Timeline

The E1b1a Y-DNA lineage, carried by the King paternal line, traces its deepest root to Haplogroup E, which emerged approximately 73,000 years ago in East Africa. This is the oldest known marker in Barklee Sanders' direct paternal line.

Catherine's maternal mtDNA haplogroup H, and its parent clade HV, trace their deep origin to Southwest Asia / the Near East approximately 25,000-30,000 years ago. After the Last Glacial Maximum (~20,000 years ago), haplogroup H expanded across Europe from an Iberian / Franco-Cantabrian refugium to become the most common maternal lineage in Western Europe (~40% of Europeans today) and the dominant maternal signature of France and the French-Canadian founder population — consistent with Catherine's biological maternal line, the French-Canadian Laliberté family.

The E1b1a (E-M2) haplogroup expansion began approximately 5,800 years ago at the Nigeria-Cameroon border, coinciding with the Bantu language expansion. This is the deep ancestral homeland of the King paternal line. Most likely ethnic connections: Yoruba (81-92% carry E1b1a), Igbo, Ibibio, and related Niger-Congo speaking peoples of southeastern Nigeria and Cameroon.

Earliest known potential ancestor, born enslaved in Alabama. He would later appear at Camp Izard, Marion County, Florida after emancipation.

Wife of Charles King, born enslaved in Alabama circa 1820.

U.S. Army fortification established by General Edmund P. Gaines during the Second Seminole War, along the Withlacoochee River in Marion County, Florida. Named for 1st Lt. James F. Izard of the 1st U.S. Dragoons, killed at the site during combat with Seminole forces led by Osceola and Alligator. After the war, the site would become a freedmen settlement where the King family is first documented in 1870.

Source: Camp Izard Wikipedia, FortWiki

Born enslaved in South Carolina. The family appears to have migrated from Alabama through South Carolina, suggesting the Kings were moved or sold between states during the antebellum period.

Born enslaved in South Carolina circa 1853. Would marry James King.

The Thirteenth Amendment abolishes slavery. The King family, now free, begins building their lives in Marion County, Florida. Camp Izard, the former Seminole War fort along the Withlacoochee River, becomes a freedmen settlement where the Black King families are first documented in the 1870 Census.

Son of James and Ellen King, born in Florida. One of the first generation born free in the family.

Charles King (age 55) and James King (age 27) each head their own households at Camp Izard, Marion County, Florida. This is the first census to record them as free individuals with their own names. James's household includes wife Ellen, age 19. Charles's household includes wife Julia, daughter Sarah, son James (b. ~1866), and infants Mary and Gilbert.

Source: 1870 U.S. Census (ARK: 61903/1:1:MNZF-RPY, 61903/1:1:MNZF-871)

The 1880 Census shows James King as a farmer in Ocala with son Sam'l Z. King (age 12). Both parents' birthplaces recorded as South Carolina.

Source: 1880 U.S. Census

Samuel Zachariah King and Martha Johnson marry in Florida.

Son of Samuel Z. King and Martha Johnson King, born in Kendrick, Florida.

The 1900 Census confirms James King, born January 1843, still residing in Ocala. Martha King listed as wife of Samuel with children Ebo and Beaulah.

Source: 1900 U.S. Census

Samuel Z. King was listed as widowed in the 1910 Census, indicating Martha died between 1900 and 1910.

Born in Florida. Would become the second partner of Ebo 'Buster' King. Possible siblings: Albertis Finley (b. ~1908) and Catherine Finley (b. ~1914), found in the 1950 Census (ED42-3).

Son of Ebo 'Buster' King and first wife Mamie Lawton.

Daughter of Ebo 'Buster' King and Lizzie Finley. First confirmed child of their union.

Daughter of Ebo 'Buster' King and Lizzie Finley.

Daughter of Ebo 'Buster' King and Lizzie Finley. Born 1933, died August 20, 1933. Confirmed by Florida death certificate.

Source: FL death certificate

Birth date retained for the Westfield/Chicago Clarence Sanders candidate. His identity as Barklee’s paternal grandfather remains unconfirmed; the death certificate of Barklee’s father names Clarence D. Sanders Sr. without dates.

Source: Find a Grave memorial #279808364

Born in Ocala, Marion County, Florida. Probable daughter of Ebo 'Buster' King and Lizzie Finley, though no primary document yet confirms the relationship. Not found in 1940 or 1950 Census with the Buster/Lizzie household.

Probable son of Ebo 'Buster' King and Lizzie Finley.

Born in Ocala, Florida. His death certificate names mother Gloria A. King and father Clarence D. Sanders Sr. He later lived in the Cortland area and married Catherine Sanders. A connection to the Chicago/Westfield Sanders family remains unconfirmed.

Bessemer marriage index agrees with the alumni association’s 2003 anniversary report on the couple, date and place. Index names groom’s parents John Sanders and Roxie Lee Hutcherson. This candidate family’s connection to Barklee remains unproven.

Source: https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:Q216-2ZXG

Killed in action during the Vietnam War. 1st Platoon, A Troop, 3/4 Cavalry, 25th Infantry Division. Purple Heart recipient. His name is inscribed on Panel W46, Line 4 of the Vietnam Veterans Memorial Wall in Washington, D.C. Died two months before Lizzie Finley; their proposed parent-child relationship remains unconfirmed.

Died in Ocala, Florida, age approximately 62. Buried at Faith Memorial Gardens, Ocala (Find a Grave #72557876). Two months after Lewis King was killed in Vietnam; their proposed parent-child relationship remains unconfirmed. Cunningham Funeral Home record Entry #2268.

Source: Cunningham Funeral Home record #2268

Samuel Zachariah King dies in Ocala, Florida at approximately 100 years of age. Cunningham funeral record #2311. Father and mother listed as 'unknown' on his record.

Source: Cunningham Funeral Home record #2311

Clarence D. Sanders Jr. attended the Woodstock Music Festival in Bethel, New York.

Source: Wright-Beard Funeral Home obituary

Died in Marion County, Florida at age 89. Buried at Pinelawn Cemetery, Lot 130, Section Holy Bible A, Grave C. Funeral record (Entry #6216) lists father as 'Jack King' and mother as 'Martha Johnson.' Only survivor listed: Bernice King Daily.

Source: Cunningham Funeral Home record #6216

Born in Cortland, New York. Subject of this genealogy.

Died in Ocala, Florida. Daughter of Ebo 'Buster' King and Lizzie Finley. Her death certificate or funeral record (within the Cunningham 1955-2006 collection range) could list siblings.

Barklee Sanders serves in the United States military as a Signal Support Systems Specialist.

New York State unseals pre-adoption birth certificates, opening a path to identify Catherine Sanders's biological parents through a $45 records request. Both Catherine (as adoptee) and Barklee (as direct descendant) are eligible.

Spouse of Clarence D. Sanders Sr. Birth and death years (1936-2021) from Find a Grave memorial #279808364.

Source: Find a Grave memorial #279808364

Death date retained from the existing Westfield/Chicago candidate research. The alumni association announced February 27 funeral arrangements in Chicago. The actual death jurisdiction and his relationship to Barklee’s father remain unresolved.

Source: Leak & Sons death notice, February 25, 2025; Find a Grave #279808364

Died in the Cortland, New York area at age 73. Survived by his sister Mildred, stepfather David, and children including Barklee.

Source: NYS death certificate, Wright-Beard Funeral Home obituary

Full-spectrum research session using Exa AI, FamilySearch API, Find a Grave, TogetherWeServed, 3/4 Cavalry Association, and web sources. Key paternal-line findings: (1) 3/4 Cav KIA Booklet records Lewis King’s birth/death dates and lists Lincoln Memorial Gardens as his burial location; the difference from Find a Grave’s Faith Memorial Gardens listing remains unresolved. (2) Eddie, Willie, and Clifford King DEFINITIVELY eliminated as Buster/Lizzie children via Cunningham funeral records. (3) Beulah C. Davis (Tampa) added as confirmed Buster daughter. (4) Barbara Just placed in Hopkins/Pace/Douglas family cluster via Daryl Lynn Pace obituary. (5) 1860 Marion County slaveholder list shows NO 'King' slaveholder -- surname likely adopted post-emancipation. (6) FamilySearch has zero indexed records for Clarence Sanders born ~1934 in Alabama.

Source: 2026-03-22 research blitz: Exa AI, FamilySearch API, Find a Grave, 3-4cav.org, TogetherWeServed

Analysis of Barklee's phased genome and 23andMe DNA Relatives identifies Catherine's maternal biological line as the French-Canadian LALIBERTÉ family (anglicized from 'Burque dit LaLiberté'; indexed as 'Liberty' in New York records) of Clinton County, NY (Rouses Point / Champlain corridor) and Québec (Lawrenceville) / Lebanon, NH. The finding is consistent with mtDNA haplogroup H and ~24.8% French autosomal ancestry, and supersedes earlier speculative leads. Catherine's exact biological parents remain to be confirmed from New York's pre-adoption (original) birth certificate.

Source: 23andMe DNA Relatives; phased whole-genome analysis (mtDNA haplogroup H)