Esarey Reunion home

History

Between 1780 and 1850 the 9 children, 45 grandchildren, and at least 245 great-grandchildren of John Essery and Sarah Hester Clark helped populate the midwestern United States, especially Kentucky, Indiana, Illinois, and Missouri. Some migrated as far west as Gold Rush California. John and Hester's son Jonathon Davis Essery/Esarey/Esrey (1783-1858) moved from Kentucky to Oil Township of Perry County, Indiana in 1810, where many Esarey descendants live today and where the First Annual Reunion was held in 1910 and every year since then. Now, after six, seven, or eight generations, spellings of the name have diverged into three main modes (Esarey, Esry, and Esrey) and descendants of John Essery and Sarah Hester Clark are all over the United States and throughout the world. And, of course, the vast majority of these descendants of John Essery and Sarah Hester Clark have other surnames.

Esarey, Esrey, and Esry are derivative spellings (see chart of spelling divergence) known to have emerged from John Essery's line since he came to Kentucky from the east. The connection to families spelling their name Essary is more of a mystery but is thought to not be too distant, with the families parting ways before 1780. In the early 1780s John and Sarah's family moved west and settled on Doe Run in today's Meade County, Kentucky. Meanwhile Essary ancestors moved west through Virginia, North Carolina, Tennessee, with many ending up in Tennessee and Missouri.

Family histories and the thousands of descendants of John Essery are detailed in the classic genealogical resource of southern Indiana "Logan Esarey and his Ancestors and their Descendants" (started a century ago by Logan Esarey and completed in 1968 by Myra Esarey Evans).

For one full century the Esarey family reunion has provided a chance to understand family history, genealogy, and refresh and reconnect to this history.

Its time for the 2010 Bicentennial Esarey Reunion!

Tell City and Branchville, Perry County, IN

August 7 and 8, 2010

2010 is a very special year - the Esarey Bicentennial Reunion - the 100th Annual Reunion and the 200th anniversary of the Esarey family settling in Perry County, Indiana! Over the last 200 years, Esarey/Esry descendants, descended from Jonathon Davis Esarey, have spread out across the country and around the world. Please join us in celebrating our history by coming back down "home."

4 DOWNLOADS:

AN INVITATION - - - Registration/Meals Form - - - Addition Registrations Form - - - Perry County Resources/Lodging (also see CD distributed at the reunion to registrants)

TO RECEIVE A MAILED PACKET of these downloads please send an email to esarey.reunion[at]gmail.com or mail us a note at "Esarey Reunion, 92 East Hazel Dell, Springfield, IL 62712"

THE REUNION PROGRAM (draft)

SATURDAY, August 7, 2010

9:00am Registration Opens at Schergens Center

Technology Area Opens. Set up for displays, family histories, photos. Handouts, written materials, computer set up

Lunch on Your Own

1:00pm Esarey Family Reunion Program Begins.

Welcome, Announcements. Opening Ceremony. Opening Activities

1:30pm General Sessions Family History

Presentations by: Duane Esarey, Sam Kaiser, Gary Essary, Dan Esarey

Display Tables, Photos, Discussions

Individual Presentations, Children’s Activities

5:00pm Social Time before Dinner

6:00pm Reunion Dinner (catered by: Bill and Dave’s Smokin Pit)

Remarks, Acknowledgments

7:00pm Acoustic Music Jam Session (Bring your instruments – Coordinator: Mark Dwight Esarey)

8:15pm DJ and Karaoke

All evening Social Time, Visiting

SUNDAY, August 8, 2010

8:00am to 9:30am Light Breakfast provided at Oil Township Conservation Club at Branchville

9:00am at the Oil Township Conservation Club

The 2010 BICENTENNIAL FAMILY PHOTO (You don’t want to miss this, we need everyone for this picture) Rain option: Meet at Schergens Center for photo and breakfast

Optional Activities following 2010 Photo

9:30am to 11:30am

Gathering for presentations, discussion, lLook at photos, family histories, etc.

Gathering : Walker Cemetery at Branchville (handouts provided)

Travel to visit area cemeteries (maps will be provided)

10:30am Church services (times to be verified)

Branchville Methodist Church Service

St. Croix Holy Cross Catholic Church Service

12:00pm

2010 Esarey Reunion Lunch, Schergens Center (Catered by: Bill and Dave’s Smokin Pit)

1:15pm to 2:00pm

Closing Ceremony, Special Recognitions, Closing Remarks

Esarey/Esrey/Esry Genealogy and Reunion

Perry County, Indiana

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