North Carolina Pioneers

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The Brain Power Behind Tracing Ancestors

brain drawn Did you realize that delving into the past like a detective builds brain cells? Or, the gifts which research provides? Analytical skills, organizing tons of data, memory recall (remembering dates, names and places), the unexpected information which leads us to the next step, a truer knowledge of history from actual documents, the kinship of our relatives and friends, and the wonderful awakening of the outstanding ancestors who helped create a free country with their ideas and inventions irrespective of difficulties and hardships. Not to forget the trips we take to old homes and cemeteries which spirit a sense of nostalgia. And the relatives which we discover along the way. What a wonderful journey planted in the innermost intricate parts of the brain, to be recalled at any time! The pedigree chart doubles every generation, so there is a wide spectrum of ancestors to trace. The quilt of the generations is yet incomplete, yet the discovery of how one fits, is exciting!

What is Jamestown Weed?

Jimson WeedAccording to John Lawson who traveled North Carolina in 1711, there is a weed called "James-Town-Weed". The seed was described as being similar to that of an onion and was declared as an excellent cure for burns and inflammations. However, taken inwardly brought on a sort of drunken Madness. Lawson said that one of the Marsh-Weeds, like a Dock, had the same affect. The Red-Root whose Leaf is like Spear-Mint, is good for Thrushes and sore Mouths; Camomil, but it must be kept in the Shade, otherwise it will not thrive; Housleek first from England; Vervin; Night-Shade, several kinds; Harts-Tongue; Yarrow abundance, Mullein the same, both of the Country; Sarsaparilla, all of which was not a hundredth part of what remained in his view. Source: A New Voyage to Carolina by John Lawson

The Tulbert House

The Tulbert House The Tulbert house was built around 1852 about the time that the city of Yadkinville was founded. Today it serves as the home of the Yadkin County Historical Society. It is situated adjacent to the Jail House.

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Finding Ancestors in old Wills, Inventories and Estates

puzzle In past times, many household and farm implements were accumulated. That is because each farm or plantation was its own business. Books were kept which itemized purchases, debts, loans and every item on the place. Business as usual was agriculture, planting, harvesting, shipping and factoring one's crops to London and the West Indies. Cotton was spun into cloth, herbs provided for medicine, etc. Inventories list such items. Then, there is an Estate Sales, wherein neighbors and relatives make purchases. None of these names should be ignored, rather researched to learn a possible family relationship. It was common procedure to advertise the Sale in the local newspaper. This ad is usually in the legal section, and is useful because it mentions acreage and location. A diligent search in the deed records which define land lot numbers and districts, will usually steer one to the old homesite. How valuable is this? Annual Returns frequently mention letters written to relatives in other parts, funeral costs and who inherited the funeral gloves and rings. As one follows the Annual Returns from year to year (until the Final Return where all inheritances had been paid out), there are some surprises. This is where receipts were given by husbands of the daughters and sometimes the only place where a marriage is discovered. Anyone listed on the Return with an adjacent amount is suspect as an heir of some sort. Thus, that name should be researched in order to learn more. The idea is to search out everyone connected with your ancestors. Assembling the facts will lay out the puzzle and solve it!

First Inhabitants to Yadkin County

Deep Creek Meeting Cemetery The earliest known inhabitants of the region included the Tutelo and Saponi Indians, and after they left, settlers consisted of Germans, Scotch-Irish, Welsh and Englishmen. Quakers also migrated into the area and they are found in the graveyard of the Deep Creek Friends Meeting House.

Images of Yadkin County, North Carolina Wills and Estates for Family Tree Researchers

Yadkin County

The county was formed in 1850 from that part of Surry County south of the Yadkin River, for which it was named.

Images of Wills and Estates 1851 to 1902

Testators: Adams, Daniel J. Adams, George Adkins, Horatio Baldwin, A. T. Benbow, Evan Benham, E. A. Brown, Ellen Brown, Henry Brown, Jacob Chapman, Allen Claywell, J. S. Colvard, B. G. Daub, H. N. Dickerson, Alfonso Felts, Harrison Fleming, David Fleming, Elizabeth Fleming, F. Fleming, Henry W. Glen, Elizabeth Gails Greer, David Hall, Alexander Hampton, Alford Harding, B. Harrison, A. Hellmund, Bell Henderson, Bennett Hobson, David Holcomb, Anna Hoots, Daniel Houser, Adam Hutchins, Alexander Sr. Johnson, A. J. Lynch, Elizabeth Martin, Aaron Norman, David W. North, Ann Parker, George Perry, J. J. Perry, J. J. Reavis, Charles Reece, Abraham Reece, Alvis Reinhardt, Christian Robinson, Harvey Rose, Elizabeth Rowland, A. Skidmore, Alexander Sparks, Benjamin Speer, Aquila Stallings, Alexander Stedman, Charles Steelman, George Streetman, Dora A. Swain, Franklin Tomlin, A. N. Vankey, Clayton Vestal, Alexander Vestal, Gina Wade, C. B. Wade, Gholson Wagoner, Catharine Hall, Martha C. Wilkins, George Williams, Isaac Wilson, Conrad Windsor, Elisha A. Woodruff, Allen

Images of Wills and Estates 1902 to 1922

Testators: Anderson, Henry Angle, Hulda J. Angel, Milton Armstrong, John Baity, Jain Barron, Elizabeth C. and J. N. Bodenhammer, J. C. Brandon, J. C. Brinkley, J. W. Brown, Bettie Brown, Dock Brown, G. W. Bryant, J. S. Burchett, Ann Burton, David T. Carlton, Louisa Carter, A. D. Carter, Joseph Carter, Joseph W. Casstewana, M. A. Chapel, Joshua Lewis Cockerham, D. J. Conrad, John T. Cook, Isaac Cook, Joseph Cook, L. W. Cornelius, A. E. Cowan, John T., estate Craven, Lewis Nathaniel Creson, D. Y. Cropper, Henry Crumel, James Dalton, Cloe Dauk, Alvis Davis, Jane Davis, J. E. Davis, M. D. DeJern, D. F. Doss, John M. Dreece, Joel Drewry, M. E. Fleming, J. J. George, J. F. Gouch, Emily Harriett Gouch, J. E. Grass, Elizabeth Hall, Julia P. Hall, Martha C. Hall, Mary J. Hampton, John Harbin, James Harris, Caroline Harris, John A. Hayes, Esther Hickerson, Alvin Hinshaw, John Hinshaw, Joseph Hoats, D. B. Hobson, John William Hobson, Mary J. Holleman, John Horn, A. Houser, C. S. Houser, Louisa Huff, E. M. Hutchens, Hezekiah Hutchens, James Inscore, D. W. Jester, John M. Jester, John Milton Johnson, C. D. Jones, Jane Jones, J. M. Lang, Isaac Long, Alfred Long, Elizaberth Long, George Long, H. O. Long, James Lynch, J. M. Marshall, Henry Martin, D. A. Martin, J. H. Sr. Matthews, A. J. Mayberry, E. M. Melton, Elizabeth Messick, John Myers, David Clinton Myers, Granville Myers, James H. Neyers, D. J. Norman, John H. Pass, John W. Patterson, John H. Perdue, Major Poindexter, Ann Catharine Poindexter, John H. Poindexter, Julia Ann Catharine Poindexter, Mariah Prim, Isaac Prim, Mary Randleman, George W. Reaves, Giles Reed, Abel N. Reese, F. W. Roberson, L. B. Sawyers, Joe Share, Calvin Shares, Henderson Shares, Henry Shermer, Dillard Shermer, Elizabeth Shore, James Shoves, John Shugart, J. A. Smitherman, A. P. Sparks, M. J. Spears, Julina Sprouse, Millie Steelman, C. H. Steelman, M. J. Talbert, Emily Turner, Alexander W. Wagoner, Daniel Wagoner, Frederick Wagoner, Henry Wagoner, John Wagoner, Moses M. Warden, E. N. Warden, J. Whitehead, John Whitlock, J. B. Wilkins, H. D. Williams, James Sr. Williams, J. B. Windsor, J. W.