Vanessa WoodI’m pleased to announce the publication of my latest article: “A Forfeited Recognizance Bond and 118 Signatures: An 1805 Legislative Petition Fills Gaps in Anderson County Records.” This article is in the Summer 2026 issue of The Tennessee Genealogical Society Ansearchin’ News.
A Juicy Story
Often an interesting tale is behind citizens joining together as signatories to a petition. A stabbing in Anderson County, Tennessee involving James D. Puckett and Nicodemus Leftwich set the stage. But Nicodemus Hackworth, left with the responsibility for securing an appearance bond, who caused Anderson County neighbors to rally.
A Genealogical Goldmine
Anderson County, Tennessee researchers know the lost 1800, 1810, and 1820 US census schedules leave huge gaps in Anderson County records. The missing censuses can be a brick wall for researchers. This 1805 Tennessee legislative petition signed by 118 Anderson County residents, preserves names that may have been lost with the early censuses.
Familiar Names from 1830
The signed petition bridges almost three decades: many of the men who signed the petition were still in the county when census enumerators recorded households in 1830. This document provides evidence to show these citizens lived in the county from an earlier date.
Whether you’re tracing Anderson County roots or studying early Tennessee communities, this petition opens a rare window into a world where records are frustratingly scarce.
Check your family trees—you might find a surprising connection to this 1805 Anderson County community.
FEATURED IMAGE: Vanessa Wood, Photograph, “Brickwall in Virginia,” March 2025.
