Info on people, places, and things helpful in my genealogy research.
Monday, February 22, 2021
MyHeritage offers Free Access to DNA tools with DNA Upload Feb 21-28
I received this message from Daniel Horowitz of MyHeritage yesterday and wanted to pass it on to anyone who has taken an autosomal DNA test at AncestryDNA, 23&me or FTDNA.
His message reads....
"For a limited time only, between February 21–28, 2021, we are waiving the unlock fee.You can now upload your DNA data to MyHeritage and get access to your Ethnicity Estimate, Genetic Groups, and other advanced DNA tools such as the Chromosome Browser, AutoClusters, and Theory of Family Relativity™ — absolutely free! These features will remain free forever for the DNA kits you upload to MyHeritage during this week."
Check out MyHeritage's Blog for more info on this.
My Potential Playlist for RootsTech Connect 2021
RootsTech 2021 runs February 25th–27th this year and since they have released the listing of sessions I've finally found time to make a must view list. I'm so thankful it is free this year. I consider myself an Advanced Genealogist having researched for 30+ years. I strive to produce professional level research but I have no desire to become an Accredited or a Certified Genealogist. Your list may vary depending on your interest & experience level. The entire list can be downloaded at the RootsTech.org web page along with additional information about the event.
- Airtable: Organizing Your Research with a Relational Database Cheri Daniels
- An Introduction to FamilySearch Affiliate Libraries Samantha Sulser
- Analyzing Probate Records: Finding Our Ancestor’s Stories Cheri Hudson Passey
- AncestryDNA® 102: AncestryDNA® Matches for Family History Discoveries Kelly Becker
- AncestryDNA® 103: ThruLines™ and Custom Groups Randon Morford
- Beyond the FAN Approach: Inclusive Research Strategies Cheri Daniels
- Connect to Living Relatives with Ancestry Trees
- Crowdsourcing Your Brick Walls Drew Smith
- DNA Triangulation: What, Why, and How Roberta J. Estes
- Discovering Slave Owners in the Family Tree—From Reaction to Action Cheri Hudson Passey
- Discovering the Records of the Enslaved Cheri Hudson Passey; Sharon Batiste Gillins
- Droplets of Time: Using Timelines to Enhance Your Research Skills Shelley Viola Murphy
- Finding Ancestors through DNA Camille Andrus, AG; Lauren Vasylyev
- Finding Ancestral Homelands through DNA RHETT DABLING
- Finding Ancestral Homelands Using Your Surname Gregg Richardson; Anna Auger; Charlotte Noelle Champenois; Kelsey Richardson
- Finding the Elusive Maiden Name Ann G. Lawthers
- Genetic Genealogy Meets CSI Debbie Kennett
- How to Map Creeks, Roads, and More with Custom Google MyMaps Nicole Dyer
- Introduction to Ancestor DNA Reconstruction: Why, How, and Tools Amy Williams
- Managing Scanned and Digital Photos Jenny Joyce
- Map Connections Brittany Beattie
- Peeling Back the Layers: Citing Sources from Online Materials Diana Elder
- Report Writing for Clients Kari Meyer
- Ruling Out Instead of Ruling In: DNA & the GPS in Action Karen Stanbary, CG
- Secrets and Surprises: Uncovering Family History Mysteries through DNA Debbie Kennett
- Source Citations Are Easy Shannon Combs-Bennett
- Successful Remote Research Strategies Cheri Daniels
- The Case for DNA: A Three-Part Series Renate Yarborough Sanders
- The Genealogy Research Process: The WANDER Method Amy Johnson Crow
- The SCREEN Method—a DNA Match Note System That Really Helps! Alison Wilde
- The Search for Masonic Records Robert B. Hamilton
- Using DNA in a Client Research Project to Solve a Family Mystery Diana Elder
- Using DNA to Find Unknown Relatives Beth Taylor
- What Genealogists Should Know about the Laws of Slavery Amy Tanner Thiriot
- When Your Tree Is a Banyan: Untangling Endogamy Leah Larkin
- Where’s the Proof? Organizing and Writing Genealogical Findings Lisa Stokes
- African American Genealogical Research: Tracing Zachariah Embry, a Georgia Slave Jeanette K.B. Daniels
- African American Genealogy—Getting Past the 1870 Brick Wall Janice Gilyard
- African American Genealogy Challenges: What You Need to Know Shelley Viola Murphy
- Examining Runaway Slave Ads Bernice Alexander Bennett
- Go Tell It on the Mountain: The Life of Rev. W.J. Hightower James R. Morgan III
- Go West! American Migration 1783 to 1900 Ann G. Lawthers
- Healing from the Legacy of Slavery Sharon Leslie Morgan
- Helping African Americans Trace to Slaveholding Ancestors Using DNA Andre Kearns
- Hidden Genealogical Gems: Cultural Resources and Land Records of USDOI Daniel Fleming
- Introduction to U.S. Land Records Jamie Lee McManus Mayhew
- Military Service Records: Official Military Personnel Files Michael L. Strauss, AG
- No Vital Records? No Problem! Document Vital Events David Joshua Taylor
- Once Enslaved, Once Slaveholder—Forging a Forever Family Bond Rhonda Roederer; Beverly Bevel
- Research in the Southern States Nicole Dyer
- Research Strategies for Early Colonial Ancestors Shannon Combs-Bennett
- Research Strategies in the Southern United States Julie Merrill
- Researching the Enslaved in the U.S. Just Got Easier Nicka Sewell-Smith
- Researching the Freedmen’s Bureau Nicka Sewell-Smith
- The Big Five: Researching the Five Largest Tribes Judy Muhn
- Unlocking the Shoebox: Digitizing, Organizing, and Identifying Family Photos Maureen Taylor; Christopher Desmond; Nancy Desmond
- USCT Pension Files: A Rich Resource for African American Genealogy Bernice Alexander Bennett; Toni Carrier
- Using DNA to Find Ancestors Lost in Slavery Sherman McRae
- Using Indirect and Negative Evidence to Prove Unrecorded Events Thomas Wright Jones
- Welcome to the New Tennessee State Library and Archives Chuck Sherrill
- What Does That Really Say? Records Analysis: State-Land State Deed Rebecca Whitman Koford, CG, CGL
Sunday, February 21, 2021
From Confederate Pension Apps. of J G Cook & W H Osteen
8th Confederate Regiment Company A
Commanders: Colonel Prather & Captain Wright
Statement from W H Osteen who tells how they got out of the Confederate Army.
I was in the army with Cook and know that he was an upright good soldier and an honorable man. The regiment to which we belonged was sent out to get cattle to feed the soldiers, and we were cut off from the rest of the army and surrounded by ten thousand Yankees. We started at dark going south, road all night and then found that we were right on ten thousand Yankee soldiers. We then had to turn back and the next evening about sundown got back into the place we started from the night before.
The colonel then told the captains to form the man in a circle and he made us a nice talk and told us that we had no ammunition there was nothing to do but try to get back home safely if we could. He told each of the captains to take their men as near home as they could and turn them loose to do the best they could. This was in January of 1865 this is how we got out of the army.
W H Osteen
Statement taken Dec 1927 at Unionville, TN Notarized by W.O. Stem
I'd wondered where J. G. Cook and W. H Osteen were at when this occurred. With that question I went looking for a pension application for W.H. Osteen. Not every Confederate soldier applied for a pension but I did manage to find his application. He was not in the 8th Regiment with J. G. Cook but was in the 21st(Carter's) Calvary and apparently their two regiments along with others were together when the Colonel cut them loose. Where were they at? Pulaski.
But which one? So I am reading further thru the application and I find a statement by W.G. Hight. This would be William Garrett Hight son of William Green Hight.
W.G. Hight's sworn statement
"On Hood's Advance into Tennessee W.H. Osteen was sworn to the the(sic) Confederate Army at Florence, Ala & he was with at Battle of Lawrenceburg, Berlin, Franklin & skirmished around Murfreesboro for about 1 week. Our command was ordered to Shelbyville, Tenn. and I was captured in Shelbyville and not said W H Osteen any more during the war." W G Hight(notarized statement given 7 March 1926) A letter written to the pension board by W H Osteen is also in the file and the handwritten letter does say they were in Pulaski, Tennessee. My question is answered but I want to finish reading thru this file. Next is a notarized statement by J.G. Cook in which it says that he first met W H Osteen in December 1864 at Shelbyville and tells of how they were disbanded. Also mentions Col Bob Withers whose name was marked thru on J. G. Cook's application and replaced with Col Prather.
W H. Osteen is buried in the Cedar Grove Cemetery in Bedford Co TN along with a good number of his ancestors who had lived and died in the Bedford Co TN area.
Sources:
"Tennessee, Confederate Pension Applications, Soldiers and Widows, 1891-1965," database with images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:33S7-9GY6-925Q?cc=1874474&wc=M6ZF-P38%3A171467301%2C176229101 : 31 October 2018), Filed by Soldier (W H Osteen--S16031) > no 15905-16060 > images 1578-1593 of 2047; State Library and Archives, Nashville.
"Tennessee, Confederate Pension Applications, Soldiers and Widows, 1891-1965," database with images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:33SQ-GGY6-SQ1R?cc=1874474&wc=M6ZF-P29%3A171467301%2C176249001 : 31 October 2018), Filed by Soldier(J G Cook--S16314 > no 16264-16474 > image 524-539 of 2139; State Library and Archives, Nashville.
Find a Grave, database and images (https://www.findagrave.com : accessed 21 February 2021), memorial page for William Henry Harrison Osteen (29 Oct 1847–31 Aug 1934), Find a Grave Memorial no. 29558168, citing Cedar Grove Cemetery, Bedford County, Tennessee, USA ; Maintained by Patsy Paterson (contributor 46596020).
Friday, February 19, 2021
Jacob Crick entry--Williamson Co TN Road Book Vol. 2
Transcription:
Ordered that Jacob Crick oversee the clearing out and keeping in repair the road of the second class of which Noah Putman was late overseer beginning at the county line north east of Maj Abraham Byers and crossing the ridge where the old road crosses on until in sight of John Woods thence to the left of his plantation so as to strike the Columbia road north of David Lambs, thence with said road to the town of Versailles, thence north with the main street through said town thence a straight course to the forks of the roads between Thomas Lamb and Thomas Hendrix Senior, thence with the present road through Merriman Landrum's land thence with the general direction of said road to the county line near the Methodist meeting house and that the hands within the bounds of Captain John Webb's Militia Company so as not to interfere with the hands working on the roads Franklin or Columbia road work thence under his direction
Notes: from surrounding entries the date appears to be Fall of 1834.
Source:
Wm C Cook entry -- Williamson Co TN Road Book Vol.2
Williamson Co TN Vol 2 Road Book--Index |
Transcription:
Ordered that William C Cook oversee that part of the fishing ford road of which Jacob Crick was late overseer and that all the hands on the south side of the road leading leading(sic) from Murfreesborough to Columbia and all the hands that worked under said Crick work therein under his direction and that they work said road from the Bedford County line to the Rutherford County line.
Notes: There is no date given in the entry however looking at the surrounding entries it appears to be Fall of 1838. Where is Volume 1 of the Road Books? Does it no longer exist? I looked for it on the digitized microfilmed images but looks like this roll of microfilm was of Volumes 2, 3, and 4 of the Williamson Co TN Road Books. Will see if I can locate the Jacob Crick entry and update if I do find it.
Source:
Williamson Co TN Road Book Vol 2 pg 238 William C Cook; imaged by Tennessee State library and Archives (Nashville, TN) 1966, image online by FamilySearch.org at https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:3QHV-63CD-GSDV?i=135&cat=234742 (accessed 19 Feb 2021)
Tuesday, February 16, 2021
Dear Mother and all our brood
- He'd put the date at the top--11/9/66 and started off the letter--- Dear Mother and all our brood.
- Not only was it Nov 9, 1966 but it was 11:25 a.m. when he began writing the letter and he'd just finished eating breakfast.
- It had been raining some the last few days.
- He'd been to the store where he purchased 2 1bs of beans, some canned biscuits and one other item which I believe was eggs(writing was really faint)
- Apparently my grandmother had given him a sample that she got of 44 cough and cold meds. I'm guess it is the Vicks 44 cough and cold lozenges because he describes putting one in his mouth and letting it melt which opened up his nose and helped him get the best rest that night.
- He was sending Bill(my Dad) a note.--I don't know what happened to the note or its contents but looks like it may have been something about him needing help with his TV or radio because he says: "I wish he could just put a tube in the radio because it takes so much electric to run the TV.
- He says he likes to hear the news on the radio and mentions that he and Magnus(his oldest daughter) used to listen to Herb Shriner("He sure is a funny man")
- The notepad paper on which this letter was written is 5 1/2 inches by 9 inches and he had written on both front and back(and numbered the pages)
- I also noticed that when he mentioned amounts he would include both the word and the numeral (example: six 6)
Monday, February 08, 2021
Sparta TN Post Office-- 30th June 1824
Remaining in the Post Office at Sparta, Tenn on the 30th of June, 1824, which if not taken out, before the first day of October next, will be sent to the General Post Office, as dead letters.
Hosea Arnold, George Anderson Esq., Robert Anderson.
Nathaniel Bramblett, Ephrim Berry, John Bussel, Lunsford Bagwell, Isham Bradley. Joshua Brown, Jesse Brewer, Wm J Bennet, Washington Burgess.
Robert Campbell, Lawson Cawthron, Mrs. Polly C Cook, Joseph Clark, Jesse Carter, Clerk of the Supreme court of Errors and Appeals, Joseph Crowover.
George Defreese, Amon L Davis, James Davis, Jesse Dotson, Patrick H. Darby.
John W Gleason, Robert Glenn, John W Gaugh, George W Gibbs, Uriah Gibbs, Mr. Garner, Wm Green, Hugh Gracey.
Benjamin Hunter(2), N. Haggard, Harrison Holland, Andrew Hynes, James T Holeman, Peter Howent, John Hoozly, Jacob Hyder, James W Hart, James C Hays, John Heath, Mathias Hutson.
Mrs Sally Isham.
Graham Jackson.
Mr Lyons, J Lincoln, Wayman Leftwich(2), Henry Lyda(2), Thomas Lemons, Rhoda Ledbetter, Jacob Lane or A Dibrel, John Loller, James Lowey.
John Medley, John McElhany, Joseph Milrany, col. Wm Mitchell, Qeven McFarland, Wm May, Iredele Marsh, Geo W Miller, John McNabb, William Mackey, Alex'r McEwen(2) Jas. Moore, Thomas W marsh(2).
Willie Norman, Richard Nelson(4),
John Patton, Mrs Elizabeth Peek, James Presser.
Alex'r Reed, John Rutledge, Humphrey Roberts, James Randals, Mrs Jane Reed, Randale Ramsy, Thomas Reeder(2), Jacob Robinson, Thomas Riddles, capt Charles Reeves.
Thomas Shirley, Wm Sarrells, Berry Stewart, John Sowell, Samuel Spollox, James Smith, Wm Simpson, Wm Stamps, Charles Smith, Hicks Shropshire, Mrs Margaret Shirly, Eli Sims & Neighbors, Mrs Elizabeth Smith, Junior Sanders, John Scoggin Sen.
Benjamin Thomas, Abraham Taylor(2) Geo Thomas, Robert Templeton.
John Weaver, Thomas Walling, Geo Welch, Thos Williams, Rosanah Wilson, Abner Wood, Samuel Wilson(2), Henry Williams, Elisha Webb, Tom Waltons,
124 Letters
Wm H Smith Post Master
June 7th.
Source:
The Sparta Review (Sparta, Tennessee) 14 Jul 1824, Wed Page 3 Col 4 & 5. Imaged at Newspapers.com(https://www.newspapers.com/image/605075014/)
Additional Notes: Two corrections were made to group the names in the appropriate group and one where the list name and surname was obviously transposed. As always consult original. Numbers were listed after the names when there was more than one letter being held at the P.O.
Friday, February 05, 2021
Bedford Co TN Deed--Holt to Jakes(1913)
Imaged at FamilySearch.org Film # 008567915 Image 661 of 702
https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:3Q9M-C3QY-NQ8F-2?i=660&cat=298281
Wednesday, February 03, 2021
A few pre-1820s Deeds--Hights in Franklin Co NC
I've previously blogged about the Hight family specifically John Hight of Franklin Co NC. You can see those posts at the following links.
Will of John Hight--Franklin(1796)Co NC(1795) https://mariegen.blogspot.com/2020/07/will-of-john-hight-franklin-co-nc-1795.html Purchasers from the Estate Sale of John Hight--Franklin Co NC(1796) https://mariegen.blogspot.com/2020/02/purchasers-from-estate-sale-of-john.html
Looking at the elements of the deeds along with the two previous blog post about John Hight you can see surnames repeating.
Hights in the index of Deeds of Franklin Co NC in the earlier years(not all inclusive)
https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:3QSQ-G96S-QS1R?i=53&cat=181225
https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:3QS7-896M-WJB4?i=84&cat=181225
Franklin Co NC--John Hight Sr. to Francis Taylor Franklin Co. NC Deed Book 8 pg 23 (1796)
Amount of Land: 100 acres
Purchase Price: 60 pounds current money of Virginia
Bargain made: 14 Oct 1795
Recorded: Sept Court 1796
Witnesses: Harbird Hight & Daniel Edwards
Direct Link
https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:3QS7-L96M-JLNX?i=25&cat=181225
Franklin Co NC-- Francis A.Hight to Goodman Smith Franklin Co NC Deed Book 17 pg 201
Amount of Land: 92 acres
Purchase Price: 56 pounds
Bargain made: 11 March 1808
Recorded: March sessions 1817
Witnesses: Harbird Hight and Cliff Finch
Others mentioned in Land Description: Gracy T Hight, Reuban Huff, and _______ Power
The signature at the end of the deed reads Francis Ann Hight
Direct Link
https://www.familysearch.oHrg/ark:/61903/3:1:3QS7-996M-H4MY?i=334&cat=181225
Franklin Co NC--Harbird Hight to John Fuller Franklin Co NC Deed Book 15 pg 113 (1810)
Amount of Land: 2 acres
Purchase Price: 3 pounds
Bargain made: 17 Dec 1808
Recorded: June Session 1810
Witnesses: Cliff Finch and James H Hight
Direct Link https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:3QS7-896M-WQH9?i=672&cat=181225
Franklin Co NC-- James H.Hight to Goodman Smith Franklin Co NC Deed Book 17 pg 191
Amount of Land: 92 acres
Purchase Price: $207
Bargain made: 28 Oct 1812
Recorded: March Session 1817
Witnesses: John Y Jones, John Young
Direct Link
https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:3QSQ-G96M-HW15?i=328&cat=181225
Monday, February 01, 2021
Another David T W Cook sighting
Franklin Co NC Deeds
https://www.familysearch.org/search/catalog/181225?availability=Family%20History%20Library
Cook indexed Entries start at
https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:3QS7-896S-Q9F8?i=154&cat=181225
David TW Cook to John Person deed identifies the land as land which David TW Cook bought from John Davis of South Carolina. (Description included in entry)
Purchase Price: $310
Bargain made: Oct 12 1802
Recorded: Sept 1804 session
Witnesses: Francis Taylor and Joseph Cook
Direct links to images 461 & 462 (Franklin Co NC Deed Book 3 pg 259 & 260)
https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:3QSQ-G96M-N9HK?i=460&cat=181225
https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:3QS7-996M-N9Q6?i=461&cat=181225
Joseph Cook Deed to John McLeroy Jr.(Franklin Co NC Deed Book 15 pg 5)
Amount of Land: 156 acres
Purchase Price: $936
Bargain Made: 17 Jan 1809
Recorded: June Session 1809
Witnesses: Richard Jones and J Person
Direct link to image 592 (Book 15 pg 5)
https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:3QS7-L96M-WQN5?i=591&cat=181225
In Franklin Co NC Deed Book 16 pg 211 there is an entry which is indexed as David Cook and Joseph Cook and their wives to Benj L Rainey. Looking at the document you can see it contains corrections using editing marks that show the surnames as Crook. The wives names are Rebecca and Eliza which doesn't come remotely close to being the names of either Joseph or David's wives(which were Tamor and Lydia.)
Direct link to the entry:
https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:3QS7-896M-HHQF?i=147&cat=181225