Ancestry of Muhammad Ali

Ancestry of Muhammad Ali
compiled by William Addams Reitwiesner

The following material on the immediate ancestry of Muhammad Ali should not be considered either exhaustive or authoritative, but rather as a first draft.

William Addams Reitwiesner
wargs@wargs.com

Ancestry of Muhammad Ali
1	Cassius Marcellus Clay Jr., from ... [ca. 1964-5] "Muhammad Ali Haj" (in Arabic: محمد على), boxer, b. Louisville, Ky., 17 Jan. 1942 [Kentucky Birth Index, 1911-1999, vol. 6, cert 2705 (in which his name is spelled "Cassuis")]
PARENTS
2	Cassius Marcellus Clay, b. Jefferson Co., Ky., 11 Nov. 1912 d. Jefferson Co., Ky., 8 Feb. 1990, ae. 77 [SSDI 403-16-4967; Kentucky Death Index, 1911-2000, vol. 9, cert. 4003] m.
3	Odessa Lee Grady, b. Hopkins Co., Ky., 12 Feb. 1917 [Kentucky Birth Index, 1911-1999, vol. 15, cert. 7377], d. Berrien, Mich., 20 Aug. 1994 [SSDI 404-26-8158]
GRANDPARENTS
4	Herman H ... Clay, b. ... , Ky., ... March 1876, d. Jefferson, Co., Ky., 1 Feb. 1954, ae. 77 [Kentucky Death Index, 1911-2000, vol. 6, cert. 2753] m. Louisville, Ky., 30 Dec. 1909
5	Edith E ... Greathouse, b. ... , Ky., ... Dec. 1890, d. Jefferson Co., Ky., 30 Dec. 1971, ae. 81 [Kentucky Death Index, 1911-2000, vol. 66, cert. 32506]
6	John Lewis Grady, b. Allensville, Ky., 27 June 1886, d. ... [living 1930] m. ... [ca. 1914]
7	Birdie B ... Morehead, b. ... , Ky., ... June 1893, d. Jefferson Co., Ky., 6 Dec. 1944, ae. 50 [Kentucky Death Index, 1911-2000, vol. 55, cert. 27263]
GREAT-GRANDPARENTS
8	John Clay, b. ... , Va., ... [ca. 1824], d. ... [living 1880] m. ... [ca. 1861]
9	Sallie ... , b. ... , Ky., ... [ca. 1847], d. ... [living 1880]
10	James Montgomery Greathouse, b. ... , Ky., ... March 1849, d. ... [by 1920] m. ... [ca. 1889]
11	Betsy J ... Alexander, b. ... , Ky., ... June 1865, d. Jefferson Co., Ky., 9 June 1964, ae. 99 [Kentucky Death Index, 1911-2000, vol. 26, cert. 12906]
14	Thomas Morehead, b. ... , Ky., ... [ca. 1838], d. Logan Co., Ky., 28 May 1913, ae. 76 [Kentucky Death Index, 1911-2000, vol. 28, cert. 13679] m. Old Union Church, Logan Co., Ky., 24 Dec. 1890
15	Lizzie Bibb, b. ... , Ky., ... Oct. 1869, d. ... 29 Dec. 1919
GREAT-GREAT-GRANDPARENTS
22	Wesley Alexander, b. ... , Ky., ... [ca. 1830], d. ... [living 1880] m.
23	Patsy ... , b. ... , Ky., ... Jan. 1831, d. Louisville, Ky., 7 Jan. 1937, ae. 106 [Kentucky Death Index, 1911-2000, vol. 3, cert. 1417]
28	Armstead S ... Morehead, b. ... 14 Oct. 1808, d. Green Ridge, Logan Co., Ky., ... 1865 [non-marital liaison]
29	Dinah , b. ... , d. ...
30	Abram Bibb, b. ... , Ky., ... 1819, d. ... [living 1900] m.
31	Peggy ... , b. ... , d. ... [by 1900]
GREAT-GREAT-GREAT-GRANDPARENTS
56	Presley Morehead, b. Fauquier Co., Va., 25 Nov. 1775, d. ... 29 Dec. 1846 m. Logan Co., Ky., 10 May 1802
57	Mary Duncan, b. ... 1785, d. ... 1853
GREAT-GREAT-GREAT-GREAT-GRANDPARENTS
112	Charles Morehead, Capt., b. Prince William Co., Va., ... [ca. 1739], d. Fauquier Co., Va., 30 Sept. 1783 (will dated 19 Jan 1783, probated Fauquier Co., Va., 27 Oct 1783) [Jaques, Kentucky families, pp. 6-8 (no. 12)] m. ... 1756
113	Mary Turner, b. ... [ca. 1741], d. Nelson Co., Ky., ... [ca. 1791]
114	James Duncan, b. Culpeper Co, Va., ... 1759, d. ... 1820 m.
115	Barsheba Menefee, b. ... , d. ...
GREAT-GREAT-GREAT-GREAT-GREAT-GRANDPARENTS
224	John Morehead, b. ... (1691-1700), d. ... (will dated 22 June 1768, probated Fauquier Co., Va., 8 Aug 1768) [Jaques, Kentucky families, pp. 4-5 (no. 8)] m.
225	Mary Armistead, d. ... [living 22 June 1768]
226	James Turner, b. ... [ca. 1705], d. ... [ca. 1773] m. Spotsylvania Co., Va., 7 May 1734
227	Kerenhappuch Norman, b. ... 1716, d. ... 1781
228	William Duncan, b. Culpeper Co., Va., 29 April 1726, d. ... , Va., 17 May 1790 m.
229	Rosanna Norman, b. ... , d. ... 1801
230	William Menefee, b. ... 5 Sept. 1750, d. Elkton, Tenn., 8 March 1809 m. Fincastle Co., Va., 19 Dec. 1774
231	Elizabeth Vardeman, b. Bedford Co., Va., ... 1755, d. Giles Co., Tenn., ... 1822
GREAT-GREAT-GREAT-GREAT-GREAT-GREAT-GRANDPARENTS
448	Charles Morehead, b. ... ca. 1609, probably emigrated to Kent Island, Virginia (now Maryland) in 1631, d. ... (will probated Northumberland Co., Va., 9 June 1705) [Jaques, Kentucky families, pp. 1-3 (no. 1)] m.
449	Jane Presley, b. ... , d. ...
450	William Armistead, b. ... 1665, d. ... 13 June 1711 m.
451	Anne Lee, b. ... 1680, d. ... 1755
452	Thomas Turner, b. ... 1664, d. ... 1742 m. ... 1711
453	Martha Taliaferro, b. ... , d. ... 1726
454	(=458) Isaac Norman, b. ... 1692, d. Culpeper Co., 7 April 1748 m. ... 1715
455	(=459) Frances Courtney, b. ... 1696, d. ...
456	William Duncan, b. ... , d. ... [will dated 24 Feb. 1781, probated 15 Oct. 1788 Culpeper Co Va] m.
457	Ruth Raleigh, b. ... , d. ...
458 - 459	Same as 454 - 455, above.
460	Gerrard Menefee, b. ... , d. Lincoln Co., Ky., 7 March 1811 m.
461	Agnes Sutherland, b. ... , d. ...
462	John Vardeman, b. ... , d. ... m. ... , S. C., 7 Sept. 1744
463	Elizabeth Morgan, b. ... 1729, d. ...
7/GREAT-GRANDPARENTS
900	John Armistead, b. ... 1635, d. ... 1698 m.
901	Judith ... , b. ... , d. ... 1700
902	Hancock Lee, b. ... 1653, d. ... 25 May 1709 m.
903	Mary Kendall, b. ... 1661, d. ... 26 Dec. 1694
906	Richard Taliaferro, b. ... 1660, d. ... 1712 m.
907	Sarah Wingfield, b. ... 1669, d. ... 1728
908	(=916) George Norman, b. ... , d. ... m. 1680
909	(=917) Anne Tolson, b. ... , d. ...
910	(=918) James Courtney, b. ... , d. ... 1698 m.
911	(=919) Mary Jenkins, b. ... , d. ...
916 - 919	Same as 908 - 911, above.
924	Johannes Wilhelm Vardeman, b. ... , d. Lunenberg Co., Va., ... [after 1790] m.
925	... , b. ... , d. ...
926	Thomas Morgan, b. ... , d. Bedford Co., Va., 23 May 1774 m.
927	Esther Taylor, b. ... , d. ...
8/GREAT-GRANDPARENTS
1800	William Armistead, b. ... , d. ... 1660 m.
1801	Ann Ellis, b. ... , d. ...
1804	Richard Lee, b. ... 1618, d. ... 1664 m.
1805	Anne Constable, b. ... , d. ...
1806	William Kendall, b. ... , d. ... 1686 m.
1807	Susanna Baker, b. ... , d. ...
1812	Robert Taliaferro, bapt. Stepney, co. Middlesex, 19 Sept. 1626, to Virginia by 1647, d. ... [between 26 March 1666 and 20 Nov. 1672] [Virginia Magazine of History and Biography 77 (1969): 22-25] m.
1813	Katherine Deadman, b. ... , d. ... 1687 [Virginia Magazine of History and Biography 56 (1948): 208-210]
1814	John Wingfield, b. ... , d. ... m.
1815	Martha ... , b. ... , d. ...
1816	(=1832) George Norman, b. ... , d. ... [will dated Anne Arundel Co., Md., 13 Jan 1675] m.
1817	(=1833) ----
1832 - 1839	Same as 1816 - 1823, above.
9/GREAT-GRANDPARENTS
3624	Francis Taliaferro, bapt. St. Olave's Hart St., London, 25 Jan. 1589/90, bur. Stepney, co. Middlesex, 19 Aug. 1647 [Virginia Magazine of History and Biography 77 (1969): 22-25] m. by license 3 Feb. 1613/4 at St. Saviour's, Southwark, co. Surrey,
3625	Bennett Haie, b. ... , d. ... [living Nov. 1620]
3626	Henry Deadman, b. ... , d. ... [by 6 June 1655] m.
3627	Katherine ... , b. ... , d. ...
3664 - 3679	Same as 3632 - 3647, above.
10/GREAT-GRANDPARENTS
7248	Bartholomew Taliaferro, b. Venice ... , made Denizen in March 1562, bur. St. Olave's Hart St., London, 22 Sept. 1601, will dated 18 Sept. 1601, probated 3 May 1602 PCC (29 Montague) [Virginia Magazine of History and Biography 77 (1969): 22-25] m. St. Michael's Cornhill, London, 1 Jan. 1583/4
7249	Joane Lane, b. ... , d. ... [remarried 15 May 1602]
7328 - 7359	Same as 7264 - 7295, above.

EXTRACTS from the U.S. FEDERAL DECENNIAL CENSUS


1930 Kentucky, Jefferson Co., Louisville, ED 116, sheet 9A, line 28

Clay Herman    H   M Neg 52      M 33   KY KY KY      Chauffeur    ...
     Edith     W   F Neg 39      M 19   KY KY KY
     Everett   S   M Neg 19      S      KY KY KY
     Cassius   S   M Neg 17      S      KY KY KY
     Bernard   S   M Neg 15      S      KY KY KY
     Eva       D   F Neg 14      S      KY KY KY
     John      S   M Neg 12      S      KY KY KY
     Coretta   D   F Neg 11      S      KY KY KY
     Betsy     D   F Neg  9      S      KY KY KY
     George    S   M Neg  8      S      KY KY KY
     Mary      D   F Neg  6      S      KY KY KY
     William   S   M Neg  4 2/12 S      KY KY KY
     Claude    S   M Neg  3 2/12 S      KY KY KY

--------

1930 Kentucky, Jefferson Co., Louisville, ED 175, sheet 33A, line 33

Grady John      H   M Neg 41 M 23   KY KY KY      Laborer    Coal Co
      Bertie    W   F Neg 36 M 17   KY KY KY      Maid       Hotel
      John      S   M Neg 14 S      KY KY KY
      Odessa    D   F Neg 12 S      KY KY KY
      Orietta   D   F Neg  9 S      KY KY KY

--------

1930 Kentucky, Jefferson Co., Louisville, ED 116, sheet 9B, line 54

Alexander Patsy      H   F Neg 94 Wd   KY KY KY
          Leila      D   F Neg 50 Wd   KY KY KY     Cook    Auto Body Co
          Florence   D   F Neg 45 S    KY KY KY     Cook    Private Family

--------

1920 Kentucky, Jefferson Co., Louisville, ED 173, sheet 8A, line 1

Clay Herman    H   M B 43      M    KY KY KY     Laborer    Railroad
     Edith     W   F B 29      M    KY KY KY
     Everett   S   M W  9      S    KY KY KY
     Cassius   S   M B  8      S    KY KY KY
     Bernard   S   M B  5      S    KY KY KY
     Eva       D   F B  4 4/12 S    KY KY KY
     John      S   M B  2 4/12 S    KY KY KY
     Corella   D   F B  1 9/12 S    KY KY KY

--------

1920 Kentucky, Jefferson Co., Louisville, ED 173, sheet 7B, line 91

Greathouse Betsie    H   F B 54 Wd    KY KY KY
           James     S   M B 22 S     KY KY KY     Chauffeur     Private Family
           Nannie    D   F B 20 S     KY KY KY
           John      S   M B 18 S     KY KY KY     Porter        Theatre
           Antonio   S   M B 15 S     KY KY KY

--------

    same sheet, line 83

Alexander Patrick    H    F B 83 Wd    KY KY KY      Laundress    At Home
          Eva        D    F B 39 S     KY KY KY      Maid         Private Family
          Lela       D    F B 42 D     KY KY KY      Maid         Private Family
Smith John           GS   M B 22 S     KY KY KY      Laborer      Iron Foundry

--------

     same ED, sheet 9B, line 63

Smith John          H      M B 23 S     KY KY KY     Moulder      Iron Foundry
      Lela          M      F B 42 Wd    KY KY KY     Cook         Box Factory
Alexander Patsie    GM     F B 84 Wd    KY KY KY     Laundress    At Home
          Eva       Aunt   F B 35 S     KY KY KY     Domestic     Work Out

--------

1920 Kentucky, Hopkins Co., Earlington, ED 94, sheet 13B, line 79

Grady John L     H   M B 33      M    KY KY KY      Driller    Coal Mine
      Birdie     W   F B 26      M    KY KY KY
      John       S   M B  5 7/12 S    KY KY KY
      Odessa L   D   F B  2 4/12 S    KY KY KY

--------

1910 Kentucky, jefferson Co., Louisville, ED 164, sheet 8A, lin 15

Clay Herman       H    M Bl 34 M1    4/12        KY KY KY   Laborer     Rail Road
     Edith        W    F Bl 19 M1    4/12  0  0  KY KY KY

--------

    next entry

Alexander Patsy   H    F Bl 75 W  52 17 10  KY KY KY   Laundress
          Eva     D    F Bl 30 S      0  0  KY KY KY   Laundress
Kendall Gertrude  D    F Bl 32 M1  5  0  0  KY KY KY
        Walter J  SiL  M Mu 35 M2  5        GA GA GA   Laborer     Box Factory
Alexander Lelia   D    F Bl 36 D  17  3  2  KY KY KY   House Girl  Private Family
          Otis    GS   M Bl 16 S            KY KY KY
          John    GS   M Bl 12 S            KY KY KY

--------

    same sheet, line 36

Greathouse James M      H   M Bl 65 M2 21         KY KY KY     Expressman
           Betsy J      W   F Bl 44 M1 21 10 8    KY KY KY
           Coretta S    D   F Bl 31 S             KY KY KY     Teacher   School
           Mattie J     D   F Bl 14 S             KY KY KY          
           Beatrice L   D   F Bl 13 S             KY KY KY
           James M Jr   S   M Bl 11 S             KY KY KY
           Nonnie L     D   F Bl 10 S             KY KY KY
           John W       S   M Bl  9 S             KY KY KY
           Antonio F    S   M Bl  5 S             KY KY KY

--------

1910 Kentucky, Logan Co., Gordonsville, ED 62, sheet 8B, line 79

Morehead Thomas     H  M B 73 M1 20       KY KY KY   Farmer          General Farm
         Lizzie     W  F B 43 M1 20 7 7   KY KY KY
         John       S  M B 18 S           KY KY KY   Farm Laborer    Working Out
         Bertie M   D  F B 17 S           KY KY KY
         Cara L     D  F B 16 S           KY KY KY
         David      S  M B 15 S           KY KY KY   Farm laborer    Home Farm
         Lorena     D  F B 10 S           KY KY KY
         Norene     D  F B 10 S           KY KY KY
         Herman     S  M B  5 S           KY KY KY

--------

1900 Kentucky, Jefferson Co., Louisville, ED 119, sheet 10A, line 25

Crawford Edward    H     B M Apr 1872 28 M 8         KY KY KY     Carpenter
         Mary      W     B F Mar 1876 24 M 8 0 0     KY KY KY
Clay Herman        Boa   B M Mar 1876 24 M 3         KY KY KY     R R Laborer

--------

1900 Kentucky, Jefferson Co., Louisville, ED 97, sheet 9B, line 67

Greathouse Mont         H   C M Unk 1849 51      M 12        KY KY KY      ...
           Betsy        W   C F Jun 1865 34      M 12 7 6    KY KY KY
           Cora         D   C F Feb 1889 10      S           KY KY KY
           Edith        D   C F Dec 1890  9      S           KY KY KY
           Mattie       D   C F Sep 1894  5      S           KY KY KY
           Beatrice     D   C F Jun 1896  3      S           KY KY KY
           James        S   C M Nov 1897  2      S           KY KY KY
           Josephine    D   C F Oct 1899    9/12 S           KY KY KY

--------

    same sheet, line 88

Alexander Patsy       H   C F Jan 1831 69 Wd 38 18 11     KY KY KY      Laundress
          Gerald      S   C M Oct 1878 21 S               KY KY KY       ...
          Gertrude    D   C F Apl 1876 24 S               KY KY KY      Laundress
          Eva         D   C F Apl 1878 22 S               KY KY KY      Laundress
          Lelah       D   C F Feb 1874 26 S               KY KY KY      Laundress

--------

1900 Kentucky, Logan Co., Olmstead, ED 177, sheet 8B, line 80

Morehead Thomas      H   B M Jan 1839 60 M 9        KY KY KY     Farmer
         Lizzie      W   B F Oct 1869 30 M 9 7 6    KY TN TN
         John G      S   B M Sep 1891  8 S          KY KY KY
         Bertie B    D   B F Jun 1893  7 S          KY KY KY
         Connie G    D   B F Mar 1894  6 S          KY KY KY
         David       S   B M Jul 1896  4 S          KY KY KY

--------

1900 Kentucky, Logan Co., Magesterial District 3, ED 45, sheet 10A, line 48
   cont. on sheet 10B

Bibb Abram         H    B M Mar 1819 81 Wd       KY VA VA      Farmer
     Lula          D    B F Jul 1869 30 S 4 4    KY KY VA      Washer / Clothes
Grinter Regina     GD   B F Jun 1886 13 S        KY KY KY
        James A    GS   B M May 1888 12 S        KY KY KY      Farm Laborer
        Raleigh L  GS   B M Jun 1889 10 S        KY KY KY      Farm Laborer
        Edward     GS   B M Aug 1891  8 S        KY KY KY

--------

1880 Kentucky, Jefferson Co., Louisville, ED 149, page 21, line 26

Clay Jno       B M 36               Day Laborer                      VA VA VA
     Sallie    B F 33           W   Keeping House                    KY KY KY
     C H       B M 17           S   At School                        KY VA KY
     D W       B M 15           S   At School                        KY VA KY
     J S       B M 12           S   At School                        KY VA KY
     Thomas    B M 10           S   At School                        KY VA KY
     C D       B M  8           S                Whooping Cough      KY VA KY
     B A       B F  6           D                Whooping Cough      KY VA KY
     H H       B M  4           S                Whooping Cough      KY VA KY
     B N       B F  2           D                Whooping Cough      KY VA KY
     Virginia  B F    4/12 Feb  D                Whooping Cough      KY VA KY

--------

1880 Kentucky, Jefferson Co., Louisville, ED 144, page 22, line 17

Greathouse Montgomery    B M 34         Teamster         KY MS VA
           Sarah         B F 32    W    Keeping House    KY KY KY

--------

    same page, line 1

Alexander Wesley       B M 50          Teamster          KY VA VA
          Patsey       B F 49    W     Washerwoman       KY KY KY
          Wesley       B M 21    S     Laborer           KY KY KY
          Elisabeth    B F 19    D                       KY KY KY
          Betsey       B F 16    D     At School         KY KY KY
          Robert       B M 14    S     At School         KY KY KY
          Rachel       B F 13    D     At School         KY KY KY
           ...         B F 10    D     At School         KY KY KY
          Minnie       B F  9    D                       KY KY KY
          Lela         B F  7    D                       KY KY KY
          Gertrude     B F  6    D                       KY KY KY
          Florence E   B F  5    D                       KY KY KY
          Philipp      B M ..    S                       KY KY KY
          George       B M  5    S                       KY KY KY

--------

1880 Kentucky, Logan Co., Gordonsville, ED 169, page 20, line 13

Morehead Thomas      Mu M 39        Farmer                   KY KY KY
         Georgia A   Mu F 39   W    Keeping House            KY KY KY
         Jimmie L    Mu M 19   S    Farm Labor               KY KY KY
         Willis      Mu M 15   S    Farm Labor               KY KY KY
         Katie B     Mu F 14   D                    Fever    KY KY KY
         Mary E      Mu F 12   D                             KY KY KY
         Virgil      Mu M 10   S                             KY KY KY
         Nannie D    Mu F  7   D                             KY KY KY

--------

1880 Kentucky, Logan Co., Gordonsville, ED 169, page 36, line 40

Bibb Abram     B  M 50          Farming           KY KY VA
     Rachel    Mu F 45    W     Keeping House     KY TN TN
     Louisa    Mu F 13    D                       KY KY KY
     Hista     Mu F 16    D                       KY KY KY

--------

1870 Kentucky, Logan Co., Gordonsville, Mech numbered p. 376, line 9

Morehead Thos          31      M M    Works on Farm    1500  300    KY
         Georgia Ann   31      F M    Keeping House                 KY
         James          8      M M    Works on Farm                 KY
         William        7      M M                                  KY
         Katy           5      F M                                  KY
         Elizabeth      2      F M                                  KY
         Virgil           4/12 M M                                  KY
         Mary          33      F C                                  KY

--------

1860 Kentucky, Logan Co., District No. 2, Gordonsville, page 45, line 5

A S Morehead     51  M   Farmer            3500   8000    KY
H E Morehead     46  F                                    KY
P S Morehead     22  M                                    KY
S D Morehead     19  M   Farm Laborer                     KY

--------

1860 Slave Schedule Kentucky, Logan Co., District No. 2, page 10, line 7

A S Morehead     1    46   F    B
                 2    40   M    B
                 3    24   M    B
                 4    21   M    M
                 5    19   M    B
                 6    17   F    B
                 7    14   F    B

--------

1850 Kentucky, Logan Co., District No. 2, page 109 (verso), line 4

Armstead S Morehead    41     F     Farmer    2000       KY
Adeline      "         31     F                          VA
Martha       "         16     F                          KY
Richard      "         15     M                          KY
James W      "         13     M                          KY
Samuel       "         10     M                          KY

--------

1850 Slave Schedule Kentucky, Logan Co., District No. 2, page 23, line 12

A S Morehead     1    22     M     B
                 1    28     M     B
                 1    35     F     B
                 1    13     M     B
                 1    11     M     B
                 1     8     M     B
                 1     6     F     B

--------

1850 Kentucky, Logan Co., District No. 2, page 75, line 34

W D Morehead      31    F    Farmer         1020       KY
R Poor            41    M    Farmer                    KY
N   "             35    F                              KY
M Morehead        60    F                   1800       VA

--------

NOTES

6 --World War I registration card:

Name:              John Louis Grady
Age:               30
Home address:      Earlington, Kentucky
Date of birth:     June 27 1886
Citizenship:       Natural Born Citizen
Where born:        Allensville, Ky
Occupation:        Coal Mines
Employer:          St Bernard Mining Co
                   Earlington, Ky
Dependents:        wife + two children
Married/Single:    Married
Race:              Ethiopian
Military Service:  None
Claim exemption:   No

Signature:         John Lewis Grady

Height:            Tall
Build:             Medium
Eye color:         Dark
Hair color:        Black
Bald:              No
Disabled:          No

Registrar:         John M. Hogan

Precinct:          26
County:            Hopkins
State:             Ky

Date:              6-5-17

Yes, the name on the registration card is spelled differently from the signature on the card.

The County Clary Heritage Centre, in Ireland, claims that an Abe Grady, from County Clare, emigrated to the United States in the 1860s, settled in Kentucky, married a Black woman, and one of their children was this John L. Grady, maternal grandfather of Muhammad Ali. No documentation of these claims has been found.

14 -- Thomas Morehead served in Company E of the 122nd US Colored Infantry during the US Civil War. His service record is located in the National Archives, and it records that he was born in La Grange, Kentucky, and was by occupation a farmer, he was drafted and mustered in at Bowling Green, Ky., 21 Sept. 1864 at age 26. He had brown eyes, black hair, a yellow complexion, and stood 5' 8". He was promoted to 1st Sergeant on 1 Nov. 1864, and was discharged by reason of Exp[iration] of term of service at Corpus Christi, Texas, on 24 Sept. 1865.

His service in the Colored Infantry qualified him, and (after his death) his dependants, for a pension. The US Civil War Pension index has this:

Soldier:    Morehead, Thomas

Widow:      Morehead, Lizzie
Minor:      Morehead, Lizzie

Service:    E 122 U.S.C.Inf

Filing         Class     Appl No     Cert No      State from which paid
1890 Sept 13   Invalid    911729      984232            Ky
1916 Sept 29   Widow     1078150      831588            Ky
1913 June 27   Minor     1010342      767634            Ky

The Civil War Pension files for Thomas Morehead are also at the National Archives.

There was some initial difficulty in obtaining the pension, because Thomas Morehead could not document his date of birth. The pension file includes these letters from James W. Morehead, a [legitimate] son of Armstead S. Morehead:

Springfield Tenn Feb 29th 1908
To the commsioner of Pensions
I got a letter from Thomas Morehead
of Lousburg Ky in regard to his age
I J.W.Morehead was Born Decr 14th 1836
and there is but little diferenc in my age
and Thomas Morehead  I am incoming a Pension
from the above date  Thomas Morehead belonged
to my father A.S.Morehead and we boath
lived with him till during the last civil
war and I joined the 8th Ky cavelry US
and Thomas Morehead a infantry Regiment US
I dont know the No of his Regiment and I 
did not see him any more untill after the war
I am confident there is not as much as 12 or 13
months diferent in our age  I dont know
of any record that Thomas Morehead can get his Birth
                       James. W. Morehead

And:

Sept 8th 1908    To the Pension
Department  I James W Morehead do
here by certify that Thomas Morehead
and my self is about the same age
I was born december 14th 1836
and am incoming a pension on that
age  I am drawing 15 dollars per
month  Thomas Morehead and my self
boath was in the Federal army
I dont know the no of his regiment
I was in the 8th Ky Cavalry co a
my Mother died when I was about
19 months old and I have often heard
Thomas Moreheads Mother say that there
was not much diference in our ages
before the war there was not much
attention paid to the keeping births
of the collored peoples ages [ore?] there
was but very few that coul write
my Post office is Springfield
                      Robertson Tenn
        James. W. Morehead

These letters are also in the pension file:

        Lewisburg Ky
    R.F D # 1,
        Box 49,
                 March 3 1908
Dear Sir:
         I hope give you my
age., by one who we was Boys
togather, we worked togother untill
the war. and can not give
any better infermation of my
age. and we was bouth in the
milletery severic.  I cant not give
any fother than he hope given
it  my age was last while I was
in servic.
            Sincery yours
       Thos Morehead
                Lewisburg Ky.
    R.F D # 1,
        Box 49,
                 March 3 1908

And:

                 September 4 1908
                 Lewisburg Ky
    R.F D 1
        Box 49.
to the Comiheris Dear Sir
in answer to your letter
I have give you true
reports to my age.
you ask me for Bible
eveidents but I could not
give that, but I give
you J W Morehead.
eveident and my
mather raise us boath
and that is the best
eveident I Can give
you my rigiment was
Company E 100 and
twenty Second 
      Mr Thomas Morehead

Other documents in the pension file for Thomas Morehead state that he was born in Logan Co., Ky., in June 1837 or on 14 Dec. 1837, that his military service was from 21 Sept. 1864 to 24 Sept. 1865, that his first wife, Georgia Morehead, died 18 May 1885, that he married Lizzie Bibb at the Old Union Church in Logan Co., Ky., on 24 Dec. 1890, and that he died on 28 May 1913. On 24 June 1913, Lizzie Bibb Morehead was guardian to Lorena and Norine Morehead (twins born 1 June 1900) and Herman Morehead (born 17 May 1905), minors under 16 at Thomas Morehead's death. Lizzie was age 47 on 26 Sept. 1913, and died 29 Dec. 1919

For further details about Thomas Morehead, including the evidence to support the claim that Thomas Morehead had been fathered by his owner (Armstead S. Morehead), see John Egerton, "Heritage of a heavyweight", The New York Times Magazine, September 28, 1980, p. 54 et seq. The article includes several family photographs.

"The Ancestry of Muhammad Ali", available on the Web at http://www.genealogy.com/famousfolks/muhammada/index.html, claims, at http://www.genealogy.com/famousfolks/muhammada/d0/i0000023.htm, that Thomas Morehead, Muhammad Ali's great-grandfather, was born in December 1859, but this is based on a misreading of the 1900 census.

23 -- Egerton's article, cited above, states that Patsy Alexander lived to be 115, but she was actually only 106 years old when she died in 1937.

28 -- Armstead S. Morehead was a farmer in the Green Ridge section, west of Russelville, Logan County, Kentucky, and by one of his slaves, Dinah, he fathered another of his slaves, Tom, number 14, above. See Egerton, op. cit.

112 & 113 -- Other descendants include:

Charles Morehead m. Mary Turner
.Armstead Morehead m. Lucy Latham
|.JAMES TURNER MOREHEAD (1797-1854), Governor of Kentucky, m1. Susan Roberts
||.Joseph Clayton Morehead m. Sally Thomas
|| .Margaret Morehead m. Reuben Anderson Miller
||  .WILBUR KINGSBURY MILLER (1892-1976), judge
|.James Turner Morehead (again) m2. Lavinia Espy
| .Albert Hodges Morehead m. Bianca Noa
|  .ALBERT HODGES MOREHEAD (1909-1966), games expert and lexicographer
.Charles Morehead m. Margaret Slaughter
|.CHARLES SLAUGHTER MOREHEAD (1802-1868), Governor of Kentucky, m. Margaret Leavy
||.Amanda Morehead m. Samuel Johnson Walker
|| .Amy Morehead Walker m. Malcolm Moncreiffe (d. 1948), son of the 7th Baronet
|| .Carolyn Walker m. William Judd Goudy
|| |.Helen Goudy m. John Cecil Gerard Leigh (LG)
|| .CHARLES MOREHEAD WALKER (1859-1920), judge
|| .Marguerite Walker m. OLIVER HENRY WALLOP, 8th Earl of PORTSMOUTH (1861-1943)
||  .GERARD VERNON WALLOP, 9th Earl of PORTSMOUTH (1898-1984) m. Mary L Post
||  |.Camilla Wallop m. Lord Rupert Neville
||  .Hon Oliver Malcolm Wallop m. Jean Moore
||   .Jean Wallop m. HENRY HERBERT, 7th Earl of CARNARVON (b. 1924)
||   .MALCOLM WALLOP (b. 1933), US Senator
|.Elvira Morehead m. Hezekiah Kemble Thomas
||.Richard Curd Thomas m. Elizabeth Wright
|| .FRANK MOREHEAD THOMAS (1868-1921), editor of Methodist Review
|.Harriet Morehead m. John McPherson Briggs
| .WILLIAM THOMPSON BRIGGS (1828-1894), surgeon
.Turner Morehead m. Mary Anne Hewitt Hooe
 .Elizabeth Ann Morehead m. Aylett Hartswell Buckner
  .SIMON BOLIVAR BUCKNER (1823-1914), Governor of Kentucky, m. Delia Claiborne
   .SIMON BOLIVAR BUCKNER (1886-1945), General

224 & 225 -- Other descendants include:

John Morehead m. Mary Armistead
.Joseph Morehead m. Elizabeth Turner (below)
 .John Morehead m. Obedience Motley
  .JOHN MOTLEY MOREHEAD (1796-1866), Governor of North Carolina

226 & 227 -- Other descendants include:

James Turner m. Kerenhappuch Norman
.Elizabeth Turner m. Joseph Morehead (above)

227 -- This unusual given name is Biblical, from Job 42:14. A website, "www.kerenhappuch.com", is devoted to her memory and family.

900 & 901 -- Other descendants include:

John Armistead m. Judith ----
.Elizabeth Armistead m. William Churchill
|.Armistead Churchill m. Hannah Harrison
||.Lucy Churchill m. John Gordon
|| .Churchill Gordon m. Ann Spark
|| |.John Harrison Gordon m. Harriet Eustace Gordon
|| | .Sarah Lee Gordon m. Absalom Graves Willis (below)
|| |  .Josephine Ragland Willis m. Franklin Pierce Robertson
|| |   .ABSALOM WILLIS ROBERTSON (1887-1971), US Senator, m. Gladys Willis
|| |    .MARION GORDON ROBERTSON (b. 1930)
|| .James Gordon m. Elizabeth Gordon
||  .John Churchill Gordon m. Lucy Garnett Herndon
||   .Mary Gordon m. Larkin Willis (below)
||    .Absalom Graves Willis m. Sarah Lee Gordon (above)
|.Elizabeth Churchill m. William Bassett
| .Elizabeth Bassett m. Benjamin Harrison
|  .WILLIAM HENRY HARRISON (1773-1841), US President, m. Anna Tuthill Symmes
|   .John Scott Harrison m. Elizabeth Ramsey Irwin
|    .BENJAMIN HARRISON (1833-1901), US President
.Judith Armistead m. Robert Carter
 .Elizabeth Carter m1. Nathaniel Burwell
 |.Elizabeth Burwell m. William Nelson
 ||.Hugh Nelson m. Judith Page (below)
 |||.Thomas Nelson m. Judith Nelson (below)
 ||| .Elizabeth Burwell Nelson m. John Page (below)
 |||  .THOMAS NELSON PAGE (1853-1922), author
 ||.THOMAS NELSON (1738-1789), Signer, m. Lucy Grymes
 || .Judith Nelson m. Thomas Nelson (above)
 || .Susannah Nelson m. Francis Page (below)
 ||  .John Page m. Elizabeth Burwell Nelson (above)
 |.LEWIS BURWELL (1710-1752), Governor of Virginia
 |.Robert Carter Burwell m. Sally Nelson
 | .Frances Burwell m. John Page (below)
 |  .Francis Page m. Susannah Nelson (above)
 .Elizabeth Carter (again) m2. George Nicholas
 |.Robert Carter Nicholas m. Anne Cary
 | .Elizabeth Nicholas m. Edmund Jennings Randolph
 |  .Susan Beverley Randolph m. John Bennett Taylor
 |   .Charlotte Randolph Taylor m. Moncure Robinson
 |    .Frances Brown Robinson m. Algernon Sydney Biddle
 |     .FRANCIS BEVERLEY BIDDLE (1886-1968), US Attorney General
 .John Carter m. Elizabeth Hill
 |.Elizabeth Hill Carter m. William Byrd
 | .Thomas Taylor Byrd m. Mary Ann Armistead
 |  .Richard Evelyn Byrd m. Anne Harrison
 |   .William Byrd m. Jennie Rivers
 |    .Richard Evelyn Byrd m. Esther Bolling Flood
 |     .HARRY FLOOD BYRD (1887-1966), US Senator
 |     .RICHARD EVELYN BYRD (1888-1957), explorer
 .Judith Carter m. Mann Page
  .John Page m. Jane Byrd
  |.Judith Page m. Hugh Nelson (above)
  |.Mann Page m. Mary Mason Selden
  | .William Byrd Page m. Anne Lee (below)
  |  .Mary Ann Mason Page m. Roger ap Catesby Jones (below)
  |   .CATESBY ap ROGER JONES (1821-1871)
  .Mann Page m. Alice Grymes
   .JOHN PAGE (1743-1808), Governor of Virginia, m. Frances Burwell (above)

902 -- Other descendants include:

Hancock Lee m. Sarah Allerton
.Elizabeth Lee m. Zachary Taylor
 .Richard Taylor m. Sarah Dabney Strother
  .ZACHARY TAYLOR (1784-1850), US President, m. Margaret Mackall Smith
   .Sarah Knox Taylor m. JEFFERSON FINIS DAVIS (1808-1889), Confederate President

1800 & 1801 -- Other descendants include:

William Armistead m. Ann Ellis
.Anthony Armistead m. Hannah Ellyson
 .Anthony Armistead m. Elizabeth Westwood
 |.Westwood Armistead m. Mary Tabb
 | .Elizabeth Armistead m. Thomas Smith
 | |.Elizabeth Smith m. Robert Armistead (below)
 | | .Robert Augustus Armistead m. Martha Ann Savage
 | |  .George Wesley Armistead m. Annie Maria Harrison
 | |   .Mary Lucenia Armistead m. James Henry Cate
 | |    .Dorothy Cate Thomas Fearn Frist
 | |     .WILLIAM HARRISON FRIST (b. 1952), US Senator
 | .Westwood Armistead m. Mary Jenkins
 |  .Robert Armistead m. Elizabeth Smith (above)
 .Robert Armistead m. ---- Booth
  .Ellyson Armistead m. ----
   .Robert Booth Armistead m. Anne Shields
    .Mary Marot Armistead m. John Tyler
     .JOHN TYLER (1790-1862), US President

1804 & 1805 -- Other descendants include:

Richard Lee m. Ann Constable
.Charles Lee m. Elizabeth Metstand
|.Elizabeth Lee m. Thomas Buford
| .Agatha Buford m. George Twyman
|  .William Twyman m. Winifred Cowherd
|   .Mary Twyman m. Reuben Garnett
|    .Ann Garnett m. Isaac Willis
|     .Larkin Willis m. Mary Gordon (above)
.Elizabeth Lee m. John Turberville
|.George Turberville m. Martha Lee (below)
| .John Turbervill em. Martha Corbin (below)
|  .Lettice Corbin Turberville m. Catesby ap Thomas Jones
|   .Roger ap Catesby Jones m. Mary Ann Mason Page (above)
.Richard Lee m. Letitia Corbin
|.Arthur Lee m. ----
||.Arthur Ferney Lee m. Elizabeth Haynes
|| .Sherwood Lee m. Sarah Worde
||  .Samuel Lee m. Sarah Burns
||   .Uriah Lee m. Elizabeth Collins
||    .Martha Ann Lee m. Jeremiah Lanier
||     .Jeremiah Lanier m. Hattie Tyner
||      .Preston Lanier m. Mary Bernadette Anderson
||       .Rose Diane Lanier [DIANE LADD] (b. 1932, actress, m. Bruce Dern
||        .LAURA ELIZABETH DERN (b. 1967), actress
|.Henry Lee m. Mary Bland
||.Henry Lee m. Lucy Grymes
|||.Anne Lee m. William Byrd Page (above)
|||.HENRY LEE (1756-1818), General, m. Ann Hill Carter
||| .ROBERT EDWARD LEE (1807-1870), General
||.Richard Bland Lee m. Elizabeth Collins
|| .Ann Matilda Lee m. Bailey Washington
||  .Anna Washington m. Walter Dorsey Davidge
||   .William Fendall Davidge m. Estelle Courtenay Washington
||    .Courtenay Washington Davidge m. Lamont Waltman Marvin
||     .LEE MARVIN (1924-1987), actor
|.Philip Lee m. Sarah Brooke
||.Thomas Lee m. Christiana Sim
|| .THOMAS SIM LEE (1745-1819), Governor of Maryland
|.Richard Lee m. Martha Silk
||.Lettice Lee m. John Corbin
|||.Martha Corbin m. John Turberville (above)
||.Martha Lee m. George Turberville (above)
|.Thomas Lee m. Hannah Ludwell
| .FRANCIS LIGHTFOOT LEE (1734-1797), Signer
| .RICHARD HENRY LEE (1733-1794), Signer
.William Lee m. Alice Felton
 .Richard Lee m. Mary Young
  .John Lee m. Mary Bryan
   .Elizabeth Lee m. John Powell
    .John Powell m. Catherine Ann Wilkinson
     .Catherine Ann Powell m. John Norwood
      .Samuel Norwood m. Caroline Massey
       .George Ellis Norwood m. Lilly Ott
        .Lela Norwood m. Ernest Enos Finklea
         .Tulla Ellice Finklea [CYD CHARISSE] (b. 1921)

1812 & 1813 -- Other descendants include:

Robert Taliaferro m. Katherine Deadman
.John Taliaferro m. Sarah Smith
|.John Taliaferro m. Mary Catlett
||.William Taliaferro m. Mary Battaile (below)
|| .Nicholas Taliaferro m. Anne Champe Taliaferro
||  .Matilda Battaile Taliaferro m. Martin Marshall
||   .George Catlett Marshall m. Susan Myers
||    .GEORGE CATLETT MARSHALL (1880-1959), General
|.Mary Taliaferro m. Francis Thornton
||.Elizabeth Thornton m. Thomas Meriwether
|||.Elizabeth Meriwether m. Thomas Johnson
||||.Thomas Johnson m. Anne Catherine Washington
|||| .Mildred Barbara Johnson m. Edwin Watkins
||||  .Louisa Virginia Watkins m. Thomas Savage Heyward
||||   .Edwin Watkins Heyward m. Jane Severin Dubose
||||    .EDWIN DUBOSE HEYWARD (1885-1940, dramatist
|||.Lucy Meriwether m. William Lewis
||| .MERIWETHER LEWIS (1774-1809), explorer
||.Francis Thornton m. Mary Gregory
|||.William Thornton m. Martha Stuart
||| .William Thornton m. Eleanor Thompson
|||  .Susanna Thompson Thornton m. Andrew Glassell
|||   .Susan Thornton m. Glassell m. George Smith Patton
|||    .George Smith Patton m. Ruth Wilson
|||     .GEORGE SMITH PATTON (1885-1945), General
||.Mary Thornton m. Nicholas Battaile
|| .Mary Battaile m. William Taliaferro (above)
|.William Taliaferro m. Katherine Hay
| .William Taliaferro m. Elizabeth Holden
|  .Mary Taliaferro m. George Booth
|  |.Catherine Booth m. James Baytop Taliaferro
|  | .Thomas Booth Taliaferro m. Mary Munford Sinclair
|  |  .Edwin Taliaferro m. Catherine Mitchell
|  |   .Elizabeth Taliaferro m. Edward Bennett Close
|  |    .William Taliaferro Close m. Bettine Moore
|  |     .GLENN CLOSE (b. 1947), actress
|  .Philip Taliaferro m. Sarah Baytop
|   .James Baytop Taliaferro m. Catherine Booth (above)
.Mary Taliaferro m. Henry Johnson
 .Ann Taliaferro Johnson m. Hugh James
  .Ann Taliaferro James m. William Clark
   .Nancy Ann Clark m. Richard Griffin
   |.Andineros Griffin m. Catherine Gore
   ||.Thomas Adina Griffin m. Tabitha Ellison
   || .Mary Florence Griffin m. Thomas Carter Mooneyham
   ||  .Jesse Robert Mooneyham m. Hazel Nan Esterly
   ||   .Paul E Mooneyham m. Elizabeth Ama Hodge
   ||    .Linda Gail Mooneyham m. Eddie Charles Gunderson
   ||     .Lance Edward Gunderson [LANCE ARMSTRONG] (b. 1971), cyclist
   |.James Clark Griffin m. Sophie Doyle Chase
   | .Margaret Malissa Griffin m. Samuel Parnell Cobb
   |  .Clark Griffin Cobb m. Mary Cornelia Smith
   |   .Sam Clark Cobb m. Era ----
   |    .Sam Clark Cobb m. Amy Beulah Schlemmer
   |     .Susan Colleen Cobb m. Robert Erhard Duff
   |      .HILARY ERHARD DUFF (b. 1987), actress
   .Reuben Clark m. Bathsheba Sampson
    .Ann Clark m. Henry Shorter
     .Reuben Clark Shorter m. Mary Martha Butler
      .Martha Gill Shorter m. William Henry McKleroy
       .Sarah Shorter McKleroy m. Alfred Alexis Couric
        .John Martin Couric m. Wildie Churchill Hibler
         .John Martin Couric m. Elinor Tullie
          .KATHERINE ANNE COURIC (b. 1957), journalist

FURTHER NOTES

The National Society of the Daughters of the American Revolution (NSDAR) publishes a Patriot Index, a list of persons whose honorable service in the cause of independence during the American Revolution renders their female descendants eligible for membership in the NSDAR. Several ancestors of Muhammad Ali appear in the Patriot Index, including:

    William Duncan (number 228)
    William Menefee (number 230)
    Charles Morehead (number 112)
    Mrs. Kerrenhappuch Norman Turner (number 227)
    John Vardeman (number 462)

While Mr. Ali is not eligible for membership in the NSDAR (by not being female), he is eligible for membership in the equivalent organization for men, the National Society of the Sons of the American Revolution.

SOURCES CONSULTED AND CITED

See above. Also:

Lola Herron Jaques, Kentucky families descended from Charles and Mary (Turner) Morehead [1979]

William Addams Reitwiesner
wargs@wargs.com