Will of William Lanier of Davidson County, Tennessee, 12 February 1811

July 6, 2018July 1, 2020 ~ Kelly ~ Leave a comment

William Lanier was my 5th great-grandfather, himself the grandson of a Barbadian immigrant. He came to Nashville before 1807 from Beaufort County, North Carolina. Previously, I had an abstract of his will, but I recently found the original online at Family Search with more detail, including the names of several enslaved people (in bold, below). … Continue reading Will of William Lanier of Davidson County, Tennessee, 12 February 1811

Slaves Held by Kenneth Bembry

May 9, 2018July 1, 2020 ~ Kelly ~ Leave a comment

It must have been particularly difficult to be held as a slave by Kenneth because his finances were a roller coaster ride. He was constantly buying, selling, and mortgaging people (as well as land and other property) to keep up with growing debt. Because there are so many enslaved people involved, and because Kenneth was … Continue reading Slaves Held by Kenneth Bembry

Kenneth Bembry’s “Colored” Children?

May 7, 2018June 30, 2020 ~ Kelly ~ Leave a comment

Recently, I wrote about how Kenneth apprenticed a free boy of color named William Williams. Well, of course I had to find out more about his mother, Fanny Williams! Which led me into an entirely new (for me) area of genealogy: that of "free people of color" in the antebellum South. Fanny Williams deeded her … Continue reading Kenneth Bembry’s “Colored” Children?

Guilford, a Carpenter

April 8, 2018July 1, 2020 ~ Kelly ~ Leave a comment

This is the first instance I have found in my research of an enslaved person being identified by a skill or profession. Kenneth Bembry sold "One certain negro Slave a Man by the name of Guilford a Carpenter" to Joseph Carruthers of Pulaski County, Georgia on July 27, 1840 for $1,500. This is no doubt … Continue reading Guilford, a Carpenter

Slaves Held By John and Maria Wiggins Bembry of Pulaski County, Georgia

April 7, 2018July 1, 2020 ~ Kelly ~ Leave a comment

Just came across this Pulaski County, Georgia deed in which Maria Wiggins Bembry mortgages the estate of her (presumably deceased) husband, John Bembry. The deed names several enslaved people. She apparently defaulted on the mortgage, as a later newspaper announcement of an auction (below) list some of the same names. Georgia Pulaski County This indenture … Continue reading Slaves Held By John and Maria Wiggins Bembry of Pulaski County, Georgia

The Widow Reveal’d

April 6, 2018June 30, 2020 ~ Kelly ~ 2 Comments

In which my 5th great-grandfather lives life to the fullest.

To Buy a Wife?

March 31, 2018July 1, 2020 ~ Kelly ~ Leave a comment

In which I wonder if a a discount on a land sale was a way of securing a suitable bride for an overseer's son.

The Reckoning

December 5, 2017June 30, 2020 ~ Kelly ~ 4 Comments

For a while there, I used Ancestry's Family Tree Maker. Then I switched to Family Search's Legacy, and spent quite a bit of time getting that organized. Then, a couple of years ago, I bought a desktop Mac, and realized too late that I couldn't use Legacy on it. (But I still love the Mac). … Continue reading The Reckoning

Miles Bembry Part III: 1810-1819

February 20, 2017June 30, 2020 ~ Kelly ~ 5 Comments

Finally getting back to writing about old Miles Bembry! The previous post, taking his biography up to 1810 can be found here. It ended with Miles' purchases of several tracts of land in Edgecombe County in preparation for his move there. By September, 1810, Miles and his wife Nancy Ann Bryan had settled just north … Continue reading Miles Bembry Part III: 1810-1819

Will of William Hobbs of Wake County, North Carolina, 27 May 1788

October 31, 2016July 1, 2020 ~ Kelly ~ 2 Comments

William Hobbs was my 5th great grandfather on the Cole side. The John Cole mentioned in this will is another 5th great grandfather: his son Loyd married Hobb's daughter, Betsy, and moved to Benton County, Tennessee to found an enormous clan of Coles. I've left the original spelling in this will because it shows how … Continue reading Will of William Hobbs of Wake County, North Carolina, 27 May 1788