Tonia's Roots » American Revolution http://www.toniasroots.net Family History and Genealogy Mon, 06 Feb 2012 15:01:23 +0000 en hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.3.1 Tombstone Tuesday: Captain Thomas Lytle http://www.toniasroots.net/2011/10/25/tombstone-tuesday-captain-thomas-lytle/ http://www.toniasroots.net/2011/10/25/tombstone-tuesday-captain-thomas-lytle/#comments Tue, 25 Oct 2011 16:00:22 +0000 Tonia Kendrick http://www.toniasroots.net/?p=9139

Captain Thomas Lytle Headstone

Thomas Lytle served several tours in the American Revolution.  He was a captain in Brevard’s North Carolina Legion and was present at King’s Mountain, although he did not fight in the battle.  He died 31 March 1835 and is buried at Bethel UMC-Old Cherry Springs Cemetery in Old Fort, North Carolina.  He was my 5th great-grandfather.

]]> http://www.toniasroots.net/2011/10/25/tombstone-tuesday-captain-thomas-lytle/feed/ 1 On this date. . .the 7th of October http://www.toniasroots.net/2010/10/07/on-this-date-7th-of-october/ http://www.toniasroots.net/2010/10/07/on-this-date-7th-of-october/#comments Thu, 07 Oct 2010 11:50:32 +0000 Tonia Kendrick http://www.toniasroots.net/?p=4945

Births
  • Enoch Brookshire was born in 1782.
Deaths
  • Anna Margaretha (?) Dellinger died in 1725.
  • Abram Whitener was killed at the battle of King’s Mountain in 1780.
  • Anna (?) Whitener died in 1906.
]]> http://www.toniasroots.net/2010/10/07/on-this-date-7th-of-october/feed/ 0 Weekly Updates for 2010-07-07 http://www.toniasroots.net/2010/07/07/weekly-updates-for-2010-07-07/ http://www.toniasroots.net/2010/07/07/weekly-updates-for-2010-07-07/#comments Wed, 07 Jul 2010 22:00:00 +0000 Tonia Kendrick http://www.toniasroots.net/2010/07/07/weekly-updates-for-2010-07-07/

]]> http://www.toniasroots.net/2010/07/07/weekly-updates-for-2010-07-07/feed/ 0 Weekly Updates for 2010-06-16 http://www.toniasroots.net/2010/06/16/weekly-updates-for-2010-06-16/ http://www.toniasroots.net/2010/06/16/weekly-updates-for-2010-06-16/#comments Wed, 16 Jun 2010 21:35:00 +0000 Tonia Kendrick http://www.toniasroots.net/2010/06/16/weekly-updates-for-2010-06-16/

]]> http://www.toniasroots.net/2010/06/16/weekly-updates-for-2010-06-16/feed/ 0 And the iGene Award Goes To http://www.toniasroots.net/2010/02/14/and-the-igene-award-goes-to/ http://www.toniasroots.net/2010/02/14/and-the-igene-award-goes-to/#comments Sun, 14 Feb 2010 14:00:42 +0000 Tonia Kendrick http://www.toniasroots.net/?p=2850

Carnival of GenealogyWelcome to the 2009 iGene Awards, spotlighting Tonia’s Roots.  We’ll be celebrating the best posts of 2009 and presenting awards for Best Picture, Best Screenplay, Best Documentary, and Best Biography.

The nominees for Best Picture are. . .

And the winner is. . .

Mariah (Langston) Roberts!  I love this photo.  She is such a cute, little old lady.  With her sparkling eyes and apple cheeks, she looks like she would be a sweet, fun person to know.

The nominees for Best Screenplay are. . .

And the winner is. . .

Captured by Indians!  Captured by Indians is the story of a plucky young woman in the early days of the United States, who endured an unspeakable ordeal, and her husband who would not give up the search.

The nominees for Best Documentary are. . .

And the winner is. . .

Orphans and Orphans: A Sad Bit of History!  Written for the 85th edition of the Carnival of Genealogy, this tells the story of a terrible summer when a whole family suffered from typhoid and only a few survived.

The nominees for Best Biography are. . .

And the winner is. . .

Tombstone Tuesday: Mariah Langston Roberts!  This is Mariah’s second award of the evening.  She was an amazing lady and this biographical sketch includes the story of one of her adventures during the Civil War.

I’d like to thank the Academy, and our hostess Jasia at Creative Gene, for creating this memorable event.

This post was written for the 90th edition of the Carnival of Genealogy:  The Third Annual iGene Awards, The Best of The Best! To see other posts I’ve written for the COG, click here.

]]> http://www.toniasroots.net/2010/02/14/and-the-igene-award-goes-to/feed/ 4 Surname Saturday: Top 10 Ellis Research Resources http://www.toniasroots.net/2010/01/23/surname-saturday-top-10-ellis-research-resources/ http://www.toniasroots.net/2010/01/23/surname-saturday-top-10-ellis-research-resources/#comments Sat, 23 Jan 2010 15:00:08 +0000 Tonia Kendrick http://www.toniasroots.net/?p=2460

Ellis is the second-most common surname in my genealogy database.  These are the 10 resources that I have found to be most helpful in researching these family members.

  1. “Ellis and Keener Connections” – a family tree compiled by Lynda Gibbs and housed at Rootsweb World Connect.  Some of you are groaning that WorldConnect family trees are inaccurate and that may be true in many cases.  This tree, however, includes numerous source citations, and I have been able to corroborate most of the information presented on my Ellis connections.
  2. 1900 U. S. Federal Census (available online for $ Ancestry.com and for free (images included) at FamilySearch Pilot).
  3. 1850 U. S. Federal Census (available online for $ at Ancestry.com).
  4. 1840 U. S. Federal Census (available online for $ at Ancestry.com).
  5. 1860 U. S. Federal Census (available online for $ at both Ancestry.com and Footnote.com.  Index available for free at FamilySearch Pilot).
  6. 1870 U. S. Federal Census (available online for $ Ancestry.com and for free (images included) at FamilySearch Pilot).
  7. “Revolutionary War Pension and Bounty-Land Warrant Application Files” (available on for $ at Footnote.com).
  8. Gilmer County, GA USGenWeb Archives
  9. 1880 U. S. Federal Census (available online for $ at Ancestry.com.  Index available for free at FamilySearch Pilot).
  10. “Georgia Death Certificates, 1919-1927” (available online for free at Georgia’s Virtual Vault).

To see all the deceased Ellis’s in my database, click here.  If you have Ellis connections or suggestions for other Ellis research resources, please leave a comment!

Note:  the collage was created with pieces from the Holiday Sugar Cookies kit by A-liya – Elena Chukovskaya at a-liya.blogspot.com.

This post is part of an ongoing series focusing on specific surnames. To see all posts in the series, click here.

]]> http://www.toniasroots.net/2010/01/23/surname-saturday-top-10-ellis-research-resources/feed/ 1 Fighting for a New Nation http://www.toniasroots.net/2009/07/03/fighting-for-a-new-nation/ http://www.toniasroots.net/2009/07/03/fighting-for-a-new-nation/#comments Sat, 04 Jul 2009 00:39:58 +0000 Tonia Kendrick http://www.toniasroots.net/?p=1026

As we prepare to celebrate the anniversary of the birth of our nation, I want to take a moment to recognize my ancestors who fought for (or supported the fight for) our freedom and independence.  I have seventeen ancestors and relatives who were involved in the American Revolution.  To see the complete list, click here.  Many thanks to all of them for their service and sacrifice.  I’m in constant awe of their courage.

As I wrote last week, I’m working on my DAR application, which must include a description of the Patriot’s service.  I’m applying through Captain Thomas Hemphill, my 4x-, 5x-, and 6x-great-grandfather.  He supported the cause monetarily and as a soldier and officer.

In 1776, he furnished wagons to be used in the Cross Creek Expedition. This campaign against the Tory elements of Central and Southeastern N. Carolina culminated in the Battle of Moore’s Creek Bridge on Feb. 27, 1776, where the Patriots won a decisive battle against the Loyalists.  Those of you who read Diana Gabaldon will remember this battle from the latter part of A Breath of Snow and Ashes.  Moore’s Creek Bridge was a pivotal battle in the Southern Campaign;  Tory activity in North Carolina decreased and sentiment for the revolution rose, leading to increased recruitment of soldiers into the Patriot forces.  Two months later, North Carolina became the first state to grant its congressional delegates the authority to vote in favor of independence.

In January 1780, Hemphill enlisted as a lieutenant in a mounted rifle company commanded by Captain Robert Patton (my 6x-great-uncle).  In early April, the company began a march toward Charleston, S. C., then under partial siege by the British. They arrived at Monck’s Corner, South Carolina, coming under the combined command of Gen. Isaac Huger.  (Revolutionary War hero Francis Marion “The Swamp Fox” was from the Monck’s Corner area, so it is possible that Hemphill and Patton both knew and fought with him.)  The day after they arrived, on April 14, 1780, in a pre-dawn attack, the British completely routed and dispersed the Americans.   Patton, Hemphill, and the remnants of their command later joined in with the the mounted troops of Col. William Washington, remained at Camden for a while, and then marched to Cross Creek. At Cross Creek, they came under the command of Col. Charles McDowell. Col. McDowell and his troops marched back toward Charlotte and eventually to Lincoln County.

Hemphill and his men, being mounted, advanced quickly into Burke County.  He, in the meantime, had received a Captain’s Commission, and began to organize a company at Burke Court House.  He then led his company in the Battle of Ramsour’s Mill.  In this battle of neighbors against neighbors, the Patriots won despite being outnumbered 1300 to 400.  It was the first Patriot victory after the devastating defeat of the Continental Army at Camden.

Afterwards, Hemphill and his men accompanied the McDowells in the S. C. skirmishes in the summer of 1780.  On October 7, they fought in the Battle of King’s Mountain, widely considered the turning point of the war.

After the war, Thomas Hemphill lived a long and prosperous life in Burke County, North Carolina.

]]> http://www.toniasroots.net/2009/07/03/fighting-for-a-new-nation/feed/ 0 Daughters of the American Revolution http://www.toniasroots.net/2009/06/28/daughters-of-the-american-revolution/ http://www.toniasroots.net/2009/06/28/daughters-of-the-american-revolution/#comments Sun, 28 Jun 2009 21:51:35 +0000 Tonia Kendrick http://www.toniasroots.net/?p=927

I’ve decided to join the DAR.  I’ve thought about this for awhile and finally decided to go forward for a variety of reasons.

  1. Identifying Revolutionary War patriots is one of the things that originally got me interested in genealogy.
  2. Obtaining access to the DAR genealogy files.
  3. Completing the rigorous application process will be a test of my research skills.  I’ll also see exactly what is required; I’d like to establish proofs of the same standard to each of my patriot ancestors (which currently number 12).

Number three is a key reason.  I coud join on my great-aunt’s application and use the short form.  However, my current plan is to join on the service of Captain Thomas Hemphill, which means I have to establish proof of births, deaths, marriages, and connect each of the generations from me to him.  I have quite a few proof documents already.

I contacted the local chapter this week and heard from two members, including the registrar yesterday.  They were very nice and seem eager to  help me through the application process.

]]> http://www.toniasroots.net/2009/06/28/daughters-of-the-american-revolution/feed/ 1 William Brookshire’s Revolutionary War Service http://www.toniasroots.net/2009/01/31/william-brookshires-revolutionary-war-service/ http://www.toniasroots.net/2009/01/31/william-brookshires-revolutionary-war-service/#comments Sat, 31 Jan 2009 12:00:18 +0000 Tonia Kendrick http://www.toniasroots.net/?p=780

William Brookshire, my 5x great-grandfather, served several tours of duty in the American Revolution.  He was drafted for his first tour in Rowan County, North Carolina in August of 1775 or 1776.    Under the command of General Griffith Rutherford, his militia company marched upon the Cherokee Nation, but found that the Indians had fled.  General Rutherford took a portion of the troops and marched on to the Valley towns.  The remainder, including William’s troop, stayed to guard the troops’ supplies.  They were also directed to scour the countryside, destroying all the Indian’s property that they found.  This three-month tour ended when the troops returned to North Carolina.  He was discharged at Salisbury.

About 1778 or 1779, William was called to service against the Tories, who were being troublesome on the waters of the Yadkin and Deep River in the section of North Carolina where he lived.  His class traversed the countryside for about three weeks, under the command of Captain Williams and Major Crump, in search of Colonel Fanning.

Sometime in the summer of the following year, his class was again called to suppress the Tories on the Deep River.  Under the command of Captain Aaron Hill, they traversed the counties of Guilford, Randolph, and Anson, but the Tories soon desisted from further action.  The tour lasted four weeks.

During the following winter, his class marched, again under the command of Captain Hill, to aid in suppressing the Tories under Colonel Fanning.  Fanning escaped and the Tories dispersed.  This tour lasted four weeks.

About 1781, just after the battle of Guilford, the Tories, encouraged by the approach of Cornwallis, became active in the area of the Yadkin and Deep River.  William joined the company of mounted infantry commanded by Captain William Cole in Rowan County.  They spent three weeks keeping the Tories in check, then were discharged.

He was not called upon again during the Revolution.

Source: “Revolutionary War Pension and Bounty-Land Warrant Application Files,” database and images, Footnote.com, iArchives, (www.footnote.com : NARA), File of William Brookshire (North Carolina), pension no. S.6706; accessed 04 Jan 2009.

]]> http://www.toniasroots.net/2009/01/31/william-brookshires-revolutionary-war-service/feed/ 1 What’s New – 1/7/09 http://www.toniasroots.net/2009/01/07/whats-new-1709/ http://www.toniasroots.net/2009/01/07/whats-new-1709/#comments Wed, 07 Jan 2009 12:00:39 +0000 Tonia Kendrick http://www.toniasroots.net/?p=717

New Marriage Records

James Butler-Nancy Floyd Marriage License

John Ward-Martha Jane Butler Marriage License

New Census Records Found

1870 – Dave “Ballard” (possibly Dave S. Butler)

1920 & 1930 – Newton C. Ward household

1910 & 1930 – William LaFayette Roberts household

1930 – J. A. Hemphill household

1910 – Elijah M. Roberts household (includes Mariah Langston!)

1910 – William Henry Roberts household

1910 – James Sidney Roberts household

1910 – Will Coffey household

1910 - Tom Moreland household

1910 – Loranza Dow Roberts household

1910 – Earnest Edward Roberts household (includes Mariah Langston!)

1870 – John Stroud/Delilah Bright household

1880 – Alvah Brookshire household (includes Elizabeth Tilley!)

New Data

Jesse LaFayette Forrester – death date & place

Newton C. Forrester – marriage date

John H. Johnson – marriage date

William R. Johnson – marriage date

New People

Newton C. Forrester’s wife – Victory Chastain

John H. Johnson’s wife – Nancy Scruggs

William R. Johnson’s wife – Sarah H. Odom

Arvil Roberts’ wife – Minnie Bruce

Revolutionary War Pension Records found

(look for more details on these in future posts)

William Brookshire

Thomas Lytle

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