At 03:18 PM 6/12/2010, Fred wrote: >"The few cryptic phrases that have come down in the family is >that he was "found out and ran away", or "one or both of the parents >died and men came and took the children away", also there is the story >that he resented his family because he was bound to a master at an >early age. The man was to teach him a trade, how to read and write, >etc. , but the master did none of these things. He took the boy out of >state and treated him like a slave." Fred and others - I have been digging into colonial and after legal practices in Virginia, Tennessee and North Carolina because I too am searching for definitive information about my Stroup ancestor (by paper German, but my DNA says Irish) of 1794 as well as for the parents of my GGrandfather Adams, born 1835 of unkiwn parents. In both cases I suspect an NPE and/or an adoption/Apprenticeship. I've found that most states kept court records and often had a Committee who administered the programs for the poor and/or orphans. Often the books about such records are called something like the "Lost Children." I have one called just that for Wythe County VA, and although I did not find an entry for my Stroup ancestor, I did for some of his relatives. I thought I had found an adoption/apprenticeship (sometimes combined) for the right time of My GGrandfather Adams, but found a later case which said the Adams man had only girls!~. But I suggest you look for such records - you family stories sound just like many that I;ve read about people who were just looking for cheap labor and did not do the training or provide the support they were supposed to for the orphans. Thanks, Glenn

In some places, I've seen these called "Orphan's Court" records. When you see how extensive they are, you realize genealogists should consult them routinely. Diana > -----Original Message----- > From: y-dna-projects-bounces@rootsweb.com On Behalf Of Glenn Stroup > Sent: Saturday, June 12, 2010 4:01 PM > To: y-dna-projects@rootsweb.com > Subject: Re: [Y-DNA-projects] Roll Call > <snip> > Often the books about such records are called something > like the "Lost Children." <snip> > Thanks, > > Glenn > >

Glenn, Thanks for the info. I've been looking as earliest records of Western NY for my Westcott, guardianship, etc. I will try Rhode Island town records next. It will take time but I may find something. I'll look for surname Westcott or Adams, or any James, or any male b. 22 Mar. 1795. The names of his children may also be a clue. I'm working on the assumption that any associations he made in Western NY 1814 - 1835 and afterwards in Michigan are not familial, and likely came out of his military service, or time working on building the Erie Canal. I'm also working on the assumption that if Westcott is not his ancestral surname , its choosing or application is not haphazard either - that it was in some way meaningful. I found one relatively close match the other day at ancestry.com that was 28/30. It turns out that this family is also uncertain of its origins. Their ancestor's location was Virginia but I am not restricting my geographic search. I am dealing with a 19 year old in the fairly fluid society in the post-Rev. War period who "ran away". In many ways your worth on the frontier was judged by your mettle, honesty, neighborliness, marksmanship, etc. , they were less interested in your kin. You could reinvent yourself there. Fred On 6/12/10, Glenn Stroup <stroupg@comcast.net> wrote: > At 03:18 PM 6/12/2010, Fred wrote: >>"The few cryptic phrases that have come down in the family is >>that he was "found out and ran away", or "one or both of the parents >>died and men came and took the children away", also there is the story >>that he resented his family because he was bound to a master at an >>early age. The man was to teach him a trade, how to read and write, >>etc. , but the master did none of these things. He took the boy out of >>state and treated him like a slave." > > > Fred and others - I have been digging into colonial and after legal > practices in Virginia, Tennessee and North Carolina because I too am > searching for definitive information about my Stroup ancestor (by > paper German, but my DNA says Irish) of 1794 as well as for the > parents of my GGrandfather Adams, born 1835 of unkiwn parents. In > both cases I suspect an NPE and/or an adoption/Apprenticeship. I've > found that most states kept court records and often had a Committee > who administered the programs for the poor and/or orphans. Often the > books about such records are called something like the "Lost > Children." I have one called just that for Wythe County VA, and > although I did not find an entry for my Stroup ancestor, I did for > some of his relatives. I thought I had found an > adoption/apprenticeship (sometimes combined) for the right time of My > GGrandfather Adams, but found a later case which said the Adams man > had only girls!~. But I suggest you look for such records - you > family stories sound just like many that I;ve read about people who > were just looking for cheap labor and did not do the training or > provide the support they were supposed to for the orphans. > > Thanks, > > Glenn > > > ------------------------------- > To unsubscribe from the list, please send an email to > Y-DNA-PROJECTS-request@rootsweb.com with the word 'unsubscribe' without the > quotes in the subject and the body of the message >