Rise and Shine, Boys and Girls!

When I was young, my mother listened to the early morning radio program by Apple Savage every school day. Apple undertook the job of informing parents if school was in session or if it had been cancelled due to inclement weather. What school-aged child could forget the wilting dread brought on by Apple’s booming voice announcing, “Rise and shine, boys and girls! There will be school today!”

But, oh, the hope that rose when the Atlanta weatherman predicted snow for the northern counties on the evening news. The next day, early in the morning, how many children pulled the covers down past their ears, baring them to a chilly room in anticipation of hearing, “No school today in Rabun County! I repeat, there will be no school today!”

I hope you’re enjoying your eternal snow day, Apple, and looking down on your former school children with a smile.

Upcoming Lecture at Rockdale County Genealogical Society, 10 March 2013

I have been honored by an invitation to speak again at the Rockdale County Genealogical Society in Conyers on 10 March 2013 at 3 p.m. Our topic for that day will be a continuation of August’s lecture on researching the poor, and will cover state censuses and tax records, as well as using a different perspective to look at all records in order to uncover information about the less well-to-do.

This society is a receptive group, and I am delighted to be able to work with them again.

The Darnell-Teague Connection

Harrison Darnell was my great-great-great-great grandfather. He was born by his own statement on 15 April 1815 in Wilkes County, North Carolina.¹ His mother was Catherine Darnell,² a somewhat mysterious woman who moved her small family from Wilkes County, North Carolina, to first Spartanburg District and then Pickens District, South Carolina, before settling finally in Rabun County, Georgia.

Harrison was supposedly the son of Catharine’s first husband, whose name is unknown. She married second to a Darnell, whose name Harrison took, and then a third time to Benjamin Grist, a veteran of the Revolutionary War who was himself a widower. Of these suppositions, the only one that has thus far been documented is Catherine’s marriage to Benjamin Grist, which took place on 2 April 1834 in Pickens District, South Carolina.³

Tombstone Tuesday: Richard and Sarah Lewis, Old Stone Church Cemetery, Pendleton, SC

One of our favorite historical sites in Upstate South Carolina is the Old Stone Church and cemetery in Pendleton, SC, located near Clemson University. The following two markers, those of Richard and Sarah Lewis, are located in the older section of this large cemetery.

Amanuensis Monday: William McConnell, deceased, to David McConnell, 27 February 1837

Source: Macon County, North Carolina, Deed Book E: 66; Register of Deeds, Franklin.

This indenture made the 27^th February 1837 between William M^cConnell
Deceased of the one part Heirs of the state of North Carolina Macon County
and David M^cConnell one of the said heirs of the county and state
aforesaid of the other part Witnesseth that we the heirs of the above
bounden W^m M^cConnell for and in consideration of the sum of
two hundred and fifty Dollars to them in hand paid by the said
David M^cConnell the receipt whereof his heirs doth hereby acknowlege [sic]
hath given Granted bargained sold and delivered and confirmed by these
presents doth give grant bargain and sell alien and confirm
unto the said David M^cConnell his heirs and assigns forever
a part of the tract of No 3⁰ in the 15^th District lying and being
in the county of Macon Beginning on a Black Oak on the
West side of the Tennessee River running West to a white Oak
corner thence South to the branch thence down the meanders of the
Branch to the Tennessee River thence down the Tennessee River to
the Beginning containing forty acres more or less and the said David
M^cConnell is to have hold and enjoy all the woods [illegible] waters watercourses
mines minerals and appurtenances thereunto belonging or in any
wise appertaining his heirs and assigns forever and the said
heirs of the said William M^cConnell Dec. do bind themselves
their heirs administrators and assigns Jointly and severally to
warrant and forever defend the said right and title unto the
said David M^cConnell and his heirs against the claims of them
selves their heirs administrators and assigns and against the
lawful claims of all other persons whatsoever as witness our hand
and seals the day and date above mentioned
Test Milas his mark M,sup>cConnell Jurat

Milas his x mark McConnell	Elizabeth Cabe	Sanford Carpenter
Martha her x mark McConnell	J. D. Dryman	Patience her x mark Carpenter
Enos Scroggs	Rachel her x mark Dryman	John McConnell
Jane Scroggs	Sarah her x mark McConnell	Mary her x mark McConnell
John Scroggs	Margaret her x mark Carpenter	William McConnell
Mary her x mark Scroggs	Jonathan Denton	Sarah her x mark McConnell
Wm Cabe	Agnes her x mark Denton	Charles Stiles
		Kesiah her x mark Stiles

State of North Carolina } Court of Pleas & Quarter Sessions
Macon County } March Sessions 1846
The within Deed was duly proven in open court by the oath of Milas M^cConnel a
subscribing witness therto and is recorded in Book D Page 150 for registration

Witness J K Gray clk

A Sunday Walk Around the Blogs

Trust Judy G. Russell to start the week off with a bang. In Monday’s post, O death! Thy name is woman, Judy explores women who received the death penalty in the United States, from colonial times to the last woman executed.

The Knitting Genealogist published a fascinating look at the transformations wrought by the Industrial Revolution in the U. K. and their effects on her ancestors and their communities, “Those infatuated creatures calling themselves Luddites.”

Dave Tabler of Appalachian History writes about the life of Gertrude Dills McKee, a native of Jackson Co., NC, and the first woman to serve in the North Carolina State Senate.

The Rally at the Capitol in support of funding for the Georgia Archives received news coverage from The Clayton Daily News. Don’t forget to write your local representatives to the General Assembly about this important issue.

Well, we almost got snow here. I think a few parts north of us did, so here are some snow day recipes from Alison Murray at North Carolina Miscellany for y’all.

As an aside, my mother used to make snow cream for us using snow, milk, sugar, and vanilla. Yum. Now, if we could just have some actual snow…

Free Webinar: Tarheels in Your Family

The North Carolina Genealogical Society is releasing a webinar tomorrow presented by Helen F. M. Leary called “Tarheels in Your Family.” Leary is the editor of North Carolina Genealogy and Local History and a well-known and respected Southern genealogist.

The NCGS is making the webinar available to the public from the 18th through the 20th of this month. After that, it will be available only to members. For more information, visit the society’s web site.

Possible Relatives of James R. Roberts, Jackson Co., GA

A while back, I compared select tax records against U. S. federal census records for male adult Roberts living in Jackson County, Georgia. The research described in that post is part of my research into the natal family of James R. Roberts, my great-great-great grandfather, whose ancestry is a brick wall I’ve been trying to knock down for years.

Below is an outline of what I’ve gathered to date, so that other Roberts researchers can see how I think part of James’ family might fit together. I want to emphasize that my research is not complete, and much of what follows cannot be considered as proof or even evidence; in other words, this is the direction in which the records accumulated thus far seem to be leading. Please bear that in mind while reading this post.

The Nice Thing about Living in a Small Community

We were having lunch today at a local restaurant* when a gentleman came over and introduced himself. He’d read the newspaper book and wanted to let me know that he was a genealogist with local roots (in Union Co., GA) and would be willing to share resources and so forth. I promised to return the favor. Chances are good that we’ll either have family connections or common research problems or both.

See? Good things do happen in small places.

* At the Valley Café in Dillard. It’s my son’s favorite restaurant. Plus, my cousin Sonny (son of Thad J. Watson, Jr.) works there so we’re helping support my adorable cousins.

Tombstone Tuesday: Kittie McConnell Berrong and Infant, Towns Co., GA

Kittie McConnell Berrong and her unnamed infant were buried in Osborn Cemetery, Towns County, Georgia. Osborn Cemetery is attached to McConnell Memorial Baptist Church in Hiawassee, but physically located away from the church.