Working It Wednesday – Double 4 Gen Chart

 

As my planner fills with more group sheets, I occasionally need a 4 gen chart to help me visualize who belongs to who.  I don’t need a ton of these, so I put a group sheet on half of the page and the 4 gen chart on the other half.  I don’t think any instructions are needed except to say that if you highlight the person title (“father”, “grandmother”, etc.) then you can type in the name to take it’s place.  Put your curser after the b. m. or d. and type in the desired date and/or location.  The arrangement is a little different to make 4 generations fit for both a husband and a wife, but I think it’s easy enough to fill out.

Enjoy!

Blank Group Sheet with 4 Gen Chart

Blank Group Sheet with 4 Gen Chart with Ivy

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Timeline Tuesday – Dec. 8, 1897

From the Adair County News – Dec. 8, 1897

Russell County Kentucky names:  

Mrs. G.G. Jones, Ethel Patterson, Arthur Carter, Isa Dowell, Mrs. S.A. Gann, W.L. Dowell, Haidee Rowe, Mrs. T.J. Winfrey, Mrs. J.C. Walford, Pro. J.W. Warren, Stanley Baugh, Dr. A. Baugh, J. Shelby Rowe, Rev. Bell

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Family Friday – William Stephens part 2

William Stephens:  1813 – 1885

1850 – 1859

In 1850, there are 2 census records for this family.  The Federal Census for Marion Co, Alabama (just across the state line and slightly south of Tishomingo Co) shows William Stephens, age 44, farmer, value 100, b. in North Carolina; Dorothy – age 36, b. in South Carolina; George W – age 14, b. in Alabama; Andrew J – age 12, b. Mississippi; Mary Ann – age 8, b. in Mississippi; Caroline – age 5, b. in Mississippi and Martha J – age 1, b. in Mississippi. 

By 1860, Martha J. is listed as being born in Alabama, but because the birth of Martha would have been relatively new in the 1850 census, I believe Mississippi is correct, which would indicate a move from Mississippi to Alabama around 1849 or 1850. It is important to note that there is a 2^nd William Stephens family in Marion County as well.  In the Federal Census, the names and ages of all children are given.  In the State Census records, only the number of males and females are given.  The “William Stephens” in the State census has a total of 12 people in the household, while “W C Stephens” has 7 members, all of the appropriate age range for “my” William Stephens family. 

John G. Stephens was listed as 10 years old and born in Alabama in the 1860 census, but was not listed in the 1850 census.  I would look for his birth late in the year 1850 in Marion Co, Alabama. It could be helpful to see the instructions to enumerators about the date to use for age calculation.  James S. Stephens was born around 1853.

There was a state census taken in Alabama in 1855.  No census exists for Marion County, but there is one for Franklin Co, where I find William’s family in 1860.  I cannot find William in this census, so I believe the family must have moved between 1855 and 1860.

1860 – 1869

In the 1860 Federal Census, William Stephens and his family are found in Franklin Co, Alabama.  (Franklin Co. is directly North of Marion Co. and directly West of Lawrence Co.)  This was a tricky one to find because of the name being spelled “Steavens”.  William’s five youngest children are still living at home as well as his 2^nd son, Andrew with his wife, Lucy and their daughter Nancy E. who had just come from Missouri.  (Andrew and Lucy were married in Ripley County, Missouri.)  I would love to find George Stephens in the 1860 census, but I have had no luck finding him after the 1850 census.  This family is not found in the 1866 state census for Franklin County or in the 1867 voters’ registration for Franklin OR Marion County.   At some point during this decade, the Stephens family moved to Russell County, Kentucky, where William’s father and siblings had been living since before 1830.  Russell County tax records are pretty consistent as a yearly resource between 1826 and 1858 with only 3 years missing.  Because I know where the family was in 1860, these tax records will not help me.

Next week, I’ll wrap this up and develop my research plan for moving forward in my research.

 

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Working It Wednesday – “Census Tracker”

My Genealogy Planner is growing as I think of information I’d like to have quickly at hand as I work in 10-15 minute chunks on my genealogy.  The goal of the planner is to have a QUICK method of keeping track of genealogy tasks I can complete in unexpected short blocks of time during my day.  So far, I’ve created pages for group sheets and a double timeline.  I’ve also converted my family notes to pages that fit in my planner, but that doesn’t take a template, it just means reducing the font, changing the margins and pasting in my ivy border.  I use my calander pages to jot down questions and quick projects so that I can open my planner during lunch or other free times and immediately have something to work on. As I continue working with my planner to do research for my Stephens line, I’m seeing what types of things would be helpful and what types of things would just be filler.

I wanted to have pages in my planner that would allow me to make lists.  My original thought was to have a place to keep track of what census records I had found for each family.  But then I started thinking of all the other things I make lists of.  I make to do lists, lists of available resources at the library, lists of microfilm I want to order from FHL, lists of questions that pop into my mind while researching, significant historical events in a location, etc.  So even though this says “Census Tracker” at the top, I could change that title to be anything I’d like. 

Remember, these sheets are meant to be cut in half so that I can put them into my planner.  Once again, I have a template called “Instructions” to show you where the text boxes are and to give a bit of information on set up.  Then I have templates for the front and back (margins have to be different if I want to print front and back) with ivy and without ivy.

I hope these are helpful!

Census Tracker Instructions

Census Tracker Front with ivy
Census Tracker Back with ivy

Census Tracker Front no ivy
Census Tracker Back no ivy

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Timeline Tuesday – Dec. 1, 1897

From the Adair County News.  Household hints from the day plus the news from Jamestown.  These are the Russell County names mentioned:

Ethel Patterson, J.B. Patterson, Olga Gann, Charlie Dowell, Sidine Gann, Will Warren, Effie Falkenburg, Isa Dowell, S.A. Gann, W.L. Dowell, Mrs. G.F. Jones, S.A. Gann, Mrs. Texas Rowe, Haidee Rowe, Maggie Jones.

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Surname Saturday – William Stephens descendants

Well, this has been a pretty hard week in our house, so there wasn’t alot of genealogy research getting done.  So instead of writing part 2 for my William Stephens research, I thought I’d post my descendant chart for William instead.  I sure would love to communicate with anyone else researching this line of Stephens from Russell County, Kentucky!

….. 1   William Stephens b: Abt. 1813 in North Carolina, USA, d: 1885 in Adair, Kentucky, USA

…..   + Dorothy Wiggleton b: Abt. 1815 in South Carolina, USA

……….. 2   George W. Stephens b: Abt. 1836 in Alabama

……….. 2   George Stephens

……….. 2 Andrew Jackson Stephens b: 06 Aug 1837 in Mississippi, US, d: 23 Apr 1920 in Russell, Kentucky, USA

……….. + Lucy Stephens b: 16 Dec 1842 in Russell, Kentucky, USA, d: 14 Jun 1928 in Russell, Kentucky, USA

…………….. 3 Nancy E Stephens b: Aug 1859 in Ripley, Missouri, USA, d: 09 Jun 1861 in Metcalfe, Kentucky, USA

…………….. 3   William Dudley Stephens b: 13 Oct 1861 in Metcalfe, Kentucky, USA, d: Bef. 1910

…………….. + Ella J Dockery b: Abt. 1875 in Kentucky, USA, m: 27 Dec 1888 in Russell, Kentucky, USA, d: 11 Jun 1967 in Adair, Kentucky, USA

………………….. 4   Avery Stephens b: 1891 in Kentucky, USA

………………….. 4   Geneva Stephens b: 1894 in Kentucky, USA

…………….. 3 Mary Elizabeth Stephens b: Sep 1864 in Metcalfe, Kentucky, USA, d: Feb 1905 in Russell, Kentucky, USA

…………….. + William George b: Abt. 1840 in Russell, Kentucky, USA, m: 03 Nov 1889 in Russell, Kentucky, USA, d: Abt. 1898 in Russell, Kentucky, USA

………………….. 4   Ollie B. George b: Sep 1890 in Kentucky, USA

…………………..   + Logan Dunbar 

………………….. 4 Lucy Jane George b: 26 May 1893 in Kentucky, USA, d: 16 Jun 1940 in Russell, Kentucky, USA

………………….. + Joseph Buford Bennett b: 13 Feb 1888 in Russell, Kentucky, USA, d: 02 Aug 1956 in Pulaski, Kentucky, USA

………………….. 4 Luther George b: 10 Jan 1894 in Kentucky, USA, d: 06 Sep 1939 in Livingston, Illinois, USA

………………….. + Olga Lee Blankenship b: Abt. 1890 in Kentucky, USA, m: 11 Dec 1912 in Russell Springs, Russell, Kentucky, USA, d: 18 Dec 1977 in Chenoa, McLean, Illinois, USA

………………….. 4 Lelar George b: 25 Dec 1896 in Russell Springs, Russell, Kentucky, USA, d: 02 Oct 1927 in Russell Springs, Russell, Kentucky, USA

………………….. + Enos Seymour Bennett b: 14 Sep 1885 in Russell Springs, Russell, Kentucky, USA, m: 04 Mar 1917 in Russell, Kentucky, USA, d: 03 Jun 1965 in Franklin, Johnson, Indiana, USA

……………..   + John Flanagan m: 15 Jan 1899 in Russell, Kentucky, USA

…………….. + Rice Wilson Stephens b: 16 Apr 1863 in Russell, Kentucky, USA, m: 10 Sep 1880 in Russell, Kentucky, USA, d: 26 Mar 1940 in Windsor, Casey, Kentucky, USA

………………….. 4 James Lewis Stephens b: 01 Aug 1881 in Russell, Kentucky, USA, d: 29 Oct 1918 in Russell, Kentucky, USA

………………….. + Parmelee Barnard b: 21 Jul 1888 in Russell, Kentucky, USA, m: 17 Jan 1914 in Russell, Kentucky, USA

…………….. 3 George Howard Stephens b: 13 May 1866 in Kentucky, USA, d: 01 Jan 1918 in Russell, Kentucky, USA

…………….. + Sarah J Coffey b: Abt. 1870 in Kentucky, USA, m: 28 Mar 1889 in Russell, Kentucky, USA

………………….. 4   Marce Stephens b: Abt. 1897 in Kentucky, USA

………………….. 4   Charley Stephens b: Abt. 1899 in Kentucky, USA

 …………………. 4   Ory O Stephens b: Abt. 1905 in Kentucky, USA

………………….. 4   Amon Stephens b: Abt. 1907 in Kentucky, USA

………………….. 4   George A. Stephens b: 1908 in Kentucky, USA

…………….. 3   Cornelius Stephens b: Oct 1870 in Kentucky, USA, d: 18 Apr 1932

……………..   + Lula Roy b: Aug 1877 in Kentucky, USA, m: Abt. 1893

………………….. 4   Terrell W Stephens b: Nov 1896 in Kentucky, USA

…………….. 3 Cortez Stephens b: 06 Jan 1873 in Russell, Kentucky, USA, d: 25 Apr 1947 in Russell, Kentucky, USA

……………..   + Essie Tarter b: 11 Jun 1880 in Kentucky, USA, m: Abt. 1897, d: 30 Mar 1953

………………….. 4   Marvin G Stephens b: Abt. 1903 in Kentucky, USA

………………….. 4   Alvin R Stephens b: Abt. 1904 in Kentucky, USA

………………….. 4   Cora E Stephens b: Abt. 1906 in Kentucky, USA

………………….. 4   Allie Stephens b: Abt. 1911 in Kentucky, USA

………………….. 4   Ermine L Stephens b: Abt. 1913 in Kentucky, USA

………………….. 4   Avery Stephens b: Abt. 1915 in Kentucky, USA

…………….. 3 Andrew Jackson Stephens b: 10 Mar 1875 in Kentucky, USA, d: 11 Feb 1954 in Pulaski, Kentucky, USA

……………..   + Lola Tarter b: 03 Feb 1879 in Kentucky, USA, m: 28 Feb 1892, d: 01 Jul 1964

………………….. 4   Ezra Stephens b: Sep 1896 in Kentucky, USA

………………….. 4   Eva Stephens b: Abt. 1904 in Kentucky

………………….. 4   Aquille Stephens b: Abt. 1906 in Kentucky

………………….. 4   Ruby G Stephens b: Abt. 1908 in Kentucky

…………….. 3 Uriah Stephens b: 13 Jun 1877 in Kentucky, USA, d: 21 Aug 1961 in Russell, Kentucky, USA

…………….. + Laura Ellen Bennett b: 20 Mar 1883 in Russell, Kentucky, USA, m: 1909 in Russell, Kentucky, USA, d: 02 May 1940 in Russell, Kentucky, USA

………………….. 4   Zilpha M Stephens b: Abt. 1910 in Kentucky, USA 

………………….. 4   Ova Stephens b: Abt. 1913 in Kentucky, US 

………………….. 4   Buell Stephens b: Abt. 192 

………………….. 4   William Stephens b: Abt. 1925

…………….. + Laura Ellen Bennett b: 20 Mar 1883 in Russell Co, Kentucky, US, m: 1909 in Russell Co, Kentucky, d: 02 May 1940 in Russell Co, Kentucky, US

………………….. 4   Zilpha M Stephens b: Abt. 1910 in Kentucky, USA

………………….. 4   Ova Stephens b: Abt. 1913 in Kentucky, USA

………………….. 4   Buell Stephens b: Abt. 1923

………………….. 4   William Stephens b: Abt. 1925

…………….. 3   Dock Garfield Stephens b: Mar 1879 in Kentucky, USA

…………….. 3   Armilda Jane Stephens b: Jun 1881 in Kentucky, USA, d: 1933 in Russell, Kentucky, USA

…………….. + William Thomas Aaron b: 16 Nov 1877 in Adair, Kentucky, USA, d: 13 Jun 1941 in Russell, Kentucky, USA

………………….. 4   Ella R Aaron b: Abt. 1899 in Kentucky, USA

………………….. 4   Ada S Aaron b: Abt. 1904 in Kentucky, USA

………………….. 4   Dernon S Aaron b: Abt. 1907 in Kentucky, USA

………………….. 4 Larue V Aaron b: 20 May 1908 in Kentucky, USA, d: 04 Apr 1937 in Russell, Kentucky, USA

………………….. 4   Lula F Aaron b: Abt. 1908 in Kentucky, USA

………………….. 4   George H Aaron b: Abt. 1912 in Kentucky, USA

………………….. 4   Louie Aaron b: Abt. 1909 in Kentucky, USA

………………….. 4   Loren Aaron b: Abt. 1914 in Kentucky, US 

………………….. 4   Lilburn Aaron b: Abt. 1915 in Kentucky, USA

………………….. 4   James N Aaron b: Abt. 1917 in Kentucky, USA

………………….. 4   Ollie M Aaron b: Abt. 1921

………………….. 4   Henry J Aaron b: Abt. 1923

………………….. 4   Teddie R Aaron b: Abt. 1924

………………….. 4   Luther Aaron b: Abt. 1914 in Kentucky, USA

……….. 2   Mary Ann Stephens b: 1841 in Mississippi, USA

………..   + Anderson Stephens b: Abt. 1823 in Kentucky, m: 06 Dec 1877 in Russell, Kentucky, USA

…………….. 3   Rice W. Stephens b: Abt. 1864 in Kentucky

…………….. 3   Cassa E. Stephens b: Abt. 1867 in Kentucky, USA

…………….. 3   Sevanah Stephens b: Abt. 1879 in Kentucky

…………….. 3   Savannah Stephens b: Abt. 1870 in Kentucky, USA

………..   + James Riley Stephens m: 09 Oct 1877 in Russell County, Kentucky

……….. 2   Caroline Stephens b: 1845 in Mississippi, USA

……….. 2 Martha Jane Stephens b: 02 Mar 1849 in Alabama, USA, d: 02 May 1887 in Russell Co, Kentucky

………..   + Andrew J. Stephens

…………….. 3   Elmerine Stephens b: Apr 1876 in Kentucky, USA

…………….. 3   Lucy A. Stephens b: Mar 1878 in Kentucky, USA

…………….. 3   Helen Stephens b:

……….. + Andrew J. Stephens b: 06 Oct 1846 in Kentucky, USA, m: 14 Sep 1875 in Russell Co, Kentucky, d: 27 Jan 1907 in Russell, Kentucky, USA

…………….. 3   Elmerine Stephens b: Apr 1876 in Kentucky, USA

…………….. 3   Lucy A. Stephens b: Mar 1878 in Kentucky, USA

…………….. 3   Helen Stephens b:

……….. 2   John G Stephens b: Abt. 1851 in Alabama, USA, d: 11 May 1911

………..   + Sarah A. Moles b: Abt. 1856 in Alabama

…………….. 3   Ulyssus Stephens b: Abt. 1875 in Kentucky

…………….. 3   Lenora Stephens b: Abt. 1877 in Kentucky

…………….. 3   Dorotha Stephens b: Abt. 1878 in Kentucky

…………….. 3   Elmer Stephens b: Jun 1885 in Kentucky

…………….. 3   Ethel Stephens b: Abt. 1887 in Kentucky

…………….. 3   Estell Stephens b: Apr 1889 in Kentucky

…………….. 3   Pearly Stephens b: Sep 1891 in Kentucky

…………….. 3   Elzy Stephens b: May 1893 in Kentucky

…………….. 3   Elsie Stephens b: Abt. 1895 in Kentucky

…………….. 3   Ethard Stephens b: Abt. 1896 in Kentucky

…………….. 3   Edgar Stephens b: Jan 1897 in Kentucky

……….. 2   James Stephens b: Abt. 1854 in Mississippi, USA

………..   + Louisa E. Criswell b: Abt. 1858 in Kentucky, m: 10 Jul 1876 in Russell County, Kentucky

…………….. 3   William L. Stephens b: Abt. 1877 in Kentucky

…………….. 3   Leona Stephens b: Abt. 1879 in Kentucky

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Working It Wednesday – Double Timeline

Continuing to tweak my genealogy research planner, here’s my form for this week.  Remember, my planner fits pages that are 8 ½ x 5 ½, so that what these pages were designed to fit.

Sometimes I find it helpful to compare the timelines of 2 different people or a person and historic events in the area.  I’ve also used this to make a timeline on the left with comments, details or questions on the right half.  Having the timeline next to a copy of my notes helps me to zero in to make sure that the records I’m looking at fit in the correct time frame.

This full sheet is meant to be cut in half in order to fit in my planner.   Because you can’t change the margins half way through a document, there is a separate template for the back side if you’d like to print front and back or if you’d prefer to have a 1 sided page with the holes on the right.  Once again, there’s a page with explanations and details for the front and back, a front and back plain version and a front and back with ivy.  You can see the text boxes for typing in in the explanation pages, but not in the others (but they are there).  I hope you find them helpful!

Timeline fill in the blank front explanation
Timeline fill in the blank back explanation

Blank Timeline Front with ivy
Blank Timeline Back with ivy

Blank Timeline Front no ivy
Blank Timeline Back no ivy

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Timeline Tuesday – Nov. 1897 Election Violence

The Presidential Election of 1896 was one of the most exciting elections in our history. Party loyalties were still fierce for the local elections of 1897 and violence was rampant.  At first, I only planned to post the first 2 clippings from the Adair County News from Nov. 3, 1897, but the following clippings from the next week fit so well with them that I decided to post them all at once. 

Russell County names:  Merrill Tarter, William Redmon, Bailey, Shackleford, Hindman, W.W. Jones, N.H.W. Aaron, H.H. Dunbar, W.E. Miller, W.T. Sharp, J.P. Clayton, J.T. Sullivan, John D. Irvine, A. Baugh, W.S. Stone., Lilburn Phelps, J.N. Meadows, T.R. Morrison, O.B. Vaughan, V. Dockery, J.T. Bernard, J.B. Wheat, Emerine Lapsley, Jno. Wooldridge, Theodore Johnson.

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Family Friday – William Stephens part 1

William Stephens – 1813 – 1885

Birth:

Based on census records, William Stephens was born around 1813 in North Carolina.  His father is widely said to be Welcome Stephens but I have no source for that and I’m unclear on the identity of his mother.  Some researchers have his mother listed as Nancy Bailey, but I cannot confirm that.  The same researchers have a marriage date of 29 Apr, 1830 in Russell Co, Kentucky. 

I have found a marriage record for Welcome Stephens and Nancy Stephens in Russell Co, Kentucky for that date, so I believe that is the source for this information.  I have to wonder if some researchers aren’t jumping to conclusions because the Stephens family eventually appears in Russell Co, but perhaps someone has a source that says Nancy Stephens was previously married and her maiden name was Bailey. That is purely speculation since I have not seen a source. So maybe Nancy Bailey is the correct name, but the Russell County marriage cannot be for William’s parents. At least it cannot be for the mother of Welcome’s children because they were all born before this date. Welcome’s son, William, would have been about 15 years old in 1830 and it seems strange that Welcome would have been in Russell County at this time while William doesn’t show up in Russell County until the 1870 census.  This makes me wonder if this particular Welcome could be related to William, but not his father.  I need to search for available records at the time of Welcome’s death in Russell County to see if any of his children are mentioned.

Marriage – 1839

William was married to Dorothy “Wiggleton” (last name not confirmed) around 1835, most likely in Alabama or Mississippi.  In the 1850 census, the oldest child – George W – is listed as being born around 1836 in Alabama, which is why I have chosen 1835 as a likely marriage date.   There may have been an older daughter – based on a possible 1840 census from Tishomingo Co, Mississippi – but she does not appear with the family in the 1850 census.  If there is an older daughter, then my approximation for a marriage date could be off by a couple of years.

According to the FHL research guide for Alabama, before statewide registration of marriages began in 1936, the clerk of the probate court in each county issued licenses and recorded marriages, usually within 10 years of the creation of the county.  Marion County was established in 1818, so I should do a search for these records.  I should not limit my search to Marion County only.  I chose Marion County because I know this family resided there in 1850, but they also lived in Mississippi before 1850.  There are clues that he may have lived in Tishomingo Co, Mississippi, but Tishomingo County was not established until 1836, so I don’t believe they were married there. (Note:  I have since discovered that a fire at the Marion County courthouse in 1866 and again in 1883 may have destroyed all vital records.)

Following clues in the 1850 census, I know that William’s family was located in Alabama and Mississippi during the early years of their marriage.  The oldest child, George, was born in Alabama around 1836, but the 2^nd child, Andrew J, was born in Mississippi by 1837.  Looking for likely census matches based on this information lead me to possible matches in Marion Co, Alabama; Franklin Co, Alabama; and Tishomingo Co, Mississippi between 1840 and 1860.  (As a side note, many public family trees have Andrew’s place of birth as Cooke Co, Mississippi.  There is no Cooke County in Mississippi and as far I can find there never was.)

If I can determine if George or Andrew served in the Civil War, I may be able to find a more exact date of birth or location.  I have lost track of George after the 1850 census, but I haven’t really spent time looking for him either.  At one time, I thought I had found the pension file for Andrew, but it turned out to be the wrong man (but ironically, still part of my family tree).  Since then I have discovered Andrew’s marriage record in Ripley County, Missouri in 1858 and I know Andrew, his wife and daughter lived with William’s family in Franklin Co, Alabama for the 1860 census.  I have found  that Andrew’s daughter died in Metcalfe Co, Kentucky in 1861.  A son and daughter were also born in Metcalfe Co in 1861 and 1864, so there are several options for locations where Andrew may have entered the military.  He could have fought for the North or the South but Andrew Stephens is a common name, so I have had no luck so far.

I have found three 1839 land grants for William Stephens in Marion County, Alabama.  All three grants were written on the same day, but 2 of them were written for “William Stephens of Marion County” and 1 was written for “William Stephens of Lawrence County”.  During my research, I have found that there was a 2^nd William Stephens in Marion Co, Alabama around this same time.  He was approximately 6 years older than “my” William and was also born in North Carolina.  They both lived in District 14 of Marion County in the 1850 census, so I’m not sure how to distinguish if the land grants belong to the man I am researching or not.  I don’t know how to determine where District 14  is in Marion County and but that could be helpful.  There is also a William Stephens in Lawrence County in the 1840 census who is about 6 years younger than “my” William.   To help keep these men straight in my mind, I am going to number them.  “My” William will be William(1).  The older “Marion Co. William” will be William(2).  Lawrence County William will be William(3).

I decided to compare the land grants that I had found on http://www.glorecords.blm.gov/PatentSearch  with plat maps I had found in the book Family Maps of Marion County, Alabama by Gregory A. Boyd.  I matched the land grants with the correct locations on the map and I suspect that the all of the land parcels belonged to the same man. The 3 land grants from 1839 (shown in blue) were all dated 1 Aug, 1839 and the certificates are numbered 98, 99 and 100.  Two of the grants are written to “William Stevens, of Marion County, Alabama” and 1 of them is written to “William Stevens, of Lawrence County, Alabama”.  It seems quite likely that because the certificates are sequential and are all on the same date, they would belong to the same man.  It also seems more likely that land being granted in Marion County would have accidentally been written to “William of Marion County” than to accidentally write “William of Lawrence Co.”  Two of the parcels of land are in the same section on the township.  Later, in 1858, another grant is given to “William Stephens of Marion County”.  This grant describes 3 parcels of land, (shown in orange) one of which is exactly between 2 of the parcels given in 1839.  To me, that makes it most likely that it belongs to the the same William who was granted land in 1839.  

William(2) can be found in the Marion County census records in 1850 and 1860 as well as a likely match in 1840, so based on that information, it seems all of the land could belong to William(2).  Because of the “Lawrence Co” wrinkle, I have to wonder if all of the land belongs to William(3)however William(3) is living in Itawamba County for the 1850 and 1860 census so I’m not sure if this makes sense.  Itawamba County is just west of Marion county, but would that be a significant distance in 1850?  “My” William(1) seems to be the least likely choice because he seems to be found in Tishomingo Co, Mississippi in 1840; Marion Co, Alabama in 1850 and Franklin Co, Alabama in 1860. However, these 3 counties are all in the same general area, so I cannot completely rule him out.

I need to do more research on what records are available (if any) when a man applied for a land grant.  Land records are new for me and while I’ve done quite a bit of research using deeds from Russell County, Kentucky, I know nothing about the process for receiving a land grant.

This part of William and Nancy’s life is full of questions and guessing based on information in the 1850 and 1860 census.  Part 2 will have a little more that is certain.

Questions to research:

• When and where was William born?  Confirm parents.
• When and where did William get married? What was his wife’s maiden name? What records might tell me this?
• Was there a daughter that was older than George?
• Do the Land Grants that I have belong to “my” William Stephens?

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Working It Wednesday – Group Sheet

 

I’ve spent 2 days testing my “genealogy planner” at school and home and so far, it is working great.  It is great to be able to open the planner and see a list of quick tasks that I can work on or to jot down a question that pops into my mind so I can research it later.  It doesn’t clutter my desk and it’s easy to carry with me wherever I go.  I even used it last night in the car while waiting for my husband to make a quick run into a store.  

I’ve been working on several forms to include in my planner which I will be placing in the address section of the planner so that I can use the alphabetical dividers to organize these forms by surname or location.  In the next couple of weeks, I plan to take pictures of the different sections of my planner to give you a better idea of how it is working for me. 

My planner is a Franklin-Covey classic sized planner, so I need forms that will fit on a 8 ½ x 5 ½ sheet – or to have 2 forms on one regular sheet of paper that can be cut in half.  I’ve decided to use regular paper in my printer, so I have two forms per sheet.  I had to print the forms onto “portrait” oriented paper which caused me to have to rearrange my group sheet a little.  I was excited to see that the rearrangement actually allowed me to add spaces for 2 more children than my other form did!   The tables allow me to click in any box to add my information.  It is a Word file, which means I can add endnotes which I can then print on the back side of the paper as long as they don’t take up more than half a sheet of paper.  To make them fit, I had to highlight the endnotes and reduce them to a font size 6.  (Which led me to puchase a bookmark that is also a magnifier for $1.99 at Office Depot so that I can tell the difference between a 6 and an 8!)  I was also thrilled to discover that if I highlight and copy information with endnotes from my regular sized group sheets, when I paste then into the boxes of my smaller group sheet, it copies the end notes as well!  If I decide not to use endnotes with these smaller forms, then I could print the forms on the front and the back and still cut them in half – giving me 4 group sheets from 1 sheet of paper. 

I’m placing 3 files on here.  One is a copy of the form, but I’ve added explanations about the form in red in the boxes.  The 2nd is the form on plain paper.  The 3rd is the same as the 2nd, but I added an ivy border where the hole punches will go just to make the pages a little more attractive in my planner. 

Let me say that I am not an expert in using Word, so I’m hoping that the downloaded files will look the same on your computer as they do on mine!  I suggest that you download the instructions as well as the desired form as that may give you some help if the form doesn’t work properly for you.  I’d love to hear your feed-back! 

Happy Researching!
Lisa 

Double Group Sheet explanations 

Double Group Sheet no ivy 

Double Group Sheet color ivy 

 

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