Virginia Family Tree Genealogy

Are these the same people? What do you think?

2012-05-22T22:45:00.001-04:00

I put together two collages of both known and possible photos of my great-great-grandparents, John Henry Lett, Sr. and Margaret Ingram Rolfe Lett. Take a look and let me know your thoughts, if you think all of the photos are of the same people or if they are different people, mixed up. After lots of studying, I tend to believe they are of the same people. The photos span many years. The time frame when each photo was taken fits chronologically. The provenance of each photo fits perfectly, each photo has passed down through various descendants of the couple in question. These are not random photos I found in a Cracker Barrel. These are all photos owned by the family, we just do not know for sure who each one is. What do you notice that is similar or different? Are these all of John Henry Lett, Sr.? The last three are known to be him, the first is in question. Are these all of Maggie Rolfe Lett? The third and fifth are known to be her, the fourth is highly likely to be her.

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Lett Portrait Gallery - Revoked!

2012-05-22T22:32:00.000-04:00

In my last blog post, My New Lett Family Portrait Gallery!, I wrote about a distant cousin who showed up at my house with a great collection of family portraits and basically gave them to me. I was so enthused when she gave them to me, it took days for the thought to settle into my brain that this was real. I was on cloud nine. HOWEVER, I never got comfortable with the idea that the portraits were really mine. I did not hang them. The only thing I did was make nice copies for myself. I had a feeling it was too good to be true...and it was. My son Connor with one of the pictures After about two weeks, I got an email from the distant cousin. She was basically asking me to return the photos, that her brother was upset that she had given them away without consulting him. Keep in mind, the photos were in storage for 13 years, and now everyone wants them. So, here is where I will teach you a little genealogy lesson...I gave them back to her, no questions asked. It was hard to do, but I did it. The lesson here is that there is a lot of karma with genealogy. We all know that possession is 9/10's of the law so I probably could have kept the portraits legally. They were mine, fair and square, but I gave them back willingly. I was totally happy that I got to see them to start with, even better that I had a couple weeks with them to look at them and make nice copies. I can promise you that my taking the high road will pay off eventually. That side of the family will probably hear that I am a pretty nice guy. Maybe there are other photos out there, maybe a Bible or some other relict, that I will get access to one day. If I were a jerk about it, I would never have any chance of getting in good with them again. No sense in cutting my nose off to spite my face. There was also no sense in causing a rift between this cousin and her brother. (I am sure our ancestors would have disapproved if I let that happen). In a way, the whole experience was a blessing. I got to see some great photos. My kids became involved with genealogy for the first time, getting to see the pictures and to ask questions about them. My son was psyched with helping me take photos of them, even wanting to pose with them himself. My daughter did not like them as much and she was glad to see them go. (She thought they smelled bad, as 100+ year old items from storage tend to do!) Overall, I have no complaints. Now that they are gone, at least my daughter will come back into my office...since the air has cleared. Who knows, maybe the brother will think they smell bad too and send them back my way? Stranger things have happened.

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My New Lett Family Portrait Gallery!

2012-04-21T22:31:00.000-04:00

A distant cousin, who I just met today, gave me five portraits of members of the Lett family...totally out of the blue. She had them in storage for 13 years and it seems that she just wanted them to have a good home. (I was more than happy to oblige!) I did tell her to sleep on the idea of gifting them to me, so I supposed she could change her mind, but they appear to be mine! It still has not sunk in yet. I am going to wait a week or two, to make sure she does not change her mind. Once that much time passes, I am totally going to redo my office to accommodate them! I guess they will sit in my floor until then. I am going to include some copies I made of the photos. Take a look at them and see if you have any comments about possible resemblance or thing you notice that would help lock down when the photo was probably taken. I am not a photo expert so I am looking for suggestions. I will make future posts on the blog to discuss how I go about this process. I plan on putting these photos, along with known photos of each person, in Photoshop and overlaying them. I am hoping to see if I can find some commonalities between facial features. This is a known photo that we have of Margaret and John Lett Known photo of John and Margaret Lett (he is in middle with arm around Margaret. Their son Joseph is behind them, to the left when looking at this photo from your perspective). Known photo of John Henry Lett, Sr. Below are the five portrats that I received today. Compare them to the above known photos and let me know your thoughts... I am pretty positive this is my great-great grandmother, Margaret Roffe Lett I think this might be Margaret as a young woman, maybe around 1860 I think this may also be Margaret, a little later in life Possibly my great-great grandfather, John Henry Lett, Sr. I'd put this around 1870 Joseph Edward Lett, son of John and Margaret Lett...I know this is him for 100% fact

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Family Tree Maker 2012 is on it's way!

2011-10-01T17:58:00.001-04:00

Get Family Tree Maker 2012 at Ancestry.com I ordered my copy of the new Family Tree Maker 2012 and they charged my credit card yesterday so that means it has shipped out! I am excited about the product becuase it is supposed to sync with my tree at Ancestry.com. That will be an awesome feature...if it works right! I will let you know my thoughts on it, once it arrives. It did not come in the mail today so I guess I will have to wait until at least Monday!

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The Daily Dispatch, January 14, 1880, Richmond, Virginia - Marriages and Deaths

2011-09-24T17:55:00.003-04:00

The Daily Dispatch, January 14, 1880 Richmond, Virginia; p. 2, col. DEATHS. "Died, on Sunday evening, January 11th, WILLIAM FLEISHMAN; sixty years of age. His funeral will take place from his late residence, 308 east Leigh street, on WEDNESDAY MORNING, at 10 o'clock. Friends and acquaintances of the family are invited to attend without further notice. Entered into eternal life January 13th, in the twenty-first year of her age, F. HARVIE, daughter of Richard and Elizabeth Fox. Her funeral will take place from St. James church at 4 o'clock THIS (Wednesday) AFTERNOON. Died, on the 13th instant, at 2:45 A.M. BEATRICE, infant daughter of John N. and Sarah A. Hobson."

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The Daily Dispatch, January 13, 1880, Richmond, Virginia - Marriages and Deaths

2011-09-24T17:44:00.000-04:00

The Daily Dispatch, January 13, 1880 Richmond, Virginia; p. 2, col. 5 MARRIAGES. "Married, December 23, 1879, at the residence of T. G. Dashiel, D.D., Mr. EDDIE W. BRACKETT, of Henrico, to Miss EMMA H. POWELL, of this city. No cards. DEATHS. Died, at Ashland, on Monday morning, January 12th, WILLIAM G. PAINE, in the sixty-third year of his age. The funeral services will be held at Ashland. The burial will take place from Elba Station, on Broad street, TUESDAY MORNING at half-past 11 o'clock. The friends of the family are invited to attend. Died, on Sunday evening, January 11th, WILLIAM FLEISHMAN; sixty years of age. His funeral will take place from his late residence, 308 east Leigh street, on Wednesday MORNING at 10 o'clock. Friends and acquaintances of the family are invited to attend without further notice."

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The Daily Dispatch, January 12, 1880, Richmond, Virginia - Marriages and Deaths

2011-09-24T06:26:00.003-04:00

The Daily Dispatch, January 12, 1880 Richmond, Virginia; p. 2, col. 4 DEATHS. "In the midst of life we are in death. Died, suddenly, in Washington, D.C., Mr. M. L. JACOBSON, a former resident and citizen of this city. He was a beloved and affectionate father, a kind and indulgent husband, and a warm and constant friend. He will be sadly missed by his larger and bereaved family, who mourn his loss. May he rest in peace. Amen. Funeral SUNDAY MORNING, January 11th, at 11:40 o'clock from Byrd-street station. His friends and acquaintances are respectfully invited to attend without any further notice."

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The Daily Dispatch, January 10, 1880, Richmond, Virginia - Marriages and Deaths

2011-09-24T06:20:00.000-04:00

The Daily Dispatch, January 10, 1880 Richmond, Virginia; p. 2, col.6 MARRIAGES. "Married, by Rev. James H. Holmes, December 25, 1879, at Second Baptist church, Miss AMY PRICE, daughter of Abraham Price, to Mr. PHILIP SCOTT, Richmond, Va. DEATHS. Died, Thursday evening, at 6:35 o'clock, of diphtheria, ELLEN T., beloved wife of Charles H. Tinsley, and daughter of Thomas and Mary Landers, in the twenty-ninth year of her age. Her funeral will take place THIS (Saturday) MORNING at 10 o'clock from St. Peter's Cathedral. The friends and acquaintances of the family are respectfully invited to attend. Died, on the morning of January 9th, at 9 o'clock, at the residence of her brother, in Henrico county, Miss MILDRED ANN COX, daughter of George H. and the late Eliza Ann Cox. The funeral will take place at 10 1/2 A.M. TO-DAY from the residence of her brother, on the Richmond and Henrico turnpike. Friends of the family are invited to attend. Died, at his residence, in this city, on Friday morning the 9th instant, after a protracted illness, Major W. WIRT HARRISON, in the forty second year of his age. The friends of the family and those of Mr. William F. Taylor are invited to attend his funeral from the First Presbyterian church (Dr. Preston's) TO-DAY (Saturday) at 1 o'clock. Died, at 4:30 o'clock P.M., on January 9, 1880, at No. 327 west Main street, MATTIE B., wife of William M. Evans and daughter of W. P. W. Taylor, Esq.; aged twenty-seven years. The funeral will take place from Centenary Methodist church SUNDAY the 11th instant at 3 o'clock P.M. Friends and acquaintances are invited to attend. Died, in Lexington, Va., on the 7th of January, after a long and painful illness, Mrs. ANNIE R. LEWIS, aged forty-nine years, wife of William W. Lewis, daughter of the late Dr. John W. Paine, of Lexington, and sister of William G. and Robert A. Paine, of this city."

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The Daily Dispatch, January 09, 1880, Richmond, Virginia - Marriages and Deaths

2011-09-24T06:05:00.000-04:00

The Daily Dispatch, January 09, 1880 Richmond, Virginia; p. 2, col. 3 DEATHS. "Departed this life, January 8th, at 4 1/2 o'clock A.M., STUART FITZHUGH, beloved son of W. J. and S. R. Leake; aged four months and twenty days. Died, December 27th, JENNIE B., youngest child of M. Lue and J. B. Yarbrough; aged fourteen months and eight days. 'Transient and vain is every hope A rising race can give; In endless honor and delight My children all shall live.' Richmond Christian Advocate and New Orleans papers please copy. Entered into rest, January 8th, ELISE F. BARKSDALE, wife of Mr. George A. Barksdale, in the communion of the Catholic Church in the confidence of a certain faith, in the comfort of a seasonable religious and holy hope. Died, on the 20th of November, GEORGE W. ENGLAND, in the sixty-third year of his age. Died, on the 21st December, Mrs. ORPAH L. TRUSLOW; aged seventy-three years. Baltimore and Fredericksburg papers please copy."

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The Daily Dispatch, January 08, 1880, Richmond, Virginia - Marriages and Deaths

2011-09-21T19:01:00.002-04:00

The Daily Dispatch, January 08, 1880 Richmond, Virginia; p. 2, col. 4 DEATHS. "Died, at the residence of her husband, on Church Hill, in this city, ROSA GRAVES, the beloved and devoted wife of Robert A. Gary, Esq.; in the twenty-sixth year of her age. The funeral will take place from the Leigh Street Baptist church THIS (Thursday) MORNING at 10 1/2 o'clock. The friends of the family and those of her uncle, Thomas W. Graves, Esq., are invited to attend. Died, in Charles City county, on the 25th of December, 1879, HENRY KRACKE, Sr., in the sixty-seventh year of his age. He leaves a wife and six children to mourn their loss."

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The Daily Dispatch, January 07, 1880, Richmond, Virginia - Marriages and Deaths

2011-09-21T18:54:00.002-04:00

The Daily Dispatch, January 07, 1880 Richmond, Virginia; p. 2, col.4 MARRIAGES. "Married, in this city, January 1, 1880, by the Rev. H. McDonald, D. D., W. H. ALLEY, of Richmond, to Miss HATTIE L. PERRY, of Troy, N.Y. Troy Times and Providence Journal please copy. Married, at the residence of her parents, December 31, 1879, by the Rev. William E. Hatcher, M. JENNIE WILLIAMS, eldest daughter of A. T. Williams, to JAMES G. JENNINGS, of New Orleans. New Orleans papers please copy."

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The Daily Dispatch, January 06, 1880, Richmond, Virginia - Marriages and Deaths

2011-09-21T07:07:00.000-04:00

The Daily Dispatch, January 06, 1880 Richmond, Virginia; p. 2, col.4 MARRIAGES. "Married, in this city, December 24, 1879, by Rev. John E. Edwards, D. D., Mr. EDWARD F. TAYLOR, of Hanover county, Va., and Miss EMMA E. SMITH, of Richmond. Married, Tuesday, December 30, 1879, by Rev. Thomas Kelly, JOHN H. BOWERS and Miss MARY V. CAVEDO. DEATHS. Died, in Charlottesville, Va., on Monday, January 5, 1880, at 11:45 A.M., Miss C. F. PORTER, in the sixtieth year of her age. Her remains will reach the city this morning via Chesapeake and Ohio railway. The funeral will take place TO-DAY at 11 o'clock from the residence of W. R. Jones, Esq., 813 west Main street. Friends and acquaintances are respectfully invited to attend. Died, Sunday morning, January 4th, at 5 o'clock, in the fifty-eight year of her age, Mrs. MARY ELEANOR GILL, wife of J. R. Gil, superintendent of the Richmond Male Orphan Asylum. Her friends and acquaintances are invited to attend her funeral TUESDAY, January 6th, from Park-Place Methodist church, at 11 o'clock A.M. Petersburg, Va., and Paducah, Ky., papers please copy. Died, Monday, January 5th, at half past 1 o'clock, of consumption, Mrs. MARY E. GARRETT. The funeral services will take place at the residence of William Pierce Smith, 6 1 Canal street, TO-DAY (Tuesday), 6th instant, at half-past 3 o'clock. The friends and acquaintances of the family, and those of her aunt Mrs. John C. Franklin, are invited to attend."

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The Daily Dispatch, January 05, 1880, Richmond, Virginia - Marriages and Deaths

2011-09-21T06:52:00.000-04:00

The Daily Dispatch, January 05, 1880 Richmond, Virginia; p. 2, col. 3 DEATHS. "Died, suddenly, on Saturday, January 3d, GEORGE W. JONES; aged thirty-four years. His funeral will take place SUNDAY AFTERNOON, January 4, at 3 o'clock, at St. Andrew's church. Friends and acquaintances are invite to attend."

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The Daily Dispatch, January 03, 1880, Richmond, Virginia - Marriages and Deaths

2011-09-20T23:31:00.001-04:00

The Daily Dispatch, January 03, 1880 Richmond, Virginia; p. 2, col. 3 MARRIAGES. "Married, December 17, 1879, at the Moore-Memorial church, by the Rev. D. F. Sprigg, WILLIAM A. G. REES and K. BURR DOWDEN; all of Richmond, Va. Married, in this city, January 1, 1880, by Rev. J. B. Hutson, PATRICK A. RADFORD and Miss SALLIE S. WILKINSON; all of Richmond, Va. DEATHS. Died, Friday evening, after a long and painful illness, Mr. JOHN COLLINS, a native of county Limerick, Ireland. Peaceful be thy silent slumber, Peaceful in the grave so low; Thou no more shalt join our number, Thou no more our sorrows know. Yet again we hope to meet thee, When the day of life is fled; Then, in Heaven, with joy to greet thee, Where no farewell tear is shed. Never more will we caress thee With our heart's deep yearning love; Blessed now enfold thee, In thy heavenly home above. His funeral will take place from his late residence, No. 3819 Sixth street, Port Mayo, SUNDAY, January 4th, at 2 o'clock P.M. Friends of the family are respectfully invited to attend. Washington, Portsmouth, and Arkansas papers please copy."

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The Daily Dispatch, January 02, 1880, Richmond, Virginia - Marriages and Deaths

2011-09-20T23:10:00.000-04:00

The Daily Dispatch, January 02, 1880 Richmond, Virginia; p. 2, col. 4 MARRIAGES. "Married, December 23, 1879, in this city, at the residence of the bride, by Rev. J. R. Garlick, JAMES R. BLUNT and Miss MATTIE W. JONES; all of Richmond, Va. Married, December 17, 1879, at "Irine." Caroline county, Va., the residence of the bride's parents, by Rev. O. F. Flippo, WILLIAM C. WILSON, of Richmond, Va., to F. LESLIE, daughter of Dr. Joseph A. Flippo. No cards. DEATHS. Died, yesterday morning at 7 o'clock, EDWIN BURTON, youngest son of the late Coldomier Burton, in the seventh year of his age. The funeral will take place TO-DAY (Friday) at 11 o'clock at Shockoe-Hill Cemetery. Friends of the family are invited. Died, December 31, 1879, at 11:20 o'clock P.M., at the residence of her husband, Lindon, Hanover county, Va. Mrs. VIRGINIA LIPSCOMB. in her sixty-ninth year. Her burial will take place TO-DAY, January 2d, at her husband's residence. Besides the indescribable grief to her immediate relatives, the death of this noble lady will bring sadness to many hoes in which her bounteous charity has dispelled the dark gloom of poverty and distress; to many a heart that has been healed by the balm of her sympathy; to a vast number to whom her abounding love and wise counsel were health in sickness, light in darkness, fortitude in pain, solid comfort in bitter adversity. To alleviate human suffering seemed to be Mrs. LIPSCOMB's chosen mission and intense delight. At home she was an amiable wife and devoted mother. The ornament of a meek and quiet spirit was the attraction which monopolized the admiration of strangers, and cemented the hearts of her loved ones so softly and firmly as that the dread secrets of the tomb and the withering torch of grief can never break asunder nor crumble away. 'Blessed are the dead that die in the Lord. They do rest from their labors, and their works do follow them.'"

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The Daily Dispatch, January 01, 1880, Richmond, Virginia - Marriages and Deaths

2011-09-20T21:46:00.000-04:00

The Daily Dispatch, January 01, 1880 Richmond, Virginia; p. 4, col. 3 MARRIAGES. "Married, December 30, 1879, at the residence of Thomas W. McCance, Esq., by the Rev. J. E. Edwards, assisted by the Rev. Charles Minnigerode, T. W. McCANCE, Jr., and Miss Emma Gill; all of Richmond, Va. Married, December 17, 1879, at "Frine." Caroline county, Va., the residence of the bride's parents, by Rev. O. F. Flippo, WILLIAM C. WILSON, of Richmond, Va., to F. LESLIE, daughter of Dr. Joseph A. Flippo. No cards. Married, by the Rev. J. G. Armstrong, on the 32st December, 1879. Mr. ISAIAH MYERS, of New York, to Miss SALLIE H. SMYTH, of Richmond. No cards." DEATHS. Died, suddenly, December 30th, BENJAMIN DAVIS, in the seventieth year of his life. The funeral will take place THURSDAY, January 1, 1880, at 12 o'clock M., from his late residence. No 719 east Grace street. His friends and those of his son-in law, A. Pizzini, Jr., are invited to attend without further notice."

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Royal Spain Death Notice - The Daily state journal - 1872

2011-09-16T14:30:00.000-04:00

I just found a short entry about my ancestor, Royal Spain, in an Alexandria, Virginia newspaper. They apparently picked it up from another paper and passed it along. The Daily State Journal Alexandria, Virginia May 1, 1872; p. 1, col. 2 "VIRGINIA NEWS...The Roanoke Valley announces the death of Royal Spain, of Mecklenburg county, in the eighty-seventh year of his age." I would love to find the actual article from the Roanoke Valley. The Library of Virginia has some of their remaining issues on microfilm. I might try to slip down there this weekend and see what I can find.

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Obituary for Elizabeth Kidd Wyatt of Hanover County, Virginia, 1896

2011-02-09T22:50:00.000-05:00

Finally found the obituary for my great-great-great-grandmother, Elizabeth Kidd Wyatt of Hanover County, Virginia. I found it using the Chronicling America site that I have mentioned several times before. It is a great, free site and you are silly for not trying it. Richmond Dispatch, June 11, 1896: "WYATT - Died, Tuesday, June 9, 1896, at the residence of her daughter, Mrs. A. R. Vass, 418 south Pine street, Mrs. ELIZABETH WYATT, relict of Alexander Wyatt. Her funeral will take place from the above residence THURSDAY, June 11th, at 8:30 A. M. Friends of the family are invited to attend. Her remains will be taken to Hanover county, Va., for interment, by the Chesapeake and Ohio railway 10:20 A. M. train. Five children survive her." HOT TIP - Free Virginia Newspaper Search 1900-1910

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What happens when you achieve your dream (and it wasn't what you expected it to be)?

2011-01-01T22:04:00.000-05:00

I have always collected license plates, Virginia plates to be exact. No, I do not have a physical collection of license plates in my office or anywhere in my house. The collection is in my brain. I like to run across low-number license plates. In Virginia, the lower the plate number the more important the driver...or so it seemed to me for all of these years. Most of the low-number plates I have found belong to members of the Virginia government. Some are house or senate members, others may be a court clerk or someone else of elevated status. In most cases the person's job title is spelled out on the plate itself. I guess that is code for "do not tow me, I am important." I saw Eric Cantor's car at Panera Bread one day, a few years ago. If you are not familiar with Mr. Cantor, he is a member of the United States House of Representatives from Virginia and I think he will be the Majority leader for the House in a few days. Cantor is a pretty good guy. I remember when he actually went door to door and talked to people. My mom saw him so many times, he actually remembered her name...but that was years ago. Anyway, I was excited to see his car, but he was not in the restaurant. One of his aides was picking up lunch I guess. One little-known fact is that the members of the Virginia legislature park in the basement of the Library of Virginia. They ride the elevator up to the main level and then walk across the street to their offices. I have ridden the elevator with many prominent figures. One of my most memorable experiences was bumping into John Hagar, who was Lieutenant Governor of Virginia from 1998-2002. I actually ran into him on the street and spoke to him for a few minutes. At that time, he was in office and was alone on the street...no security whatsoever. I do not remember if it was before or after 9/11, but it struck me as odd that he would be alone. You have to keep in mind that Hagar is in a wheelchair. I have no idea why he is disabled but he uses a wheelchair for whatever reason. You also have to keep in mind that Richmond is a very hilly city. Here I am, on West Broad Street, and here come the Lieutenant Governor wheeling himself, in a manual chair, up a hill. I gained a huge amount of respect for the guy at that moment. He probably could have had help from any number of people but he was out on his own, living life. I saw Hagar a few times after that, at various functions around town, but never in the same light I saw him that day. You may have also seen Hagar on the national news in 2008 when his son married President Bush's daughter, Jenna. So, back to the license plates. After all of my years of searching for low number plates, I had found a lot of good ones. I have seen numbers 2, 3, 4, 5 and so on but I never found the illusive plate number 1. I always assumed it belonged to someone of utmost importance, probably the governor himself. I doubted that the governor drove himself around a lot so I understood the elusiveness of the plate. Well, that all changed for me one day last week. My wife is a photographer and she wanted me to deliver some photos to a client. I agreed but was not overly excited about doing it. I had to drive to her studio and pick them up before making the actual delivery...more than I really wanted to do. Being a good husband, I took the ride and kept my mouth shut. Well, on the way to drop off the photos, a truck pulled in front of me and to my surprise...it was plate number 1! It was nondescript except for the blaring "1". It gave no indication that I was following the governor, or anyone else for that matter. It was absolutely killing me to pass the person and see who was driving. We were on a one-lane road so I had no way of passing them. Luckily the driver was going the way that I was, so I waited for the perfect moment to make some kind of move. Luck was apparently on my side because the vehicle's driver decided to take a right up ahead. I sped up and got as close as I could so that when the vehicle turned, i might be able to see the driver. Now, my memory is a little fuzzy here, but the driver seemed to have been an older man or woman...but clearly not Bob McDonnell! I was a little disappointed but I drove on and delivered the pictures. I did manage to pull out my iPod Touch and snap a photo of the plate as a keepsake. The more I thought about this over the next few days, the more it began to bother me. All of these years I held license plate 1 up to this really high level of expectation. For all intents and purposes, my dreams were crushed because, as far as I could tell, the driver of car 1 for the Commonwealth of Virginia is an average Joe. Now, I could be...

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Happy New Year!

2011-01-01T00:01:00.002-05:00

I want to wish all of my readers a Happy New Year! Hopefully 2011 will hold the answers to many of your outstanding genealogical questions.

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What should I buy at Best Buy tonight?

2010-12-31T16:01:00.000-05:00

For the holidays I received a couple Best Buy gift cards, three to be exact. One was for $25 and two were for $50 each. I also I a return I can make for $48.98 plus I have $80 worth of reward points on my Best Buy account. With that said, I can spend a total of $253.98. I would really like to not spend anything out of pocket and I would like to also try to spend the entire amount. Any suggestions? I should mention that I have a Mac desktop that I purchased a few months back. I have installed Parallels so I can run both Mac and Windows programs. I already have a printer, scanner, router and iPod. I do not have cable TV in my office so a television would not do me much good. I already have Pages, Family Tree Maker 2011, iLife and a new iPod Touch 4G. What I do not have are Windows 7, Microsoft Office. I have considered buying both of those, or at least one. I currently have Windows Vista installed on the Mac. In general, I pretty much have everything that I want. I thought about an iPad but that would cost extra money and I should probably hold off until the new ones come out in the spring. Those are supposed to have an SD card reader plus front and rear-facing cameras. I honestly do not need an iPad, it would be more of a vanity purchase than anything...although it would be nice for reading books that I buy in the Apple bookstore. The font on the iPod is just so tiny! Well, I am going to Best Buy around 7:00 tonight. I do not think they close early for New Years so I am going to take a shot. If you have any suggestions, please shoot them off to me as soon as possible. I am really into Mac stuff right now, Apple products in general. Apple TV looks interesting for my living room. Something for genealogy would also be a nice thought. I do not have a nice, portable camera. Maybe I could get one to make videos for the blog? Let me know your thoughts and I will update you when I make the purchase.

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Will of William Roffe, Sr. of Mecklenburg County, Virginia - 1784

2010-12-31T01:53:00.001-05:00

Mecklenburg County, Virginia Will Book #2, page 161:"In the name of God amen I William Roffe, Sr. of the county of Mecklenburg and the Commonwealth of Virginia being sick and weak of body but of sound sense, mind and memory do make, constitute and appoint this my last will and testament in manner and form following that is to say imprimis I give unto my eldest son William Roffe one Negroe man named Humpphry one other named Will and one Negroe winch named Fann and her increase to him and his heirs forever which slaves above mentioned my son William Roffe has had possession of before my making this instrument of writing. Item I give my said son William Roffe one book called Burketon the New Testament also one desk to be delivered him at the death of me and my wife to him and his heirs forever. Item I give unto my second son Lewis Roffe a Negroe woman named Jude a boy named Sam one other boy named Jacob a Negroe girl named Charlotte one other girl named Kesiah and a newborn man child born of the said Jude and the future increase of the said Jude and the other females above mentioned to him and his heirs forever which slaves above mentioned my son Lewis Roffe has had possession of before my making this instrument of writing. Item I give unto my third son Edward Roffe a Negroe woman named Suck a Negroe boy named Allen a Negroe boy by the name of Sam and one other boy by the name of Dave one Sorrell horse bridle and saddle bed and furniture and all future increase that may descend from the said Suck to him and his heirs forever. Item I give unto my fourth son John Roffe one Negroe boy named Moses one other boy named Alexander one Negroe girl named Vincy and one other girl named Pheba and the increase of the above mentioned Vincy and Pheba to him and his heirs forever. Item I lend to my loving wife Elizabeth Roffe my land and plantation where I at present live containing by estimation three hundred and twenty five acres all my stocks of cattle hoggs and sheep all my household and kitchen furniture and all the slaves that I die possessed of that I have not before bequeathed to my children and a sufficiency of corn and fodder to take care of her and family also the stocks left in her hands and as much tobacco as may be sufficient to cloth and feed the hands left her for her support during her natural life and at her death my will and desire is that the plantation above mentioned be equally divided between my sons Edward Roffe and John Roffe but if either of my said sons Edward or John die without issue the survivor to take the whole of the land. Item I give unto my fourth son John Roffe one horse bridle and saddle one bed and furniture to him and his heirs forever. Item my will and desire is that after the death of my loving wife Elizabeth that the Negroes remaining at her death be equally divided between my four sons William Roffe, Lewis Roffe, Edward Roffe and John Roffe and if either of them die without heir then the Negroes be divided among the surviving brothers. Item I desire after the death of my loving wife Elizabeth Roffe my executors hereafter named may make sale of so much of my household furniture or stocks of cattle, hoggs or sheep as may be sufficient to raise money to purchase two Negroe children of a year old each which children I give and bequeath as follows. Item I give on to my grandson William Brame, son of James Brame, to him and his heirs forever. Item I give the other Negroe child to my granddaughter Lucy Brame, daughter of Thomas Brame, to her and her heirs forever. Item I desire the balance of the stock and household furniture that may remain after the purchasing the slaves above directed may be equally divided between my two daughter Sarah Brame wife of James Brame and my other daughter Elizabeth Brame wife of Thomas Brame which I give to them and their heirs forever. Lastly I do nominate and appoint my friend William Johnson and my eldest son William Roffe executors of this my last will and testament. In witness whereof I have hereunto set my hand and affixed my seal this 30th day of December 1784. Will Roffe. Signed sealed published and declared by the said William Roffe, Sr. to be his last will and testament in presence of us Elizabeth Pool, Mary Pool, Mary Johnson."

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A Must-Read: Finding the Henry Brock family cemetery of Henrico County, Virginia

2010-12-30T22:21:00.000-05:00

If you only read one post I write this year, let this be the one...it is going to be a good one if I do say so myself! The other day I was out Christmas shopping when I passed by an old conquest of mine...the Henry Brock family cemetery. I like to say that I "found" it but I am sure it was never really lost. The information to find the cemetery was there all along, someone just had to take the time to piece it together. Let me give you some background on the Brock family. Henry and Mary Ann Griffin Brock were my great-great-great-grandparents. Henry was born around 1791 and grew to be a prosperous farmer in western Henrico County, Virginia. His two-hundred acre farm was located on Old Coal Field Turnpike, later known as Broad Street Road. At the time Mr. Brock purchased his land, that portion of Henrico County was rich in coal - hence the road's name. There were several active mines in and around the area. The Brock homestead was demolished at some point, perhaps at the time of the road's widening in the mid-1950s. Situated on present-day West Broad Street, I believe that the former Brock land is occupied by the current Virginia Home for Boys (8716 West Broad Street). From an aerial photograph, it appears the Boy's Home tract is the approximate size and shape of the Brock property. I believe that the old homestead was situated where the Home's main entrance sign exists today. Now, I will admit that I have never sat down and fully traced the deeds from Henry's ownership of the land to the modern day. The main tract was divided multiple times and I am sure it passed through many hands. The fact if I was right or wrong about the homestead's exact location was not overly important in this case. My main interest was to locate a family cemetery, noted on the following land plat. You can click on this scan to see a larger version but it is still hard to read. What you will see are two tracts of land, one large and one small. The smaller tract has a note that states something along the lines of "1/2 A. Res-erved for a grave yard." The area is boxed off as a perfect square, right along the property line. There is also a note that states something like "52 1/2 Acres of Woodland situated about 6 3/4 miles east of the Home Tract." Again, the exact acreage and mileage is hard to read but I know that there is a cemetery within say 10 miles of the home tract...to the east. In this case, exact figures did not matter too much. I knew in my brain, roughly where the different Brock families lived over the generations. I knew that Mary Ann Griffin Brock's family owned land near the county courthouse. With that in mind, I started looking at a modern county map for features that matched the Brock plat. I knew that the southern boundary of the property adjoined "Old Coal field Turnpike, now Broad Street Road." Broad Street Road stretched from the city of Richmond, all the way through Henrico County and into Goochland. I am sure it goes further than that, but I digress. I needed to look to the north of Broad Street (they now drop the word Road from the end in Richmond and Henrico but still use it in Goochland). The original plat was drawn in 1857 so I was sure a lot had changed. A few things I noticed about the plat, for one was its shape. It was narrow at the bottom and spread out toward the top. It was also pretty regular in shape, the sides did not vary much. I also saw that, to the west, was a road of sorts. The road was not drawn the entire way down so it may either have curved off or stopped. I also noticed the branch that flowed in the middle of the tract and forked off. When it comes to creek branches, they can be a little deceiving. What constituted a branch was subjective. It could have been a tiny ditch or a large stream. I think the key was that the body of water remained somewhat constant in shape and size and the water actually flowed, it did not tend to sit stagnant. With that in mind, I kept an eye out for creeks on my modern map but I did not fixate on their being a creek. After following Broad Street from Richmond toward Goochland, something caught my eye. It was a tract of land, the scale seemed about right and the shape looked pretty close. I did not see any creeks, although they could be hidden in the tree line. There is a pond or lake near the tract so maybe the branch was diverted into a larger body at some point. There appear to be neighborhoods in the direction from which the branch was running so maybe they did away with the water when the houses were built? Take a look for yourself and see if you think the plat and this aerial view match up? I went ahead and finished looking up Broad Street and never found anything else that seemed to fit. I thereafter...

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Estate Records for Mary Pennington of Mecklenburg County, Virginia - 1803/1804

2010-12-30T01:48:00.002-05:00

Mecklenburg County, Virginia Will Book #5, page 165:"In the name of God amen I Mary Pennington of the county of Mecklenburg and state of Virginia being in a low state of health but of sound mind and memory and calling to mind he mortality of my body do make and ordain this my last will and testament in manner and form following viz. Item I give and bequeath unto John White one feather bed and furniture to him and his heirs forever. Item it is my will and desire and do hereby order and direct under an act of the general assembly of Virginia and provided for the free emancipation of Negroes by will that Nelly and her child Spencer with all her future increase is hereby by me declared free citizens of the United States of America from the claim of myself, my heirs, executors or administrators or from the claim of all and every person or persons whatsoever. Lastly I constitute, appoint and ordain my friend Charles Ogburn my whole and state executor to this my last will and testament authorizing my said executor to take into his hands all the estate I have or may be entitled to and the money arising from such estate in his hands to keep to pay and discharge the incident attending the recording this will and complying with the law made and providing for freeing Negroes by will in case my estate dothe not raise money sufficient in that case it is my will and desire that my said executors shall hire out my said Negro Nelly and her child Spencer until they raise money sufficient to pay the same into its full effect. In testimony whereof I hereunto set my hand and seal this 16th of October 1803. Mary Pennington. Signed, sealed and declared this my last will and testament in presence of Thomas Burnett, Varney Andrews, George Andrews. At a court held for Mecklenburg County the 11th day of June 1804. This will was proved by the oaths of Varney Andrews and George Andrews witnesses thereto and ordered to be recorded. And on the motion of Charles Ogburn the executor therein named who made oath thereunto and together with Varney Andrews his security entered into and acknowledged their bond in the penalty of two thousand dollars conditioned as the law directs. Certificate was granted him for obtaining a probate thereof in due form. Teste. William Baskervill, Cl. Cur."

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Nuncupative Will of John Bing/Byng of Mecklenburg County, Virginia - 1789

2010-12-29T01:44:00.000-05:00

Mecklenburg County, Virginia Will Book 3, p. 42 [poor copy]:"John Short before the Court maketh oath that John Bing late of Mecklenburg County was taken ill at the house of the departed the 22nd day of December last and died suddenly that before the death of the said John in his last illness the defendant heard him say he intended all his Estate for his son James Bing that if James Bing would come and Live with him and take Care of him and what he had he should have all his Estate at his Death and that the said James did so. Edith Short swears to the same facts as above recited. At a Court held for Mecklenburg County the 10th day of February 1789. This writing was sworn to as the nuncupative Will of John Byng, decd. by the oaths of John Short and Edith Short and ordered to be recorded. Teste. John Brown, Cl. Cur."

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