Family Group Sheet
NameWilliam Lester
Birthabt 1811, Tazewell Co., Virginia
SpouseRutha Bishop
Birthabt 1811, Virginia
Children
Birth30 Mar 1845, Lawrence Co., Kentucky
Death24 Apr 1928, Lawrence Co., Kentucky
SpouseMartin H. Skaggs
Birth23 Sep 1850, Skaggs, Lawrence Co., Kentucky
Death1 Jun 1915, Terryville, Lawrence Co., Kentucky
SpouseJames Harvey Skaggs
Notes for William Lester
The family’s surname was spelled both Lester and Luster through most of the 1800’s, but by the 1900’s they had settled on Lester.
Census Notes for William & Rutha (Family)
1840 census of Tazewell Co., Va, lists
William Lester, 1 male 20-29, 1 female 20-29, 1 male 5-9, 2 males under 5, 1 female under 5. No slaves.
1850 census of Lawerence Co., Ky, enumerated 27 July, lists on p. 11 as family #64:
Wm Luster, 37; Rutha, 37; Harvy, 16; David, 15; Isaac, 13; Margaret, 11; Thos, 9; Katharine, 6; Nancy, 3. Katharine and Nancy born in Ky, all others in Va.
1860 census of Lawrence Co., Kentucky, Louisa P.O., enumerated 21 July, lists on p. 62 as family #407:
Wm Luster, 55, farmer, b. Va; Rutha, 49, b. Va; David B., 25, b. Va; Thomas, 17, b. Va; Katherine, 16, b. Ky; Nancy, 14, b. Ky; Elizabeth, 11, b. Ky; Wm J., 9, b. Ky; Rebecca, 6, b. Ky; Matilda, 2, b. Ky.
This is the only census year that shows William as older than Rutha.
1870 census of Lawrence Co., Ky, Louisa P.O., enumerated 13 June, lists on p. 15 as family #107:
Luster, William, 58, farmer, b. Va; Ruth, 58, b. Va; William J., 17, farm laborer, b. Ky; Rebecca, 15, b.Ky; Matilda, 12, b. Ky.
1880 census of Lawrence Co., Ky, Lyon precinct, enumerated 28 June, lists on p. 41 as family #262/266:
Lester, William, 69, b. Va Va Va; Rutha, 69, wife, b. Va Va Va.
William Lester, 1 male 20-29, 1 female 20-29, 1 male 5-9, 2 males under 5, 1 female under 5. No slaves.
1850 census of Lawerence Co., Ky, enumerated 27 July, lists on p. 11 as family #64:
Wm Luster, 37; Rutha, 37; Harvy, 16; David, 15; Isaac, 13; Margaret, 11; Thos, 9; Katharine, 6; Nancy, 3. Katharine and Nancy born in Ky, all others in Va.
1860 census of Lawrence Co., Kentucky, Louisa P.O., enumerated 21 July, lists on p. 62 as family #407:
Wm Luster, 55, farmer, b. Va; Rutha, 49, b. Va; David B., 25, b. Va; Thomas, 17, b. Va; Katherine, 16, b. Ky; Nancy, 14, b. Ky; Elizabeth, 11, b. Ky; Wm J., 9, b. Ky; Rebecca, 6, b. Ky; Matilda, 2, b. Ky.
This is the only census year that shows William as older than Rutha.
1870 census of Lawrence Co., Ky, Louisa P.O., enumerated 13 June, lists on p. 15 as family #107:
Luster, William, 58, farmer, b. Va; Ruth, 58, b. Va; William J., 17, farm laborer, b. Ky; Rebecca, 15, b.Ky; Matilda, 12, b. Ky.
1880 census of Lawrence Co., Ky, Lyon precinct, enumerated 28 June, lists on p. 41 as family #262/266:
Lester, William, 69, b. Va Va Va; Rutha, 69, wife, b. Va Va Va.
