FFF

FFF~Week #48

The beginning of my 3rd generation maternal ancestors!  Looks like this will carry over into 2016.  Once I get into the 4th generation people, I might combine husband and wife pairs if I haven’t been able to research them.

Ancestor: My maternal 3rd-great-grandfather (Aaron Ballard)

Facts: Please look here and here.

I’d like to share how grateful I am that Aaron Ballard and his wife Nancy Pearson decided to settle here in Henry County, Indiana.  It’s a lovely county, rich with history, and I feel a special connection with these folks I never had the chance to meet.  Maybe someday I will.

I’m also thankful that I have this space in which to record my thoughts and share neat things about my family.  I appreciate you all for taking the time to read my gibberish.

Happy Thanksgiving all.

FFF~Week #47

Ancestor: My paternal 3rd-great-grandmother (Elizabeth M. Ray)

Facts:

  1. Born 14 June 1843 in Jackson County, Tennessee.
  2. Daughter of Samuel H. Ray and Nancy C. McCaleb.
  3. Granddaughter of Joseph H. Ray, great-granddaughter of James Ray, and great-great-granddaughter of James Ray.
  4. Died 15 December 15 1883.
  5. Finding the Pendergrass/Ray history was a huge find for me! More research to be done!

Info found here.

FFF~Week #46

Ancestor: My paternal 3rd-great-grandfather (John T. Pendergrass)

Facts:

  1. Born 9 April 1833.
  2. Son of Jesse Pendergrass and Ann Witt.
  3. Was married first to Annie Donaldson.
  4. Married Elizabeth Ray around 1862 (birth of oldest child).
  5. Died 28 May 1921 in Putnam Co, Tennessee.

Found info here.

FFF~Week #43

Ancestor: My paternal 3rd-great-grandmother (Annie L. Gentry)

Facts:

  1. Born 18 June 1826 in Jackson County, Tennessee.
  2. Married Larkin F. Harris.
  3. Daughter of Robert Gentry and Nancy Harris (Nancy possibly a sister to Joseph Harris, Larkin’s father).
  4. Died 29 July 1908 in Putnam County, Tennessee.
  5. ??  Need to do more research!

Info found on FindAGrave.com Memorial #39955645.

FFF~Week #42

Ancestor: My paternal 3rd-great-grandfather (Larkin F. Harris)

Facts:

  1. Born 13 February 1824 in Tennessee.
  2. Son of Joseph Harris and Sarah Richardson.
  3. Married Annie L. Gentry around 1848 (birth of first child).
  4. Died 26 June 1913 in Putnam County, Tennessee.
  5. ?? Need to research more!

FFF~Week #41

Ancestor: My paternal 3rd-great-grandmother (Mary Elizabeth “Betsy” Shanks)

Facts:

  1. Born 13 February 1826 in Fauquier County, Virginia.
  2. Betsy was the daughter of William Shanks and Margaret Maddux.
  3. She married David Wood Maxwell on 2 June 1844 in Jackson County, Tennessee.
  4. She had 10 children:  Martha Ann, Margaret Frances, Joel Whitten, Jane Elizabeth, William Cullom, James Thomas, Tennessee Belle, Laura Josephine, Andrew McClain, and David Wood Jr.
  5. Died 9 May 1888 in Putnam County, TN.

Info obtained from here.

FFF~Week #40

Ancestor: My paternal 3rd-great-grandfather (David Wood Maxwell)

Facts:

  1. Born 5 March 1822 near Baxter in Jackson County, Tennessee (now Putnam County).
  2. Married Mary Elizabeth (“Betsy”) Shanks on 2 June 1844 in Jackson County, TN.
  3. Son of Samuel and Martha A. (Patton) Maxwell.
  4. Served in the Civil War for the Confederacy as a private, probably with the 1st Tennessee Light Artillery Battalion.
  5. Died on 24 August 1869 in Putnam County, TN.

Info found here.

FFF~Week #39

For whatever reason, this ancestor of mine jumps out at me, as if she wants me to tell her story. Has anyone else ever had that feeling about an ancestor from many generations ago?

Ancestor: My paternal 3rd-great-grandmother (Ailesann Dyer)

Facts:

  1. Born 6 March 1811 in Indiana (still working on proving that).
  2. Parents are unknown at this point, but there are several possibilities.
  3. Married Thompson McGuire on 6 April 1831 in Owen County, IN.  Her name is recorded as “Elizabeth Dyre.”
  4. Their daughter, Susan Florance McGuire, married Jonathan Criss.
  5. Ailesann died on 1892 in Greene County, IN, and is buried with her husband in Owen County, IN.

Ailesann Dyer McGuire's headstone  Ailesann Dyer McGuire's burial record pg 1

On the right is Ailesann’s burial record, page 1.  I believe her daughter Mary gave the information because they first recorded the decedent as “Mary McGuire” but then above Mary was added “Alcy Ann.”  This record provided a clue for me: Ailesann did not die in Owen County, IN, but in Greene County, IN, which is the next county over.  I am indebted to the folks in Owen County who found the burial record book.