My Genealogy Happenings over the last 6 months

During the past 6 months, much of my research has been focused on Old Hickory, Tennessee as I completed a few projects and added some new ones.  About 18 years ago when I'd designed my original genealogy website(hosted on Rootsweb's Freepages) I'd coded several pages which focused on my Dad, his parents & siblings, and the neighborhood in which he grew up.  My website was in bad need of updating and with Freepages pretty much going the way of the dinosaur, I made the decision to move my pages to my blog.  This sounds like a big project but seems to be going rather well.

What's been happening in my Genealogy World

• Moved my Confederate Pension Application Abstracts here to my Blog
• Studying the Clark Street and Dodson Street neighbors
• Found a TN State Supreme Court Case that my 2nd Great Grandfather was involved in and got a copy of it(41 pages)  Lots of people involved in the case which is about the sale of a horse.  Testimony given by my 2nd Great Grandfather about the horse was awesome to read.  The biggest surprise was the Dickson Co TN connection.
• Contacted Hagley Museum and Library to inquire about any Rental Records Dupont might have had from Old Hickory's Company Town Days.  They do not have them but did send me two reports done on another of Dupont's company towns to give me an idea of what all was involved with that process. (I contacted Dupont about it just to cover all bases and was told they didn't know the answer to my question.  Maybe contacting someone local will help)  If the Old Hickory Dupont plant still has them it would be a wonderful project and good PR for Dupont if they could let a Historical Society or TN State Library and Archives scan them.  I believe 1946 was the time when the homes were up for purchase.  Up until that point all the people that lived there pretty much worked for Dupont and rented from them. 
• Ordered my Uncle Morris' Official Military Personnel Files thru Veterans Voice.  I was able to get a discount on the order.(One of the perks of being a Virtual Genealogical Association member.) Excited to finally do that.  He has no descendants so I ordered his as my first order.  I hope to be able to order Dad's soon.
• Still working on trying to find the missing connection for my Cook(e) line.  I have Y111 DNA results and numerous autosomal testers.  Slowly but surely.  This past year has been a good one for finding out more information about our Cook(e)s and the ones that our DNA results suggest we most closely match.  I have our back to the 2nd Gr Grandparent level so I feel like there are likely about 2 generations in between the connection.   Time to make a grid for all the Joseph's we've collected from the same area...and another grid of the William C Cook or W.C. Cooks.  I know from past experience this works and when I get all of the grid filled out I will likely discover more information and have to redo it so I should do this like yesterday.
• In the midst of working on the Old Hickory projects I decided to contact the Register of Deeds here in Dickson County and get the listing of the people who owned the house that my grandmother lived in from about 1970-1976.  I have many great memories of the house on 203 North Charlotte Street and I even remember the neighbors.  I'm hoping to do a blog post on the house though I've written a good bit about it in the tribute to my Grandmother, Pearl Gray Jakes Cooke. 
• I've also been working on an archive notebook of the papers which my Grandmother Pearl saved.  You can read more about the types of papers and info at the linked blog post. 
• I hope to start on my own archive notebook of papers soon.
• Continuing to work my DNA matches and log genetic networks to help find kinship.
• Attending Webinars to further my Genealogy education. Enjoying the Genealogy Podcasts and blogs.  Also I'm looking forward to Rootstech though I will only be able to participate in the streaming portion of it.  I'm hoping there will be some great announcements by the sponsors. 

What's happening in your Genealogy World?

Neighbors near Zepheniah Anglin--1840 Bedford Co. TN Census

A listing of the names near Zephaniah Anglin from the 1840 Bedford County Census. He along with William Putman was involved in a State Supreme Court case which included a deposition by my 2nd Great Grandfather(William Clifford Cook) and several other persons of interest in my family research.   As always please check the images as this is simply a listing of the persons as I see them listed.  There may be mistakes.  I am human ☺️

1840 Bedford Co TN census
Pg 43
John McFarland
William Brown
John Dickson
John Morrison
William Pounds
William Rucker
John A Chambers
John Maxwell
William Hooper
Kenedy Almon
John Norman
Robert Allison jun
William Thomas
Mary Davis
John A Moore
Stephen E Hale
Lewis Weatherford
Enoch Rushing
James Underwood
Lewis Heath
Rutha Pinkerton
Stephen Hargrove
Elizabeth Davis
James Merchant
Mansfield Whitehead
Owen C Briant
Alfred Ransom
David O Briant
Lucinda Robertson
Crawford Carlton
Saml Wheeler


Pg 44
Jesse Wheeler
William Taylor
Oliver Bullock
Pious Ward
Hardy Pope
Joseph Hoit(Hight)
Ezekial Ward
Solomon Pope
William C Ward
Thomas Carlton
Burrel Ward
Absalom Stockard
R.F. P Jones
Andrew Vickory
Margarett Vickory
Jonathan Vickory
John Ray
Allen Cooper
James Smith
John Scott
William Elmore
Thomas Wilson
Saml Daughtery
Esther Lamb
Sarah Cooper
James Mankins
Hugh Sherwood
Merrett Corbett
Jeremiah Phillips
Zephaniah Anglin
Willis Lamb

pg. 45

Joshua Sutton

Joseph Sutton

Thomas B Carlton

Nancy Boiler(These are likely Bylers)

James Boiler  "

1840 U.S. Federal Census, Bedford County, Tennessee, population schedule, pg 43-44; imaged at Ancestry (https://search.ancestry.com/search/db.aspx?dbid=8057: accessed 20 January 2019); citing National Archives microfilm publication M704-519.

Neighbors near Zepheniah Anglin--1830 Bedford Co. TN Census

A listing of the names near Zepheniah Anglin from the 1830 Bedford County Census. He along with William Putman was involved in a TN State Supreme Court case which included a deposition by my 2nd Great Grandfather(William Clifford Cook) and several other persons of interest in my family research.   As always please check the images as this is simply a listing of the persons as I see them listed.  There may be mistakes.  I am human ☺️ 

1830 Bedford Co TN
Adjacent to Pg 82 (stamped)
Image 161 of 264(at Ancestry)
Abraham Landers
B Wade
John Haskins
Thomas Pearson
Wm Straton
Michael Pitman
Wm Harrison
John Harrison
Joel Kimmons?
Thos Callen
Charles Fain
Henry Bottz
Daniel McKissick
George Fulmore
Susannah Landes
A C Sublett
John Jackson
John Hendley
Wm Pinkerton
Nancy Cox
Wm Batts
Caleb Cox
Joseph Rushing
Wm Taylor
Wiley Marchant
Eve Philips
Daniel  Dwiggins

Adjacent to Pg 83(stamped)
Image 163 of 264(at Ancestry)
John Deason
Thos McLain
George McClain
Jefferson West
E.C. Harrison
Wm. Harrison
Elizabeth Cook
Wm Harrison
F Battz
Richard Webb
Zephaniah Anglin
Wm Wade
Moody Whitt?
Dempsey Sutton
Wm Sutton
Alexander Sutton
Richard Smith
Enoch Williams
Thornton Mallard
Peggy Edwards
Benj. Dunn
Hugh Smotherman
Benjamin Allen
John Dunn
Samuel Smotherman
D Lamb
J Lamb

1830 U.S. Federal Census, Bedford County, Tennessee, population schedule, pg 82-83; imaged at Ancestry (https://search.ancestry.com/search/db.aspx?dbid=8058: accessed 20 January 2019); citing National Archives microfilm publication M19 roll 174.

23andMe Ethnicity Estimates Updated

While we've not done a test at 23andMe, my family was able to upload those who had tested at Ancestry during 23andMe's DNA day promotion in April of 2018. Those who uploaded do not get matches, but they have received the ethnicity estimates. 23andMe recently updated ethnicity estimates. A comparison of new to updated is shown below. I have deep colonial American roots on both sides of my family.  My daughter has colonial American on her Paternal Grandmother's side but she also has Germans coming to America around 1830 and English coming to America in the late 1800s.

My Original Ethnicity Estimates

My Updated Ethnicity Estimates

My Daughter's Original Ethnicity Estimates

My Daughter's Updated Ethnicity Estimates

Will of Shem Cook--Carroll Co. GA--1862

Will of Shem Cook
(Beginning on page 58)

Georgia
Carroll County

In the name of God amen I Shem Cook
of said state and county being of
advanced age and knowing that I must
shortly depart from this world deem it right & proper
both as respects myself and my family that I should
make a disposition of the property with which a
kind providence has blessed me.  I therefore make
this my last will and testament, hereby revoking
and annulling all others heretofore made by me
Item First--I devise and direct that my body be buried
in a decent and Christian like manner suitable
to my circumstances and condition--my soul thus
shall return to rest with God who gave it as I
hope for eternal salvation through the blessed Lord
& Savior Jesus Christ whose religion I professed and
humbly trust enjoyed for 30 years.

Item Second--I desire and direct that all my just
debts be paid without delay by my executors hereinafter
named as I am unwilling my creditors should be
delayed of their rights especially as their(sic) is no necessity
for delay.

Item Third--I devise and direct that William Sutton
my son in law shall take my wife Temperance and
keep her, her lifetime and be paid for the same out
of my estate and if he fails to comply that arrange-
ments be made for the same.  Paid for out of my
effects.

Item Fourth--I give and bequeath to my son R.B. Cook
five dollars.

Item Fifth--I give and bequeath to Solomon West's
children that he had by my daughter Ann, five dollars

Item Sixth--I give and bequeath my negro property
to my sons James B & A.J. Cook and daughter Elizabeth
Sutton and Penelopy Yarber to be divided according to
valuation by lot, not sold.

(Page 59)

Item Seventh--I direct that all the rest of my property
be sold and equally divided between James B. and
A.J Cook and Elizabeth Sutton and Penelopy W.
Yarber, after paying my just debts and provid-
ing for the support of my wife and paying
the other legatees their five dollars

Item Eight-- I will and direct that the prop-
erty that I give to James B & A.J. Cooke  & Elizabeth
Sutton & Penelopy W. Yarber is for them to hold
their lifetime then to their children.

Item Ninth--I constitute and appoint my sons James B. & A.J. Cook and William Sutton executors to
this my last will and testament This January
28th 1862   Shem (x)  Cook

Signed sealed declared published
by Shem Cook as his last will & testament in the
presence of us the subscribers who subscribe our
names hereto in the presence of said testator and
of each other This January 28th  1862
G.W. Burson
S.H. Hand
John L. Fletcher

Carroll Court of Ordinary
April Term 1862

Personally appeared in open court James B Cook &
William Sutton Executors of the last will and testa
ment of Shem Cook late of said county deceased
and produced before the court the last will
and testament of the said deceased and the
witnesses to the said will to wit G. W. Burson,
S.H. Hand and John L. Fletcher. The said
Burson and Hand being sworn say that they
saw the testator Shem Cook sign seal declare
and publish the paper now presented as his last
will and testament freely voluntarily and of his own
accord and without any compulsion or influence
whatever and at the time of executing said
will said testator was of sound & disposing mind
& memory that deponents signed the said will
as witnesses in the presence of the testator and in
the presence of each other
Sworn to & subscribed in open
court 7th April 1862

George W Burson
S.H. Hand

Source:
Carroll County, Georgia, Will Book A 1852-1896 : 58, Will of Shem Cook. 28 January 1862; imaged in "Georgia, Wills and Probate Records 1742-1922," Ancestry (https://www.ancestry.com/search/collections/8635/ : accessed 15 January 2019) > Carroll > Wills 1852-1922 > image 64 of 506.

Will of Kimbro Allison -2nd Jan, 1868 Bedford Co. TN

Kimbro Allison Will (Beginning on page 170)

Know all men by the presence that I  Kimbro Allison of the
county of Bedford and state of Tennessee being sound in
mind but knowing the uncertainty of life do make
and publish this my last will and testament hereby
revoking all others and give and bequeath my property
as follows

First
For the love and affection I have for my wife Sally
Allison I give and bequeath to her so much of my
household & kitchen furniture as she chooses it
being not over one half of all of said household
and kitchen furniture.  And to her one horse or
mule--one cow 1 calf and one yearling(her choice)
also one year's provisions and I give unto my
wife Sally one half of the cleared land of the home
place(after cutting off the amount I will to my
daughter Nancy Gerald) upon which half I give
my wife will be the dwelling house at which I
now reside.  Also the use of the lots? and firewoods--
This land and lots are willed to her my wife Saly
during her life----

2nd
I give and bequeath unto my daughter Nancy Gerald
sixty-five acres of land to be ? as follows first
a certain field containing forty acres and bounded
beginning at a post  ? near J W Sheffield's house
running West Seventy-five poles to a stake, thence
North Eighty-five poles to Moses Fallwell's NW corner of
a fifty-acre tract thence South with the Fallwells line
Eighty-Five poles to the beginning.  Then  to cut off twenty
five acres out of a woods lot joining said field to
the North out of the South West corner of said lot.
It being north of said field so as not to r? further
north than half way of the woods lot.
The above two pieces of Land taken together making
the sixty-five acres of land that I alone intend
to give--and I give the said sixty-five acres of Land
to Nancy B Gerald and her bodily heirs for her
use and benefit during her lifetime, then to her bodily
heirs.  I also give to Nancy B Gerald one hundred
dollars to be paid her out of my effects on
hand at my death--

3rd
I give unto my son Richard S. Allison and my
daughter Sarah Whitaker all my Rail Road Stock
and twenty-five acres of lumber land lying near
Augustus Wilsons in Bedford County to be equally
divided between them, Half and Half.
(page 171)

4th
I will that all my just debts be paid out of any
remaining property or debts I may have at my death
The remainder of all my estate to be divided
equally between my three children, Richard S. Allison
Sarah Whitaker and Nancy B Gould and the
land that I give my wife Sally to be divided at her
death equally between my three children--
5th
I hereby nominate and appoint Chesley Williams, E.
J. William and Cowden McCord as my executors
any one of which can act and I give them or authorize
of the power to sell and convey any and all
property Land  that I may die possessed(Not
disposed of by Special bequest) that becomes necessary
to sell for division and pay over to my children
for their own and children's use-


In witness whereof, I have this the
2nd Day of January 1868 Signed
my hand and seal
Kimbro Allison

In presence of
E.J. Williams
Bryant Landis
A. Wilson

State of Tennessee
Bedford County

I Reuben C Couch Clerk of
the County Court of said county
do certify that the foregoing is a true and proper
copy of the original  will of Kimbro Allison
proven and admitted to Probate at the February
Term of 1869 of the county court of said county
In Witness whereof, I have set my hand at office this 12 day
of February 1869
Reuben C Couch Clerk
Z. W. E. Gallworth D.C.


Kimbro Allison is my 1st Cousins 5 times removed(1C5R)

Source Information:

Bedford County, Tennessee, Wills Vol 1: 170-171. Will of Kimbro Allison, 2 Jan 1868; imaged in "Tennessee, Wills and Probate Records, 1779-2008," Ancestry (https://search.ancestry.com/search/db.aspx?dbid=9176  : accessed 14 January 2019) > Bedford > Wills, Vol 1-2, 1861-1922 > image 116 of 832.