Will of William McGuffey Rives of Warren County, North Carolina, 24 Nov 1836

June 23, 2020February 6, 2021 ~ Kelly ~ 1 Comment

I am currently researching my 5th great-grandfather, William McGuffey Rives, father of "Captain" William Rives. I have quite a bit of information on him, and so am posting this lengthy will separately. It is somewhat interesting in that it reveals that he produced cloth on his plantation. I also wonder if the 1200 hundred pounds … Continue reading Will of William McGuffey Rives of Warren County, North Carolina, 24 Nov 1836

Slaves Held by “Captain” William Rives of Warren County, North Carolina

June 19, 2020February 6, 2021 ~ Kelly ~ Leave a comment

Slave records of "Captain" William Rives of Mecklenburg County, North Carolina.

Slaveholding in the German Community: the Sarver and Harder Families of Sumner County, Tennessee

June 11, 2020March 3, 2021 ~ Kelly ~ Leave a comment

Yes, German immigrants were slaveholders, too.

Buena Vista, Tennessee School Photos

March 19, 2020June 30, 2020 ~ Kelly ~ Leave a comment

I recently visited my grandmother, who has attained a certain three-digit age which one does not discuss about a lady! We had a good time going through lots of old photos together. She was able to identify many of her classmates from her school days in the tiny community of Buena Vista, in Carroll County, … Continue reading Buena Vista, Tennessee School Photos

DNA Discoveries

February 6, 2020June 30, 2020 ~ Kelly ~ Leave a comment

I haven't posted much recently due to having gone down the DNA rabbit hole! The "higher math" of DNA comparison and triangulation still eludes me. Maybe that will be a good project for retirement. But, I am pretty good at conventional research, and am able to use DNA cousins to either support or disprove my … Continue reading DNA Discoveries

So Many Questions

October 1, 2019June 30, 2020 ~ Kelly ~ Leave a comment

The Reverend John McKenzie of Suffolk Parish, Nansemond County, Virginia wrote a will in 1754 in which he named his children; John II, Kenneth, Janet, Anne, and William McKenzie. The Reverend gave various tracts of land in Tyrrell and Bertie counties, North Carolina to his sons, and also specified that "my Negroes shall not be … Continue reading So Many Questions

Things Keep Coming Back to Those McKenzies

September 29, 2019December 15, 2021 ~ Kelly ~ Leave a comment

One odd thing about my timeline for Miles Bembry has always been his appearance on the 1800 census in Bertie County as Miles "Benbory," the "owner" of 69 slaves. It is the only time that he appears in that county. It is also very strange that he goes from 1 slave in 1790, to 69 … Continue reading Things Keep Coming Back to Those McKenzies

More Bembry Shenanigans

September 4, 2019June 30, 2020 ~ Kelly ~ Leave a comment

While digging around for Dicken deeds I ran across a deed from my 5th great-grandfather, Miles Bembry to James H Smith that I had somehow overlooked. It turned out to be an important part of the tangled tale of Kenneth Bembry, slippery politician, bits and pieces of which I have accumulated over the years, often … Continue reading More Bembry Shenanigans

Richard Dicken: Not Quite Dead Yet

September 2, 2019June 30, 2020 ~ Kelly ~ 1 Comment

So, as it turns out, Richard Dicken, my 5th great-grandfather was not quite as dead as I thought he was by 1819. And there's a moral to that story! I had assumed for years that since Richard Dicken's estate was found in Edgecombe county probate files that he must in fact be dead. Furthermore Thomas … Continue reading Richard Dicken: Not Quite Dead Yet

Will of Elias Bryan of Edgecombe County, North Carolina, 25 July 1821

August 21, 2019July 1, 2020 ~ Kelly ~ 1 Comment

Elias Bryan was the brother of my 6th great-grandfather, Needham Bryan. I found a transcription of his lengthy will online a while ago. Recently, I dug up the original will at Family Search and polished up the transcription. The will is interesting in that Elias provided unusually generously to his daughters. He also stipulates that … Continue reading Will of Elias Bryan of Edgecombe County, North Carolina, 25 July 1821