documenting my very southern genealogy from the plantation to the frontier
A couple of days ago, I heard about a website called Archive Grid on a podcast. As usual when I find a new archive, I ran a quick search for "Bembry," because I can be pretty sure whatever comes up will relate to my family in some way. To my surprise, a letter from personal … Continue reading Maybe He Just Needed Killin’
For the last few weeks, I have been working on Miles Bembry's FAN club in an attempt to finally topple that Bembry brickwall. I've gathered a ton of information! But I am starting to confuse myself by now, and so I think I need to take a step back to properly organize and summarize it … Continue reading Nansemond Connections
Elias Bryan was the brother of my 6th great-grandfather, Needham Bryan. I found a transcription of his lengthy will online a while ago. Recently, I dug up the original will at Family Search and polished up the transcription. The will is interesting in that Elias provided unusually generously to his daughters. He also stipulates that … Continue reading Will of Elias Bryan of Edgecombe County, North Carolina, 25 July 1821
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.
Miles Bembry is the first Bembry in America that I have been able to identify. For years, off and on, I've been trying to figure out where he came from. I've researched online and in libraries. I've tried cluster genealogy, researching his neighbors, business associates and probable former slaves. His origins remain a complete mystery. … Continue reading When Your Ancestor Was Found Under a Cabbage Leaf
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
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
I recently visited the Local History room at the Arlington County public library just to see what might be available there. The area of North Carolina in which Miles Bembry lived was originally the Albemarle District of Virginia. Many of the residents came from what now call Virginia to North Carolina. So, I checked the … Continue reading An Earlier Bembry?
The 19th century starts off with yet another spelling of Bembry—and a mystery. (Read part I of the story here.) Miles is found on the 1800 census of Bertie county. His name is transcribed as "Banbury" but in fact it looks like "Bembury" or "Bembery" to me. He is listed as owning 69 slaves, after owning … Continue reading Miles Bembry Part II: 1800-1809
Miles Bembry was the first person that I know of in America to call himself "Bembry." However, the name was spelled several different ways, as it is even today. He first appears on the 1790 census of Martin County, North Carolina as "Miles Benbory." He has two females in the household, presumably Ann Bryan Bembry … Continue reading Miles Bembry Part 1: 1790-1799
A Long Way to Tennessee 