I am currently researching my fifth-great-grandfather James Dial who was born around 1780 and died sometime between 1850 and 1860 in Lawrence County, Tennessee.
I have created the below records timeline to help trace James and hopefully find new leads on his parents and family.
Timeline for James Dial
1780 – James Dial’s approximate birth year from the 1850 Lawrence County, Tennessee census. Birthplace and parents are unknown.
1801 – Southern Middle Tennessee was considered “Indian Territory”. (Source: Interactive Map of Tennessee County Formation History)
1803 – Dickson County and Williamson County, Tennessee expand their border south to the Alabama state line. [Unknown if James ever lived there.] (Source: Interactive Map of Tennessee County Formation History)
1807 – Hickman County and Maury County, Tennessee are founded. Their borders extend south to the Alabama state line. [Unknown if James ever lived there.] (Source: Interactive Map of Tennessee County Formation History)
1809 – Giles County is formed from Maury County, Tennessee. [Unknown if James ever lived there.] (Source: Interactive Map of Tennessee County Formation History)
1817 – Lawrence County, Tennessee is founded from portions of Hickman and Giles counties and “Indian Lands”. (Source: Interactive Map of Tennessee County Formation History; TNGenWeb Lawrence County, Tennessee website)
1820 – Where is James Dial? I have looked for him in other places on the 1820 census but I haven’t been able to positively identify him.
16 Jan 1830 – Winny Dial marries John Green. Winny is possibly a daughter of James.
1830 – Lawrence County, Tennessee census shows head of household James Dial in the 50 – 59 category. Some neighbors include Bell Davis, Edwin Haden, Patrick Dial and John Green. I believe Patrick Dial is probably the son of James Dial. James’ household listed:
Free White Persons – Males – 5 thru 9: 2
Free White Persons – Males – 50 thru 59: 1 (James)
Free White Persons – Females – 10 thru 14: 1
Free White Persons – Females – 40 thru 49: 1 (wife, Lucy)
16 Jun 1840 – Ruth Dial marries Frederick Green in Lawrence County, Tennessee. Ruth is possibly a daughter of James.
1840 – Lawrence County, Tennessee census shows head of household James Dial in the 60 – 69 category. Some neighbors include Broadstock, Moore, Cannon and Lane. James’ household listed:
Free White Persons – Males – 15 thru 19: 1
Free White Persons – Males – 60 thru 69: 1 (James)
Free White Persons – Females – Under 5: 1
Free White Persons – Females – 20 thru 29: 1
Free White Persons – Females – 50 thru 59: 1 (wife, Lucy)
24 Mar 1848 – James Dial marries Elizabeth Gilbert in Lawrence County, Tennessee. These are my fourth-great-grandparents. James is most likely the son of James born about 1780.
7 Aug 1848 – In Lawrence County, Tennessee, James Dial gifted two cows and 17 pigs to Anna and James Green for his love and affection for them. This would indicate that Anna was his daughter. (Source: Deed Book I, Page 237)
James Dial 70
Lucy Dial 60
Louisa Dial 4
ASSUMED Children of James Dial
Patrick married ? and Nancy Beshears
Elizabeth Jane married William Conway and Willis Green
Ruth married Frederick Green
Winny married John Green
James married Elizabeth Gilbert
Andrew married Margaret Harder (unsure about Andrew)
Anna married James Green
As you might have noticed, several of the Dials married Greens, children of John Green. While James married Elizabeth Gilbert, her mother was Margaret Green, daughter of John as well. There appears to be a close connection with the Dials and Greens, so I have been studying the Green family as well for clues on James Dial.
If you have any information about this family or are also related, you can email me at downhomegenealogy@gmail.com.
Originally posted Sept. 17, 2019
Last updated Sept. 19, 2019
Down Home Genealogy 
Hi there,
I poked around a little bit in some of the family documents. James wife was Lucy Keeton Dial. I found James M “Jim” Dial, married to Elizabeth Gilbert Deal and among their children was a son who they named James Manuel Dial (III?). I’m assuming James M “Jim” Dial’s middle name could be Manuel (Jr?) and his father James Manuel Dial (Sr?).
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Hi Marti, I have seen on several trees the name Lucy Keeton, but no documentation. What family documents list her name as Lucy Keeton? Are you also a descendant? If you could, please email me at downhomegenealogy@gmail.com. I am interested in learning more about the family documents you have. Thanks!
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I’m not kinfolk, I just enjoy the hunt. I also help adopted grown children reconnect with birth families. So rewarding. I’ll email you what I have.
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Don’t give up on me. You’re right about the marriage documents. But I’ve still got it and studying it🤞
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Thank you, Marti!
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I think they were in a witness protection program. Lol. I’ve followed her parents listed and I think it’s possibly the right direction. Lucy Keeton’s mother Catherine Ward’s mother’s first name was Lucy. That’s always a fair indicator.
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