I found this wanted notice in the Federal Union, a Milledgeville paper, dated 8 September 1831. It gives more details on the murder of Littleton Bryan. Sounds like a nasty business! A Proclamation By William P. Duvall, Governor of the Territory of Florida Whereas it hath been duly shewn to me that JOHN BEMBRY, late … Continue reading More on the Nefarious John Bembry
Author: Kelly
Traveler, ex-diplomatic spouse, occasional expatriate.
An Alternate Theory of John Bembry’s Disappearance
I've been looking at families associated with the early Bembrys just to see what pops up. While perusing "Descendants of Captain John Wiggins of Martin County, North Carolina" to find out more about John and Maria Wiggins, his wife, I ran across this alternate theory of John Bembry's disappearance after the death of the Littleton … Continue reading An Alternate Theory of John Bembry’s Disappearance
Two Wiggins Connections
Still sorting through my notes from the DAR library. I had found a an odd fact in a book called "Edgecombe County Kinfolks:" DB 16-315 Maria Bembry was daughter of John Wiggins, July 25 1814 What? Well, some Googling led to this deed abstract: Edge. Co. Db 16, page 315, date of deed July 1814, … Continue reading Two Wiggins Connections
Oh Dear, Found Another Scoundrel Hiding In The Branches
While looking up an estate file for Richard Dicken, father-in-law of Thomas Bembry, I found this court case involving Kenneth Bembry, the wealthiest of the four sons of Miles Bembry. Now I know how he got so rich. Kenneth became guardian (presumably after the death of Elias Bryan) to the three youngest sons of Richard … Continue reading Oh Dear, Found Another Scoundrel Hiding In The Branches
Bembry Blitz Pays Off: Thomas Bembry’s Wife Now Has a Name!
Last week I visited the Daughters of the American Revolution genealogy library here in Washington, DC, and hit the motherlode. My focus for the afternoon was to find all the Bembry references I could locate in the North Carolina counties that I knew were associated with the family. So, I went through all the indexes for … Continue reading Bembry Blitz Pays Off: Thomas Bembry’s Wife Now Has a Name!
Fun with Bembry Deeds
This week, a packet of photocopied Bembry deeds arrived from the North Carolina Archives! I've been transcribing them as well as I can--some are more legible than others. Fortunately, this one was quite clearly written. It shows exactly where Miles Bembry's farm was located in Edgecombe County, NC, just south of the Halifax County line. … Continue reading Fun with Bembry Deeds
Simon H. Harrison: A Persistent Brick Wall
Simon H. Harrison, born 1803-1813 in Kentucky, was my 3rd great-grandfather. He is also a complete "brick wall" in my research. No one, and I mean no one, seems to know where he came from. I have posted about him before: this post is a compilation of the information in the previous posts and everything … Continue reading Simon H. Harrison: A Persistent Brick Wall
Will of Robert Hodges of Bertie County, North Carolina, 30 March 1740
I think the vernacular speech of this will is kind of awesome. North Carolina State Archives Secretary of State Papers In the Name of God Amen. The Thirty day of March 1740, I Roburt Hogges of the County of Bartie being in good health and perfect sences and memory. Thanks be unto God their fore … Continue reading Will of Robert Hodges of Bertie County, North Carolina, 30 March 1740
The Bassanos and Laniers
My great-grandmother Mama Kelly (Mary Pearl Harrison Kelly) had a really interesting family tree that can be traced way back to Renaissance Italy. Mama Kelly's 10th great-grandfather was Jeronimo Bassano, a musician and instrument maker who was born in the town of Bassano del Grappa, near Venice, Italy. Much has been written about this Bassano … Continue reading The Bassanos and Laniers
Thomas Bembry
Thomas Bembry, son of Miles Bembry, was born about 1799, in North Carolina, probably Martin County. He moved with his parents to Edgecombe County, and is found there with his own household, and a small farm with six slaves on the 1830 census. His first wife is unknown, but he married her between 1815 and 1820. … Continue reading Thomas Bembry
A Long Way to Tennessee 