Researching the Family Trees of Eastern North Carolina.
(This article was originally published July 25, 2018. It was most recently updated June 6, 2019.) It’s now worth investigating the possibility that Harriet Morris is a daughter of Thomas Morris of Beaufort County and granddaughter of Elisha Morris. While Laban descendants undoubtedly share some kind of DNA with Harriet Morris descendants, I’m doubtful it’s enough […]
(This article was originally published January 22, 2014. It was most recently updated June 6, 2019.) Nancy MORRIS shows up in the household of Laban MORRIS in 1850 and 1860, and best I can tell from ages on census records, she was living with the family as early as 1830. Many years ago, before I realized how […]
My 5th great-grandfather, Jesse P. Vendrick, was probably born in Craven County circa 1760. The identities of his parents and the mother of his children are mysteries. Why? Because there were two Jesse Vendricks in this generation. I think. Thought? I don’t know! And there are two, possibly three, more Jesse Vendricks in the next […]
For years, I’ve known very little about Matilda. That changed over the weekend. I’d been giving the search for Dewitt, who remains elusive, another go by looking at some Lenoir County deeds on their USGenWeb site. The moment came when I got to Deed Book 5. To save time, I was using Control + F […]
In the 21st century, if you’re serious about genealogy, then let’s face it: You will engage in DNA testing. In fact, if you’re really serious, you’ll get as many of your older relatives tested as possible. Why? Because their DNA will contain more lengthy segments connected with the lines you’re likely trying to test. And […]
Dewitt Sumrell was born circa 1825 in Lenoir County. This date is a guessimate based upon the birth dates of his two known sons in the mid to late 1840s. The place, though, comes from the death certificate of his son, James Henry Sumrell. According to James’s son, the informant, both James and Dewitt were […]
The word “brother-in-law” is becoming the bane of my research. In earlier times, the term “in-law” had a broader scope than is now the case. Pretty much anyone related to you by marriage was an in-law. Therefore, a brother-in-law could be one in the modern sense, a stepbrother, or even the brother of your brother’s […]
