Pamela and Dan: Since there is so much conversation going on about DNA, I thought now would be a good time for me to jump in with a question but it is not a DNA question. I don't know any of my Faris relatives. I know both of you have seen and probably have a copy of the Alexander Faris Will posted on the internet by Susan Hurt. Maybe the two of you can shed some light on a question I have. Did Alexander Faris have two daughters named Mary Ann? Could Leah Faris Alexander, Mary A. and Rody E. possibly not be his children but a deceased relatives children? If Elizabeth was not his first wife, these could be her children from her first marriage. He specifically mentions Mary Ann Faris now Walker in the Will. Leah Faris now Alexander, Mary A. and Rody E. are mentioned last in the Will and he does not mention them being his children as he does the others. My gg grandmother was Mary Alexander Faris, born Nov. 18, 1804 in South Carolina or Tennessee (census records show both). Is it possible that she is the second Mary A.? She married William Carson Hearst in Maury County, Tennessee, July 7, 1829. They were married by Duncan Brown, M.G. Duncan Brown was the minister at McCain's Cumberland Presbyterian Church , Maury County, Tennessee prior to 1848. The actual date is unknown. Willliam Carson and Mary Faris Hearst had seven children. The first one was the only girl and her name was Rody English Hearst. Five of the children died very young. Only the last two sons lived to be adults. Thanks, Nora ----- Original Message ----- From: "Daniel B. Troublefield" <dantrouble@comporium.net> To: <farris@rootsweb.com> Sent: Thursday, August 16, 2007 10:23 PM Subject: [FARRIS] Alexander Faris/Farris born 1799 SC > Hi Pamela, > > Hope you find your DNA match. > > I don't know who your Alexander's parents were, but he had a brother > James, didn't he? Stephanie Harrington was interested in this line. > She was a subscriber to this list several years ago. > > Wasn't your Alexander born in South Carolina? That was the > birthplace recorded in 1850 & 1860 federal censuses, wasn't it? > > There were two other men named Alexander born in 1799 in York > County, South Carolina. These other two were first cousins, sons of > brothers Isaac & Alexander Faries or Feris who moved to Maury Co., > TN. Isaac & Alexander also had a brother Caleb who also moved to > Maury. There may have been two other brothers Levi and John. I don't > know whether Levi married or had children, but John did. Unfortunately, > none of John's children were named Alexander or James. > > Good luck! > Dan > ----- Original Message ----- > From: Pamela A Seiler > To: farris@rootsweb.com > Sent: Wednesday, August 15, 2007 3:59 PM > Subject: Re: [FARRIS] Farris DNA > > > That's great. I'm the one who sent it in, so I should find out > straightaway. I've been looking at the different US & UK locations of > the R1b & I1a people, and I can't predict what group I'll fall into. > My brick wall is with Alexander Faris (Farris) b. 1799 in NC. He > moved to TN around 1812, and died there. I am descended through one > of his sons, Thomas Decatur Farris, who moved to TX after the Civil > War. His son was born in TX, but moved to TN, then MD for college, > then wound up in SC. I am descended from one of his sons. I really > have no idea if our Farris's will have any connection to the ones > already tested, but I am really excited to find out soon. If you > think I have a possible connection to any of the ones in the test, I'd > love to know what you are thinking. > > Pamela Seiler > > ------------------------------- > To unsubscribe from the list, please send an email to > FARRIS-request@rootsweb.com with the word 'unsubscribe' without the quotes > in the subject and the body of the message

Nora, I don't know the answer to your question, but if I learn anything, will let you know. Can see how you would wonder about the last named three women's place in the family. And the wording in the will does not specify that they were his children as it does the others. However, Alexander Faris does name them each as a Faris, so they would not be Elizabeth's children by a prior marriage. It would be stretching to say that her marriage to the testator was a second Faris marriage for her. Have seen a number of wills where the testator does not call his daughters by their last names at all. Leaving doubt about whether they were married at the time or not. That is not the case here. Looking solely at the evidence in the will, it does appear possible that "Mary Ann Faris, now Walker" and "Mary A. Faris" are two different people. Your Mary Ann's marriage date of 1829 is after the will, so that is not incon- sistent with what you suggest. I don't know the particulars about the survival of estate papers in Maury Co., TN. Whether other probate papers in addition to wills have survived the years. A look at the entire estate file (bonds, appraisements, inventories, and most important, receipts signed by heirs, and final settlements of the estate) might answer this question. You may be able to obtain this info from the Tennessee State Archives which possibly has the files on microfilm or directly from Maury Co., TN, probate court. You might have to contact a researcher there to make the copies for you. Or you may be able to request a search by mail or phone and then follow instructions as to how to proceed further. Good luck with your search. Have added Susan Hurt's transcription of the will to the end of this. Perhaps she obtained the entire estate packet herself already? She was still online at least as of last year. Dan ----- Original Message ----- From: Nora Brunson To: farris@rootsweb.com Sent: Friday, August 17, 2007 4:32 PM Subject: Re: [FARRIS] Alexander Faris/Farris born 1799 SC Pamela and Dan: Since there is so much conversation going on about DNA, I thought now would be a good time for me to jump in with a question but it is not a DNA question. I don't know any of my Faris relatives. I know both of you have seen and probably have a copy of the Alexander Faris Will posted on the internet by Susan Hurt. Maybe the two of you can shed some light on a question I have. Did Alexander Faris have two daughters named Mary Ann? Could Leah Faris Alexander, Mary A. and Rody E. possibly not be his children but a deceased relatives children? If Elizabeth was not his first wife, these could be her children from her first marriage. He specifically mentions Mary Ann Faris now Walker in the Will. Leah Faris now Alexander, Mary A. and Rody E. are mentioned last in the Will and he does not mention them being his children as he does the others. My gg grandmother was Mary Alexander Faris, born Nov. 18, 1804 in South Carolina or Tennessee (census records show both). Is it possible that she is the second Mary A.? She married William Carson Hearst in Maury County, Tennessee, July 7, 1829. They were married by Duncan Brown, M.G. Duncan Brown was the minister at McCain's Cumberland Presbyterian Church , Maury County, Tennessee prior to 1848. The actual date is unknown. Willliam Carson and Mary Faris Hearst had seven children. The first one was the only girl and her name was Rody English Hearst. Five of the children died very young. Only the last two sons lived to be adults. Thanks, Nora ---------------------------------------------------- THE WILL OF ALEXANDER FARIS Maury County, Tennessee Dated 8 May 1820, Recorded 9 January 1824 In the name of GOD Amen. I Alexander Faris of Maury County and State of Tennessee being old and infirm in body but in perfect mind and sound memory do make and ordain this to be my last Will and Testament in form and manner viz. I recommend my soul to God who gave it and my body to be decently buried in the ground, 1st To my well beloved wife Elizabeth Faris, I will and bequeath my whole estate, real and personal, during her natural life except what shall otherwise be disposed off hereafter. 2nd as to my oldest children Thomas C. Faris, Moses A. Faris and Mary Ann Faris, now Walker they having already received as much of my estate as is my intention ever to give them. 3rd To my daughter Sarah Faris now Kirk I leave and bequeath a certain negro girl named Maria or her value at my wife's death or sooner if the Executors and Executrix think proper or prudent so to do, provided John Kirk hath drew a suit he commenced against me, nor shall not institute any other for the recovery of said girl, 4th to my sons John Faris and Adam Faris I leave and bequeath one negro boy named Addison to be delivered at my death or the discretion of the Executors. 5th to my son Alexander Faris I leave and bequeath the plantation that I now live on also a Tract known by the name of the Knob Tract and a negro boy named Stephen and half dozen silver tablespoons lettered "F", at the death of my wife provided he attends to the duties of the farm and the wants of the family, and keeps no other stock than for the use of the family. 6th To my son Caleb Faris, I leave and bequeath a tract of land, known by the name of Scotts place and a trade, if no trade, and attends to the duties of the plantation to have an equal divide in the negroes hereafter named together with Leah Faris now Alexander, Mary A. Faris and Rody E. Faris which I leave and bequeath all my negroes at my wife's death, not otherwise appropriated by this will. And I hereby nominate and appoint my well beloved wife and my faithful son Alexander Faris and my neighbor Hugh Douglas Executors and Executrix to execute this my last Will and Testament given under my hand and seal this 8th day of May in the year of our Lord, one thousand, eight hundred and twenty. Signed, sealed and approved as my last Will and Testament. Alex. Faris : Seal Test. John ------, Jurat Daniel McKennon, Jurat Edward McFadden, Jr., Jurat -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Contributed by Susan Hurt Volunteer for Random Acts of Genealogical Kindness