My husband and I have been researching black families in Edgecombe County for 4 years. Traci Thompson and Jo Webb have been extremely helpful with our research. We have gone to the Library i Tarboro and met with her on several occasions while visiting North Carolina. She is ALWAYS helpful and friendly. Shame on anybody that thinks Traci would make offensive comments. Without her, our family would NEVER have discovered as much as we have about our family !!!!! Steven M. and Deborah A. Lancaster Boston, MA

Taken out of content Traci's comments may offend you but if you bothered to read the whole email you would understand that she is only trying to give a better understanding of some of the books that are available for genealogical researchers on Edgecombe Co. NC. She was only saying that some of them were prepared in the 1950 when there was not much being published on the African American. She was also pointing out that genealogy did not reach its peak and popularity until after "Roots" came about. She was also trying to let some of you people know that there are books now being published that does give both white and black information. Traci is a wonderful person who happens to be a librarian who tries to help the genealogist. She is one of our most helpful people in our society and never hesitates to help anyone who need her help both on the lists and in the library. She is very knowledgeable and has the books at her disposal as we at home do not. I think what I am trying to say is "Don't bite the hand that feeds you." Betty Reason President of the Edgecombe Co. Genealogical Society

What is there to be offended about? Historical probability offends, does it? David Anderson Cleveland, OH ----- Original Message ----- From: <JerryC490@aol.com> To: <NCEDGECO-L@rootsweb.com> Sent: Saturday, October 20, 2001 10:11 PM Subject: [NCEDGECO] tracithompson@hotmail.com > In a message dated 10/19/2001 07:40:24 AM Pacific Daylight Time, > tracithompson@hotmail.com writes: > > > > I also would imagine the only people > > they knew who were doing genealogy were white; my impression is that the > > > > I find your comment(s) highly offensive . . . > > > Jerald "Jerry" Chittenden > Portland, Oregon (USA) > -------------------------------------------------------------------------- ---- > <A HREF="http://worldconnect.genealogy.rootsweb.com/cgi-bin/igm.cgi?db=jerryc49 0">My Family Tree</A> > <A HREF="http://hometown.aol.com/jerryc490/myhomepage/index.html">My Home Page</A> > -------------------------------------------------------------------------- ---- > Every man is a bundle of his ancestors - Emerson > > Genealogy: A study in which you confuse the dead and irritate the living. > > >

I agree Dot. Thanks for saying it so well. ----- Original Message ----- From: <DBaker3381@aol.com> To: <NCEDGECO-L@rootsweb.com> Sent: Saturday, October 20, 2001 10:09 PM Subject: Re: [NCEDGECO] tracithompson@hotmail.com > In a message dated 10/20/2001 10:13:16 PM Eastern Daylight Time, > JerryC490@aol.com writes: > > > > > > > I also would imagine the only people > > > they knew who were doing genealogy were white; my impression is that the > > > > > > > I find your comment(s) highly offensive . . . > > > > > > Jerald "Jerry" Chittenden > > Portland, Oregon (USA) > > > > It is unfortunate when a person tries to state facts that they are taken out > of context. I have read a number of Traci's post and I have never seen > anything that should have been offensive to anyone. It is a fact that the > Caucasions, when doing research in the past, showed little or no interest in > African American History. Fortunately, recently, volunteers who abstract > archived information and who survey cemteries, etc. do not omit information > that was of no interest to the ones who were only looking for what was of > interest to themselves. As the hobby of genealogy has expanded, people of > all walks of life have realized we will all carry our research further by > working together. > > Dot Baker >

Traci was a Big Help to me. Thanks Traci, Roy Hunter ________________________________________________________________ GET INTERNET ACCESS FROM JUNO! Juno offers FREE or PREMIUM Internet access for less! Join Juno today! For your FREE software, visit: http://dl.www.juno.com/get/web/.

In a message dated 10/20/2001 10:13:16 PM Eastern Daylight Time, JerryC490@aol.com writes: > > > I also would imagine the only people > > they knew who were doing genealogy were white; my impression is that the > > > > I find your comment(s) highly offensive . . . > > > Jerald "Jerry" Chittenden > Portland, Oregon (USA) > It is unfortunate when a person tries to state facts that they are taken out of context. I have read a number of Traci's post and I have never seen anything that should have been offensive to anyone. It is a fact that the Caucasions, when doing research in the past, showed little or no interest in African American History. Fortunately, recently, volunteers who abstract archived information and who survey cemteries, etc. do not omit information that was of no interest to the ones who were only looking for what was of interest to themselves. As the hobby of genealogy has expanded, people of all walks of life have realized we will all carry our research further by working together. Dot Baker

In a message dated 10/19/2001 07:40:24 AM Pacific Daylight Time, tracithompson@hotmail.com writes: > I also would imagine the only people > they knew who were doing genealogy were white; my impression is that the > I find your comment(s) highly offensive . . . Jerald "Jerry" Chittenden Portland, Oregon (USA) ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ <A HREF="http://worldconnect.genealogy.rootsweb.com/cgi-bin/igm.cgi?db=jerryc490">My Family Tree</A> <A HREF="http://hometown.aol.com/jerryc490/myhomepage/index.html">My Home Page</A> ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ Every man is a bundle of his ancestors - Emerson Genealogy: A study in which you confuse the dead and irritate the living.

I was referring to members of the African-American community. I have read somewhere that interest in genealogy among blacks greatly increased after Roots was aired. It was not as prevalent before, nor were the white researchers who were transcribing records concerned much with black genealogy. I speak of Edgecombe/Eastern N.C. (think segregated!); I have no idea about other areas of the country. The examples I gave before were the Williams and Griffin books from the 1950s; these ladies, while making a great contribution to Edgecombe genealogy, pretty much ignored records dealing with blacks. Traci >Genealogy was very actively pursued before *Roots*... the book/program >*Roots* introduced the concept to those who did not have interest in >the >subject which is also beneficial for all of us who share that >interest. "Local history is not just local history but human history, world history. The information that you write down, the letters and maps you keep, these are the drippings of the human spirit and distillings of a man doing his job." --Paul Green _________________________________________________________________ Get your FREE download of MSN Explorer at http://explorer.msn.com/intl.asp

Uuummm...I don't know. Sorry. I only looked at the last name for comparison. There are tons of Knights around here, you know, both black and white...can't look at a page of hardly any census without seeing some! Traci >Thanks. But wait a minute...who was the other >Knight family? Were they Black? "Local history is not just local history but human history, world history. The information that you write down, the letters and maps you keep, these are the drippings of the human spirit and distillings of a man doing his job." --Paul Green _________________________________________________________________ Get your FREE download of MSN Explorer at http://explorer.msn.com/intl.asp

Anyone can write an abstract and sell it, and make mistakes in the process. That is why verifying the info by comparing it to the original document is a necessity. Traci >It is not unusual for there to be more than one abstract. I >have found this to be true often. Sometime the wording >is different sometime the way it is listed sometimes one >abstract leaves out the names of the slaves. I have two >or more abstracts of the same will. "Local history is not just local history but human history, world history. The information that you write down, the letters and maps you keep, these are the drippings of the human spirit and distillings of a man doing his job." --Paul Green _________________________________________________________________ Get your FREE download of MSN Explorer at http://explorer.msn.com/intl.asp

My impression is just that, an impression based on my own observation, not a scholarly thesis. Perhaps the area where you are is different. Yes an *interest* in family history has been an important part of southern heritage, but many people I've known who had an interest did not/could not necessarily follow through on it. They often were too busy making a living in the present to spend the time and money necessary to research their family's past, although family oral history was cherished and shared in the moments when it could be. I am very blessed to have a good education and a job involving researching families; it has enabled me to research my own, and present the findings to my very interested parents, who (along with their parents) were sharecroppers/farmers and did not have the time, money, and research skills necessary to embrace this hobby. Traci the Librarian >I didn't know any rich people who shared my interest in research of >genealogy before *Roots* but I did know a lot of people who shared that >interest who were not rich. I think your impression is less than >accurate >which surprises me. An interest in family history has been >very much a >part of our southern heritage for generations. I, of >course, am speaking >of my family but I know my family is not alone is >that interest or >pursuit. "Local history is not just local history but human history, world history. The information that you write down, the letters and maps you keep, these are the drippings of the human spirit and distillings of a man doing his job." --Paul Green _________________________________________________________________ Get your FREE download of MSN Explorer at http://explorer.msn.com/intl.asp

I agree with Traci Thompson's comments 100%. However, as an amateur researcher who has been researching black families (including my husband's in North Carlolina) in Edgecombe, Nash and Wilson Counties for about 4 years now, I must say that the white folks (including Traci, Job Webb, Victoria Proctor just to name a few) have been VERY helpful to me and many other families. And, in many cases, I have found some black folks reluctant to talk about their pasts due to slavery, sharecropping (the new slavery for many after the Civil War) "family secrets", adultery, illegitimacy and cases of incest. Nobody asked, just my opinion......(this is a famous line that one of our local radio personalities, Peter Mead, uses up here in Yankee Land - Boston!!!!) Deborah A. Lancaster Boston, MA

More children - 4-2 Henry Davis (c. 1777*- ??) mar. Sarah Anthony (2/21/1784 Bedford Co., VA - 1824) (d/o Christopher & Mary Jordan Anthony) on 7/10/1800 Bedford Co., VA at Goose Creek Meeting House 5-i Lucy Elizabeth Davis (c. 1802 - ??) mar. William Tudor Yancey, Sr. (1811 Bedford Co., VA - 1889 Bedford Co., VA) (s/o Major Joel & Elizabeth Macon Yancey) on 3/21/1839 6(I) Mary Louisa Yancey (c. 1841 - ??) unm. 6(II) Henry Davis Yancey (c. 1843 - 5/1864 Spotsylvania, VA) 6(III) William Tudor Yancey, Jr. 1st mar. Mary Radford of Pulaski, VA 2nd mar. Eugenia Macon Child by 2nd mar. - William & Eugenia Yancey 7(A) Thomas Macon Yancey 6(IV) Robert Davis Yancey (9/15/1855 Lynchburg, VA - ??) 5-ii Mary Lou Davis (7/26/1803 - ??) 5-iii Samuel Davis (c. 1806 - ??) 5-iv Sarah Ann Davis (1/9/1811 - ??) 5-v Robert Jordan Davis (8/3/1813 - 1824) 5-vi Alexander Christopher Davis (12/12/1817 - ??) 5-vii Charles Henry Davis (c. 1819 - ??) 4-3 Susannah Davis (1780 - 1833) 4-4 Elizabeth Davis (1782 - 1864, bur. South River Meeting House Cemetery, Lynchburg, VA) 4-5 Benjamin Davis (1784 or 85 - ??) mar. Catherine Gilbert (d/o Preston & Jeremiah Cook Gilbert) on 10/8/1807 Pitts. Co., VA (Sur. George Gilbert) 4-6 Isaac Davis (1788 - ??) mar. Ann Sinclair 4-7 Mary "Polly" Davis (1790 - ??) mar. Cornelius Pierce 4 unk children 4-8 Nancy Davis (1792 - ??) mar. Peter Dudley (Capt.) 5-i John William Dudley mar. Andalusia Fourquean 5-ii Thomas Stephens Dudley 5-iii Mary E. Dudley mar. Thomas W. Johns 5-iv Peter L. Dudley 5-v Lannie Jane Dudley (? first name) 5-vi Henry Dudley 5-vii Louisa Dudley 5-viii Nancy Dudley 5-ix Deborah Dudley (?? - c. 1911) mar. Rev. W. H. Kinckle 5-x Robert D. Dudley 5-xi Rose Dudley mar. J. Edward Co....? 4-9 Louisa Davis (1794 - 1895) mar. Micajah Pendleton 4-10 Deborah D. Davis (1797 - 1864, bur. South River Meeting House Cem., Lynchburg, VA) mar. James Hill Any of these folks in your family line? Beth Gosney7@aol.com

Looking for the descendants of the following: Mary Gosney (1/5/1755 Louisa Co., VA - *2/29/1838, bur. Quaker Meeting House Old Burying Ground, 4 miles from Lynchburg, VA) mar. William Davis (8/3/1755 prob. Louisa Co., VA - 9/1/1829* Lynchburg, VA, bur. Quaker Meeting House Old Burying Ground) (VA Gen.) (s/o John & Susanna Smithson Davis of Shropshire, England) on 9/12/1774 Louisa Co., VA 4-1 John Davis (11/21/1775* - 12/11/1863) mar. Ann Jennings 5-i William Minor Davis (1/22/1813 - (d. 54 yrs.) c.1867, due to horrors of warfare.) mar. Nannie Hunter Eubank (2/10/1820 - (d. 42 yrs.) c.1862, due to horrors of warfare.) (d/o Capt. Thomas N. Eubank) on 5/27/1841 6(I) Thomas Newman Davis (5/27/1842 Amherst Co., VA - aft. 3/1915*) mar. E. Blanch Thompson (1845 - ??) (d/o of Rev. Horatio Thompson of Assoc. Presby. Ch) on 2/11/1874 7(A) Henry Minor Davis 7(B) Carrie Lee Davis mar. W. C. Carrington 7(C) Aurelia H. Davis unm. 7(D) Thomas N. Davis, Jr. (DR) 7(E) Nannie Davis mar. W. W. Gerrow 6(II) Jane Eubank Davis (9/5/1845 - ??) 6(III) Mary "Mollie" Gosney Davis (7/19/1847 - 1911) 6(IV) Margaret Hewman Davis mar. Charles P. Hendricks 6(V) Friend William Davis 5-ii Christopher Davis 5-iii Mary Jane Davis mar. John Henry 6(I) John Henry 6(II) William Davis Henry 6(III) ? Kinckle Henry ? Any of these names in your research database? Beth (Gosney7@aol.com)

Karmella, I know of two sets of will abstract books for Edgecombe. I think you have abstracts from each. One was published in the 1950s by Ruth Williams and Marguerite Griffin. The other was done in the 80s or early 90s by David Gammon. The ladies in the fifties were concerned only with white genealogy and did their books accordingly. Another example besides leaving out slave names in the will abstracts is the book they did Tombstones of Edgecombe County, in which they only included white cemeteries. A product of the time, place, and interest, I suppose. I also would imagine the only people they knew who were doing genealogy were white; my impression is that the hobby was mainly one indulged in by rich white people until "Roots" sparked interest in the '70s. I very much prefer using Gammon's books, because of the more complete information and also because the layout of his books make them easy to use. He also includes an indexes of slave names and women's names along with a general index. I must point out, the best source is always the *original.* If you haven't got a copy of the original will I would strongly suggest getting one from the State Archives in Raleigh. Abstracts are handy, but never assume the abstractor got everything 100% right. Hope that helps, Traci Karmella Haynes <kh_art@yahoo.com> I discovered something peculiar. Earlier I had requested the abstract of the will of Peter Knight (1809) for the names of his children. I was hoping to get more info. on his slaves. One kind member of this list sent me a transcribed abstract, but the "negroes" were unnamed. I was shuffling through my papers and found some copied pages from will abstract book 1793-1823. I had forgotten I had this. I found the abstract of Peter Knight's will and it DOES name his slaves. Are there two different abstracts or is someone being "shy" with the slave info.? ---Karmella _________________________________________________________________ Get your FREE download of MSN Explorer at http://explorer.msn.com/intl.asp

I didn't know any rich people who shared my interest in research of genealogy before *Roots* but I did know a lot of people who shared that interest who were not rich. I think your impression is less than accurate which surprises me. An interest in family history has been very much a part of our southern heritage for generations. I, of course, am speaking of my family but I know my family is not alone is that interest or pursuit. Genealogy was very actively pursued before *Roots*... the book/program *Roots* introduced the concept to those who did not have interest in the subject which is also beneficial for all of us who share that interest. The techniques used by compilers different depending on ability, interest, training and accreditation... much has changed and continues to change as genealogical research becomes more sophisticated. Rae Jean in Tennessee raejean1@earthlink.net ----- Original Message ----- From: Traci Thompson <tracithompson@hotmail.com> To: <NCEDGECO-L@rootsweb.com> Sent: Friday, October 19, 2001 2:38 PM Subject: [NCEDGECO] Re: will abstracts : Karmella, : I know of two sets of will abstract books for Edgecombe. I think you have : abstracts from each. One was published in the 1950s by Ruth Williams and : Marguerite Griffin. The other was done in the 80s or early 90s by David : Gammon. The ladies in the fifties were concerned only with white genealogy : and did their books accordingly. Another example besides leaving out slave : names in the will abstracts is the book they did Tombstones of Edgecombe : County, in which they only included white cemeteries. A product of the : time, place, and interest, I suppose. I also would imagine the only people : they knew who were doing genealogy were white; my impression is that the : hobby was mainly one indulged in by rich white people until "Roots" sparked : interest in the '70s. I very much prefer using Gammon's books, because of : the more complete information and also because the layout of his books make : them easy to use. He also includes an indexes of slave names and women's : names along with a general index. : I must point out, the best source is always the *original.* If you haven't : got a copy of the original will I would strongly suggest getting one from : the State Archives in Raleigh. Abstracts are handy, but never assume the : abstractor got everything 100% right.

Are there two different abstracts or is someone being "shy" with the slave info.? ---Karmella It is not unusual for there to be more than one abstract. I have found this to be true often. Sometime the wording is different sometime the way it is listed sometimes one abstract leaves out the names of the slaves. I have two or more abstracts of the same will. It is amazing that sometime the wording actually makes it easier to understand. In one instance the will read to the grandson of my wife and the second read to my grandson. This made a big difference, since the wife was a second wife and not the mother of any of his children. Gayle

Hello all, Will abstracts should never be relied upon for anything. Once you find a will in a book of abstracts, go for the original on microfilm from the Family History Library. Also whenever possible insist on getting the estate/probate/will file/folder. All of the documents relating to the settlement of the estate will be there, and you will learn unimaginable things from the settlement of the estate. Remember will abstracts are not primary source documents, only the original documents count in genealogy. Last year, I was sent a will abstract that had two of the daughters with the same given name and one of the sons-in-law with the wrong surname. I found the correct information when I got a copy of the entire will. Marleen Van Horne

Hi Tommy, "Karmella Glad you wrote. I just abstracted a deed tonight that might interest you. Tommy Edge. Co. db 21, page 382, date of deed 22 Dec. 1835, date recorded Feb. Ct. 1836, Sally Knight, Edge. Co. to David Barlow, Edge. Co. "doth give unto the said David Barlow" all my right and title to three negroes viz. Nancy and her two children, Margaret and Caleb, signed Sally Knight, wit. Wilson Sessoms." !!!!!!!!! Dern right that interests me! :) Thank you so much for this. ---Karmella __________________________________________________ Do You Yahoo!? Make a great connection at Yahoo! Personals. http://personals.yahoo.com

Hi Tommy, "Karmella Glad you wrote. I just abstracted a deed tonight that might interest you. Tommy Edge. Co. db 21, page 382, date of deed 22 Dec. 1835, date recorded Feb. Ct. 1836, Sally Knight, Edge. Co. to David Barlow, Edge. Co. "doth give unto the said David Barlow" all my right and title to three negroes viz. Nancy and her two children, Margaret and Caleb, signed Sally Knight, wit. Wilson Sessoms." !!!!!!!!! Dern right that interests me! :) Thank you so much for this. ---Karmella __________________________________________________ Do You Yahoo!? Make a great connection at Yahoo! Personals. http://personals.yahoo.com