Random Genealogy Bits

                                           John Greenarch of Clinton County, Kentucky     John Alvis Smith (1873- 1941) married Mary E. "Molly" Tarter in 1893 in Pulaski Co., Kentucky.  I was cleaning up my data on this half great uncle of my mine when I stumbled on a rather incredible story.                                                                            Molly had a sister named Margaret.  In October 1891, Margaret married a man named John Greenarch.  I was surprised to see on the marriage bond that a 23 year old young man was embarking on his third marriage. It was worth looking into.   J ohn Greenarch Appears in Clinton Co., KY 1860 as a 1 month...

                            Every Family Has Stories       Yesterday Mom and I were discussing sharing family history before it is lost. I get focused on names, dates, and hundred years old court records. She reminisces about childhood adventures on her parents' farm in Kentucky. While we talked it came up that even within our nuclear family, not all stories have been shared even with the siblings that had not participated in events.          In 1962, when I was only 5 yrs old, we had just moved into a new home. In fact, the telephone company had not connected our phone yet. One evening, there was a knock on the door and naturally, against all rules, I immediately opened the door. A man stood there asking for my father. My dad was there pushing me behind him then, recognizing this man, the conversation went something like "well hello, what's up?  Grady, they need you t...

  Two Desperate Characters Captured and Lodged in Jail                                     Thursday, April 18,1872                                                                  In yesterday's UNION AND AMERICAN was noticed the arrival in this city of the Sheriff of Fentress county with two prisoners, Robert Step and James Hull , charged with the murder of a man named Lewis Hill in Fentress county the 20th of November, 1871 . The facts in relation to the arrest together with the alleged circumstances of the murder, are these. Last year some time a man named William Smith was arrested for stealing a horse from a gentleman named Nathaniel Dobbs , and indicted by the Circuit Court of Fentress County. The murdered ma...

                                                                    Transfer from old blog site, original post was Mar 19,2017 The Children of Benjamin Smith and Mahala Sweet- Eldest son, Henderson I have had so little luck finding Ben Smith records. I have found lots of theories but little supporting evidence. 1860 census  Wayne Co., KY Benjamin SMITH 40 TN /Day Labor / $50 prop value/ $50 estate value Mahala 33 KY( ? ) Housewife Henderson 18 TN Day Labor ---Elijah 16 KY Day Labor- --Nancy 13 TN----Emerson 11 TN----William 8 TN - ---Redman 6 TN----John G. 3 KY**--- Hayden 2 KY**--- I have decided to list the information about the children just to see if someone recognizes them and can contact me.  HENDERSON SMITH Born January 16, 1841 Henderson “Hence” was the eldest. He enlisted on enlisted 2/2/1864 at B...

  ISHAM SHARP (b abt 1755 d Nov 1840) - Revolutionary War soldier.  He can be found in Russell county, Kentucky with his wife Mary in the 1830 and 1840 census as well as the Pensioners census.   Mary is found living in home of Joel Coffey.                                                                                   A portion of Isham's pension application is here.  January 1834-                                         “ He states that in the early part of 1779 he was drafted  for three months in Guilford County, state of NC. He then belonged to Capt. LEAK’s company. That he immediately entered  the service of the United States as a privat...

  This Family has made me crazy for years -   My ggg grandfather James Meeks apparently used the name Harris for quite a while in his youth   That is the name he gave when he married and was even listed on death certificate as "Meeks alias Harris"  also Charley Harris is named as his father and simply "Meeks" as mother His brother Thomas has father unknown and Martha Meeks as mother. I have not yet located any records of  the oldest son Jackson beyond the 1870 census .  What I have tried to do is gather bits and pieces as I have seen them in the hope that it will someday  it will all "Click!"  So far , nothing. Here are some of the notes- they may or may not be accurate, many are message board post.  My line is Martha to James to Wm "Paps" to Bessie.  Bessie's nephew took the Y-dna test.  The results seem to most strongly identify him as a Harris.   1850 Wayne Co., Ky; District 2; 12 August; pg.19;...

 Here is the continuation of the Meeks story provided by Gregg L. K. Leeser on April 18, 2013.  Again, I cannot verify the accuracy, but I did not want the story lost in case some or all of it is accurate. Perhaps Mr. Leeser or his family will find us again and be able to provide the documentation.  From Gregg L. K. Leeser April 18, 2013 Samuel Meeks (the elder) born 1788. He was illiterate and in 1850 did not know his place of birth. In 1860 he gives it as Tennessee. I have also seen records which have given it as Kentucky and Virginia. He was NOT killed during the Civil War and did not serve and was not sent to a prisoner of war camp. One very badly written book mistakenly states that Samuel Meeks of the 11th KY Cav died in Camp Douglas. The 11th KY Cav was formed in Madison County, KY and only about 8 men joined up when that unit was based in Monticello. One of these was the younger Samuel Meeks, who I hope I've shown did not die during his time in captivity. Samuel Me...

In April 2013 a gentleman named Gregg Leeser posted comments on my first blog site (My Random Genealogy) I tried to contact him and my Meeks cousin Jenny tried also.  He never answered our questions, just that he had the research and knew his information was good. I am going to post his comments so that the story is not lost but I have not yet been able to prove or disprove the story.  If you can verify any part of this, it would be very much appreciated.    From Gregg L. K. Lesser April 18,2013 I have been working on my family research since 1979, so what I have is based upon actual documentation I have not any computer related searches which rely on other's work id only for transciption. I say this, because these are the provable facts that I have. Any additional information that can be proven through documentation would be appreciated. Samuel Meeks was born July 28, 1846 at Wayne County, KY (per his own statement when applying for a pension for service in the Civi...

 The Sharp Family           John Sharp  was probably born before 1718 in Virginia. He was living in Goochland County before the formation of Albemarle County in 1744. and died 1778 in North Carolina. He had multiple land transactions as he moved to North Carolina. He received a patent in Goochland This patent, issued to him 26 Mar 1739  [Patent Book 18, p. 227] , states...  for the consideration as 20 shillings.-----200 acres on the branches of Phills Creek, a branch of Bird Creek; ...  ( TL NOTE If required to be minimum 21 yr old then he was born at least by 1718),  and sold that land about 5 years later to Philip Hoggarth (in Weisiger, Goochland County, Virginia, Wills, 1742-1749, page 37, giving its date as 21 Aug 1744 and its location at Goochland County Deed Book 4, page 394. ). He then obtained a patent for land in Littleton Parish, Albemarle (the land was located in what later became Buckingham County). ------Albem...

 THIS BLOG STARTED APRIL 2025.  I will store random genealogy related pictures, documents, stories, and likely a few thoughts along the way. I manage DNA test for several people that may have stories  I find interesting also.  I will try to label the posts for the two families, Turner for my mom's side or Smith for my dad's. Then of course, the various other names as I climb up the tangled branches of the tree. I may add other names for my extended families, but I will try to label those so as not to confuse my immediate circle of cousins.