Tag: ancestry

Challenge of Tracing the Ancestry of James Brooks (bef. 1720 – 1779) of Frederick County, Virginia: A Thought-Provoking New Clue

May 24, 2026

Or, Subtitled: “The chain carriers were often kin to the person for whom the land was being surveyed” (Judy G. Russell, “A Matter of Measure,“ Legal Genealogy) I have posted previously about an elusive ancestor named James Brooks, who died prior to 2 November 1779 in Frederick County, Virginia, when his widow Mary and son … More Challenge of Tracing the Ancestry of James Brooks (bef. 1720 – 1779) of Frederick County, Virginia: A Thought-Provoking New Clue

Thomas Leonard (1752-1832) and Hannah James (1752-1842): Children Robert, Thomas, John, Hezekiah, Samuel, Griffith, Colin, and Hannah

May 16, 2026

Or, Subtitled: “Saw Lincoln County when it was a cane brake infested with bear, wolves, deer and many other wild animals” In three previous postings, I discussed the life of Thomas Leonard (1752-1832), son of Robert Leonard and Honor Pritchard. I began with a look at the documents that chronicle his early years in Maryland, … More Thomas Leonard (1752-1832) and Hannah James (1752-1842): Children Robert, Thomas, John, Hezekiah, Samuel, Griffith, Colin, and Hannah

Thomas Leonard (1752-1832), Son of Robert Leonard and Honor Pritchard: Lincoln County, Tennessee, Years (1808-1832)

May 2, 2026

Or, Subtitled: “My will and desire is that my wife Hannah, Leonard, Shall remain quietly in peaceable poſseſsion, of the room, commonly called hers, during her natural life” This posting continues (and concludes) my documentation of the life of Thomas Leonard (1752-1832), son of Robert Leonard and Honor Pritchard. This series began with an account … More Thomas Leonard (1752-1832), Son of Robert Leonard and Honor Pritchard: Lincoln County, Tennessee, Years (1808-1832)

Thomas Leonard (1752-1832), Son of Robert Leonard and Honor Pritchard: South Carolina Years (1786-1808)

April 24, 2026

Or, Subtitled: “The family came in a cart whose wheels were sections of a big tree sawn out thicker in the center than on the edge” This posting continues a thread discussing records that document the life of Thomas Leonard (1752-1832), son of Robert Leonard and Honor Pritchard. The previous posting in the thread documents … More Thomas Leonard (1752-1832), Son of Robert Leonard and Honor Pritchard: South Carolina Years (1786-1808)

Thomas Lewis Leonard (1781-1870) and Sarah M. Lauderdale (1785/6 – abt. 1866): Children — Aletha, Hannah, Milbury, Cynthia, Matilda, Maria, Minerva, Alfred, Thomas, Martha, Sarah, and Mahala

April 4, 2026

Or, Subtitled: “Thus ends the children of Thomas and Sally Leonard” Here’s a brief summary of information about the ten daughters and two sons of Thomas Lewis Leonard and Sarah M. Lauderdale (for the continuation of this posting, please click the numeral 2 below):

Thomas Lewis Leonard (1781-1870), Son of Thomas Leonard and Hannah James: Nacogdoches and Cherokee County, Texas, Years, 1839-1870

March 28, 2026

Or, Subtitled: “Situated in Cherokee County on the waters of the River Neches north of the San Antonio Road and about 6½ miles SE from Rusk” So on to Texas, the final destination in the life journey of Thomas Lewis Leonard and wife Sarah Lauderdale: as the previous posting shows, on 6 May 1839 Thomas … More Thomas Lewis Leonard (1781-1870), Son of Thomas Leonard and Hannah James: Nacogdoches and Cherokee County, Texas, Years, 1839-1870

Aletha R. Leonard (abt. 1803 – abt. 1845), Wife of James G. Birdwell

February 5, 2026

Or, Subtitled: “That James Birdwell and Lethe Birdwell his wife have both departed this life” With my last posting about James Lauderdale (abt. 1707 – 1796/7), I’ve drawn to a close, for now at least, my series of postings on my Lauderdale family line. With this posting, I’m inaugurating a new series about another of … More Aletha R. Leonard (abt. 1803 – abt. 1845), Wife of James G. Birdwell

James Lauderdale (abt. 1707 – 1796/7): Will and Children

January 31, 2026

Or, Subtitled: “James Lauderdale his mark wafer seal” In my previous two postings (here and here), I shared the subtance of what I know about my earliest proven ancestor in the Lauderdale line, James Lauderdale, who died at an advanced age between 24 September 1796, when he made a codicil to his will in Botetourt … More James Lauderdale (abt. 1707 – 1796/7): Will and Children

James Lauderdale (abt. 1707 – 1796/7): The Virginia Years, 1744/5 – 1796

January 28, 2026

Or, Subtitled: “Run away from the ſubſcriber, near Buchanan’s ferry, the 5th inſtant” In my preceding posting I focused on establishing when James Lauderdale (abt. 1707? – 1796/7) arrived in Virginia, and, insofar as this can be documented, where he was living prior to his arrival in Virginia. That posting showed that there’s sound documentation … More James Lauderdale (abt. 1707 – 1796/7): The Virginia Years, 1744/5 – 1796