Earp Family History

Wyatt Earp's family can reliably be traced back to Thomas Earp, Jr. (b. 1656, England - d. 1720, Maryland). It would appear that the first Earp to study law was Wyatt's grandfather, Walter, being a Justice of the Peace in Monmouth, Illinois, although his chosen profession was school teacher. He would marry and a son, Nicholas, Wyatt's father, would be born in 1813. Other children born to Walter and wife Martha were Lorenzo Dow in 1809, Elizabeth in 1811, Josiah Jackson in 1816, James in 1818, Francis in 1821, Walter C. (twin) in 1824, Jonathan Douglas (twin) in 1824, Sally Ann in 1827.

Walter and family later moved to Kentucky and there Nicholas married his first wife, Abigail Storm in 1836. To this union a son, Newton and daughter, Mariah, was born. Mariah would die a short time after her birth. Abigail Earp died on October 8, 1839, from unknown causes. In 1840, Nicholas Earp married Virginia Ann Cooksey in Hartford, Kentucky. Following the marriage of Nicholas and Virginia, son James was born in 1841 and Virgil in 1843. Walter Earp, apparently setting the stage for what would be a forever traveling family of Earps, grew restless and moved with Nicholas and family to Monmouth, Illinois. There Walter was elected Justice of the Peace and Nicholas supported his family by being a cooper, dealing real estate, farming, and bootlegging. Further children to be born would be Wyatt in 1848 (March 19th), Morgan in 1851, Warren in 1855 and Adelia in 1861. Two other daughters, Virginia and Martha died early in age. In 1850, Nicholas packed up the family and headed to Pella, Iowa. There the family would remain until Virgil, Newton and James went off to fight for the Union when the Civil War broke out. James would be wounded in battle and thereafter draw a permanent disability because of it. A story was told by Stuart Lake of a young Wyatt trying to run off and join the Union, but being stopped by his father.

With Virgil and Newton still off at war, and James recently returned home, Nicholas Earp again packed up the family and moved them in a wagon train to California in 1864. Virgil would eventually catch up with the family in California when he was discharged from the military. With older brother James wounded, Wyatt grew up fast on the trip west, helping hunt and fend off Indian raids. True to the Earp tradition, 1868 found the family moving again, this time to Lamar, Missouri. Shortly thereafter the family apparently moved to Wyoming for a time where Wyatt and Virgil worked on the railroads. The family would move back to Lamar before 1870 where Wyatt would have his first experience as a law man and marry his first wife. Nicholas and Virginia Earp would eventually settle down in the San Bernadino area of Southern California where Nicholas was elected to the County Court and served until his retirement a short time before his death . Virginia Earp would live until January 14, 1893. Nicholas died on February 12, 1907.

 
1850 Census -- Lake Prairie Township, Marion County, IA
                

Husband: Nicholas P. EARP - born in 1813 in North Carolina
Occupation: lawyer/farmer/cooper            

Wife: Virginia A. Earp - Married: 1836/1837 in Kentucky - born in 1821 in Kentucky                                          
 
M Child 1 Newton (Nathan) T. EARP - born in 1837 in Kentucky
                                        
M Child 2 James C. EARP - born in 1843 in Kentucky
                                             
M Child 3 Virgil W. EARP - born in 1844 in Kentucky
                                            
F Child 4 Martha E. EARP - born in 1845 in Monmouth, IL.
                                           
M Child 5 Wyatt Berry Stapp EARP - born in 1848 (Mar. 19) in Monmouth, IL. 
                                     
M Child 6 Morgan EARP - born in Marion Co., IA. 

Back to "The Life of Wyatt Earp"

Stands for service in Revolutionary War R.W. or Civil War C.W.

My Ancestors	Wyatt's Ancestors
John Earpe & Unknown (Mother) Earpe, Our Common Ancestors
Thomas Earpe & Unknown (?) Earpe, Our Common Ancestors
Thomas Earpe & Mary Peddicord, Our Common Ancestors
John Earp & Rebecca (?) Earp, Our Common Ancestors
Joshua Earp & Mary Budd, Our Common Ancestors
William Earp and Pricilla Nicholas, Our Common Ancestors
R.W.Josiah Earp & Eleanor Hawker	Philip Earp & Pricilla (?) Earp
Thomas Clark & Drucilla Earp	Walter Earp & Martha Early
Philip Clark & Hulda Hargis	C.W.Nicolas Porter Earp & Virginia Ann Cooksey
C.W.Stephen Farmer Ward & Drucilla Clark	Wyatt Berry Stapp Earp
John Franklin Yingst & Mary (Molly) Ward	Wyatt had no descendants, although other members of the family had children.
John Wesley Yingst & Mary Elizabeth Shup
Harold Eugene Cox & Gladys Ilene Yingst
Pansy Faith Cox Limes