Hi Friends, My family had a four room house, animal barn with corn crib, toilet, smoke house, and a dairy that was built of stone underground. Canned food, milk, butter, eggs, etc. were kept in the dairy which was the same cool temperature all year. Some families had a spring house built near or around the spring where they kept foods cool and safe from animals. A root cellar, a large hole in the ground, was used to store potatoes, turnips, sweet potatoes, apples, etc. during the winter. Straw and dirt were placed over the hole. I think many families owned small looms and/or spinning wheels, but the common people did the work in the warmth of their homes. The plantations had slaves who worked full time in the spinning houses that were built away from the main house. My great grandmother had her own child-sized spinning wheel when she was a small child in the 1860's. My knowledge of "short corn" is that it is the 'nubbins', or ears which were poorly formed or did not grow to the expected full size. The rows of corn near the forest where nutrients went to the trees or the rows where there was too much shade produced small ears. Also, the ears growing near the edges were not easily pollinated. The corn was just as good as that on the large ears, but the price would have been less. When I was a kid, we had to sort 'nubbins' from the good corn as it was picked. SueBee

Has anyone heard of a Doctor Tudor MD of Norton, Wise Co. VA and if so, I would like to know if hekept records and how to obtain copies of them. My father (b. 1929) seems to remember that he was the doctor that delivered him and most of the children in his family. He was also the doctor who signed my gret-grandmother Lettie Reynolds (b. 1880- d. 1943) death certificate. Any inforamtion would be helpful. Thank You, B. Noaks

Ruby, <I don't think it was a question that the loom business was so large, it required its own separate building, but the loom took up a lot of space.> I didn't mean the _business_ was big, but that I didn't know the loom, etc. took up so much space. Or that each, or most, families owned one. <<I went through one of the plantation homes last summer here in NC, and there was a separate building where the loom was situated. One room with the loom and a cot and a small table and chairs, and that was the whole house.>> There were few plantations in SW VA/Russell Co. We are talking about two different things. I'm sure they were large farms/plantations that had loom houses but I don't think the average/small farmer had one. They probably had a barn and corn crib. Just my thoughts. -eddie -----Original Message----- From: Edgar A. Howard <ehoward@conknet.com> To: SW_VA-L@rootsweb.com <SW_VA-L@rootsweb.com> Date: Thursday, February 18, 1999 10:39 AM Subject: Re: homes <<The kitchen, and loom house were separate buildings and outhouses probably did not refer to outhouses as we know them.>> I had not heard of a loom house. I didn't know it was such a large operation to require a separate house. The census list many spinsters. I didn't know spinster was an occupation. I thought it was a marital status. <lol> There is a joke there somewhere. <g> I have heard that slaves were making bricks in Scott Co. by the War but I can't document it. There were stone houses but I don't know when the first would have been. Most likely after the War. -eddie There were no brick houses mentioned, a situation common in most parts of Southwest Virginia at this time. In addition to houses, most had a barn, stables, and corn houses (cribs). Many had spring houses, kitchens, smoke houses, and loom houses. There were a few blacksmith shops, one straw house, and a hen house. >From the Tax records of Russell County, VA. Rodden Adderson (Addison), one farm on Indian Creek, 80 acres having thereon one dwelling house of wood, one story, 21 feet by 18 feet, one stable, one kitchen, and one corn house, valued at $160. Russell County, Virginia, pioneer Rodden Addison was born about 1780. His wife was Susannah Keen, daughter of John Keen who along with his brother Israel came to Russell County from Henry County in the year 1801. As the family grew, they continued to increase their land holdings in the Belfast Mills area of Virginia. My wife and I located the original tract of land that Elizabeth and Rodden owned and it is still fairly well undeveloped. We used the car's odometer to measure the distance that the road took us through the original tract and the odometer gave us a total of 1.3 miles across. There are probably not more than 12 to 15 houses on this area today with the rest of the land being pasture and forest. I hope this gives an insight into the "normal" homestead of that time. Until later, good hunting, Jerry in Kingsport, TN ==== SW_VA Mailing List ==== #1 When you have a new email address please UNSUBSCRIBE from the old BEFORE you lose it; and SUBCRIBE from the NEW address as soon as you get access to it. If you fail to do this please send the old and new address to: ehoward@conknet.com and the Mailing List name -sysop ==== SW_VA Mailing List ==== #9 As of 2/7/1999 we have 475 members. Traffic can get heavy so check your mailbox often. We should regulate traffic so it don't get out of hand. There is an average of ten members coming and going each week. -sysop ==== SW_VA Mailing List ==== #2 A large database of SURNAMES and the researcher's email address can be found at http://www.fortunecity.com/millennium/quarrybank/194/swabc.htm You may have your SURNAMES included by posting them and your address to the LIST and NOT to the sysop/owner.

hi I am looking for my 5th great grandmother Anne O'Bryan. I was told she came to the USA in 1760 and settled in NC. I have information on her grandson, my 3rd great grandfather Herrel O'Bryan who came to KY in the late 1700s. I am at a stone wall, I can not find his parents or anything on Anne. Please help if you can. thank you loretta

I don't think it was a question that the loom business was so large, it required its own separate building, but the loom took up a lot of space. I went through one of the plantation homes last summer here in NC, and there was a separate building where the loom was situated. One room with the loom and a cot and a small table and chairs, and that was the whole house. Ruby -----Original Message----- From: Edgar A. Howard <ehoward@conknet.com> To: SW_VA-L@rootsweb.com <SW_VA-L@rootsweb.com> Date: Thursday, February 18, 1999 10:39 AM Subject: Re: homes <<The kitchen, and loom house were separate buildings and outhouses probably did not refer to outhouses as we know them.>> I had not heard of a loom house. I didn't know it was such a large operation to require a separate house. The census list many spinsters. I didn't know spinster was an occupation. I thought it was a marital status. <lol> There is a joke there somewhere. <g> I have heard that slaves were making bricks in Scott Co. by the War but I can't document it. There were stone houses but I don't know when the first would have been. Most likely after the War. -eddie There were no brick houses mentioned, a situation common in most parts of Southwest Virginia at this time. In addition to houses, most had a barn, stables, and corn houses (cribs). Many had spring houses, kitchens, smoke houses, and loom houses. There were a few blacksmith shops, one straw house, and a hen house. >From the Tax records of Russell County, VA. Rodden Adderson (Addison), one farm on Indian Creek, 80 acres having thereon one dwelling house of wood, one story, 21 feet by 18 feet, one stable, one kitchen, and one corn house, valued at $160. Russell County, Virginia, pioneer Rodden Addison was born about 1780. His wife was Susannah Keen, daughter of John Keen who along with his brother Israel came to Russell County from Henry County in the year 1801. As the family grew, they continued to increase their land holdings in the Belfast Mills area of Virginia. My wife and I located the original tract of land that Elizabeth and Rodden owned and it is still fairly well undeveloped. We used the car's odometer to measure the distance that the road took us through the original tract and the odometer gave us a total of 1.3 miles across. There are probably not more than 12 to 15 houses on this area today with the rest of the land being pasture and forest. I hope this gives an insight into the "normal" homestead of that time. Until later, good hunting, Jerry in Kingsport, TN ==== SW_VA Mailing List ==== #1 When you have a new email address please UNSUBSCRIBE from the old BEFORE you lose it; and SUBCRIBE from the NEW address as soon as you get access to it. If you fail to do this please send the old and new address to: ehoward@conknet.com and the Mailing List name -sysop ==== SW_VA Mailing List ==== #9 As of 2/7/1999 we have 475 members. Traffic can get heavy so check your mailbox often. We should regulate traffic so it don't get out of hand. There is an average of ten members coming and going each week. -sysop

<<The kitchen, and loom house were separate buildings and outhouses probably did not refer to outhouses as we know them.>> I had not heard of a loom house. I didn't know it was such a large operation to require a separate house. The census list many spinsters. I didn't know spinster was an occupation. I thought it was a marital status. <lol> There is a joke there somewhere. <g> I have heard that slaves were making bricks in Scott Co. by the War but I can't document it. There were stone houses but I don't know when the first would have been. Most likely after the War. -eddie There were no brick houses mentioned, a situation common in most parts of Southwest Virginia at this time. In addition to houses, most had a barn, stables, and corn houses (cribs). Many had spring houses, kitchens, smoke houses, and loom houses. There were a few blacksmith shops, one straw house, and a hen house. >From the Tax records of Russell County, VA. Rodden Adderson (Addison), one farm on Indian Creek, 80 acres having thereon one dwelling house of wood, one story, 21 feet by 18 feet, one stable, one kitchen, and one corn house, valued at $160. Russell County, Virginia, pioneer Rodden Addison was born about 1780. His wife was Susannah Keen, daughter of John Keen who along with his brother Israel came to Russell County from Henry County in the year 1801. As the family grew, they continued to increase their land holdings in the Belfast Mills area of Virginia. My wife and I located the original tract of land that Elizabeth and Rodden owned and it is still fairly well undeveloped. We used the car's odometer to measure the distance that the road took us through the original tract and the odometer gave us a total of 1.3 miles across. There are probably not more than 12 to 15 houses on this area today with the rest of the land being pasture and forest. I hope this gives an insight into the "normal" homestead of that time. Until later, good hunting, Jerry in Kingsport, TN ==== SW_VA Mailing List ==== #1 When you have a new email address please UNSUBSCRIBE from the old BEFORE you lose it; and SUBCRIBE from the NEW address as soon as you get access to it. If you fail to do this please send the old and new address to: ehoward@conknet.com and the Mailing List name -sysop

That is what I thought. This would have been dry corn. They were not making corn syrup in SWVA in the 19th century. Corn whiskey maybe. -eddie Sorghum Cane is used to make molasses..Not corn! Corn is used to make corn syrup. G.L.H. ==== SW_VA Mailing List ==== #1 When you have a new email address please UNSUBSCRIBE from the old BEFORE you lose it; and SUBCRIBE from the NEW address as soon as you get access to it. If you fail to do this please send the old and new address to: ehoward@conknet.com and the Mailing List name -sysop

Theodsia Barrett, deceased, noted Russell County historian wrote the following in her book PIONEERS ON THE WESTERN WATERS, page 21: "In the early 1800s, a man's social status was determined by his possessions. The plantation owners who lived in big houses, had many featherbeds, owned slaves and many horses and cattle were the elite or big folks. Merchants and business men were big folks, if their houses contained 6 or more rooms. Craftsmen or laborers were common people. The ones who owned small tracts of land and lived in one room cabins with a sleeping loft and a lean-to shed were one horse farmers. The white trash could carry all their belongings on their backs when they moved from one settlement to another" Not my words, just quoting the book. Descendant of the common folk and one horse farmers of Russell County, Grace Vance Dotson

Hello swVA researchers, The question was asked: << Does anyone know what the average homes were like in Russell Co, VA in the 1810-1850s? Were they cabins with dirt floors or more like a 2 story home with wooden floors? >> My notes: The following is an example of the homestead, the outbuildings and the land of that period of time. This person was one of my ancestors in Russell County, Va. I have found a mention of Rodden in the "Southwest Virginia Tax Assessments for 1815", compiled by Mary B. Kegley. Most of the houses were very small by today's standards, but common in 1815. The kitchen, and loom house were separate buildings and outhouses probably did not refer to outhouses as we know them. There were no brick houses mentioned, a situation common in most parts of Southwest Virginia at this time. In addition to houses, most had a barn, stables, and corn houses (cribs). Many had spring houses, kitchens, smoke houses, and loom houses. There were a few blacksmith shops, one straw house, and a hen house. >From the Tax records of Russell County, VA. Rodden Adderson (Addison), one farm on Indian Creek, 80 acres having thereon one dwelling house of wood, one story, 21 feet by 18 feet, one stable, one kitchen, and one corn house, valued at $160. Russell County, Virginia, pioneer Rodden Addison was born about 1780. His wife was Susannah Keen, daughter of John Keen who along with his brother Israel came to Russell County from Henry County in the year 1801. As the family grew, they continued to increase their land holdings in the Belfast Mills area of Virginia. My wife and I located the original tract of land that Elizabeth and Rodden owned and it is still fairly well undeveloped. We used the car's odometer to measure the distance that the road took us through the original tract and the odometer gave us a total of 1.3 miles across. There are probably not more than 12 to 15 houses on this area today with the rest of the land being pasture and forest. I hope this gives an insight into the "normal" homestead of that time. Until later, good hunting, Jerry in Kingsport, TN

In a message dated 2/18/99 3:40:25 AM !!!First Boot!!!, Iamdboater@aol.com writes: << Does anyone know what the average homes were like in Russell Co, VA in the 1810-1850s? Were they cabins with dirt floors or more like a 2 story home with wooden floors? >> This is a great question!

Oftimes, corn grown in short season was referred to as "short corn". It was often used and still is in the production of sorghum molasses.

Sorghum Cane is used to make molasses..Not corn! Corn is used to make corn syrup. G.L.H.

I am trying to find the parents of my Grandmother, HARRIET ANN TAYLOR, b3/28/1869, married WILLIAM P. GRUBB on 11/22/1886. One source list her parents as JOHN C. TAYLOR b-1845 and MARTHA WALKER. I do know she had a brother WALTER E. TAYLOR and a sister GUSSEY [GUSSIE] TAYLOR and the same source list their parents as CHRISMON TAYLOR and MARY ANN GILMER. Can anyone help me? All of the above people as far as I know lived in Russell Co. in the Belfast Area. GUSSEY TAYLOR married a WHITE and I think his name was JOHN. All help will be greatly appreciated. Wilmer Grub Abingdon, VA willie@naxs.com

Sounds like NUBBINS to me!! G. Lee Hearl

The appraisal bill of the estate of David Vance, deceased, February 18, 1885, Dickenson County, Virginia, includes 88 bushels of corn at 75 cents per bushel and 3 bushels of short corn at 25 cents per bushel. Does anybody know what short corn was? Thanks, Janet Armentrout, Maybe the ear was short.<g> Sorry! Could it be 'sweet corn' ?? Garden corn, human corn?? -eddie ==== SW_VA Mailing List ==== #4 Chain letters, gossip, non-genealogical notes, commercial ads, pleas for help, etc. are PROHIBITED on this List. Violators will be promptly locked out. -sysop

The appraisal bill of the estate of David Vance, deceased, February 18, 1885, Dickenson County, Virginia, includes 88 bushels of corn at 75 cents per bushel and 3 bushels of short corn at 25 cents per bushel. Does anybody know what short corn was? Thanks, Janet Armentrout

Does anyone know what MOMM2 means with WWII US NAVY on a headstone. It is obvious they were in WWII and in the Navy but no one in the family knows what MOMM2 means. Thanks, Becky

Does anyone know what the average homes were like in Russell Co, VA in the 1810-1850s? Were they cabins with dirt floors or more like a 2 story home with wooden floors?

Hello All, I am researching the Sergent families from Russell, Lee, Scott, and Wise County, Virginia. Some of the Sergent's married into the Fuller, Skeens, and Horton families. I am looking for the children for William Sergent born about 1777. I have only one child a daughter Dicey Sergent born about 1808 in Russell who married a Maddison and died 1856 in southeastern Kentucky. I've found a land warrant for John Horton naming his wife and children dated 1783. In the land warrant it states that Lucy Horton is married to William Sergent and Elizabeth Horton is married to Elijah Sergent. William and Elijah could be brothers or cousins. I believe this William could be the father of Dicey Sergent Maddison. Can anyone help me on this? Thanks

<<I looked and looked to find an address to order the maps. I finally found it. I sending a check today for a Scott Co., Va. and Washington Co., Va map.>> Sorry I omitted it. Edgar A. Howard P.O. Box 64 Bennington, NH 03442 When I get to SW VA I will start on a Russell & Tazewell Co. map. -eddie NH