If you are an amateur genealogist, you've probably heard of the Genealogy Do-Over challenge that is going around. The idea is: scrap everything and start all over again, improving your research and sourcing in the process. It's a good idea, I think, and in fact, I have been sort of doing that for the last … Continue reading Targeting Miles Bembry
Tag: Family History
Sarah Simpson Bembry: After Thomas N. Bembry’s Death
When Thomas N. Bembry died in 1904, his wife Sarah Ann was left close to penniless. A paper trail found in the Florida State Archives outlines this illiterate woman's attempts to receive support from the state of Florida. On January 8, 1905, Sarah wrote to the state comptroller apparently trying to receive the balance of … Continue reading Sarah Simpson Bembry: After Thomas N. Bembry’s Death
Thomas N. Bembry Part III: The Postwar Years
After Thomas signed his oath and left Confederate service, he and Sarah Ann settled in Bellville, a small town located due south of Valdosta, Georgia and just over the Florida state line. Their oldest son, James, lived just next door with his new wife, Elizabeth Brown, probably the daughter of the William Brown who lived … Continue reading Thomas N. Bembry Part III: The Postwar Years
Thomas N. Bembry Part II: The War Years
On 14 February 1862, Thomas N. Bembry and his younger brother, Henry L. Bembry, signed on as Privates with the 5th Confederate Florida Infantry, Company F ("Frink's Guards.") Two of Sarah's brothers, Elijah Moses and Aaron signed up for the same unit on the same day. Another brother, Henry F. Simpson, signed up just a few … Continue reading Thomas N. Bembry Part II: The War Years
Thomas N. Bembry, Part I
My 3rd great-grandfather, Thomas N. Bembry, was born on 26 January 1828 in Edgecombe County, North Carolina. His parents were Thomas Bembry and Martha "Patsy" Dicken. The "N" for his middle name may have been for Needham Bryan, his great-grandfather. Or, it could have been Nathan, for another great-grandfather, Nathan Harris. Thomas N. is found on … Continue reading Thomas N. Bembry, Part I
More on the Nefarious John Bembry
I found this wanted notice in the Federal Union, a Milledgeville paper, dated 8 September 1831. It gives more details on the murder of Littleton Bryan. Sounds like a nasty business! A Proclamation By William P. Duvall, Governor of the Territory of Florida Whereas it hath been duly shewn to me that JOHN BEMBRY, late … Continue reading More on the Nefarious John Bembry
An Alternate Theory of John Bembry’s Disappearance
I've been looking at families associated with the early Bembrys just to see what pops up. While perusing "Descendants of Captain John Wiggins of Martin County, North Carolina" to find out more about John and Maria Wiggins, his wife, I ran across this alternate theory of John Bembry's disappearance after the death of the Littleton … Continue reading An Alternate Theory of John Bembry’s Disappearance
Two Wiggins Connections
Still sorting through my notes from the DAR library. I had found a an odd fact in a book called "Edgecombe County Kinfolks:" DB 16-315 Maria Bembry was daughter of John Wiggins, July 25 1814 What? Well, some Googling led to this deed abstract: Edge. Co. Db 16, page 315, date of deed July 1814, … Continue reading Two Wiggins Connections
Oh Dear, Found Another Scoundrel Hiding In The Branches
While looking up an estate file for Richard Dicken, father-in-law of Thomas Bembry, I found this court case involving Kenneth Bembry, the wealthiest of the four sons of Miles Bembry. Now I know how he got so rich. Kenneth became guardian (presumably after the death of Elias Bryan) to the three youngest sons of Richard … Continue reading Oh Dear, Found Another Scoundrel Hiding In The Branches
Bembry Blitz Pays Off: Thomas Bembry’s Wife Now Has a Name!
Last week I visited the Daughters of the American Revolution genealogy library here in Washington, DC, and hit the motherlode. My focus for the afternoon was to find all the Bembry references I could locate in the North Carolina counties that I knew were associated with the family. So, I went through all the indexes for … Continue reading Bembry Blitz Pays Off: Thomas Bembry’s Wife Now Has a Name!
A Long Way to Tennessee 