 Thomas Norman Eastin, son of Zachariah Eastin and Nancy Anna Durbin.Born 1815 at Henderson, KY Thomas N. Eastin kept a diary of his experiences on the Overland Trail as he made his way from Henderson, KY for the "Gold Country" of California (1849-50). A copy of that diary can be obtained from http://www.filsonhistorical.org (Filson Historical Society) . The adventurers that comprised the "Henderson Party" included James Lyne, David Herndon, Edward G. Hall, Col. James T. Wilson, Jno. M. Burbank, H.M. Gaylay, (?) Dixon, (?) Tibbets, Robert Dixon, E.T. Peabody, David Hart, Jno.T. Posey, David Buchanan, Lewis Howke, Frank Schaeffer, Thomas Ford, Ben Floyd, Francis Ball, and David Locket (The latter three gentlemen left the Company at Ft. Kearney.) Thomas`s entries reflect a man who was a "romantic", a word he used many times in his journal when describing beauty in nature (information says he was a Civil Engineer.) He expresses moments of brief remorse of leaving his "only child" [at that time], "aging parents", and siblings back in Henderson. A note with Thomas`s diary promises that his son Churchill will pass it to a Mr. Thruston upon Churchill`s death, which was apparently done through the estate. SOURCES: Thomas Norman Eastin's diary, obtained through Filson Historical Society, Kentucky. The 1850 census for Henderson, KY shows Zachariah and wife Anna D. (Durbin) heading a household with Thomas and Penelope's son Churchill Eastin, and other family members. He apparently returned to Kentucky, later marrying Anna Pilcher. ______________________________________________ E-Mail orrespondence from Cinda Eastin (wife of descendant of William Eastin, older brother of Thomas) 10/2004 who tells me she has a hand-drawn family tree that was prepared in 1985 by Roy Church Eastin and states "THOMAS NORMAN EASTIN (1815-? Age 31) Civil Eng., wife ANNIE PILCHER of Louisville, Ky. Also married PENELOPE CHURCHILL of Elizabethtown, Ky, 1846. Settled in Spotsville, Kentucky." She shows Thomas N. as the 9th child of Zachariah and Anna. More recently, the 1880 Louisville, KY Census shows Thomas N. (an office clerk) and wife Anna (Pilcher) with their family and with Thomas's sister, widowed Cassandra (Eastin) Rankin in the household. ______________________________________________ E-mail correspondence from Mary A. Watts 10/15/05 as follows: "I am `browsing` the Churchill Line. I grew up on Churchill Court in Elizabethtown Kentucky (in a house my grandparents built in the early 1920s on property purchased from Rosa Williams, who was a granddaughter of Armistead Churchill. I just finished reading Armistead H Churchill`s will in which he names grandson, Churchill Eastin (along with others) In the 1880 census, Churchill Eastin is living with his mother`s sister Nellie (Mary Ellen) Churchill, and two cousins, Rosa and Nathaniel Daniel, children of another sister, Maria. Penelope Churchill married Thomas Eastin in Elizabethtown May 3, 1845, but I can`t view the license as it was not scanned in properly." Mary A Watts Married/ Related to:  Anna PilcherBorn at Louisville, KY Source: I received an email from the wife of a descendant of William Eastin, brother of Thomas N. She states she has a hand drawn family tree prepared in 1985 by Roy Church Eastin that states: "THOMAS NORMAN EASTIN (1815-? Age 31) Civil Eng. wife ANNIE PILCHER of Louisville, Ky. Also married PENELOPE CHURCHILL of Elizabethtown, Ky. 1846. Settled in Spotsville, Kentucky." If so, Thomas apparently returned to Kentucky from his Gold Rush adventure. The 1880 Louisville, KY Census shows Thomas N. and wife Anna (Pilcher) with their family and with Thomas`s sister, Cassandra Rankin (widow) in the household. The records of Cinda Eastin show Thomas as the 9th child of Zachariah and Nancy Ann. Children: 1. Harry EastinBorn 1861 at KY The 1880 Louisville, KY Census shows Thomas N. and wife Anna (Pilcher) with their family,including Harry at age 19. Harry, like his brother Thomas was working as a messenger in a telegraph office. 2. Thomas L. EastinBorn 1863 at KY The 1880 Louisville, KY Census shows Thomas N. and wife Anna (Pilcher) with their family,including Thomas at age 17. Harry, like his brother Harry, was working as a messenger in a telegraph office. 3. Robert M. EastinBorn 1867 The 1880 Louisville, KY Census shows Thomas N. and wife Anna (Pilcher) with their family,including Robert M. who was age 13. | |||
| 2nd marriage Thomas Norman Eastin, son of Zachariah Eastin and Nancy Anna Durbin.Married May 1845 (3 years married) to: Penelope Churchill, daughter of Armistead Henry Churchill, Judge and Eliza "Eliza Percefull" Perceval.Born 1818, died Sep 8, 1848 at Elizabethtown, KY, 29 or 30 years In papers sent to me by Filson (Kentucky) Historical Society, they cite "Marriages from the `Western Citizen`, stating that Penelope died at the age of 30 in the home of her father Hon. "John" Churchill, although the marriage announcement states that he was "A.H." (Henry) Churchill. Thomas apparently left his family and friends several months after her death, leaving behind 4-year-old Churchill Eastin ____________________________________________ ______________________________________________ E-mail correspondence from Mary A. Watts 10/15/05 as follows: "I am `browsing` the Churchill Line. I grew up on Churchill Court in Elizabethtown Kentucky (in a house my grandparents built in the early 1920s on property purchased from Rosa Williams, who was a granddaughter of Armistead Churchill. I just finished reading Armistead H Churchill`s will in which he names grandson, Churchill Eastin (along with others) In the 1880 census, Churchill Eastin is living with his mother`s sister Nellie (Mary Ellen) Churchill, and two cousins, Rosa and Nathaniel Daniel, children of another sister, Maria. Penelope Churchill married Thomas Eastin in Elizabethtown May 3, 1845, but I can`t view the license as it was not scanned in properly." Mary A Watts. Child: 1. Churchill Eastin, ReverendBorn 1846 at Henderson, KY, died Feb 28, 1928 at Jefferson Co., KY, 81 or 82 years In his diary, Thomas reflects a bit on leaving behind his "only child" and his "aging parents." A note with Thomas`s diary promises that his son Churchill will pass it to a Mr. Thruston upon Churchill`s death, which was apparently done through the estate. The Protestant Episcopal Church Clerical Directory for 1898 shows Churchill Eastin having become a Deacon in St. Louis, Mo. SOURCES: Thomas Norman Eastin's diary and relative information obtained from Filson Historical Society, Kentucky. 1850 Henderson Co., KY Census finds 4-year-old Churchill living with grandparents Zecheriah and Anna Eastin. Death certificates 1911-2000 Jefferson Co., KY Vol. 9 Cert 04045, Vol. 28. __________________________________________________________ ______________________________________________ E-mail correspondence from Mary A. Watts 10/15/05 as follows: "I am `browsing` the Churchill Line. I grew up on Churchill Court in Elizabethtown Kentucky (in a house my grandparents built in the early 1920s on property purchased from Rosa Williams, who was a granddaughter of Armistead Churchill. I just finished reading Armistead H Churchill`s will in which he names grandson, Churchill Eastin (along with others) In the 1880 census, Churchill Eastin is living with his mother`s sister Nellie (Mary Ellen) Churchill, and two cousins, Rosa and Nathaniel Daniel, children of another sister, Maria. Penelope Churchill married Thomas Eastin in Elizabethtown May 3, 1845, but I can`t view the license as it was not scanned in properly." Mary A Watts | |||