documenting my very southern genealogy from the plantation to the frontier
Learning that Miles did not, in fact, sprout up all by himself under a North Carolina cabbage leaf, but had a relative of likely the same generation gave me a new perspective on the problem of his mysterious origins. I have a new working theory. In fact, a theory may be all that I ever … Continue reading A New Working Theory for Miles Bembry’s Origins
Recently, Family Search threw me a curveball. While doing my periodic search for any new references to Miles Bembry, an entirely new early Bembry popped up! Henry Bembry appears twice in estate records for a Whitmell Wilkins in Bertie county, NC. In 1828 he is mentioned as a debtor, owing the deceased $5.00. And in … Continue reading Wait, what? Who is this Henry Bembry?
Turning to my 4th great-grandfather, James Simpson (abt 1794-1850), I wasn't expecting to find anything especially interesting. I thought this would be yet another profile of a hardscrabble southern farmer. But then this popped up: From Houston County, Georgia court records at Family Search. It appearing to the court that Doctor Thomas W. Bale did … Continue reading James Simpson’s Surprising Life and Strange Death
My 3rd great grandfather, James J Williams (1835-aft 1880), had a very common name. So common that there were at least two other "James J Williams" and even more "James Williams" in the same area of Georgia! For that reason, I was never entirely sure about his parentage, though I did have a feeling about … Continue reading James J Williams, who’s your daddy?
I ran some Goodman names through Family Search's full text search and was able to answer one or two important questions! But at the same time, another discovery cast more doubt on what was already a shaky branch on the tree. I knew for sure that my 3g grandfather was Timothy Goodman (1825-1906). My 2g … Continue reading Sorting Out Goodmans
My 5th great-grandmother, generally known as Thamer Halle, is presumed by many online sources to have come from either Germany or France, specifically Alsace-Lorraine. This appears to be based entirely on family oral history, and I have never been able to find any evidence for it. She's been a brick wall for some time. Recently, … Continue reading Tamer Hall Sarver
I think I have exhausted available resources on my favorite brickwall ancestor for the moment. I also find it's a good idea to step back once in a while, work on something else, and see what comes up in the meantime. However, I've discovered a few more details over the last few weeks that I … Continue reading Bits and Pieces on Miles Bembry
In researching my brickwall ancestor and 5th great-grandfather, Miles Bembry (1766-1838), I have been researching his FAN (Friend Associate Neighbor) club in depth for some time. However, recently, I consulted with a professional genealogist, and this caused me to realize that I needed to be more systematic in my research and develop more visual aids … Continue reading Miles Bembry as Plantation Overseer
For the last few weeks, I have been working on Miles Bembry's FAN club in an attempt to finally topple that Bembry brickwall. I've gathered a ton of information! But I am starting to confuse myself by now, and so I think I need to take a step back to properly organize and summarize it … Continue reading Nansemond Connections
John Glosson (1802 - aft. 1880) was my 4th great-grandfather and had been a brick wall forever. I knew that he was born in North Carolina, and had tentatively placed him as a John "Glisson" in Duplin county just because the household matched. But I was never convinced, and a couple of weeks ago I … Continue reading Another Brick Wall Falls: John Glosson of Chatham County, North Carolina
A Long Way to Tennessee 