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    1. Re: [TNWILSON] STEWART
    2. Shirley McMahon Garrett
    3. No, I'm sorry, Jane, but I do not know George's wife's name nor do I know his birth or death date. Shirley McMahon Garrett ----- Original Message ----- From: <Janey44@aol.com> To: <TNWILSON-L@rootsweb.com> Sent: Thursday, April 12, 2001 10:33 AM Subject: [TNWILSON] STEWART > In a message dated 4/12/01 3:03:47 AM Eastern Daylight Time, > TNWILSON-D-request@rootsweb.com writes: > > << And their son, Presley GEORGE SMART married Selina STEWART dau of George > THOMPSON STEWART.. > >> > Do you know George's wife?? > SELINA is a name used constantly in my Smith line. THANKS > JANE > >

    04/12/2001 11:59:53
    1. [TNWILSON] George surname
    2. tennessee rebel
    3. there are at least 3 Presley George's in Wilson County, and several George family members married Thompson s might be 4th or 5th child named after grandparents. __________________________________________________ Do You Yahoo!? Get email at your own domain with Yahoo! Mail. http://personal.mail.yahoo.com/

    04/12/2001 10:48:10
    1. [TNWILSON] Comrades in arms
    2. Jim Shannon
    3. Posted on: Wilson Co. Tn Queries Reply Here: http://genconnect.rootsweb.com/genbbs.cgi/USA/Tn/Wilson/10799 Surname: Shannon ------------------------- Norman P. Shannon and William R. Shannon served in Co. H, 38th Tennessee Infantry during the War for Southern Independence. Co. H was made up exclusively of men from Wilson County. I would like to hear from anyone whose kinsmen served in the company with my relatives.

    04/12/2001 08:47:04
    1. [TNWILSON] Re: Fw: New Viruses
    2. Greg Tomerlin
    3. Do not send Virus Warnings to the TNWILSON mailing list. Thank you. Greg list owner

    04/12/2001 05:54:50
    1. [TNWILSON] STEWART
    2. In a message dated 4/12/01 3:03:47 AM Eastern Daylight Time, TNWILSON-D-request@rootsweb.com writes: << And their son, Presley GEORGE SMART married Selina STEWART dau of George THOMPSON STEWART.. >> Do you know George's wife?? SELINA is a name used constantly in my Smith line. THANKS JANE

    04/12/2001 05:33:57
    1. [TNWILSON] Fw: New Viruses
    2. tnwolfman
    3. ----- Original Message ----- From: "Sam Pollard" <junesam@bellsouth.net> To: <tnwolfman@compaq.net> Sent: Thursday, April 12, 2001 5:54 AM Subject: Fw: New Viruses > > ----- Original Message ----- > From: Charles Rittenberry <brother@nctc.com> > To: <junesam@bellsouth.net> > Sent: Wednesday, April 11, 2001 10:35 PM > Subject: Fw: New Viruses > > > > > > ----- Original Message ----- > > From: Hugh Thomas <thomas4@dtccom.net> > > To: Phillip & Amanda Bryant <phbryant@dtccom.net>; Charles Rittenberry > > <brother@nctc.com> > > Sent: Wednesday, April 11, 2001 3:48 PM > > Subject: Fw: New Viruses > > > > > > > > > > ----------------------------------------------------- > > > Click here for Free Video!! > > > http://www.gohip.com/free_video/ > > > > > > ----- Original Message ----- > > > From: Jeff & Tina Lancaster <lanc5@dtccom.net> > > > To: Rebecca Logan <ranreb@peoplepc.com>; Hugh & Penny > > <thomas4@dtccom.net>; > > > Larry & Ruby <watts4@dtccom.net>; Aunt Phylis <phylnd26@aol.com>; The > > > Collins <mandacollins@multipro.com>; Tammy & Benny Proffitt > > > <tproffitt@mwsi.net>; Billy Fears <bfears@dtccom.net>; Bill Lancaster > > > <bilancas@dtccom.net>; Missy & Nick <nmclerran@info-ed.com>; Jim & Mindi > > > <lancm0ga@aol.com> > > > Sent: Wednesday, April 11, 2001 5:06 PM > > > Subject: Fw: New Viruses > > > > > > > > > > > > > > ----------------------------------------------------- > > > > Click here for Free Video!! > > > > http://www.gohip.com/free_video/ > > > > > > > > ----- Original Message ----- > > > > From: "Ophel J Page/Amer/Auto" <pageoj@meritorauto.com> > > > > To: <Lanc5@dtccom.net>; <Gulletti@graphicpkg.com> > > > > Sent: Wednesday, April 11, 2001 12:02 PM > > > > Subject: New Viruses > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > ---------------------- Forwarded by Ophel J Page/Amer/Auto on > > 04/11/2001 > > > > > 12:04 PM --------------------------- > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > Sammy Anderson > > > > > 04/11/2001 09:12 AM > > > > > > > > > > To: AutoGordonsvilleA-Z > > > > > cc: > > > > > Subject: New Viruses > > > > > > > > > > Hello All, > > > > > > > > > > READ IMMEDIATELY AND PASS ON > > > > > > > > > > Someone is sending out a very cute screensaver of the Budweiser > frogs. > > > If > > > > > you download it, you will lose everything! Your hard drive will > crash > > > and > > > > > someone from the Internet will get your screen name and password! DO > > NOT > > > > > DOWNLOAD IT UNDER ANY CIRCUMSTANCES!!!! It just went in to > circulation > > > > > yesterday. > > > > > Please distribute this message. This is a new, very malicious virus > > and > > > > not > > > > > many people know about it. This information was announced yesterday > > > > morning > > > > > from Microsoft. Please share it with EVERYONE in your address book > so > > > that > > > > > this may be stopped. > > > > > > > > > > 2ND VIRUS! This one is a real one. DO NOT OPEN "PRETTY PARK". It is > a > > > > > virus > > > > > that will erase your whole "C" drive. It will come to you in the > form > > of > > > > an > > > > > E-Mail from a familiar person. Forward this to everyone in your > > address > > > > > book. > > > > > > > > > > Also: Intel announced that a new and very destructive virus was > > > discovered > > > > > recently. If you receive an e-mail called "An Internet Flower For > > You", > > > do > > > > > not open it. Delete it right away! This virus removes all dynamic > link > > > > > libraries (.dll files) from your computer. Your computer will not be > > > able > > > > > to > > > > > boot up. > > > > > > > > > > Sammy > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > >

    04/12/2001 04:47:33
    1. [TNWILSON] Griffin
    2. John E. Calley
    3. Posted on: Wilson Co. Tn Queries Reply Here: http://genconnect.rootsweb.com/genbbs.cgi/USA/Tn/Wilson/10798 Surname: Griffin, Adams, Calley ------------------------- My g g grandfather was George Griffin. I do not have much information on him except that there is a record of his marriage to Lucretia Davis on 21 January 1858 in Wilson County TN. Their daughter, Mollie, married Reuben Adams, my g grandfather. Could it be that the G. Griffin you are seeking is my g g grandfather?

    04/12/2001 04:26:18
    1. [TNWILSON] Griffin
    2. Shenna Grandstaff
    3. Posted on: Wilson Co. Tn Queries Reply Here: http://genconnect.rootsweb.com/genbbs.cgi/USA/Tn/Wilson/10797 Surname: Griffin ------------------------- Does anyone know about a William C or G. Griffin from Wilson County. He died in 1905.

    04/11/2001 02:31:51
    1. [TNWILSON] MASON"S
    2. Patricia Cooper
    3. Hi everyone . Haven't posted my MASON line in a while so i thought i would try it again. LOOKING FOR INFORMATIOn ON: Grover Cleveland MASON (aka: G.C.) born Sept. 27, 1880 in Weir, Tenn. the only other information i have is that his Father was a D.E. MASON this family is big on initials. He enlisted in the Army in 1902 in Mckinney, Tex. and was assigned to the Texas Coast Artillery. His father was still living in Weir, Tenn. at that time. Grover married Bertie Mae Brigance in the 1920's and he died april 18, 1937 in Collinsville, ILL where he is buried. if anyone has any information on Grover's parent's are siblings i sure would be grateful to have it. Thanks Pattie Cooper ILLINOIS pcooper@peaknet.net

    04/11/2001 02:31:26
    1. Re: [TNWILSON] George family of Tennessee
    2. Shirley McMahon Garrett
    3. My grgrgrgrandmother, Rebecca GEORGE, d. in Wilson Co., TN, was married to Phillip SMART 6 Mar 1809 in Wilson Co., TN. And their son, Presley GEORGE SMART married Selina STEWART dau of George THOMPSON STEWART.. I've always wondered if George's middle name THOMPSON was his mother's maiden name after learning that Presley's middle name was for his mother's maiden name, GEORGE. There used to be a group of GEORGE researchers that I was in contact with but lost contact with. Last year my husband and I sold our home in Tyler, TX and moved back HOME to Kennett, MO. to be near family in our retirement. Shirley McMahon Garrett Kennett, MO I sent the above message earlier today to the List. I am sending it again in case you did not get it. ----- Original Message ----- From: tennessee rebel <halltown_tn@yahoo.com> To: <TNWILSON-L@rootsweb.com> Sent: Wednesday, April 11, 2001 2:53 PM Subject: [TNWILSON] George family of Tennessee > Anyone researching the George Family of Wilson or > Sumner Counties? > > __________________________________________________ > Do You Yahoo!? > Get email at your own domain with Yahoo! Mail. > http://personal.mail.yahoo.com/ > > > ==== TNWILSON Mailing List ==== > The Wilson County Genealogy Depot > http://www.rootsweb.com/~tnwcogs/ > <A HREF="http://www.rootsweb.com/~tnwcogs">The Wilson Co. Depot</A> > >

    04/11/2001 11:39:22
    1. [TNWILSON] George family of Tennessee
    2. tennessee rebel
    3. Anyone researching the George Family of Wilson or Sumner Counties? __________________________________________________ Do You Yahoo!? Get email at your own domain with Yahoo! Mail. http://personal.mail.yahoo.com/

    04/11/2001 06:53:31
    1. Re: [TNWILSON] GEORGE, THOMPSON, SMART
    2. Shirley McMahon Garrett
    3. Hi, Brenda, My grgrgrgrandmother, Rebecca GEORGE, d. in Wilson Co., TN, was married to Phillip SMART 6 Mar 1809 in Wilson Co., TN. And their son, Presley GEORGE SMART married Selina STEWART dau of George THOMPSON STEWART.. I've always wondered if George's middle name THOMPSON was his mother's maiden name after learning that Presley's middle name was for his mother's maiden name, GEORGE. There used to be a group of GEORGE researchers that I was in contact with but lost contact with. Last year my husband and I sold our home in Tyler, TX and moved back HOME to Kennett, MO. to be near family in our retirement. Shirley McMahon Garrett Kennett, MO --- Original Message ----- From: brenda parker <halltown_tn@yahoo.com> To: <TNWILSON-L@rootsweb.com> Sent: Tuesday, April 10, 2001 6:48 PM Subject: [TNWILSON] George family > Posted on: Wilson Co. Tn Queries > Reply Here: http://genconnect.rootsweb.com/genbbs.cgi/USA/Tn/Wilson/10795 > > Surname: George, Thompson > ------------------------- > > Am seeking anyone related to the George Family, in Wilson or Sumner Counties. > > > ==== TNWILSON Mailing List ==== > TNWILSON Website > http://www.rootsweb.com/~tnwilson/ > <A HREF="http://www.rootsweb.com/~tnwilson">TNWILSON</A> > >

    04/11/2001 01:51:46
    1. [TNWILSON] 1850 Census
    2. Debi
    3. Posted on: Wilson Co. Tn Queries Reply Here: http://genconnect.rootsweb.com/gc/USA/Tn/Wilson/10796 Surname: PURCILLER ------------------------- Hi- If anyone has access to the 1850 Census for Wilson County, I would appreciate a look-up for James Claibourne PURCILLER, born August 1849, so he would have been around 1 year old at the time of this census. I have no names of parents or other information except that the parents were both born in Tennessee also. Thank you so much if you are able to help. Debi

    04/10/2001 01:38:28
    1. [TNWILSON] George family
    2. brenda parker
    3. Posted on: Wilson Co. Tn Queries Reply Here: http://genconnect.rootsweb.com/genbbs.cgi/USA/Tn/Wilson/10795 Surname: George, Thompson ------------------------- Am seeking anyone related to the George Family, in Wilson or Sumner Counties.

    04/10/2001 11:48:22
    1. [TNWILSON] I need some help, Rooters
    2. I have been unable to find any trace of my 3 great grandparents--Noah and Hannah HICKS KELLEY in TN beyond their marriage in Wilson Co. in 1806. In census records from IL beginning in the 1850 on range the six children I am convinced are theirs (James, b. ca 1809, Silas, b. ca. 1812, Elizabeth, b. ca 1814, Isaac b. 1819/20 (my direct line), Martha, b. ca 1821, and Noah, b. ca 1823) list their place of birth as TN. Yet, I am unable to find Noah listed as head of household in TN anywhere. He is not in the 1820 or 1830 federal census (I am waiting for a copy of Montgomery Co, IL 1840 to see which Noah, father or son). He is not in the 1815, nor 1832, nor the one conducted from 1796-1808. It has been suggested they might have been living with relatives and there fore not the head of household. I don't know names of Kelley's, and Richard HICKS, Hannah's father is not listed in the TN 1820. Suggestions? Pat in WA State

    04/10/2001 08:33:36
    1. [TNWILSON] Shot in Dark
    2. Frances Trimble
    3. Posted on: Wilson Co. Tn Queries Reply Here: http://genconnect.rootsweb.com/genbbs.cgi/USA/Tn/Wilson/10794 Surname: Everett, McDonnold, Graves ------------------------- My g.g.g.grandfather was Reverend James McDonnold who left Statesville, Wilson Co, TN in 1838 to become either #5 or 6 among the Protestant circuit riding ministers in Texas. One of his daughter Margaret McDonald Sielski's sons was named Gerald EVERETT Sielski. She gave all her sons surnames as given names and they all relate somehow to her family. I've not been able to pinpoint who the Everett is for whom Gerald is named. One of Rev. McDonnold's neighbors in Texas was a man named Sylvanus Everett but other than being a neighbor, I don't find a connection there? I believe that Sylvanus was born in Maryland. I am also trying to find out where a Judge by the name of Waller Washington GRAVES came to MO from. He does not appear to be a member of another well known Graves family that lived in MO. Does anyone recognize this name?

    04/10/2001 04:16:46
    1. [TNWILSON] Halifax Co VA to Wilson Co TN ROBERTSON's and spouses
    2. Renee S.
    3. This appears to be my line - not everything here has solid proof as yet, but I am posting it hoping to connect with others working on these lines. Renee 1st generation Thomas Robertson born About 1645 Henrico Co VA Married: Unknown before 1670 Died: Date unknown, Henrico Co VA 2nd generation John Robertson born Abt 1670/1672 Parents: Thomas Robertson, Unknown Married Marvel East about 1688-1690 Henrico Co VA Died 5 Dec 1720 Henrico Co VA Marvel East born abt 1676 Henrico Co VA Parents: Thomas East and unknown wife Thomas East born abt 1640 Henrico Co VA - 2 Jan 1727 Henrico Co VA His wife was born abt 1642 Henrico Co VA 3rd generation John Robertson Abt 1688/1692 Henrico Co, Va Parents: John Robertson and Marvel East Married Tabitha SCRUGGS about 1715 Henrico Co VA Died 5 Dec 1768 Cumberland Co VA Tabitha SCRUGGS born Abt 1698 Henrico Co, Va Parents: Charles Scruggs and Mary Field Died before 1768 Cumberland Co VA Mary Field born Abt 1664 Henrico Co VA Parents: Thomas Field, Mary Burton Married 1st: Edward Jones, before 1668 Henrico Co VA Married 2nd : Charles Scruggs Bef 1 1698 Feb Henrico Co VA (Charles later married to Mary Jones in abt 1720 Henrico Co VA) Died: Before Dec 1718 Henrico Co VA Thomas Field born abt 1636/1640 Henrico Co VA Married Mary Burton 1670 Henrico Co VA Died 1668/1677 Henrico Co VA Mary Burton born abt 1638 Henrico Co VA Fourth Generation: Christopher Robertson born 1723/1726 Henrico Co, Va Parents: John Robertson, Tabitha SCRUGGS Married: Agnes Sarah (Sary) Nichols before 1755 Died: 12 Aug 1791 Halifax Co, Va Agnes Sarah (Sary) Nichols Abt 1725 Caroline Co VA Parents: John NICHOL Sr, Mary OWEN Died before 1791 Halifax Co VA John NICHOLS Sr. born about 1698 Caroline Co VA Married before 1725 Halifax Co VA Died 22 Apr 1774 Halifax Co VA Fifth generation: George ROBERTSON born 1755 Goochland Co, Va Parents: Christopher ROBERTSON Agnes Sarah (Sary) Nichols Married Judith SCRUGGS Jan 1778 Halifax Co VA Died 2 Jan 1819 Halifax Co VA Judith SCRUGGS born 1752 Halifax Co VA - 16 Oct 1843, Meadville, Halifax Co VA 6th generation: Lewis Roberston born 6 Jun 1792 Meadville-Nathalie, Halifax, Virginia Parents: George ROBERTSON & Judith SCRUGGS Married 1st: Nancy Unknown before 1813 Possible match: Nancy LEDBETTER 15 Sep 1800 Campbell, Virginia Married 2nd to Martha E BARLEY on 28 Feb 1825 Halifax, Virginia Died 4 Aug 1851 Cainsville, Wilson Co TN Buried David Owen Cem (She's not my line, but might be yours) Martha Ellen BARLEY born 18 May 1807 Meadville Halifax Co VA Parents: William BARLEY, Elizabeth DIXON 9 Aug 1889 Cainsville, Wilson Co Tn, Buried David Owen Cem William BARLEY born abt 1781 Halifax Co VA married Halifax Co VA before 1807 Elizabeth DIXON born abt 1785 Halifax Co VA 7th generation Anthony B. ROBERTSON born 1813/1814 Halifax Co VA Parents: Lewis Robertson and Nancy ???? Robertson married Martha Mitchell 18 Dec. 1836.: microfiche at the Mormon library Died 15 Nov 1861 Wilson Co TN 8th generation Charles L. ROBERTSON born abt 1840 Halifax Co VA Parents: Anthony B. Robertson, Martha Mitchell Married 1st: abt 1866 to Sarah Ann Byers (1850 Norene, Wilson Co TN - 11/30/1867 Norene, Wilson Co TN) Possible second marriage to Bettie Wright in Wilson CO TN in 1880 Died: >1870 likely Wilson or DeKalb Co TN 9th generation Martha Flaura ROBERTSON 11/24/1867 (Norene, Wilson Co TN) Married before 1892 to James Henry WHITE (1869 Warren Co TN - 1964 Davidson Co TN) Died 8/24/1896 Norene, Wilson Co TN, buried Prichard-Robertson family cemetery James Henry White was son of William Henry White and Mary Ann (Jennie) Martin of Warren Co TN 10th generation Flaura White born 8/13/1896 Norene, Wilson Co TN Parents: Martha Flaura Robertson and James Henry White Married 1918 Warren Co TN to Joseph Samuel Green (1892 - 1971 both in Warren Co TN) Lived entire adult life in Faulkner Springs, Warren Co TN Died: 1981 Chattanooga, Hamilton Co TN, buried Smartt Cemetery, Warren Co, TN 11th generation Helen Green (1931 Warren Co TN - living) Parents Flaura White and J. Sam Green Married Jan, 1955 in Hamilton Co TN to Claude Glenn (1922 - living) 12th Generation C. Renee Glenn (1955 Hamilton Co TN - living) Parents: Helen Green and Claude Glenn Married 1st Johnny L. Riggs in 1979 in Knox Co TN Married 2nd Henry Swicegood in 1998 in Blount Co TN 13th generation Jonathan L. Riggs (1980 Knox Co TN - Living)

    04/09/2001 04:30:09
    1. [TNWILSON] Cemetery Articles
    2. Ok, everyone's going to hate me now!! Not five minutes after my previous posting I got the ok to post to the lists!! I've been swamped with requests since my posting, so here are the articles. ENJOY!!! Kymm http://hometown.aol.com/kymmdenise/genealogy.html Both articles can be found in The Huntsville Times Life Pages F1 and F5 on Sunday April 8, 2001. Both written by Megan N. Walde. Along with the articles are 3 photos and a map of the Madison area of Madison County, Alabama. Seeing as how I can't give you those due to Rootsweb's rules, I will try to get them on my website by the end of the day. Article one: The quick and the dead Historians hasten to preserve granite legacies in old cemeteries on paper and film By Megan N. Walde Times Staff Writer MADISON - An industrial clanging echoes along County Line Road. John RANKIN grabs his faded blue duffle bag, and Percy KEEL shoulders a homemade poker from the back of a hulking, go-anywhere van. The men head directly to the heart of this emerald-moss-lined wood. They know it is here, somewhere - a stone grave marker for a Civil War soldier named William WARD. A work crew near the site the day before had hit some granite and thought it might be part of an old cemetery. A worker had called a researcher to the public library. She had called RANKIN, on of the foremost cemetery historians in this area. RANKIN had called KEEL, a fellow historian, and within days the two were off on another search. So many old cemeteries are found this way - too many, according to RANKIN and other history buffs. As Madison continues to grow, abandoned graveyards are discovered amid the symbols of progress, such as video stores and subdivisions. As bulldozers clear more land for townhomes, restaurants and gas stations, developers and residents in Madison - and other cities - are literally stumbling over these crumbling links to the past. That's where RANKIN, a retired engineer, and KEEL, a longtime mail carrier, come in. The two are trying to preserve Madison's past on paper and film before it's gone. They make regular visits to known abandoned cemeteries in and around the city to monitor the conditions of stones and graves, photographing each stone and making digital copies. They add each one to a database at www.virtualcemetery.org. "They're going to disappear someday no matter what you do," RANKIN says of cemeteries. "This is the only thing we can do to make sure people can always view them." RANKIN's interest in cemeteries grew out of genealogical work. As he searched for friends' ancestors and his own, he came across burial information. When possible, he found the graves and photographed them. He enjoyed the work, but he spent many afternoons in the local library trying to match his finds with the historical records of an area he didn't know much about. The Gooch Cemetery On a brisk, gray day in January, Richard BROWN awaits a quick haircut from his sister, who works at the Big Tease hair salon on Hughes Road. BROWN walks his dog around the back of the salon and follows him into an isolated grove of trees on a slight hill. For what may be the third time in a dozen years, the GOOCH Cemetery is "discovered." Mary Anne HAMM knew the gravestones were there. One marks the grave of her great-grandfather Nathaniel Matson GOOCH, son of early Madison landowner Roland GOOCH. Land records show Roland GOOCH bought 160 acres on Feb. 2, 1818, the same day legendary settler John CARTWRIGHT bought his first Madison parcel. February 1818 was the first time the U.S. government allowed settlers to buy land belonging to the Indians, although many settlers had been faming and living on the land long before that. HAMM also knows the GOOCH Cemetery used to look different. She and her husband used to visit and clean the graves in the '70s. "It was 10 times bigger then," HAMM says. Today the cemetery is surrounded by houses, stores and banks. There are seven marked graves in all, including other GOOCHES and a DUBLIN. At least 15 more are marked by small fieldstones and the rectangular depressions RANKIN and KEEL know to look for. One grave seems out of place. A marker for 7-year-old Katie S. STEWART sits next to those of Nathaniel Matson and his wife, Susan. RANKIN and KEEL puzzled for years over how Katie figured into the GOOCH family's history. The answer came from HAMM, who heard stories about the GOOCHES in "the old days" from her grandmother. "I would crawl up in her lap, and she would show me pictures and all tat of my family way back," HAMM says. HAMM remembered Katie's story. Katie was born deformed with a growth in her head. When her parents gave her up, the GOOCHES took her in. "There are so many parts to these stories," RANKIN says, "it's like putting a puzzle together." On the west side of town, behind a storage center on Balch Road, there's another cemetery mystery. Beneath a blanket of dead winter leaves, mounds of slave made clay brick cover the graves of members of many old Madison families - GRAY, BLACKBURN, BURNS, MAXWELL, SANDERSON, and WOOD, among others. The GRAY Cemetery is also the resting place of at least two and maybe three Revolutionary War soldiers. The two soldiers known to be buried there are James TRIBBLE and William GRAY. RANKIN and library archivist Ranee PRUITT want to find the grave of the third soldier, Moses BAILEY. "It's more than just the history," says PRUITT, a member of the Daughters of the Revolution. "It's the place, the history of our community. You can tell a lot about someone by their tombstone. 'Corp'l. WM. WARD, Co. H' Sometimes, the puzzle pieces fall into place, like last week when RANKIN got a call that construction workers had found what might be a Civil War burial ground off County Line Road near the airport. Some county maps note a cemetery at that location; others don't. But as soon as RANKIN and KEEL get to the site, they know. All the tell-tale signs of an old cemetery are there. Sunken rectangles. Moss everywhere. Yucca plants. Tall, slender cedar trees. As the two men walk the site, they notice another clue. The area is the highest around, sloping gently toward a swampy creek leading to the Tennessee River. Then they find it. William WARD's headstone leans precariously toward a tree trunk, the bottom half well-covered by dirt and moss. RANKIN drops the blue duffle bag within arm's reach, drops to knees and prepares the stone for cleaning and photographing. Using a drywall sponge, he lightly scrubs surface dirt from the stone and blows the dust away. His fingers reverently trace the letters on the stone as he reads it, then he fishes out a piece of blue chalk from a plastic baggie to highlight the text. "Corp'l WM. WARD, Co. H. 15th U.S.C.T." If what RANKIN suggests about the site is true, he believes it should be a major historical attraction. He points to two letters on the WARD headstone - C.T. According to his military records WARD was a corporal in Company H, a "colored troop" in the Union Army's 15th Regiment. RANKIN is fascinated. "How did he get here? Why was he buried so far from home? Why is his the only grave marked with a stone? Who put it there, the military or his family? Was this a black cemetery?" He counts the other graves and points out the rigidly straight rows, 11 in all, each with 11 graves. To one side of the cemetery is a leaf-covered, man-made trench. "Did they cut this as protection during a battle, something to sort of hide behind?" RANKIN wonders aloud. KEEL, meanwhile, is trudging among the trees, stepping hard to find hidden stones. He occasionally pokes beneath the earth with the sharp metal end of his homemade poker. He finds half of another stone, but it's a good foot or more below the surface and too far to dig out. RANKIN and KEEL think WARD's marker is the only one left in what might have been a cemetery for black soldiers. Typically, the original markers would have been wooden crosses replaced later by family members. The construction workers who found the cemetery are putting in a communication tower. That likely won't disturb the cemetery, RANKIN says. But even if development doesn't destroy or encroach upon abandoned cemetery sites, nature will do its best. When trees fall, they can shatter gravestones. The roots of trees can create a sunken bowl that envelops and eventually buries graves and stones. Time and weather erase parts of names and dates, making it critical that stones are identified as soon as they are found. That's what RANKIN and KEEL do last before they leave the WARD stone. They will add the photographs, a site description and WARD's background to the collection they've amassed since 1998. RANKIN would like to see all of Madison's abandoned cemeteries donated to the city, fenced and maintained. Only one is now. It is the DILLARD-BIBB Cemetery, which sits off Sullivan Street inside Governors Estates. The subdivision was built around the cemetery because it was once thought to the burial place for the ancestors of Alabama's first two governors, brothers William and Thomas BIBB. "People need to be more aware, or we're going to lose this whole historical part of our existence as we build more shopping centers," PRUITT says. RANKIN encourages people to record their own family gravesites or those in their area with a simple point-and-shoot camera and upload the images to a genealogical web site. He also has found another way residents can help prevent the disappearance of old cemeteries. Five or more people - they don't have to be descendants of anyone buried in the cemetery - can petition the county clerk to take the cemetery out of private property. The clerk then assesses the cemetery property, and if those people can come up with that dollar amount, the cemetery is theirs to maintain in the public domain. "Really all you can do is delay the inevitable," RANKIN says, "but what it comes down to is who cares." Article Two: Old cemeteries often emerge from the mists of history when development moves in By Megan N. WALDE In fast-growing Madison, surveyors and utility workers are often the first to discover old burial grounds as they prepare land for development. State law says they can't simply bulldoze the site once a cemetery is identified. It's a misdemeanor in Alabama to move or deface tombstones or graves. But sometimes the identification comes too late. "Where (the cemeteries are) poorly marked or partially washed away, they can sometimes be dug up before you realize you're in them," said Whitey BRESSETTE, Madison Water & Wastewater Board general manager. Utility workers often run water and sewer lines across otherwise vacant land, to encourage development in those areas. In the process, they sometimes run across whole tombstones, granite chunks or contents of graves themselves. "All the operators know to stop at the first sign of a grave," BRESSETTE said. "What we're doing is the best we can to be as aware as we can." While city workers were building a pipeline for the Keene Water Treatment Plant on Gillespie Road two and a half years ago, they found a cemetery. "When we recognized what it was, we simply redid the easements, built a fence and went around it," BRESSETTE said. Phillip WILBANKS, president of the Tennessee Valley Professional Land Surveyors Association, has come across 10 to 12 cemeteries in his 30-year career. He tries to find a deed for each one. "Sometimes there's not a deed to it," WILBANKS said. "It's just sitting in the middle of nowhere." Then it's up to the developer to leave the cemetery alone or to follow strict state guidelines for moving it. The developer must file a public notice in a local newspaper for two months, alerting residents that he wants to move the graves. He has to make a "reasonable attempt" to locate and notify descendants of those buried in the cemetery. Finally, he has to follow Health Department guidelines for removal of human remains, and those remains must be reburied and marked in another cemetery.

    04/09/2001 11:35:18
    1. [TNWILSON] Articles concerning cemeteries
    2. Posting to all my lists my apologies if you get this more than once. As some of you may already know, there were two articles in Sunday's Huntsville Times concerning the disappearnce of cemeteries. I searched the Times website and it is not there. I have contacted the writer asking permission to post to the lists but as of yet have recieved no response. I have them transcribed and ready to go and if anyone would like to read them I will send them to you privately. Names found in the two articles include: RANKIN, KEEL, WARD, GOOCH, BROWN, HAMM, CARTWRIGHT, DUBLIN, STEWART, GRAY, BLACKBURN, BURNS, MAXWELL, SANDERSON, WOOD, TRIBBLE, PRUITT, BAILEY, DILLARD, BIBB, BRESSETTE, and WILBANKS. Again, my apologies if you get multiple copies of this message, just didn't want to miss anyone. Happy Monday, Kymm in Huntsville

    04/09/2001 10:39:32
    1. [TNWILSON] johnson/clifton connection; search for bible
    2. Margie White
    3. Hi all Johnson and Clifton researchers On 14 Nov 1850 an account of sales of property of the estate of Mathew Johnson (deceased) was reported to Wilson Co. court by executors, Jordan an Littleberry Johnson. At this sale a Mr. B. Clifton bought 1 large Bible for $2.65 (Johnson Bible I presume) Is there a slim chance that this Bible still exists? Hopefully in the hands of a Clifton or Johnson descendant. If so I would love to hear about it. from anyone. I am a 3rd grt-grandaughter to Mathew and Millie Simmons Johnson Best Regards Margie White Marwood@wazoo.com

    04/09/2001 08:22:11