Crossing Buckhorn - New Book from WCGS Program Chair, George Thomas

I want to call attention to a new family history book  just now hot off the presses from our own program chair, George Thomas. The book, entitled CROSSING BUCKHORN: Untold Matters of Race and Family in the Evolving State of North Carolina is available in paperback at Amazon. 

Crossing Buckhorn explores George's ancestor, Joseph Thomas, and his close bonds to his community and cohorts that started in early Northeast North Carolina. Those interested in migration paths to and through our state to parts west this is a must read.  Those interested in early race relations and learning how three races, Tuscarora, white and black peacefully coexisted for many generations will also enjoy reading George’s book. Check the preview on Amazon. As well as being a noteworthy family history, you will find it to be a good read.

My copy is on order. I am tracking delivery as we speak!

Visit Wake County Genealogical Society's Website - Homepage | WCGS Events | Join WCGS | Publications | Wake Cemetery Survey Images | Society Surnames | Digital Resources | History Resources | More Links and Resources | Contact

Wake Wednesday - Guest Post from George Thomas - More Wake Migration

George Thomas is working his magic again with records and maps. Enjoy another Wake centric post as he tracks the westward migration of early Wake settlers. This time to parts in Cabarrus and Stanly counties. Read George's post here - A RIDE DOWN PINE BLUFF IN CABARRUS COUNTY

source

Attention researchers for these families - 

Reed 

Keiser 

Howell 

Teeter 

Barker 

Byrd 

 

Visit Wake County Genealogical Society's Website - Homepage | WCGS Events | Join WCGS | Publications | Wake Cemetery Survey Images |Digital Resources | History Resources | More Links and Resources | Contact

Wake Wednesday - Migration Through Middle Tennessee to Kentucky and Illinois

" Looking deeper into the letter published by John Powers, all remembered Mary Locust as being an old lady of color who passed as free. Witnesses confirmed her children were as she had stated, and she was neither Black nor White as they had always heard her mother was “Indian.”  Lewis Barker stated that Mary Locust went from Wake County with his brother Thomas Barker to the Yadkin River, where he, Lewis Barker, saw her some other time.” People were clearly in motion."  -  George Thomas

Today's guest post has George Thomas looking at the power of Reverend John Powers to sway the powerful Gov. John Sevier from far away Logan, Kentucky to do the right thing in regards to the Lucost/Locust family. The Locust family were formerly free people of color in Wake County, North Carolina and enslaved by Sevier at some point after they arrived in Tennessee. 

John Powers was a Methodist preacher and, as it turns out, a member of the Barker Family. John was "the son of Mrs. Thomas Barker, indicating that the said Thomas’ wife Ann had likely been previously married". This post further defines the relationships between the Powers, the Barkers and the Lucost/Locust family.

Read the details at George's blog post - BEYOND THE MOUNTAINS (Pt 6)

Follow George's Blog - They Lived Along a Rocky River

Visit Wake County Genealogical Society's Website - Homepage | WCGS Events | Join WCGS | Publications | Wake Cemetery Survey Images |Digital Resources | History Resources | More Links and Resources | Contact

Wake Wednesday - Wake to Middle Tennessee, then North and West

As George has traced Wake migration west, he has uncovered some really fascinating stories. Today's guest post is a case in point. The continuation of the Barker families migration finds Thomas Barker in Middle Tennessee where he is part of a letter writing campaign to right a wrong done to a family known to him and his family and associates. The wrongdoer - none other than John Sevier, at the time serving as the first govenor of Tennessee. 

Barker and his family figure prominently as witnesses in the lengthy open letter written by John Powers to Gov. Sevier in August of 1804. The open letter was published in the Tennesee Gazette of Nashville, Tennessee  Read the letter for yourself and continue on to find out what becomes of Mary Lucost's family, previously free people of color, who were enslaved by John Sevier on migrating from North Carolina to middle Tennesee. 

Source

This one is a must read folks. 

Mary Lucost, the Barker Family, and Col. John Sevier (Pt 5)

Follow George's Blog - They Lived Along a Rocky River

Visit Wake County Genealogical Society's Website - Homepage | WCGS Events | Join WCGS | Publications | Wake Cemetery Survey Images |Digital Resources | History Resources | More Links and Resources | Contact

Wake Wednesday: George Thomas Maps Early Southwest Wake County

The latest guest post from George Thomas has him mapping out the early settlers of Wake County. He has taken his presentation plat technique and applied it to the southwestern corner of Wake that was originally a part of Orange, Johnston and Cumberland counties. For history geeks like me, this is a joy to behold. The community of early Wake settlers as they were situated as neighbors and associates way, back when. I see many names I recognize mentioned in  the Wake Cemetery Survey, c. 1978 including Etheldred Jones, Jesse Jones (!), Popes, Utleys, Hollands, Lanes, Olives, and so many more in addition to the Barker family that has been George's recent focus.

Early researchers of  Wake County will want to click through to George's post to see the detailed list including early Granville Grants and NC Secretary of State Land Grants. 

Visit George's blog post for larger version

Read more at George's blog post - MAPPING SOUTHWEST WAKE (Pt 4)

Follow George's Blog - They Lived Along a Rocky River

Visit Wake County Genealogical Society's Website - Homepage | WCGS Events | Join WCGS | Publications | Wake Cemetery Survey Images |Digital Resources | History Resources | More Links and Resources | Contact

Wake Wednesday - The Barker family of Wake and Cabarrus Counties and Western Tennessee

 

"The Barker family was large and acquired much land through the generations. Keeping them straight is a genealogical chore as is the case with many early North Carolina families as their number slowly migrated in generations across our state." - George Thomas

 Join George for the next guest post os his study of the westward expansion of  Wake County's early citizens. Part three follows the Barker family as they migrated to Cabarrus County and further to western Tennessee.

source

Associated families include: Letman, Briggs, Beddingfield, Hobbs, Hobson, Hogson, Utley, Peddy.

Visit George's blog post for the details of the story with maps and migration notes.

BEYOND THE MOUNTAINS (Pt 3)

Follow George's Blog - They Lived Along a Rocky River

Visit Wake County Genealogical Society's Website - Homepage | WCGS Events | Join WCGS | Publications | Wake Cemetery Survey Images |Digital Resources | History Resources | More Links and Resources | Contact

Wake Wednesday - Wake Settlers Westward Migration, Part 2

 

"Of importance to me are untold beginnings from the east, and how mixing with arrivals who traveled the Great Wagon Road changed who we have become." - George Thomas

George's second post on migration from Wake County to points west takes us straight to Cabarrus County.  George follows several families migrating from the southwest corner of our county originating at White Oak of Buckhorn Creek.

source

Surnames (in order of appearance) include Barker, Letman, Woodward, Keiser,Thomas, Bugg, Green, Bryan, Howell, Jones.

Please visit the post - Beyond the Mountain, Part 2

George Thomas' personal blog - They Lived Along a Rocky River

Visit Wake County Genealogical Society's Website - Homepage | WCGS Events | Join WCGS | Publications | Wake Cemetery Survey Images |Digital Resources | History Resources | More Links and Resources | Wake Cemetery Survey c. 1978 online | Contact

Wake Wednesday: From Southwest Wake County to Parts West

Today's special feature Wake Wednesday post comes from WCGS program chair, George Thomas. 

George has really dug deep to discover the westward migration of some early Wake County residents. Not only does his post represent hours of research, but includes the very useful results of the quick platting procedure that he shared with us in April of 2022. Members will find access to the "Presentation Plats" video and handouts in the WCGS Member area. 

His workflow is so easy to do and so useful to apply to any family mystery. George claims it is not perfect, but I find it very useful indeed. "Very useful" is a win when it provides as many clues to FAN (friends, associates, and neigbors) groups as you will see here!

Please go straight to George's post and enjoy the read:  DESIRES BEYOND THE MOUNTAINS

Extreme SW Wake County - Source

Surnames within this post (in order of appearance) - Thomas, Oaks, Peddy, Cobb, Folsom, Jones, Sellers, Smith, Watson, Edwards, Locust, 

George Thomas' personal blog - They Lived Along a Rocky River

Visit Wake County Genealogical Society's Website - Homepage | WCGS Events | Join WCGS | Publications | Wake Cemetery Survey Images |Digital Resources | History Resources | More Links and Resources | Wake Cemetery Survey c. 1978 online | Contact