BISAC: Our Lanham History It has been some 388 years since the Lanham name immigrated into the colonies which later became the United States of America. The earliest Lanham appears to be a Josias Lanham who arrived from England in 1628. Many Lanham's trace their blood line back to this individual. Our Lanham line comes from a Jonathon Lanham. Jonathon did not come to the colonies. His son John (cousin of Josias, 1626) did arrive in Maryland in 1668. From John our Lanham line begins with the family migration from Maryland westward across West Virginia, Kentucky, Missouri, Texas and to Oklahoma over a period of two hundred years. Our linage in the colonies is John (1661), Thomas (1695), Stephen (1726), Thomas (1757), Sylvester (1790, Curtis H. (1813), Hiram D. (1845), Thomas B. (1882), Oran S. (1916) and myself. Yes, we do show data concerning Jonathon, Josias and Roger Lanham of England. Like most of the immigrants arriving in the 1600s, the Lanham's were agrarian producers. They survived hard times from nature, the Indians, wars, diseases and other experiences to succeed in this new world. It appears our line produced a few tough Indian fighters, as well as, participants in the Revolutionary War. While many of our line would be considered the silent majority of citizens of our country, a few displayed great courage. Thomas was at Ft. Boonesbourgh, KY. Stephen and Thomas saw service in the Revolutionary War. At the turn of the century 1900s, Lanham's were coming off the land to try their hands at business and new fangled things like the automobile and the airplane. We have tried to not only be a chronicle of facts about our Lanham line, we have added a bit of human history where that history could be found. Section Three of this book provides some genealogical data of Thomas and Patience Sappington Lanham's seventeen children which may be of benefit to others seeking their roots. Clifford W. Lanham is a retired Army Lieutenant Colonel with combat experience in Viet Nam, experienced in business ownership and in the public school teaching chemistry and physics.
About the Author: BIO: Clifford W. Lanham 108 Chantilly Lane Madison, Al 35758 Clifford W. Lanham is a direct descendent from Thomas Lanham (1757) by way of son Sylvester (1790). Cliff's Father, O.S. Lanham(1917) had started the Lanham search back in the late 1970's and Cliff has picked up the mantel and added to his Father's manuscript and now has a 200 plus page book on OUR LANHAM FAMILY, dated 15 March 2006. OUR LANHAM FAMILY Book dates the Lanham's back to Roger Lanham (abt1560). Copies of OUR LANHAM FAMILY ( plus O.S. Lanham's manuscripts) are on file at Kentucky Historical Society and Library. Clifford has lead an interesting an exciting life. He spent some twenty-six years in the U.S.Army, entering as a private and retiring as a Lt. Colonel. He then opened an operated a commercial printing company for ten years. Selling the business he moved into education and taught chemistry and physics for fifteen years in Virginia Beach Public School System, VA. Finally retiring in 2003, he and his wife Cindy built a home in Madison, Alabama and have resided in Madison since. Cliff also spent thirty nine years in the Boy Scout program as an adult leader. Since retiring he has continued to research the LANHAM line and has expanded his Dad's work, by adding considerable data on Thomas Lanham's (1757) seventeen children; as well as, other Lanham relatives from 1560 to present. Cliff's email is: clanham@knology.net