documenting my very southern genealogy from the plantation to the frontier
I recently visited my family in Nashville, which gave me an opportunity to visit the Tennessee State Archives. I wanted to see some some deeds which are not yet available online at Family Search. I was primarily looking for additional information about Thomas Butler (1792-1862), and his wife Lavinia (1796-1859) who are my 4th great-grandparents … Continue reading Lavinia Butler, who’s your daddy?
True story: I just don't find my colonial New England lines to be all that interesting. Most of them are well-documented already, and tracing those lines back becomes more an exercise in careful mouse-clicking than actual research. They were mostly somewhat boring respectable people with no scoundrels or scandals to research. And, since I don't … Continue reading Will of Elizabeth Deming Foote Welles, Wethersfield, Connecticut, 28 March 1678
While cleaning up my tree on my maternal Kelly line, I managed to create a whole new pandemic project for myself. Le sigh. Yet another case of multiple guys with the same name I realized while tidying the family of my 3g grandfather, James Logan Shaw, that I had no actual proof that he was … Continue reading Lesson Learned: Finding the Correct William Shaw
While searching for John Johnston Senior's will in Davidson County probate records I ran across a slip of paper, filed out of order, from John Junior's probate. The file "shuck," or envelope, states that it was "not admitted as part of will." And it's pretty clear why. The document, dated several months after John's death … Continue reading John Johnston’s Counterfeit Will, 29 May 1857
John Johnston was my 5th great grandfather. I have only recently begun to research him as part of my pandemic project of breaking down brick walls. I know that he was born in Pennsylvania, and that his father was most likely also named John Johnston. This first John Johnston was in the Nashville area by … Continue reading Will of John Johnston, 23 April 1849, Davidson County, Tennessee
A few days ago I ran across pages from a Lanier family Bible, kindly posted to Ancestry by another user. I downloaded and transcribed the pages, and in the process found a list of "Age for Collored People." Based on other information in the Bible, I believe these people were enslaved in Davidson County, Tennessee, … Continue reading A Few People Enslaved by the Lanier Family of Davidson County, Tennessee
Joel Dickinson was another brother of my ancestor, David Dickinson and a son of Daniel Dickinson. Joel left a will dated December 19, 1792 in Wayne County, North Carolina, naming 15 enslaved people. To wife Mary: negro man Ben, negro women Esther and Sare (Sarey or Sarah) To son Isaac: three negroes, Banner, Lige and … Continue reading Slaves Held by Joel Dickinson, Wayne County, North Carolina
John Dickinson was my 7th great-grandfather. He was a "Gentleman Planter" in colonial Northampton County, North Carolina. This is another line of my family that may go back to early Quakers. There was certainly a Quaker John Dickinson who married a Rebekah Powell in 1724 in Talbot County, Maryland. Many online trees trace my John … Continue reading Will of John Dickinson, 4 February 1742, Northampton County, North Carolina
David Dickinson, father of John Dickerson, was born in North Carolina, some time before 1753. After really a LOT of sorting out of Wayne County, NC Dickinsons, I have concluded that he was most likely the son of Daniel Dickinson and grandson of John Dickinson, "Gentleman Planter" of Northampton County, NC. David Dickinson died, without … Continue reading David Dickinson’s Very Unpleasant Demise
Years ago, I had traced my maternal Dickerson lineage back to my 4th great-grandfather, a John Dickerson who lived in Benton and Carroll counties, Tennessee. I knew that he was from North Carolina, and I figured he was very likely the John "Dickinson" on the 1820 and 1830 censuses in Wayne County. The name, age, … Continue reading Another Brick Wall Down: John Dickerson, North Carolina to Tennessee
A Long Way to Tennessee 