Saturday, February 27, 2010

Research "State of the Union"

It's been a busy week of research and today (Saturday) will be a busy day. At 10:00 a.m. today Ginna and I will be meeting a distant cousin of hers, David Teague, and Love's United Methodist Church in Walkertown (NC). The cemetery there is where four generations (at least) of Ginna's maternal ancestors are buried. The Holtons, Carmichaels, Joneses, Dilworths... and who knows how many others. Ginna knows of her grand parents and great grand parents, but David will show us the graves of the two older generations which Ginna was previously unaware of.

At 2:30 this afternoon I will be meeting Bev Hamel for a planning session concerning some of our joint research on the families of the Yadkin River (western Forsyth and eastern Yadkin counties). Bev is the author the book Bethania.

A lot has been uncovered this week regarding the descendants of Samuel and Mary Harrison of Linville Creek, Augusta Co, Va. It appears this clan moved in the early to mid 1760s to NE South Carolina along the Lynches River. I've also discovered the fact that at least three of Samuel's sons were officers in the SC Rangers, a Loyalist regiment. Of the five sons of Samuel, at least two were killed during the Rev War, and two or three of the remaining sons moved to East Florida, a refuge of many of the Ga and SC Loyalists after the war. Soon thereafter, two of these Harrison brothers moved from FL (and possibly to AL for a time) to the Natchez (Miss) area along the Mississippi River and settled a town called Harrisonburg, which is now in Louisiana. I am in the process of trying to make contact with descendants of these families to further clarify and document these facts. And, of course, any connection of these Harrisons to the Harrisons and Pattersons of York Co SC would be a bonus.

I also sent off to the NC Archives a request for 13 land grants of the Yadkin River families, but I'm still waiting to hear back from them as to whether or not they received my online form requests. We'll see.

Wes

Wednesday, February 24, 2010

Fergusons of Chester Co, SC

There was a Thomas Patterson who owned land next to a John Ferguson in Chester Co, SC in the 1760s and 70s. Was this my Thomas Patterson? Was this my John Ferguson?

The following info is from an online query I found about other Fergusons of Chester Co, SC - but the email address the poster used is no longer valid.

UPDATE: I found his web page at http://familytreemaker.genealogy.com/users/f/e/r/Mike-Ferguson-iii-Crowley/index.html but again, the email address is not valid.

***************************************

http://archiver.rootsweb.ancestry.com/th/read/FERGUSON-DNA/2005-10/1129947099

From: Mike Ferguson III
Subject: Ferguson DNA Project
Date: Fri, 21 Oct 2005

I am Mike Ferguson III, I have submitted for a Y-DNA37 - Male 37 marker paternal test. I have a well documented family history from my 6th Great-grandparents James & Agnes (Adams) Ferguson of Chester District, South Carolina to myself. Colin I hope from this you can fill in Places, Most Ancient Paternal, Notes & Details.

6th GGP James Ferguson Jr. married Agnes Adams (Fishing Creek, Chester District, South Carolina)

5th GGP Samuel Ferguson Sr. married Isabella Barber (Rocky Creek, Chester District, South Carolina)

4th GGP Samuel Ferguson Jr. married Rachel Telford (Chester District, South Carolina)

3rd GGP James Bluford Ferguson Sr. married Nancy E. Lott (Carrol County, Mississippi)

2nd GGP John Lott Ferguson married Mary Susan Holman (Madison County, Texas)

GGP Will Samuel Ferguson married Mary Kathrene Thompson (Madison County, Texas)

GP Mike Ferguson Sr. married Hazel Marie Andrews (Madison County, Texas)

Parents Mike Ferguson Jr. married Garland Ann Boswell (Madison County, Texas)

Mike Ferguson III, I married Barbara Sue McEachern (Tarrant County, Texas)

From James and Agnes upward there are two theories:

1.In the book "My Ferguson Ancestors in America 1680-1993" by James Edward Ferguson with major contributions by Walter Whatley Brewster using deed records, wills, etc they have added on the following generations.

8th GGP John Ferguson Sr. married Ann Stubbleson (of Essex County, Virginia) the original immigrant from Scotland.

7th GGP James Ferguson Sr. married Anne ? (Goochland County, Virginia)

A. In an article by John Markham Ferguson Jr, with a letter from David Dobson (Scottish Writer) research is done that compares a seventeenth century ships passenger list against Virginia headright lists of the same time period. Analysis is that John Ferguson of Essex County, Virginia sailed in May 1666 on the ship Phoenix of Leith out of Leith, port of Edinburgh, Scotland and landed in York County, Virginia before December 11, 1666. There was a James Ferguson who was born ca. 1652 also on this ship. Possibly Johns brother, cousin,?.

B. There is also other research done through Scots Origins that lists John Ferguson Sr of Essex County, Viriginia parents and grandparents as follows:

10th GGP Alexander Ferguson married Beiggis Miller (Gargunnock, Stirling, Scotland)

9th GGP John Ferguson married Janet Turnbul (Gargunnock, Stirling, Scotland)

2. In the book "The Fergusons of Texas" by Ouida Ferguson Nalle, the books genealogy agrees with mine up to James & Agnes Ferguson. Then the book states the following: "The Ferguson line descends from William Ferguson, called "Old Squire." He fled from Scotland with his three brothers after the death of Olivier Cromwell in 1658. His father, Alpha Ferguson, was killed and his property confiscated by the Crown. Three other brothers who had fought on the side of the king remained in Scotland. A tattered Bible once carried by Old Squire Ferguson in the Cromwell campaigns is a precious possession of the Fergusons of Texas. By 1758 the Fergusons were in South Carolina. They fought in the Revolutionary War."

I would like to find out if there is anyone in Scotland who knows these Fergusons who fought during the time of Olivier Cromwell?

I noticed in the participation list there are descendants of John Ferguson of Essex County, Virginia who married Ann Stubbleson. It will be interesting to see how well we match up.

Sincerely,

Mike Ferguson III

Tuesday, February 23, 2010

NC Land Grants Requested

I tried a new process today (23 Feb 2010) - sending off for NC land grants using the NC Archives online web form. We'll see how this works.

The following grants are the ones for which I've submitted requests:

#1
For Person: David Stewart
In Year: 1748-1749
County: Anson
Other Info:
Per Hofmann's Granville District of NC 1748-1763, Vol. 4, grant #285 says "David Stewart, plat dated 10 Jan 1748/49, 138 acres (Anson Co) on the North Bank of the Yadkin River opposite Eagleton, joining the river bank; CC: Abraham Potter, Antony Heavely; C. Robinson Surv."

#2
For Person: Samuel Stewart
In Year: 1752
County: Rowan
Other Info:
Hofmann's Granville District of NC 1748-1763, Vol. 4, grant #287, "warrant dated 1 April 1752, to Charles Robinson, surveyor to survey 640 acres in Anson County on a branch of Muddy Creek above the head of Stewarts Run at 3 white oaks Mark'd and so up for complement."

#3
For Person: Samuel Stewart Jr
In Year: 1753
County: Rowan
Other Info:
Hofmann's Granville District of NC 1748-1763, Vol. 4, grant #288, "survey date, 23 April 1753, surveyed by Jas. Carter, dep. surveyor, 646 acres on the N E side of the Yadkin River and on waters of Reed Creek... joins David Steward; CC: David Stewart, John Steward."

#4
For Person: Ezaiah or Isaiah Harrison
In Year: 1753
County: Rowan
Other Info:
Ezaiah [Isaiah] Harrison had a Rowan County, NC Land entry for 15 March 1753, of 640 acres in Anson County (later Rowan), on the South side of Yadkin River.

#5
For Person: David Stewart
In Year: 1753
County: Rowan
Other Info:
David Stewart entered 380 acres on 26 July 1753, east side of Yadkin, (Rowan Co) adj Joseph Hartford, Wagners line, John Miller, and the several courses of the sd river. Warrant dated 30 Nov 1753, surveyed 23 May 1754, deed issued 9 May 1757. CC: John Stewart, John Dawson.

#6
For Person: Samuel Stewart
In Year: 1753
County: Rowan
Other Info:
508 acres east side of Yadkin River, (Rowan Co) joining several courses of sd river. Wit: Jno Haywood, David Stewart. Warrant dated 30 Nov 1753, surveyed 24 May 1754, deed issued 9 May 1757. CC: John Stewart, John Dawson. The back of the grant described the grantee as "Samuel Stewart Sr".

#7
For Person: Thomas McCaul (McCall)
In Year: 1757
County: Rowan
Other Info:
Thomas McCaul (McCall) entered 656 acres in Rowan Co on Stewards Run, surveyed 21 April 1753, and the grant was issued on 12 May 1757. CC: Samuel Steward, David Steward. This was grant #4721 in Hoffman's Granville District of NC 1748-1763, Vol. 3, under Rowan Co.

#8
For Person: Edward Hughes (Hughs)
In Year: 1755
County: Rowan
Other Info:
1755 (Feb 28), Edward Hughes was granted 331 acres on North East side of Yadkin River, adj Jos Harris (was this Joseph Harrison?); CC: Jos Harris, Daved Steward. It was grant #4636 in Hoffman's Granville District of NC 1748-1763, Vol. 3, under Rowan Co.

#9
For Person: Samuel Stewart
In Year: 1762
County: Rowan
Other Info:
1762 (Aug 10), Samuel Stewart was granted 332 acres on 10 Aug 1762, Rowan Co East side Yadkin River adj David Stewart, George Stown, John Howard, and bank of river. Wit: John Frohock; Surveyed by John Frohock 24 May 1762; CC: David Stewart, Thomas Harrison. Note: "Plat appears to have originally been in the name of Joseph Harrison, a line drawn through and Samuel Stewart written above".

#10
For Person: Martin Hauser
In Year: 1762
County: Rowan
Other Info:
1762 (Aug 27), Martin Hauser 256 acres on "Bersheba" Creek (Bashavia Creek), near the Yadkin River on the east. His tract was on both sides of Bashavia Creek; Wit: John Frohock; Surveyed by John Frohock on 21 May 1762; CC: Henry Spoonhour, Martin Hauser.

#11
For Person: Richard Thomason
In Year: 1778
County: Surry
Other Info:
1778 (Nov 13), Richard Thomason entered 400 acres Surry County on the North side of the Yadkin River adj the lines of Joseph Stewart and Martin Hauser and Joseph Phillips - 13 Nov 1778; grant issued 13 Oct 1783. This was entry #950 in Agnes M. Wells' Joseph Winston: His Land Entry Book, Surry County NC Land Entries 1778-1781.

#12
For Person: Matt Brooks
In Year: 1778
County: Surry
Other Info:
1778 (Dec 29), Matt Brooks enters 300 acres of land in Surry Co. on the S fork of Bershavia Creek adjoining Martin Howzar, Jos. Stewart, Benja. Stewart.

#13
For Person: John Lynch
In Year: 1779
County: Surry
Other Info:
1779 (Feb 3), John Lynch entered 100 A up river adj land he bought from David Stewart Sr, including the Fish Pott and Seine Landing.

***************************************

More to come...

Thursday, February 18, 2010

Getting my BLACK family straightened out

Hi, Wes,

I’ve been working on a genealogy project for the past month and found your website about the BLACK family. My 5th great grandmother is Nancy Black (b. 1763 in Tryon/Lincoln Co., NC), married to John Hardin Hambright, and according to Bible records in the National Archives, her parents were Gavin and Juda Black. I have military service records for Gavin Black dated 1783 where he served 123 days in the military for the Patriot cause. What I’m finding is that there are so many Gavin Blacks, my head is spinning. Your records show that Matthew and Mary Black are the parents for Gowin (I’m thinking, Gavin) Black. There is a large John S. Black family here in Texas and they are swearing that Gavin Black’s father is George Black…but they are offering no proof. As you may know, George Black was one of the signers of the Tryon Resolves, and was a JP in NC in 1771 (source: Colonial Records of NC).

I have no idea where the original story about Gavin Black and George Black got started, but it’s been published in a book, The History of Grimes County, Texas”. This part of the Black genealogy is also published in the Handbook of Texas ONLINE, see article on John Sullivan Black. I’m not one to believe everything I read without sources, so I’m trying to sort out this lineage for myself.

Can you tell me more about the BLACK lines from Matthew (I’ve read much of what you have on your site) and do you know if George fits into this anyway? What is your evidence for Matthew Black’s children? Do you have a will?... or are you basing this one the land deeds you’ve mentioned? I’d love to talk to you about this if you have the time.

Also, there is a family lore (not from me!) that says that Gavin Black married Sarah Hambright in 1790 and they had 5 children. This surely isn’t my own Gavin Black, Father of Nancy, but as a Hambright family historian, this is really throwing a monkey wrench in the works. I hope you have something to share that will help sort out this mess.

Thanks..

Rebecca Kohout

My Thomas Patterson?

Harald Reksten just sent me an abstract of a Chester Co, SC deed that makes reference to a 1769 land grant to Thomas Patterson for 100 acres. Was this my Thomas? It is relatively close to York Co SC and therefore "could" have been my Thomas. Something to follow up on. See below:

B-636: 2 January 1790 James Nickle of Lancaster CountySC, miller to George Minnis of Chester county, weaver, for £30 sterling, 100 acres on a branch of Rocky & Fishing Creek, granted 28 July1769 to Thos Patterson, and by him conveyed to said James Nickle. Signed: James Nickle (mark) (Seal), Witnesses: James Gaston, Thomas Gaston, Eli'r Alexander. Proved: 17 May 1790 by the oath of Eliz'r Alexander before Joseph Lee, J.P.

Further information:

From the SC Archives Database search site:

Notice the following document abstracts, in date order. Looks like there's first a plat, then a grant, then a memorial. I wonder if this Robert Patterson is yours. There are other Robert Patterson records, by the way. Plus, there a bunch of "accounts audited due to claims arising out of the Revolution" for Pattersons, including Robert, Thomas, Peter, William, and several others.


As for the Thomas Patterson plat and grant below, also notice the John Ferguson one. I believe these correspond with the one you sent me from the Chester records. Then also notice the James Strain documents, same location. Why is this important?


I descend from James Ferguson (son of John Ferguson and Nancy Strain). Furthermore, James Ferguson was married to another Nancy Strain, daughter of James Strain. These are DEFINITELY my Strain and Ferguson bunch. Now, is this Thomas mine?


I also think the William Carson is key. He shows up on the Thomas Patterson plat, John Ferguson, James Strain, and James Patterson. I don't know if he was some public official or not, but the Carsons were also connected to the Byers clan. My David Byers was married twice, both times to Carsons (sisters).


I guess I need to send off for these documents and see if the originals will show us more details. I'm not convinced yet this is my Thomas, but it's certainly possible.


One detail is on the last James Strain document it has Thomas "Peterson" instead of "Patterson". It seems that my Thomas' name was often spelled with a "Pe" instead of "Pa".

Date: 1/20/1763
Description: PATTERSON, ROBERT, PLAT FOR 200 ACRES IN CRAVEN COUNTY.
Names indexed: BELTON, JOHN; LEIGH, EGERTON; PATTERSON, ROBERT
Locations: CATAWBA RIVER; CRAVEN COUNTY; TWELVE MILE CREEK
Document type: PLAT


Date: 1/11/1766
Description: PATTERSON, ROBERT, PLAT FOR 250 ACRES ON TURKEY CREEK.
Names indexed: FAIRCHILD, JOHN; PATTERSON, ROBERT; TROUP, JOHN
Locations: SAVANNAH RIVER; TURKEY CREEK
Document type: PLAT (granted 7/10/1766)


Date: 7/26/1766
Description: PATTERSON, ROBERT, MEMORIAL FOR 250 ACRES ON TURKEY CREEK, GRANVILLE COUNTY.
Names indexed: PATTERSON, ROBERT; STUART, JOHN
Locations: GRANVILLE COUNTY; SAVANNAH RIVER; TURKEY CREEK
Document type: MEMORIAL


Date: 11/7/1766
Description: PATTERSON, ROBERT, PLAT FOR 150 ACRES IN CRAVEN COUNTY.
Names indexed: CANTEY, JAMES; PATTERSON, ROBERT; TROUP, JOHN
Locations: CRAVEN COUNTY; PRINCE FREDERICK PARISH; SANTEE RIVER
Document type: PLAT


Date: 11/20/1767
Description: PATTERSON, ROBERT, MEMORIAL FOR 150 ACRES ON SANTEE RIVER, CRAVEN COUNTY.
Names indexed: PARRITRIE, JOHN; PATTERSON, ROBERT
Locations: CRAVEN COUNTY; PRINCE FREDERICK PARISH; SANTEE RIVER
Document type: MEMORIAL


Date: 5/20/1768
Description: PATTERSON, THOMAS, PLAT FOR 100 ACRES IN CRAVEN COUNTY.
Names indexed: CARSON, WILLIAM; LEIGH, EGERTON; PATTERSON, THOMAS
Locations: CRAVEN COUNTY; FISHING CREEK; ROCKY CREEK
Document type: PLAT


Date: 8/12/1768
Description: PATTERSON, JAMES, PLAT FOR 150 ACRES IN CRAVEN COUNTY.
Names indexed: CARSEN, WILLIAM; LEIGH, EGERTON; MONTGOMERY, NINIAN; PATTERSON, JAMES
Locations: CAMP CREEK; CRAVEN COUNTY
Document type: PLAT


Date: 4/12/1769
Description: FERGUSON, JOHN, PLAT FOR 100 ACRES IN CRAVEN COUNTY.
Names indexed: CARSEN, WILLIAM; FERGUSON, JOHN; LEIGH, EGERTON; PATTERSON, THOMAS
Locations: CRAVEN COUNTY; FISHING CREEK
Document type: PLAT


Date: 7/28/1769
Description: PATTERSON, THOMAS, LAND GRANT FOR 100 ACRES IN CRAVEN COUNTY.
Names indexed: PATTERSON, THOMAS
Locations: CRAVEN COUNTY
Document type: LAND GRANT


Date: 9/4/1769
Description: PATTERSON, THOMAS, MEMORIAL FOR 100 ACRES ON ROCKY AND FISHING CREEKS, CRAVEN COUNTY.
Names indexed: PATTERSON, THOMAS
Locations: CRAVEN COUNTY; FISHING CREEK; ROCKY CREEK
Document type: MEMORIAL


Date: 1/3/1772
Description: STRAIN, JAMES, PLAT FOR 150 ACRES IN CRAVEN COUNTY.
Names indexed: BREMAR, JOHN; CARSON, WILLIAM; PATTERSON, THOMAS; STRAIN, JAMES
Locations: CANE CREEK; CRAVEN COUNTY
Document type: PLAT


Date: 9/7/1773
Description: FERGUSON, JOHN, MEMORIAL FOR 100 ACRES ON FISHING CREEK, CRAVEN COUNTY.
Names indexed: FERGUSON, JOHN; PATTERSON, THOMAS
Locations: CRAVEN COUNTY; FISHING CREEK
Document type: MEMORIAL


Date: 1/23/1775
Description: STRAIN, JAMES, MEMORIAL FOR 150 ACRES ON CANE CREEK, CRAVEN COUNTY.
Names indexed: PETERSON, THOMAS; STRAIN, JAMES
Locations: CANE CREEK; CRAVEN COUNTY
Document type: MEMORIAL

Wednesday, February 17, 2010

Deed Mapper maps

Today I received two maps from Deed Mapper for plotting the grants and deeds of western Forsyth Co NC and eastern Yadkin Co NC. The Yadkin River is the boundary between these counties and it's the land on both sides of the river that I am researching currently. This involves the Stewarts tracts from the 1700s and many of their relatives and neighbors.

This also includes the Brookberry Farm lands on Stewarts Branch.

On with the plotting...

Tuesday, February 16, 2010

Surry Co NC Deeds Requests

Mr Patterson,

You may either email your list to the office, of the pages that you would like to have copied or you can mail them. PO Box 303 Dobson, NC 27017 they are .25 for each page...Then we can invoice you after copying. You may also fax your list to 336-401-8149 addressed to Teresa Smith. You may also send your request here to smitht@co.surry.nc.us. She is our genealogist here and usually handles copy requests for the office.

Thanks,

Carolyn

Wednesday, February 10, 2010

George Forbush and Samuel Adams

Who? you might ask.

In 1748, George Forbush was still living in Augusta Co Va, as were the Pattersons, Stewarts, Linvilles, Boones, Bryan(t)s, Harrisons, and many other families who would later migrate to the Yadkin River valley of NC.

Forbush settled in modern day Yadkin Co NC, and was the namesake for the river, community, and high school with the same name. I have some close friends whose sons both went (or are going) to Forbush High School, some 15 minutes west of my residence.

A distant cousin of mine, Harald Reksten, sent me some images via email last night regarding the estate of Samuel Adams, Augusta Co Va, from August of 1748. Adams was the younger half-brother of Robert Patterson, my gggggg-grandfather. Robert Patterson's mother, Margaret Patterson, remarried to John Adams, after her first husband died in the 1710's. She was thereafter known as Margaret Adams, but was the mother of Robert Patterson.

In 1748, she was the administratrix of her son's estate (Samuel Adams), and one of the appraisers of his estate was none other than George Forbush. When I saw this last night I just about fell out of my chair. What a small world.

Many of these families began their migrations south about that time - 1748. Other members of the same families following over the next few years, settling the Yadkin River valley in the modern day counties of Wilkes, Surry, Yadkin, Stokes, Forsyth, Davie, and Davidson. At the time it was Anson and soon thereafter, Rowan.

Thursday, February 4, 2010

Callie Patterson line - dau of Wm H Patterson

This morning I was pleasantly surprised with an email from a distant cousin who had found my web site last night. Dave Huskey is a great-great-grandson of William Harden "Bill" Patterson (b 1832), just as I am. Our ancestor, Bill Patterson, was born in the Indian Lands of north Ga in April of 1832, eight months before that section became Union Co (as it is today).

I descend from Bill's son Elijah (b 1871), one of Bill's 12 children - and a twin to Elisha Patterson. Elijah or "Lige" as he was called, remained in north Ga for most of his life, although he did live for a year or two in SE Tennessee in a town called Copperhill. That is where my grandpa Clint was born in 1904.

Dave, my newly found cousin, descends from Bill's daughter, Venetia Caledonia "Callie" Patterson. Callie later married James Park Hickey and they settled in the Rossville / Chattanooga part of TN, and thus I never had much information beyond their names. Dave graciously filled in a lot of details in his email and even sent a couple pictures of Callie and James, and promises to send more info if I'm interested. Let's see... okay, yes, I'm interested!!!

Here is Dave's email:

*************************************

Wes:

Stumbled across your website tonight and what a delight to find a distant relative and more info on William H Patterson (b 1832).

You have certainly done some great research.

My name is James Davis Huskey... (some info removed for sake of privacy).

My great great grandfather is the same William Harden Patterson. His daughter, Venetia Caledonia Patterson was my great grandmother (whom I met as a child). She died in 1967.

I have a few photos of Venetia, her husband, James P. Hickey and their children if you would care to have them sent to you electronically. Plus a little family history of that line.

I will attach a few photos now of Venetia Caledonia 'Callie' Patterson Hickey and her husband, James Park Hickey. They lived in Bradley County, TN and had eight children - seven living until old age in and around Rossville/Chattanooga. I met all of them as a child. Their daughter, Eula Mae Hickey HUSKEY (b 1902 - d 1987) was my grandmother.

Thank you for sharing your research by placing online - to me, it is like finding treasure.

By the way - I have a handful of old unidentified photos - perhaps sometime soon I could share those with you. I know they came from my grandmothers house but we have no idea who any of them are - one is quite old.

Also curious is you know if a photo of Elizabeth Akins exists.

Sincerely,

Dave Huskey



Monday, February 1, 2010

River John Conrad (1788-1850)

Resource links for this man are:

http://www.preservehistoricforsyth.org/conradhouse.htm

http://www.preservehistoricforsyth.org/id67.htm

http://www2.journalnow.com/content/2009/dec/19/river-john-made-his-mark-on-forsyth-county/opinion/

River John's land in question (house with 10 acres) is located at the following map. You can click and drag to move map around and zoom out for reference. It is located across Conrad Rd from Twin Oaks Lake Dr.


View Larger Map

More later...

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