Research update for August 7, 2016 (yes, I realize it’s November)

After finishing with the Sarah Daniel petition file, I thought that I would take a short break from transcribing and start work on another file the next day.  However after looking through the various files in that day’s collection I thought I would just transcribe a bit of one of the files.  I picked one of the longer files, Easter Johnson because it was so long and went into it thinking that I would stop after a page or so of transcribing.

The strange thing was that I’d been preparing myself for what I thought would be a very “dry” file, filled with all sorts of boilerplate and annoying legalese.  However, it started out with Lazarus Johnston’s will, which goes on for a page and a half and brought up various events that happened after his death.  I became so caught up in what must have happened to his children and grandchildren as a result of those events that I kept transcribing for about seven more pages.

I worked a bit more on the Easter Johnson file tonight, 10 August 2016.  And will have to force myself to walk away from it a bit, because again I find myself getting swept up into the lives of these people that I’m transcribing.  My suspicion is that even though I’m feel that the petition case is fraught with drama that the reality is that it’s just the language being used and that it’s was just “business as usual” for these family members and the legal personages involved. 

It’ll be interesting to see what happens with this case and if I make more interesting discoveries when I work my way through the other petition files.  I’m making a lot of use of the Black’s Law Dictionary that David gave me several years ago and am also learning a bit of the meanings of the legalese that I’m encountering in this particular petition.

John Washington Womble Neighborhood Project Part 5

Last Saturday, I again braved the intense heat and went to my local Family History Center to finish scanning the remaining petition files on the microfilm I ordered.  A couple of days ago I finished transcribing Mahala Grantham’s file and began on Sarah Daniel, widow of Ethelred Daniel’s file.  Today, I finished transcribing her file, afterwards took a break--watching some of the men’s gymnastics qualifying rounds--and will start on another petition file.

Since on the first go around with these files, I only made scans of about 5 files there isn’t much hanging over me for that day’s set of scans.  Last week, I’d been able to finish with my scanning and have about seven or so files to transcribe from that batch.

My plan once I finish transcribing the files is to then enter the metes and bounds descriptions into DeedMapper and hopefully place it logically in place with my other plats.  Then I’ll begin the process again by ordering another roll of microfilm of petitions from my list of missing land owners.

Evernote use

In a previous post I mentioned that I’d begun using Evernote and was trying out how it would work with my genealogy research.  I joined a couple of Evernote groups with the idea that I could troubleshoot any issues that might crop up.  I’ve experimented with using it in my research and have to say that there’s a steep learning curve at least for me in using it. 

Unfortunately, I’ve discovered that I don’t have enough space on my tablet to install it and so am not able to test out how the sync feature works.  The online help I haven’t found to be helpful in answering my questions.  The tutorials only seem to spark ideas, and are lacking in step-by-step details of how a particular feature works.

I learned in using the program that if an image is copied and pasted into a new note that text can’t be added above or below as far as I can tell.  When I first installed Evernote I tried out the web clipping tool and was disappointed in how it worked.  Anything I searched online, either in the groups I’ve joined, Evernote’s help files, or tutorials never seemed to fully explain how it worked.  So I spent a lot of time flailing around clipping things.   The clippings, I would find later were a lousy image of what I’d clipped and this was disappointing. 

Eventually, I was able to use the clipping tool effectively, but it’s taken a lot of work and just playing around.  I get that help files with any software are the last things to get written.  But what doesn’t make sense to me is this program has been around seemingly forever, so long that there are people who have outgrown it and are moving on to something else, so why aren’t the tutorials better in explaining how features work?

As a work around to figuring out how features work with Evernote, I’ve taken to posing my questions to Google and abandoning Evernote’s help files, tutorials, and the groups I joined.  This is the only thing that’s provided answers even if they’re negative answers.

I’m still mystified as to why many people in the genealogy community find this program helpful.  Maybe they like the organizational capabilities and that I can understand, especially if you add tags to your notes.  One aspect that I like about it is that it’s helped me become more disciplined in citing my sources when I find them--instead of trying to write a citation six months or years down the road when I’ve forgotten where it was when I found such and such information or image and various other important particulars.  However that hasn’t caused me to use Evernote more.  But it’s helped me get into the habit of recording where I found X document and to note down a citation for it, which keeps me disciplined in sticking with my system that I’ve strived to maintain for my genealogical research.

Update of John Washington Womble Neighborhood Project

I braved the 90°+ heat to resume my research on my John Washington Womble neighborhood project.  The microfilm I looked at contained petition files that were mainly settling estates for those who died intestate.  What I found interesting about these files were that they were cataloged with the land records and not with probate records in the FHL online catalog as is the case with Edgecombe County, North Carolina.  So basically, if you weren’t going through the FHL online catalog with a fine toothed comb you might miss these records.

I’d gone there with the mindset of obtaining copies of only two petition files.  One for Mahala Grantham and the other for Lazarus Johnson; even though, in the back of my mind was the plan to look through the whole roll of film and make note of other petitions that might pertain to my project.  It was a good plan to keep on the lookout for other petitions as I found other familiar names and noted down to make copies of those files.

The petitions varied in length from only being under 10 images or to over 50 or more in length.  Because I was carefully looking through the entire roll of microfilm and noting down which files interested me, my time was limited at my local FHC.  When it came time to make copies of the petitions on my list I pared down the number I would copy that day to 5 out of the 12 that seemed to pertain to my project.  I’ll make copies of the remainder at a later date.

Upon returning home, I began transcribing the file for Mahala Grantham in order to better understand what was happening.  Also while the index indicated that the petition was for Mahala Grantham, she wasn’t the initial person making the petition to settle an estate and divide land.  The main petitioner was a Sarah Grantham, and whose name I hadn’t encountered until looking at the name on the file.

Mahala is mentioned in the petition file as being a widow, but as to who she was married to it’s unclear in the file.  Perhaps, when I complete the transcription all of this will become clear.  If not I’ll have to research Mahala and those mentioned in order to make sense of the petition and those involved.

It’s not clear to me how this Grantham line connects with that of John Washington Womble’s neighbor, Chalkley Grantham.  Obviously, they’re likely related and somewhere in my records I had located an old copy of a Grantham family newsletter that seemed to give an overview of the familial connections.

My plan after transcribing the Mahala Grantham petition is to then transcribe all the rest of the petitions that I copied on Saturday.  Hopefully, they’ll contain land descriptions that can be added to my plats, essentially adding more pieces to the “jigsaw puzzle.”

Running Down the Lost Train of Thought

It may appear that I’ve been neglecting my genealogical research since my last post.  You likely know the saying life happens while you’re making plans.  When last I left off with my research plans I’d finished reading through vol. N, but had yet to plat any of the deeds that I’d found.

I’ve been trying to get back into the swing of this land research project after being away from it for some time.  Earlier last month I was finally able to get over to my local Family History Center in Annandale and finish reading through vol. O and make the copies of the various pertinent deeds that I’d found in both volumes O and P.

Since then, I’ve reviewed my previous work so that I could find my way back to the train of thought that I’d lost.  I read through my last blog post and notes I’d taken about the project and these seemed to help me.  This holiday weekend has been partly devoted to running down my lost train of thought, platting deeds I’d discovered, developing an extremely rough and unofficial research plan for my next trip to my local Family History Center, and reading digitized documents on FamilySearch.org about some of the still unaccounted for land that’s missing. Then updating my landownership spreadsheet and coming up with other ideas for keeping track of further records I should try to find on those land owners.

My next step before reading through the microfilm I ordered is to create the official research plan, so that I stay on focus with my research system. 

The game plan that I’ve come up with thus far is that I’ll try to locate some of the land owners for who I’ve been unable to find deeds for in petitions that are on microfilm at the FHL.  I’ve already indicated on my land ownership spreadsheet which land owners have petitions. 

Then for those who are still missing such as the infamous Amos Reed, I’ll see what the microfilmed Trust Deeds have in store for me.  If nothing’s found there either, then a trip to the Bolivar Courthouse is in my future.

I’m also in the process of trying out Evernote as a means of trying to keep track of some of my genealogical research—I joined the fb group some time ago and have yet to read any of the posts.  Many people have mentioned how helpful the program is, and so I finally decided to give it a shot.  We’ll see how it goes with me using it.  I’d love to find books on it at my local library, but for some reason haven’t been able to find one in my area that owns a copy.

Continuing Adventures of Neighborhood Land Search Part 2

I’ve finished reading through vol. N online, but haven’t platted more deeds since then.  Instead, I looked through what deeds I’ve found including those from my visit to my local Family History Center and looked through what tracts I’m missing by using the spreadsheet I’ve created of people enumerated in the 1870 Hardeman County, TN census.

Since some of the acreage amounts don’t match deeds and tax records I’ve found, I decided to go with the theory that those amounts are for multiple tracts of land and then build on that theory with the idea that these multiple tracts of land are next to each other—unless it’s explicitly mentioned in the documents that they’re not.  This may be a bad theory to make, but I feel that it’s logical since that seems the only reasonable explanation for the tax records I’ve found to agree with the deeds.  Also, my theory seemed to work when I was able to “tie” 3 deeds together for one land owner when their cumulative acreage matched exactly to the acreage they were taxed on in the tax records.

Raiford Bizzell listed in 1870 tax list.

Raiford Bizzle's platted deeds in DeedMapper.

Raiford Bizzell compiled taxed acreage and plats listed in spreadsheet.

 As I compared the records I’ve found with the spreadsheet, I found tracts that were possible matches for what I was missing and indicated this on the spreadsheet.  I still haven’t found deeds for all of the land owners listed on my spreadsheet, but still feel that I’m making progress on this project—albeit slowly.

Once I finished reading through vol. N, I began on vol. M, Sept. 1853-July 1855.  In this vol. I found some interesting deeds that may help me in placing some of the other plats I’ve found.  One of these is the deed for 189 acres that Wm. Fulgham sells to Pitser Miller.  This mentions a 2000 acre tract belonging Thomas Claiborne that seems to stand out in some of the land records I’ve viewed and also shares a boundary with one of my ancestor’s deeds.

Another deed I found was Stephen Childress’ 127 acres that he sold to Robert H Goad.  Goad later sells part of this land to Henry Bizzle.  In the deed to Henry, it mentions a road that runs from Bolivar to Simpson’s Ferry and states that it was once part of Childress’ entry.

I don’t know if I’ll find the time to plat out the deeds that seem pertinent to recreating my ancestor’s neighborhood.  But my plan is to definitely review more closely those deeds I’ve found to see if they will fit into the puzzle and help create an accurate depiction of the neighborhood.

Continuing Adventures of Neighborhood Land Search

I’ve finished reading through Hardeman County, Tennessee’s deed book vol. Q, August 1859-November 1860 that’s available digitally via FamilySearch.org.  Since volumes O-P, 1857-1859 have yet to be digitized, I ordered it and while waiting for it to arrive at my local Family History Center I began reading through vol. N, July 1855-February 1857.  In reading through the digitized deed books online I’ve added Rachel Dunn’s land and some tracts to the neighborhood.

Today, I braved an extremely rare and unexpected April snow storm in the DC metro area to venture out to my local family history center to view the microfilm.  I began by reading through vol. P, May 1858-August 1859 while armed with my list of needed land owners.  There was a glimmer of hope when I saw a record for a J Ferguson, the record made no mention of land, but I continued on through the book.  I found deeds for the 3 Bizzell people in John Washington Womble’s 1870 neighborhood.

When I returned home I began adding the plats to DeedMapper and indicating on my spreadsheet of land owners that their land had been platted.  In working with placing the plats in DeedMapper, I’ve found the topographical map to be more helpful, because it contains so much more details of the area, than the previous background map I was using.

My schedule for tomorrow and possibly the rest of the coming week is to continue platting the tracts I found today and also to finish reading through vol. N online and then plat those findings.

Snippet of Absolom Lane to Lewis Glenn deed

Neighborhood Land Search Update

After viewing the tax records, I ordered the next deed books that I felt I needed to read through in order to find the remaining neighbors’ land.  Last Saturday, I went to my local Family History Center to view them.  Unfortunately, I didn’t find any of the neighbors I’m still looking for.  There were deeds of interest to me in them for the particular area, but just didn’t happen to be for my ancestor’s neighbors.

I looked through all of vol. R and began reading through vol. Q.  Since the microfilm scanner was being used by another patron, I put off scanning what documents I found and resolved to scan them at a later date.

Once I returned home, I decided since I was almost finished reading through vol. Q that I would order another roll of microfilm and that’s when I made an amazing discovery.  Apparently, FamilySearch.org has digitized some of the deed books I’m interested in reading through available online.  Still many of these records haven’t yet been digitized, but because many that I’m interested in reading through are, I won’t have to order them and can view them from the comfort of my living room.

Since vols. Q and R were available digitally, I was able to download the images I had noted down while at my local Family History Center.  Then I took up where I left off in vol. Q and downloaded what images pertained to the area I’m researching.

Portion of digitized deed book

The schedule for this coming Saturday is to look through the rest of vol. Q and download any that are pertinent to my research.  Then if I have time, enter them into DeedMapper.

I searched through more of FamilySearch’s land records holdings for Hardeman County, Tennessee and found that survey books, one roll of petition records, and an early roll of tax records have all been digitized so they’re available online.

What helped me was the fact that the deed index for Hardeman County, Tennessee has been digitized.  Yes, just because it’s an index I know that it’s not inclusive of every deed or document that was ever recorded in Hardeman County.  But still, it’s a place to start in locating the remaining neighbors’ deeds or review to see if I missed something.

After noticing this interesting bit, I looked through the 1860 census and noted on my neighbor list those who had been enumerated in Civil District 12.  This information should help me determine when someone may have purchased their land in my ancestor’s neighborhood.  The only obstacle with the land records in Hardeman County is that tax records and deeds during the years around the Civil War are not extant.  So there is the possibility that if some of John Washington Womble’s neighbors bought land during that time period that the document may not have survived the war.  There’s also the possibility that the deed could’ve been recorded much later.

The search continues…

The Further Adventures of the Womble Neighborhood Land Search

I was able to resume my search for John Washington Womble’s neighbors earlier this year.  The microfilm that I’d requested last fall and resulted in a minor snafu with the FHL was resolved in February.  I was able to make copies of the tax records for Civil District 12 for the years 1869-1872 and took note of the amount of acreage the neighbors owned.

I then used this information when imputing the information into the spreadsheet I created about John Washington Womble’s neighbors.  The spreadsheet lists out the individual land plots that the neighbors owned and whether or not it’s been platted out.  Then I listed out what plots of land I’m still missing.  The list also contained the land acreage based on the findings from the tax records I viewed.

After I’d viewed the tax records, I ordered the next deed books that I felt I needed to read through in order to find the remaining neighbors’ land. While waiting for the microfilm to arrive, I checked out topographical maps on the U.S. Geological Survey's website at http://www.usgs.gov/. Maps can be searched for and downloaded for free from their site. I've wanted a more detailed map and one that I knew the scale or a least could determine the scale better that I could place my plats on.
I selected the section of Hardeman County, Tennessee that I'm interested in and then began downloading. I selected 4 maps and then needed to find a way to piece them together. Once they were downloaded, I used a graphic editing program to clip away the white borders surrounding each of the map images. Then pieced the images together and created a larger image or map which was then imported into DeedMapper.
Hopefully this new background map will help me more when placing the plats.

Part of Hardeman County, Tennessee topographical map

Hardeman County, Tennessee Tax Records

In my review of the roll of Tax Records for Hardeman County, Tennessee, I discovered something I’d missed on my earlier viewings of this roll—a section titled, Additional Tax Reported. These lists cover only the years 1870-1872 and lists out what I’ve theorized only as people that were missed on the previous lists or perhaps they’re delinquent tax payers. I somehow doubt the latter and more believe the earlier theory.

The people are listed in non-alphabetical order, so are basically randomly listed. The civil district they lived in was noted by their name and then the other usual information was given as on the other tax lists. These lists are categorized by year, but that’s really the only organization to them.

Excerpt from Additional Tax Reported section.