William Patrick "Billy" Canaday  was born September 18, 1781 in Franklin County, Virginia, and died July 11, 1874 in Patrick County, Virginia; Death Records 1870-18966,6. He married (1) Martha "Biddy" Wright in
Floyd County, Virginia, daughter of Joshua Wright and Hester. She was born April 1792, and died
December 28, 1857 in Patrick County, Virginia, Death Records 1853-18707. He married (2) Nancy Hill
November 13, 1857. She died Unknown.

Interesting Tidbit: They had 24 children. William's nickname was "Patrick Billy"

Children of William Canaday and Martha Wright are:

    George Canaday, died Unknown.   

    Granville Canaday, born Bef. 1808; died Bef. 1808 in As an infant ......twin of Hester.

    Hester Canaday, born Bef. 1808; died Bef. 1808 in As an infant ......twin of Granville.

    Ira Canaday, born Bef. 1808; died Bef. 1808 in As an infant.

    Mahala Canaday, born Bef. 1808; died Bef. 1808 in As an infant................twin of Thomas.

    Thomas Canaday, born Bef. 1808; died Bef. 1808 in As an infant..............twin of Mahala.

    Nancy Jane "Nannie" Canaday was born December 08, 1808 in VA, and died May 06, 1892
in Warren Co., Tenn. She married Anderson Lafayette Taylor January 12, 1832, son of David Taylor
and Nancy Penn .

    Ferdinand Canaday, born Bet. 1808 - 1826; died Unknown. He married Elizabeth Unknown; died
Unknown.

    James B. Canaday, born June 05, 1810 in Franklin CO., VA; died September 03, 1882 in Franklin CO.,
VA.

    Mary "Polly" Canady, born June 05, 1810 in Franklin CO., VA11; died 1891. She married John
Randolph Hall January 15, 1826; born January 09, 1796; died 1889.

    Elizabeth (Bettie) Canaday, born 1811; died Unknown. She married Ruben Rakes January 15, 1832 in
Patrick CO., VA12; born February 25, 1802 in Floyd CO., VA; died Unknown.

    Martha Canaday, born 1811 in Patrick Co., VA13; died July 23, 1866 in Patrick Co., VA. She married
John Moran November 07, 1835 in Patrick Co., VA; born October 12, 1812; died 1883.

    William (Billy) Canaday, born September 1812 in Franklin CO., VA13; died September 03, 1882. He
married Elizabeth Hylton September 10, 1839; born December 15, 1823; died September 24, 1865.
8

    William Flemming "Flem" Canaday, born January 07, 1814 in Patrick CO/Franklin CO., VA; died June
15, 1903 in Raleigh CO., WV.

    Delilah Canaday, born November 19, 1814 in Franklin CO., VA; died 1899 in Patrick CO., VA.

    Joshua Canaday, born January 24, 1818 in Franklin CO., VA13; died January 20, 1886 in Gallipolis,
Gallia CO., OH. He married Lydia Short January 21, 1839 in Franklin CO., VA; died Unknown.

    John Canaday, born Abt. 1819; died Unknown. He married Sally W Bartlett November 12, 184013; died
Unknown.

    Constantine "Constant" Canaday, born 182013; died Aft. 1888. He married (1) Sarah Hall October 21,
1839; born 1824; died July 01, 1860. He married (2) Elizabeth Martin December 21, 1862; born 1835;
died Unknown.

    Susannah (Susan) Canaday, born 1820 in Floyd County, Virginia; died Aft. 1900.

    Jacob Burwell "Burl" Canaday, born July 27, 1822 in Franklin CO., VA; died January 16, 1895 in
Marshes, Raleigh CO., WV. He married Elenor (Ellender) Canaday October 11, 1841; born 1828; died
May 25, 1898.

    Pleasant Canaday, born 182413; died Aft. 1888. He married Deborah Hall September 25, 1849; died
Unknown.

    Randolph Canaday, born December 27, 1827 in Floyd CO., VA14,14; died February 15, 1928 in
Backbone Ridge, Dickerson Co., VA. He married Mary Jane Via December 30, 1850; died Unknown.

    Marshall Canaday, born January 29, 183015; died Unknown. He married Ann Sumpter September 15,
1856; born September 12, 1826; died Unknown.

    Stephen H. Canaday, born 183116,16; died Unknown. He married Elizabeth Lemons February 18, 1848;
born 1833; died 1886.

Canaday File 

Bill Putman's Canady Site

Descendents of William (Cannaday, Kennedy) Canaday1 was born Bet. 1645 - 1650 in Ireland/England

I am embarrassed to say that I have lost the contact information for who sent me these photos of James Canaday's Grave Stone, homeplace and Cemetery.  If you find this, please contact me so I can thank you publicly.

Few areas in the United States symbolize the American pioneer spirit more than Cumberland Gap. Crossing the gap meant encountering America's first western frontier and symbolically severing European ties. Between 1760 and 1850 more than 300,000 people walked, rode, or were carried over the Appalachian Mountains through Cumberland Gap.

Formed by a stream and enlarged by wind and weather, the Cumberland Gap, named by surveyor Thomas Walker for his English patron, the Duke of Cumberland, son of George II of England, is fifteen hundred feet above sea level. Various types of sediments including shells, shale, limestone, and gravel surround the area and attest to the great earth disturbances that formed the gap.

Settlers followed a trail over the gap initially used by Native Americans, who had enlarged it from an animal trace. They were entering a prized hunting ground, coveted by the Shawnees to the north and Cherokees to the south. The French and Indian War, followed by the American Revolution, briefly halted white settlement. But with the restoration of peace, the flow of hunters, settlers, and land speculators through Cumberland Gap was resumed. Perhaps the most famous traveler was Daniel Boone, who agreed to take settlers north into Kentucky after first making several hunting trips through the gap.

By 1800 the states of Kentucky, Tennessee, and Virginia claimed the area through the Cumberland Gap. After 1840 a weekly stage carried freight, mail, and passengers and gave the area a prosperous commercial appearance. During the Civil War, the gap changed hands four times as the North and South fought for control of this strategic gateway. Initially considered part of Kentucky, and therefore under Union control, the first troops to occupy the Cumberland Gap were Confederate forces under the command of Brigadier General Felix K. Zollicoffer. Union commander Brigadier General George W. Morgan took the "American Gibraltar" on June 18, 1862. Morgan did not remain at the gap, however, and Confederates reoccupied the area immediately. After a year of inactivity, Union forces reappeared, and Major General Ambrose E. Burnside demanded and received unconditional surrender. The gap was not seriously threatened again during the remainder of the war.

In 1841, Anderson Lafayette Fate and Nannie (Canaday) Taylor came through the Gap with 5 of their children.  As one descendent put it "Nannie had one in her arms and one in her belly."  One son died on the way and the youngest Mariah Jane died after they reached Tennessee but a new daughter was born 2 years later and named for the dead infant.  Martha Jane Taylor who became my great grandmother.