Here is a list of all posts on this website. Please use the search feature on the sidebar when looking for articles about a particular family.
- Morrow Family: Thomas Morrow - The below timeline tracks Thomas Morrow, born about 1814, and who married Winney Foster. He was likely married once before Winney, but that wife is unknown. If you have any information about this family, please contact me at downhomegenealogy@gmail.com. Timeline About 1814 – Tennessee – Thomas Morrow is born according to the 1850 census. 1820 …
- Jesse Shelton and His Pegram Plantation - Jesse Shelton, my sixth-great-grandfather, once owned a plantation in present-day Pegram, Cheatham County, Tennessee. His land was on Turner Creek and the Big Harpeth River according to his 1809 deed. The below map marks that spot and has an estimate of what his 640-acre spread (one square mile) might have looked like to help you …
- James Gainous Sr. - This is a closer look at James Gainous Sr., who lived part of his life in Robertson County, Tennessee. The Gainous family’s surname was spelled various ways in records: Gainus, Gaines, Gainuss, Gainess, Gains, etc. Special thanks to Rick Tidwell for his extensive research on the Gainous family! Wife James’ wife (or wives!) are unknown. …
- Peggy Meek and Malachi Tidwell - Margaret “Peggy” Meek and Malachi Tidwell are my fourth-great-grandparents. The family settled in Dickson County, Tennessee, near present-day Montgomery Bell State Park. According to Paul Oliphant via JS Scott, “[they] settled on Old Henry Blackburn Place in Dickson Co. Down the Spring Branch toward Montgomery Bell Park is the Old Squire Richardson place next to …
- Two John Hildreths - While researching my family tree, I ran into a case of two John Hildreths who some people had combined on their family trees to make one John Hildreth. Both of their wives were named Mary, so that didn’t help the situation. One John mostly lived in Bourbon County, Kentucky and the other in De Kalb …
- John Aaron of Stewart County, Tennessee - I have spent years working on the branches of my Aaron family tree. My search points to John Aaron of Stewart County, Tennessee being my fourth-great-grandfather, although I do not have documented proof. In the timeline below, I have used records to document what I have uncovered so far about John. Records Timeline Before 1787 …
- Dunn Records in Early Stewart County, Tennessee - Below you’ll find my records timeline for people with the surname Dunn who lived in the early day of Stewart County, Tennessee. Names Mentioned *Dunns or married into the Dunn family William Davis Aaron Dunn Benjamin Dunn Elisabeth Dunn Elizabeth Dunn Davis George Dunn James Dunn John Dunn Josiah Dunn Susannah Dunn Pugh Henry Pugh …
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- Frederick Smith Research, Stewart County, Tennessee - This page is to document records pertaining to Frederick Smith who died in Stewart County, Tennessee in early 1815. Records Timeline 1808 – Frederick Smith and Samuel A. Smith are on the tax list in Capt. Elliott’s Company. (Stewart County, Tennessee Settlements, Wills and Bonds, 1804 – 1824, by Jim Long) 1809 – Frederick Smith, …
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- Hiram Harper, Nashville Detective: From Boston to Alcatraz - “One of the Best” – Detective Dave Beasley Hiram Herbert Harper, my mother’s grandfather, passed away when she was only about seven months old. Our information about Hiram is limited to a few records and numerous newspaper articles. I wish I knew more about Hiram, because he seems like a fascinating man. Sadly, we don’t …
Continue reading Hiram Harper, Nashville Detective: From Boston to Alcatraz
- Green Allen Franklin Pylant - Green Allen Franklin Pylant, my third-great-grandfather, was a farmer and Civil War veteran who lived most of his life in southern middle Tennessee. I created a records timeline to take a deeper look into his life. Timeline 29 June 1845 – Green was the oldest of at least five children born to Nancy Tucker and Gabriel …
- May Dennis Jackson - Posted Mar. 19, 2020 As I type this article, our world is surrounded with much uncertainty as we face the coronavirus pandemic (COVID-19). My sleepless nights are filled with many thoughts, including wondering about great-grandaunt, May Dennis Jackson. May died during the 1918 influenza pandemic (Spanish flu). May was my grandfather’s aunt, although he never …
- John Harper of Southampton, Virginia - So many of my ancestors are now just a name or blank space on a branch of my family tree. While it may be impossible to bring them back to life or know their real story, we can use still-existing documents to weave together a fraction of who they were. I have compiled a records …
- Nancy and John Bullard: North Carolina to Tennessee - In my search for John Bullard’s parents, I came across Nancy and John Bullard who lived in Columbus and Robeson counties in North Carolina and later lived in Cannon and DeKalb counties in Tennessee. Using my grand uncle’s Ancestry DNA test, I discovered we are closely related to this couple. I have created a records …
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- The Unsolved Mystery of John Isham Bullard - As an amateur genealogist, be prepared to sometimes get things wrong. Bruce Lee said, “Mistakes are always forgivable, if one has the courage to admit them.” In late 2019, I came to the startling realization that my third-great-grandfather, John Bullard, was not who I thought he was. I studied my grandmother’s brother’s Ancestry DNA test …
- The Bess Family of Sycamore Mills - Lydia Meador and John Best My search for the parents of Elizabeth Bess, my fourth-great-grandmother, started years ago when I built my first family tree. I had zero to go on. Family trees online were no help either, as none of them listed her parents. I truly started from scratch. Bess is a unique last …
- James Dial of Lawrence County, Tennessee - 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 …
- Oliver Windsor, the Civil War and the Harris Sisters - When I started building my family tree many years ago, my family had never heard of Oliver Windsor or Martha Patsy Harris. My dad helped me write out a paper family tree for my fifth-grade class project. I remember sitting in Nanny and Papaw’s kitchen as they told us their family trees as far back as …
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- Dial Family Facebook Group - Calling all Dial family descendants! Please join my Dial Family Facebook group. This group is for all descendants of Rebecca “Becky Ann” and William Dial from Green Hill, Lauderdale County, Alabama. Click here to go to the Dial Family from Green Hill, Alabama Facebook group. Questions for me? Email downhomegenealogy@gmail.com.
- Anselm Hansel Harper - Anselm is the Hansel Harper that married Elizabeth Rose in Surry County, Virginia on Jan. 27, 1789. From guardianship documents in 1803, we learn that Anselm had three children: James, Joseph and Nancy. Anselm used the nickname Hansel interchangeably which frustrated me because I felt that they were the same person but couldn’t prove it …
- Anecdotes of Centenarian William Bennett - William Bennett, of the Sycamore Mills area of Cheatham County, Tennessee, lived to be nearly 106 years old. We are lucky to have a few newspaper articles about his life that were written in the early 1900s when he was still alive. See 1) Wild Bill Bennett article and 2) Article transcriptions. If you carefully …
- Mal Boyd’s Account of Ancestors - In the 1930s as part of the Federal Writers’ Project, writers conducted interviews of more than 2,300 former slaves and their descendants. (Learn more about the project here.) On the morning of November 1, 1938, interviewer Bernice Bowden was walking down Miller Street in Pine Bluff, Arkansas when she spotted Mal Boyd sitting on his …
- Father of Robert Boyd of Pickens, South Carolina - Documentation is essential to proving your family tree. I have been working hard to find actual proof that Robert Boyd of Pickens County, South Carolina was the son of Robert Boyd who died in 1782 in Granville, North Carolina. Google searches and Ancestry family trees all list Robert’s father as Robert, but with no hard …
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- Robert Boyd’s 24 Children - My Boyd family from Pickens County, South Carolina is an interesting group, to say the least. I’ve never been satisfied with the small amount of information I had gathered about them. While I’ve used the FamilySearch catalog to research ancestors in my Tennessee counties, I had not looked up my South Carolina Boyds. I regret …
- First Slander Suit in Middle Tennessee - I came across this interesting article from an 1859 newspaper about Russell Gower, Sam Martin and John Boyd in early Nashville history. The voice reminds me of AW Putnam, writer of “History of Middle Tennessee: Or, Life and Times of Gen. James Robertson”, but no author is listed. It is based on real court cases, …
- Wishes Granted for 2018 and Hopes for 2019 - Late last year in December 2018, I remembered a blog post I wrote about my Genealogy Wishes for 2018. I reviewed the list, and much to my surprise, I made a lot of progress. To recap, my wishes were: Find Rebecca! More like, find her true maiden name, parents, grandparents, etc. In early 2018, I …
- William Bennett Newspaper Articles - Here is a transcribed collection of newspaper articles about William Bennett, my fourth-great-grandfather. For the article, “Wild Bill Bennett”, please click here. The Leaf-Chronicle, 06 Jan 1902, Mon, Page 6 HEALTHY And Able to Cultivate a Crop is William Bennett at the Age of 96 Years Mr. Wm. Bennett, of the Second District, was in …
- “Wild Bill”: What William Bennett Had to Say About His Life - The below article about my fourth-great-grandfather, William Bennett, has been transcribed word for word, including errors (grammatical or otherwise). William does tell his father’s name: John! While the article gives A LOT of great information, I have not been able to prove much of it yet. I am working on a timeline of events according …
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- The Bartholomew Family of Knox County, Tennessee - The Bartholomews were early settlers of Knox County, Tennessee. Joseph Bartholomew, the family patriarch, was a saddler. He had a much younger wife, named Ann. They are my fourth-great-grandparents and I would love to know more about them. They have always been surrounded by mystery to me, as my third-great-grandfather, Andrew Jack “A.J.” Bartholomew, changed …
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- May Jordan, Captured and Family Murdered - Published on September 17, 1807 in the Impartial Review and Cumberland Repository by Thomas Eastin: On the night of the 3rd of February, 1807, Mrs. May Jordan, who was carried away by Indians on the 22nd of January, 1807, arrived at this place in a deplorable condition. The Indians burned her husband and her children …
- Joseph Kernell - Joseph Kernell, or Cornell, depending on which descendant you ask, first lived in Nashville, Tennessee before moving to Stewart County, Tennessee. Some online family trees have inaccurate information about Joseph and his family, so this blog post lays out what we know based off of records. Joseph Kernell was born about 1830 in Nashville, Davidson …
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- Tarlton Watson - Tarlton Watson, my fourth-great-grandfather, was born about 200 years ago in Virginia before his family settled in Middle Tennessee. To be honest, I don’t know if his name was Tarlton or Talton. Census and civil war records give his name an “r”, while two of his children’s death certificate leave the “r” out. Tarlton died …
- Sarah Jane Watson Farmer Lawrence - This is the story of my third-great-grandmother as I know it. All information pulled from Ancestry.com records unless otherwise noted. Sarah Jane Watson, commonly called Jane, was born December 23, 1849 in Robertson County, Tennessee to Sarah Sally Frey and Talton Watson. By the 1860 census, the family of nine lived in Cheatham County, Tennessee …
- Robert Gower & Agnes Burnley - Robert Gower and Agnes Burnley were early Nashville residents. Nashville was founded in 1779 by the Robertson and Donelson party, which also consisted of the Gower family and Robert. Robert was born between 1774-1775, if you take into account he purchased land in February 1796. (He would have to be at least 21 years old.) …
- Rachel Aaron - Rachel (married name Aaron) is possibly my fourth-great-grandmother or she may not be related to me at all. Her story is fascinating, so I’ve spent hours combing through records to try to prove or disprove her relation to my family. My third-great-grandfather is Henderson Aaron, who is a bit of a mystery as well. Assuming …
- Harriett Burnett Woodward - Harriett Burnett is my fourth-great-grandmother. Records mentioning her are very limited. I am documenting here what I know so far. Timeline August 3, 1821 – Married Benjamin Woodward in Davidson County, Tennessee. June 1822 – Oldest daughter Martha Woodward was born. She is my third-great-grandmother. 1840 – According to the census under Benjamin Woodward’s name, …
- Thomas Farmer of Montgomery County, Tennessee - Thomas Farmer, my third-great-grandfather, was born in Montgomery County, Tennessee a few years before the start of the Civil War. Not much is known about him, even from the records we have. Our first record of Thomas is the 1860, where he is four years old, giving him a birth year of about 1856. He …
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- Thomas Williamson Fulghum - Thomas Williamson Fulghum, my third-great-grandfather, lived all of his 98 years in the Middle Tennessee area. Below is a picture of Thomas. It amazes me to be able to gaze upon the face of someone born around 1816. All information in this article can be found in records on Ancestry.com unless otherwise noted. …
- Happy 222nd Birthday, Tennessee! - Today my beloved state of Tennessee turns 222! Tennessee became a state on June 1, 1796. I’m proud to be a Tennessean and descend from a long line of Tennesseans, some of whom lived here before Tennessee became a state. Posted June 1, 2018
- The Two James Brents - In the search for my fourth-great-grandmother Eliza H. Brent Pigg, I discovered two men named James Brents, around the same age as each other, and both living in Lincoln County, Tennessee, the same area as Eliza. Are either related to Eliza? And who are their parents? This was confusing at first, but I think I’ve …
- Eliza H. Brent Pigg - Eliza H. Brent Pigg is my fourth-great-grandmother. Researchers, including myself, have been stuck on her for decades with no indication who her parents were. On cold cases like this one, I take a look at other families nearby along with DNA results from my collection of Ancestry DNA tests. But first, I take a look …
- Mary Emaline - Mary Emaline, my fourth-great-grandmother, was the first wife of Bartemus Pack (read more about him here). User-created family trees on Ancestry.com listed her maiden name as Hildreth. On the 1850 census and the 1860 mortality schedule, her name is listed as Mary. On the death certificate of her daughter, Margaret Manda Jane Pack (my third-great-grandmother), …
- James “Jim” Bennett - James Alonzo “Jim” Bennett was my great-great-grandfather. All of his descendants come from his daughter, Georgia Elizabeth Bennett who married Harvey Carrell. I wanted to learn more James’s life, so I’ve studied records available through Ancestry.com and found a few newspaper articles about him. James was born August 24, 1879, according to his World War …
- 23andme Ancestry Composition: Comparing My DNA - Yesterday, April 25, 2018, was DNA Day and 23andme.com had a “special”. Ancestry.com users could upload their raw DNA file to 23andme and receive 3 health reports (very basic) and ancestry composition. I decided to do an experiment. I already tested with 23andme, but none of my other family members have. (I tested with Ancestry …
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- AncestryDNA Ethnicity Comparison Between Parents and Child - First, I want to make it clear that I LOVE Ancestry.com (and no they aren’t sponsoring this post or any of my other posts.) I have learned and found so much information both through records and DNA research on their website. If you have any questions about the AncestryDNA test experience, whether you’re related to …
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- Nannie Bullard Carrell - Nancy Jane “Nannie” Bullard was my great-great-grandmother. I never met her, as she died in 1955, but I do have a few good photos of her. Having photos of someone always sparks my curiosity even more about that person. I’ve also talked to several cousins descended from Nannie and wanted to record what I know …
- Seeking Tarkington Descendants! - As I have heavily documented already, I have been searching for the parents of my great-great-great-grandmother, Rebecca Ann (married name Dial). Her great-granddaughter agreed to do an AncestryDNA test for me. I believe I have narrowed down the grandparents of Rebecca Ann. I already knew Rebecca was connected to the Thomas Goff family through other …
- John Franklin Carrell - John Franklin Carrell, my great-great-grandfather, was born in Greenbrier, Robertson County, Tennessee to Andrew “Jack” Carroll and Amanda Gainous. Jack’s last name was originally Bartholomew, but he changed it to Carroll for unknown reasons. John spelled his last name with an “e” instead of an “o”. While searching through records on Ancestry, I found conflicting …
- Not Divided in Death: Emeline and Norfleet Jordan - I made an exciting discovery about my fourth great-grandparents when I discovered an article about them from 1875. Emeline and Norfleet Jordan had passed away a day apart, and the local newspaper, The Tennessean, published an article about them. Not Divided in Death. To the American: PEGRAM’S STATION, CHEATHAM COUNTY, Oct. 18, 1875. – Mr. …
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- Chart: How Much DNA You Inherit - You get exactly 50% of DNA from each parent. That is the only “exact” thing about DNA. While you get about 25% from each grandparent, that number is an estimate. DNA is inherited randomly, so you might get a higher percentage from one grandparent than another. Here is how much DNA you inherit: YOU 100% …
- Elizabeth Shelly Hilliard of Carroll County, Tennessee - Elizabeth, married name Hilliard, was my fourth great-grandmother. Her maiden name is listed as Shelley on most family trees, but when I started writing this article I had no record to support this besides a biography in Goodspeeds History of Tennessee. Elizabeth has long just been “Elizabeth Shelley” on my tree with no parents listed. …
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- Sarah Frances “Fannie” Russell - When I first wrote the article about my fourth great-grandfather, Edward A. Russell, I expressed interest in finding his daughter whose initials were “S.F.”. You see, Edward first married Jemima Owens in Maury County, Tennessee and had one child, S.F. After Jemima died, Edward married her sister, Martha Ann Owens. They had one daughter, Nancy …
- Russell Gower: Signer of the Cumberland Compact - The Cumberland Compact, signed in May of 1780, established the first government in what would later become Nashville, Tennessee. One of the signers was Russell Gower, the likely uncle of six-great-grandfather. For more information and a complete list of signers of the Cumberland Compact, please visit this website.
- Randall Family of Maury County, Tennessee - I am researching my Randall roots. My fifth great-grandmother is Polly Randall. She was married to Reuben Owens. (Read more about him here.) Her father was likely James Randall. I have created a timeline of records to help in my search. Records Timeline *All records are from Ancestry.com unless otherwise noted. Randall spellings include Randol, …
- Reuben Owens of Maury County, Tennessee - I am searching for the parents of my fifth great-grandfather, Reuben Owens. I have composed a records timeline to help in my search. I also had my grandmother’s brother take a DNA test to help with my family tree, and what I’ve found is detailed below. Records Timeline *Records are from Ancestry.com. February 9, 1814 …
- Owens Brothers of Georgia - I’ve been trying to find the parents of my fifth great-grandfather Reuben Owens. To help out, I turned to Ancestry DNA. My grandmother has passed away, so I tested her brother instead. Reuben is their third great-grandfather. This is tricky once you get back this far with DNA, but with shared matches I came across …
- Finding Grandpa Bill - My mom’s maiden name is Harper, so when we started doing our family tree over a decade ago, she wanted to trace the Harper name. We were stuck at her great-great-grandfather, a man named James William Harper. He was not on any census record with his parents. There were several Harper families in the Cheatham/Davidson …
- W.S. Pigg Civil War Records - While exploring Fold3, I found records for a W.S. Pigg that served as a Confederate Private with Company I in the 8th Tennessee Infantry. My third great-grandfather was William Stokely Pigg, and I think this might be him. The records paint an interesting story, and I wish I knew more details. I haven’t found anything …
- Sarah Madeline Dyer & William Stokely Pigg - My third great-grandparents, Sarah “Madeline” Dyer and William Stokely Pigg, were from Kelso in Lincoln County, Tennessee. I’ve never been to Lincoln County, nor do I know much about the Pigg family. These were my grandmother’s great-grandparents on her father’s side of the family, and she didn’t know anything about them. Her father and mother …
- Martha McElroy Hilliard - Martha A.E. McElroy Hilliard was my third great-grandmother. Her parents were James McElroy and Rebecca Stokes. She married William Daniel “Dan” Hilliard. She lived her whole life in Stewart County, Tennessee. My grandfather took an Ancestry DNA test and matches high to McElroy descendants — the McElroy blood must be strong! I wanted to learn …
- Margaret Jane Baker Stringfellow - I am trying to find the parents of my fifth great-grandmother, Margaret Jane Baker (wife of Robert Stringfellow). Little is known about her. In this post, I will analyze records and family trees I’ve found on the internet. RECORDS RESEARCH – TIMELINE 1770 – Margaret is born around this year in North Carolina, according to …
- Genealogy Wish List for 2018 - 12/14/2017 I’ve been taking a break from genealogy. Not a wanted break, but a forced break, due to lack of free time. I miss it dearly and hope to renew my Ancestry subscription and start back up again soon. It’s the holiday season and my mind has drifted to what I’d like for Christmas. It …
- Part 3 | Timeline of Henry Dennis of Cannon County, Tennessee - (Read Part 1 | Discussion of Facts: Dennis Manuscript by R.A. Dennis) (Read Part 2 | The Dennis Brothers?) Part 3 Last updated May 5, 2020 The earliest record for Henry Dennis in Cannon County, Tennessee is the 1840 census. Name: Henry Dennis Home in 1840 (City, County, State): Cannon, Tennessee Free White Persons – …
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- Part 2 | The Dennis Brothers? - (Read Part 1 | Discussion of Facts: Dennis Manuscript by R.A. Dennis) (Read Part 3 | Timeline of Henry Dennis of Cannon County, Tennessee) Part 2 Last updated May 5, 2020 My interest in Henry Dennis of Cannon County, Tennessee first began when I received my grandfather’s Ancestry DNA results. My proven Dennis cousins and …
- DNA and Trace Amounts of Native American - Growing up, I always heard that my grandfather (on my dad’s side) was part Native American. A lot of people in the south and in the United States grow up hearing the same. Often, no one knows exactly where the rumored Native American DNA originates. I created a family tree for my grandfather’s family over …
- Newspapers: Early Social Media - Newspapers are an often forgot resource to family history seekers. Accessibility is an issue, but local libraries, newspapers.com and Chronicling America are a few access points. I recently lucked up while searching for “J.W. Dial” on newspapers.com. (Tip: put your ancestor’s name in quotation marks to search for their exact name – “J.W. Dial”, “Dial, …
- Part 1 | Discussion of Facts: Dennis Manuscript by R.A. Dennis - (Read Part 2 | The Dennis Brothers?) (Read Part 3 | Timeline of Henry Dennis of Cannon County, Tennessee) This blog post is the first in a series I plan to write on the Dennis family. Part 1 Last updated October 24, 2017 Henry Dennis, who married Lafatia “Patience” Parker, is well-documented in a manuscript …
Continue reading Part 1 | Discussion of Facts: Dennis Manuscript by R.A. Dennis
- Chronological Timeline: Aaron Records in Early Stewart County, Tennessee - I have researched people with the surname Aaron who lived in Stewart County, Tennessee during my quest to find the parents of my third-great-grandfather, Henderson Aaron. The most likely candidates for his parents are Rachel and John Aaron. I do not know where John was from or his parentage. Click here for my article on Rachel …
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- Famous Cousins: I’m Related to Luke Bryan?! - Have you downloaded the “We’re Related” app from Ancestry? The free app compares your Ancestry family tree to those of celebrities to tell you which famous people you’re related to. However, I would caution taking many of the matches seriously. The app has matched me with many famous people, but when I view our common …
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- Newsom’s Mill Ruins – Bellevue, Tennessee - Newsom’s Mill is tucked away in Davidson County, Tennessee in the Bellevue area. The gristmill was built in 1862 by Joseph M. Newsom. The original mill was built upstream in the late 1700s by William Newsom, Joseph’s father. It was destroyed by a flood in 1808. Today, visitors can see the ruins and Harpeth River, …
- Moser: Timeline of Early Davidson County, Tennessee Records - I believe my Moser line descends somehow from these early Nashville Mosers. I hope this research can help out another Moser / Mosier researcher. As always, please feel free to contact me at downhomegenealogy@gmail.com. November 5, 1780? – Register date. Grant or warrant number 2299. Heirs of Francis Mosur to James Sanders: 640 acres. “On …
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- David Mosier of Blue Springs Branch - The Moser, also spelled Mosier, family came to the United States from Germany in the 1700s. AncestryDNA matches me with many Moser descendants, but I haven’t been able to establish a paper trail connecting my fifth great-grandfather, David Mosier. David’s earliest record is the 1812 tax list in Davidson County, Tennessee. He owned 100 acres. …
- Milly Fowler Boyd - I originally posted this article on July 21, 2017; however, since then, I’ve learned more about Milly. This article has been updated to tell more of her story. Last updated August 8, 2019 Following the paper trail, Milly Fowler was born about 1800 in Pickens County, South Carolina, to Elizabeth and Joshua Fowler. Their 662-acre …
- Timeline: Rebecca Ann & William Dial - Last updated: April 20, 2018 Rebecca and William Dial were my third great-grandparents. William lived his early years in Lauderdale County, Alabama and Lawrence County, Tennessee, but made his home with Rebecca in Green Hill, Lauderdale County, Alabama right over the Tennessee state line. No one knows his wife’s real last name or her parents. …
- Unburying a Cemetery - When I realized a family cemetery in Dickson County, Tennessee was overgrown and tucked away, I started to worry. What if the cemetery itself becomes buried? Who knows how to access this cemetery? Many questions ran through my mind. Welch’s Cemetery is “hidden” in a wooded area in Burns, Tennessee. I used several digital maps …
- Puzzling DNA: European with Trace Amounts of Asian - It’s not uncommon for a DNA ethnicity test to come back with a surprise. However, I might have underestimated how surprising my mom’s results were. It’s been about nine months since my mom’s Ancestry DNA test results came back. I highly recommend the test, by the way. I have found so many cousins, along with …
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- Edward A. Russell Disappeared During the Civil War - Edward A. Russell, my fourth great-grandfather, lived only a couple of years after he turned 30. He is a Civil War veteran, who probably died around the end of the war. I have discovered some more information about Edward, that goes against what is commonly on family trees. Edward’s parents were Sarah Shaw and Peyton …
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- Josiah Watson & Martha McCormack - Martha and Josiah Watson were likely my fifth great-grandparents. I say “likely”, because it’s one of those cases where there is only circumstantial evidence. There are family trees that list them as the parents of Tarlton / Talton Watson, my fourth great-grandfather. They were also neighbors in Montgomery County, Tennessee. (See 1841 enumeration below.) In …
- Who Was Thomas James Dennis? - Did my great-great-grandfather have a brother named Thomas? That question started this quest. I don’t know who the parents are of my great-great-grandfather, Edward Whitfield “Whit” Dennis. Through DNA testing, I do know he is related to the Dennis family who raised him. Whether his mother was unwed Narcissa Dennis or one of her brothers …
- Lena - I get easily attached to ancestors I research. I want to know more than just their names, dates, and places. I want to know their story; I want to know THEM! My great-great-grandmother, Martha “Lena” Fulghum Tidwell, was someone I longed to know more about. Although I will never have her full story, I did …
- DNA Mystery: Gowers of Nashville - 4/25/17 I have DNA tested my mother and my paternal grandfather through Ancestry.com. It was well worth the price and wait time (about two months each in 2016). I knew through family tree research that my mother was related to the Gower family of Davidson County, Tennessee. DNA helped to prove that. She’s descended from …
- Wiley Farmer of Clarksville, Tennessee - Wiley Farmer, my fourth great-grandfather, is one of my current genealogy mysteries that I am researching. Wiley first shows up on the 1850 census in present-day Sycamore Mills in Cheatham County, Tennessee. Wiley and his wife, Nancy, are living with the David Mosier family, with whom are presumably his in-laws. His occupation is laborer. He …
- Documenting Our Y-DNA Testing - Goal: To find out my dad’s patrilineal heritage through a Y-DNA test. Why use Y-DNA?: Y-DNA is passed down from male-to-male, basically unchanged through generations. My dad inherited his Y-DNA from his father, my grandfather inherited Y-DNA from his dad Lonnie Dennis, Lonnie inherited Y-DNA from his dad Whit, and Whit inherited Y-DNA from his unknown …
- Lady in the Woven Star - My great-aunt, Frances Harper Merritt, died over sixteen years ago, but I only recently acquired some of her belongings from my uncle’s widow. Frances, my grandfather Fred’s twin sister, never had any children of her own to pass things down to. My Uncle Johnny inherited her things after she passed away in the care of …
- Tennessee Genealogy Research Aide - All of my family, at least within the past few generations, have lived in Tennessee at one point. If you’re like me and researching your Tennessee roots, I have a list of free sites that can help in your research. I’ll add to this list as I find more useful links. Website & link Resource(s) …
- Looking for Descendants of Minnie Pylant & Doke Pigg - I have been searching fruitlessly for descendants of my great-great-grandparents, Minnie Pylant and Edgar Doke Pigg. I would love to know more about them and I’m hoping to find photos of them. Minnie and Doke were my grandmother’s grandparents on her father’s side. I don’t know if she met her grandfather since he died when …
Continue reading Looking for Descendants of Minnie Pylant & Doke Pigg
- Setting the Record Straight: John Wesley Dial - John Wesley Dial was my great-great-grandfather. He was born on March 19, 1875 in Green Hill, Lauderdale County, Alabama to Rebecca and William T. Dial. He married Martha Ada Boyd when he was 24 on September 12, 1899 in Wayne County, Tennessee. The problem is that A LOT of family trees on Ancestry and beyond …
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- Unidentified Photos: Wayne County, TN & Lauderdale County, AL - I have some family photos that I can’t identify that belonged to my grandmother’s mother, Waymon Dial Pigg. Waymon lived in Wayne County, Tennessee in Iron City. Her mom was Martha Ada Boyd (child of Jane Hayes and Levi Boyd) and her father was John Wesley Dial (child of Rebecca and William Dial). John’s family …
Continue reading Unidentified Photos: Wayne County, TN & Lauderdale County, AL
- Finding the Parents of Rachel Fields - It’s not uncommon to have limited information when trying to find your ancestors. I typically start with records and then use DNA testing to back up what I find. My mom took an Ancestry DNA test and it’s been helpful to confirm relatives and find “new” ones. Thanks to mom’s DNA test, I have a …
- Remembering Leonidas Tidwell - This has been a hard blog post to write, but one that I feel like needs to be posted. My second great-grandfather was Edmond Leonidas Tidwell, or Lonnie for short. He was born on March 18, 1860 in Dickson County, Tennessee to Amanda Tate and Edmond Mansel Tidwell. A day before Lonnie’s third birthday, his …
- Timeline: James Hansel Harper & Family - James Hansel Harper, my fourth great-grandfather, was born about 1822 in Tennessee…no, South Carolina…no…we really don’t know. He said on most census records that he was from Tennessee, but also said South Carolina. His children placed his birth also in North Carolina and Virginia. Thanks, guys, you’re all a big help 150 years later! Ugh. I …
- FindAGrave: Riddled with Errors - I had originally wrote a post recommending FindAGrave, but now, like many other users, I see it for what it really is. FindAGrave memorial pages are managed by one person – whomever adds the memorial first. Some people create duplicates if their loved one is already listed. This adds to confusion. You may try and …
- The Bartholomew-Carroll Mystery - 3/17/2017 In honor of my Irish roots on St. Patrick’s Day, I am writing about one of my family mysteries: my third great-grandfather who was rumored to be Irish and who had a surname change around the age of 50. Andrew Jackson “Jack” Bartholomew Carroll was born in about 1823 in Knox County, Tennessee (according to his death certificate). In …
- My Sam’s Creek - It would be difficult to find a resident of Cheatham County, Tennessee or even western Davidson County that hasn’t heard of Sam’s Creek in Pegram. There are even a couple of roads, Sam’s Creek Road and Old Sam’s Creek Road, named after it. View of Sam’s Creek down Deerfoot Drive in Pegram, Tennessee But who …
- Timeline: Samuel Dennis in Davidson & Stewart Counties, Tennessee - I’ve been heavily researching my fourth great-grandfather, Samuel Benjamin Dennis. He started out somewhere in Maryland, moved to Davidson County (Nashville), Tennessee, then on to Stewart County, Tennessee. I’ve compiled a timeline of records below for fellow Dennis researchers. 8 Jun 1809 – Samuel Dennis is listed in Davidson County, Tennessee as a bondsman for the marriage …
Continue reading Timeline: Samuel Dennis in Davidson & Stewart Counties, Tennessee
- Johan Jacob Rumpfeldt - Not much is known about my German-shoemaker seventh great-grandfather who traveled to America in 1734. What is known about Jacob Rumfelt is laid out in this biography by my distant cousin, the Rev. Daniel S. Rumfelt. He has done a lot of research on the Rumfelt family. Read about Jacob’s son, Heinrich, and his grandson, Henry. Bio …
- Edward Dennis: Gone Too Soon - February 27, 2017 I just uncovered the death certificate of my grandfather’s brother who died as a newborn. I never recalled hearing about Edward until my grandfather and father told me about him last weekend. Edward was only 19 days old when he died, likely from croup and pneumonia according to his death certificate. He …
- Heinrich Rumpfeld: From Germany to America - Heinrich Rumpfeld/Rumfelt, my sixth great-grandfather, traveled in 1734 to the United States of America from Germany. The Rev. Daniel S. Rumfelt compiled a wonderful informative biography about Heinrich’s life. I am thankful he’s allowed me to share his research on this website. Bio of Heinrich Rumpfeld by the Rev. Daniel S. Rumfelt Born about 1713 …
- Henry Rumfelt: German Regiment, Continental Army, and Valley Forge - I am thrilled to share a well-written biography about my fifth great-grandfather, Henry Rumfelt. I asked permission from the author, Rev. Daniel S. Rumfelt, to share this on my blog for the enjoyment of Henry’s descendants. HENRY RUMFELT 14 SEP 1748 – 26 MAR 1827 by the Rev. Daniel S. Rumfelt Henry Rumfelt established the …
Continue reading Henry Rumfelt: German Regiment, Continental Army, and Valley Forge
- Centenarian William Bennett - William Bennett, of the Sycamore Mills area of Cheatham County, Tennessee, lived to be over 100 years old. We are lucky to have a few newspaper articles about his life that were written in the early 1900s when he was still alive. My fourth great-grandfather has countless descendants. At the time of his death in …
Down Home Genealogy 