My line: Abraham Kearns died in Greenbrier CO., WV in 1828. One of his sons, Alexander in the 1880 census says his father was born Ireland.
Those that stayed in WV used the Kearns spelling.
My direct line went to Ohio and they used the KEAIRNS spelling.
Abraham m Elizabeth or Eleanor, they had Thomas, Thomas married Jane Stevens in Greenbrier CO., WV. Thomas and Jane had, John. John m Mary Toland in S. Ohio. John & Mary had James. James m Drusilla Crabtree, d/o James Crabtree & Drusilla Throckmorton.
Thomas also m Sarah Dever Roberts, a widow. He later married Nancy J. Crabtree.
Anyone researching these lines, I would love to hear from you.
Hallie