My father’s great-grandmother, Jane Parrott Ealy of Leake County, Mississippi, was born around 1829 in Lunenburg County, Virginia. Her enslaver, Rev. William Parrott, transported Jane, along with her parents and siblings, to Mississippi shortly before 1840. While researching the court records of William Parrott and those of his wife’s family—Elizabeth Johnson Parrott—I discovered that Jane’s …
Tag: History
Weaving Through a Highly Endogamous Web
Over five years ago, I noticed something both intriguing and unexpected: my family shared DNA with people with immediate roots from Washington County, Alabama—despite my family having no known genealogical ties to that area. Initial research revealed that many of their ancestors were classified as “mulatto” in the 1850 and 1860 censuses, indicating they were …
Was Matilda—the Ancestor of Appalachian Coal Miners—My Ancestor’s Long-Lost Sister?
In 1996, I learned that my mother’s great-grandfather, Edward Danner of Panola County, Mississippi, was a Civil War veteran who served in the 59th Infantry of the United States Colored Troops. Edward was born about 1835 in South Carolina and died on 15 September 1878, leaving behind his widow, Louisa “Lue” Bobo Danner, with ten …
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Never Giving Up: The Power of Persistence in Genealogy
Genealogy requires diligence, patience, persistence, strategy, and above all, hope. For many family lines, answers do not appear quickly or easily. They rarely come from a few computer clicks, and they certainly don’t leap off a screen. Instead, the truth reveals itself over time, often after we return to the same puzzles again and again …
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COMING SOON: From Fragments to Foundation
GREAT NEWS: This book is now available. Click HERE to order. I have exciting news! I am happy to announce that my new book, From Fragments to Foundation: Uncovering a Buried History of Tragedy and Triumph, will be released in late October. Ordering will be available soon. Stay tuned! Please see book details below for a …
Breaking Down that Ugly 1870 Brick Wall: Tracing Your Enslaved Ancestors
You’ve traced your African American ancestry back to the 1870 U.S. Census, only to hit what genealogists often call the "1870 brick wall." You’ve read books and articles about slavery in America and now face the question: How do I research my family’s history beyond emancipation? How do I identify and document my enslaved ancestors? …
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“They Were Born in Africa”: Was This Correct?
An incredible discovery surfaced when I found another genetic group (or genetic network) among my mother's sister's DNA matches. They were discovered when I saw that Cousin A below shares 21 cM over 2 segments with my aunt on her maternal side, per AncestryDNA. Among the shared DNA matches were four others who also had a Lomax …
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There’s History in a Name: Connecting Dots to the 18th Century
DNA continues to be a strong sledgehammer to pre-Civil War brick walls. This case underscores at least 23 research tips. They are in the conclusion below. Since 1993, I have researched the roots of my mother’s paternal grandfather, William “Bill” Reed (1846-1937) of Tate County, Mississippi. He migrated to northern Mississippi shortly after slavery from …
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Roots Revealed 