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.]

According to my research, Francis Skipper/Scipper/Skiper and his son George and his son George lived in Southampton County in the late 1600s and up to mid 1700s. Does anyone have any information about them or their family. I know that George1 was married to Mary Bailey, a Nottoway Indian, and became known as an important man of the Nottoway Indians. George 1 or 2 sold land and moved to Anson County, NC. Donna Skipper Pultz

Speaking of guessing, what about that rod they used to find water....? Can't think of the name of that thing. Dusty -----Original Message----- From: Margaret Driskill [mailto:mdriskill@worldnet.att.net] Sent: Sunday, May 20, 2001 6:01 PM To: VA-SOUTHSIDE-L@rootsweb.com Subject: [VA-SOUTHSIDE-L] Search Are you ready for a guess? NO KNOWLEDGE...just a guess? What about the pan with holes in it like prospectors used when they hunted for gold? I know it was Virginia and not the "Gold Rush", but might they have 'panned' for something and just called the pan a 'search'. Sounds better than a probe for hunting for bullets. :) Margaret ==== VA-SOUTHSIDE Mailing List ==== USGenWeb Archives Census Project http://www.rootsweb.com/~usgenweb/census/ ============================== Join the RootsWeb WorldConnect Project: Linking the world, one GEDCOM at a time. http://worldconnect.rootsweb.com

All right, my friends--I've looked in every source I know for the following. What is a SEARCH???????? Here's the context: Inventory of the Estate of James Mason 21 Jun 1779 one pair money Scales L 1 0 0 one old Search 0 5 0 one large chest 2 0 0 This isn't a transcription problem--it says Search very clearly on the document. Any ideas? Karen Dale

It is a stretch, but perhaps a "searce" ("seerce", "seerch"); a small sieve. It does seem out of place in that invetory list, however. Any other items nearby in the list ? ----- Original Message ----- From: <KDale60909@aol.com> To: <VA-SOUTHSIDE-L@rootsweb.com> Sent: Saturday, May 19, 2001 10:24 PM Subject: [VA-SOUTHSIDE-L] More mystery inventory items > All right, my friends--I've looked in every source I know for the following. > What is a SEARCH???????? > > Here's the context: > > Inventory of the Estate of James Mason > 21 Jun 1779 > > one pair money Scales L 1 0 0 > one old Search 0 5 0 > one large chest 2 0 0 > > This isn't a transcription problem--it says Search very clearly on the > document. > > Any ideas? > Karen Dale > > > > ==== VA-SOUTHSIDE Mailing List ==== > Hosted by Rootsweb http://www.rootsweb.com > > > ============================== > Shop Ancestry - Everything you need to Discover, Preserve & Celebrate > your heritage! > http://shop.myfamily.com/ancestrycatalog >

To Betty & All: When my father was a teenage boy, he and his older brother, George, and two more young men had to go over in a remote hollow and put an old man into a coffin and carry it out.. as they came along the top of a narrow ridge the coffin began to swing because the rope attaching it to the pole they had on their shoulders had stretched....George didn't have any shoestrings in his "brogan" shoes and as the coffin became more difficult to control, he fell down and slid down the steep hill....and lost his shoe in the leaves.. they never did find it and he had to carry that coffin about a mile on that bare foot...walking on sharp rocks, pine cones and such.. This became the basis for one of my most popular stories, "The Coffin On The Rail".. Takes twenty minutes to tell it.. Yes, people in the mountains of Va., TN and NC lived and died in rough, remote places and were buried on tops of high hills and mountains.. Much of the flat land was subject to flooding by the creeks and rivers.. There's nothing worse than seeing a coffin floating down a swollen stream! You are right, why waste good farm land to bury the dead when a poor hilltop would serve the purpose just as well!......And, it also put them a little closer to Heaven! G. Lee Hearl Authentic Appalachian Storyteller Abingdon, Va.

Paul and others: It is a noted fact that in extreme NE TN, cemeteries were found in two basic places: beside churches and on family farms. Some of these locations are so extreme in this region (the Va/TN/NC triangle) that many families buried their dead on the very tops of the mountains. The purpose - obvious - you needed every inch of farm land in the mountains and couldn't spare any flat land for cemeteries. My husband has one family cemetery which lies just below the top of a mountain near the NC/TC state line. A wagon trail can be seen to this day indicating that some sort of flat bed wagon was used to bring the deceased as far as the cemetery. At that point, they must have had some sort of rig to let the coffins down the mountainside. It is far to steep to carry such a box down the hillside. Without doubt, most of or earliest ancestors in the VA Southside were placed in out-of-the-way locations on the plantations and farms, and few were fortunate enough to be marked by any sort of identifying stone. Everytime we step on these lands, we either walk on our ancestors or Native American sites which now remain in that part of the country. My husband's paternal grandmother was the member of the community to be called upon to prepare the deceased for burial. She washed, dressed and prepared the bodies, and lined the interior of the crude coffins. She was also a midwife (they sort-of went hand-in-hand). Does anyone have any information on the preparation of the dead for burial in Southside? A late cousin of mine owned a drop leaf table which was used for the preparation of the deceased. This would have been in Eastern Carolina. I have always wondered if the practices varied in the more established areas and the "frontier."

I found the following poem while going through my late uncle's genealogical research papers. Thought it was cute with a lot of truth. Clay The Family Tree I think that I shall never see The finish of a family tree. As it forever seems to grow from roots that started very low; 'Way back in ancient history times, In foreign lands and distant climes, >From them grew trunk and branching limb, That dated back to time so dim, One seldom knows exactly when The parents met and married then, Nor when the twigs began to grow Wwith odd named children, row on row. Though a verse like this is made by me And the end's in sight as you can see; It is not the same with family trees That grow and grow through centuries. by: Willis G. Corbitt, Feb. 7, 1960 This was printed in the "Beaver Briefs" section of the Beaver, Oklahoma newspaper.

I feel we have restricted ourselves by saying how far would a young man travel on a horse to find a young lady of his liking. He not only travel a few miles but many times he travels hundreds of miles on horse back, because I feel when a man went West he did not go only to find new lands, but he went in hopes to find some special young woman who fulfilled his ideas which he could not find in the local community. A young man's fantasies were only limited by his ability to dream and act on his desires. Jo Ann ----- Original Message ----- From: <KBLARSEN99@aol.com> To: <VA-SOUTHSIDE-L@rootsweb.com> Sent: Friday, May 18, 2001 7:23 PM Subject: [VA-SOUTHSIDE-L] Thanks and another question > Thanks List for the many answers concerning the distance most swains would > travel for a bride. The answers seem to state that 3-5 miles is the outside > amount, but that circumstances could dictate otherwise. In the Northeast, > towns are about 8 miles apart and a beau would travel that distance for a > dance or Church Social, if the local pickin's were poor. Once a marriage > was made, however, other beaus were quick to look for sisters of the bride, > and there was an influx of new blood which was good for the gene bank. > Now, for another question. In Wilmer Turner's book, "Old Homes and > Families in Nottoway" there are pictures of William Fitzgerald and his wife > Sarah Epes Fitzgerald, shown on the page opposite Page 143. Does anyone > know where the original of these are today? > Thanks again, List. > Ken Larsen > > > ==== VA-SOUTHSIDE Mailing List ==== > USGW Archives Pension Project > http://www.rootsweb.com/~usgenweb/pensions/ > > > ============================== > Visit Ancestry.com for a FREE 14-Day Trial and enjoy access to the #1 > Source for Family History Online. Go to: > http://www.ancestry.com/subscribe/subscribetrial1y.asp?sourcecode=F11H B > >

Thanks List for the many answers concerning the distance most swains would travel for a bride. The answers seem to state that 3-5 miles is the outside amount, but that circumstances could dictate otherwise. In the Northeast, towns are about 8 miles apart and a beau would travel that distance for a dance or Church Social, if the local pickin's were poor. Once a marriage was made, however, other beaus were quick to look for sisters of the bride, and there was an influx of new blood which was good for the gene bank. Now, for another question. In Wilmer Turner's book, "Old Homes and Families in Nottoway" there are pictures of William Fitzgerald and his wife Sarah Epes Fitzgerald, shown on the page opposite Page 143. Does anyone know where the original of these are today? Thanks again, List. Ken Larsen

I have been asked why cemeteries are/were so close together throughout the early South: Though there are no sources at my hand, it does seem to be true that cemeteries (including churchyards) in the South, on the average, are about 3 miles apart, that being the maximum distance to which folks could go afoot or on an animal following a hearse or wagon carrying the body, then attend services, fill the grave, visit with other mourners present, and return home in time to attend to livestock chores, prepare an evening meal, and yet be inside at dark (a "must" for women and kids in early times). I would note that here in the mountains of Tennessee, cemeteries are often closer together and so more accommodating of the difficult travel then, and even now. Someone tell us: is it the same in the North and on the Great Plains??? Thanks. Paul

In a message dated 5/18/01 4:14:09 PM Eastern Daylight Time, BilleeS@aol.com writes: << With all this talk of buggies, is there a site where I might see what 2 wheel and 4 wheel carriages looked like in the mid 19th century? They are listed to my ancestors in the tax records (Nansemond County) >> About two years ago when I found an ancestor Samuel Bentley was one of only a handful of people in Amelia Co ca 1750 who had "wheels" (taxable that is) and I did some looking around on the internet to see what they were. Here are some sites, with pictures, explanations, books for sale, etc. If you do a search for carriages phaetons you will get over 1200 hits: The Tour of carriages at the Carriage Association of America begins here: http://www.caaonline.com/Tour/tour.htm This is a Carriage museum website, with pictures of two and four wheel buggies/phaetons. If you click on each you will get a description: http://www.airtel.net/hosting/00011/rce.and/english/carruaje/carrua2.html The home page for that site is here: http://www.airtel.net/hosting/00011/rce.and/english/main1.html The Carriage Museum of America Library: http://www.carriagemuseumlibrary.org/booksale.htm This is an English site that has many books also, which given our recent subject matter are of interest, ie pamphlets from the 1800s on handling problem horses, etc.: http://www.jacks-tack.co.uk/list2.html Well, that's enough for starters!! Best Regards, Janet (Baugh) Hunter

With all this talk of buggies, is there a site where I might see what 2 wheel and 4 wheel carriages looked like in the mid 19th century? They are listed to my ancestors in the tax records (Nansemond County)

Could the stamp found in the tin actually be a mail stamp from before 1961? I remember they changed the postage to 4 cents that year when I was in the Air Force. I think 3 cents had been used for many years before 1961. Bob Jordan jorbob@webtv.net

Thanks for the info on the new immigrants (pre-1800) mailing list.

US-IMMIGRANTS-PRE-1800 http://lists.rootsweb.com/index/other/Immigration/US-IMMIGRANTS-PRE-1800.html

In a message dated 5/17/01 11:34:02 AM, cashkilby@earthlink.net writes: << Will of Waddy J. Jackson, Mecklenburg Co., VA, Will Book 19, p. 274 Dated 30 April 1857, proved January Court, 1858 Executors: Wife Martha, son Robert Wintesses: Robert G. Chappel, William S. Eubank >> Hi Craig and list, With the given name of Waddy, it would seem that this group of Jacksons could have some connection to the Waddy family of Goochland County, Va. If anyone has any possible data on this connection, I would like to know, as I have an interest in the Waddy family. I always like to check out the peripherals to add depth to my family research. One never knows what will turn up when you broaden your viewpoint. Thanks and best regards, John Fox Winston Salem, NC

Francis Asbury One of the earliest Methodist workers in and around West Bromwich was. Francis Asbury, who afterwards became the Apostle of Methodism in the United States. Born in nearby Hamstead in 1745, his parents soon moved to Newton Road, Great Barr, which was the home of Asbury through his boyhood and youth. It was his mother's devotion to religion which gave the young Francis an awareness of spiritual matters, and by the age of seven he could read the Bible, and was soon nicknamed "The Methodist Person" by his school friends. At the age of thirteen, he was apprenticed to a local Methodist blacksmith in the nearby Sandwell Valley. At about this time his parents opened their cottage for religious services, and Asbury became actively involved in religion. He began attending the Parish Church of West Bromwich (All Saints), where the Rev. Edward Stillingfleet preached with great Methodist enthusiasm. Under this influence Asbury became a local preacher at the age of eighteen, and travelled widely throughout the area. During the Bristol Conference in 1771, Asbury was accepted by John Wesley as a volunteer for America and on the 4th September 1771 he set sail from the Bristol Channel never to return to the land of his birth. His life in America was spent spreading the Methodist message. To this end he endured tremendous hardship, travelling more than a quarter of a million miles on horseback, and preaching nearly 18, 000 sermons. His contribution to Methodism was soon recognised and in 1784 he was ordained a Methodist Bishop in America. He died in 1816 at the age of 71, after preaching for about 50 years. Asbury was to America what John Wesley was to England and this was acknowledged when, in 1924, a statue of Bishop Asbury was unveiled in Washington D. C., and the then President of the United States said of him "He is entitled to rank as one of the builders of our Nation". The West Virginia State Archives Library is among the many holding his works but dated in the early 1800's they may have to be researched directly or by photocopy if not available in reprint. Depauw University is one methodist institution that would have his works as well. Regards, W.S. Schermerhorn, psidiver@mindspring.com

>From mid-1862 throughout the balance of the war, TN was here and there occupied by the Yankees who soon occupied and controlled the mouths of the TN and the Cumberland Rivers. In 1863, Vicksburg was taken and they then controlled the Mississippi and thus also reigned over parts of west TN. Also in1863, Nashville was fully occupied by those people. So long as photographers intended to sell pics to the Union Army and do business in cities under the Union flag, they were required to affix revenue stamps - a tax - on all of such, and were charged with crimes for failing to do so. Paul Pat wrote: "...yet this tintype was certainly MADE in west Tennessee, not at that time a part of the Federal Government! How could this be? I think the tintype is of my great grandfather who was born in 1847, and he did not fight, didn't leave TN ever as far as I know....why would this stamp be here?

I've been wondering about whether to bring this up on VA-Southside or not, but since you-all have gotten around to photos, I just must see what ideas you will give me about the following: I've been given some of the old family pictures which included some tintypes in cases. They are in fair condition, but were rather dirty, so I took them apart to wash the glass and found in one of the cases a blue stamp with George Washington's picture and a "3" and revenue on it! Well of course I have been on the web finding out about revenue stamps. What I am confused about is that these stamps were used to bring in revenue for the Federal Government during the War of Northern Aggression <grin> and yet this tintype was certainly MADE in west Tennessee, not at that time a part of the Federal Government! How could this be? I think the tintype is of my great grandfather who was born in 1847, and he did not fight, didn't leave TN ever as far as I know. He did have four brothers who fought and three were killed. WHY would this stamp be here? pat vincent, stuck in TN like my g-grandpa!