Wm C Cook's Receipt From Robert Mathews' Store

Robert Mathews was a Merchant in Shelbyville.  He was enumerated in District 7  of Bedford County, Tennessee during the 1850 & the 1860 censuses.  

1850 US Federal Census, Bedford County, Tennessee, 

District 7, Shelbyville, p 140(stamped), Dwelling 6 Family 6

Robert Mathews 36 M Merchant $10,000(Real Estate) Ireland

Mary Ann Mathews 30 F Tennessee

William V? Mathews 9 M Tennessee

Martha Mathews 7 F Tennessee

Virginia B. Mathews 5 F Tennessee

Margaret A. Mathews 3 F Tennessee

Robert Mathews Jr. 7/12 M Tennessee

1860 US Federal Census, Bedford County, Tennessee, 

District 7 Shelbyville p 185 (stamped), Dwelling 555 Family 555

Robert Mathews 45 M W Merchant  Ireland $10,000(real estate)  $5,000(personal estate)

Wm Mathews 19 M W Tennessee

Martha Mathews 17 F W Tennessee

Virginia Mathews 14 F W Tennessee

Robert Mathews 10 M W Tennessee

Margaret Mathews 12 F W Tennessee

Erwen Mathews 9 M W Tennessee

Robert is mentioned in  U.S., Freedmen's Bureau Records, 1865-1878 at Ancestry,  

• A letter signed by C M Kingman 1st Lt 152 Illinois Vol Infantry and dated  25th of July 1865(Tullahoma TN) mentions that a mill that was thought to be owned by "Robert Mathews of Shelbyville an intense rebel" had been abandoned and not used by the government since October of 1864 and confiscation proceedings have been commenced."
•  "Proceedings are filed against the estate of Robert Mathews of Bedford Co, his land condemned & ordered to be sold." according to the note of Horace H. Harrison US District Attorney.

It stands to reason that his store didn't fair very well and given that the claim was against his estate that would make me think that Robert Mathews didn't either. He is listed in several Ancestry trees(though no source is mentioned) as dying in Shelbyville TN on the 18th April 1862. I have not been able to locate him in the 1870 Census, so it is possible given that and everything that was going on at that time that his death occurred prior to 1870.

The image below is a photocopy of a receipt that was tucked in the Cook family Bible.  I received the photocopy from Hoyte Cook in May of 1997. The Cook Bible was passed to Cass B Cook from Wm C Cook and to the youngest son of Cass,  Thomas Clifford Cook. From Thomas Clifford Cook, the bible passed to his youngest son who is currently in possession. Copies of some of the pages and papers inside it were distributed to some descendants.

Bedford County Tennessee, July 27th 1859

Wm C Cook bought of Robt Mathews, List of goods purchased, 

Looks like he purchased fabric, lace, sugar and rope?

Robert Mathews ran an ad in the Bedford Weekly Vol  No 16 (May 3 1854).  I had Gemini clean up this snippet of the ad.  I wonder if Wm C Cook saw this ad.  Wm C. Cook likely had a store tab given that the date of purchase and the date of payment were abt 6 months apart.  

Sources: 

"United States, Census, 1850", Bedford County, Tennessee, District 7, Shelbyville, p 140(stamped), Dwelling 6 Family 6, Robert Mathews Household; image, FamilySearch (https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:S3HY-DC6Q-L37 : 6 Jan 2026), IGN 4191095(Item 2), Image 117 of 391.

"United States, Census, 1860", Bedford County, Tennessee, District 7, Shelbyville, p 185(stamped), Dwelling 555 Family 555, Robert Mathews Household; image, FamilySearch (https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:33S7-9BSF-YV1 : 6 Jan 2026), IGN 5171418, Image 374 of 565.

Thos. Primrose to Wm H Harrison(Bedford Co TN-1830)

I started pulling together a Deeds listing for William Harrison (1750-1833) and, once I'd finished with the known deeds, I searched using the FamilySearch Full Text Search and found an interesting deed from Thomas Primrose (of Bedford Co, TN) to William H. Harrison (of Rutherford Co, TN).

There are many William Harrisons in this time period in the Bedford, Rutherford, and Williamson County, TN area. This isn't Wm Harrison(b. 1750), even though the land appears to be in the same area where he lived.. Is this Wm H Harrison related to my Harrison line, and if so, how? It will take some digging.

Source:
Bedford County TN, Deed Book BB, p 389, Thos Primrose to Wm H Harrison(97 1/4 acres West of Alexander Creek); Image, FamilySearch (https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:3Q9M-CSKX-QSCM-V : accessed 4 Jan 2026), IGN 8150802, Image 495 of 591. [Thos Primrose is likely the same Thos who marries Nancy Harrison Hight(a late in life marriage for both.  ]

Below is my attempt at transcribing(rough as it may be).

(15 Oct 1830)

This Indenture made this fifteenth day of October in the year of Our
Lord Eighteen hundred and thirty by and between Thomas Primrose of the
County of Bedford and State of Tennessee, of the one part, and William
H Harrison of the County of Rutherford and State aforesaid of the other
part Witnesseth that the said Thomas Primose for and in consider-
ation of the sum of Eight hundred and Seventy five dollars Twenty five
cent to him in hand paid by the Said William H Harrison the receipt where
of is hereby acknowledged hath given granted Bargained sold Conveyed
and Confirmed unto the said William H Harrison his heirs and assigns
forever a certain tract or parcel of land situated lying and being
in the County of Bedford on the West side of Alexander Creek it being
the place whereon the Said Thos Primrose now lives Begining at a stake in
the Center of said Creek near a ceder Elm ash and white oak marked as
pointers in the North boundary line of the Brandon family tract during
west with said line ninty four poles to a redbud, post oak, and two Cedars
thence South forty poles to a small ash and Witness? thence West
Twenty Nine poles to a walnut and Elm thence South passing a forked
Hickory at Seventy four poles same corner, ten poles in all eighty four poles
to a stake at the corner of a Division fence near a cedar thence North
Eighty six degrees East, thirty poles to a rock, Stake thence South four
degrees East thirty three poles to a rock stake, thence East passing
An ash and Elm at 44 poles, some Course? in all being ninety three poles to a
Stake in the center of said Creek, thence up the meander of the
Center of said Creek to the beginning, containing by Estimation
ninty seven and one-quarter acres it being the same more or less to
have and to hold with all & singular in right or whils
herediments and appertances of in and to the same beloning[sic]
or in anywise appertaining to the only proper use of him, the said
William H Harrison his heirs and assigns forever, and the said
Thomas Primrose for himself, his heirs, Executors and administrators
doth Covenant and agree to and with the said William H
Harrison his heirs and assigns, to Warrant and forever defend
the aforesaid land and bargained premises against the lawful
claim or claims of all and every person or persons whatever
in Witness whereof, the said Thomas Primrose that Exarience see
his hand and affixed his seal the day and date above written
Signed, sealed and acknowledged in presence of us

                                                   Thomas Primrose
John Thompson Jurat
Jas H Lile
L Puckett

August Term 1831
I certify that the Execution of the foregoing Deed of Conveyance
from Thomas Primrose to Wm H Harrison was proven in open
Court by the Oaths of John Thompson and James H Lile two
of the subscribing witnesses thereto & ordered to be so Certified for
registration given under my hand at office.  9th August
1831
Registered November 11th, 1831
Thos Davis R.B.C. & Jas. McKissick Clk

Sorting Out Same-Name Individuals: Adaline Hale

From Bledsoe Co., Tennessee, Deed Book O, p 473, J H Griffith to Adaline Hale

(see source note below)

Received in 

Office for 

Registration

At 11 a.m.

Oct 10/70

To Adaline Hale and her heirs, a certain tract of land

containing by estimation fifty acres, be the same more or less, lying in Bledsoe County, Tennessee Dist No. 1, for and in consideration of fifty dollars to me paid.

Beginning at a Stake on the north east line of the

Hasker tract running with the meanders of Annons

Creek near a cave ford to a stake then across to the

South East line of the same to the same survey above

the old ford on the Flat Rock Branch, thence with said

land to the corner near the top of the round knob

Then, with said land to the beginning of the spring and 

one-half acre around it. known as the Sam Turner Spring 

is not included nor conveyed in this deed, but she is to 

have access to the water by taking care

of the springs

When I found this deed for the transfer of land in Bledsoe County, Tennessee, that mentioned Adaline Hale, I thought this might be my 3rd Great-Grandmother, Adaline Elzie Hale, who was the widow of William Taylor Hale. Her family lived in Civil District 6 & at times Civil District 8 of Van Buren Co, TN. I have never been able to find the family enumerated in the 1860 or 1870 US Federal Census, despite records such as the marriages of the children suggesting they were still in the area. The land in the deed is in District 1 of Bledsoe Co, TN, which is just east of Van Buren County. Several of Adaline's children are married and living in District 1 of Bledsoe County at the time of the 1880 US Federal Census.

There is no one mentioned in the deed with Adaline that connects this document to my Van Buren Co, TN, Adaline Hale. Further research finds more deeds concerning the land in Adaline's deed.  These records offer insight into the relationships, none of which are part of my Adaline Elzie Hale's FAN.  I was able to find Richard Hale's 1880 Census, which showed that he and his wife Adaline were enumerated in Bledsoe County, TN, when my Adaline Hale was in Van Buren County, TN, District 8. (Info from the two census records below) 

1880 Bledsoe Co., Tennessee District 7, Page 48B
Richard Hale Self M M W 65 TN Laborer TN / TN
Adaline Hale Wife F M W 52 TN Keeping House TN / TN
William Hale Son M S W 16 TN TN / TN
John Hale Son M S W 13 TN TN / TN
Thunsy Hale Dau F S W 6 TN TN / TN

1880 Van Buren Co., Tennessee District 8, Page 273A

Adaline Hale W F 65 W TN Keeping House  

Lucinda Davis W F 35 Daughter M  TN At Home TN TN

John Hale W M 20 Son S  TN Works on Farm  TN TN

Monroe Bishop W M 14 Grandson S  TN At Home  TN TN

Luther Davis W M 3 Grandson S TN  TN TN

The listing of names(shown below in my abstract and in the image) seems to suggest that the Hale wives and the wife of Jesse Brock were Griffiths before their marriages.  I find it odd that Richard Hale is not mentioned in the Book O pg 473 deed, but that may be because it was only necessary to mention him when the land was passing from her ownership. 

Abstract of Names:  Bledsoe Co, TN Minute Book, Sept 1867-Sept 1872, p 12

Susan Griffith, widow of Wm M Griffith, dec

Thos J Griffith

Richard Hale & wife Adaline

Burrell Hale & wife Sarah

John Hale & wife Jane

S P Griffith

Martha Griffith

Jesse Brock & wife Nancy

Conclusion:   Given all that evidence, I feel confident in saying that the Adaline Hale mentioned in the original deed is NOT the same person as my Adaline Elzie Hale.

Sources:

Bledsoe County, Tennessee Deeds, Deed Book O, p 473, J H Griffith to Adaline Hale (50 Acres); image, FamilySearch (https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:3Q9M-C39J-4L15 : accessed 20 Dec 2025), IGN 8478560, Image 268 of 719.

Bledsoe Co TN Minute Book, (Sept 1872 - Sept 1881) p 193, T.J. Griffith & others vs. Gabrilla Griffith & others --18 March 1875; image, FamilySearch (https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:3Q9M-C39J-896W-D : accessed 2 Jan 2026), IGN 8478559,  Image 129 of 611.

Bledsoe Co TN Deed Book O, p 474, R & A Hale to Isaac Roberson (registered Oct 10, 1870); image, Familysearch (https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:3Q9M-C39J-4L11 : accessed 2 Jan 2026), 

IGN 8478560, Image 269 of 719. [This one says "Adaline Hale WIFE OF Richard Hale"]

Bledsoe Co TN Minute Book Sept 1867-Sept 1872, p 12; image, FamilySearch (https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:3Q9M-CS5W-1SSH-L : accessed 2 Jan 2026),

IGN 8264061, Image 497 of 714.[This lists the Hales and Griffiths but not the exact relationships other than the "wife of." The information given here seems to suggest that the wives of the Hale men were Griffiths]

1880 US Federal Census, Van Buren County, TN, District 8 page 273A(stamped), Dwelling 203 Family 206, Adaline Hale(head); image, FamilySearch (https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:33S7-9YBL-9MTN : accessed 2 Jan 2026), IGN 5162517, Image 553 of 810.

1880 US Federal Census, Bledsoe County, TN, District 7, page 48B(stamped), Dwelling 212, Family 213, Richard Hale (Head); image, FamilySearch (https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:33S7-9YBH-R6M : accessed 2 January 2026), IGN 5162348, Image 101 of 732.

Documenting an Ancestor Through Land Deeds

In December of this past year,  I began crafting full reference notes for each of the deeds involving my ancestors, regardless of their role in the deed.  I arranged all the deeds for each ancestor in chronological order and also wrote notes of importance with the Reference Note.  The listing can be saved as a PDF and attached to that person's profile at Ancestry.  It really makes it easy when you start writing about your ancestors as well, because you already have these citations and can copy and paste them to source your work.  I use Google Docs and then save/download a copy of the PDF, but you could create the PDF on-site at Ancestry.  I do that sometimes.

I completed this process for the profile of my 2nd Great Grandfather, Wm Clifford Cook as well as the profile of his maternal 1st cousin, William Green Hight.  While researching Wm G. Hight's deeds, I also found additional information on his marriages and divorces that occurred after his first wife's death and his move to Arkansas.  He lived in Washington County, Arkansas, before moving to Franklin County, Arkansas(the location he was living at when he passed). Sometimes, I also create a PDF with information about my research that I want to preserve (e.g., notes on Census entries, conflicting evidence, proof statements, or proof arguments, etc.)

My 2025 Research Year In Review

January:

• Found a Trust Deed that Clarence Cook(my great uncle) took out to secure the burial of his wife who died of TB at the age of 28 leaving Clarence with 3 sons.
• Found the newspaper notices placed by Wm C Cook concerning Jos S Cook's estate
• Found a guardian document for Hugh Clawson(Tennie Ferguson's 1st husband) Tennie was the step daughter of James P Cook. She would later file for divorce from Hugh on the grounds of desertion.
• Found a mortgage to secure legal representation for my grandfather and his brother Clarence taken out by their parents, Wm G & Jane B Cook. No idea what sort of trouble they were in. I contacted the county clerk to see if they could find any court records but didn't have any luck.
• Warren Co TN Newspapers are online at FamilySearch
• Found an advertisement mentioning Toone Institute(Fall 1892). It mentioned that J K Cook of Eagleville TN was principal

February:

• A typo in the announcement of a Versailles Masonic lodge gave it's former name as Black Vale instead of Rockvale.
• Found a deed for James Hitchcocks land
• Found Obituary of my Great Grandfather David E Luna.
• Questioned if my grandparents knew their grandparents
• Found Newspaper Announcement about Great Uncle John & Gr Aunt Malissa's 50th Wedding Anniversary.
• Studied Robert L Cook & his wife using ChatGPT to organized my notes and sources. Robert was the oldest son of J. Gideon Cook(Brother of my great grandfather Wm G Cook)
• Found more on the Hamer Family that married into my Cook family and also some social news on the McElroys and others from Warren Co TN Papers.

March:

• Found a notice that Geo Solifelt had a letter at the Denison City Texas Post office in March 1888
• Summarized RootsTech 2025
• Reviewed the updated mtDNA results for tests I manage
• Found New to me info on Mason Comb and his FAN.
• Found a newspaper notice concerning my great Grandfather James P Acuff's estate settlement.

April:

• Pondered how the weather affected my ancestors
• How I'm using Ancestry's Network Tool
• Maury Co TN Bill of sell enslaved man named Lewis
• Resolving conflicting Month of death for Wm Harrison
• Celebrating 21 years of blogging

May:

• Found a newspaper article about the Dean Family Reunion
• Wrote about Geo Solifelt's 1st wife,  Kate
• Found a Patent registered by David V Putnam a Putman Cook Descendant

June:

• Geo Solifelt's other Court Martial File summary
• Deed from Wm Cook to Robert Taylor Franklin Co NC 1817

July:

• More documents about Wm P Cook of 1st Reg't Metcalfe West TN War of 1812
• Lytle family in NC & TN

August:

• Found Tax Records(1841-1859) for Wm Taylor Hale(my 3rd Gr Grandfather)
• Discussed the Civil War happening around ancestors from Rutherford and Bedford Co TN
• Obtained copies of the Compiled Service Records of Wm P Cook 1st Reg't (Metcalfe's) TN Militia War of 1812
• Connections between 1807 Franklin Co NC & 1820 Maury Co TN--both places where Wm P Cook was at during that time.
• Tax Records W G Cook Rutherford Co TN--District 10 1912-1944

September:

• Wrote about a childhood home in Charlotte TN
• More Families who migrated from Franklin Co NC to Bedford Co TN
• An Estate settlement for Wm Cook...but which one.

October:

• 23&me Ancestry Composition Update
• More info found in Probate files and reviewing once I have additional info
• Wm Harrison Land Grant in Bedford Co Tn
• Explored using Google's NotebookLM to help visualize an ancestor's life and also to brainstorm and critique research.

November:

• My proof argument that Wm P Cook is the likely father of Wm C Cook.
• Found a deed for property my Grandparents had owned that I knew nothing about
• My Grandfather and his brother Clarence's WWI Draft Registrations and Numbers
• Obit of Andrew Jackson Acuff(1942) Brother of my Great Grandfather James Polk Acuff.

December:

• Used Google NotebookLM's infographic option to generate one about Jefferson Gideon Cook's wives and children.
• Found a petition of Edward C Harrison(Brother of Elizabeth Harrison Cook) to open a grist mill.
• Found additional probate info pertaining to the Harger Family of Franklin Co VA. My 3rd Great Grandmother was Nancy Harger Jakes.

ChatGPT's Summary of my year in review

This year’s research and blogging reflected a deep, methodical exploration of family history through original records, contextual analysis, and evolving research tools. The work consistently blended traditional documentary research with modern technology, while keeping a strong focus on proof, context, and unresolved questions.

A major theme throughout the year was probate, land, and legal records. Trust deeds, mortgages, estate settlements, guardianship papers, deeds, patents, and petitions repeatedly surfaced, often revealing family crises, financial pressures, and turning points that do not appear in census records alone. Notable discoveries included a trust deed securing burial expenses for Clarence Cook’s young wife, estate notices for Joseph S. Cook, multiple Cook and Harrison land records, and probate material that clarified — or complicated — identities among men of the same name.

Another sustained focus was military service and its documentation. You revisited War of 1812 service for William P. Cook through newly obtained compiled service records, explored court martial files for George Solifelt, and examined World War I draft registrations for your grandfather and his brother Clarence. These records helped anchor men in specific places and times while raising new questions about family movements and relationships.

Migration patterns were examined repeatedly, especially between Franklin County, North Carolina, and Middle Tennessee (Bedford, Rutherford, Maury, and Warren Counties). Tax lists, deeds, estate records, and community studies helped trace how families moved together, intermarried, and re-established themselves. You broadened this work by studying FAN networks and writing about additional families who made the same journey.

The year also emphasized contextual and social history. Newspaper research revealed anniversaries, obituaries, estate notices, advertisements, social news, and even typographical errors that changed the interpretation of local history. You reflected on how weather, war, and local institutions shaped your ancestors’ lives, and marked personal milestones such as twenty-one years of continuous blogging.

DNA and technology played an increasingly important role. You reviewed updated mtDNA results, evaluated 23andMe’s ancestry composition changes, and experimented extensively with AI tools such as ChatGPT and Google’s NotebookLM. These tools were used not as substitutes for research, but as aids for organizing notes, visualizing lives, generating infographics, and critiquing proof arguments.

One of the year’s most significant analytical achievements was the development of a formal proof argument identifying William P. Cook as the likely father of William C. Cook, supported by accumulated land, military, tax, and migration evidence gathered over many months.

Overall, the year reflects a researcher moving beyond record collection into synthesis and argumentation — connecting disparate records, testing hypotheses, embracing new tools, and continually reassessing conclusions as new evidence emerges.

My Thoughts on the Year:

While it has been a tough year for me health-wise, I've made some progress with my research on several different lines.  I look forward to 2026 and hope that it will bring many more research discoveries for us all.

Harger Family Documents- Franklin County Virginia

Harger:  Franklin County, Virginia, USA

John Harger (1756-19 Nov 1836) who died in Franklin County Virginia, is my 4th Great Grandfather through my paternal grandmother's lines. His will helps to sort thru and identify his children. There are more court records which mention his will and the family relationships. He mentions that John Burwell Harger is the son of one of his deceased daughters, but doesn't name the daughter. Later John Burwell Harger's portion is divided among the surviving children and their descendants. This yields a lot of information about who each of the children married. While I had the will, I didn't have the court case brought by Frances Harger Woody's husband. I've included the sources with the URLs to access the documents below. If you are a Harger researcher this information is very valuable.

The Harger siblings married into the Fishburn, Grist, Jakes, Jones, Picklesimer, Woody,  and Young Families

Nancy Harger Jakes and family moved to Bedford County Tennessee.
Frances Harger Woody and family moved to Osage County, Missouri.


Sources:

Franklin Co VA Will Books 1829-1837, Book 4, p 384, John Harger Dec'd Will; image, FamilySearch (https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:3QSQ-G9P6-938J ; accessed 12 Dec 2025), IGN 7644995(Item 2), Image 201 of 321.

Franklin Co VA Will Books 1829-1837, Book 4, pg 614, John Harger Dec'd Will; image, FamilySearch (https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:3QSQ-G9P6-93HP ; accessed 12 Dec 2025), IGN 7644995(Item 2), Image 315 of 321.

Franklin Co VA Chancery Papers Book Order Book B 1851-1865, p 216, John & His wife Frances Woody Vs. Harger Exr & others; image, FamilySearch (https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:3Q9M-CSK4-61F1 : accessed 12 Dec 2025), IGN 8141193, Image 121 of 236.

Franklin Co VA Chancery Papers Book Order Book B 1851-1865, p 258, John & His wife Frances Woody Vs. Harger Exr & others; image, FamilySearch (https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:3Q9M-CSK4-618G : accessed 12 Dec 2025), IGN 8141193, Image 141 of 236.

Franklin Co VA Chancery Papers Book Order Book B 1851-1865, p 303, John & His wife Frances Woody Vs. Harger Exr & others; image, FamilySearch (https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:3Q9M-CSK4-61Z7 : accessed 12 Dec 2025), IGN 8141193, Image 164 of 236.