FCO 22 TABLE OF CONTENTS 1. Will of John FIELD of Louisa Co., VA, 1789 2. The ROBERTS-ORME Ancestry, Part 1 3. Overview of the USGenWeb Project 4. Queries ****** The following was scanned from a translation of a copy held in the Old Post Office Museum, McKinney, Collin Co., Texas: In the Name of God Amen I John Field of the County of Louisa and Parish of St. Martins being at this time weak in body but blessed be God of sene of Memory do make ordain and publish this my last will and testament in manner and form following (Viz) Imprimis, I give & Bequeath to my son Robert Field four negroes named Harry Phillis Charles & Milley likewise one feather bed and furniture also the Land whereon I now live together with that tract of Land which I purchased of James Smith & his sons to him & his heirs forever. Item I given unto my Grandsons Robert Field & John Field sons of my son John Two negroes named, Dick and Rachel and then to be divided in an equal manner to them & their heirs forever. Item I give and bequeath unto my son Bartlet Field three negroes named Lucey, Hester & Rose also one Feather Bed and furniture to him & his heirs forever. Item I give and bequeath unto my daughter Mary Dedman & her husband Samuel Dedman three negroes named Fan Young Phillis & Winney to them & their heirs forever. Item I give & bequeath to my grand son Ralph Howard Field son of my son Robert Field one young negro named Liddy daughter of negro Fan which I bequeath to the said Mary & Samuel Dedman. Item I give and bequeath unto my daughter Sarah Moss and her husband John Moss two negroes named Issabel and Will to them and their heirs forever. Item I given & bequeath unto my grand-daughter Ann Dedman one young negro named Lucey daughter of the sd Lucey bequeathed to my son Bartlett Field to her and her heirs forever. My Will is that the Remainder of my Estate of Whatsoever kind that shall be found shall be sold at the discretion of my Executors and the money after paying my funeral Charges to be equally divided among my children Robert & Bartlett Field including my grandsons by my son John Field my daughter Mary Dedman and Sarah Moss Lastly I constitute and appoint my son Robert Field and my Grandson Robert Kimbrough Executors to this my last Will & Testament. In witness whereof I have hereunto set my hand & seal this 17th day of January in the year of our Lord 1789. John Field (SEAL) Signed & Published in the presence of John Kimbrough Joseph Lipscomb At a court held for Louisa October 12th 1789 This will was this day in open court exhibited by Robert Field & Robert Kimbrough the Executors herein named & was proved by the oaths of Jno. Kimbrough & Joseph Lipscomb the witnesses hereto and by the court is ordered to be recorded & the sd. Executor having don what is usual in such cases having entered into & acknowledged their bond with approved security conditioned as the Law directs whereupon on their motion certificate is grandted them for obtaining Probate thereof in Due form A copy: Teste: P B Porter Clerk of Louisa Circuit Court, Va. Will Book 3, page 264 ****** Cousin Jack Roberts has provided us with Chapter V of his book, which covers not only FIELD families but many other lines which intermarried with FIELD. We will be publishing this material over the next several months. Jack says: In 1994 Dr. John F. Vallentine of Brigham Young University in Utah (and I) finished writing The Roberts-Orme Ancestry, Volume I, which I published here in New Zealand. Since publishing that book I've published Volume II, this latter treating the ancestry of my former wife. Now I'm working on extending the lines, making corrections, filling in the gaps, etc., for both volumes. I hoped originally to write and publish a third volume which would extend the pedigrees from the first two volumes back into their European phases; whether that effort materializes as a book remains to be seen. The focus of the books is to start with my grandchildren and to work backward (genealogically) in time toward their ancestors rather than beginning with a single (set of) ancestral family/families and working forward. I charge US$40.00 postpaid (economy air mail overseas) for Volume I, US$60.00 for Volume II. Volume I has 346 pages; Volume II, 443 pages; each with an index of 4-5000 names. I mail them from here: John Roberts, 1 Melrose St., Dunedin, New Zealand. (You'll undoubtedly appreciate that the cost of production was about double the asking price, and that doesn't include any of the costs of research -- I hired a professional genealogist, Dr. Vallentine, to research the families and then write the preliminary drafts.) As I'm hesitant to suggest that people buy them I've sent more than 100 copies to various public libraries around the U.S. and plan to send more. You have my permission to make any use of them that you like, including extensive quotes. I often send large hunks of it via internet and the mail. If you have other questions I'll be glad to answer them. I ought to stress that I'm just an editor, proof-reader, typist, and general flunkie and very definitely don't even vaguely border on being a genealogist! Best regards, Jack Roberts John Roberts, 1 Melrose Street, Dunedin, New Zealand juancho@earthlight.co.nz ------ Chapter V COX-STONE-SEAMONDS ANCESTRAL FAMILIES Family 14-15 WILLIAM GASHUM COX (1819) and SARAH ANN STONE (1839) WILLIAM GASHUM COX, apparent grandson of William Cox (1764) and wife Hannah (1766), was b. 12 Nov 1819 in Scott Co., Ky.; d. 10 Aug 1877 near New Market, Platte, Mo.; bur. Pleasant Ridge Cem., Weston, Platte, Mo.; md. (1) 11 Nov 1853 in Scott Co. to AGNESS LUELLA PORTER. Agness Luella, dau. of Shelton Porter and wife Catherine Stone, was b. 1838 in Ky.; d. 23 Jan 1855 in Platte Co.; bur. River Cem., Platte City, Platte, Mo. (See Family 60-61.) (Agnes Luella may have been the A. F. [?] Porter, female, age 13, b. Ky., listed in the F. G. and A. F. Flanagan household in the 1850 Census of Scott Co., Ky.). Child (Cox): HARRY ATCHISON, b. 15 Jan 1855 in Platte Co.; d. 24 Dec 1930 in Platte Co.; bur. Nelson Cem., St. Joseph, Buchanan, Mo.; md. 14 Feb 1878 to KATHERINE SALOWA NELSON. Katherine Salowa, dau. of Nels Peter Nelson and wife Enger Tomene Hoverson, was b. 16 Feb 1859 in Platte Co.; d. 20 Feb 1937 in Platte Co.; bur. Nelson Cem. Children (Cox): Amy Tomena (md. George Leroy Seaton), Nellie Pauline (md. A. D. Leavell), Nelson William (md. Christine Caroline Schmidt), and Lauren Cecil (md. Lucille Gaston). In 1880 Harry lived on the farm in Stranger Twp., Leavenworth Co., Kansas, which his father had deeded to him. By 1900 he had returned to Marshall Twp., Platte Co., where he owned a farm and spent the rest of his life. William Gashum md. (2) 18 Nov 1855 in Platte Co. (at the home of William J. Norris in Platte City; see Family 60-61) to SARAH ANN STONE. Sarah Ann, dau. of Kinzea Stone, Jr. (1813) and wife Elizabeth Ann Seamonds (1813), was b. 16 June 1839 in Bourbon Co., Ky.; d. 10 Mar 1916 in Kansas City, Jackson, Mo.; bur. Pleasant Ridge Cem.; children (Cox) a b. Platte Co., Mo.: DAVID KINZEA, b. 14 Oct 1857; d. 14 Sep 1918 (also given as 18 Sep 1919) at Weston, Platte, Mo.; bur. Pleasant Ridge Cem.; md. (1) 29 Dec 1880 (also given as 15 Oct 1881) to ELLA RONEY. Ella, dau. of William Henry Roney and wife Louisa Woods, was b. 11 July 1862 in Platte Co., Mo.; d. 28 Aug 1887 at Weston; bur. Pleasant Grove Cem. Son, David D. (md. Nellie Frances Davis). David Kinzea md. (2) 25 Mar 1889 at Weston, Platte, Mo., to EMMA WHITEN (b. 1868; d. 1957; bur. Pleasant Ridge Cem.); David Kinzea had several children by Emma. JAMES WILLIAM, b. 5 Feb 1859; d. 13 Feb 1916; md. 3 Sep 1894 to ELIZABETH JANE NOBLE, d. 3 Dec 1891, dau. of Wilson G. Noble and wife Elizabeth Jane Alderson. A short-horn cattle breeder, James lived on the home farm; later moved into Weston, where he owned a lumberyard. Their dau. Neva md. Edward Thorn. (James W. Cox [1860-1916] and apparent wife Elizabeth J. Cox [1861-1936] are buried in Weston Cem. The discrepancies in dates cannot be explained.) *ELIZABETH JOSEPHINE, b. 24 Nov 1863; md. (1) SAMUEL BOONE MUIR; md. (2) CHARLES NOBLE MARKLE. EDWIN GASHUM, b. 11 May 1866; d. 1938; md. (1) HALLIE SMITH (div.); md. (2) JENNIE BLACK. Lived and died at St. Joseph, Buchanan, Mo. No children. MARTHA LOUELLA (MATTIE LOU), b. 28 July 1868; d. 23 Apr 1936 in Kansas City, Jackson, Mo.; bur. Weston; md. (l) EDWARD G. GUYER; md. (2) DEWITT CLINTON MAINE. No children. GEORGE WALTER, b. 1 Jan 1871; d. 31 Mar 1877; bur. Pleasant Ridge Cem. MINNIE MAY, b. 21 July 1873; md. 14 July 1903 to S. C. HALLAND; no children. DAVID D., b. 2 May 1876; d. 30 Mar 1877; bur. Pleasant Ridge Cem. Much family tradition, possibly myth developed by a later generation, about William Gashum Cox a known principally as "Gashum" but sometimes as "William G." a remains unverified; even his exact parentage cannot be documented. These dubious traditions (D10, D145) are (1) his being born in Owen Co., Ky., where his grandfather supposedly owned land; (2) that he first married Nancy Turner, dau. of Henry Turner and wife Mary Crosthwaith (Crossthwaite); (3) that by Nancy Turner he had a son William Gashum, Jr., who remained with his maternal grandfather in Harrison Co., Ky., and married Annie E. Traylor; and (4) that he was the son of David Cox son of William Cox of Scott Co. Intensive research in census and county records has failed to reveal any such Cox-Turner connections, and William of Scott Co. had no son David. Since the Gashum Cox living in Indiana reportedly married an Annie Taylor and had children but was of an older generation than this William Gashum Cox, the latter could not have been the son of the Indiana resident. It has been speculated, but without any real evidence, that the Indiana Gashum Cox was an uncle of William Gashum Cox of Scott Co. (D138c). That William Gashum Cox's mother was a daughter of Henry Turner is yet another unverified family tradition and quite implausible. Census records suggest William Gashum was born in 1825 (age 25 in 1850) or 1823 (age 37 in 1860 and 47 in 1870), the 1860 and 1870 entries placing his residence at the time in Marshall Twp., Platte Co., Mo. Another published source (D82) records that Gashum was born in Nov 1820. Nevertheless, the birth date of 12 Nov 1819 given in family records (D18) is accepted and is substantiated by the birth year of 1819 recorded on his tombstone. No evidence has been found that places Gashum in Owen Co. at birth or in early life, and no Coxes have been found there with whom he was apt to have been associated. Acceptance of his birth in Scott Co. is based on his associations beginning when he was about 18 years old and a definite statement to that effect in an 1877 atlas of Platte Co., Mo. (D76). No record of Gashum has been found for the first 18 years of his life. He is first identified in 1837 at an estate sale in Scott Co. and again in 1839 in the Scott Co. personal property lists, in which he continues through 1847; he next appears in the Fayette Co. tax list in the single year of 1853, owning 3 slaves valued at $1000 and 4 horses valued at $30. It is reported that he lived 1840-2 in Platte Co., Mo. before settling there, presumably in late 1854. Any earlier trip to Platte Co. must have been short as substantiated by his uninterrupted listing in Scott Co. records during this period and the fact that frequent entries for him in the Platte Co., Mo., land records do not begin until 1855. Although there is a family tradition that he went to Platte because he could not get along with his step-father in Scott Co., there seems to be no real evidence as to who his step-father might have been. His later home in Platte Co., Mo., where all the children by his second wife were born, was about 3 miles west of New Market; the farm home still stands in good condition. Gashum seems to have been an active businessman of moderate means throughout his life. Soon after his arrival in Platte Co., Mo., he is recorded buying several tracts of land and owning substantial personal property, including slaves. Whether he got his initial start from family inheritance or from demonstrated astute business acumen is not known. Although not found in the 1840 Census, Gashum (age 25, b. Ky.) was recorded in the 1850 Census of Fayette Co. as a laborer living in the combined household of W. G. Skillman and W. W. Allen. Since the land for this household was valued at $40,000, it seems probable that Gashum was actually working as a farm manager or overseer. The Skillman and Allen men were from Bourbon Co., Ky., families but no blood relation has been identified between them and Gashum. Gashum bought a cutting box and a sorrel colt on 10 Nov 1837 at the estate sale of Guthrie Morris, deceased (Scott Co. Wills, G:221). At the Scott Co. Court in March 1839 Gashum sued Joseph Allen, administrator of Guthrie M. Morris, deceased, and several Morris heirs. Although the nature of this suit was not stated, the plaintiff recovered $260.57 (Scott Co. Circuit Ct. Books, 15:262). The administrator of Guthrie Morris' estate paid Gashum Cox $50 in 1839 and, interestingly enough, paid $1.50 also to Robert Cox (of the Joseph Cox, Sr., line; Wills, G:354). Any blood relationship between the Coxes and the Guthrie family is unknown; the association may have been merely business transactions between neighbors. Gashum was involved in two lawsuits against Benjamin Powell, as was also Robert Cox of the Joseph Cox, Sr., line (see Appendix II). The first suit against Powell was dated 22 Feb 1847, wherein Gashum Cox of Scott Co. alleged that Powell was indebted to him for $385 by note dated 4 Jan 1842, plus an additional $117 for labor performed for him during nine months in 1842 (Scott Co. Circuit Court, Case File 133). Powell had executed a mortgage to Gashum on 10 June 1842 on property including Negro boys Henry and Wesley and an assortment of livestock. The mortgage dated 10 June 1842 given by Benjamin Powell to Gashum Cox covering a slave Henry, about 7 years of age, and other personal property to cover a $300 indebtedness plus other obligations is recorded in the Scott Co. Deeds (B:269). Powell was charged with selling out and removing to Louisville, Ky., without the knowledge and consent of Gashum, taking the mortgaged slaves with him and selling them. The court issued a court order to seize the slaves from their holders in Louisville, whereupon the holders posted bond to duly compensate Gashum. A second suit was brought against Ben Powell by Gashum on 10 Dec 1847 to recover a debt of $93.75 on a note due 18 Oct 1842 (Case File 144). Powell was charged with fraud in failing to deliver money received from sales of mortgaged property, and the court on 18 Feb 1848 issued a subpoena and injunction against Powell to collect damages. This suit also brought out that Robert Cox (of the Joseph Cox, Sr., line) had previously brought suit against Powell to collect money due on a land mortgage. The 1850 Census of Jefferson Co., Ky., lists Benjamin Powell (age 45, b. Va., brick mason) living with his wife Lucinda and family in Louisville. Gashum Cox appears in three additional Scott Co. deeds. On 7 Sep 1846 he bought of C. A. Ward a one-acre tract adjoining the Presbyterian Church in the town of Marion; payment comprised $20 down and two notes of $200 each (Deeds, U:37). This tract a now being described as a 3/4-acre lot a was sold to Hartwell C. Boswell on 3 Mar 1847 (Deeds, 1:205). On 17 Dec 1849 he bought a 1/4-acre lot in the town of Oxford (Deeds, V:296); the subsequent disposition of this lot has not been found. In his will dated 19 Dec 1876 Gashum left the 160-acre Vanvoorhies farm in Leavenworth Co., Kans., to his son Harry Atchison Cox (B198). He devised a child's part to his wife Sallie Ann and directed the residue of his estate to be equally divided among his other children: David K., James W., Elizabeth Josephine, Mattie Louella, Edward (?) G., George W., Minnie, and David D. Conspicuously missing was reference to any son William Gashum, Jr., or to a Gashum-Turner connection. The will was challenged and probate was rejected by the Platte Co. Court on 27 Aug 1877. The charge that Gashum was not of sound mind at the time he made his will seems improbable and was rejected by most of his family, which became deeply divided over this issue. The _Platte City Landmark_ published the following obituary of W. G. Cox (D126): Mr. W. G. Cox, one of the wealthiest and most influential farmers in Platte County, died at his residence near New Market, on the 11th inst., aged abt fifty-five years. For many months he had been seriously ill and his death was not unexpected. Mr. Cox was born in Scott County, Kentucky, and removed to Platte County in 1853. During his residence here he accumulated a handsome fortune. He was a prudent and very successful farmer and trader, and his farm is considered one of the best in the county. He was one of the most generous and hospitable of men, and his home was a favorite place of resort for young and old. Platte County never boasted a better citizen or a more upright man. He leaves a wife and several children. The argument presented for William Gashum Cox (b. 1819) as a grandson of William Cox (1764) and wife Hannah (1766) is presented in the write-up of Family 56-57; nevertheless, his occasional association with a Joseph Cox, Sr., line, also of Scott Co., suggests a relationship between the two lines. Specifically for instance, (1) Robert son of Joseph Sr. and Gashum brought related lawsuits in the early 1840s against Benjamin Powell; and (2) Gashum was listed next to Fleming Cox of Joseph Sr. in the Scott Co. taxlists of 1844-1846. (See Appendix II for a synthesis of the data on the Joseph Cox, Sr., family.) (A128, A135, A179, A199, A208a, A221a, B83, B198, B227, B230, C71, C97, C98, C104, C113, D10, D18, D76, D82, D111a, D117, D126, D138c, D145, D150) Family 30-31 KINZEA STONE, JR. (1813) and ELIZABETH ANN SEAMONDS (1813) KINZEA STONE, JR., son of Kinzea Stone, Sr. (1774) and wife Sarah Watts (1780), was b. 27 Aug 1813 in Bourbon Co., Ky.; d. 24 Dec 1878 in Bourbon Co.; bur. Paris, Bourbon, Ky.; md. 16 July 1836 in Bourbon Co. to ELIZABETH ANN SEAMONDS. Elizabeth Ann, dau. of Manson Seamonds (1778) and wife Elizabeth Ann Newton (1781), was b. 7 Mar 1813 in Bourbon Co.; d. 4 May 1901 in Bourbon Co.; bur. Paris.; md. (1) (bond) 30 Nov 1830 in Bourbon Co. to EDWIN MILLS DODGE. Edwin Mills, son of David Dodge and wife Dorcas Mills, was b. 11 May 1809 in Clark Co., Ky.; d. 4 Mar 1836 at their home in North Middleton, Bourbon Co. Children (Dodge) a b. North Middleton: DAVID MANSON, b. 1 Aug 1832; md. 1860 to REBECCA JANE KENNY, dau. of Victor M. Kenny. Children (Dodge): George Lancaster and Linda Lancaster. WILLIAM EDWIN, b. 21 July 1834; d. 25 Mar 1836 at North Middleton. Elizabeth Ann md. (2) KINZEA STONE, JR. Children (Stone) a b. on the farm "Cedar Grove" on Stoner Cr. near Paris: JESSE NEWTON, b. 27 Aug 1837; d. 12 Apr 1902; bur. Paris Cem.; md. (1) 8 Nov 1860 in Clark Co., Ky., to DRUSILLA SMITH. Drusilla, dau. of John Smith, d. 1866; bur. Stone Cem. but later reinterred in Paris Cem. All children died young. Jesse Newton md. (2) 20 Dec 1870 to ELIZA W. HILL; md. (3) FANNY REDFORD. *SARAH ANN, b. 16 June 1839; md. WILLIAM GASHUM COX. MALINDA JOSEPHINE, b. 27 Aug 1841; d. 23 May 1919; md. 5 Jan 1864 to GEORGE LANCASTER of Lexington, Fayette, Ky. Both bur. Lexington Cem. Children (Lancaster): Fanny Maria, Pearl Anna, Albert Chambers, Bessie Stone, William Kinzea, and Jesse Lynn. HENRY CLAY, b. 5 Sep 1843; d. 17 Apr 1919; bur. Mt. Gilead Cem. near Maysville, Mason, Ky.; md. 31 Aug 1869 to SALLY WALLINGFORD. Children (Stone): Josephine, James Wallingford, Annette, Minnie, Kinzea, and Elizabeth Clay. MARTHA FRANCES, b. 14 Dec 1845; d. 21 May 1916 at Kansas City, Jackson, Mo.; md. 21 Nov 1865 to JAMES COUTHER ALDERSON. Lived on a cattle farm in Platte Co., Mo., where all children were born. Children (Alderson): Annie, May, Lillian, Charles Manson, Herbert Kinzea, Elizabeth, and James Couther, Jr. MARY ELIZABETH (BETTIE), b. 6 June 1848; d. 25 Jan 1922; bur. Oakwood Cem., Chicago, Cook, Ill.; md. (1) 21 Nov 1865 to JAMES HAMILTON BELL; md. (2) 17 July 1867 to FRANCIS DAVIDSON BELL; md. (3) 11 Sep 1877 to James Hamilton Bell (a remarriage). Children (Bell): (2nd marriage) Florida Walton, Francis Davidson, Jr., and two infants dying young; (3rd marriage) Elsie Newton and Daisy Marie. PRESTON KINZEA, b. 19 Sep 1851; d. 8 Mar 1925 at Georgetown, Scott, Ky.; bur. Georgetown; md. 22 Jan 1878 to SALLIE BELLE HOOVER. Sallie Belle, dau. of Thomas Andrew Hoover and wife Mary Catherine Smith, was b. 24 Dec 1858 in Jessamine Co., Ky.; d. 17 Aug 1945 at Georgetown; bur. Georgetown. Children (Stone): Mary Elizabeth, Andrew Kinzea, and Louise Hoover. EDWARD VICTORIA, b. 26 June 1854; d. 29 Nov 1860. HOWARD NORRIS, b. 12 Jan 1857; d. 17 Aug 1858. Kinzea Jr., a farmer, lived at "Cedar Grove" on Stoner Cr. near Paris. His farm was valued at $13,300 in the 1850 Census; in later years he owned about 40 Negro slaves. During the Mexican War Kinzea was a colonel in the Ky. Militia, a group not sent to the front. When he died intestate, his stepson David M. Dodge was appointed administrator of the estate. (A115, C15, C71, D18, D116e, D145) Family 56-57 WILLIAM COX (1764) and HANNAH (1766) WILLIAM COX was b. abt 1764, possibly in Orange Co., Va.; d. in 1818 prob. on Cherry Run, Scott Co., Ky.; md. abt 1787 to HANNAH, b. abt 1766; d. 2 July 1845 in Kenton Co., Ky. (D115). Hannah md. (1) William Cox; md. (2) abt 22 Nov 1822 in Scott Co. to John A. Miller. Children (Cox) a prob. all b. in what is now Scott Co.: MARY (POLLY), b. abt 1788; md. Mr. MILLER, prob. ADAM MILLER, JR., son of Adam Miller, Sr. In his will dated 20 Mar 1814, Adam Miller, Jr., provided for his wife Polly, made reference to his dau. Anne and other children (not named), and appointed his brothers John and Jacob to be executors (Scott Co. Wills, D:312). Two boys and one girl under 10 years of age were in the Adam Jr. household in 1810. This Polly Miller continued to live in Scott Co. after the death of her husband Adam, Jr.; by 1820 her family had increased by one boy and one girl. The three boys and one girl were still living in the Polly Miller household when listed in the 1830 Census of Scott Co. In his will probated Aug 1818 in Scott Co., Polly Cox Miller's father indicated that his dau. Polly had previously received her share of his estate and was not to share further. GASHUM (or GERSHOM), b. abt 1790; d. abt 1841 (his estate appraisal made 22 Oct 1841 in Christian Co., Ky.); md. abt 1808 to HARRIET COX, b. 1795 or 1796 in Ky., apparent dau. of John Cox and Elizabeth Miller. It is reported that Harriet's parents came from Prince William Co., Va., and may have lived briefly in Scott Co., Ky., before moving to Highland Co., Ohio (D40). Children named in his estate records were Mary Ann (md. William Morrow), James (md. Sarah R. Dillard), Elizabeth H. (md. Henry L. Kinkead), Merit, and William Franklin; census records suggest five other children, but these had apparently died before 1841. Although taxlists and deeds show Gashum living in Scott Co. in 1814, 1819, and 1825, he is listed in the 1820 and 1830 Censuses of Trigg Co., Ky., and in the 1840 Census of Christian Co., Ky. His widow is additionally recorded in the 1850 and 1860 Censuses of Christian Co. Gashum left a large estate, including 20 slaves and 1373 a. of land in Christian and Trigg Counties. ****** The goal of the USGenWeb project is to create a global library for genealogy research. This library provides electronic versions of genealogical resources and volunteers to answer research questions via the Internet. The Archives maintain original source data (transcriptions of censuses, wills, etc.) and will be the foundation and material source for publishing of genealogy efforts. The USGenWeb Project will provide resources for each state (and each county or equivalent) in a format that makes national publishing projects possible. Who were your ancestors, and what was their life like? The answer to this simple question is not easily found. The course of a genealogical project is slow and tedious. Public records are searched, manuscripts are read, and books are studied. Contact with other genealogists is sought. The information gleaned from these sources is organized, and theories are formed. More research is needed to prove or disprove the theory. As more information is collected, the answer to the question slowly begins to unravel. Finally, after countless sources have been assimilated, the information is finally ready for publication so others can benefit. By far, the greatest amount of time spent on a genealogical project is in research. Originals of public records are scattered throughout the country and access to them is available to only those able to travel to them. Placing transcriptions or copies of regional records in various repositories makes research possible at more locations; however, the information is still not accessible to the entire population. The time spent searching for each individual record is usually greater than the amount of time spent utilizing the record. The Internet can make access to records easy. The USGenWeb Project seeks to leverage this new great new medium to the advantage of genealogy researchers in several ways: o A page for each county lists volunteers willing to do lookups in reference books. This "virtual library" network allows researchers to obtain information from books not available in their local areas. o A query page for each county helps find answers to specific questions and locate others working on the same families. A global index allows researchers to zero in on a specific query page. o The Archives house transcriptions of public records. This makes the finding of genealogical solutions and the location of important primary documents much easier. o Together, the USGenWeb sites provide a foundation for the publishing of family histories on the Web. As the library matures, more and more researchers can cite the on-line references in their own research, and actually link to the source documents which are on line. Your family and mine might have no names in common, but we might find ourselves linked by the database of a third person. So, if all three databases are online, and if a mechanism exists to link those databases together, then we effectively have a single database. It doesn't matter where the data actually resides. What matters is that we have access to it and that it is organized in a manner that makes research easy. Goals and Objectives for the Project. Establish the US State Page - completed Establish State Pages - completed Establish Local Pages etc... - 43% completed "Genealogists Rush in Where Angels Fear to Tread" - A History of the USGenWeb Project - The USGenWeb project had its roots in discussions that occurred on the GenWeb mailing list hosted by Gary Hoffman. In March and April of 1996, Jeff Murphy laid out a framework and began to solicit volunteers for the KYGenWeb project. Through Jeff's vision and organization, the KyGenWeb Project took shape in an amazing 90 days. Here's a quote from his posting to Roots-L on "April Fools Day" '96. "The structure revolves around linking together databases which have people who were born, married, or died in KY. To facilitate the placement of these databases... we have started by creating a master page for all counties in Kentucky... This will give all KY researchers a single entry point to all counties in the state. If you would like to have your data available on the web, and have names in KY, please look at the master page to see if a county has been created yet for your data. Contact the page owner and talk to them about linking to your data, and about locating space on the web where your data can be placed... We are also looking for some software support, to help us implement a special LINK feature, which will help tie together individuals in different databases and provide an html pointer to the other database... This is an opportunity to create a working model for the rest of the country, and other states may follow suit..." In June 1996, the USGenWeb began as an outgrowth of the KYGenWeb project. It, too, has had phenomenal growth. As we celebrate the 6 month birthday mark for this initiative, we have almost 1,345 counties being hosted by county coordinator volunteers all over the country. Here are some recent statistics: >From September 1, 1996 to October 1, 1996: 56,000 people have loaded the USGenWeb page. There have been 350,000 redirects (people who have used the USGenWeb system to visit state pages). Our page for introducing the USGenWeb Project to new volunteers received over 5,000 visits. Individual pages for 50% of the states are more than 36% complete Individual pages for 20% of the states are more than 50% complete The TOP TEN States are: Kentucky - 100% complete Washington DC - 100% complete Indiana - 99% complete Tennessee - 91% complete Mississippi - 87% complete West Virginia - 80% complete Virginia - 80% complete Connecticut - 75% complete New York - 73% complete Maine - 69% complete For the past month, we have had an average of more than 2,500 queries per week posted on the various state pages. The most recent week numbered 2,775. The USGenWeb project introduces several new ideas to genealogy research on the WEB: 1) Organization of data on a statewide county-by-county basis. Up to now, the data that have been placed on the web has focused on a particular family name or a specific locality. 2) Organization of data for research. Prior to the introduction of this project, very little data were available for actual research, and the available data were not organized effectively. 3) Nationwide coordination of volunteers in support of the project. The USGenWeb represents far and away the largest, most focused effort by volunteers to organize genealogical material. Prior to this time, several individuals had created some significant sites, but they were essentially one-person initiatives. Fifty-one coordinators (every state and Washington, DC) have their own state page. They are seeking out volunteers for every county in their state. From the USGenWeb site (http://www.usgenweb.com), you can go directly to a state's homepage. Take New York state for example: NYGenWeb- http://www.usgenweb.com/ny >From the NYGenWeb page at http://www.rootsweb.com/~nygenweb, you will find: General information about NYS resources How to volunteer for the NYGenWeb project How to subscribe to internet mailing lists for NY researchers 62 counties, about 1/2 of which are hosted (in various stages of readiness) The status of a county may be any of the following: 1) No volunteer yet 2) A volunteer, but no homepage published yet 3) A volunteer that has their page on line. Counties that are already online will have a direct link from the state page. County pages in general have the following 1) Map of the county 2) History of the county 3) Names of the towns and cities in the county 4) Postal addresses or internet links to: A.) Historical or Genealogical societies B.) County or municipal offices C.) Other links of interest to people researching in that area 5) A page where you can post queries to request information from other researchers 6) A page where you can list the surnames you are researching from that county 7) A page where researchers (like you) can list the books they own. Organization Our organization can best be described as "webby." The individuals who populate our organization tend to have "webby" personalities. That is, there is a sense of interlinking of interests and a spirit of teamwork. The "rules and regulations" are few and open to change--the biggest rule is "If you want to play, play nice!" We use a lot of smileys :-) grins and we like it that way :-) Our structure is geographic: a user can enter WorldGenWeb, hotlink to USGenWeb, then to TNGenWeb, then to Lincoln County, TN. The county page may also offer hotlinks to towns since, in some states (New England especially), the town is the basic genealogical unit rather than the county. Each web page is maintained by a coordinator. With over 3,000 US counties, it is futile to expect consistency--and, in any case, not within the spirit of our organization. Yet, the user will find a great deal of similarity since sample pages and guidelines are available to make the coordinator's life easier. State coordinators support county coordinators and mailing lists are provided (by Dale Schneider and others) for all geographic levels (except counties, which are too numerous). For example, the mail list usgenweb@nebr.dsenter.com allows US state coordinators a place to discuss state-level concerns; and, magen-l@nebr.dsenter.com allows Massachusetts county coordinators a forum for discussion. o WorldGenWeb Dale Schneider maintains this web page. This project consists of over 200 countries. Few countries have coordinators now since the page has only existed for a short time. WorldGenWeb: http://www.dsenter.com/worldgenweb/index.html Dale Schneider, WorldGenWeb Coordinator: mailto:DALE.SCHNEIDER@dsenter.com o USGenWeb John Rigdon coordinates the USGenWeb Project. All 50 states and DC have coordinators and active web pages. The main USGenWeb page is located at http://www.usgenweb.com. This site is maintained by Dale Schneider. The USGenWeb Archives (see below) is affiliated with USGenWeb and coordinated by Linda Lewis. Help files are maintained by Nancy Trice. o USGenWeb Archives Unlike our web pages, which are dispersed across the Internet, the Archives is located at RootsWeb. The Archives are organized in the same format as the web sites. Archives Main Table of Contents: http://www.rootsweb.com/~usgenweb/usfiles.htm Here's a sample of what's in the Archives now: Wills and Cemetery listings from Columbia County, GA Cemetery listings from Ornarga Funeral Home, IL Tax lists from Breckinridge County, KY Wills from Calloway County, KY Cemetery listings from Harrison County, KY Census records from Orleans, MA Census records from Olmsted County, MN Census Records from Washington County, NY Census Records from Rowan County, NC Early Colonists of SC Census records from Spartanburg County, SC Census records from York County, SC Census records from SD Obituaries from Campbell County, SD Newspaper Extracts from Lincoln County, TN Civil War Rosters from VA Newspaper articles listing CSA casualties in VA Birth records from Essex County, VA Census records from Jamestown, VA o RootsWeb This site in California is maintained by Brian Leverich. The Archives are located here and Brian also offers free space to individuals for any other USGenWeb purpose including state and county web pages. o Genealogist's Index to the World Wide Web This site is hosted in Nebraska and is designed to offer a nationwide index to the names and URLs that make up the USGenWeb project and other genealogy sites. It is being built and maintained by John Rigdon. The Index will provide the framework for local, statewide, and national linking of data that are being organized and published by the various county coordinators. Call for Volunteers In conclusion, the USGenWeb Project will require helping new people set up databases. It will require some funding. It will require that all data be accessible on line. It will require some organization, and it will require a lot of work by thousands of volunteers. We need you to make this project successful. Here's how you can help: Make and distribute copies of this article. Volunteer to "host" a county page. Volunteer to provide a lookup resource. Volunteer to transcribe original records for the Archives. Thanks to the following individuals who have contributed to this article. They are all a part of the USGenWeb project and helped in its creation. Also many thanks to the hundreds of other volunteers who are working to make the USGenWeb Project a success. ****** I'm looking for my FIELDS connections. Have very little information or knowledge of family. My line is as follows: My Mother: Grace FIELDS - b Floydada, Floyd, TX, 14 Aug 1905 Grandfather: James Arthur FIELDS - b Montgomery, AR 15 Sep 1872 Married: Maggie Galena WILLIS - 15 Feb 1896 - Floyd Co., TX GGrandfather: Jacob or Jake FIELDS - b abt 1846 Married: Rebecca Crabb - her second marriage. Possible children: James A., John, Ed, Lottie, Evie ----Rebecca Crab - step-daughter. No other information available. Any help would be appreciated. Thanks, June Morton JMorton237@aol.com ------- Dear Mary [Alley ], Your name and address were sent to me by Ruth Wandel. She and I have a common Lewis ancestor. The son through whom I descend was Henry, who married Lavinia Myrtle, daughter of John Myrtle and Phoebe Field. I have not been able to trace Phoebe's ancestry at all. Have you ever run across her name? She was supposedly born ca1764 at Culpeper Co., VA and died at Howard Co., MO ca1835. I think she went there with two sons after the death of her second husband, Edward Jones. John Myrtle is a mystery, also. He fought in Revolution and lost part of a leg. In the 1787 Culpeper Co. tax list, his tax was charged to Armisted Green, who witnessed Abraham Field's will 1774 Culpeper Co. John Myrtle's Jefferson Co., KY will was witnessed by Joseph and Reubin Field, sons of Abraham, who died in Jefferson Co., and Reubin is the one who married the Myrtle's daughter, Mary, who was his *only* wife. The other Myrtle children were Churchill, Cynthia, John Jr., Reubin, and William. Reubin, John, and William were in close association with Abraham Field, father-in-law of William Lewis. There was another Reubin Field in Jefferson Co., which is explained in Jefferson Co. Law Suit No. 1470 dated 1818. Reubin Field died intestate (no date given) leaving daughter Elizabeth Field who "intermarried with William Oldham." 31 July 1818, Frances relinquished her dower rights of husband, Reubin Field, so slaves could be sold. Frances had remarried Joshua Lee, who was appointed guardian of Reubin's heirs under 21: Willis, Julius, Hannibal, Patsy. Joshua Lee and William Oldham bought slaves 13 Nov 1818. This case is at the Kentucky State Archives on Coffeetree Lane in Frankfort, KY, and I personally read it. I guess you have info on the Abner Field who died 1830 Jefferson Co. and his daughter-in-law, Elizabeth, who died 1858? I abstracted them if you want them. There is also a Jefferson Co. Law Suit #1213 dated 2 May 1810 which proves Lewis Field as heir of Daniel Field. I did not find any other Field heirs mentioned but a William Oldham witnessed signature of a party in the suit. If you are your online group can help me at all, I certainly would appreciate it regarding Phoebe Field's parents. Sincerely yours, Christine B. Stephens 64 Highview Dr. Ft. Thomas, KY 41075 ------- Dear Mary, As to Daniel Field, Lewis is not indicated as a son of Daniel, only an heir. It makes me think he had no children--or none that survived him. I also wonder if Abraham Field who died 1822 Jefferson Co., KY was the son of a son of Abraham Field, Sr. who died prior to death of Abraham Sr. [sic] in 1775, possibly the oldest son as younger sons of Abraham Sr. bought land from grandson Abraham. Has this idea ever been raised among your group? Since Abraham Sr. in his will said grandson Abraham had "...which with what his father has had and what he has had himself and is to have I think is equal with the rest of my children." I wonder if the deed of gift to grandson Abraham (also mentioned in the same will) was from his grandfather Abraham or his father, whoever that was! Sincerely, Christine B. Stephens [Contact information listed in previous query.] -------- Dear Mary, Thank you for writing and sending me your genealogy material. They clear up a few things for me. I notice you still say Reuben Field, husband of both Fanny Jones and Mary Myrtle. I know Mary's Reuben died 1823 Jefferson Co. And I guess Franny's Reuben died 1815 Bourbon Co. That letter dated 1926 from Winfield Scott, a copy of which I sent you, is a real puzzler to me. He said Reuben's daughter, Fanny, born May 10, 1796, married a Lee. That lawsuit I read said Frances was relinquishing her dower rights of husband, Reuben Field, so slaves can be sold and that she has remarried Joshua Lee who has been appointed guardian of Reuben's heirs under 21: Willis, Julius, Hannibal, and Patsy. Mr. Scott lists Julius as being born 1787, which would not make him a minor in 1818, and he does not list Patsy. By the way, these four children sue Joshua Lee and William Oldham later on--probably at their maturity. If you want a copy of index showing this, let me know and I will get a copy for you. I know not that Anne and Hannah Roberts were daughters of Benjamin Roberts, and the David I questioned as perhaps really Daniel does prove to be the case, who is son of Henry Feild Jr., whose will was proved 15 Oct 1787. I certainly hope someone in your group can help me! I look forward to hearing what results occur from your next newsletter. Best wishes, Christine B. Stephens [Contact information listed in her first query.] -------- To: Randall_Fields@juno.com My Name is Harold Sam Pendley. Thomas Fields Is my great-great-great- grandfather. He and Susanna Humphery are buried in Long Swamp Cemetery In Pickens County, Ga. I have pictures of their graves. About two years ago The Fields Family erected a new stone that included all Thomas's children. My great-great-grandfather, William Burton Pendley, married Selta Fields. They owned a portion of Pickens County known as the Pendley Region, also know as Long Swamp. To this day there is a Pendley Cir., Pendley Creek. The Fields and Pendley intermarried several times in the early 1800s. Do you have anything on the Pendley's? Penly? or any variation of spelling? Will be glad to exchange information. Also Anne Pendley will be getting on the Web soon, and she has been studying the Pendley, Coffey, Fields for over 35 years and has a ton... Harold Pendley