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
Category: Biographies
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
Sarah Ann Simpson
Sarah Simpson, wife of Thomas N Bembry, was born in 1833 in Sumter County, GA. (She did not know what her actual birthday was, according to pension documents she filled out later in life.) Her father, James Simpson, born in 1795, was either out of a clan of Simpsons living in the northwestern corner of … Continue reading Sarah Ann Simpson
Palma Lee Lashley
Palma Lashley's family background is fairly well documented. Born 20, August 1885, her parents were Edmund (or Edmond) Lashley, a farmer, and Mary Lorena Bullard. Palma was the second of six children. She attended at least some school, and consistently reported herself as able to read and write on censuses. Palma married Hiram Bembry on … Continue reading Palma Lee Lashley
Matilda Williams
Matilda Williams was born 22 October 1856 in Bulloch County, GA, to James J. Williams and his wife, Mariah, last name probably Hendricks. James was born in Georgia in 1835, probably to Jonathan Williams and his wife Matilda. Jonathan was the son of Wilson Williams, a very early settler in the state. (The surname Williams … Continue reading Matilda Williams
Lucy Jewell Smith
Jewell Smith was the second daughter of Bertus "Bert" Monroe Smith and Mollie Irene Sumner. She was born 25 September 1910 in Florida. As far as I know, Jewell was the first person in our line to have a high school diploma. She was certainly the first woman to have one. Because the Smith name is … Continue reading Lucy Jewell Smith
Ann Bryan
Ann Bryan, wife of Miles Bembry, was born between 1760-1765 in North Carolina. She was a favorite daughter of Needham Bryan and Jerusha Cain, and is mentioned by name in his Needham's will, dated 1797. She was bequeathed 100 acres in Martin County, NC. NEDAM BRYAN; Martin County will book page 343; 11 March … Continue reading Ann Bryan
Edgar Bembry
Edgar "Sonny" Bembry, born 14 June 1906, was the oldest of Hiram and Palma Lashley Bembry's seven sons. As such, he was unable to attend school past the third grade because he was needed on the farm. While he stated on the 1930 census that he could read and write, he was never fully literate. He … Continue reading Edgar Bembry
Hiram Bembry
Hiram Bembry, the son of John Thomas Bembry and Matilda Williams, was born 23 December 1881, probably in Echols County, Georgia. He married Palma Lashley on September 1905 at the age of 22. They set up a farm right next to his parents' place near Fort Union in Suwannee County. Together, Hiram and Palma had ten children: … Continue reading Hiram Bembry
John T Bembry
John T. (probably Thomas) Bembry was born on 24 November 1854 while his parents were living in Sumter County, Georgia with Sarah's mother, Dolly Simpson. When he was eight years old, his father, Thomas N. Bembry, went off to fight in the Civil War, leaving him with his mother, possibly his grandmother, Dolly, and five younger … Continue reading John T Bembry
A Long Way to Tennessee 