Will of William Lanier of Davidson County, Tennessee, 12 February 1811

July 6, 2018July 1, 2020 ~ Kelly ~ Leave a comment

William Lanier was my 5th great-grandfather, himself the grandson of a Barbadian immigrant. He came to Nashville before 1807 from Beaufort County, North Carolina. Previously, I had an abstract of his will, but I recently found the original online at Family Search with more detail, including the names of several enslaved people (in bold, below). … Continue reading Will of William Lanier of Davidson County, Tennessee, 12 February 1811

Will of Robert Shaw, Sumner County, Tennessee, 7 July 1823

July 3, 2018March 3, 2021 ~ Kelly ~ Leave a comment

Please note that since this post was published, I have discovered that Robert Shaw is not, in fact, my ancestor. However, I have left the post online for anyone else who may find it to be useful to their research. I Robert Shaw of Sumner County and of Tennessee do make and ordain this instrument … Continue reading Will of Robert Shaw, Sumner County, Tennessee, 7 July 1823

Slaves Held by Kenneth Bembry

May 9, 2018July 1, 2020 ~ Kelly ~ Leave a comment

It must have been particularly difficult to be held as a slave by Kenneth because his finances were a roller coaster ride. He was constantly buying, selling, and mortgaging people (as well as land and other property) to keep up with growing debt. Because there are so many enslaved people involved, and because Kenneth was … Continue reading Slaves Held by Kenneth Bembry

Kenneth Bembry’s “Colored” Children?

May 7, 2018June 30, 2020 ~ Kelly ~ Leave a comment

Recently, I wrote about how Kenneth apprenticed a free boy of color named William Williams. Well, of course I had to find out more about his mother, Fanny Williams! Which led me into an entirely new (for me) area of genealogy: that of "free people of color" in the antebellum South. Fanny Williams deeded her … Continue reading Kenneth Bembry’s “Colored” Children?

Kenneth Bembry’s Very Interesting Apprentice

May 5, 2018June 30, 2020 ~ Kelly ~ Leave a comment

Fanny Williams, a "free woman of color," indentures her eight year old son to Kenneth Bembry.

Slaves Held by Miles Bembry

May 1, 2018July 1, 2020 ~ Kelly ~ 3 Comments

Miles Bembry I is the first Bembry I have on record in America, and my "brick wall." Recently, I was surprised to discover that he moved from Edgecombe County, North Carolina, to Pulaski County, Georgia late in life to join his sons, Thomas and William. Miles died in November or December of 1838. His son … Continue reading Slaves Held by Miles Bembry

Found! Martha Bembry Fleming

April 19, 2018June 30, 2020 ~ Kelly ~ 2 Comments

Thomas Bembry's household shows three white females in 1820 and 1830, all of whom are gone by 1840. There are no obvious marriage records for any of them, and Thomas did not leave a will (of which I am aware) that would name them, so they have been a brick wall ever since I started … Continue reading Found! Martha Bembry Fleming

Four Williams and a Henry

April 16, 2018June 30, 2020 ~ Kelly ~ Leave a comment

I've been deep into the weeds lately, organizing the first two generations of Bembrys. It's more or less like herding cats, particularly when it comes to Williams. I wrote previously about how I had mixed up Miles Bembry II and William Bembry I. To be fair, I wasn't the only one: their estate files were … Continue reading Four Williams and a Henry

Miles Bembry II’s Plantation

April 13, 2018July 1, 2020 ~ Kelly ~ Leave a comment

William Bembry I, son of Miles I, died deeply in debt. His estate file (once I found bits and pieces of it in three different places) contains almost 200 pages, mostly documents regarding payment of debts. Only a few enslaved people are listed on the inventory. They are: 1 Negro Woman Crean (?) and her … Continue reading Miles Bembry II’s Plantation

Cannie Bembry’s Estate

April 12, 2018July 1, 2020 ~ Kelly ~ Leave a comment

There was a second Kenneth Bembry,* the son of John Bembry. He went by the name "Cannie," served with the 63rd Georgia Infantry, and was killed at the battle of Gettysburg in 1863. Cannie died intestate, but his probate file includes the following enslaved people. I can find no record of their sale, so perhaps … Continue reading Cannie Bembry’s Estate