Hi Will, No, I haven't read Stott's article. I'm kinda binary in my research approach and haven't gotten to the newspapers yet. But,......... I have an unknown Alsup as the wife of Robert M. Graham and mother of Suzanna. Possibly his 3rd wife????? Any Graham researchers lend a hand here ???????? Dave ======================================= At 12:07 PM 7/18/99 -0400, you wrote: >Thanks, Dave, for the flurry of information. There are no McRaes in my line, >but my ancestor, Cooper Melton was the uncle of the Mathew Melton listed >below. Another Melton researcher, Sherry Arnold, has made a convincing case >that Mathew was Joseph Melton's son, not his brother and, like Joseph and >Cooper, Mathew was among the first to settle Benton County. What has >confused many of Mathew's descendants, is that Joseph and Cooper also had a >brother, Matthew (two "t's"), but it's proven that Matthew the brother lived >in Smith, later Warren County TN, and never lived in Benton. Mathew (one >"t"), son of Joseph, died young ( 36), and McRae became guardian to Mathew's >children, which included Chesterfield, Henry, Joseph C., and others. Joseph >C. married A. McRae's daughter Mary. After Joseph's death, she married >Robert Graham. I believe that when Mary died, Graham married Mary's sister, >Elizabeth Greer, and when Elizabeth died, took a third wife. Elizabeth must >have married a Greer; one of yours, Dallas? Much of this comes from a long >1982 letter from JKT Smith to Lillian Stott (the granddaughter of Joseph and >Mary McRae.) That year, Mrs. Stott published 10 articles of her family >memories in the Camden Chronicle. Have you seen any of that material? > > >> -----Original Message----- >> From: David L. Snow [SMTP:DLSNOW@worldnet.att.net] >> Sent: Sunday, July 18, 1999 2:06 AM >> To: TNBENTON-L@rootsweb.com >> Subject: [TNBENTON-L] Greer & Melton >> >> Hey Will & Dallas, >> >> Remeber A. McRae who lived next to Chesterfield Melton on the Point Mason >> Road ??? Check this out: >> >> County Court Minutes - July Term 1846: >> >> "Personally appeared in open Court Alexander McRae guardian of Minor heirs >> of Mathew Melton deceased and together with him W.J. Greer and Wm. D. Hyer >> his securities who appeared in open Court and acknowledged the due >> execution of their bond in the penal sum of seven hundred dollars >> conditioned as the law directs." >> >> You got McRae's in your line, Will??? >> >> Dave >

THis is from Ira <who else>. Think we can start The DanvilleCrossing Clinic......The net eqivalent of the Betty Ford Clinic. Probably would have to rent the Empire State Building to house all the patients. http://members.aol.com/lainey533/help.html Dave

Hi Lillie, Some roads still bare their old names, ie, Point Mason, Natchez Trace, etc.....but most never had names per se. Early on roads were catagorized as to their 'class', ie, 1, 2, 3, Turnpike <yeah Benton Co had a Turnpike thru it>. State set the rules for the classification as to width and such. I've read the statutes but don't remember where and am to lazy this morning to look them up. Also, Tennessee is a 'meets & bounds' state, which means that surveys and road lay-outs are specified by physical items on the land, eg, 120 yards to the White Oak tree with the ugly branch, then west 60 yards to the eastern border of Ulma Thurmonds Super-Duper Beauty Palor for the Celebrity Wannabees. This makes it really tuff sometimes to figure out from an old surveyors description just where a piece of property laid, plus alot of the old landmarks are gone, like the old trees. The roads additionally were in a state of flux, and you have to follow the Court Minutes carefully, eg, The roads around Big Sandy were constantly being rerouted as oldtimers died and their land divided and traffic to the old homestead decreased. The old route would be declassified and new routes 'cut' and 'classed'. Additionally, as river and creek beds demanded, new routes would be forged to overcome weather related problems such as lowland flooding in an attempt to make the roads more weather proof. 'Highway' classified roads appear to be named after the towns that they connected. ei. Pt. Mason Road went from Big Sandy to Pt. Mason, Faxon Road went to Faxon, Lick Creek went to Lick Creek. I don't know where New Hope Road was supposed to go. I can only imagine. Lower class roads really didn't have names......you said you were going to Wyatt's Mill or Widow McKenzies and everyone knew the roadway you were going to take to get there. But all is not lost just because you don't have a modern road name. Careful study of the road records from the present back to the beggining can be fairly accurate, and once you begin to include surveyors records you can fairly well pinpoint an old homestead. You gotta remember, these folks wouldn't go out and make or particularly change a road for fun. They had to be prodded by the authorities to stop farming or 'resting' to go out and clear land for a new road. So once a road was laid-off, I don't believe it was changed very often. I suspect current roads are fairly close to the original roads with only minor changes. Roads that were 'declassified' because of lack of use, were just left to be reclaimed by nature, but you may still find evidence of their original route. Wonder how they marked the 'Mile Trees'. Hope this helps, Dave - -------------------------------------------------------------------------- --------- At 08:22 AM 7/18/99 -0500, Lillie Cotham wrote: >Dave, >You have renewed my hope of finding where my Matheny relatives lived. >After visiting the Pleasant Ridge Cemetery, I had given up hope of >finding the location. I was planning on looking at deeds. Now I will >look at the Court Minutes. I see you have done much research, a lot >ahead of my 2+ years, in this area. Would you happen to know if the >roads are still named the same now as then. For those of you who haven't >been there, this is strictly country, even to an old life-time country >girl. >Lillie > > >==== DanvilleCrossing Mailing List ==== >GENEALOGY is like Hide & Seek: >They Hide & I Seek !! >

Thanks David, let us know where and where. DAL> "David L. Snow" wrote: > > I've been EXTREMELY delinquent on getting this database finished. Got > burned-out......but am working on it again which is why you've gotten some > of this info over last day or so. The Court Minutes will be moving over to > a new site shortly, but......... > > http://www.rootsweb.com/%7Etndigs/benton/ctycrtmn/wpamain.htm > > Dave > ================================================ > > At 06:38 AM 7/18/99 -0700, Dallas Greer wrote: > >Does anyone have the Link to the Court Minutes of Benton Co,TN , I lost > >mine. > >Thanks > >DAL> > > > >Lillie Cotham wrote: > >> > >> Dave, > >> You have renewed my hope of finding where my Matheny relatives lived. > >> After visiting the Pleasant Ridge Cemetery, I had given up hope of > >> finding the location. I was planning on looking at deeds. Now I will > >> look at the Court Minutes. I see you have done much research, a lot > >> ahead of my 2+ years, in this area. Would you happen to know if the > >> roads are still named the same now as then. For those of you who haven't > >> been there, this is strictly country, even to an old life-time country > >> girl. > >> Lillie > >> > >> ==== DanvilleCrossing Mailing List ==== > >> GENEALOGY is like Hide & Seek: > >> They Hide & I Seek !! > > > > > >==== DanvilleCrossing Mailing List ==== > >What do you mean my grandparents didn't have any kids ??? > > > > ==== DanvilleCrossing Mailing List ==== > My Family Tree has Root Rot !!

I've been EXTREMELY delinquent on getting this database finished. Got burned-out......but am working on it again which is why you've gotten some of this info over last day or so. The Court Minutes will be moving over to a new site shortly, but......... http://www.rootsweb.com/%7Etndigs/benton/ctycrtmn/wpamain.htm Dave ================================================ At 06:38 AM 7/18/99 -0700, Dallas Greer wrote: >Does anyone have the Link to the Court Minutes of Benton Co,TN , I lost >mine. >Thanks >DAL> > >Lillie Cotham wrote: >> >> Dave, >> You have renewed my hope of finding where my Matheny relatives lived. >> After visiting the Pleasant Ridge Cemetery, I had given up hope of >> finding the location. I was planning on looking at deeds. Now I will >> look at the Court Minutes. I see you have done much research, a lot >> ahead of my 2+ years, in this area. Would you happen to know if the >> roads are still named the same now as then. For those of you who haven't >> been there, this is strictly country, even to an old life-time country >> girl. >> Lillie >> >> ==== DanvilleCrossing Mailing List ==== >> GENEALOGY is like Hide & Seek: >> They Hide & I Seek !! > > >==== DanvilleCrossing Mailing List ==== >What do you mean my grandparents didn't have any kids ??? >

Does anyone have the Link to the Court Minutes of Benton Co,TN , I lost mine. Thanks DAL> Lillie Cotham wrote: > > Dave, > You have renewed my hope of finding where my Matheny relatives lived. > After visiting the Pleasant Ridge Cemetery, I had given up hope of > finding the location. I was planning on looking at deeds. Now I will > look at the Court Minutes. I see you have done much research, a lot > ahead of my 2+ years, in this area. Would you happen to know if the > roads are still named the same now as then. For those of you who haven't > been there, this is strictly country, even to an old life-time country > girl. > Lillie > > ==== DanvilleCrossing Mailing List ==== > GENEALOGY is like Hide & Seek: > They Hide & I Seek !!

Sign me up Dave. Toni

Dave, You have renewed my hope of finding where my Matheny relatives lived. After visiting the Pleasant Ridge Cemetery, I had given up hope of finding the location. I was planning on looking at deeds. Now I will look at the Court Minutes. I see you have done much research, a lot ahead of my 2+ years, in this area. Would you happen to know if the roads are still named the same now as then. For those of you who haven't been there, this is strictly country, even to an old life-time country girl. Lillie

Poor Dog and all for a glimpse of a great time (hurry I can't wait since I couldn't be there.) LOL My dog would probably run away from home and if she could talk tell everyone that I am a bully. Haha. If yours is like mine it is probably more spoiled then the kids. As for the meals there's always Micky D's. (grin) Toni

Knox, Mine connect through the Rushings and Hudsons and Dallas & I have combined our trees to able to get the extended info out to others. if you have either of these names let me know and I can check my data. Toni

Dave, This is Bill Gleaves line. Maybe he can help you to add to your data. His address is: gleavew@peak.org. Also check with Dallas Greer at : greer@aa.net. Hope this helps. Toni

Does anyone have a F.A. PIERCE that married a J.R. WEAKS in Henry CO. 5-14-1883? What does F.A. stand for? Thanks for any help. Rosemary

Justin: I'm sorry, but I don't have any thing on your families. I'll forward your query to our Danville Crossing list. Maybe someone there can help. Dan Martin ---------- > nexturl = http://home.earthlink.net/~dlmartin2/stewart_co_tn/reg2.html > from = justinhawk@hotmail.com > message = Can you find anything on the Hawkins that lived here in Stewart County > Wesley Hawkins, or anything on the Wallace's like Preston Wallace, Willie Wallace, these people should have lived down by the river on maybe the rode that turns off of 79 hwy there at 1 stop. > > Thank You, > > Justin -- Have I, therefore, become your enemy, because I tell you the truth? Gal. 4:16 Jesus said: "I am The Way, The Truth And The Life, and nobody comes to the Father but by Me" John: 14:6 Christian Exchange, Inc: http://home.earthlink.net/~dlmartin2/cei/ggm.html God Bless America: http://www.wwd.net/user/sjackson/america.htm

Hey Will & Dallas, Remeber A. McRae who lived next to Chesterfield Melton on the Point Mason Road ??? Check this out: County Court Minutes - July Term 1846: "Personally appeared in open Court Alexander McRae guardian of Minor heirs of Mathew Melton deceased and together with him W.J. Greer and Wm. D. Hyer his securities who appeared in open Court and acknowledged the due execution of their bond in the penal sum of seven hundred dollars conditioned as the law directs." You got McRae's in your line, Will??? Dave

Last time......let me take you back to 1844 for part of the same road........know it will help you Melton & Greer folks. "February Term 1844 Issued 6th Feby. On Motion it is ordered by the Court that Calaway Melton be appointed overseer of the road from Sandy River below Wyatt's Mill to the Widow McKenzey's hands as follow (viz) Edward Smith, Mathew Melton, Malcomb Beaton, Laughtin Beaton, John W. Cooper, The Widow McKenseys sons, John, Foy, Arthur Pitt, William Nash, Stephen Nash, Robert Graham, Chesterfield Melton, A. McRae, Hiram Pearce, Jackson Greer, Thomas Colier and all other hands in the bounds shall work under the said Melton and said road which is established in the 2nd Class." Looks like some of the folks moved out by 1848. Henry Melton replaced Chesterfield. William & Gilbert McKenzie replaced Jackson Greer. Gilbert McKenzie went on to increase his holdings to about 2800 acres in the area. Farming without slaves <he hired the Brewer kids as hands>. He also married his neighbor, Arthur Pitt's daughter, Esther. Take care, Dave

To continue a little bit.........Court Minutes from a year earlier [January Term 1848] has Robert Graham in charge of the roadwork from Sandy Bridge to the 4 Mile Tree. Now we can see where Henry Melton lived. "Issued Jan. 5th. 1848 On motion it is ordered by the Court that Robert Graham be appointed overseer of the road to work from Sandy Bridge to the 4 Mile tree, hands as follows; Wm. J. Greer, Neil McNeil, Josiah Hobson, James Glick, Wm. Glick, Hyram Pearce, Henry Melton, Wm. L. McKenzie, Thomas Colier, E.R. Campbell, John Pearce and all other hands in the bounds shall work under said Graham on said road which is established in the 2nd Class." So Henry Melton lived next to Robert Graham between Hyram Pierce and William Lee McKenzie. By the way: 3 of the McKenzie brothers picked wives close to home <neighbors daughters on the same street>: William Lee McKenzie married Hyram Pierce's daughter Elizabeth; Malcolm McKenzie married John Pierce's daughter Mary Caroline; and John Christopher McKenzie married Robert Graham's daughter Susannah. Their sisters however went down to the next block and married Brewers. Hope this helps some of you. Dave

Dave, I'd like this information please. Thanks, CoraLynn ne TN cmckelvy@usa.net > I'd be more than happy to share with you what I have on these 3 lines if > you would like. I have updating to do on them from some new research that > would take a couple of days. But, let me know. >

Does anyone have Moore - Palmer Marriages? I have three great aunts who I think married Moores. I believe all these were in Humphreys Co. probably around 1890-1900. Nancy Jane Palmer m. J.J. Moore Cora Eliza Palmer m. ?? Moore . Mallie Palmer m. ?? Moore Anybody know these folks? SueB

Hi friends, Because of the contributions that Norma Watson made to Benton County and to Danville Crossing, we bestowed posthumously to her at the 1999 DCHomecoming, the honor or our "Caring and Sharing Award". It was in recognition of her generous nature, and outstanding genealogical knowledge. Many of you knew her. When I got home I mailed the Award to her husband. This is the email I just received from her husband and daughter. I wanted you to know how much our recognition of this lady was appreciated. Cher ************************* Cheryl, I just wanted to thank all of the people in the genealogy group for the lovely certificate of Caring and Sharing you honored my Mother with. She would be proud of all you how you all stuck together in all your efforts ( which is what families are for) to gather information and to also hold onto the new friends you have made while doing so. My Father would like to thank you so much and to say that the certificate is now being framed and placed next to her First Families Certificate. We really appreciate all the kind letters and concern we have received from all of you. We are sad that she is gone, but at least we know her work will live on in many new lives through you. God Bless you all, Jill and Joe Watson

Ever wanted to know who lived where and next to whom, kinda ??? Then check out the County Court Minutes (or Road Records in your local county). The 'local courts' were responsible for making and maintaining roads early on. The County Courts would appoint and "overseer" <generally the person who convinced the court that a road was necessary, and generally it was to his property and benefit"> who would be charged with rounding-up the local property owners <who benefitted from the road> and getting them to work on building or maintaining it at NO pay. The Court usually listed the property owners along the road in order. So if you can find a starting or ending point for a road in the records, such as below, you such be able to determine not only who but also in which order they lived on the road. Because I happen to know from other records where Gilbert McKenzie lived on the Point Mason Road, I can deduce that John Pierce & Rachel Ross lived nearly 4 miles out of Big Sandy on the Point Mason Road. Going toward Big Sandy then would be J.R. Thompson, Thomas Collier, Gilbert McKenzie, William Lee McKenzie, Robert Graham, Hiram Pierce & Kizziah Greer, William Glick, James Glick, Josiah Hobson and William Greer. Problem is you can't tell where the overseer, Henry Melton, lived unless you look at other road records where he was not the overseer, and that I will leave up to you to do. Wonder if the 'Mile Trees" along these roads still are standing ?? Any thoughts ??? Dave >From the Benton County, County Court Minutes, January Term 1849: "Issued Jan 8th: On Motion it is ordered by the Court that Henry MELTON be appointed overseer of the Point Mason road to work from Sandy Bridge to the 4 Mile Tree, hands as follows; W.J. Greer, Josiah Hobson, James Click, Wm. Click, Hyram Pearce, R.M. Graham, WM. L. McKenzie, Gilbert McKenzie, Thomas Collier, J.R. Campbell, John Pearce and all other hands in the bounds shall work under Henry Melton on said road which is established in the 2nd Class."