female is still living in Nancy’s household in 1840. Later in 1860, as seen above, John CLARK is living in the household of Nancy’s son William CLONCH. Who was John W. CLARK? Was he a widower with two small children hired by Nancy to help out? Was there a relationship between Mr. CLARK and Nancy? Was he a son-in-law? The husband of the unidentified daughter seen in 1810 and 1820 as born between 1805-1809? So many questions that need to be answered.
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Last week I left you with a cliffhanger:
You might ask why I call my 4th great-grandfather Dennis CLONCH and not Dennis CLAUNCH as he was seen in all records except the 1810 census where his name was spelled CLOUNCH? I’ll tell you that story next week.
During the early years after Hieronymus GLANTZ came to America, the surname evolved from Glantz to Glance to Glansh, Clansh, Clanch, Claunch, Clounch, Clonch. Dennis didn’t change his surname. After Nancy and Dennis died the children and grandchildren were seen with their surnames spelled CLONCH. Dennis’ brothers who went to Kentucky had children who kept the spelling CLAUNCH. All of the names – Claunch, Clounch, and Clonch were pronounced the same.
Now that I’ve re-evaluated all of the records available to me (I admit there weren’t many), I see that Dennis should be listed as Dennis CLAUNCH and the change in the spelling of the surname should only show up in the next generation. It was easier to think of him as Dennis CLONCH as his son, my 3rd great-grandfather, was William CLONCH but, to be consistent and avoid confusion, it is best to use the spelling seen in the records: Dennis CLAUNCH.
This Post was Updated on 18 December 2022: Missing source citations were added, images were scaled, and some corrections were made to the text and format.
© 2014–2022, copyright Cathy Meder-Dempsey. All rights reserved.
- “Marriage bonds, 1770-1912,” database with images, FamilySearch (https://www.familysearch.org/search/catalog/641904), citing microfilm of original records at the Virginia State Library & Archives in Richmond, Virginia, Film 1870762, DGS 7734579, Marriage bonds, C (con’t.)-G (con’t.) 1770-1810, images 36+37 of 902 (cover and bond), 8 Nov 1803 Dennis Claunch and William Justice went bond for the marriage of William Claunch and Nancy Beasley. (https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:3Q9M-C91S-R9FS?i=36&cc=2134304&cat=641904 : accessed 20 March 2021). ↩
- “Personal property tax lists, 1782-1850,” browse-only images, FamilySearch (https://www.familysearch.org/search/catalog/638357), citing Microfilm of original records at the Virginia State Library and Archives in Richmond, Virginia, Film 1854098, DGS 7857023, Personal property tax lists 1782-1805, image 1032 of 1116, 1804 PPT, page 10, 5th entry, Dennis Claunch 1 0 0 0 (https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:3Q9M-CS73-9SMP-G?i=1031&cat=638357 : accessed 28 November 2021) and image 1062 of 1116, 1805 PPT, page 10, entry 6, Dennis Claunch 1 0 0 0 (https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:3Q9M-CS73-9SMK-8?i=1061&cat=638357 : accessed 16 March 2021). ↩
- 1810 U.S. Federal Census (index and images), Ancestry (https://www.ancestry.com/search/collections/7613/), citing Third Census of the United States, 1810 population schedule, National Archives and Records Administration, Washington D.C. NARA microfilm publication M252, 71 rolls, Roll: M252_69, Family History Library Film: 0181429, Virginia, Kanawha County, image 411, page 135, line 10, Denis Clounch household (accessed 9 December 2014). ↩
- Dennis CLONCH died between 7 March 1817 and 7 August 1820 as was proven in An Example of What You Can Do With the Personal Property Tax Lists. ↩
- West Virginia Vital Research Records Project (database and images), West Virginia Division of Culture and History, citing county records in county courthouses, West Virginia (A collaborative venture between the West Virginia State Archives and the Genealogical Society of Utah to place vital records online via the West Virginia Archives and History Web site accessible at https://archive.wvculture.org/vrr), West Virginia Marriages, 1780-1970, FHL microfilm /567389, image 10, Mason County marriages, line 10, Meridith Parsons and Elizabeth Clonch 6 Feb 1825 by William R. Gould (http://images.wvculture.org/567389/00010.jpg : accessed 18 June 2022). ↩
- “Ohio, County Marriages, 1789-2016,” database with images, FamilySearch (https://www.familysearch.org/search/collection/1614804), citing digital images of originals housed at the county courthouses in Ohio, Film 317652, DGS 4016313, Gallia County Marriage records 1803-1843 vol 1, image 118 of 240, Record of Marriages of Meigs County, page 220 (stamped), 2nd entry, 20 Aug 1832, William Claunch and Ann Eliza Hill (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:33SQ-GRMD-S2C5?cc=1614804&wc=Z51G-N38%3A121350101%2C121422401 : accessed 20 June 2022). ↩
- WVCulture.org, West Virginia Deaths, 1804-1999, FHL microfilm 567384, image 168, Mason County Register of Deaths, 1862-1863, line 24, William Clonch, 20 Jan 1863, typhoid fever, parents not known, born Kanawha County, Va., gunsmith, consort of Mary Clonch (http://images.wvculture.org/567384/00168.jpg : accessed 15 December 2009). ↩
- “Ohio, County Marriages, 1789-2016,” Gallia County Marriage records 1803-1843 vol 1, image 213 of 240, Record of Marriages of Meigs County, page 400 (stamped), 4th entry, 15 Sep 1842, John Clonch and Elizabeth Doss (https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:33S7-9RMD-S2Q4?i=212&cc=1614804 : accessed 21 June 2022). ↩
- Ibid., Gallia County, Marriage records 1843-1862 vol 2, image 53 of 238, page 123, entry 3, Steed, John md. Clontch, Elizabeth on 26 October 1848 in Gallia County, Ohio. (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:33SQ-GRMD-S2TC?cc=1614804&wc=ZRCJ-T38%3A121350101%2C121462701 : accessed 1 July 2022). ↩
- WVCulture.org, West Virginia Marriages, 1780-1970, FHL microfilm 567389, image 17, Mason County marriages, line 8, William WIlliams and Sarah Clonch 4 Jan 1832 married by Daniel Smithers. (http://images.wvculture.org/567389/00017.jpg : accessed 18 June 2022). ↩
- 1820 U.S. Federal Census (index and images), Ancestry (https://www.ancestry.com/search/collections/7734/), citing Fourth Census of the United States, 1820 population schedule, National Archives and Records Administration, Washington D.C., NARA microfilm publication M33, 142 rolls, NARA Roll: M33_138, Image: 135, Virginia, Mason, page 121, first line, Nancy Claunch household (accessed 13 December 2014). ↩
- 1830 U.S. Federal Census (index and images), Ancestry (https://www.ancestry.com/search/collections/8058/), citing Fifth Census of the United States, 1830 population schedule, National Archives and Records Administration, Washington D.C. NARA microfilm publication M19, 201 rolls, Nara Roll M19_198, FHL Film: 0029677, Virginia, Mason County, page 138 (double-page spread), line 13, Nancy Clonch (accessed 13 Dec 2014). ↩
- 1840 U.S. Federal Census (index and images), Ancestry (https://www.ancestry.com/search/collections/8057/), citing Sixth Census of the United States, 1840 population schedule, National Archives and Records Administration, Washington D.C., NARA microfilm publication M704, 580 rolls, NARA Roll: M704_568, FHL Film: 0029689, Virginia, Mason County, page 219 (double-page spread), line 17, Nancy Clonch (accessed 15 December 2014). ↩
- Shirley Haynes & Avlyn Conley, compilers, Tombstone Inscriptions (with added information) from cemeteries in Saline County, Missouri, Volume 2, FamilySearch (www.familysearch.org/library/books/idurl/1/241538), image 37, page 10, Miami Cemetery, Miami, Saline County, Missouri > Hill, Dennis d. 31 Jul 1893 Aged 55 yrs 4 mos 23 ds (accessed 26 June 2022). Note: age at death calculates to a birth date of 8 March 1838. ↩
- “Ohio, County Marriages, 1789-2016,” Gallia County Marriage records, 1803-1955; index, 1803-1950 > Marriages, v. 1-2 1803-1862, image 195 of 238, Record of Marriages of Gallia County, page 376, 5th entry, 16 Nov 1858, Dennis Claunch and Mary Ann Baker (https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:33SQ-GRMD-S2KX?i=194 : accessed 1 July 2013). ↩
- WVCulture.org, West Virginia Births, 1853-1930, FHL microfilm 1855007, image 483, Register of Births for Mason County, page 445-446 (stamped, double-page spread), line 28, 18 Mar 1860, John Wm Clonch. (http://images.wvculture.org/1855007/00483.jpg : accessed 2 September 2009). ↩
- Ibid., West Virginia Deaths, 1804-1999, FHL microfilm 567384, image 166, Mason County Register of Deaths, line 44, John W Clonch, died 9 Feb 1861, age 9 yrs 9 months, 20 days (sic). (http://images.wvculture.org/567384/00166.jpg : accessed 14 Dec 2009). ↩
- “U.S., Army, Register of Enlistments, 1798-1914,” database with images, Ancestry, citing Register of Enlistments in the U.S. Army, 1798-1914; (National Archives Microfilm Publication M233, 81 rolls); Records of the Adjutant General’s Office, 1780’s-1917, Record Group 94; National Archives, Washington, D.C., 1859-1862, Duplicates; H-Z; image 51 of 620. Name: Dennis Hill; Birthyear: abt 1839; Birthplace: Virginia; Enlistment Age: 23; Enlistment: Feb. 21 in Gallipolis, Ohio; Description: blue eyes, brown hair, light complexion, 6 ft; Discharge: 2 April 1862 Disability D. at Indianapolis, Ind. (https://www.ancestry.com/discoveryui-content/view/271599:1198 : accessed 18 Dec 2009). ↩ ↩
- See Note #14, supra. ↩
- 1850 U.S. Federal Census (index and images), Ancestry (https://www.ancestry.com/search/collections/8054/), citing Seventh Census of the United States, 1850 population schedule, National Archives and Records Administration, Washington D.C., NARA microfilm publication M432, 1009 rolls, Roll: M432_959; Image 297; Virginia, Mason, District 38, sheet 385A, lines 28-30, household 333-334, John W. Clark (accessed 13 January 2019). ↩
- 1860 U.S. Federal Census (index and images), Ancestry (https://www.ancestry.com/search/collections/7667/), citing Eighth Census of the United States, 1860 population schedule, National Archives and Records Administration, Washington D.C., NARA microfilm publication M653, 1,438 rolls, Roll: M653_1361, FHL Film: 805361, West Virginia, Mason County, District 2, Page No. 46, lines 21-30, household 345-316, Wm Claunch (accessed 13 January 2019). ↩