Seeking info on my great-grandfather James Joiner, born ca. 1864, and presumed great-grandmother, whom I believe has been variously identified as Francis Rolins (1880 US census in Monroe Precinct, Hardin Co.), Rowlins (on Hardin Co. marriage record of 16 Sep 1880 found via IGI) or Rawlings/Rawlins.

Francis' ages given during censuses don't match up well over the years, but in 1900 she gave her birth date as October 1860. I tend to think she was born earlier than that, though--more like 1857 or 1858.

My mother, Nellie Francis Joyner (b. 1930 on the Wooly farm outside Equality) knows that she was named after her maternal grandmother Nelly Healy Wiedemann and her paternal grandmother Francis, but never knew Francis' maiden name. I do find Francis, married to James, living "near Fairview Landing" and next door to my grandparents Marion James Joiner (b. 17 Sep 1888) and Charlotte/Sharlotta "Lottie" Wiedemann (b. 22 Apr 1891) in the 1910 census.

However, my mom knows nothing of her grandfather James' origins. I find a James Joiner, age 8, on the US Census records of Monroe Precinct in 1870, son of Marion and Minerva Joiner. To confuse matters, it seems that there were a number of Marion/James/James Marion/Marion James Joyner/Joiners down there over the years.

While my grandfather gave his name as "James Marion Joiner" on his WWI draft registration, he consistently identified himself as simply "Marion" or "Marion J." to census enumerators; "Joiner" prior to 1930, and "Joyner" in 1930 and thereafter.

I believe that Francis' father was Hamilton R. Rollins, b. 1832 in Ohio, but I've found nothing substantial regarding Francis' mother, whose name appears to be Martha, born Kentucky ca. 1837. Family lore has it that Francis' mother was either 1/4 or full Native American, and we'd like to verify or debunk that if possible.

My best guess is that Hamilton married Martha in Kentucky, where both Martha and Francis state they were born, because by 1860, he'd moved the family to Iron County, MO, before moving to Hardin County after 1870 and before 1880. The probate record of a William Rawlins in Saline County, 1875, includes a Hamilton Rawlins as an heir.

Thanks in advance for any info that you can share!

Hello Stephen,

I am your cousin Kathy. My father is James Joyner and my mother is Mary Joyner-Justus. We met once when we were children. Your mother lived with my partent when your grand mother died. Anyway I don't know if you have contacted your Aunt Janette Watson but she is an authority on your grandfather. 244-619-0966. If anyone can help you she can. I would like to know more about both of our grandparents. I have some pictures of grandpa Joyner and I will dig them up and send them to you. Hope to hear from you soon. Say hello to your parents for me.

I don't know if I have the right Joiner/Joyner family, but I am interested in the Joyner name because I might be descended from the Joiner family by way of William Holloman. He might have married a Joiner, probably in TN.

I can tell you that William Holloman/Holliman moved to Pope County, Il from Wilson County, TN. The move took place between 1821 and 1825, If you check the 1820 Wilson County TN census you will find William on the same page as a number of Joiners. The Joiners and Hollomans soon after moved to Pope.

I have a number of references to the Joiners from Pope County records. Also, I have a few references to the Joiners in Wilson. If you'd like some of them, let me know. As I said, we might not be referencing the same Joiner line, but who knows.

Robert Schneider