• General Notes

  [Johnson.FTW]
  
  [WHITTEN.FTW]
  
  The birthdate and birthplace of James Kegans has not been established, although, there are two or three theories.  His son, John, gave his father's birthplace as Missouri in the 1880 census, and if this is true, he would have been born about 1789.  This would lend authenticity to the tradition that his children were part Indian, because his mother would probably have been an Indian if his father was in Missouri that early.  The research librarians of the Missouri Historical Society believe James was a descendent of Thomas Kegans of Virginia who fought in the French and Indian War or of John Kegans who was in Virginia in 1750.  They think James left Virginia, passed through Tennessee, married Mary Ross there, then they moved on to Missouri.  They contend Mary was a sister of Chief John Ross of the Cherokees.  Still another theory is that he was the same James Kegans who was mustered out of the Continental Army in 1782 in Pennsylvania and married Mary there.
  [1144734.FTW]
  
  [Johnson.FTW]
  
  [WHITTEN.FTW]
  
  The birthdate and birthplace of James Kegans has not been established, although, there are two or three theories.  His son, John, gave his father's birthplace as Missouri in the 1880 census, and if this is true, he would have been born about 1789.  This would lend authenticity to the tradition that his children were part Indian, because his mother would probably have been an Indian if his father was in Missouri that early.  The research librarians of the Missouri Historical Society believe James was a descendent of Thomas Kegans of Virginia who fought in the French and Indian War or of John Kegans who was in Virginia in 1750.  They think James left Virginia, passed through Tennessee, married Mary Ross there, then they moved on to Missouri.  They contend Mary was a sister of Chief John Ross of the Cherokees.  Still another theory is that he was the same James Kegans who was mustered out of the Continental Army in 1782 in Pennsylvania and married Mary there.

Details of James' family with Mary Ross