Posts Tagged ‘Virginia’

Don’t Forget Dad!

Posted: August 17, 2026 in Family
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Hello everyone, this is my dad, Billy Edward Cornett, born March 15, 1944. He passed away in April 2001 and lived to be 57 years of age. From what I can recall, he lived with his mother, Lucia Rose Cornett in the family home that I remember from when I was maybe 6 years old, in Whitehall, Maryland. He lived in this house for about 28 years (since April 1998).

Just last week, I submitted a request for a copy of his birth certificate online through the Virginia Vital Records office. Easy process and it only costed me $15, cheaper than I thought it would be, to be honest. I am waiting to receive this document via snail mail. I’m kind of excited to see what kind of information I can glean from his birth certificate! Then just this morning, I found that I misplaced his death certificate, somehow. I had placed the copy of it in an Evernote app, in a note I created several years ago. So once I decided to no longer use the app, I emailed it to myself and must have accidentally deleted it. (YIKES!) So I had to try and remember the funeral name from the death certificate so I could request a new working copy, not certified but just a copy, at least for now.

I contacted the funeral home via their website, and I must say within less than 5 minutes I was contacted by phone, they searched and sent a copy to my personal email address. How’s that for customer service?? In a past post, I believe the title was “Who’s My Daddy”, I mentioned that my father was a brick wall of sorts. Since I am a child of parents who divorced when my sister and I were very young, we do not have very much information on him. Maybe a handful of memories, a couple of photographs, I want to know so much more!

I plan on trying to have a conversation with my mother this afternoon, after work to see if her memory will cooperate with us both. She has early signs of dementia starting, so there are a few questions I would like to ask to see if I can maybe learn where he went to school, when they met, what he did for work while they were dating…you know the early years kind of stuff! Based on his death certificate, I know he only had an 8th grade education and his occupation was listed as a carpenter, but that’s really all I know the details of, sadly. Why did he not graduate high school like my mother had? Did he have to quit school to help support the family? Did he just not like school? SO many questions that I hope to enlighten you all with, in a future post!

The reason I wrote this post, is sometimes dads get overlooked and they can be an important building block to your future research as you travel through the many avenues or traveling down the long, winding dirt roads of our ancestral roots.

HAPPY HUNTING! May your adventures lead you to thrilling discoveries and unforgettable experiences, whether you’re exploring the great outdoors, searching for hidden treasures, or simply embracing the joy of pursuit. Remember to take in the beauty around you and cherish each moment as you embark on this exciting journey filled with new opportunities and challenges along the way!

Treasure Chest Thursday ~ Books and Documents

Posted: August 23, 2012 in cornett, Treasure Chest Thursday
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Memorandum (Ashe County, NC Public Library)

Copy taken from a book titled, “The Cornett’s, Our Great Family” Introduction Page

Cornett Information From Ashe Co.,North Carolina Public Library (page 6)

Cornett Information from Ashe County, North Carolina Public Library (page 11)

Cornett Information from Ashe Co., Pub Lib, NC (pg. 12)

These documents were copied by the Ashe County, North Carolina Public Library.  I received these pages in an email from a fellow researcher who I am currently working with, among others and out of respect for her privacy, her name is not mentioned here.  Interspersed on these pages is information regarding James Cornett(Cornutt) and Sarah Basham, who were the parents of both David and James Cornett Jr.

David’s Will is among those documents mentioned and includes information about Margaret Mary (Molly) Vaughan.  The person who compiled all of this information was Leta Kay Glenn Cornett. Whether it was a document or book, I’m not entirely sure. The document/book is entitled, “THE CORNETT’S, OUR GREAT FAMILY“. I can imagine that this “book” is no longer in print as I haven’t been able to locate a copy as yet. I would love to read it in its’ entirety as I only have selected pages and they are random at best!

There is also a copy of a document from the DAR stating that James Cornett(Cornutt) was married to Molly Vaughan.  The MEMORANDUM, dated January 1967, beginning with John Cornett of Henrico County, Virginia. Information regarding David, listing his military record and that he and James both received grants in Montgomery Co., from Governor Henry Lee and James P. Preston, and also including a listing of his children.

So what have you been researching this week?

Related articles

Mystery Monday ~ Who, What, When, Where?

Posted: August 20, 2012 in Ancestry, cornett, Family, Genealogy, research
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“Hawaiian Jasmine”
Photo Credit: Kelly Vial via kellyvial.wordpress.com
Photo Taken: July 2012, in Honolulu, Hawaii

Hope everyone had a wonderful, blessed weekend! I spent my Saturday, cooking and creating in my kitchen and my Sunday was spent at Ala Moana Beach Park near Magic Island. I went to a baby shower for a dear friend and it was a smashing success! Plenty of games, good food, playing and watching the keiki’s have fun in the sun. There’s nothing better than getting together with your family and friends and welcoming another new life into this crazy world. The sun  was hot yesterday and it was really refreshing to enjoy the cool,  salty water with everyone. It was an unconventional baby shower where men were included in this awesome celebration. It was all great fun 🙂

Speaking of family, who were they really? My quest is to learn more about who my Cornett family really is. It’s more than the genealogy aspect, it’s about the history of my family and getting to know them on a more personal level even though they are long gone. Sometimes I think I should have been born in this era, back in the 1800’s. What life must have been like for them. The trials and tribulations they must have endured in order to survive. Once you start your own family history research, you find that you need to dig just a little deeper because you just haven’t found that clue yet. It may be in the next shovel of dirt you are digging with. You bend over and scoop up a handful of rich soil, while it slowly sifts through your fingers. Looking, searching, and hoping that the next clue will one day be right there in your hands.

What kind of people do you come from? Were they from another country other than the U.S.? Why did they choose Grayson County, Virginia or even Kentucky in which they decided to settle? What were their thoughts regarding the land they would be living on? Was it fertile land, great for farming and cattle? What did they hunt for food? Deer? Did they come across Native Americans? What did they eat back then? So many questions and I will probably never know all of it, but the thrill of the hunt keeps me going!

When my family settled in Grayson, Virginia and also in Kentucky, why did these particular areas appeal to them so much over other areas? I can only imagine that this land in which they decided to live and start a family on, was rough and rugged. Can you imagine having to clear land and trees in order to build your home? Today we have heavy machinery to do this for us, so you can guess how much hard work, tears and sweat they must have poured into their lives, their land and their homesteads. I guess the good thing about that, is the ability to use the lumber in which they had to clear,  using the wood as a log home or cabin.

Where did the Cornett family originate from? From some web sites I have read, it mentions that the Cornett surname was Norse or of French origin. Does anyone really know? The Cornett family married into one family with the last name of Sutherland, where some of the Sutherland’s back in the mid 1700’s originated from Scotland. But what about the Cornett’s? Where do the really come from?

There are so many things to discover in your family tree. The who, what, when, and where of your history will only add depth to your knowledge of your ancestors that came before you.

What will you discover?

Happy Ancestor Hunting!! 🙂

Lost and Found ~ Photographs of the Past

Posted: August 2, 2012 in article
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The Virginia welcome sign at the Virginia welc...

The Virginia welcome sign at the Virginia welcome center on I-95 employs the state bird, the cardinal, and the state tree and flower, the dogwood. (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

I am a member of several societies relating to genealogy research in the state of Virginia and I just wanted to post this web link for those of you out there that may be looking for lost family photos.

http://oldphotos.homestead.com/lost.html

The owner of the site is actually selling them, some are only $7 each, so take a look as I’d hate to see someone buy your treasured photos!

Another site you may be interested in are some obituaries dated from 1790- 1940!

http://virginiaobits.homestead.com/

Good luck and happy hunting! I hope you find something that relates to your family history search within these links! 🙂

Those Places Thursday ~ Old Country Store

Posted: August 2, 2012 in Family
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James Granville Cornett Store
Photo Credit: Dan R Roberts (1980)

“This store sat at the corner of Comers Rock Rd. and Roberts Cove Rd. and was operated by Mr. And Mrs. Granville Cornett from 1918 to 1959. It is no longer standing.” (Dan R. Roberts)

In the above image, my great grand uncle, James Granville Cornett, who was born on March 1, 1880 and died December 17, 1959, operated the store for approximately 41 years. When he first operated the store he had to have been only 38 years of age, given the date calculations of his birth, death, and dates of operation. He was the brother of my great grandfather Stuart “Marvin” Monroe Cornett. I am not sure who may have operated the store after his death in 1959, or if it just closed down permanently. The above photo was taken about the year 1980 in Grayson County, Flat Ridge, Virginia.

What items did he sell inside this store? Was it anything like a convenience store similar to what we have today? Maybe he sold gas, because it looks like from the photo above there were some old gas pumps there at one time. Maybe even Pepsi-Cola? At least this is what it looks like from looking at the top of the building, it looks like bottle cap signs which may have been Pepsi’s brand.

I wish I had more photographs of the store when it was in it’s prime, but I’ll have to investigate this further to see if any even exist. First and foremost, I would have to find out what the name of the business was called as I don’t see any business name. It could have been on the white, washed out looking sign on the right hand, top side of the photo.

If anyone knows anything about James Granville Cornett and his store, please don’t hesitate to contact me. I would love to know more!

Motivation Monday ~ On The Hunt

Posted: July 29, 2012 in Ancestry, Family, Genealogy, research
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brick wall

brick wall (Photo credit: Muffet)

Most days, I stay motivated by working with other family researchers, who just so happen to be my own family! Family I never knew I had until recently. They have become my rock so to speak. They know what hard work it can be to try and track down our ancestors. The thirst for knowledge we have about our family’s past. The ache of not knowing where one family members’ life may take us. It could be down an old, beaten path or it could be down a road less traveled. So much so that we have to cut our way through and make the path passable. At the end of the day, a genealogist or family historian still has names, dates, agendas, to-do lists, research plans and logs, documents to find, dusty attics to search through– all this and much more goes running through our minds at any given time. Most of the time I suffer from insomnia and find myself wide awake at different hours of the night, or should I say early morning? It seems like my best writing ideas comes to me at 3 a.m.! I guess it’s my quiet time with no interruptions or anything else that would distract my thought process. It’s just me, my cup of coffee which is flavored with my favorite hazelnut creamer, my laptop, and my thoughts!

I have even found myself dreaming of what I needed to do regarding my genealogy research. I recently had a dream of ancestors and antique shops, where I found something from the 1700’s that had their name and date of birth written on it. It was a simple Christmas ornament, but the shop keeper wanted an arm and a leg for it and it was way out of my price range. ($7500 to be exact) What do you think triggered this dream? It had to be the email I sent to this antique shop in Virginia just a few days ago! If I were to interpret the dream, I would say that I am feeling out of touch, feeling that my ancestors are just out of my reach. So close but yet so far! I can dream up some really strange dreams, but this one I actually remembered in vivid detail for some odd reason.

Today, I feel like I need more motivation to keep up with all the block walls that I seem to be running into blindly. If you can just picture this: a woman running along a winding road, the wind blowing through her hair and the sun shining down on her. All of a sudden she collides into a brick and mortar wall, her face slamming right into it, as it just appeared out of nowhere. She’s stunned. She looks around to see if anyone saw her. Oh, how embarrassed she would be! Mortified to say the least 🙂

In my most recent search for my fathers documents, I didn’t know the city or county he was born in until Sunday afternoon. I received an email from my aunt, telling me that my father was born in Wythe County, Crockett, Virginia. He wasn’t born in a hospital, but born at home. Even though all that is good to know, I need concrete evidence so I am able to move further back into my family tree, nourishing those roots with some good old TLC and begin my thorough research on my grandfather. One of my goals is to become a member of the DAR (Daughters of the American Revolution) through one of my patriot family members. But to do this, I need all the documents that I can get my hands on. With any luck, I will accomplish this goal! For those of you who don’t know me personally, I am determined, strong willed and stubborn like my father. I admit I am sometimes too patient but at the same time, I can also have a mean temper. Just ask my husband he’ll tell you what it’s like! 🙂

 

Sorting Saturday ~ Who’s My Daddy?

Posted: July 28, 2012 in cornett, Family, research
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information hydrant

information hydrant (Photo credit: Will Lion)

Sorting through documents, scanning, saving them to my hard drive on my laptop, and importing them into Family Tree Maker 2012 has helped me keep track of what I have and don’t have. Also, I have created a back up disc just in case my laptop decides it doesn’t want to operate anymore. This is very important to me because I had another laptop two years ago where the motherboard fried. All information was lost! Photos, college papers I had written, my resumé, my artwork, and many other important documents that I had saved over time. All GONE! Irretrievable.

Lately, I have been seeking information on my father, Billy Edward Cornett, and have discovered that he has become a brick wall of sorts. Not knowing him as a daughter should, my parents divorced when I was very young, I am finding that I don’t even know the details as to where he was born! After creating a research plan for my father, I hadn’t realized that I was lacking this particular information. Granted, I know that he was born in the state of Virginia in 1944 but that is all I know. I am lacking the information of the county, city and even the hospital in which he was born at. How do I request a birth record based only on this little bit of information I have of him? Where is his paper trail?

 

I have all the other documents I need, except this one little piece of paper that could tell me so much more! Frustrated doesn’t even begin to describe my feelings on this lack of data on my own father, no less. I am a family historian and genealogy buff, I should be able to find this piece of evidence at least. I have written emails to family members and no one seems to have a copy of his birth certificate or even know where this document could be; they don’t know who might even have it, if anyone even does. Dead end #1. I have searched for him on the Family Search web site. Dead end #2. I have searched Archives.com and nothing but census records and an SSDI reference. Dead end #3. I feel like I am overlooking something that is staring me right in the face!

 

My next step would be to contact the Virginia Vital Records office to see what information I can get about his birth. Since I am his next of kin I should have no problem ordering his birth certificate through them. This will have to wait until Monday morning as they are closed right now. Being on Hawaii time, I am 6 hours behind the east coast.

 

These are the documents I have on him to date:

 

  1. Death Record
  2. Obituary
  3. Marriage Certificate
  4. Marriage Certificate Receipt (Ha! My parents only paid $5 back in 1971)

So today, I ask myself, “Who’s My Daddy?”

 

 

 

Thankful Thursday ~ The Fun of Genealogy

Posted: July 18, 2012 in Thankful Thursday
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Energizer Bunny

Energizer Bunny (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

I have been researching my family’s history for several years now, off and on. The past few months, I have been going at it non-stop. I couldn’t just stop researching after all the work I was putting into my blog on a daily basis. My readers want something new, something that will also help them in their own research. They want fresh articles with substance. So I kept going and going like the Energizer bunny!

Genealogy is a very interesting topic to me and even doing all the research and hitting brick walls along the way, I still find myself trying to break through. There is one brick wall that still eludes me, but do you think I am quitting and giving up on this one person, who happens to have disappeared off the face of the Earth after he was born? Not a CHANCE! If anything, it makes me want to search even more. There is bound to be something that I haven’t found on him; somewhere the evidence is hiding out just waiting for me to find it.

I have discovered that my family on my father’s side emigrated from Scotland, going back several hundred years, but I still have to prove everything with the correct documentation. So how do you find the information you’re seeking?

Genealogical Resources

For myself, I started writing a Blog to keep track of my research findings, and I think it has helped immensely. It keeps things in order and it’s easier to go back to a particular article that I wrote just in case I need to refer back to it for some reason, or if I forgot a name or a date of importance. Keep in mind though, that you really should cite the source of information and give credit to the person or entity in which you have gained this information from. They probably put a lot of man hours into the research and published it on the web for others to read over. You wouldn’t want your work stolen and used by someone, now would you? Some may not consider it stealing, but it is. It’s a theft of words. The words or ideas belong to someone else, they are not yours. So definitely make note of your documented sources, especially if you plan on publishing it for all to see.

Awhile back, I had utilized Google’s Archive where I just researched and scanned old newspapers looking for a lead into my family’s past. A photo, an article, or even the obituary section would give me a lead to work with. It is a great resource that I don’t believe will be around much longer; there was a news article awhile back which claimed that Google was getting rid of the Archive on its’ own web site. What a pity! Here is the link to the article in which I am speaking of, just in case any of my readers are interested in reading further.

http://www.theatlantic.com/technology/archive/2011/05/google-shuts-down-newspaper-archive-project/239239/

Genealogy Links

I have personally used other resources to aid in my family search; sites such as:

http://www.ancestry.com/– this site actually helped me find a few cousins that are researching the same surnames that I was. Check it out and see where your family roots take you. I like this site for the documents that can be viewed, the photos members have posted and the family trees that you can create for your own family. Granted, you will have to do the research yourself as all trees may contain mistakes. They could have copied this from the web just assuming the data is true. Assumptions don’t count. You can also view other public member trees to see if they may have some information that is similar to your own. I found War Draft records from World War II, Census records of family members, SSDI (Social Security Death Index), voters lists, BMD records (Birth, Marriage, and Death), old photos and plenty of leads to other members of my family, but I have to make sure that what is listed is actually true and factual information. It is a long process, and even better when you can accumulate documentation to back up your findings. (Which by the way I am still working on.)

http://www.findagrave.com/– This site has helped me many times! Users and volunteers post photographs of actual cemeteries and headstones. The information is displayed as a form of memorial, if you will. I actually found a relative this way by requesting a photo of a particular headstone in a cemetery in Virginia. My relative actually went to the grave site and searched for the headstone in a family cemetery. She then took pictures and sent them to me in an email. Such a treasure and I am forever grateful to her. Since I live in Hawaii, it’s not like I can just take a weekend off to travel on the mainland and do this myself, so I am really thankful that she was willing to go to such lengths for someone she didn’t even know, personally.

Here are a few other web sites that may help you in your family search:

http://www.archives.com/

http://cyndislist.com/

https://familysearch.org/

http://www.genealogybank.com/gbnk/

http://refdesk.com/factgene.html (I really like this site- there are over 70 additional resources that lead you to other links)

http://www.scotlandspeople.gov.uk/ (I used this site once I found that my family may have emigrated from Edinburgh and was potential members of a Highland Clan)

I wish you all the luck in finding your family roots; it can be an adventure and also lead you to family members you may have never known existed! Take your time and don’t expect to complete your research overnight. It won’t happen just like that.

Free Genealogy Resources

Posted: June 30, 2012 in Family
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English: An example of a Genealogy fan chart (...

English: An example of a Genealogy fan chart (or family tree fan chart) where paternal and maternal ancestors are shown as concentric rings of a fan. This family tree fan chart also includes family coats of arms. (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

With the economic crunch that so many of us are feeling these days, myself included, we have to find a way to do research on our past generations in a much more frugal fashion. Unemployed? Still trying to find a job after so many interviews and very little call backs? I feel your pain. I have been in the market for not just a job but a career for several months now. No matter where you go, it’s been hard for everyone. I happen to live in Honolulu, and it’s just as hard here as any other metropolitan area in the mainland. I want to do something I’ll love in years to come; this is part of the reason I started writing again. I love it! Do I get paid to do it? Not so far, but it’s something I like to do. Being a genealogy researcher and unemployed at the same time can be a little time consuming, if not hair raising. Since looking for work and doing research takes up my hours and days, and sometimes those unfruitful days turn into very long weeks, I have been seeking out low cost or FREE genealogy resources to help me along the way.

Free resources are the best sometimes because it allows you to continue your search of your unknown ancestors. There are hundreds, if not thousands of genealogy blogs online. Start reading them! They are very informational and we all appreciate the feedback on the articles or topics we have written. Contact them or start a conversation in regards to the article presented; it doesn’t have to be scholarly. This is how you learn. People make mistakes or just may not be educated in this particular topic, but this will eventually help you. How? Well for starters, you will introduce yourself to the researcher where you can ask questions you may have, or just get a feel of what a genealogist does on any particular day. Learn from them, it’s easy and doesn’t cost you a dime to do so. It just takes up a few precious moments of your time to shoot someone an email and ask a few questions that you may have been wondering about. Go ahead and give it a try! You will be glad you did.

5 FREE RESOURCES I LIKE

https://familysearch.org/ ~ This web page has many free documents such as indexed records of the 1940 census, they also have other years available to aid in your search, birth, death, marriage records, probate records, military records and many more. You can search for free! There are learning centers on the site along with videos to watch and free genealogy courses that you can take online to help you discover your family tree. Discussion forums are a nice way to get involved also.

http://usgenweb.org/ ~ This web page is searchable by states, time is donated by dedicated volunteers to aid in keeping genealogy web sites free for us. For example, some of my family is from the beautiful state of Virginia. I click on the link for Virginia and I have a page of other links to go to that will further my research and increase my desire to find out more. I hope you enjoy this site as much as I have.

http://www.olivetreegenealogy.com/index.shtml ~ This web page has over 1900 pages of free genealogy records to help you and your search for your ancestral roots. Just to name a few different features of the site, there are too many to list otherwise. The Olive Tree Genealogy site has ship passenger lists, a gazillion other resource links, orphan records, photo albums, and even tutorial and help files along with blog articles. How could you not go to this site? It’s absolutely rewarding! I love it 🙂

http://www.geneabloggers.com/ ~ I utilize this site almost every day. It keeps me in touch with genealogists and their own blogs, which I have learned a great deal about. Not only is there a listing of blogs, but the site displays ones I never knew existed. I read the articles, the tips and tricks, and I try to stay up to date in the news of genealogy on a day to day basis. This site even lists events such as upcoming conferences and the like. Read up on what they have in their blog resources, and if you are thinking about writing a blog on your family history, you can submit your blog to this site. This, in turn, publicizes your site and helps you gain readers who may have never known of your site, or you, of theirs. It’s definitely worth checking out!

http://blog.dearmyrtle.com/ ~ Another resource I like to use is actually a blog by Pat Richley- Erickson called Dear Myrtle. On this site there is just loads of information to help you achieve the results you are looking for. So many articles, a calendar for webinars, you name it she has written about it. It’s a wonderful resource that you really shouldn’t miss!

 

I have only shared five links but there are thousands of others related to this topic. New blogs are popping up every day and why not even utilize the social networks? I utilize these every chance I get! There are Facebook pages on genealogy, some personal and some not, such as mine called Fans of Genealogy where you can access here : http://www.facebook.com/MyBlogMyLifeMyAncestry

Try Twitter! Connect with other users interested in the same topics- connect with them, talk to them. You never know what friendships you will make here unless you just get yourself out there and DO IT! You can follow my tweets on my twitter page at: https://twitter.com/KellyVial1 follow the people or pages that I do or you can just search for new ones on your own.

One option for doing a genealogy search is utilizing the search engines! Google Chrome is great and has many other features and apps that you can use. Try this link: https://chrome.google.com/webstore/category/home?utm_source=chrome-ntp-icon

Another search engine I would like to mention, but do not use regularly is Mocavo; this search engine is new and dedicated to genealogy but it hasn’t reached it’s full potential just yet. Yes they are off to a great start and you are welcome to try it, I think you have to sign up though. http://www.mocavo.com/

I hope you find these links useful and wish you all the luck in finding the roots to your family tree 🙂

Have you found any interesting resources? Care to share? Reply below, I look forward to checking them out!

Genealogy Tips For Beginners

Posted: June 14, 2012 in Uncategorized
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Are you interested and intrigued by your family ancestry but just don’t know where to start? First of all, you will want to start by being organized with your findings. You could start by creating folders for known family surnames that you plan on researching. If it helps, write a small note that has surnames of your family listed. This sometimes helps keep you organized but at the same time you don’t want to overlook a surname either.


For me, my interest and infatuation with genealogy came from my father. More than 15 years ago, he sent me a packet and in this packet were two different sets of genealogy research papers with names, birth, death, and marriage dates along with the names of children on down the line. When I first started, never having the proper education as far as the topic of genealogy was concerned or having someone say, “this is how you should start and this is what you need to do to get started”, so I did what I had to do, on a limited budget. I taught myself! Granted, I haven’t learned everything I need to know. Why? Because every day you learn something new. But how you retain that knowledge and use it is entirely up to you, the student.

I won’t tell you that your family research will be easy, because it won’t be. You may have some members in your family that you look up and find everything you could possibly hope for, but not all family members will be so easy. You have to dig deeper for these others because they are hiding out. For all we know, they could be there. Just not in plain view sight! They could be in an old cardboard box at a historical library in a room with other boxes. Just keeping each other company while collecting dust. That’s a horrible thought when I think about it.

The following tips helped me in my research and I hope they help you too.

1. Interview Family Members ~ Get in touch with and stay in contact with living family members that you can “talk story” with. You may hear a family story or two that you may be able to utilize later. You could voice record the conversation or even set up a video camera for your family interview. You probably don’t have to take it to the video extreme but it is an option you may want to consider. Talk to grandparents, aunts and uncles and anyone else you think may be able to offer some insight to your research.

2. Join a Genealogical Society ~ What are the benefits? You can learn new research skills and techniques for starters. You can meet other local researchers and volunteers that may help you along the way too. It is a great way to network with others that share your passion on the topic of genealogy. You can attend monthly meetings and listen to guest speakers and even if you are like me, and have moved away from the area where the majority of your family may have settled, you can still join! (My family is mostly from Kentucky and Virginia, but I live in Hawaii) You may eventually meet some local family historians who are more than eager to share their own experiences and accomplishments. Another benefit to joining is the newsletter, it may be monthly or bi-monthly, but the information that is in them could be very beneficial! So what are you waiting for?

3. Family Albums and Scrapbooks ~ Looking through an old family photo album or scrapbook, you may find just about anything! One day I was looking through some photos my mother has collected over the years, and not only did I find a few old photographs but I also found obituary clippings and funeral cards too. Scrapbooks and photographs can tell a story like you wouldn’t believe. Remember it’s not just about finding the photos, you could find birth announcements, wedding invitations, birth and death certificates, vintage postcards, old letters,   military records or enlistment papers.  

4. Family Bibles and Journals ~ Look at an old family bible which most likely has writings of birth and death, names and dates, christenings or baptismal records. The possibilities are endless! My grandmother on my mother’s side use to have an old cedar chest in a guest bedroom. I wish I had access to the objects that were inside! I remember as a child, I would wear all her fancy old hats, scarves and jewelry that she kept in there. The jewelry wasn’t valuable at that time but they would be considered a great heirloom piece one day. She had old clothes in the chest along with a quilt she made, some doilies and some old books. Memories are wonderful things to behold.

5. Local Libraries ~ Visit your local library as you never know what you may be able to find there. Talk to the librarian and explain the research that you are partaking in. She may be able to offer some guidance or recommend certain texts. Unlocking the door to the past may only be a library card away! Here you can get familiarized with the printed work offered and also microfiche. Microfilm and the readers at your library may help spare you some time in researching and reading book after book. 

6. Internet Research ~ The Internet has evolved in so many ways. There are so many web pages dedicated to the topic of genealogy and family history research. You could read other blogs, read and participate in genealogy forums, read articles on the topic, groups on Facebook you can join, news articles. You can even view archived newspapers, look at old photos and anything related to this subject. Access to libraries online, genealogy files, online family trees, personal web pages that list members of their family tree, cemetery records and many others.

Below are a few of my favorite links that I like to utilize, but remember when doing your research, to have everything documented and to cite the source where the information was obtained from. If you do this right from the start, you can go back further in time and research other members of your family. For example, you may have a copy of your parents and grandparents birth or death certificates. This would name their parents, so this is a lead you can work with! Then you can research the parents and their parents and so on down the line. Good luck!

Links







There are many more sites to choose from but this list is just for starters. Good luck in your research and I hope this article has helped you in some way. 


Image Source:
Title:

vintage family photo album and documents
Caption: genealogy & family history
Creative image #: 108757760
License type: Royalty-free
Photographer:

Andrew Bret Wallis
Collection:

Brand X Pictures
Credit: Andrew Bret Wallis
Release information: This image has a signed property release. This image is available for commercial use.
Copyright: Andrew Bret Wallis

Stuart Marvin Cornett and Gincy Malinda Long

Posted: August 3, 2011 in Genealogy, generations, Gincy Caroline Malinda Long, research, Smythe County Virginia, Stuart Monroe Marvin Cornett
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Stuart and Gincy were my great grandparents and Stuart was also the grandson of James Monroe Cornett and Mary Ann Cornett. He was born on September 22, 1881 in Grayson County, Virginia and died on February 3, 1966 in Smythe County, Virginia at the age of 84. His immediate family includes his wife, Gincy Malinda Caroline Long and their 14 children.

Stuart Monroe/Marvin Cornett (09/22/1881-02/03/1966)

Gincy Malinda Long (07/01/1886- 09/24/1978)

Married April 5, 1905 by Rev. Johnson Stamper

Children
Born
Married
Died
Della Pauline
Wayne Wright
02/06/1906
02/14/1904
11/23/1924
02/07/1963
01/10/1979
Mary Frances
Verlin Cornett
Frederick L. Corriston
05/04/1908
01/19/1905
04/24/1910
N/A
N/A
N/A
N/A
04/16/1972
09/10/1979
Anna Mae
James Dean Russell
07/12/1910
03/06/1908
07/01/1928
N/A
07/14/1986
Grover Fred Cornett
Wave L. Kiser
08/31/1912
07/15/1919
10/07/1939
N/A
01/20/1987
Lucia Rose Cornett
Walter Allen Cornett
07/08/1914
12/29/1909
07/15/1928
11/2010
06/30/1967
Pearl Mildred
Harmon Harold Hash
05/08/1916
07/17/1913
04/07/1939
N/A
08/04/1986
Elbert Wayne Cornett
Edith Roberts
05/04/1918
07/04/1926
07/12/1941
N/A
N/A
Charles Estel Cornett
Velma Louise Parks
05/02/1920
07/13/1925
10/04/1941
N/A
N/A
Lillie Edna
Millard C. Parks
04/10/1922
05/29/1921
05/22/1941
N/A
N/A
Carl Wesley Cornett
Margaret Emaline Watson
03/21/1924
02/22/1929
08/01/1949
N/A
N/A
Ora Lee
Stanley Franklin Anderson
11/10/1925
05/26/1927
12/16/1946
N/A
06/10/1993
James Donald Cornett
Doris Jeanne Leonard
07/22/1928
07/03/1931
09/20/1952
N/A
N/A
Billy Cornett
Jackie (Wadie) Richardson
07/05/1930
01/19/193_
08/10/1949
(Divorced)
N/A
N/A
Claude Scott Cornett
Betty Sue Shepherd
11/30/1932
07/26/1934
12/05/1953
(Divorced)
N/A
N/A
 

I have been researching the Cornett line for some time now and have been adding data as it becomes available to me. It is a long process when trying to incorporate data tables of the information supplied to me, in hard copy form I might add. But it is all coming together. Patience is a virtue I am learning, as I like things completed NOW. But in genealogy you have to be patient, so I’m taking baby steps!

 

What’s The Deal, Lemon Peel?

Posted: July 9, 2011 in Alexander Sutherland, British Army, Dunrobin Castle, Highland Clearances of Scotland, Jane Barbour, Lineage, Margaret Bryan, missing links, surnames
Tags: , , , , , , ,
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Searching high. Searching low. I’ve been researching Alexander Sutherland for some time now; I can’t seem to get the man out of my head. I have been scouring the internet for anything to do with the Sutherland surname. Alexander would be my 4th great grandfather who was born June 3,1743 in Sutherland, Caithness, Scotland, and died in the year 1843 in Grayson County, Virginia. I know that he married Margaret Elizabeth Bryan, who was from Culpepper, Virginia sometime in the year of 1784. I’m not sure of the exact date, but I do know it was supposedly during that year. Alexander’s father was Samuel J. Sutherland born 1717 in Scotland and his mother was Jane Barbour born 1719, also in Scotland.


I have heard a few different stories as to how he came to the United States. While in Scotland he served in the British Army. One side of the story tells us that he switched sides and fought for the Revolutionary forces, and another story says that he deserted the British Army, (or even right after the war) to settle in the rugged mountains of Virginia. In my own opinion, I believe he and another man may have deserted and come through the lines of the American Revolutionary soldiers and ended up coming to the mountains of Virginia by way of North Carolina, as the border was very near but were first in Wythe County, Virginia.Wythe County is where he would have met Margaret Elizabeth Bryan, his future wife. Margaret was the sister of a man that Alexander had befriended. Back then the mountains were considered a wilderness, untouched by the people as far as farming and settling this land. Later, Alexander married Margaret, whom the family called “Peggy” (Peggy Bryan). They may not have married in Culpepper, Virginia but in Wythe County. I just have to find proof if there is any.  


I imagine that I will have a pretty difficult time finding any legal documents because at that time during the war, many of the homes and even the courthouse itself, was in fact, burned to the ground. So any records they may have had, were destroyed. 


During the time that Alexander came to America, the Scotland Clearances were in full force; so Alexander inevitably felt that he should join the British Army and come to the states to escape the risk of starvation. The Clearances was the clearing of people from Scottish lands so that sheep could be raised instead. It sounds horrible to let your own people die of starvation in order to raise sheep. The clearances took place in the Highlands, which is where some of the Sutherland family comes from. Some from Caithness; but most others came from the coast to coast band across Scotland.


The Sutherland family actually had their own clan; the Sutherland’s were also intertwined with the Campbell’s, since the Countess of Sutherland married into the Campbell family. 
I recently received an email, name is private, sorry. But in this email, I was told that the Campbell’s are now very close to the Queen of England; and that the original Sutherland Duke was killed by his wife and her family- whose last name was Gordon and the Sutherland Castle is now Dunrobin. But Sinclair Castle, near Edinburgh, is where a lot of Sutherland information is now.


I will definitely be investigating the link between the Sutherland and Campbell families. It seems an interesting story as to how or even why the Sutherland Duke was killed by his own wife and her family. Were they the devious sort, marrying their daughter to a titled man and then killing him off so they could gain his property and the castle itself? Very interesting indeed!


Image Source: Lemons
Photo Credit: Photographer~ James and James

Grayson County: A History in Words and Pictures

Posted: July 6, 2011 in Ancestry, book, Facebook, family ties, Genealogical Gem, Grayson County VA, Heritage Foundation, roots, settlers
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Very excited as I have purchased a book on Amazon, entitled “Grayson County: A History in Words and Pictures”. I just can’t wait to receive this book! The book was published by the Grayson County Historical Society. Many of my ancestors settled here and still live in the area. This may just give me a little more insight to who my family really was. I can’t believe I found this gem of a book and didn’t have to pay a fortune for it!



Image Source:
Grayson County: A History in Words and Pictures (Book)




There is also a FaceBook page for the Grayson County Heritage Foundation, if any of you are interested. Grayson-County-Virginia-Heritage-Foundation
Another site of interest is Olden Times (Virginia)

Phebie "Feby" Sutherland (Cornett)

Posted: July 4, 2011 in Ancestry.com, cornett, David Blue Cornett, Feby Sutherland, Find A Grave web site, Grayson County VA
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Image: Personal Collection
Also Found Same Image On Find A Grave Web Page
(Link Source Below)

Feby was my 3rd great grandmother, born in 1809 and died in 1885; she married David “Blue” Cornett on February 22, 1826 in Climes Branch, Grayson County, Virginia. Feby was born in Elk Creek, Grayson County, Virginia. Place of burial is at Central Cemetery in Flat Ridge, Grayson, Virginia. 




Ancestry.com File: 
ID: I117654
Name: Phebe SUTHERLAND
Sex: F
Birth: 15 MAR 1808 in Montgomery County, Virginia
Death: 5 MAR 1885 in Grayson County, Virginia


Father: Alexander A. SUTHERLAND b: 3 JUN 1743 in Sutherland, Caithness, Scotland
Mother: Margaret Elizabeth BRYAN b: 1771 in Culpepper County, Virginia

Marriage 1 David Blue CORNETT b: 3 NOV 1805 in Grayson County, Virginia

  • Married: 9 FEB 1826 in Grayson County, Virginia

Children

  1. Has No Children Allen CORNETT b: 27 MAR 1827 in Grayson County, Virginia
  2. Has Children Peter CORNETT b: 3 MAR 1829 in Grayson County, Virginia
  3. Has Children Rachel Isabell CORNETT b: 25 APR 1828 in Grayson County, Virginia
  4. Has Children James Monroe CORNETT b: 23 DEC 1831 in Grayson County, Virginia
  5. Has Children Lorenzy Dowell “Dow” CORNETT b: 24 SEP 1833 in Grayson County, Virginia
  6. Has Children Joseph Alexander CORNETT b: 16 MAR 1835 in Virginia
  7. Has Children Margaret Jane CORNETT b: 30 MAY 1837 in Grayson County, Virginia
  8. Has Children Dudley Jackson CORNETT b: ABT 1838 in Grayson County, Virginia
  9. Has Children Wesley Isom CORNETT b: 27 MAR 1841 in Grayson County, Virginia
  10. Has Children Barbara Eveline CORNETT b: 2 JAN 1843 in Grayson County, Virginia
  11. Has No Children Olive Melvine CORNETT b: 12 JUN 1844 in Grayson County, Virginia
  12. Has No Children Nancy Levine CORNETT b: 11 JUL 1846 in Grayson County, Virginia
  13. Has Children Stephen Thomas Columbus “Doc” CORNETT b: 19 MAR 1849 in Grayson County, Virginia
  14. Has No Children John Wesley CORNETT b: 13 JUL 1851 in Grayson County, Virginia


Image from Find A Grave WebPage
Photos Submitted by: Clinton G.





Stuart "Marvin" Monroe Cornett

Posted: June 16, 2011 in 14 children, family stories, Flat Ridge Virginia, Gincy Caroline Malinda Long, James Monroe Cornett, Stuart Monroe Marvin Cornett, Uncategorized, Virginia
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Ominous Sky in Grayson County, Virginia

Ominous Sky in Grayson County, Virginia (Photo credit: Dancing Arethusa)

Stuart was my great grandfather and I believe he was also the grandson of James Monroe Cornett and Mary Ann Cornett. He was born on September 22, 1881 in Grayson County, Virginia and died on February 3, 1966 in Smythe County, Virginia at the age of 84. His immediate family includes his wife, Gincy Malinda Caroline Long and their 14 children. The children’s names are Della Pauline Cornett, Grover Cornett, Mary Frances Cornett, Anna Mae Cornett, Lucia Rose Cornett, Pearl Mildred Cornett, Elbert Wayne Cornett, Charles Estel Cornett, Lillie Edna Cornett, Carl Wesley Cornett, Ora Lee Cornett, James Donald Cornett, Billy Cornett, and Claude Scott Cornett. 


Stuart didn’t like his middle name of Monroe, so he changed it to “Marvin” (although his grandfather was named James Monroe Cornett). Stuart and his wife, Gincy Malinda Caroline Long were both born in the Flat Ridge area of Grayson County, VA and were married on April 5, 1905, by Johnson Stamper. At their wedding party they said they wanted 14 children like great-grandparents David Cornett and Feby Sutherland and great-great grandparents, William and Mary Hatfield Cornett— Stuart and Gincy did indeed have 14 children- 7 sons and 7 daughters! 

They began housekeeping in a little house just over the hill from his fathers farm. They had several children when they purchased a neighboring farm from Lucinda Nelson and her son, Jasper. This is where all the other children were born. About 1938, they built a new home just “hammering distance” away and this home and farm are now owned by their son, Carl Wesley. (Curtis Cornett bought the farm in 1993). 

Stuart was a hard working, honest man who was an affectionate but strict father. He had cancer of the shoulder bone and had his left arm removed in 1960, the doctors were amazed by his speedy recovery. He managed to do almost everything for himself and did not consider himself handicapped. His special fork had a “knife” tine on the edge and he seldom asked for any help at the table. He loaned money to his children when they needed it and charged the local ones 1% interest. His children living out of state had to pay 2% because he couldn’t “see” what they were doing with the money! He and “Lindy” promised all their children $100 or a horse if they did not drink or smoke before they turned the age of 21. That was a lot of money back then and doubly hard when six sons went into service. (Some of the children claimed their prize.) 

Malinda was a good neighbor and mother who remembered each child’s favorite foods and made sure they were on the table during their visits. With 14 children, that was remarkable! She lost the sight of one eye after cataract surgery but she still quilted, embroidered, and crocheted. The family attended Bald Rock Methodist Church. Stuart, Malinda and their oldest daughter, Pauline Wright, are buried in Central Cemetery in Flat Ridge, Grayson County, Virginia.


Note:The information above was given to me by my father, Billy Cornett.

Virginia Historical Society and Other Sources

Posted: June 15, 2011 in colonial times, Confederate, exhibits, Genealogical Societies, historical society, history, lectures, maps, newspapers, online, Virginia
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Virginia Historical Society IMG_2719

Virginia Historical Society IMG_2719 (Photo credit: OZinOH)

Today, I am researching different sources that have to do with the history of the state of Virginia; that is where  the majority of my family originated from, initially. There is a Virginia Genealogical Society which will aid in any search that may have to do with the states history and articles in which to read. I have yet to navigate through the entire site; I figure it would be a great starting point to further any current research I am doing. Membership prices can be found on this website for those who may be interested in joining. You can access publications also with your membership. But since navigating through some of the page tabs, I’m not very impressed by what the site has to offer, in terms of research. I think I can get better information through the Virginia Historical Society, but to each his own. 


Membership Prices- VGS




The Virginia Historical Society has an impressive amount of links throughout each page, that will lead the average genealogist, like myself to some of the great wonders of Virginia history. The historical society of Virginia has some really great exhibitions both on site and off. What really intrigues me about this, is the fact that I can view one of these types of exhibitions online! It’s definitely too far to travel, at least for me. Some of the exhibitions that are offered are definitely of interest to me, some of which include these topics: Jamestown, Colonial Times, the Civil Rights Movement, and several others. 


Online Exhibits


This site includes many research articles which include books, Confederate imprints, photographs, newspapers, family and personal papers, genealogical materials, and maps. But that’s just the start. Take a look around and see what you find; you may be surprised! On the event page, if you are familiar with the site and have been here but may have missed a lecture that you were hoping to be part of- don’t worry, you can hear the lectures online too. This site is really a gem! I love the fact that you can view things like this online, it’s a great feature for those who cannot be there in person. If you just love history, this is the site for you. If you are researching family ties, I would definitely at least have a look around. There are membership fees for individuals and families alike, but I think it would be worth the money you put in, for all the features that the historical society offers you. Be sure to check out the virtual tour on the home page!


Virginia Historical Society

Finding Reliable, Trustworthy Sources To Aid In Your Genealogical Research

Posted: June 11, 2011 in baptism records, England, Family Search, Genealogical Societies, Genealogy, microfilmed documents, Resources, Tools
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English: The lonely tree again! With new leaves.

English: The lonely tree again! With new leaves. (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

There are hundreds of web pages out there that display family trees, but are they your “go-to” source? Is it truthful or just word of mouth saying it’s so? Where did they get this information from? If it was from family members, that’s GREAT! But thinking back to when I was in elementary school, I remember my teacher playing a game with the entire class. She would call on one student at random, whisper something in their ear and tell the next person whatever it was she may have said. On and on it went around the room until the last student received the teachers’ message. Let’s just say that it wasn’t the same as what the teacher had told the first student. I guess you know where I’m headed with this…and if not, then I’ll explain. When people share things, no matter what the subject, in time they just become distorted.


One resource that I use almost daily to search my own family roots is the Mormon based website called Family Search. They place a religious emphasis on publishing materials or documents after a death, and therefore, baptism has inspired the creation of the world’s largest collection of genealogical materials. So with respect to this web site and others that are similar in nature, I thank you for this great resource tool. After all, do I just want a tree full of collected names or do I want the facts? Granted, sometimes you want to go to a resource that offers free information. But you have to think about what you will be getting in return. I, myself, want the facts that lead me on my journey to find out exactly who my ancestors were, how they lived, and where I come from.

From what I can understand through Family Search, they are in the midst of a gigantic project that will take the millions of records they have of microfilmed documents, for online viewing. When researching your family, think strongly about joining a genealogical society for the area in which you are searching. So for me, I would join one in Virginia, Kentucky, Scotland, and England; my ancestors from the Sutherland line originated from Denmark, Scotland, and England. So this is where I could start searching and collaborating with others that are trying to accomplish the same thing that I am. 




David "Blue" Cornett

Posted: June 10, 2011 in ancestry library, Daniel Boone, David Blue Cornett, Davy Crockett, Feby Sutherland, Flat Ridge Virginia, Jamestown Colony, Polly Rankins
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English: View from Tater Knob in the Daniel Bo...

English: View from Tater Knob in the Daniel Boone National Forest in Kentucky, USA. (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

David “Blue” Cornett was born in 1805, married Phoebe “Feby” Sutherland (born March 6, 1808) on February 2, 1826, and died January 24,1886 in Grayson County, Flat Ridge, Virginia. According to Ancestry Library, the marriage records indicate that his last name was Connute. The 1850 Federal Census of Grayson County,Virginia has his occupation as being a farmer. You can access the above information here: Ancestry Library. (In this posting I will be referring to David as “Blue” and Phoebe as “Feby”.)


Blue’s father was James Cornett, born in 1783 in Grayson, Virginia. His mother was Rachel Wright, born circa 1783 and died circa 1827. Rachel was 22 years of age when she gave birth to “Blue”. How ironic is it, that when Rachel died, “Blue” was 22 years old. I have seen other references as to whom “Blue’s” mother was- Polly Rankins was her name. But this hasn’t been confirmed yet. See It Here!


“Blue” and “Feby” had 14 children! I  couldn’t imagine having to feed, clothe, and shelter 14 children in those days, or even today for that matter. That’s a lot of children to care for in any day and age. They had a daughter named Olive Melvine that died at the age of 3, she was born June 12, 1844 and died on February 6, 1847; so she almost made it to her fourth birthday. They also had a son by the name of John Wesley Cornutt, who was not even a year old by the time he passed. John Wesley was born July 13, 1851 and died on March 13, 1852. 


From an email I received:
“Phoebe’s maternal grandmother, who was believed to be related to the West family in early Virginia.  It’s possible that she may be a descendant of Thomas West, Lord De La Warre, who saved the Jamestown Colony and for whom the State, River and Bay of Delaware are named.”


“There is some reference to the Sutherland family (Feby) being involved in the Revolution and with Davy Crockett and Daniel Boone in the Carolinas and Kentucky.”


I am keeping the sender of this email private, but wanted to thank them for sending this information to me. ❤ I will update as I come across more information about David “Blue” Cornett and Phoebe “Feby” Sutherland.


This is all the information I have on David “Blue” Cornett and Phoebe “Feby” Sutherland. If anyone can add anything to this post, I would be forever grateful!