In 1856, there were several news articles discussing the attempted escape of enslaved Irvinia, daughter of Clara Mabry. Irvinia had been added (by her mother) as security… Read more “1856 | Mysterious Doctor J. FOUND”
Tag: mystery
Still Looking for Aunt Sallie…
The ultimate fate of my 3rd great aunt , Sallie John Turner, born in 1880 in Southampton County, Virginia, remains elusive. Most certainly for domestic reasons, she… Read more “Still Looking for Aunt Sallie…”
2022 Update: Jamaica and Genealogy
Previously, I did an update on my search to learn more about the many and mysterious Jamaican profiles that appear within my DNA relative matches. In rechecking… Read more “2022 Update: Jamaica and Genealogy”
1950|1890: U.S. Censuses
On April 1, 2022, the National Archives will release the 1950 U.S. Census. This is a landmark event for many everyday folk, historians, genealogists, and any other… Read more “1950|1890: U.S. Censuses”
Historical Family Photos: Sallie John Turner
Sallie John Turner, my third great-aunt, was effectively lost around 1896, when she was taken to Liberty, MO by Presbyterian minister, William Frost Bishop, D.D. (1852-1913), to… Read more “Historical Family Photos: Sallie John Turner”
The State of Spates
Remember how we’ve discussed the saga of Clara Mabry’s daughter, Irvinia, and the explosive 1856 legal case involving both she and Timothy Spates (Irvinia’s husband)? What ever… Read more “The State of Spates”
💍Rev. Turner and Josephine Get Married…Review of a Marriage Record💍
Just what family history information can be gleaned from reviewing a marriage record? Here, as an example, is the 1880 Greensville County, Virginia certificate of marriage for… Read more “💍Rev. Turner and Josephine Get Married…Review of a Marriage Record💍”
The Brewingtons of Sampson County, North Carolina
Mattie Brewington Braswell (1883-1952) was my great-grandmother. Born in Wayne County, North Carolina to free persons of color, the only thing that I knew about her (other… Read more “The Brewingtons of Sampson County, North Carolina”
Eliza Turner and The Record Riddle
As we piece together the lives of our ancestors, it means documenting their deaths as best as we can verify. A great number of my ancestors lived… Read more “Eliza Turner and The Record Riddle”
“Nineteen Years A Slave”—Hardy Ferguson’s Freedom Papers|Greensville Court Records|August 6, 1838
At a Court of Quarterly Sessions held for the County of Greensville at the Court House thereof on Monday the sixth day of August in the year… Read more ““Nineteen Years A Slave”—Hardy Ferguson’s Freedom Papers|Greensville Court Records|August 6, 1838”