I’ve decided to work on being a CG (Certified Genealogist), and I figured that I’d blog about it here. Two big steps before I start on building my packet for the BCG is to complete the course that the NGS offers the Home Course Study CD. I will also be attending the 2010 NGS Family History Conference in April (as well as teaching a class on Ancestry.com Search for Ancestry.com of course!).

So my first lesson, I’ve been working on a while. It has two parts, a family tree and then a documented family group sheet. The one thing I’ve learned quickly since I’ve started this is that I am doing a horrible job of documenting my sources! But I’ve got my copy of Evidence Explained by the ever wonder Elizabeth Shown Mills next to me, and I have a feeling over the next few months, I’m going to be a bit better at this! Oh, and if you at are all serious about this hobby, you must own this book by her. It’s not a book you sit down and read cover to cover, but it is an amazing reference. And if you every get a chance to go to one of the genealogy conferences that she is at, you must attend one of her classes. She’s amazing.

I just got around to transcribing this, but here is the estate settlement for James Calvin Donald. If anyone wants a photocopy of the original, drop me a note.
He died in July of 1899. This was done on 20 Nov 1900.

Side Note:  James C Donald's
	    Appraisement
	    Ex'd

An Inventory and Appraisment of the Personal Estate of James C
Donald dec'd made November 20th 1900 by John T L Preston, L M Leibig
and Greenlee Farrow in pursuance of an order ofRockbridge
County Court, Virginia, of date November 7th 1900, having been
first duly sworn for the purpose

Property						Value
1 two-horse wagon and hay ladders			$9.33
1 wagon bed						  .50
1 log chain						  .50
1 log chain						  .50
1 tool box in barn and contents				  .83
1 meal chest						  .43
1 goods box					          .07
1 goods box						  .07
1 cutting box						 1.33
1 set of two-horse harness				 4.33
1 single set of buggy harness				 5.31
2 four-prong forks					  .28
1 old big plow				                  .23
1 grind-stone						  .83
4 old buggy wheels					  .62
2 old grain cradles					  .50
1 old buggy rake					 1.50
1 pair double trees					  .70
1 spring tooth harrow					 7.83
1 wooden frame harrow				  	 1.33
1 double-shovel plow without handles			  .33
1 cultivator						  .33
1 stay chain and 1 single-tree & front & rear of
  running gear of old one-horse wagon			  .50
1 old hill-side plow					  .67
1 black 2 year old colt					50.00
1 black 6 months old colt			  	24.50
1 bay mare						53.33
1 old hand saw						  .13
1 square						  .27
2 drawing knives					  .22
1 old plane						  .10
1 crow bar						  .10
1 old grind-stone					  .20
1 bureau						 1.83
1 clock							 2.00
1 small table						  .83
1 single bedstead without bedding			  .58
1 double bedstead and springs without bedding   	 1.33
1 wardrobe						  .92
1 rocking chair						  .58
2 chairs					          .43
1 smooth-bore gun 					  .75

		amt. car'd forward		      $177.55
		amt brot forward		      $177.55
1 rifle gun						 2.16
1 brass kettle					 	  .47
1 buggy						        27.33
1 bee scap(?)						 2.50
one-half interest in fence machine			  .50
1 double barrel shot gun				 5.00
1 watch 						 8.00
						      $223.50

Appraisement of Property claimed by the widow of James
C. Donld dec'd as exempt from sale under sections 3650 and
3653 of the Code of Virginia and set set asside to her

Property						Value
1 roan mare					        $56.66
6 chairs						  1.30
1 sow and two pigs					 11.00
1 sewing machine					  6.33

Given ounder our hands the day and year first hereinbefore
written.

J L Brger, D S for Thos A		Greenlee Farrow
Sterrett S R C a as such		L M Leibig       Appraisers
adms of James C Donald Decd		J T L Preston  

Examined and approved for recordation
					W. S. Hopkins Coms of accts

Sate of Virginia

In Rockbridge County Court Clerk's Office, December 11th 1901.
This Appraisement of the Personal estate of James
C Donald decesed was this day presented in this office
and admitted to record.

					Teste: A J Shields Clerk

Side Note:
	James C Donald's Sale Bill
	(Ex'd)

	Sale Bill of Personal Property of James C Donald, decd made by
	his administrator Dec 27th 1900.

	Article				Purchaser		Price
	One harrow frame		Nothing bid for it
	One cultivator			J C Falls		  .15
	Spring tooth harrow		James H Donald		 4.70
	Plow (without handles) 		D. H. Gillespie		  .10
	Double-tree			J. C. Falls		  .25
	Meal chest			J Scott Moore		  .25
	Tool box and contents		James H Donald		  .55
	Cutting box			James H Donald		 1.75
	One set wagon harness		J M Lewis		 2.50
	Two four-pronged forks		James E Brogran		  .25
	Plow and beam			W P Gillespie		  .25
	One buggy			W P Gillespie		18.25
	One set buggy harness		W P Gillespie		 3.85
	One grind stone			J Scott Moore		  .45
	Two grain cradles		J H Donald		  .05
	One set buggy wheels		J C Falls		  .05
	One-half interest in cane mill	Will Hays		 8.00
	One buggy rake			J C Falls		  .10
	Rear part of buggy		J C Falls		  .05
	One plow			D H Gillespie		  .20
	One mare			R H Moddispaw		27.00
	One two year old blck colt	J F Falls	 	56.25
	1 double barrel shot gun	W P Gillespie		 6.35
	One rifle			J L Barger		 1.30
	One smooth bore gun		James H Donald		  .25
	Two drawing knives		James E Brogram 	  .10
	One square			J G Wills		  .15
	One plane			J L Barger		  .05
	One grindstone			James E Brogran		  .10
	One brass kettle		W T Dod			  .30
	One crow bar			J G Wills		  .25
	One short crow bar and saw	James E Brogran		  .05
	One bee scaf 			James P Amole		  .60
	One wagon			James H Donald		 4.25
	Set of breast chains		William Hys		  .35
	One log chain			J Scott Moore		  .60
	One wagon bed			Earl Carter		  .15
	One single bedstead		Earl Carter		  .05
	One double bed and springs	D H Gillespie		  .90
	One table			W P Gillespie		  .50
	One wardrobe			John Donald		  .15
	One bureau			James H Donald		 1.05
	One Clock			John Eaton		 1.20
	One rocking chair		James E Brogran	          .70
	One split botton chair		James E Brogran		  .05
	One half interest in fencing machine	W.P. Gillespie	  .50

		Amount car'd for'd			       162.45
		Amt brot for'd				       162.45
	One watch			James H Donald		 3.00
							       165.45

				J. L. Barger  D. S for
				Thos A Sterrett, S R C and as such Adm
				of James C Donald dec'd
	J Scott Moore
		Clerk of Sale

	Examined & approved for recordation
				W. S. Hopkins, Com of Accts

	State of Virginia:
	In Rockbridge County Court Clerk's Office, December 11th 1901.
		This Sale Bill of the Personal Estate of James
	C. Donald deceased was this day presented in this office
	and admitted to record.

				Test: A T Shields Clerk

I’ve been working on my Granny Laura’s side of the family. I’ve updated the index pages for every family name, the most names have been added to:

Cash Index

Donald Index

and the newly created : Matchett Index

I found this little nugget on Ready from 6 Jun 1830. It appears that he put up some collateral to pay off a debt to Samuel M D Reid. John F Caruthers was the holder of the collateral. I think.

He would have been about 31 when this was filed, and the 1830 census does show him living in Rockbridge. He was married for seven years at that point, and had two children Martha Jane Cash and James C Cash.

Not a lot of genealogical data here, but interesting non the less. I’m always interested to see what people owned and how things like knives and forks had actual value back then.

If you are interested in seeing the photocopy of the original drop me a note.

Side note:
Ready M Cash to
Jno F Caruthers for
Saml M D Reid
Executed

Text in deed book:

This Indentured made this twenty sixth day of June in the year One thousand eight hundred and thirty. Between Ready M Cash of the first part and John F Caruthers - of the second part and Samuel M D Reid of the third part witnesseth that the said Ready M Cash being justly indebted unto the said Samuel M D Reid in the sum of Twenty nine dollars and seventy two cents by note bearing ?? date with the presents, and honestly desiring to secure this payment thereof doth as well for and in consideration of the premises as of the sum of one dollar to him in hand paid by the said John F Caruthers the receipt whereof is hereby acknowledge, hath granted bargained and sold and by these presents doth grant bargain and sell unto the said John F Caruthers, his executors and administrators, the following personal property to wit; two feather beds, bed clothes and bedstead : one walnut bureau, one walnut falling leaf table, and all the other household, and kitchen furniture now owned by him consisting of chairs knives & forks, plates, tc, tc

Clerks office Rockbridge County Court June 28th 1830

Source:

Title
Deed books, 1778-1915 ; general indexes to deeds, 1778-1914, 1947-1975

Authors
Virginia. County Court (Rockbridge County) (Main Author)
Rockbridge County (Virginia). Clerk of County Court (Added Author)

Deeds, Vols. O-P 1824-1828 - FHL US/CAN Film [ 33768 ]

Deed book P, page 3.

These are taken from the book Rockbridge County Virginia Death Record, 1871 - 1896, compiled by Ken Morris& Ruth Morris Blimes, Iberian Publishing Company, Athens Georgia, 2000

I found these when I was at the Family History center in Salt Lake last week.

This is the first time I’ve seen a death date for Mary (Polly) HARTIGAN CASH.

CASH, Polly (w/f) d 29 Aug 1887, Lex, old age, age 87 yr, b RB, rpt’d John Eton, son-in-law

CASH, R. M. (w/f) d 25 Apr 1886, Lex, old age, age 87 yr, laborer, rpt’ John Eton, son-in-law

John EATON married Mary CASH (17 Sep 1873); Mary was the daughter of Mary (Polly) HARTIGAN and Ready M CASH.

Mary and Ready are listed as living with John and Mary Eaton in the 1800 census. This also establishes Mary and Ready’s birthdates, which are wrong in way too many places to count. Specifically, this suggests that Mary was born in 1800 and Ready in 1799.

Here are the rest of the CASH deaths from that book:

page 37

CASH, Effie T. (w/f) d. Jan1894 Longwood, fever, age 19 yr, d/o D.F. & Margaret SAVILLE, b RB, w/o J.F., rpt’d: husband

CASH, Ellen A, (w/f) d. 4 Dec 1891, Fairfield, unkn cause, age 1 mo, d/o Edw C & Lina CASH, b RB, rpt’d : father

CASH, James G (w/m), d 24 Mar 1884 Walk Crk, mumps, age 4mo 24da, s/o Jno W & Elizabeth CASH, b, RB, rpt’d : father

CASH, James G (w/m), d. 25 Apr 1885 Walk Crk, mumps, age 4yr 10da, s/o Jno W & Elizabeth CASH, b RB, rpt’d: father

page 38

CASH, Mattie R. (w/f) d 29 Jun 1886 SoRiv, whooping cough, age 47r, d/o J & Martha CASH, b RB, rpt’d : mother

CASH, Nancy (w/f), d 24 Augu 1888 SoRiv, paralysis, age 66yr, d/o: Henry & P DRAWBOND, b RB, rpt’d: mother

CASH, Nancy L (w/f), d 4 Jul 1883 SoRiv, consumption, age 51yr, d/o Zach & Lucinda CASH, b. Amherst CO, single, rpt’d: mother

CASH, Perly (w/f), d 4 Nov 1881, Bbrg, diarrhea, age 2yr, d/o M.B. & Dela J. CASH, b. RB, rpt’d : father

CASH, Polly (w/f) d 29 Aug 1887, Lex, old age, age 87 yr, b RB, rpt’d John Eton, son-in-law

CASH, R. M. (w/f) d 25 Apr 1886, Lex, old age, age 87 yr, laborer, rpt’ John Eton, son-in-law

CASH, Sallie (w/f) d Oct 1887 SoRiv, consumption, age 6yr, d/o Thom & M.E. CASH, b RB, rpt’d : father

CASH, Sarah (w/f) d 15 May 1892 Lex, dropsy, age 67 yr, w/o John, rpt’d : Jno L Cash, son

CASH, Sorelda J (w/f) d 6 Augu 1893 WalkCrk, typhoidflux, age 42yr, d/o Jno & Mahala Agner, b RB w/o M.B. rpt’d : husband

CASH, Unnamed, (w/f) d 29 Dec 1886 SoRiv, ukn cause, age 1da, d/o: J & Martha CASH, b RB, rpt’d : mother

CASH, Unnamed, (w/m) d d Jun 1893 NatBr, ukn cause, age 23da, s/o W.A. & Martha CASH, b. RB, rpt’d : mother

CASH, Washington (b/m), d 4 Mar 1880 SoRiv, old age, age 82yr, s/oJames & Celia CASH, b RB, farmer, h/o : Sarah, rpt’d : wife

CASH, Willie (w/f), d 17 Dec 1889 Lex, consumption 18yr, d/o: Frank & Fannie CASH, bRB, rpt’d : mother

This is the image of the marriage bond of Charlton Wallace and Martha Jane Cash.

If you are a Cash descendant, notice Ready Cash’s actual signature….that’s a pretty cool genealogy find!

If you would like a bigger copy of this, or have any idea or theories on who this William Wallace is, please contact me. Or if you just want to compare notes on Charlton.

This brick wall will fall some day!

A little over six months ago I was offered a job at Ancestry.com as the product manager for Search. Of course I happily accepted and have loved every day of it. I stop writing on this blog as I try to reconcile my personal searching and my new job. Now that I’ve been there a while and I’ve settled in, and we are at the beginning of new year, it seems like a good time to start back up with my writing on this blog.

My great-great-great grandfather was Charlton Wallace. And he has been my biggest brick wall. I’ve never been able to connect him with any other Wallace. Until yesterday. I spent 9 hours at the Family History Library in Salt Lake City, which if you love genealogy is the place for you. I was scanning through a microfilm of Rockbridge Marriage Bonds and found on roll 2025355, the bond for Charlton Wallace and Martha Jane Cash. And low and behold, it had another Wallace on it. (I almost shouted when I found it!)

Transcription:

Know all men by these presents that we Charlton Wallace, William Wallace & Ready Cash are held and firmly bount unot John M Gregory Lieutenant acting Governor of the commonwealth of Virgina in the just and full sum of one hundred and fifty dolloars to which payment will and truly to be made to the said Governor and his successors for the use of the commonwealth, we bind ourselves our heirs escecutors and administrators jointly and severally firmly by these presents. witness our hands and seals this 6th day of June 1842. The condition of the aobve obligation is such that where as a marriage is shortly intended to be had and solemnized between the above bound Charlton Wallace and Martha Jane Cash daughter of Ready Cash.

Now if there is no lawful cause to obstruct the said marriage then this obligation to be void otherwise to remain in full force and virtue.

Teste David Hutcheson(sp?) Do

Charlton x(his mark) Wallace

William x(his mark) Wallace

Ready Cash (actual signature)

This is the first time I’ve seen an actual document that linked Charlton to any other Wallace directly. Scanning through about 50 other of these type of documents, I only saw two that listed another witness that appeared related to the prospective groom. We do know that Charlton was just about 19 when he married Martha Jane, and therefor not of legal age, so I’m guessing that William was his witness.

Now was William his father? His older brother? His uncle? Some unrelated Wallace? We do know on the 1860 census, two households away is a William Wallace that is listed as the same age as Charlton. I feel it is a bit of a stretch to that this is the same William Wallace.

It was also really interesting to see the actual signature of Ready Cash. I’ll get the document scanned in and posted soon.

So the search for who this William Wallace was is on. Sure, it may turn out not to be a relative, but it’s the first lead I’ve come across and it’s pretty darn exciting.

I’m trying to get some of my research and findings in a more readable and easy to navigate format. I think it might also be a good time to sort of start back at the beginning and work my way back into the past again.

So I’ll start on my paternal grandparents and sort of work my way back up both their trees, one generation at a time.

So I’ll try and get my pages for my grandfather, Gilbert McClung GILLESPIE and my grandmother, Ann Irene FEAZELL a little more up to date.

And I’ll also try and be a little more dilegent about posting in my blog!

I’ve finally updated the deed records for Henry FRANKLIN, Duncan CAMRON, Pierce WADE and Elizabeth WADE. I’ve been away for far too long!

You can find the index to everything I’ve recorded at History Index of Genealogy by Anne

I also have some records for William SMITH, Jacob SMITH and a bunch of GILLESPIE records.

I believe I’ve posted about the SMITH and GILLESPIE information here before.

So more digging turns up that William SMITH, husband of Philadelphia FRANKLIN, is the father of Harriet SMITH, and thanks to information from the VA AMHERST rootsweb message board, I discover that Jacob SMITH is his father. And I believe that Millicent POWELL is his mother.

So, I compiled all the deeds for William Smith in Amherst County from the Deeds of Amherst County, 1748-1807 and published them. Obviously not all of these are my William SMITH because he died around Sep 1798. But I list them all because it may jog someone else’s memory or give them that ah ha moment they’ve been looking for.

I also found an abstract of a Revolutionary War Application for William Smith that I’ve posted. I’m not sure if this is my William or not. Interesting reading; he entered the war around the age of 14. It’s not very clear in this abstract who is applying.