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
Category: Genealogy
Miles Bembry Part III: 1810-1819
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
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
Will of Robert Lanier of Tyrell District, North Carolina, 20 Sep 1744
Robert Lanier was my 7th great-grandfather. He was born in Barbados about 1674, and died about 1745 in North Carolina. I copied this will text from NC Genweb. See slave names in bold below. In the name of God Amen. The twentieth Day of September in the year of our Lord God Everlasting one thousand … Continue reading Will of Robert Lanier of Tyrell District, North Carolina, 20 Sep 1744
Simon H. Harrison: A Persistent Brick Wall
Simon H. Harrison, born 1803-1813 in Kentucky, was my 3rd great-grandfather. He is also a complete "brick wall" in my research. No one, and I mean no one, seems to know where he came from. I have posted about him before: this post is a compilation of the information in the previous posts and everything … Continue reading Simon H. Harrison: A Persistent Brick Wall
The Bassanos and Laniers
My great-grandmother Mama Kelly (Mary Pearl Harrison Kelly) had a really interesting family tree that can be traced way back to Renaissance Italy. Mama Kelly's 10th great-grandfather was Jeronimo Bassano, a musician and instrument maker who was born in the town of Bassano del Grappa, near Venice, Italy. Much has been written about this Bassano … Continue reading The Bassanos and Laniers
William Oldham and Phillippa Sowter
William (or John) Oldham, with his wife, Phillippa Sowter, was one of the founding settlers of Wethersfield, Connecticut. He was born about 1568 in or near Derby, Derbyshire, England. His daughter, Lucretia Oldham, married Jonathan, the son of Elder William Brewster of Plymouth Colony, and my 11th great-grandfather. Mama Kelly's 8th great-grandparents.
Nathaniel Foote and Elizabeth Deming
Nathaniel Foote and his wife Elizabeth Deming arrived in Watertown, Massachusetts around 1630. They were from Shalford, which is a town near Colchester, Essex, England. Nathaniel's profession was listed as Grocer. By 1635 they had moved to Wethersfield, Connecticut where they were among the first settlers. Much more information about Nathaniel, including a list of his property, can … Continue reading Nathaniel Foote and Elizabeth Deming
Robert Latimer and Ann Griggs Jones
Robert Latimer, born about 1603, was a mariner from Ipswich, Suffolk, England. He arrived in Connecticut by 1661 where he married Ann Griggs Jones. In 1671, he was lost at sea. Ann died in 1693 in New London, CT. Mama Kelly's 6th great-grandparents.
Josiah Churchill and Elizabeth Foote
Josiah Churchill, born 1613, was among the first settlers of Wethersfield, Connecticut. He was a sailor from Muston, Dorset, England (I believe this is actually Winterborne Muston, located between Dorchester and Poole) who arrived about 1635. Josiah married Elizabeth Foote, daughter of Nathaniel Foote, became Town Surveyor, and invested heavily in Wethersfield real estate. By the time of his … Continue reading Josiah Churchill and Elizabeth Foote
A Long Way to Tennessee 