Was Governor Alcorn's Immigrant Ancestor Really an English Nobleman?
James Lusk Alcorn, 1816-1894)
While reading a bio of James Lusk Alcorn, governor of Mississipi following the Civil War, I ran across an interesting interview with his daughter, Gertrude. She said that Renfew George Alcorn, born 1649, was the originial immigrant in her family line. According to family stories, Renfew (an English nobleman) and his three sons, William, John and George sailed to America in 1680 following the death of his wife in a hunting accident. Renfew died on the ship, leaving the three boys under the guardianship of the vessel's captain, Captain Barnegut. Gertrude Alcorn said that her line was descended from William, who settled in South Carolina.
This raises all kinds of interesting genealogical questions. Was there really a vessel commanded by a Captain Barnegut that sailed to America in 1680? Is there a passenger list showing the Alcorns? Are there records showing William, John or George in America prior to 1700? How about records in England?
If you can shed any light on this puzzle, please leave us a comment or send an e-mail using the link to the left.
Follow-up: I just heard from my mother that her aunt Lizzie Alcorn, 1895-1990, who lived in Jessamine County, Kentucky, told the tale of three brothers immigrating from England. It's very interesting that two women growing up in two different parts of the country would tell the same story.
