It was a divining rod.

To all: I neglected to mention that I have Johnson's Dictionaries of both 1755 and 1802 and, of course, my own dictionary of historical and genealogical terms. If you need a look-up, let me know. Paul

To All: If you would like to visit Abingdon (Wolf Hills) and other places in southwest Virginia, click on "Scenes" at my website address below. http://hearlshill.freeservers.com/index.html Thanks, G. Lee Hearl Authentic Appalachian Storyteller Abingdon, Va.

Thank you, Karen. I have studied, collected and restored antique furniture for 40+ years, and can think of NO piece of such that might appear in 18th century English as the word "Search." ???? ----- Original Message ----- From: <KDale60909@aol.com> To: <VA-SOUTHSIDE-L@rootsweb.com> Sent: Sunday, May 20, 2001 1:45 PM Subject: Re: [VA-SOUTHSIDE-L] More mystery inventory items > In a message dated 05/20/2001 8:42:33 AM Mountain Daylight Time, > martee@citlink.net writes: > > .... earliest dictionaries/encyclopedias were 18th cent. > France--

I do not respond to challenges nor sarcasm, and have even less interest in debating. The question was simple: when the word "Search" appeared in that inventory, what did it mean? If anyone has another example of that word meaning "dictionary" in ANY inventory, anywhere, I would very much like to see it. The suggestion that the word may also mean a"probe" has some merit, however. I still suggest that the word MAY be "Searse." Paul

We're talking 1779 here--in Culpeper, VA. And the owner of "One Old Search"--to my knowledge--was no school master or otherwise intellectual. He was a VA farmer. I can't imagine he would have owned a dictionary--which were, in 1779, still rare in England. The earliest American Dictionary was Noah Webster's, published 1805. Early English Dictionaries: Few who see or read a play by Shakespeare realize that he wrote without access to an English dictionary as we know it. At his death in 1616, the only lexicons serving English were Edmund Coote's brief list of 1,368 words in his English Schoolmaster (1596) and Robert Cawdrey's list of 2,543 hard words in his Table Alphabeticall (1604). The lexicographical materials illuminating English for this period are very sizable, however, and until recently most have remained inaccessible to researchers. Throughout this period, many bilingual dictionaries published in England explained foreign-language word entries by English equivalents and commentary. Because these works listed their entries alphabetically by foreign-language word, there was no easy way--other than reading the work from start to finish--to discover how it used English words in the explanatory field of each entry. Ordinary concording software can of course "invert" these bilingual dictionaries, that is, reverse their directionality, so that foreign-language lemmas become the "explaining" words, and any English word hidden in the explanations of these non-English terms is automatically foregrounded within a virtual English dictionary word-entry. A computerized textbase enables us to re-sort or order entries by the words in which we are interested. What we discover is a wealth of information about the language people used in the period during which printing developed and modern English took shape. The English equivalents, foreign-language terms, and passages that comment on each Early Modern English word in the textbase represent the thought of several dozen English-speaking lexicographers alive in this period

Here's the root of "Search": ETYMOLOGY: Middle English serchen, from Anglo-Norman sercher, variant of Old French cerchier, from Latin circ>re, to go around, from Latin circus, circle, from Greek krikos, kirkos. sker- Does that suggest a tool of some sort?

In a message dated 05/20/2001 9:37:26 AM Mountain Daylight Time, BMacKie1@compuserve.com writes: > There were British dictionaries written before Samuel Johnson's. > And the inventory said an "old" search. That probably meant an "old > dictionary." > > > > No--he's right--there really weren't any dictionaries. There were none in Shakespeare's time, for instance, early 1600s--and the earliest were so specialized that the idea of a backwoods (which Culpeper Co. was in those days) VA farmer having one is laughable. Now, I think this family was literate--at least they owned books- but James Mason only owned 200 acres at his peak--I don't think he would have owned one of those relatively rare dictionaries in 1779! And by 1779, this family had been in VA over 100 years--I think, if my "guesses" about the line are close. :) Karen

In a message dated 05/20/2001 8:42:33 AM Mountain Daylight Time, martee@citlink.net writes: > I would not disagree, however I know of no dictionaries before that > of Samuel Johnson, written not long before 1755, > > Paul's right on this. The earliest dictionaries/encyclopedias were 18th cent. France-- > England was big on dictionaries, but only AFTER mid-1700s--and the major > ones were a century later (OED, etc). It seemed like a good idea when > Brownie first mentioned it--since James Mason also owned "a parcel of > books," but it won't work. What kind of TOOLS might be designated "search" > ? A dowsing stick occurred to me, but I find the description, "one old > Search" odd for that. Were any pieces of furniture or chests dubbed > Searches? The items around it are mostly furniture. > aren

"first English dictionary, Robert Cawdrey's A Table Alphabeticall (1604), 2500 rare and borrowed words, intended for literate women who knew no Latin or French, need to read Bible, concern with correctness " Point: The inventory did not state what kind of "old search" ......or dictionary, as may be the case, so it could have been any kind of dictionary regardless of the fact that Samuel Johnson put together a more comprehensive dictionary in mid 18th century. This is from: http://mockingbird.creighton.edu/english/fajardo/teaching/eng520/emodeng.htm

Searching for Robert Mitchell Circa 1924 Location Brink Nita

probe -- (a flexible slender surgical instrument used to explore wounds or body cavities) => surgical instrument -- (an instrument used in surgery),

Could be an old probe of some kind.

Please "search" for the history of dictionaries on the web. There are earlier dictionaries...

Forgive me for the mass mailing; I am sending this to my entire address book: Due to problems with bigfoot.com, until further notice please address any correspondence to me at mattecook@excite.com. Thanks, and sorry for the inconvenience. If you have emailed me since Monday, 5/14/2001, I probably did not get it and you may want to resend it to the address above. Matt Cook

We'd like to offer some records that might rewrite a part of the Gee and Andrews families' geneaology. We'd appreciate any additional records to help prove or disprove this theory. Varney Andrews' wife has been recorded on some webpages as Amy Thweatt. No records that prove Amy's surname have been found although the given name Amy can be proven from Bible records. In fact, records do not indicate that the Thweatt and Andrews families were close neighbors, nor did they seem to have many dealings together. However, the Gee and Andrews families owned adjoining land in Lunenburg Co, appeared in each other's records, and are known to have intermarried. We believe the name Thweatt is probably an incorrect assumption based only on the fact that the name Thweatt was used in the name of one of their sons. Drury Andrew's wife is listed on many webpages and family groupsheets as Amy Gee, daughter of Neavil Gee, based on Neavil Gee's will that named a daughter Amy Andrews and a granddaughter Elizabeth Andrews, daughter of Drury Andrews. Drury Andrews did have a daughter named Elizabeth Andrews. But nowhere in the will did it say that Amy (Gee) Andrews was the wife of Drury Andrews or the mother of Drury's daughter Elizabeth Andrews. Associating Amy (Gee) Andrews as the wife of Drury Andrews was an easy conclusion to draw - but it seems to have been incorrect. We believe it's very likely that Amy Gee was in fact the wife of Varney Andrews, not Drury Andrews. Although Drury Andrews had certainly married a daughter of Neavil Gee, we don't think that daughter was Amy but another unknown daughter who probably died before Neavil Gee wrote his will. The following records are from two different transcripts of Bible records which included the family of Varney Andrews and wife Amy. We do not have a copy of the original records, so we don't know which is correct. But for these puposes, we're not too concerned with the accuracy of the dates. It's the names which are of more interest. ================= Name of publisher and date are missing. Bible was in possession of Mrs. Myrtie (Andrews) Williams when it was copied in 1965. William Andrews and Polly Kirkpatrick daughter of Moses and Lucy Kirkpatrick was married the 12th day of June 1806. William Andrews and Elizabeth Jones daughter of Francis Hill and Elizabeth his wife was married the 22nd day of November 1813 (1818). Stephen Jones and Elizabeth his wife was married the 24th day September 1823. Joseph Jinkins and Amy Ann his wife was married the 24th day of September 1828. James Hall and Lucinda his wife was married the 4th day of Feb. 1830. Patrick T. Andrews and Polly Williams was married September the 4 1832. David Jones and Mary Ann Jones was married Sept. the 16th 1832. David J. Biggerstaff and Nancy A. Andrews was married the _____ 1841. Tessey Banter and Martha B. Andrews was married Nov. 6th 1842. Varney F. Andrews and Catherine Whitesides was married Feb. 3, 1846. BIRTHS William Andrews was born 23 Oct. 1783 Polly Andrews wife of William Andrews and daughter of Moses and Lucy Kirkpatrick was born 29 August 1787. Betsy A. Andrews daughter of William & Polly Andrews was born 17 March 1807. Lucinda Andrews daughter of William & Polly Andrews was born 27 May 1808. Patrick T. Andrews son of William & Polly Andrews was born 4 Oct. 1811. Amy Ann Andrews daughter of William & Polly Andrews was born 10 January 1809. Mary E. Andrews daughter of Varney F. Andrews & Catherine his wife was born 29 November 1846. William George Andrews son of Varney F. Andrews & Catherine his wife was born July 10, 1852. Eliza Chilton Andrews daughter of Varney F. Andrews & Catherine his wife was born April 31, 1855. Elizabeth Andrews wife of William Andrews and daughter of Francis and Elizabeth Hill was born the 4th July 1786. Mary Ann Jones daughter of William Jones & Elizabeth his wife was born the 15th of May 1812. Varney Francis Andrews son of William Andrews & Elizabeth his wife was born the 3rd of November 1819. Patsy Bugg Andrews daughter of William Andrews & Elizabeth his wife was born the 31st day of October 1820. William Nevil Andrews son of William and Elizabeth Andrews was born the 17th of November 1821. Sally R. (K.) Jones Andrews daughter of William Andrews & Elizabeth his wife was born the 22nd day of December 1822. Nancy All___ (page torn) daughter of William & Elizabeth his wife was born the 28th of ________ (page torn) Caroline Gee Andrews daughter of William & Elizabeth his wife was born the 3rd of ________(page torn) Polly Andrews wife of William Andrews was accidentally killed on the 17th June 1813. Note: (Polly Andrews was in her Indigo garden, William Gee shot at a squirrel on a fence, and accidentally shot Polly). DEATHS William Andrews died April 16th 1861. Elizabeth wife of William Andrews died October 16th 1868. ON ANOTHER PAGE IN BIBLE Varney Andrews was born July 25th 1760 Amey the wife of Varney Andrews was born December 8, 1765 Elizabeth was born June 24th 1782 William was born October 23, 1783 Anderson was born July 20th 1787. Nancy was born June 13th 1787 (*these two 1787 dates were underlined) Patsy was born October 27th 1789 Jones was born November 9th 1791 Varney was born 1795 (underlined) Nevil G. was born February 1st 1795. Dolly L. was born December 5, 1797 John was born July 20th 1801 Benjamin was born March 21st 1803 Allen & Lucas was born January 19th 1806 Katherine was born February 15th 1809 ============= Another transcript with some differences: Varney Andrews was born July 25th 1760 Amey Andrews wife of Varney Andrews was born Decm. 5, 1765. Elizabeth Andrews was born January 24th 1782 William Andrews was born Octo. 23, 1783 Anderson Andrews was born July 20th 1785 Nancy Andrews was born June 13th 1787 Patsey Andrews was born Octo. 27, 1789 Jones Andrews was born Novm. 9, 1791 Varney Andrews was born (paper torn, unable to read). Nevil G. Andrews was born Feb. 1st 1793 Dolley L. Andrews was born Decm. 5th, 1797 John Andrews was born July 20th 1801 Benjamin Andrews was born March 21st 1803 Allen & Lucas Andrews was born Jan 19th 1806 Katharine G. Andrews was born Feb. 13th 1809 ============== Just from the names of Varney Andrews' children alone, a Gee connection would seem obvious even without the later entries which included the name Gee. Nowhere is Varney's wife referred to as a Thweatt in these records. The son Allen has been recorded as Allen Thweatt Andrews which probably accounts for the assumption that Amy was a Thweatt. But the names Nevil, Lucas, and Jones were names associated with Neavil Gee's family. A complete transcript of Neavil Gee's 1804 Lunenburg Co will is available at http://www.public.asu.edu/~moore/wills/gee-neavil-1804.html In addition to sons Jesse, Jones, Lucas, George, Neavil, James, Reuben, and daughter Nanny Bowers and her daughter Patsy Jefferson, the will named: 2nd. I Give and bequeath to my son Jesse Gee all the property of mine he has in his possession or has had since he lived in Kentucky, and one hundred dollars to him and his heirs forever. 4th. I lend to my daughter Amey Andrews all the property of mine she has in her possession during her life, and at her death to be equally divided, between the heirs of her body. 5th. I lend to my daughter in law Catharine Gee the Negroes of mine she has in her possession and other personal Estate, to her during her life or widowhood, and the land she she now lives on, I lend to her during her life or widowhood also, and at the death or marriage of the said Catharine Gee, my Will and desire is that the above Negroes and other personal property with their increase, be equally divided between Catharine Gees four daughters, Letty, Elizabeth and Dolly & Nancy, ald also my will and desire is at the death or marriage of Catharine Gee the above mentioned land to be for the use of Catharine Gees four daughters, Letty, Elizabeth, Dolley and Nancy while they live single, and continue on it, if either of the four daughters should marry, shall have no claim in the said land, and at the death marriage or removal of the four daughters Letty, Elizabeth, Dolley & Nancy, my desire is that the said Land should go to my son George Gee, his heirs and assigns forever. 11th. I Lend to my Grand daughter Elizabeth Andrews, daughter of Drury Andrews, one negroe named Barbary, one Bed & furniture and one Side Saddle to her during her life and at her death to go (with the increase of said Negroe to the heirs of her body if she has any thats lawfully begotten, and if none my desire that the Negroe, Barberry with her increase Bed and furniture, and Saddle, be equally divided between five of my children, Jones, Amey, Lucas, Neavil and Reuben. Notice that the estate left to granddaughter Elizabeth Andrews was treated much the same as the estate left to daughter-in-law Catharine Gee and her daughters. But Elizabeth's share of the estate was not to revert to siblings or even her mother, but to five of Neavil's children. Elizabeth's share was also listed separately from all the others, not as a part of the paragraph concerning Amy's share of the estate. The treatment of Elizabeth Andrews in this will would tend to indicate that she was not Amy's daughter, but the only child of another deceased Gee daughter who had married Drury Andrews. Neavil Gee seems to have been trying to ensure that unmarried female heirs would be provided for and at the same time ensure that the estate would remain in the possession of those female heirs who needed it most in the future and revert back to the living heirs if it was no longer needed. >From a posting by Jemima Gee Morse at http://genforum.genealogy.com/gee/messages/722.html Will Book B, page 256 [Cumberland Co, KY] Jesse Gee, Deceased Sept. 9, 1824 We, Moses Kirkpatrick, William Biggerstaff and **Varney Andrews**, in pursuance to an order of the Cumberland County Court, August term, 1823, being sworn as the law directs, proceeded to settle with John S. Gee, one of the executors of the estate of Jesse Gee, deceased, and we find by vouchers exhibited by said executor that he has paid all the legatees their portions in full of said estate, which he was bound to pay, as designated in the will of the aforesaid deceased. Given under our hands, the day and date above written. Many more records concerning the estate of Jesse Gee were posted on this page. Obviously, Varney Andrews was involved in the settling of Jesse Gee's estate in KY. This again is another indication that there was a close connection between Varney Andrews and Neavil Gee's family. Meck. Co. Will Book Cr-1 page 65. 1839, Recorded 1842 Will of Drury Andrews Mentions Sister, Lucy Evans Gives to William Harris money for his grandchildren, namely, John A. Harris, Wm. A. Harris, Catharine Crowder, and Jane A. Simmons. Although no sons or daughters were named in his will, Drury Andrews did have one daughter, Elizabeth, referred to in the will of Neavil Gee and also in the following Bible record which helps to explain why Varney provided for William Harris's grandchildren. Digital Bible Image collection of LVA: "Wilson Harriss, son of John Harriss, and Elizabeth Andrews, daughter of Drury Andrews, were married in Lunenburg County, Virginia 25th of December 1809." It also indicated that the Bible was in the possession of Mrs. M. J. Andrews, Union Level (Mecklenburg County), VA. Since Elizabeth Andrews seems to have been Drury Andrews' only child, we believe Drury's wife was an unknown daughter of Neavil Gee who had probably died before Neavil Gee wrote his will. Since Neavil could not provide for his deceased daughter, he provided for her child instead. If this theory is correct, then daughter Amy Andrews named in Neavil Gee's will must have been the wife of another Andrews and not the wife of Drury Andrews. The records of Varney Andrews and wife Amy agree perfectly and there was clearly a strong connection between the two families. Please send your comments to Frances Cullom Harper fharper@triad.rr.com Sue Gill shgill@bellsouth.net Reginald L Vassar rlv18@juno.com

I guess I am not very bright; where in this reference, please, is a dictionary defined as a "search"?? Thanks. Paul ----- Original Message ----- From: "Brownie MacKie" <BMacKie1@compuserve.com> To: "Paul Drake" <martee@citlink.net>; <VA-SOUTHSIDE-L@rootsweb.com> Sent: Sunday, May 20, 2001 7:47 AM Subject: Re: [VA-SOUTHSIDE-L] More mystery inventory items > http://www.chass.utoronto.ca/english/emed/patterweb.html > >

I would not disagree, however I know of no dictionaries before that of Samuel Johnson, written not long before 1755, an edition of which was published in two huge volumes (it was VERY expensive, I should add) in that year. Johnson's dictionary became important and rather common among teachers and intellectuals here by the edition of 1802. In fact, he there defines dictionary as a "book of words" and gives no synonyms. If earlier printed dictionariesare known, I surely would appreciate those titles and publishers. Paul ----- Original Message ----- From: "Brownie MacKie" <BMacKie1@compuserve.com> To: <VA-SOUTHSIDE-L@rootsweb.com> Sent: Sunday, May 20, 2001 7:08 AM Subject: Re: [VA-SOUTHSIDE-L] More mystery inventory items > I think it is probably a dictionary; definition in a 1657 dictionary as > follows: > > Garfield (Garfield 1657 @ 80025) > > Disquisition, a search, or en­ quiry. Diss­ [A Physical Dictionary.] > > > > > ==== VA-SOUTHSIDE Mailing List ==== > USGenWeb Archives http://www.rootsweb.com/~usgenweb > > > ============================== > Shop Ancestry - Everything you need to Discover, Preserve & Celebrate > your heritage! > http://shop.myfamily.com/ancestrycatalog >

Paul...you're not thinking. Many of our ancestors were still "tellibly British" for a long time, if not in loyalty (tho' some were) at least in habit. There were British dictionaries written before Samuel Johnson's. And the inventory said an "old" search. That probably meant an "old dictionary."

http://www.chass.utoronto.ca/english/emed/patterweb.html