While running a search on Ancestry yesterday, I found something fun misfiled under "Wm Bembry." This is a stray account from William Bembry's estate file, paid by his administrator to a merchant or tavern keeper of some kind. William, it seems, was quite the tippler, putting away many "Drinks" of gin, cider, cordial, and the … Continue reading William Bembry’s Bar Tab
Tag: Bembry
Kenneth Bembry’s Estate
Family Search has provided another Bembry estate file, that of Kenneth Bembry who died intestate in Tallahassee in 1854. His inventory reveals a a somewhat luxurious household including mahogany furniture, silverware, crystal, and of course, a list of "negroes." Unfortunately, the file does not include a record of the estate sale, so there is no … Continue reading Kenneth Bembry’s Estate
Guilford, a Carpenter
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
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
In which my 5th great-grandfather lives life to the fullest.
The Mysterious Widow Bembry
Where there is a widow there must have been a husband. Did Miles Bembry make a surprise move late in life?
To Buy a Wife?
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.
Thomas Bembry Goes Off the Reservation
A bastardy bond in Edgecombe, North Carolina.
The Reckoning
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
Researching Slave-Holding Ancestors
There are two topics that are guaranteed to come up in just about ongoing discussion of American family history research: slavery and slave ownership. Genealogy television shows frequently explore the subject: of course you would expect to see that on Henry Louis Gates' excellent African-American Lives. But, it's remarkable how many celebrities (not all Southern) … Continue reading Researching Slave-Holding Ancestors
A Long Way to Tennessee 