documenting my very southern genealogy from the plantation to the frontier
After researching Lydia Collings Uptigrove to the extent that was possible, I turned to Elijah Uptigrove, her husband. In the process of researching him, I unearthed some interesting history! First, the working theory As I outlined earlier, it seems clear that the Collings and Uptigroves were acquainted with each other in Albemarle County, Virginia, prior … Continue reading Do Unto Others: the Op den Graeff Connection
When I shared my last post on a Facebook group, a fellow blogger helpfully directed me to some "hidden" Virginia probate records on Ancestry.com. There I found a little more information about William Collings. This probate file for William Collings, dated 11 Oct 1832, does mention Lydia Uptigrove. But it is not specific about the … Continue reading More on Lydia Collings Uptigrove
Still working on identifying women in my family history! Every one turns out to be quite a project. About three weeks ago I began to research Lydia, my 4th great-grandmother and the wife of Elijah Uptigrove. She was born about 1795 in Virginia, per her census entries, and died after 1880 in Carroll County, Tennessee. … Continue reading The Mystery of Lydia Collings Uptigrove
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?
John Denison was my 9th great grandfather, the son of George Denison and "Lady" Ann Borodell, both English Puritans who arrived in Massachusetts during the Great Migration. (John's middle name is often listed as Borodell, but I have not seen a primary source for that.) George and Ann Denison and their children were among the … Continue reading Will of John Denison, 26 April 1698, Stonington, Connecticut
Daniel Denison, was not my direct ancestor. He was the brother of George Denison, my 8th great-grandfather. However, I try to at least skim the wills of my ancestor's siblings in order to record names of spouses and children, and in case there is any other information of interest. Daniel's will names his second wife … Continue reading Will of Daniel Denison, 7 October 1747, Stonington, Connecticut
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 Long Way to Tennessee 