While researching Nashville Penitentiary convicts, I noted the prisoner Lacy Witcher (and many other prisoners) was “Pardoned under the Act of 1836” (see image 1). What was this act? Was it simply for good behavior or was there another reason, such as prison over-crowding or perhaps an outbreak of a …
I headed down the research rabbit hole last week. I’m looking at a family who lived in Ohio during the building of the Miami and Erie Canal. The romantic gondola-filled canals in Venice, Italy are nice. However, I’m fascinated by the hard-working (and often forgotten) canals that were part of …
On my recent genealogy road trip I visited The Homeplace in Stewart County, Tennessee. It’s a recreation of a 1850s farm situated in the Land Between the Lakes recreational area. We arrived on an outstandingly beautiful spring day that only enhanced the charm of the location. The location is just …
In 1791 Nathaniel and Robert Pryor were apprentices in Jefferson County, Kentucky. Nathaniel Pryor was part of the Lewis and Clark expedition in 1803. In 1808 in Jefferson County, Jane Pryor married John B. Gilly. The Adam S. Pryor who was apprenticed in 1817 in New Orleans was Robert’s son …
I’ve run into fraternal organizations recently while working on early twentieth century genealogies. They were called lodges, societies, orders, leagues, legions. Fraternal groups were popular in the late 1800s into the early twentieth century. They offered a social group, some were politically active. Fraternal organizations were so prevalent in the …
