Stephen Reuben Turner was my 6th great-grandfather, son of Terisha Turner and father of Mary Catherine Turner Rives. There are two copies of his will out there: thisĀ transcription is from a copy found in North Carolina, Wills and Probate Records, 1665-1998 at Ancestry.com. I believe this version to be the more accurate because it … Continue reading Will of Stephen Reuben Turner, Warren County, North Carolina, 14 October 1799
Tag: Family History
Will of “Ancient” Terisha Turner, Amherst County, Virginia, 7 May 1793
Terisha Turner was my 7th great-grandfather. His granddaughter, Mary Catherine Turner, my 5th great-grandmother, was the wife of William McGuffey Rives. Amherst County, Virginia records are unfortunately not available online, for the most part, so I have not been able to view the original will. However, there are several transcriptions floating around on the internet. … Continue reading Will of “Ancient” Terisha Turner, Amherst County, Virginia, 7 May 1793
Records of Slavery: A Sweet Dose of Truth
The way forward does not start with the stories we white people tell ourselves.
Slaves Held by William McGuffey Rives of Warren County, North Carolina
William McGuffey Rives was my 5th great-grandfather. Born in Dinwiddie County, Virginia, he was raised on his grandfather's plantation near Petersburg, according to an 1839 letter written by his widow, Mary Catherine Turner Rives. William inherited his first slaves on 19 Dec 1786, at about age 19, from the estate of his grandfather, David Neal. … Continue reading Slaves Held by William McGuffey Rives of Warren County, North Carolina
Will of Thomas Rives of Chatham County, North Carolina, 10 June 1807
I am still digging around in Rives records. Unlike most other lines in my family, the Rives (sometimes spelled Reeves) had a fair amount of property. They could be called minor Virginia gentry. As such, a good bit of research has also been done on them already, including a 1929 book, "Reliques of the Ryves." … Continue reading Will of Thomas Rives of Chatham County, North Carolina, 10 June 1807
Will of William McGuffey Rives of Warren County, North Carolina, 24 Nov 1836
I am currently researching my 5th great-grandfather, William McGuffey Rives, father of "Captain" William Rives. I have quite a bit of information on him, and so am posting this lengthy will separately. It is somewhat interesting in that it reveals that he produced cloth on his plantation. I also wonder if the 1200 hundred pounds … Continue reading Will of William McGuffey Rives of Warren County, North Carolina, 24 Nov 1836
Slaves Held by “Captain” William Rives of Warren County, North Carolina
Slave records of "Captain" William Rives of Mecklenburg County, North Carolina.
Slaveholding in the German Community: the Sarver and Harder Families of Sumner County, Tennessee
Yes, German immigrants were slaveholders, too.
Buena Vista, Tennessee School Photos
I recently visited my grandmother, who has attained a certain three-digit age which one does not discuss about a lady! We had a good time going through lots of old photos together. She was able to identify many of her classmates from her school days in the tiny community of Buena Vista, in Carroll County, … Continue reading Buena Vista, Tennessee School Photos
DNA Discoveries
I haven't posted much recently due to having gone down the DNA rabbit hole! The "higher math" of DNA comparison and triangulation still eludes me. Maybe that will be a good project for retirement. But, I am pretty good at conventional research, and am able to use DNA cousins to either support or disprove my … Continue reading DNA Discoveries









