Wednesday, July 26, 2023

Bounty Land Warrant 507--Wm Harrison

In the pension records for William Harrison's Revolutionary War Service the Bounty Land Warrant is listed as 507.  I searched for a William Harrison with the # 507 at Ancestry in their Bounty Land Warrant database

Below:  Image 618 of 680  



1. When presented at the Treasury 30 July 1817
2. By Whom Presented (Mich'l Nourse)
3. Number (507)
4. Name of Soldier (Wm Harrison)
5. Grade (Lieut)
6. Name of Patentee   Northrop & Shane
7. Acres 200
8. Lot 2--28
9. Section 4--2
10. Twp 10-10
11. Range 7--2
12. 30 July 1817
13. Remarks (Sent Michl Nourse)

Searched the GLO website and found it.  Still trying to figure out what all this info tells me.  Need to learn more about land records so I will be checking out a few webinars in the Legacy FamilyTree Webinar library, doing some reading and further exploring of GLO.



Sources

  • "U.S., Revolutionary War Pension and Bounty-Land Warrant Application Files, 1800-1900," database with images, Ancestry(https://www.ancestry.com/discoveryui-content/view/26266:1995?tid=77121678 : accessed 12 February 2023), H  > Harris, William - Hawley, James > Harrison, Sarah - Harsin, Garret > image 381-473 of 1112: citing NARA microfilm publication  M804, Records of the Department of Veterans Affairs, Record Group 15. National Archives, Washington, D.C.
  • US, War Bounty Land Warrants, 1789-1858 Revolutionary War > Indexes and Registers To Revolutionary War Military Bounty Land Warrants, 1788-1848 > ALL > Image 618 of 680  https://www.ancestry.com/imageviewer/collections/1165/images/miusa1788_057937-00687
    • Original source U.S. Revolutionary War Bounty Land Warrants Used in the U.S. Military District of Ohio and Relating Papers (Acts of 1788, 1803, and 1806), 1788-1806; Microfilm Publication M829; NAID: 635444; Records of the Bureau of Land Management, Record Group 49; National Archives at Washington, D.C.
  • US Dept. of Interior,  Bureau of Land Management, General Land Office Records (https://glorecords.blm.gov/)  Search of William Harrison with Northrop & Shane

Sunday, July 23, 2023

Prenuptial Agreement Elizabeth J Carlton Putman & James E Arnold

Today's find is a prenuptial agreement between James E Arnold & Elizabeth J Putman(widow of Noah Putman)  The agreement was recorded on 23rd November 1874.  James and Elizabeth were married the next day by R W Vinsitt in Christian County Kentucky.

"Deeds, 1797-1912; index to deeds, 1797-1915"
Christian Co KY Court Clerk
Microfilmed by Genealogical Society of Utah(1968)
Deeds, v. 52 1873-1875 pg 171
Digitized by FamilySearch Film #463195  DGS 8338562
Image 112 of 418  https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:3Q9M-CSTP-M4XH-5



Saturday, July 22, 2023

Deeds of Heirs of David Frizzell--Bedford Co. TN



Those researching David W Frizzell and wife, Rebecca Manley will be interested in the following deeds.  David and Rebecca had at least 11 children. Two of them predeceased David as did Rebecca.  He is sometimes confused with another David Frizzell who also lived in Bedford Co TN and died leaving a will naming his wife Nancy.   After Rebecca's death, David did remarry to Sallie McKee(she is the Sallie enumerated with him in 1870) however all of his known children are thru his 1st wife, Rebecca.  They lived in District 4 of Bedford County Tennessee.  I'll post any others I find and link the posts. David and Rebecca are my 2nd Great Grandparents(the maternal grandparents of my paternal grandmother)

Neighbors mentioned in the Deeds:
Heirs of James Hoover
Heirs of John Frizzell
Gray Lynch
John L Harris
John Holder 
B F Pearson
Jacob Lynn
Rebecca J Bingham
A D Fugett
Malinda Robinson
Jo Freeman
Joseph Giles

"Bedford County, Tennessee deed books and index, 1808-1966"
Register of Deeds
Deed Book QQQ pg. 202
Microfilmed by Tenn. Dept. of Education(1965)
Deeds v. QQQ-RRR Oct 1880-Nov 1882
Digitized at FamilySearch
Film #476372 DGS 8567901
Image 132 of 640
https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:3Q9M-C3QY-6Y3D?i=131
L P Frizzell and others Deed to D C Taylor

"Bedford County, Tennessee deed books and index, 1808-1966"
Register of Deeds
Deed Book QQQ pg. 203
Microfilmed by Tenn. Dept. of Education(1965)
Deeds v. QQQ-RRR Oct 1880-Nov 1882
Digitized at FamilySearch
Film #476372 DGS 8567901
Image 132 of 640
https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:3Q9M-C3QY-6Y3D?i=131
Jas R & Henry Frizzell Deed to D C Taylor


"Bedford County, Tennessee deed books and index, 1808-1966"
Register of Deeds
Deed Book QQQ pg. 204
Microfilmed by Tenn. Dept. of Education(1965)
Deeds v. QQQ-RRR Oct 1880-Nov 1882
Digitized at FamilySearch
Film #476372 DGS 8567901
Image 133 of 640
https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:3Q9M-C3QY-69MB-7
James Jakes & Wife Deed to D C Taylor

"Bedford County, Tennessee deed books and index, 1808-1966"  
Register of Deeds
Deeds v. SSS pg. 390
Microfilmed by Tenn. Dept. of Education(1965)
Deeds v. SSS-TTT Nov 1882-Feb 1885
Digitized at FamilySearch
Film #476373  DGS  8567902
Image 226 of 647
James Jakes & wife deed to J M Fulks

"Bedford County, Tennessee deed books and index, 1808-1966"  
Register of Deeds
Deeds v. SSS pg. 391
Microfilmed by Tenn. Dept. of Education(1965)
Deeds v. SSS-TTT Nov 1882-Feb 1885
Digitized at FamilySearch
Film #476373  DGS  8567902
Image 226 of 647
L P Frizzell & others deed to J M Fulks

Tennessee probate court books : COLLECTION RECORD, 1795-1927
Bedford Co. TN Court Clerk
Inventory of Sale v B pp 617 and 618
Microfilmed by Tenn. Dept. of Education(1965)
Wills & inventories, vol. A-B, Sept. 1863-Mar. 1878.
Digitized at FamilySearch
Film#  476081   4776095
Image 330 of 339 
Inventory of Estate Sale from David Frizzell Probate file


Sources:
  • Bedford County, Tennessee, Deed Book QQQ:202, L P Frizzell and others to D C Taylor; microfilmed by Tennessee Department of Education, 1965, Deeds v. QQQ-RRR Oct 1880-Nov 1882; digital images, FamilySearch (https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:3Q9M-C3QY-6Y3D?i=131 : accessed  22 July 2023), image 132 of 640, film #476372, DGS 8567901.
  • Bedford County, Tennessee, Deed Book QQQ:203, Jas R & Henry Frizzell to D C Taylor," microfilmed by Tennessee Department of Education, 1965, Deeds v. QQQ-RRR Oct 1880-Nov 1882; digital images, FamilySearch (https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:3Q9M-C3QY-6Y3D?i=131 : accessed  22 July 2023), image 132 of 640, film #476372, DGS 8567901.
  • Bedford County, Tennessee, Deed Book QQQ:204, James Jakes & Wife to D C Taylor," microfilmed by Tennessee Department of Education, 1965, Deeds v. QQQ-RRR Oct 1880-Nov 1882; digital images, FamilySearch (https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:3Q9M-C3QY-69MB-7 : accessed 22 July 2023), image 133 of 640, film #476372, DGS 8567901.
  • Bedford County, Tennessee, Deed Book SSS:390, James Jakes & Wife to J M Fulks," microfilmed by Tennessee Department of Education, 1965, Deeds v. SSS-TTT Nov 1882-Feb 1885; digital images, FamilySearch (https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:3Q9M-C3QY-X327-4?cat=298281 : accessed  22 July 2023), image 226 of 647, film #476373, DGS 8567902.
  • Bedford County, Tennessee, Deed Book SSS:391, L P Frizzell & others to J M Fulks," microfilmed by Tennessee Department of Education, 1965, Deeds v. SSS-TTT Nov 1882-Feb 1885; digital images, FamilySearch (https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:3Q9M-C3QY-X327-4?cat=298281 : accessed  22 July 2023), image 226 of 647, film #476373, DGS 8567902.
  • Bedford County, Tennessee, Inventory of Sale v B:617-618, Inventory of Estate Sale from David Frizzell Probate file," microfilmed by Tennessee Department of Education, 1965, Wills & inventories, vol. A-B, Sept. 1863-Mar. 1878; digital images, FamilySearch (https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:S7WF-SK9F-D9 : accessed  22 July 2023), image 330 of 339, film #476081, DGS 4776095.

Friday, July 21, 2023

George Solifelt--Court Martial File Aug 1865


If you have been following my George Solifelt research, you might remember that I'd found two court martial files in the NARA catalog.  I ordered the one I knew had to be him(it mentioned one of the companies he served in during the Civil War.)  Finally have a transcription of sorts of the proceedings.  I have formatted it so that it is easier to read.  There were several cases prior to it which were put off due to absences of parties.  The file contains notation of those before beginning with the court martial.  My transcription begins with the court martial of George and 4 others from Co. "E" 20 Pennsylvania Cavalry.  Note that he is listed as George T Solifelt here.  Sometimes the middle initial is H.  Fellow soldier John Price is not only involved in the court martial with George but he will be at the same prison in 1870 when George is doing time for highway robbery.  Both men are listed in the description log books along with their identifying marks both of which are tattoos.

Abstracted information from the court martial of George T Solifelt(and others)

The Court then proceeded to the trial of 
Sergeant Charles S Garrett & Privates Thomas
Newbury, George T Solifelt, John Crawford and
John Price All of Co E 20 Penn Cavalry who
were called into court and having heard the
order conversing the court read were asked if
they had any objection to any member
named in the order
To this they replied in the negative
The court was
then duly sworn by the Judge Advocate
in the presence of the prisoners
and the Judge Advocate was duly sworn
by the presiding officer also in the
presence of the prisoners
The Prisoners
Sergeant Charles S Garrett & Privates
Thomas Newbury, George T Solifelt, John
Crawford and John Price all of Co "E" 20th
Penn Cavalry were arraigned on the following
Charge & Specification
Charge   Robbery
Specification   In this that they the said
Sergeant Charles S Garrett Privates Thomas 
Newbury George T Solifelt John Crawford
and John Price all of Co E "20" Penn Cavly
did enter the dwelling of Alfred Nally a
Citizen of Charles Co Md and did steal
there from a hat, one watch, about one dollar
and fifty cents in silver coin, two coats one
vest, one pair of pants and keys belonging
to the trunks of the said Alfred Nally Citizen
This at or near Port Tobacco Md on or
abt the 30th day of April 1865
To which charge and
specification the prisoners pleaded as follows
of the Specification to Charge Not Guilty
of the -----------  ---- Charge Not Guilty

Sergeant Richard Abbott Quarter Master Sgt
of Co D 3rd N.J. Cavalry a witness
for the prosecution being duly sworn
testified
My name is Richard Abbott, I
am Quarter Master Sergeant of Co D 3rd N.J. Cavalry
and acting Provost Sergeant at Port Tobacco

Ques by Judge Advocate    Do you or not know
the Prisoners
Ans   By sight
Q by J.A.   Were you Provost Sergeant at Port
Tobacco when these men were arrested
Ans   I was   I arrested them--Crawford
and Garrett--for having been implicated in
the robbery of Mr. Nally a citizen--After
having turned them over to the Provost Marshal
at Remount Camp Lieut Stone--in the
tent in which I arrested them I found
a watch which had been stolen from Mr.
Nelly   I arrested these two upon in-
formation received from the other prisoners
Newbury, Solifelt and Price after they
had been prisoners for a while they were sent
to Port Tobacco  I searched Crawford 
and Garret but found none of the stolen
property on them    The robbery was made
on the last of April
all belong to Co E 20th Penn Cavalry
Q  J.A.  Did you find any other property
than the watch
A   I did not but Lieut Stone found
some keys in the tent where the watch
was found    Mr Nally claimed the 
watch
Q by prisoner Garrett    Did you arrest Garret
in the tent or in the street and how do
you know that we all belonged in the same
tent the watch was found in
Ans   I was in charge of the party who
arrested Garret   I am not positive whether
the tent belonged to the prisoner Garret or
not   I went there at 12 1/2 P.M Nobody
was in the street of 20 Penn Cavalry
at the time   I went to the officer of
20th Penn Cavalry  He got up and
went around with me--He went to
Adams' tent and called him out
I took him to the Provost Marshall and
went back to Adams' tent  Adams is a 
Sergeant of the 20th Penn Cavalry  The guard
which went there with me had the other
parties Crawford and Garrett  I am not
certain that Adams' and Garretts' tent is
the same  I understood so before going
there that it was
Q by Court  Who was it arrested Garrett
Ans   One of my guards  I don't know which 
one   I obtained information from Price 
Solifelt and Newbury that Crawford and
Garrett were present with them when the
robbery was committed  Solifelt told
me that Price had the watch   Price told
me that he had given Sergeant Adams the 
watch but that Adams was not there
when the robbery was committed.  Solifelt
told me that Price, Crawford and Garrett
were present when the robbery was com-
mitted but I think that Garrett had
nothing to do with it.
Q   J A   How do you know that the watch
referred to belonged to Mr. Nally
Ans.   I did not know at the time
but since then Mr. Nally has identified it.

Alfred Nally a citizen of Charles County Md
a witness for the prosecution being duly sworn
testified.
My name is Alfred Nally I am
a citizen of Charles County MD.  I have
seen all of the prisoners they were at my
house last Sunday two weeks ago.(April 30)
Those five men last Sunday morning two 
weeks ago came along by my house in-
quiring the way to a shop(a whiskey shop)
They asked me if some men had not
passed by my house and said that they
were after them to catch them and carry
them down to camp.  I told them
yes that a lot had just passed and
that they had taken a watch from a
black man who they had found just
above my house.  They then went on
and were gone about an hour and a half
And as they returned they stopped and 
asked me for their dinner.  I told them
that they could have it.  They sat
down and had their dinner and all 
the time they were at the table they 
had on canteens of whiskey and drank
of it frequently seeming as if they wanted
to get drunk.  One poured out a tumbler
full and wanted to make me by force drink
it.  They got up from the table and bid me farewell.  When they had gotten out 
of the gate three of them turned back
again and went behind the stable and
had a talk.  They then came back
and one of them was acting lieutenant.
He gave the other two(the witness desig
nates Newbury as acting as lieutenant
and Solifelt and Price as the other two
men accompanying him on his return
and to whom he gave orders)  orders to search
my house and take what they pleased
He (Newbury) then put me under arrest
by locking his carbine and telling me 
that if I moved that he would blow my
my(sic) brains out.  The other two then went
to work to rob the house.  One of them
that one setting there(the witness designate
Rice) went to my wife and after getting her
up in the corner of the room told her that
if she did not give up a watch she had
that he would smash her over her damned
head.  He took the watch from her.  He 
then broke open my wife's trunk.  In it
was about a dollar and a half in silver
He(Price) took that.  This same man
took a hat belonging to my little boy
Among them they took from my house
was a bunch of keys belonging to trunks and
a side board.  I have seen the watch
in the possession of the Provost Marshall
Q J A  What was the other man doing
during this time
Ans  He was searching trunks too
when he --that one--(Solifelt) was going out
of the room  I saw that he had some
of my wife's dress patterns hanging on his
arm.  I shamed him and he threw them
down I don't know what those two outside
were doing.
Q J A Di you no not see Garrett and 
Crawford after they left your house after
getting dinner?
Ans  While the three were in the house
I saw them at the gate
Q J A  Do you know whether or not they
went away immediately
Ans  I don't
Q J A   How far is the gate from the house
Ans About two hundred yards
Q J A  If you were under guard how 
could you see what the men was doing in
the house.
Ans.   It was all in the same room
Q J A  What was the conduct of those
two men who did not come back
Ans They acted very cleverly toward
me
Q J A Do you or not know where they got
liquor
Ans  I don't know.  I suppose at the 
shop about a mile from where I live.
the one they inquired for when they first
came along.  I don't think they had
been drinking then for they behaved well
Q J A  Which were those who came back
to search the house
Ans  That one(Newbury) and that one 
(Price) and that one(Solifelt)
Abraham Gunter Sergeant Co "E" 20 Penn Cavalry
a witness for the prosecution being duly sworn
testified
My name is Abraham Gunter am a 
sergeant of Co "E" 20th Penn. Cavalry
I know the prisoners.  They are Privates
John B Crawford  George Solifelt, John
Price and Thos Newbury and Sgt Charles
S Garrett Co "E" 20th Penn Cavalry
The prosecution closed
Daniel S West Private in 3rd N J. Cav'ly a 
witness for the defense being duly sworn testified
My name is Daniel S West am a 
Private of 3rd New Jersey Cavalry  I 
know the prisoners they are Sgt Garrett
and Private Crawford 20th Peen Cavalry
Q by Prisoner  Did you or not over hear Nally
a citizen whose house was robbed say that
he drank with the party who committed
the robbery
Ans.  I did
Alanson S Phillips 2nd Lieut Co K 17th 
Penn Cavalry a witness for the defense being
duly sworn testified.
My name is Alanson S Phillips am 2nd Lieut Co K 17th
Penn Cavalry.  I have seen Sgt Garrett
and think I have seen the other(Crawford)
Q by Prisoner  So you do not know of Sgt
Garrett having been arrested on or about
April 30th
Ans  I only know that about that time
that I arrest him on suspicion and (took)
him and another to Major Seward the
then commander of the camp.  I ar-
-rested him and the other man just here
opposite the church
Q by Pris.   Were there any one with these 
two men when they arrived in camp
Ans   No Sir
Q by Pris  What time of day was it 
that you made the arrest
Ans About three or four o'clock
Q by Pris  Why did you suspicion these
men.
Ans  Because the report had come to me
while I was out at the other end of the line
that some men had been out committing
depredations and I came over to instruct
the pickets to arrest any one coming in
saw these two men and arrested them 
The defense was closed
The prisoners having no further testimony
to offer and no defense to make
The case was closed
The court was cleared
After mature deliberation upon
the evidence adduced do find the
prisoners Sgt Charles S Garrett Privates
Thomas Newbury, George T Solifelt John Crawford and John Price as follows all of Co E 20th Penn Cavalry

Outcome & notations on the jacket of the document

Charles S Garrett & John Crawford are found Not Guilty 
acquitted, and released from custody and returned to duty.

Thomas Newbury, George T Solifelt and John Price are found guilty and are ordered to be confined for two years in such penitentiary as the Secretary of War may designate.

We the undersigned member of the General Court Martial do most courteously
recommend to the mercy of the Commanding General
Privates Thos. Newbury, George T Solifelt and John Price Co E 20th Penn Cavalry considering their offense more of an indiscretion committed under the influence of intoxicating drink than a willful intention to commit a robbery. (signatures in image below)


Fort Delaware Del is designated as the place of confinement.

E D Townsend Asst Adjutant General
August 23, 1865

Copy Furnished Pt John Price June 30, 1869

Source:
Court Martial Case Files, MM-2557; Record Group 153; Records of the Office of the Judge Advocate General(Army); National Archives, Washington, DC. [Case of Sgt Garrett & four others Co. "E" 20th Pa Cavalry ]




Wednesday, July 19, 2023

Thomas & Francis Adcock Deed 40 Acres in Dekalb Co TN to A E Adcock

"Deed books, 1838-1897; deed index books, 1838-1968"
Dekalb Co TN Register of Deeds
Filmed by TSLA, 1969.
digitized by FamilySearch.org
Dekalb Co TN Deed books, v. M-N 1876-1880 Film 593066 DGS 8320320
Image 285 of 714 Dekalb Co TN Deed Book M page 529
https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:3Q9M-CSTM-33B9-T

Thomas Adcock & Wife 
Deed to A E Adcock

Know all men by these presents that we Thomas Adcock and wife Francis Adcock have this day bargained and sold transferred and conveyed to A E Adcock and his heirs and representative all the right title and claim we have in and to a certain tract or parcel of land lying and being in District # 7 Dekalb County Tennessee for the consideration of one hundred dollars to us in hand paid the receipt of which is hereby acknowledged and known as one half of the Webb Lands and bounded as follows to wit on the North by William Pinegar on the South by the lands of Tilford Glenn on the west by the lands of W R Dunham and the widow Neal on the East by the lands of N E Adcock we covenant with the said A E Adcock his heirs and representatives that we are lawfully seized of said lands and have a good right to convey the same and we also warrant and defend the right and title of said land to A E Adcock his heirs and signs forever hereunto we wright our hands and seal this Dec 1st 1877

Thomas Adcock
Francis Adcock

State of Tennessee To N Z Judkins Esquire you are hereby authorized
Dekalb County and impowered to take the examination of Francis
Adcock wife of Thom Adcock relative to her free
execution of the annexed instrument and the s--- so
taken to certify under your hand and seal witness E J Evans Clerk of the county court of said county at office this 1st day of Dec 1877 E J Evans Clerk

Francis Adcock wife of Thomas Adcock having personally appeared before me and having by virtue of the authority in me vested been examined privately and apart from her said husband and she having acknowledged the due execution of the answered judgement by her freely voluntarily and understandingly with out compulsion or constraint by her said husband and for the purpose there in expressed the same is therefore certified witness my hand and seal this 1st day of Dec 1877.
N Z Judkins
Justice of Peace Dekalb County Tenn.

State of Tennessee }Personally appeared before me E.J. Evans clerk of the county
Dekalb County }Court of Dekalb County Tennessee Thomas Adcock the
within named bargainer with whom I am personally
with and he acknowledged the within deed to be his act
& Deed for the purpose there in contained Dec 30 1877
E J Evans Clerk

Recevd the above deed of conveyance from Thomas Adcock & Wife
To A E Adcock with the clerk & commissioner certificate
thereto on 3rd inst. at 10 o'clock A M and Noted in
Note Book to Page 254 and duly recorded in Book M
Page 527 done at office 3rd December 1877 J B Atwell Register for Dekalb County Tennessee.




Tuesday, July 18, 2023

Daniel Pitman--Warren Co. TN (9th Jan 1858)

I've been using FamilySearch's experimental search tool to find records that might be relevant to my research.  The search has been pretty successful at locating items for those in my Wm C Cook's FAN club a lot faster than I would have been able to without it.  I'm finding names of those who have purchased from an estate sale as well as those who were listed in deeds as owning property next to the land that was registered. 

I spend a lot of time working on the Cook line because it is the one I have not gotten back as far as my other lines.  Today it was nice to be able to find one of my maternal lines using this search tool.  Daniel Pitman(my 3rd great) is listed in a Warren Co TN Court Book in a list of folks who owed notes that were turned over to the court.  



"Tennessee Probate Court Books, 1795-1927," images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:3QSQ-2567-Y9?cc=1909088&wc=M6QW-STL%3A179838801%2C180074401 : 22 May 2014), Warren > Inventories, Wills, 1863-1870, Vol. 04 > image 131 of 336; county courthouses, Tennessee.[The entry for Daniel Pitman is one which is a list of notes that were given to the court for collection. Most of the ones on the same list as Daniel Pitman are folks which lived in the District 6 Dekalb Co TN area even though this is a Warren Co TN Court Book ]

Monday, July 17, 2023

Noah Putman: Statement of Non-importation of slaves--Christian Co KY (1851)

I'm wondering why Noah Putman made this sworn statement.  Kentucky had a non-importation law(1833) that prohibited people from bringing slaves into the state for the purpose of selling them however I thought they had overturned that by 1850.¹ ² I'm wondering if his move was prior to the overturning of non-importation and he just wanted to go on record.  More than likely there was something else that prompted this.  But what?  I do not have his 1850 Census entry located.  His brother Hiram was in  Williamson County, TN during the 1850 Census and both would die in Kentucky by the mid 1850s.

"Deeds, 1797-1912; index to deeds, 1797-1915"
Christian Co KY Clerk of the County Court
Filmed by the Genealogical Society of Utah(1968)
Digitized by FamilySearch.org
Deeds, v. 34 1851-1852 Film # 463177  DGS 008338543
Image 51 of 429
https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:3Q9M-CSTN-GQD4-1

I Noah Putman do solemnly swear that my removal
to the state of Kentucky was with intention of becoming
a citizen thereof and that I have brought with me No slave
or slaves with intention of selling them so help me God
sworn before me-                  --Noah Putman
May 16th 1851
W S Talbott J P


Commonwealth of Kentucky
County of Christian to wit

I Abraham Stiles the clerk of the county court of Christian County aforesaid do certify that the foregoing affidavit of Noah Putman was on this day produced to me in my office by the said affiant & ordered to be recorded whereupon the said affidavit together with the foregoing certificate hath been duly admitted to record in my office given under my hand the 26th day of May 1851


attest Abraham Stiles CCCC
by A J Stiles DC



  1. Tim Talbott, “Slavery Laws in Old Kentucky,” ExploreKYHistory, accessed July 18, 2023, https://explorekyhistory.ky.gov/items/show/180.
  2. Martin Asa Earl. 1970 1918. The Anti-Slavery Movement in Kentucky Prior to 1850. New York: Negro Universities Press.  Hathitrust Digital Library:  accessed July 18, 2023, https://hdl.handle.net/2027/inu.30000055061109 .

Sunday, July 16, 2023

William Putman Land Entry: Recorded April 1840

"Trust deeds, 1868-1966; deeds, 1799-1965; land entry, survey, plat books, 1824-1902, 1938-1966"
Williamson Co TN Register of Deeds
Microfilmed by TN Dept of Education(1965)
Digitized by FamilySearch.org
Land entry books Apr 1824-Jul 1902  Film # 454843 DGS  8475601
Image 223 of 487
https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:3Q9M-C39N-4SKD-J?i=222
Entry No 1137   William Putman  1 October 1838
Recorded 9 April 1840
William Putman Enters a piece of land lying in
Williamson County District 25 beginning on
an Elm in Putmans old line thence North to
a Pin Oak thence West with Barrs old line
to the line of Jabin Putmans fifty acre entry
thence East to the beginning.



Saturday, July 01, 2023

The Conglomerate File

Never judge a book by its cover, nor a file by the contents of the first few pages.  I have two examples in my own research where doing that would have caused me to miss out on documents relevant to my research.

The first case is a probate file.  When the county archives were receiving the record from the courthouse there was an attempt to organize the papers in file folders which resulted in the the combining of the probate files of two men who had similar names.  Most of the papers in the file folder are those of the man who died leaving a will but two of the pages are from another man a similar name who died intestate. The folder was microfilmed and is listed this way in databases of the online companies who carry this record.  I sent an explanation to the county archives and they now have this noted for the file there.  I've also posted comments to the digital records with an explanation in hopes that others could see that the contents were for 2 individuals.

The next example involves a Revolutionary War pension file where two men of the same name were combined. The first 10 pages of the file are for a soldier and the remainder are for a Widow's pension. When closely examined it becomes clear that the two men are not the same person but are people with a similar name.  Had I only read the first 10 pages and decided that wasn't my person of interest, I'd have missed out on the remainder of pages(almost 100) which contain a wealth of information.

You should:  

  • Be familiar with the person you seek and their associates. (What distinguishes them from others of the same name?)
  • Understand the source type
  • Know what should or shouldn't be in the file(ie.  the significance of admin vs executor, etc.)
  • Seek an explanation when things just don't make sense or items are missing 
Being committed to read the entire file is a part of reasonably exhaustive research.  Analysis of the source's history is also key.  Seek out a copy of the BCG's Genealogy Standards if you do not already have one.  The 2nd Edition Revised is the most recent printing.  Even if you aren't a professional genealogist, these standards will help to keep your research on track and keep you from building your own brick wall.