Sharing case studies, methodologies, and resource materials. I’m working to add generations to my tree using full documentary evidence confirmed by DNA analysis.
Welcome!
I started this blog because I was frustrated with having to “reinvent the wheel” —- mothers and fathers are attached to trees in ancestry.com with no sources. The familysearch.org One-World Tree is riddled with folks attaching whole generations of people with no sources. Even my family lines within Wiki-Tree are filled with errors and sources that say, “Personal knowledge of Joe-Shmoe”.
And most of the time, once I put in the work and pay for the records, the random mothers and fathers listed end up being correct. So, listen, I’m not pretending that I’m up-ending long-held beliefs about family lines or anything. However, I am providing direct evidence of family relationships or strong circumstantial cases along with DNA correlation to confirm family lines. And yeah, sometimes I break down a brick wall and discover a new grandfather or grandmother and those are fun too. And I provide the documentary evidence for all to read and review.
Please browse around a bit. My posts tend to be quite Florida- and Georgia-heavy because, well, all the branches of my family have been in Florida since the early 1900s and most of them came from Georgia before that. But there are a few things sprinkled in there from Alabama, North Carolina, and South Carolina as well.
If I run across a really fun resource, I like to share that here as well. My case studies are presented informally and every detail presented is sourced by documentary evidence that I provide directly to you, the reader.
Please follow along to read stories of discovery and heartbreak, to learn tips and tricks, organization and research strategies, and (if you are a cousin) to learn more about the details of our shared family lines.
Recent Posts
Join me in my adventure in family discovery!
Compiled Military Service Records for P. F. Smith’s Regiment of Louisiana Volunteers in 1836
Compiled Military Service Records CMSR for the Louisiana Volunteers in Colonel Persifor Frazer Smith’s Regiment in 1836 during the Second Seminole War
Mary Elizabeth Weeks’ Widow’s Pension Application
Mary Elizabeth Weeks' widow's pension application provides detailed accounts of her efforts to secure benefits after the death of her husband, John J. Weeks, in 1900. Despite providing affidavits confirming their marriage and John’s military service, her application was complicated by John's previous marriage and eventual divorce. Her claim was ultimately denied when she remarried in 1903, disqualifying her from receiving the pension.
John J. Weeks’ Survivor’s Pension Application Due to Service During the Seminole Wars
John J Weeks’ Attempt to Secure a Survivor’s Pension Due to Service in the Mexican War
Details John J. Weeks' attempt to secure a pension for his service in the Mexican War. Weeks served as a teamster and express rider under Captain Bliss, but his pension application was denied because his role was deemed civilian rather than military. The post also traces his movements across Florida and discusses his personal life, including his marriages and the challenges he faced after an injury. Despite the pension denial, Weeks’ story provides valuable genealogical insights.
Pension Application for Nancy Weeks Nettles, Widow of Isaac M L Nettles
The blog post discusses Nancy Weeks Nettles' widow's pension application for her husband, Isaac M. L. Nettles, who served in the Third Seminole War. It details Isaac's death, burial, and the challenges Nancy faced with her pension claim due to errors in documentation. The post highlights genealogical insights found in the application, such as a page from the Nettles family Bible and affidavits verifying key family details. It is a valuable resource for descendants of Isaac and Nancy Nettles.
Did Hillsborough County Pioneer Seth Howard Serve with the Louisiana Volunteers?
Muster Rolls for the Seminole Wars in Florida
For those researching their Florida Pioneer ancestors (i.e., those who lived in Florida prior to it becoming a State in 1845), volunteer service in the Second Seminole War is an avenue that must be pursued. In addition, volunteer service during the Third Seminole War should be reviewed for any males living in central and south Florida in the 1850s as well.
Bounty Land Application for Hillsborough County Pioneer Seth Howard
When it Appears No Records Exist for an Ancestor, Research Possible Father Candidates Instead
One of my 3rd great-grandfathers on my maternal line was a man named Daniel Pate. He lived a relatively short life. According to his gravestone, his middle initial was “S” and he was born February 18, 1856, and he died March 8, 1904. He is buried in Oak Hill Cemetery in Arcadia, Florida.
Index of Hooker's Independent Company, Florida Mounted Volunteers Third Seminole War
My fourth great-grandfather, Seth Howard, served in the Third Seminole War as a Private in Hooker’s Independent Company of the Florida Mounted Volunteers.