Kinsearching May 25, 2008

RELEASE DATE: MAY 25, 2008



KINSEARCHING

by

Marleta Childs
P. O. Box 6825
LUBBOCK, TX 79493-6825
[email protected]
 

     In the mid-twentieth century, Worth S. Ray compiled and edited several books found in genealogical collections of many libraries. His series, THE LOST TRIBES OF NORTH CAROLINA, was published in four parts. PART 1 was Ray's INDEX AND DIGEST TO HATHAWAY'S NORTH CAROLINA HISTORICAL AND GENEALOGICAL REGISTER.

     Compiled between 1900 and 1902, James Hathaway's 1,700-page NORTH CAROLINA HISTORICAL AND GENEALOGICAL REGISTER contains a wide-ranging assortment of genealogical source materials. Largely abstracted by Hathaway from public records, the quarterly focused on the Old Albemarle region of the Tar Heel State. A substantial amount of the information, such as marriage records and rosters of Revolutionary soldiers, appears in alphabetical order by main surname; other types of data, however, do not. To make the material more accessible to researchers, Ray indexed the rest of Hathaway's publication, which he also arranged in alphabetical order by primary surname.

     Although he omitted the records already alphabetized in Hathaway's periodical, Ray's INDEX AND DIGEST is indispensable when looking for material in the REGISTER. In addition, his volume is a compendium of information in its own right since he occasionally provides extended family data in genealogical notes and annotations. His "side bar remarks" include citations to other well-known books like ABSTRACTS OF NORTH CAROLINA WILLS {1663 - 1760} by J. Bryan Grimes and John Bennett Boddie's works on Virginia. An example is "Mr. Hathaway on page 34 of Volume 1, tells us that there is evidence that JAMES BLOUNT was living with his family in ISLE OF WIGHT COUNTY, Virginia in 1660; John Bennett Boddie in his "Seventeenth Century Isle of Wight," on page 567, says that 'JAMES BLOUNT sold JOHN ROSS seven head of cattle in Isle of Wight County May 13, 1673,' quoting from the record."

     Ray points out in the preface that his book and publications by well-known authors certainly have mistakes. His statement serves as a reminder that instead of accepting information at face value, researchers should use published data only as a guide; they still need to check original records in order to draw their own conclusions, especially if and when new evidence emerges.

     Like the other three segments of the set, INDEX AND DIGEST TO HATHAWAY'S NORTH CAROLINA HISTORICAL AND GENEALOGICAL REGISTER: THE LOST TRIBES OF NORTH CAROLINA, PART 1 stands on its own and is always published separately. Containing more than 5,000 main entries, Ray's publication remains a worthwhile work.

     The 192-page paperback has a preface. To the book's price of $22.50, buyers should add the cost for postage and handling charges. For U. S. postal mail, the cost is $4.00 for one book and $2.00 for each additional copy; for UPS, the cost is $6.00 for one copy and $2.50 for each additional book. The volume (item order #4795) may be purchased by check, MasterCard, or Visa from Clearfield Company, 3600 Clipper Mill Rd., Suite 260, Baltimore, Maryland 21211 (for phone orders, call toll free 1-800-296-6687; fax 1-410-752-8492; website www.genealogical.com).


     Bonnie Bright Johannes, 5594 North 10th, Apt. 103, Fresno, CA 93710-6586 (e-mail: [email protected]) would appreciate information about the children of John B. SMOOT, born 4 March 1795 and died 12 July 1840. On 30 December 1820, he married Sarah "Salley" W. JENNINGS, born 10 Feb 1801 and died 12 Jan 1842. This information came from the William JENNINGS Bible in Bedford Co., TN.

     Johannes also seeks data about the family of Lillie Belle JENNINGS, born in 1911, who married George Cassens(?) MARTLEN(?), in 1927 in Blackwell, OK. George was born 22 Aug 1900. Their children, all born in OK or NM, were Carl Eugene, Wanda Louise, Marien Cleo, Lois Muriel, Jerry Wayne, Lenda Kay, Kenneth Ray, and Barbara June.


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