Virginia History Explorer

Request for Gideon Blackburn's Documentation

2009-07-14T11:27:00.000-07:00

Does anyone have concrete documentation of Benjamin Blackburn's son Robert Blackburn and his wife Margaret Ritchie/Ritchey/Richie? I am finding it very difficult to find proper records for this couple, birth records, marriage entry, will, headstone, anything? It is hard to believe Robert was born in Rye Cove, Scott County, Virgina in 1742, unless his mother was Native American. There was very little white settlement, if any at that time and place.

"Thomas McCulloch, the first settler, located in 1769 on Big Moccasin Creek near Fort Houston...In Rye Cove, Crisman's fort was built in 1776 "

Gideon was sent to school by his uncle? Gideon Ritchie/Ritchey/Richie, who can be traced, however, I can find no record of his sister, wife or daughter.

Aug. 26, 1774. Deed. Edward Sharp of Colerain two., Bedford Co., to Gideon Ritchey of the same place. An improvement made by Sharp in Friends Cove.
(Source: Bedford County Deed Book B, Register and Recorders Office, Bedford Co. Courthouse, p. 28.)

And I am also having trouble finding a connection from Gideon's tree to the Ripon Lodge family tree, except for a connection noted between Gideon's Uncle Samuel Blackburn and a mention of this same Samuel Blackburn being the Uncle of the Blackburn Ladies of Mount Vernon, which would connect to the Blackburns at Ripon. But somehow, I can't get Gideon to connect due to his father Robert?

I feel as if Gideon's family is Benjamin's "second" family. Many of the early traders and preachers were required, or chose to take Indian wives in order to make better dealings with the Indians, keeping in mind that the Native American cultural was matriarical before the advent of the Europeans. By the mid-1700's, there were thousands of inter-racial marriages and births in America. The Dutch, Africans, Spanish, and French had been living side by side with the Indians for a generation or more before the English, Scotch and Irish moved in. My belief is that these men would perhaps use their middle name for various legal transactions. Perhaps, a Benjamin in Frederick, Co is a Richard in Prince William, Co? This would explain some confusion with the names and dates of wives, ie Ann or Mary? One Scotch and one Indian? Suggested reading on this topic would be The Social Fabric, Volume 1

As for Gideon's questionable dealings with the Indians, whiskey and land...

"Dr Blackburn died intestate. His estate was estimated to exceed $45,000. He was probably the wealthiest man in Macoupin County at the time of his death. At the time of this writing (1942) the will was said to be in possession of the heirs of A.M. Blackburn." The Benjamin Blackburn Family" By W.A. Challacombe

Were the profits Gideon made during his fund raising efforts and land deals above reproach? Or was greed the essence of his earnings? Gideon died almost a year and a half after the Panic of 1837 began, yet he was still one of the wealthiest men in Illinois. Keep in mind, the Country's financial recovery from the panic of 1837 did not come until 1842. Don't believe for a minute that our current economy will rebound any quicker than that.

In Gideon's fund raising land deals for the University: "one-eighth to himself, leaving one-fourth to constitute the seminary fund. In the execution of this plan he raised funds with which he purchased over 64,000 acres of land ; thus providing a seminary fund of over 16,000 acres."

This would have given Gideon 8,000 acres of land at what value? Where? and What became of his land during the Panic? Who were his investors? Does anyone have copies of any of these land deal entries?

"On the 28th day of September, 1837, Dr. Blackburn acknowledged and executed a deed of trust' conveying to W. S. Oilman and six other trustees the said lands constituting the seminary fund and some other lands in trust for the purpose of establishing an institution of learning on the principles in the deed specified." History of Macoupin County, Illinois : biographical and pictorial

I would like to know more about the legal and financial workings of the deed of trust mentioned. How were Gideon's lands affected by the Panic?

Does anyone have a text copy of Gideon's will to share?
Does anyone have a birth record, a marriage entry or a headstone pic for Gideon?

I am also still examining the issue of slavery in the Blackburn family. The Blackburns felt morally against it, not only Gideon, but his Uncle Samuel and the Blackburn Ladies of Mount Vernon. Also, there is the slavery issue with the Native Americans. Many had slaves, yet while reading various accounts of the indian "Benge", I wonder if some of his raids were not only acts of retaliation against the encroaching whites, but beginnings of the underground railroad.
Suggested further reading: Becoming White: My Family's Experience as Slave Holders and Why It Still Matters

Will post conclusions soon, subject needs further scrutiny.

Any contributions and comments are always appreciated and shared info is acknowledged with links.

This topic is on the Virginia History Explorer group page for further discussion, if you are interested.

Politics and Family Relations

2009-06-26T07:19:00.000-07:00

My on-going research into the life of Rev. Gideon Blackburn has taken me to Georgia Governor George Matthews, whose daughter Ann was married to Gideon's uncle General Samuel Blackburn. Interestingly enough, the good Governor was a key player in the Yazoo Act. An underhanded land deal that eventually caused the forced western migration of the Cherokee Indians.

This may be good news for the redemption of the Blackburn clan due to the fact that Gideon's uncle General Samuel Blackburn was opposed to the Yazoo Act and left his political post in Georgia as a result.

Was the boat load of whiskey a set-up for the purpose of creating trouble with the Creek Indians and the Cherokees, thus beginnings of the War of 1812, making Gideon a political pawn?

Now through my current research project on Rev. Gideon Blackburn, I am finding more surprising political relationships of the Blackburn family. So far, I have found at least 5 members of the Blackburn line that have been related, by marriage, to a President of the United State within three generations. Not to mention all the other political officers such as Governor, Senator, etc.

Blackburn-Presidential marriage connections I have found thus far:

1. President George Washington's nephew Bushrod Washington married Julie Ann Blackburn
2. President James Madison's great/grand uncle Zachary Taylor(1)married Esther Jones Blackburn Taylor
3. President William Henry Harrison's 1st cousin once removed Hannah Churchill m. John Blackburn
4. President Benjamin Harrison, grand son of William Henry Harrison, 1st cousin three times removed to Hannah Churchill m. John Blackburn. Benjamin was also brother-in-law to Speaker of the House of Burgesses, Peyton Randolph, who was 1st cousin once removed of Thomas Jefferson. His Brother-in-law Burwell Bassett was married to the sister of Martha Washington, whose nephew Bushrod was married to Julie Ann Blackburn.
5. President Zacary Taylor's grandfather married second wife Esther Jones Blackburn. Zachary Taylor and James Madison were 2nd cousins.

Is your brain dizzy yet?

Have you ever wondered what the statistical probabilities of two members of the same family being elected for President of the United States in a democratic elections system? I know I have. For example:

John Adams father of John Quincy Adams
William Henry Harrison grandfather of Benjamin Harrison
Theodore Roosevelt and Franklin D. Roosevelt 5th cousins
Robert Kennedy (almost President) and John F Kennedy brothers
George Bush Sr father of George Bush Jr

Really, what are the odds?

I would bet, that with enough time and research, I could connect all of the Presidents, not to mention the big religious leaders of our country, for example click here for the connections of Rev. Pat Robertson.

This is certainly more than aristocratic nepotism.

Based on my findings, it seems the United States is not a democracy, as we are lead to believe, but instead it is a oligarchy, which in turn creates a plutocracy. Perhaps what we really need is a demarchy.

I wonder how the current President Barack Obama fits in?

Stretching the Truth

2009-06-25T08:25:00.000-07:00

In response to my post on the search for the truth, my friend Tracy sent me an e-mail which perfectly illustrates how the truth can be misconstrued and non-truths can be spread like a virus across the Internet, without publishers bothering to verify the source.

First, I will re-post the content of the e-mail received without using any surnames. This will hopefully prevent any readers from repeating the information as truth and thus causing others to use the information in their family tree.
I am posting this as an example of how information can be written with a particular slant, which gives the reader a false impression of events, without actually giving false details.

The following is a fictional story!

Judy, a professional genealogical researcher, discovered that she shared an ancestor with a famous politician.

Her great-great uncle, Remus, was hanged for horse stealing and train robbery in Montana in 1889.

The only known photograph of Remus shows him standing on the gallows. On the back of the picture is this inscription: "Remus; horse thief, sent to Montana Territorial Prison 1885, escaped 1887, robbed the Montana Flyer six times. Caught by Pinkerton detectives, convicted and hanged in 1889."

Judy e-mailed the politician for comments. The staff responded with the following biographical sketch as they saw it:

"Remus was a famous cowboy in the Montana Territory . His business empire grew to include acquisition of valuable equestrian assets and intimate dealings with the Montana railroad. Beginning in 1885, he devoted several years of his life to service at a government facility, finally taking leave to resume his dealings with the railroad. In 1887, he was a key player in a vital investigation run by the renowned Pinkerton Detective Agency. In 1889, Remus passed away during an important civic function held in his honor when the platform upon which he was standing collapsed."

Now that is an example of creative writing at its finest!

Now here are some links I found where this story is repeated, only with different surnames added. The following are for entertainment purposes only!
I use them to illustrate how false information can spread like wildfire on the Internet, thus showing the need to verify, verify, verify sources!

http://mcg-pe.com/Documents/Remus%20Reid.pdf

http://www.debatepolicy.com/showthread.php?t=9480

http://www.bloggingtories.ca/forums/viewtopic.php?t=6431&start=15

Not only is this a prime example of erroneous information that may affect some unknowing amateur genealogists, it is also a prime example of political propaganda.
Don't always believe what you hear or read. Find the source and seek your own answers.

Also, you should not even rely on one source for verification of information. You should make a sincere effort to find as many different sources as possible. Because what I find in my history research is that often times the same story is used by many different historians and biographers, without question or verification of facts. Sometimes it takes a lot of digging to get to the bottom of things. I encourage others to not post information on-line without firm documented sources, UNLESS, you place a disclaimer at the beginning cautioning the use of the information.

There are positives and negatives to everything. While oral family stories do give clues to the truth and are useful, even if they contain inaccuracies, they can lead one on the wrong trail. And while I do believe in a individual's self-responsibility in all things, thus placing the burden on the user of the inaccurate information, I must say that I get tired of wading through the voluminous amounts of repetitive mis-information in regards to genealogy. Especially, things like a mother being 9 years old at the time of her first child's birth. Come on now, use a question mark if you don't have the documents to back up the birth, marriage or death??????? Don't just put in what someone else has on their tree.

Gideon Blackburn's Horoscope

2009-06-24T13:38:00.000-07:00

As part of my research projects, I will use astrology, when birth data is available, as a means of discovering the nature of the people involved in various events. The following is a horoscope profile of Gideon Blackburn obtained from www.astro.com.
Since I didn't have his exact birth time, I used 12 noon, so it may be off somewhat. But reading over it, I feel it does give some insight to the personality of the man.

Gideon Blackburn, born August 27, 1772, Steele's Tavern, VA
(I had to use Raphine, VA for the horoscope.)

Sun in Virgo, Moon in Leo

Inwardly you have the characteristics of prudence, common sense, and practicality. Your outward personality, however, appears as ardent, passionate, and aggressive. You have a tendency to involve yourself in activities that are not harmonious with your innate characteristics.

The rulership of Virgo makes you a hard-working, practical, foresighted person who is fond of cleanliness and privacy. Externally, the Moon in Leo will place you in positions in which you must exert authority in a positive and clear manner. In love you are whole- hearted and very affectionate, wanting to impart your happiness to the other person. You appear as happy, strong, and playful. Apparently you are very preoccupied with your dignity and how you appear to others. The voice of your unconscious tells you to apply yourself to more down-to-earth matters. With your natural cleverness you should be able to achieve a harmonious relationship between these two categories, making you a fulfilled individual.

Ascendant in Scorpio, Mars in the Eighth House

At the time of your birth the zodiacal sign of Scorpio was ascending in the horizon. Its ruler Mars is located in the eighth house.

Your life will be marked by your shrewd, secretive, obstinate, clever, and reserved disposition. You remain an enigma: with these traits, your life events could be either very tragic or very fortunate. To which category of Scorpio do you belong? There are two types, the extremely emotional, attracted by those pathological aspects of biological relationship, or the highly mystical, concerned with spirituality.

You are a person of extremes, very sensitive and desirous of attachment. There is some attraction to the occult or to psychic phenomena. You are active in the sense that there is a psychological struggle going on inside you between the positive and negative poles-those of affirming and satisfying or rejecting and repressing. You are very intense in your feelings and remain passionately attached to the person you love. Similarly, when you dislike someone you are very fixed in that feeling. However, there is room for optimism in that: whatever type of Scorpio you may happen to be, there exists a desire deep in your inner self for psychic regeneration.

At some point in your life, after the occurrence of a major dramatic event that will affect you deeply, the goal and entire expression of your ego may alter entirely. The intensity and profundity of your passion, however, will always be constant. You have a tendency to go into the shadows and secretly plan the course of action you will take, reluctant to let others know the exact nature of your mood or feelings. In your sexual affairs you are full of passion and strong attachment.

Exert more control over your passions; don't be so resentful of others. Use your strong will and character for favorable and beneficial things.

You have a strong inclination to be involved in medicine, perhaps even surgery. You are attracted by research and investigation in general.

This position of your ruler makes death a very crucial aspect in your life. The termination of biological functions is something that preoccupies and worries you.

You have a keen, perceptive mind that is always dwelling on the ultimate nature of things. Your intellect is brought forward by considerations concerning the deepter issues of life. You may have a tendency to suffer from violence.

You must also attempt to detach yourself somewhat from dwelling on the termination of life as this preoccupation could affect your mental functions.

Uranus Opposition Ascendant

Uranus opposition the Ascendant shows that relationships stand in the way of achieving the freedom you want. You attract people who demand their own freedom, even though it means you must curtail yours, and this annoys you.

A traditional marriage is not for you. You prefer a more liberal association in which the only binding agent is your emotional attraction to your partner. You enjoy a wide circle of friends who share your views and with whom you feel safe and secure. You are drawn to occupations that give you freedom to work in your own way, unconfined by rules and regulations.

Although you have a mind of your own, you probably are not fully prepared to accept responsibility for your actions.

Part of your role in life is to help others gain their freedom by urging them to get an education and to learn about the social and political issues that can affect them.

Moon in the Ninth House

The Moon was found in the ninth house at the time of birth. Your higher mind has the potential to expertly reflect the teachings of elevated knowledge that you may receive throughout your life. You will have an ability to quickly adjust to varying conditions.

You are endowed with a clever and resourceful imagination, and a mind which is receptive to ideals, higher thoughts, and perhaps even metaphysical matters.

Throughout life you are going to solve many critical situations by your ingenious and highly inventive mind which has an abundance of new and humane plans and ideas.

Venus in the Ninth House

Venus was found in the ninth house at the time of birth. Your mind appears as very adaptable, gentle, peace-loving and tactful. This position indicates that the secret for your ability to reach a state of harmony and emotional balance may come through the use of your higher mental powers. You have been born with an exquisitely refined, artistic mind which has a very subtle appreciation of all that has to do with culture. Your disposition is kind, congenial, gentle and sympathetic and you have a natural ability to assist other individuals.

This position gives you much social intercourse with intellectual persons and success derived therefrom.

Merely minor disabilities will affect you in your intellectual endeavors. The worst that could happen would be an overly inquisitive, indecisive nature that never seems to be satisfied. However, you have within you the ability to avoid these psychological obstacles.

Sun in the Tenth House

The Sun was in the tenth house at the time of birth. The Sun here promises honor, success, and prestige in adult life. Publicly you appear as a vital, proud, powerful person. Your individuality has the need to manifest itself publicly and often to foist its energy on others. You have come to life with a satisfactory physical and moral heredity and you are going to acquire the favorable disposition of many persons of power to assist you in your ascent through life.

Your liabilities include an exaggerated pride, arrogance and a tendency to rely too much on your own resources.

Saturn in the Tenth House

Saturn was found in the tenth house at the time of birth. This a very challenging position for a person who seeks worldly success. The inhibiting powers of Saturn are expressed in a heavy, cautious, and very serious personality. Many of the limitations that will arise throughout life result from your own psychological disposition which is oriented to narrow bounds. The key to a satisfactory solution of the various problems that will arise throughout life lies in your ability to endure difficulties with patience.

Inwardly there are ambitions, aspirations, and thrift; properly projected these psychological characteristics could yield power, an image of pride, and a perpetual craving for material objects and worldly wealth.

And Again History Repeats Its Self

2009-06-24T09:06:00.000-07:00

"Van Buren devoted his Inaugural Address to a discourse upon the American experiment as an example to the rest of the world. The country was prosperous, but less than three months later the panic of 1837 punctured the prosperity.

Basically the trouble was the 19th-century cyclical economy of "boom and bust," which was following its regular pattern, but Jackson's financial measures contributed to the crash. His destruction of the Second Bank of the United States had removed restrictions upon the inflationary practices of some state banks; wild speculation in lands, based on easy bank credit, had swept the West. To end this speculation, Jackson in 1836 had issued a Specie Circular requiring that lands be purchased with hard money--gold or silver.

In 1837 the panic began. Hundreds of banks and businesses failed. Thousands lost their lands. For about five years the United States was wracked by the worst depression thus far in its history.

Programs applied decades later to alleviate economic crisis eluded both Van Buren and his opponents. Van Buren's remedy--continuing Jackson's deflationary policies--only deepened and prolonged the depression.

Declaring that the panic was due to recklessness in business and overexpansion of credit, Van Buren devoted himself to maintaining the solvency of the national Government. He opposed not only the creation of a new Bank of the United States but also the placing of Government funds in state banks. He fought for the establishment of an independent treasury system to handle Government transactions. As for Federal aid to internal improvements, he cut off expenditures so completely that the Government even sold the tools it had used on public works."
http://www.whitehouse.gov/about/presidents/martinvanburen/

I wonder if President Obama is familiar with this bit of history.
Hopefully, he won't make the same mistakes.

Seeking the Truth in History is not Easy

2009-06-24T08:19:00.000-07:00

Let me first say that as a true researcher, it is my duty to remain unbiased and perhaps at times even play the Devil's advocate, if you will. So while I welcome any and all comments regarding this blog, I encourage all to keep an open mind. Do not take my comments personally or as an attack on those who may be your ancestors. I am just a true believer in the frailty of human nature. No one is without sin, not even ministers and missionaries.

As I study the life of Gideon, I am finding numerous accounts of his life that have been written from a variety of perspectives. The Presbyterians have one story, the Cherokee historians tell a different tale and the political view can be skewed either way depending on the agenda at hand.

And I am searching for the truth, which may never be found.

Some say he brought religion to the Indians.
Some say he owned and operated a whiskey distillery.
Some say he sold whiskey to the Indians.
Some say he was an agent for the Kentucky Temperance Society.

This is just an example of the contradictions I am finding.
Of course, all could be true, if he were to turn out to be a true capitalist.

For example:

As per laws of the time, Gideon, being a clergyman, would be exempt from taxes.

As the owner of a distillery, he would need labor to grow corn.

As an educator to the Indians, he would be training the labor he needed.

Selling whiskey to the Indians would be profitable.

Being part of the Temperance movement would not only disguise his involvement, but the guilt created by preaching the evils of drinking would create more converts,
which would mean more donations to the church.

Plus, if prohibition came, it would drive up the price of the whiskey, which would increase profits.

Sounds like capitalism at its finest.

I am continuing my research of Gideon, with hopes of totally exonerating his name, as he may in some way link to the Blackburns in my family line.

However, at this point, it is not looking good for Gideon.

Research has shown that he was involved with Andrew Jackson, who was know to be an Indian hater. He was also involved in land speculation in Illinois, of course this was in the name of religion and education, but it had to mean the taking of lands from the original inhabitants, who would have been Indians.

Gideon had a fund raising plan:

BLACKBURN UNIVERSITY.

"About the year 1835 the Rev. Gideon Blackburn proposed to various
benevolent persons in Massachusetts and other eastern states the
following plan for raising money for the purpose of founding and
establishing a theological seminary in Illinois : that they should
advance to him money with which he should purchase government lands at $1.25 per acre, that he should convey to them respectively of these lands amounts, which at $2.00 per acre should be equal to the sums advanced ; that of the remaining lands he should take one-third to his own use to reimburse him for his trouble and expenses and the other two-thirds should constitute a fund for the funding and establishment of the college; in other words, five-eighths of the lands thus purchased should be conveyed to the persons who advanced the money, and one-eighth to himself, leaving one-fourth to constitute the seminary fund. In the execution of this plan he raised funds with which he purchased over 64,000 acres of land ; thus providing a seminary fund of over 16,000 acres. On the 28th day of September, 1837, Dr. Blackburn acknowledged and executed a deed of trust' conveying to W. S. Oilman and six other trustees the said lands constituting the seminary fund and some other lands in trust for the purpose of establishing an institution of learning on the principles in the deed specified." History of Macoupin County, Illinois : biographical and pictorial

If lands were available to be purchased from the government at $1.25 per acre, than why would the investors pay Gideon $2.00 per acre and just make a donation for the purchase of land for the school?

Oh, guess who was President at the time? Andrew Jackson.

Very suspicious I say.

Another bit of info to ponder is a letter from Gideon to Rev. Morse

Seems to be quite a bit of accounting information for a Bible man.

And the search for truth continues . . .

Virginia History Explorers Google Group

2009-06-22T08:35:00.001-07:00

I have created a Google group, as an extention of this blog. This will allow for more input from readers and subscribers. The group is membership is open to anyone with an love for historical research. You can find the group at Virginia History Explorers Group. I invite all who read this blog to share it with anyone they know who may be interested. This is only the beginning of what I hope will develop into a valuable virginia history research information sharing portal.

I am relatively new to the worlds of blogging and internet groups, so I am happy to receive input and construtive criticism that will enable me to improve my efforts.
I know nothing of Twitter and don't use Myspace or Facebook. I don't do instant messaging, either. I guess you could say I am old school. And, I also have a bit of a "Big Brother" phobia. Not, that I have anything to hide. It is just the thought of my every internet action being logged into a mysterious database somewhere in cyberspace is distrubing. So those of you without this paranoia, are strongly encouraged to spread this blog on the World Wide Web, as you see fit. I look forward to all the new friends I will meet.

Gideon Blackburn's Whiskey

2009-06-20T11:27:00.000-07:00

Who was Gideon Blackburn?

This week I am researching an event from 1809. It involved religion, politics, and whiskey. With these factors involved, there is much room for biased interpetation of the truth. I will be spending the next week digging up all the information I can find concerning this event. I then hope to present my perspective of this event based on my research of not only the offical and unoffical records, but I plan to delve into the genealogy of the parties involve to see if there is some personal relationship aspect to the event as well.

I welcome others, who may be interested to share their opinions.

Questions for discussion:

Was Gideon involved with selling whiskey to the indians?

Was the government involved with the plan to transport the whiskey?

Did the Moravians have something to do with Gideon leaving Tennessee?

How does Gideon connect with the Blackburn's from Ripon Lodge?

Sources of information:

Biographical Details of Gideon

Parson Blackburn's Whiskey

Drunken Indians

Yahoo Falls Massacre

The Brainerd Journal

Possible Family Connection?

Moravians and the Cherokee

Blackburn's of Ripon Lodge

Other information found on Gideon Blackburn:

COLONEL THOMAS McCRORY

DESIGNATION: 2nd Regiment West Tennessee Militia
DATES: October 1813 - January 1814
MEN MOSTLY FROM: Williamson, Maury, Giles, Overton, Rutherford, and Smith Counties
CAPTAINS: William Dooley, Thomas K. Gordon, Samuel B. McKnight, Anthony Metcalf, Isaac Patton, John Reynolds, James Shannon, Abel Willis
BRIEF HISTORY:
Part of General Isaac Roberts' Second Brigade, these three-month enlistees were mustered in at Franklin, Tennessee and mustered out at Fort Strother. The regiment participated in the Battle of Talladega (9 November 1813). Jackson tried to get them to serve longer than the three-month term, but only Captain Abel Willis (Overton County) and nineteen men stayed.

The number of men in each company was relatively small, averaging about fifty (one company, led by Captain James Shannon of Williamson County had a complement of twenty-nine men). Famed Presbyterian minister Gideon Blackburn served as regimental chaplain.
www.tennessee.gov/tsla/history/military/1812reg.htm

Welcome to Virginia History Explorer

2009-06-20T08:40:00.000-07:00

Hello fellow history fans. Today is the beginning of my on-line quest for knowledge on the history of Virginia. My research is primarily based on my personal genealogical interests, but will, hopefully, encompass the full scope of Virginia's history.

I will be examining not only the research and opinions of past historians and reseachers, but I will try to assimilate the information I gather using my own personal perspective and opinions. My goal is to be able to examine the how familial relationships have impacted the course of Virginia's history. For example, did the inter-marrying of whites and indians create many of the tensions politicians of the time needed to further their agendas? I can't help but think that there were many instances of love, similar to Helen of Troy and Romeo and Juliet, that were really at the heart of some of the fiercest battles fought during the French and Indian War and the Revolutionary War.

I will share information sources and techniques I discover in my exploration. I also encourage readers to share their comments, opinions, and information. We can all benefit through the cooperative sharing of such information. The interenet has opened up a whole new world to genealogy researchers and historians. While there is a lot of incorrect data floating around in the world wide web, there is also a ton of valuable personal family history waiting to be found. I will post links to websites that I find interesting and helpful, but it is up to the reader to determine the validity of the information. I collect the family trees and queries of others, who connect with my family lines, in my Favorites folder and will share these. However, I do not guarantee the accuracy of these other researchers. The links are meant to act as clues for further independent research.

Many of my ancestors have been in Virginia as early as 1613. My ancestory is primarily Scottish with some English, German and Swede mixed in. But of most interest to me are my Melungeon relations. There are many family tales of Native American ancestory, but little or no proven documentation. This is were I shall begin. My paternal family name is Fields. My father was born in Laura, Ky. Our oral family history says that we should be Hamilton's, but through adoption, an indiscretion or an indian capture, we became Fields. I have had my father's DNA test done through www.familytreedna.com. He matches to a few Hamiltons and doesn't match any Fields. I believe the "event" occured with my ancestor Preston Fields, b. 1795, married to Elizabeth Rutherford in Wise County, VA, 1817.

My mother is a Ball, whose mother was a Hatfield, from Blackberry Creek in Pike, County Ky. My research will delve into parts of Kentucky, which were once included in the state of Virginia.

A few surnames, from Virginia, I am actively researching are Ball, Blackburn, Brown, Fields, Hamilton, Hatfield, Keesee, May, Maynard, Rutherford, Scott, Short, and Skaggs. There are of course hundreds more, but these are my primary focus at this time. I look forward to connecting with my on-line cousins!