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 …

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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 …

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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 …

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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 …

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