Because of the number of responses to my earlier posting (and requests for further information), I'm replying to the entire list: The minutes of the Virginia Point Methodist Episcopal Church (South) of August 10, 1867, include a notice that Brother Ben Mack Williams "asks leave to state that he was with Bro. Michael Pitman, a local Deacon & Member of our Class during his last illness." There follows an obituary notice and memoir: "Brother Michael Pitman was born in the State of Kentucky Jan. 29th, 1805. Married his first wife Jan. 5th, 1825 who died and was buried near the Pitman's Chapel in Grayson County, Texas, June 5, 1854. He was married to Mrs. Elizabeth J. Wilkins, his surviving companion Dec. 11th, 1855. He professed the Christian religion in early life, united with the Methodist Episcopal Church and became a local preacher while young. When the Church divided as a matter of conscience he went with the Methodist Episcopal Church South and served at her altars as a faithful and pious minister until the close of his earthly toils. During his last illness he spoke frequently of his demise and even before friends or physicians thought his symptoms at all dangerous, seemed deeply impressed with the belief that he would never recover. He prayed and had his friends pray with him several times for a readiness to live or die and for an entire resignation to the Divine will. This pearl of great price he professed to find and seemed several times when I was present perfectly happy in view of death. He closed his toils and sufferings in peace with God and man about 7 O'clock A.M. April 25th, 1867." Virginia Point Methodist was (and still is) located about five miles north of Bells on the Grayson/Fannin County line. (It's one of the oldest continually operating congregations in North Texas.) The congregation still meets in the building that was erected in the mid-1860s, and it's likely that Michael Pitman drove some of the nails that built the church. There's a cemetery behind the church, and you'll find a listing of the "residents" on Susan's wonderful Fannin County GenWeb pages. My recent book, "Scatterlings: Blair Williams & Turner to Texas, 1858-1873" contains a chapter that describes the split of the Methodist Episcopal Church, how Virginia Point Methodist Episcopal Church (South) was built, and much more about the settlement of Grayson/Fannin Counties in the 1860s and 1870s. (There are chapters on units mustered out of Sherman and Bonham for Civil War service, the founding of the Union League, the typhoid epidemics and more.) "Scatterlings" is hardbound, 184 pages, and available directly from me for $20 (plus $4.75 shipping and handling). (The Fannin County GenWeb pages include a sample chapter, if you follow the links under "Local Books for Sale".)

Hello, Could someone please help, I looking for the death record of Amstead (Ampstead) Walls. I have reason to believe that he died in 1913, Sherman, Grayson Co., TX. Also would you know how many cemeteries where around in Sherman in 1913? Also which funeral homes where around. Thank you for all your time and help. Rea Gillette [email protected]

There are microfilmed indices for the Texas Birth and Death Records. Many libraries have them, including Denton. We are about 60 miles from Sherman, so you might want to come to our library and use them. The first series covers birth from 1903-1940; the second from 1941-1945; after that the indices are annual ones. There also is an index to probate birth records. There will not be any death records in the 1880 area. Have you tried the probate records? Land records often help establish a time of death if the land is sold to close an estate. Diana

In visiting Grayson County Court House, I inquired about death records, and was told that they have no records in Grayson County prior to 1909. They referred me to the Texas Bureau of Vital Statistics for anything back to 1903, when, I was told, Texas began collecting death information. I was given a form (VX-141) to request birth or death certificates at a cost of $9.00 for death and $11.00 for birth certified copies. I was not told the reason for the county not having records prior to 1909, but was led to believe that Grayson County death records were available from the State of Texas back to 1903. Land records in Grayson County go back to 1846, when the county was formed. I found deeds for my ancestors dating to 1854. Ken Hestand

another source for Grayson Records listings http://www.tsl.state.tx.us/arc/local/grayson.html http://www.tsl.state.tx.us/ref/abouttx/news.html ( and there are lots more not listed in any of these that fill the courthouse, they have facinating papers in just the 'loosepapers' files, Charlotte Holder wrote a book that covers unfiled wills, for some reason the county never filed them.School census', tax rolls, cattle brands, and so on. You could spend a week there just researching )

The clerk did not give you good information . Very few things are missing from the two fires that have happened. The only things I have run on that are missing are some of the court records for the criminal courts and a few of the other lower court books. All the deeds , wills even the insanity cases are there in the courthouse. The original tables and the cases that hold the wills are untouched. All the deed records are intact. They also have plats etc. You can check here to see the scope of deeds' wills marriages etc. and the Birth records and death records go back to 1903. http://32.96.111.13/Eng/Library/fhlc/supermainframeset.asp?display=localitydetails&subject=193503&subject_disp=Texas,_Grayson&columns=*,180,0 The newspapers go to 1879 at the library and before that you use the Texas newspaper project: http://www.lib.utexas.edu/Libs/PCL/refserv/per_micro/cah/ Or the Clarksville and Paris newspapers as well as sometimes the Dallas paper. susan in Texas Beverly Brown wrote: > > I went to Grayson County last week for the first time, and the clerk in the > office where the births, deaths and marriage records were kept told me that > the courthouse burned in 1909 and so records earlier than that weren't > available. I certainly didn't find any birth or death records earlier than > that, but I did find marriage and probate records for much earlier than that. > > Did only part of the courthouse burn? Or were those records that survived > the fire not in the courthouse? I certainly don't mean to imply that the > clerk gave me bad information, but since there clearly ARE records going > back to before 1909, is it possible that there are also birth and death > records from before 1909, but they're in another location? > > Since I wasn't able to find the death record I was looking for (from about > 1878), I went to the library to see if I could find an obituary, but their > microfilms of newspaper records only went back to the mid 1880s. Is there > another source for earlier newspaper records? > > I plan to make another trip to Sherman in the next couple of months, so I'd > appreciate any tips anyone could give me. > > Thanks. > > Beverly Brown > [email protected] > > B.r.a.c.k.e.t.t B.r.o.w.n B.r.u.n.e.r B.u.r.k.s C.h.r.i.s.t.i.a.n > H.a.r.r.i.s J.o.y.c.e P.h.i.l.l.i.p.s R.o.s.e S.i.s.s.o.n S.n.e.a.d > S.w.o.p.e T.h.o.m.p.s.o.n T.i.l.l.m.a.n T.y.l.e.r W.e.s.t > W.h.i.t.f.i.e.l.d Y.a.t.e.s > > ==== TXGRAYSO Mailing List ==== > --- Author Retains Copyright --- > -- Copyright 2000 Author -- All Rights Reserved > Post to List: [email protected] http://www.selfroots.com > Unsubscribe Request: [email protected]

I went to Grayson County last week for the first time, and the clerk in the office where the births, deaths and marriage records were kept told me that the courthouse burned in 1909 and so records earlier than that weren't available. I certainly didn't find any birth or death records earlier than that, but I did find marriage and probate records for much earlier than that. Did only part of the courthouse burn? Or were those records that survived the fire not in the courthouse? I certainly don't mean to imply that the clerk gave me bad information, but since there clearly ARE records going back to before 1909, is it possible that there are also birth and death records from before 1909, but they're in another location? Since I wasn't able to find the death record I was looking for (from about 1878), I went to the library to see if I could find an obituary, but their microfilms of newspaper records only went back to the mid 1880s. Is there another source for earlier newspaper records? I plan to make another trip to Sherman in the next couple of months, so I'd appreciate any tips anyone could give me. Thanks. Beverly Brown [email protected] B.r.a.c.k.e.t.t B.r.o.w.n B.r.u.n.e.r B.u.r.k.s C.h.r.i.s.t.i.a.n H.a.r.r.i.s J.o.y.c.e P.h.i.l.l.i.p.s R.o.s.e S.i.s.s.o.n S.n.e.a.d S.w.o.p.e T.h.o.m.p.s.o.n T.i.l.l.m.a.n T.y.l.e.r W.e.s.t W.h.i.t.f.i.e.l.d Y.a.t.e.s

Found my great grandmother Maud Lawrence or Lorrance as the 1880 census of Grayson Co, TX has it. Her father was also listed as a 24 year old widower, boarder of W. H. Haygood. I imagine he was ill with TB. His name was W. G. Lawrence and I believe from Ky. It is hard to read. Luckily we have a great Strom Thurmond Research Center at the Greenville, SC library. It has all the state's census and so many research books. I found some other Lawrence in the census which might interest those of grayson county If anyone knows anything about W.G. Lorrance or Lawrence or his wife who I believe was Sarah Lane from KY I would be interested in knowing. thanks. Ann

I attended a workshop held by the Historical Commission of Texas about restoring and cleaning Tombstones and all ways to record one etc. For Lichen (moss) they say to gently brush it off with a very soft brush or cloth. Treat the surface like a paintjob on a car and it wont' damage the surface. They said the moss is often better left on than the process to take it off but if you must then use a cleaning material from a hardware or farm shop called Orvus. it is also sold in janitorial supplies. Also never put clorox or any bleaching material on a stone as it causes chemical reactions and will turn yellow in just a few years- never can be removed. The stones also must breathe and cannot be sealed or waxed in any fashion or the ground moisture will be trapped inside. Susan in Texas

I am looking for theInforamtion and burial place of Mollie Adams Price and her family. She was in COOKE co TX in 1925 at the age of 39. I don't know who she married and don't know where she is buried at.Mollie was born in MS to William B.& Elmira Adams. I am looking for her family.Can any one help me from TX. I live in AL. Any information would be appreciated. Marjorie Adams Cummings [email protected]

I have the obituary notice from 1867 of a Michael Pitman who attended the Virginia Point Methodist Episcopal Church on the border of Grayson and Fannin Counties. According the death notice, he was born in Kentucky on Jan 29 1805. He married his first wife (no name) on Jan 5 1825. She was buried near Pitman's Chapel in Grayson County when she died Jun 5 1854. He married Mrs. Elizabeth J. Wilkins (his surviving wife) Dec 11 1855. Pitman was an ME (South) minister and "served at its altars as a faithful and pious minister until the close of his earthly toils". If this is the Pitman you're looking for, write me off-list at [email protected], and I'll send you the text of the obituary. Best, Rusty Williams [email protected]

In a message dated 10/18/2000 3:07:44 AM Central Daylight Time, [email protected] writes: << [email protected] >> The following website has a lot of information on grave stones - don't know if there is anything there that would help you, but here it is www.savinggraves.com good luck, Jean

----- Original Message ----- From: [email protected] To: [email protected] Subject: What Happened to Michael Pitman? Date: Tue, 17 Oct 2000 23:31:22 -0500 ----- Original Message ----- From: [email protected] To: [email protected] Subject: What Happened to Michael Pitman? Date: Tue, 17 Oct 2000 23:15:42 -0500 Michael was the brother of my ancestor Newit Pitman. He was also the executor of the will of his father James in Missouri in 1841. Some of the members of the family of James settled in Missouri from Todd County, Kentucky. Michael Married Sina Bone, daughter of Azariah Bone, a Methodist minister, 4 Jan 1825 in Todd County, Kentucky. When they left Missouri for Grayson County, Texas, I do not know. A daughter of Michael, Martha Delana Pitman, married Benjamin Franklin Savage, son of William Savage and Susan Williams, b 5 Apr. 1827. He married Martha 26 July 1849 and died 5 Feb 1897. Martha died in April of 1897. Both died in Grayson County, Texas. It has been said that Michael was also a minister. In searching the web, I found a Batsell or Pitman's Chapel Cemetery in Grayson County. It said, "This cemetery is one of the oldest in Grayson County. It lies just north of highway 697 about 2 miles N of old Kentuckytown. Originally the Pitman's Chapel, a Methodist Church and the Batsell School stood nearby. This property lies at the junction of Spring Branch and Camp Branch of Mill Creek. The creek is where a church camp was held often and baptisms held. It was named for Michael Pitman who gave the land for the church and cemetery. Later it was called Batsell Methodist Church." Is this my Michael? Can anyone help? Where are Michael and Sina Bone Pitman buried? Did they stay in Grayson County or move on? Are records available for this church? Would be grateful for any information. Descendant of James Pitman Family who still lives in Missouri

I have the cemetery up on the web. ftp://ftp.rootsweb.com/pub/usgenweb/tx/grayson/cemetery/batsell02.txt however the Pitman family members are not known to be buried there. The chapel was named for the land given to start the church and cemetery but the farm was sold to Mr.Batsell . The church was moved away as towns sprang up , The school that was there was the Batsell school and the cemetery took on the name. The original records are gone in a housefire as far as we can tell. Only a few accts exist written by "Wildcat'Conelly in old newspaper articles. He relates when they showed up for the evening service and no one brought any lamps or candles so they sat and had service in the dark. I have a copy of the deed for that church here somewhere and cannot find it tonight. Trips have already been made to SMU and other places looking for any records. They have only a few things that mention the church and pastors. the cemetery is peaceful, but being encroached upon by a housing boom around it. Many things need restoration and last time I was there I left a lot of pieces lying I was trying to puzzle the names. I can't remember which way it went but have it written down the School building was taken to Canaan and the church building to Kentuckytown or the other way around. Canaan blew away in a tornado in 1919. I am looking for a woman , a Pittman who died in 1907 age 35 , the county brought her tombstone to me. Her first name is gone and she was a wife and mother. I always wondered if it came from there but probably not. However I am not sure where around Kentuckytown it was from. I think the Bone's and the Pitman family appear in some of my records. I will look tomorrow. Susan in Texas Paul Leistritz wrote: > > ----- Original Message ----- > > From: [email protected] > To: [email protected] > Subject: What Happened to Michael Pitman? > Date: Tue, 17 Oct 2000 23:15:42 -0500 > > Michael was the brother of my ancestor Newit Pitman. He was also the executor of the will of his father James in Missouri in 1841. Some of the members of the family of James settled in Missouri from Todd County, Kentucky. Michael Married Sina Bone, daughter of Azariah Bone, a Methodist minister, 4 Jan 1825 in Todd County, Kentucky. When they left Missouri for Grayson County, Texas, I do not know. > > A daughter of Michael, Martha Delana Pitman, married Benjamin Franklin Savage, son of William Savage and Susan Williams, b 5 Apr. 1827. He married Martha 26 July 1849 and died 5 Feb 1897. Martha died in April of 1897. Both died in Grayson County, Texas. > > It has been said that Michael was also a minister. In searching the web, I found a Batsell or Pitman's Chapel Cemetery in Grayson County. It said, "This cemetery is one of the oldest in Grayson County. It lies just north of highway 697 about 2 miles N of old Kentuckytown. Originally the Pitman's Chapel, a Methodist Church and the Batsell School > stood nearby. This property lies at the junction of Spring Branch and Camp Branch of Mill Creek. The creek is where a church camp was held often and baptisms held. It was named for Michael Pitman who gave the land for the church and cemetery. Later it was called Batsell Methodist Church." Is this my Michael? Can anyone help? Where are Michael and Sina Bone Pitman buried? Did they stay in Grayson County or move on? Are records available for this church? Would be grateful for any information. > > Descendant of James Pitman Family who still lives in Missouri > > ==== TXGRAYSO Mailing List ==== > --- Author Retains Copyright --- > -- Copyright 2000 Author -- All Rights Reserved > Post to List: [email protected] http://www.selfroots.com > Unsubscribe Request: [email protected]

Hello everyone, I have put all of my genealogy data on my website and invite you to come and visit. To simplify your search, use your EDIT BUTTON and select the FIND FEATURE and enter the first or last name you are searching. http://www.homestead.com/hbbh/ The surnames are: HANCOCK from SC>TN>AR>TX BROWN ?>TX BURNS AR>TX HUNT. England>NY>NJ>NC>AR>TX If we make a connection email me from the site and please sign the guest book while you are there. Really this is my husband's website,but I did all the work with his instructions. LOL Cheers Lee and Janice Hancock Corsicana, TX

----- Original Message ----- From: [email protected] To: [email protected] Subject: What Happened to Michael Pitman? Date: Tue, 17 Oct 2000 23:15:42 -0500 Michael was the brother of my ancestor Newit Pitman. He was also the executor of the will of his father James in Missouri in 1841. Some of the members of the family of James settled in Missouri from Todd County, Kentucky. Michael Married Sina Bone, daughter of Azariah Bone, a Methodist minister, 4 Jan 1825 in Todd County, Kentucky. When they left Missouri for Grayson County, Texas, I do not know. A daughter of Michael, Martha Delana Pitman, married Benjamin Franklin Savage, son of William Savage and Susan Williams, b 5 Apr. 1827. He married Martha 26 July 1849 and died 5 Feb 1897. Martha died in April of 1897. Both died in Grayson County, Texas. It has been said that Michael was also a minister. In searching the web, I found a Batsell or Pitman's Chapel Cemetery in Grayson County. It said, "This cemetery is one of the oldest in Grayson County. It lies just north of highway 697 about 2 miles N of old Kentuckytown. Originally the Pitman's Chapel, a Methodist Church and the Batsell School stood nearby. This property lies at the junction of Spring Branch and Camp Branch of Mill Creek. The creek is where a church camp was held often and baptisms held. It was named for Michael Pitman who gave the land for the church and cemetery. Later it was called Batsell Methodist Church." Is this my Michael? Can anyone help? Where are Michael and Sina Bone Pitman buried? Did they stay in Grayson County or move on? Are records available for this church? Would be grateful for any information. Descendant of James Pitman Family who still lives in Missouri

Grayson County Courthouse Houston and Lamar Streets Sherman, Texas 75090 Tel. 903-868-9515 >From the 1991 Edition of "The Handy Book for Genealogist. (Eighth Edition) Pub. by Everton Publishers, Inc. P. O. Box 368, Logan, Utah 84321 This book is very helpful. I use it almost everyday.

Try this URL. http://www.vitalrec.com It has all the addresses in the United States in it. I don't know if this is the one that Mike means but I sent it to him too. Pat Mc ----- Original Message ----- From: "Aileen Brandis" <[email protected]> To: <[email protected]> Sent: Tuesday, October 17, 2000 11:44 AM Subject: Re: [GRAYSON] address of the grayson co. court house > I would bet there are many who would like this address. Please post it for > all to see. Thank you - Aileen > ----- Original Message ----- > From: "pmlarue" <[email protected]> > To: <[email protected]> > Sent: Monday, October 16, 2000 9:18 AM > Subject: [GRAYSON] address of the grayson co. court house > > > > Could someone send me the address of the Grayson co. court house please. > > thanks--Mike > > > > ______________________________ > > > ==== TXGRAYSO Mailing List ==== > --- Author Retains Copyright --- > -- Copyright 2000 Author -- All Rights Reserved > Post to List: [email protected] http://www.selfroots.com > Unsubscribe Request: [email protected] > >

I would bet there are many who would like this address. Please post it for all to see. Thank you - Aileen ----- Original Message ----- From: "pmlarue" <[email protected]> To: <[email protected]> Sent: Monday, October 16, 2000 9:18 AM Subject: [GRAYSON] address of the grayson co. court house > Could someone send me the address of the Grayson co. court house please. > thanks--Mike > > ______________________________

Yesterday my husband and I made our first trip in about 5 years to check on the grave marker of my great-grandparents in the Collinsville Cemetery. We found that it has a bad case of yellow-green moss or lichen on it. Of course we had nothing to clean this with. Does anyone know what could be used to get rid of this growth and perhaps prevent it coming back? Thanks! Sandra