This Joseph Sumner was my 6th great-grandfather. The Margaret mentioned in the will is supposedly Margaret Chesstnut (also spelled Chesnut, Chessnut, and Chestnut) however, I have not yet found a primary source for this information. From North Carolina Willd and Estates on Ancestry.com. In the name of god Amen I Joseph Sumner of Onslow County … Continue reading Will of Joseph Sumner of Onslow County, North Carolina, 29 October 1784
Tag: Family History
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 Lewis Lashley of Wake County, North Carolina, 31 January 1815
Lewis Lashley was my 6th great grandfather. I am fairly certain that the "Holleman" men named in the will are most likely Hollands, as Lewis' wife was Mary Holland and they all lived near each other. A slave woman, Nell, is named in this will. She is not found on 1800 census, and I can't … Continue reading Will of Lewis Lashley of Wake County, North Carolina, 31 January 1815
Will of James Holland of Wake County, North Carolina, 22 November 1787
James Holland was my 7th great-grandfather. The phonetic spelling is interesting in this will. Clearly, they pronounced "kind" as "coind." This sounds Irish to me, and according to this Wikipedia article, the name Holland may derive from Houlihan, and variant is found in County Cork. There are no given names in the family that sound … Continue reading Will of James Holland of Wake County, North Carolina, 22 November 1787
Will of George Peay of Rockingham County, North Carolina, 7 June 1803
George Peay was my 6th great grandfather. He was born in King William County, Virginia in 1734, and died in Rockingham County, North Carolina in 1804. The Elias Peay mentioned in the will is my 5th great grandfather. Will of George Peay written 7 June 1803 and Proven in August Court 1804. Book A, page … Continue reading Will of George Peay of Rockingham County, North Carolina, 7 June 1803
Will of Mary Whitnel Parker of Davidson County, Tennessee, 29 February 1832
Mary was my 5th great-grandmother. Her maiden name is usually listed as Whitnel, however, I have no primary source for this information. She was probably born in North Carolina. Her husband was Charles Parker. In her will, dated 29 February 1832, she mentioned my 4th great-grandmother, Dicey Parker Lanier, and Dicey's husband John Lanier. She … Continue reading Will of Mary Whitnel Parker of Davidson County, Tennessee, 29 February 1832
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
An Earlier Bembry?
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?
Miles Bembry Part II: 1800-1809
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 Part 1: 1790-1799
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 