Master Genealogy Index — Virginia, Arkansas, South Carolina, Shenandoah Valley & Beyond
This index tracks four interwoven family lineages with documented American roots and potential European noble connections. All data is cross-referenced and flagged by verification status.
HYPOTHESIS — Medium Confidence
Jane Rogers, sister of Robert Rogers (~1685), married into the Randolph family. Her daughter Jane Randolph married Peter Jefferson. Their son was Thomas Jefferson. This connection is based on name similarity and genealogical compilations but needs primary source verification (Randolph family Bible, parish records, or deed references).
Additional clusters: McCormick County, SC; Calhoun County, MS; Donegal, Ireland (immigrant origin point).
McCormick County, South Carolina is the primary Cannady cluster. This is where your Cannady roots sit. The county was formed in 1916 from parts of Abbeville, Edgefield, and Greenwood counties.
Meaningful Landmarks: Staunton, VA — "old Lee high building" — family significance documented.
Three parallel research angles for the European origin of the Losh name:
The Coyner name appears alongside Rodgers in your research notes. The Scotch-Irish migration trail through Virginia is the geographic anchor.
All potential inter-family links, flagged by confidence level.
Jane Rogers (sister of Robert Rogers, ~1685) → Jane Randolph → Peter Jefferson → Thomas Jefferson.
Evidence: Genealogical compilations show this line. Gap: Needs primary source (parish record, deed, or family Bible) confirming Jane Rogers married into Randolph family.
James Rodgers Jr. (Norfolk Naval Base, d.1976) may descend from the Virginia Rogers line, but no documented bridge exists yet.
Action: Confirm James Rodgers Sr. as father of James Jr., then trace James Sr. back to Goochland/Albemarle County roots.
The name similarity between Losh (Shenandoah Valley) and Lösch von Hilgertshausen (Bavaria) is suggestive but unproven.
Action: Find emigration record linking a Lösch from Germany to Virginia (1700s). Apollonius "Lone" Losh is the critical variant to trace.
Coyner mentioned alongside Rodgers in research. Possible Augusta County co-location.
Action: Search Augusta County deed books and church records for Coyner-Rodgers-Losh proximity (1740–1800).
Elizabeth "Liz" Cannady McCormick — the McCormick may be a married name or a family name. McCormick County, SC is named after Cyrus McCormick (inventor of the mechanical reaper), but local McCormick families predate the county.
Action: Determine if McCormick is Liz's maiden name, married name, or middle name. Check McCormick County marriage records.
Every missing link, with concrete next steps to close it.
| # | Gap | Priority | Action Steps |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | James Rodgers Sr. as father of James Jr. Your grandfather's paternity is unconfirmed. |
HIGH |
• Ask Trey (James III) directly • Check Virginia birth certificates (1940s–1950s) • Search Norfolk Naval Base personnel records • DNA test with known Rodgers/Rogers matches |
| 2 | Liz Cannady's parents Who are Elizabeth Cannady's parents? |
HIGH |
• Search McCormick County, SC marriage records (1940–1960) • Check 1940–1950 census for Cannady households • Contact McCormick County Probate Court • Search Ancestry.com for Elizabeth Cannady born ~1940s–1950s |
| 3 | Apollonius "Lone" Losh The crucial European variant needs documentation. |
HIGH |
• Search Gernsheim, Hesse parish registers (1600–1700) • Contact Hessisches Staatsarchiv Darmstadt • Check Palatine immigration lists (1709–1750) • DNA test for German/Czech matches |
| 4 | Coyner connection to Rodgers/Losh No solid documentation yet. |
MEDIUM |
• Search Augusta County, VA deed books (1740–1800) • Check Presbyterian church records • Search 18th-century tax lists for Coyner variants • DNA matches for Coyner in Augusta County cluster |
| 5 | James Rodgers Jr. MACV-SOG service Special operations unit membership unconfirmed. |
MEDIUM |
• File SF-180 with NPRC for military personnel file • Request MACV-SOG roster check via FOIA • Contact USMC Historical Division • Ask Trey for any service documents/photos |
| 6 | Jefferson connection verification Jane Rogers → Randolph line needs primary source. |
MEDIUM |
• Search Goochland County deed books (pre-1720) • Contact Virginia Historical Society for Randolph papers • Check "Virginia Magazine of History and Biography" • DNA match with known Jefferson descendants |
| 7 | Lösch/Lichtenstein bridge No proven link between American Losh and European nobility. |
LOW |
• Search German noble genealogies for Lösch cadet branches • Check Czech archives for Lichtenstein-Losh connections • DNA test for Central European matches • Consult "Genealogisches Handbuch des Adels" (German nobility handbook) |
All four lines, overlaid chronologically.