By now we have all seen the announcement but I'm posting it again at the bottom of this email. The Southside Virginia Gene. Soc. "coordinating" a Mecklenburg heritage book sounds to me exactly like the deal that was done in Screven County, GA 30 or so years ago and if it's the same type deal..it's pretty darn good despite the fact that on its face it may look a tad "profit-oriented." Here's how Curtis Publishing of Dallas, TX (the guys who did the Screven book) worked it: they found a REPUTABLE local "coordinator", got him or her to write a legit history of the county to make up about the first third of a several hundred page coffee table sized book. The back two thirds of the book were articles contributed by all the various families. Some families even had two articles..Curtis accepting two articles about the same family. Although the intentions of individual authors were all good the quality of the individual family articles (as you might well imagine) was simply all over the place..from obvious fantasies to some pretty credible, scholarly genealogy. Then Curtis Publishing (or whomever the new guy is) recoups their investment by selling the books (of course everybody who can afford it wants a copy of "their family history"...using the term loosely). The Screven deal was back in the early seventies and the price for the book was 20 bucks..I have my mother's cancelled check that I use for a bookmark in my copy. My guess is that nowadays the book will likely go for 75 to 100$......but will probably be worth it because it will have some stuff on collateral families that you would almost never find elsewhere. On the whole, I think we can likely project some degree of success for this project....with or without the underwriting publisher as described above. The remaining question would seem to be who is going to write the Poythress article. I'd like to propose either Julie or Barbara as both have great advantages: Julie is "on the ground" and probably has a good grip on the collateral families and Barbara has done a ton of first rate research...or maybe the two working together. Or for that matter anyone else who feels qualified. I don't have any axe to grind other than thinking that it's practically a "requirement" to have us represented inasmuch is fully two thirds of us have Mecklenburg roots to one degree or another. This email is to simply put the question on the table. Thoughts from others? Maynard The Southside Virginia Genealogical Society is coordinating a project to publish a Mecklenburg County Heritage Book. Current or former residents of Mecklenburg, as well as those with roots in Mecklenburg are invited to submit a 500-word family article and one photo, which will be published free of charge. Those with ancestors in residence in Mecklenburg County by or before 1800 may also submit a "pioneer" story of 500 words and one photo. Churches, clubs, and organizations in Mecklenburg County are invited to submit articles and photos for use in the topical section of the book. Each will receive free publication of 250 words and one photo. The deadline for submitting articles is Feb. 1, 2006. For more information or to obtain a brochure with complete details, contact: Frances Clark at 434-447-7308 or fnclark@buggs.net; Patti Roberts at 434-372-4434 or proberts@meckcom.net; or Laverne Toone at 434-636-3277 or Irdtoon@aol.com. Mecklenburg County Heritage Books can be pre-purchased by contacting one of the members above.

Hi Maynard. My two cents worth: I've participated in a couple of other Heritage Books in the past 5-6 years on other family lines in Alabama, and have been pleased with the quality of the resulting books I've seen. In each of the ones I've seen, any individual can submit *one* free article -- a 500-word articles with one photo (or two free articles of that limitation per household, from each adult there). And sometimes if one had an ancestor there prior to 1800, one can submit an additional free article of say-250 words or so. If one wants to submit a longer article than the normal limit, there has generally been an extra cost *per word* Likewise one can pay more to submit extra photos. Sometimes if one has a photo of a uniformed ancestor, one can also submit that photo free along with a separate 100-word article on him/her. Because of that limitation on number of words & one article from each person, I would *strongly* recommend that *every* Poythress-descended family having roots in Mecklenburg Co should submit an article on their own branch of the Poythress family. (You, for example, and/or Bud should be sure to submit one on your ancestor who moved to Georgia.) As one may realize, 500 words is barely enough for putting verbage to the info in an extensive Family Group Sheet on the Poythress who was in that county 1800 or earlier, and for mentioning what one's sources for the info about the family include -- Much too small a limitation to include all we know about *all* the Poythress folk there. Oh, and the pre-publication price on the Heritage Books that I've seen in these past 5-6 years is more in the range of $55 (plus $7 postage) than the higher price you had guesstimated. If one waits to order copies after the initial run of the book, the county coordinators are then having to order an additional printing of the book which generally runs 10% higher or more than the initial pre-publication price. Frequently after one county in an area does a Heritage Book, nearby counties will also do one. Hopefully we'll see one done for Brunswick Co, Lunenburg Co, etc.

I'd be willing to help. Mecklenburg,VA is where I've focused most of my efforts the last few years. I'm hoping with writing for the intention of this book, I can actually get a copy of the original Bible record that says Sarah Poythress married William Archer Dortch. I have many court records, land records, census and birth/death/marriage records on my Mecklenburg families, and haven't seen any books to see how detailed they are wanting. I was at least thinking of writing and sending some articles to the Southside Historical Society I recently joined which includes Mecklenburg, Brunswick, Danville City, Pittsylvania County and I think Warren Co., NC. I can write very well about these families below and have many sources for them. I have given serious thought to writing about these families for either the historical society or the book. One challenge for me is that I am a very visual thinker. When I write about a marriage, I like to see a picture of the couple next to the marriage or a picture of their first house etc. So when I submit writings I feel constrained having picture limits. I'm currently writing a story for a different historical society about a soldier whose muster roll got stuck between another record so it got lost. So I put in some scanned images of the lost record so others could have a copy. John Gray & Sarah Elizabeth Jones family Alvin Dortch (mother was Sarah Poythress) and Tennessee Jordan Glover family Granderson Glover and Arimenta Kidd family I've spent the last two years trying to learn more about the families at Rehoboth Church cemetery, where Foxhall Poythress is buried. At the moment, I know more about the families the Poythress married into, rather than the actual Poythress family. You all have been helping me finally learn and find more about the Poythress family. If you'd like me to help, let me know who you want to be the subject, and what records I still need to go get. Even if I can't put it in books, let me know if you know of Poythress houses still standing in Brunswick or Mecklenburg VA and I'd be happy to take pictures and email JPEG's to those interested, and even if you want them on the website. I love history, genealogy and photography and am a bit obsessive at these things, and think they all go pretty well together. (-and I can finally admit the obsessive part, after my neurologist told me it was OK to be obsessive, since I've channeled my efforts into something good :) ) Love, Julie ----- Original Message ----- From: "John M. Poythress" <brerfox@bellsouth.net> To: <POYTHRESS-L@rootsweb.com> Sent: Wednesday, October 12, 2005 3:16 PM Subject: Mecklenburg County Book > By now we have all seen the announcement but I'm posting it again at the > bottom of this email. > > The Southside Virginia Gene. Soc. "coordinating" a Mecklenburg heritage > book sounds to me exactly like the deal that was done in Screven County, > GA 30 or so years ago and if it's the same type deal..it's pretty darn > good despite the fact that on its face it may look a tad > "profit-oriented." Here's how Curtis Publishing of Dallas, TX (the > guys who did the Screven book) worked it: they found a REPUTABLE local > "coordinator", got him or her to write a legit history of the county to > make up about the first third of a several hundred page coffee table > sized book. > > The back two thirds of the book were articles contributed by all the > various families. Some families even had two articles..Curtis accepting > two articles about the same family. Although the intentions of > individual authors were all good the quality of the individual family > articles (as you might well imagine) was simply all over the place..from > obvious fantasies to some pretty credible, scholarly genealogy. > > Then Curtis Publishing (or whomever the new guy is) recoups their > investment by selling the books (of course everybody who can afford it > wants a copy of "their family history"...using the term loosely). The > Screven deal was back in the early seventies and the price for the book > was 20 bucks..I have my mother's cancelled check that I use for a > bookmark in my copy. My guess is that nowadays the book will likely > go for 75 to 100$......but will probably be worth it because it will > have some stuff on collateral families that you would almost never find > elsewhere. > > On the whole, I think we can likely project some degree of success for > this project....with or without the underwriting publisher as described > above. > > The remaining question would seem to be who is going to write the > Poythress article. I'd like to propose either Julie or Barbara as both > have great advantages: Julie is "on the ground" and probably has a good > grip on the collateral families and Barbara has done a ton of first rate > research...or maybe the two working together. Or for that matter anyone > else who feels qualified. I don't have any axe to grind other than > thinking that it's practically a "requirement" to have us represented > inasmuch is fully two thirds of us have > Mecklenburg roots to one degree or another. > > This email is to simply put the question on the table. Thoughts from > others? > > Maynard > > > The Southside Virginia Genealogical Society is coordinating > a project to publish a Mecklenburg County Heritage Book. Current or > former residents of Mecklenburg, as well as those with roots in > Mecklenburg are invited to submit a 500-word family article and one > photo, which will be published free of charge. Those with ancestors in > residence in Mecklenburg County by or before 1800 may also submit a > "pioneer" story of 500 words and one photo. > > Churches, clubs, and organizations in Mecklenburg County are invited to > submit articles and photos for use in the topical section of the book. > Each will receive free publication of 250 words and one photo. > > The deadline for submitting articles is Feb. 1, 2006. > > For more information or to obtain a brochure with complete details, > contact: Frances Clark at 434-447-7308 or fnclark@buggs.net; Patti > Roberts at 434-372-4434 or proberts@meckcom.net; or Laverne Toone at > 434-636-3277 or Irdtoon@aol.com. > > Mecklenburg County Heritage Books can be pre-purchased by contacting one > of the members above. > > > > ==== POYTHRESS Mailing List ==== > Poythress Genealogy Research Web > www.poythress.net >

I will tell you I have one of the ones done for Warren County and it is the same man coordinating it and it is so informative but it did sell for $75.00. I has some wonderful pictures as well as just well written articles about individual families. I have not had a chance to check it for Poythress yet. There are many articles about my families in it as I was born and raised in North Carolina. My one regret is so many families did not take advantage of it and wish they had submitted articles. I wish I had entered more on my fathers line but we always have a tendency to procrastinate and wait too late. I have not as of yet determined what the time frame is for entering info. I hope to get some more different pictures to submit from some of the older Morris and Thomas and Baird families. I love the research but am not nearly as adapt at it as you people are. Happy hunting. Libbee Morris ----- Original Message ----- From: Julie Cabitto<mailto:juliemarie@worldnet.att.net> To: POYTHRESS-L@rootsweb.com<mailto:POYTHRESS-L@rootsweb.com> Sent: Wednesday, October 12, 2005 3:59 PM Subject: Re: Mecklenburg County Book I'd be willing to help. Mecklenburg,VA is where I've focused most of my efforts the last few years. I'm hoping with writing for the intention of this book, I can actually get a copy of the original Bible record that says Sarah Poythress married William Archer Dortch. I have many court records, land records, census and birth/death/marriage records on my Mecklenburg families, and haven't seen any books to see how detailed they are wanting. I was at least thinking of writing and sending some articles to the Southside Historical Society I recently joined which includes Mecklenburg, Brunswick, Danville City, Pittsylvania County and I think Warren Co., NC. I can write very well about these families below and have many sources for them. I have given serious thought to writing about these families for either the historical society or the book. One challenge for me is that I am a very visual thinker. When I write about a marriage, I like to see a picture of the couple next to the marriage or a picture of their first house etc. So when I submit writings I feel constrained having picture limits. I'm currently writing a story for a different historical society about a soldier whose muster roll got stuck between another record so it got lost. So I put in some scanned images of the lost record so others could have a copy. John Gray & Sarah Elizabeth Jones family Alvin Dortch (mother was Sarah Poythress) and Tennessee Jordan Glover family Granderson Glover and Arimenta Kidd family I've spent the last two years trying to learn more about the families at Rehoboth Church cemetery, where Foxhall Poythress is buried. At the moment, I know more about the families the Poythress married into, rather than the actual Poythress family. You all have been helping me finally learn and find more about the Poythress family. If you'd like me to help, let me know who you want to be the subject, and what records I still need to go get. Even if I can't put it in books, let me know if you know of Poythress houses still standing in Brunswick or Mecklenburg VA and I'd be happy to take pictures and email JPEG's to those interested, and even if you want them on the website. I love history, genealogy and photography and am a bit obsessive at these things, and think they all go pretty well together. (-and I can finally admit the obsessive part, after my neurologist told me it was OK to be obsessive, since I've channeled my efforts into something good :) ) Love, Julie ----- Original Message ----- From: "John M. Poythress" <brerfox@bellsouth.net<mailto:brerfox@bellsouth.net>> To: <POYTHRESS-L@rootsweb.com<mailto:POYTHRESS-L@rootsweb.com>> Sent: Wednesday, October 12, 2005 3:16 PM Subject: Mecklenburg County Book > By now we have all seen the announcement but I'm posting it again at the > bottom of this email. > > The Southside Virginia Gene. Soc. "coordinating" a Mecklenburg heritage > book sounds to me exactly like the deal that was done in Screven County, > GA 30 or so years ago and if it's the same type deal..it's pretty darn > good despite the fact that on its face it may look a tad > "profit-oriented." Here's how Curtis Publishing of Dallas, TX (the > guys who did the Screven book) worked it: they found a REPUTABLE local > "coordinator", got him or her to write a legit history of the county to > make up about the first third of a several hundred page coffee table > sized book. > > The back two thirds of the book were articles contributed by all the > various families. Some families even had two articles..Curtis accepting > two articles about the same family. Although the intentions of > individual authors were all good the quality of the individual family > articles (as you might well imagine) was simply all over the place..from > obvious fantasies to some pretty credible, scholarly genealogy. > > Then Curtis Publishing (or whomever the new guy is) recoups their > investment by selling the books (of course everybody who can afford it > wants a copy of "their family history"...using the term loosely). The > Screven deal was back in the early seventies and the price for the book > was 20 bucks..I have my mother's cancelled check that I use for a > bookmark in my copy. My guess is that nowadays the book will likely > go for 75 to 100$......but will probably be worth it because it will > have some stuff on collateral families that you would almost never find > elsewhere. > > On the whole, I think we can likely project some degree of success for > this project....with or without the underwriting publisher as described > above. > > The remaining question would seem to be who is going to write the > Poythress article. I'd like to propose either Julie or Barbara as both > have great advantages: Julie is "on the ground" and probably has a good > grip on the collateral families and Barbara has done a ton of first rate > research...or maybe the two working together. Or for that matter anyone > else who feels qualified. I don't have any axe to grind other than > thinking that it's practically a "requirement" to have us represented > inasmuch is fully two thirds of us have > Mecklenburg roots to one degree or another. > > This email is to simply put the question on the table. Thoughts from > others? > > Maynard > > > The Southside Virginia Genealogical Society is coordinating > a project to publish a Mecklenburg County Heritage Book. Current or > former residents of Mecklenburg, as well as those with roots in > Mecklenburg are invited to submit a 500-word family article and one > photo, which will be published free of charge. Those with ancestors in > residence in Mecklenburg County by or before 1800 may also submit a > "pioneer" story of 500 words and one photo. > > Churches, clubs, and organizations in Mecklenburg County are invited to > submit articles and photos for use in the topical section of the book. > Each will receive free publication of 250 words and one photo. > > The deadline for submitting articles is Feb. 1, 2006. > > For more information or to obtain a brochure with complete details, > contact: Frances Clark at 434-447-7308 or fnclark@buggs.net<mailto:fnclark@buggs.net>; Patti > Roberts at 434-372-4434 or proberts@meckcom.net<mailto:proberts@meckcom.net>; or Laverne Toone at > 434-636-3277 or Irdtoon@aol.com<mailto:Irdtoon@aol.com>. > > Mecklenburg County Heritage Books can be pre-purchased by contacting one > of the members above. > > > > ==== POYTHRESS Mailing List ==== > Poythress Genealogy Research Web > www.poythress.net<http://www.poythress.net/> > ==== POYTHRESS Mailing List ==== Poythress Genealogy Research Web www.poythress.net<http://www.poythress.net/>