documenting my very southern genealogy from the plantation to the frontier
While cleaning up my tree on my maternal Kelly line, I managed to create a whole new pandemic project for myself. Le sigh. Yet another case of multiple guys with the same name I realized while tidying the family of my 3g grandfather, James Logan Shaw, that I had no actual proof that he was … Continue reading Lesson Learned: Finding the Correct William Shaw
While searching for John Johnston Senior's will in Davidson County probate records I ran across a slip of paper, filed out of order, from John Junior's probate. The file "shuck," or envelope, states that it was "not admitted as part of will." And it's pretty clear why. The document, dated several months after John's death … Continue reading John Johnston’s Counterfeit Will, 29 May 1857
John Johnston was my 5th great grandfather. I have only recently begun to research him as part of my pandemic project of breaking down brick walls. I know that he was born in Pennsylvania, and that his father was most likely also named John Johnston. This first John Johnston was in the Nashville area by … Continue reading Will of John Johnston, 23 April 1849, Davidson County, Tennessee
A few days ago I ran across pages from a Lanier family Bible, kindly posted to Ancestry by another user. I downloaded and transcribed the pages, and in the process found a list of "Age for Collored People." Based on other information in the Bible, I believe these people were enslaved in Davidson County, Tennessee, … Continue reading A Few People Enslaved by the Lanier Family of Davidson County, Tennessee
Joel Dickinson was another brother of my ancestor, David Dickinson and a son of Daniel Dickinson. Joel left a will dated December 19, 1792 in Wayne County, North Carolina, naming 15 enslaved people. To wife Mary: negro man Ben, negro women Esther and Sare (Sarey or Sarah) To son Isaac: three negroes, Banner, Lige and … Continue reading Slaves Held by Joel Dickinson, Wayne County, North Carolina
While browsing through Wayne County estate files to sort out Dickinsons, I ran across several records naming enslaved people. Though these are not my direct ancestors, from here on out, I've decided to post any slaveholding records I find that might be helpful to other researchers. Isaac Dickinson (or Dickerson) was the son of John … Continue reading Slaves Held by Isaac Dickinson, Wayne County, North Carolina
John Dickinson was my 7th great-grandfather. He was a "Gentleman Planter" in colonial Northampton County, North Carolina. This is another line of my family that may go back to early Quakers. There was certainly a Quaker John Dickinson who married a Rebekah Powell in 1724 in Talbot County, Maryland. Many online trees trace my John … Continue reading Will of John Dickinson, 4 February 1742, Northampton County, North Carolina
Working my way back through Dickinsons, I came to Daniel Dickinson, my 6th great-grandfather, who died about 1779 in Wayne County. Like his son, David, he seems to have died unexpectedly without leaving a will. His estate file contains a letter, however, naming his heirs. As most of Daniel's wealth was held in the form … Continue reading Slaves Held by Daniel Dickinson, Wayne County, North Carolina
David Dickinson, father of John Dickerson, was born in North Carolina, some time before 1753. After really a LOT of sorting out of Wayne County, NC Dickinsons, I have concluded that he was most likely the son of Daniel Dickinson and grandson of John Dickinson, "Gentleman Planter" of Northampton County, NC. David Dickinson died, without … Continue reading David Dickinson’s Very Unpleasant Demise
I recently discovered that Edward Hood was my 6th great-grandfather. I don't know all that much about him yet. I do know that he was born before 1740, died about 1811 in Wayne County, NC, and owned several hundred acres along Black Creek, just south of the present-day city of Wilson, NC. One of Edward … Continue reading Will of Edward Hood, 22 July 1807, Wayne County, North Carolina
A Long Way to Tennessee 