Robin R. Foster's Blog, page 9

Search Google from FamilySearch.org

I am so excited to share that Google can be accessed from the Person View in FamilySearch’s Family Tree. Historical records can be found for the ancestor you have been working on in the Person View. I will show you how to access the feature and add a source.

How to access Google on Family Tree

1. First you need to be signed in. Click “Sign In:”

2. You will be taken to this page:

3. Next, click on Family Tree next to FamilySearch:

4. Now, you need to choose a person from the Family Tree. I clicked on Ora Nelms, and her Person Card came up:

5. On the bottom of Ora Nelms’ card is the word “Person.” Click there:

6. Clicking “Person” takes you to Ora Nelms’ “Person View.” This is the page that comes up:

7. On the right are the FamilySearch Partners. Google is listed last. We are going to search Google for historical documents. Click Google:

In the box that comes up, we get to choose different ways of searching for Ora. She married so we have two last names with which to find her: Nelms and Foster. Next, we can choose the years we would like to find her. She was born Walls, Mississippi, and we can search for her there, but she also lived in Arkansas, Memphis, Tennessee, Sacramento, California, Cleveland, Ohio, and she died in Joliet, Illinois.

Last, we can suggest keywords that are associated with her, such as newspaper, obituary, etc.

8. Next, we click on “Search:” Google comes up, and we can find historical records that name Ora. The page below are images that came up on the Google search. They happen to be images I posted on my blog, Genealogy Just Ask. Each one could be added as a source.

Google < "Ora Nelms" 1895..1971 Walls, DeSoto, Mississippi, United States ~genealogy < Images

Adding Sources

I will add this source now:

Here is the blog post:

The Power of Connecting to Researchers in Your Ancestor's Area (genealogyjustask.com)

1. The first thing I need to do now is to go back to the Person View for Ora Nelms. Next, click on “Sources:”

2. I am adding a source from Google, so click on ”Add Source.”

3. Click “Add New Source:”

4. Complete the form. Click “Save:”

5. The source we found on Google is the first source on the list:

Hopefully, this example of searching Google from Ora Nelms helps you to see how you can quickly find records from the Person View. I was excited to provide this tutorial for you.

Don’t forget about my book, My Best Genealogy Tips: which will be out 11/9/2021.

Never Forget to Add the Source

This was in my email 12 September 2021 just before my presentation with Columbia Chapter, SCGS. Taken by Robin Foster, 12 September 2021.

I received this email from FamilySearch.org early this morning before I was scheduled to give a presentation for Columbia Chapter, SCGS later today. I was very excited because I never came across a obituary for Frank Luther Vance. He was my great uncle. Rev. Lafayette Franklin Vance was his father.

I got even more excited after clicking on my email message. All I wanted to do was to click on "View Full Obituary."

"United States, GenealogyBank Historical Newspaper Obituaries, 1815-2011", database, FamilySearch (https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/619... : 18 July 2020), Frank Lafayette Vance, 1959.

Frank Luther Vance was his name. They had Frank Lafayette Vance. His mother was named Nunia Johnson Vance. All the rest of the names were right. I was still excited to see the rest of the family. I got know Lutherine the best. I remember the times when we used to go to her house. She lived in the same house on Barhamville Rd. in Columbia, SC. She made us feel so welcome when we moved there. We could almost feel how it would have felt back before 1952.

"United States, GenealogyBank Historical Newspaper Obituaries, 1815-2011," database, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3... : 1 May 2020), > image 1 of 1; Citing Newsbank.

Wow! I couldn't believe I was looking at Uncle Frank's obituary. I know I will find avenues of research from this obituary - probably when the newness wears off.

As for right now, we have to do something with this obituary. We have to make sure that it is attached to Frank and given a source.

First, you have to go back the index:

"United States, GenealogyBank Historical Newspaper Obituaries, 1815-2011", database, FamilySearch (https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/619... : 18 July 2020), Frank Lafayette Vance, 1959.

Next, I will attach the record to Frank Luther Vance. You can see "Attach To Family Tree." I clicked on that:

Look on the left where it says: United States, GenealogyBank Historical Newspaper Obituaries, 1815-2011. The is Frank's obituary. On the right, you can see it is the "Family Tree."

I want to put these two records together. Now, each name will have that record attached, but for our purposes here, we will only attach Frank Luther Vance. I will come back later to do the others.

If I just look at Frank, there are two things I need to do. I need to "Add" the obituary: 09 Sep 1959, and then I will click "Attach."

Do you see "Detach?" The record has been added to Frank Luther Vance on Family Tree. Now, we will see the source by first clicking on Frank Luther Vance's name:

The "Person Card" comes up. From there, click on "Sources."

You can see the first source from 1959. It is the one with blue arrow. That is the source we just did.

What about adding sources that are not on FamilySearch.org? That is easy. Just click on "Add Source:"

There are three other ways to add a source:

Add New Source Add New Memory Source Attach From Source Box

We will choose Add New Source:

This is what you need to fill out for that source you find outside of FamilySearch.org. To save it, you have to complete the form, and a "Save" button comes up at the bottom.

We never want to leave out the source.

How Steve Bailey Opened Franklin County, NC for Me

Summoned to Anson County Historical Society, Robin Foster inspects a document as Steve Bailey looks on. Photo by Ellis McClure, 6 September 2021.

I am going to attempt to explain how Steve Bailey, of the Anson County Historical Society in Wadesboro, NC got me to come there on Labor Day. It all started over Facebook Messenger last Wednesday afternoon.

Steve:

"Good Afternoon Robin, Are you & Ellis busy on Labor Day Monday? If not then please come over to take a look at this interesting Nelms Family document...Two weeks ago a ton of history & genealogy material was donated to our Anson County Historical Society.

One interesting item that I discovered when I opened one envelope was this document concerning the Nelms Family.

...here is a brief summary of the contents of this very fragile & original document that is contained in two pages; Franklin County NC Court of Pleas & Quarter Sessions – The petition of Gideon Glenn, Administrator of the estate of John Booth deceased & also as Administrator of Winifred Ingram deceased, stating that Eben Nelms died about the year 1839 in Franklin County NC having first made his Last Will & Testament & the next of kin being Presley Nelms, who was a brother of the deceased & Presley Nelms of Anson County, but who has died since Testators death. I searched the ancestry website for Eben Nelms of Franklin County NC in 1839 & located his estate papers & one page I copied that mentioned the enslaved individuals of Eben Nelms of Franklin County by the names of Baldwin, Perry, Barbara, Hester & Handy."

Robin:

"Wow! That's great! That's the family of Presley Nelms who died in Anson County in 1841. Presley Nelms came from Franklin County. I am familiar with Franklin County. That is where Presley's father was from. I will talk to Ellis about coming there."

How grateful I am that Steve remembered me and took the time to let me know about this huge break in my research. I will not be able to tell you in just one blog post where this is taking me. My mind is travelling in so many directions. I am going to just going to share the petition of Gideon Glenn. The excerpt of the estate record of Eben Nelms in 1839 will be in my next blog post.

Petition of Gideon Glenn

Franklin County NC Court of Pleas & Quarter Sessions

The first thing I did was I took each name and organized them according to where they living and how they were related. I discovered that most of the people can be found on the census, in wills, and in estate records.

1. Presley Nelms of Anson County: Son of Presley Nelms of Franklin County. He was the enslaver of my family.

Siblings:

2. Ebben (sp) Nelms: Deceased 1839 in Franklin County

Presley Nelms: Father of Presley Nelms of Anson County

Winifred Ingram: J (sp) Ingram - husband; Presley Nelms of Anson County married Anne Ingram

Elizabeth Davis: Wiley (sp) Davis, husband; Mississippi

Ann Booth

3. John Booth

Polly Booth

George Booth: Tennessee

Samuel Booth: Tennessee

Sumner Booth (sp)

4. Levi White: Tennessee

Sally O. White: Tennessee

5. Richard Edwards

Nancy Edwards: Tennessee

6. Richard Ward

7. Gideon Glenn

It became apparent to me that I now have a portion of the family of Presley Nelms of Anson County. I knew who his father was. His sons had travelled to Mississippi and Tennessee, but they were not alone. They had aunts or uncles in those places too.

In the next post, I will talk about the estate record of Eben Nelms.

My Great-Grandmother's Marriage in Tennessee in 1875

Marriage licenses, 1875-1876 > image 418 of 2789; citing Tennessee State Library and Archives, Nashville and county clerk offices from various counties." alt="Lucy Nelms (1856-1929) married Sam Bradford on 16 March 1875 in Shelby County, Tennessee. Her second husband was Henderson Nelms.">

In my last post, Gloria Foster and I Find Our Great Grandmother's Son, we discovered Lucy Nelms had a son, Sam Bradford and his father was Sam Bradford as well. If you remember, they lived in DeSoto County, Mississippi. The following 1880 Census which was found by Steve Bailey shows them living next to their families:

You see, that marriage record happens to be the first I found among my fathers people. Bobby Foster's grandma, Lucy Nelms Bradford Nelms now that I think about it, it's the first marriage to be found among all my ancestors. It occurred on 18 March 1875 in Shelby County, Tennessee.

Now as I sit here thinking about this, I must not let you think that I found this due my own labor. First of all, it fits in line with what I have discovered so far. After finding both Sam Bradford's, it would stand to reason that I would find this marriage next.

I was directed to FamilySearch Family Tree:

Robin Renee' Foster (1965–Living) | Fan Chart View | Family Tree | FamilySearch

Next, I was directed to click on Lucy Nelms:

Lucy Nelms (1856–1929) | Fan Chart View | Family Tree | FamilySearch

Then, I clicked on Lucy Nelms:

Lucy Nelms (1856–1929) | Fan Chart View | Family Tree | FamilySearch

You can see a box comes up. I selected the Person View.

Lucy Nelms (1856–1929) | Person | Family Tree | FamilySearch

From there, I was directed to the Time Line:

Lucy Nelms (1856–1929) | Person | Family Tree | FamilySearch

Right away I could tell there was a marriage record waiting for me. This is what showed after I selected Review and Attach:

Source Linker — FamilySearch.org

I wanted to see the copy of the original marriage record, so I clicked on Record. That took me to the index:

Lucy Nelms, "Tennessee, County Marriages, 1790-1950" • FamilySearch

Lastly, I clicked on View Original Document:

Tennessee, County Marriages, 1790-1950; https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:939K-T5TF-B?cc=1619127&wc=Q63S-BTD%3A1589264674%2C1589373932

There were two documents for this marriage - the one just above and the first one I posted.

I sure appreciate the guidance I received. I do not think I would have found this by myself. It would have been a major stretch because this marriage occurred while I thought they were still living in DeSoto County, Mississippi.

In the next post, I will show you how this record will be attached permanently to Sam Bradford and Lucy Nelms in FamilySearch's Family Tree.

Finding Great Grandmother's Son, Sam Bradford, Jr.

Since Steve Bailey found the 1880 Census with Sam and Lucy Bradford, I happened to notice a Sam Bradford living next door to Henderson and Lucy Nelms in 1910. Lucy was first married to Sam Bradford, so this Sam Bradford who was 28 caught our eye:

Year: 1910; Census Place: Beat 3, DeSoto, Mississippi; Roll: T624_738; Page: 9A; Enumeration District: 0017; FHL microfilm: 1374751

Being born after 1880, he was not on the 1880 Census. Looking at the 1900 Census, Lucy Bradford was now Lucy Nelms married to Henderson Nelms. They did have a son, Sammie Nelms. They were married in 1890.

Year: 1900; Census Place: Civil District 13, Shelby, Tennessee; Page: 18; Enumeration District: 0049; FHL microfilm: 1241597

In 1900, Lucy Nelms had six living children. We know that one of her children, Olean, was fathered by Sam Bradford. This we confirmed from the census and Olean's death certificate. Olean and Viola were on the 1880 Census. If you look closely at Olean's age, the 2 is written over a double-digit age. The children are in birth order.

In order to prove Sammie or Sam was Sam Bradford's child, we decided to look for a death certificate for Sam Bradford the son:

Tennessee State Library and Archives; Nashville, Tennessee; Tennessee Death Records, 1908-1958; Roll Number: 105

This death certificate proves we were right. Sam Bradford and Lucy Nelms were his parents. Lucy Nelms signed this death certificate in Memphis, Tennessee. They shared the same address. He was married. He was moved to Walls, Mississippi for burial. Perhaps other family members are buried there too.

The undertaker can be researched. These are just a few things we can use to learn more about Uncle Sam Bradford.

Gloria Foster and I Find Our Great Grandmother's Son

Since Steve Bailey found the 1880 Census with Sam and Lucy Bradford, my sister, Gloria Foster, and I happened to notice a Sam Bradford living next door to Henderson and Lucy Nelms in 1910. Lucy was first married to Sam Bradford, so this Sam Bradford who was 28 caught our eye:

Year: 1910; Census Place: Beat 3, DeSoto, Mississippi; Roll: T624_738; Page: 9A; Enumeration District: 0017; FHL microfilm: 1374751

Being born after 1880, he was not on the 1880 Census. Looking at the 1900 Census, Lucy Bradford was now Lucy Nelms married to Henderson Nelms. They did have a son, Sammie Nelms. They were married in 1890.

Year: 1900; Census Place: Civil District 13, Shelby, Tennessee; Page: 18; Enumeration District: 0049; FHL microfilm: 1241597

In 1900, Lucy Nelms had six living children. We know that one of her children, Olean, was fathered by Sam Bradford. This we confirmed from the census and Olean's death certificate. Olean and Viola were on the 1880 Census. If you look closely at Olean's age, the 2 is written over a double digit age. The children are in birth order.

In order to prove Sammie or Sam was Sam Bradford's child, we decided to look for a death certificate for Sam Bradford the son:

Tennessee State Library and Archives; Nashville, Tennessee; Tennessee Death Records, 1908-1958; Roll Number: 105

This death certificate proves we were right. Sam Bradford and Lucy Nelms were his parents. Lucy Nelms signed this death certificate in Memphis, Tennessee. They shared the same address. He was married. He was moved to Walls, Mississippi for burial. Perhaps other family members are buried there too.

The undertaker can be researched. These are just a few things we can use to learn more about Uncle Sam Bradford.

Steve Bailey Found My Paternal 3rd Great Grandma

I am glad that Ellis was prepared to capture Steve Bailey and me when we went to the Anson County Historical Society. I had no idea who or what we would be searching for that day. Time had flown by and we were led to Steve sitting at the computer and me across from him on the other side of the desk. Anyone that knows me knows that does not look right.

Steve Bailey and Robin Foster doing a little searching at Anson County Historical Society, Wadesboro, NC. Taken by Ellis McClure on July 5, 2021.

Humility is what was leading us. Steve later said he was thinking, "she should be at the computer," when I said "You know this the first time I let anyone else help me." He said I should have come back here and worked the computer. I said, "No." We both felt guidance from someone else.

My words cannot express the gratitude I feel toward Steve. He found my 3rd great grandmother and more of her descendants. I only knew of Buck Nelms, her son. They lived in Anson County, NC during enslavement. Then they were taken to Mississippi. He found them in Desoto County, Mississippi in 1880. I had found Buck Nelms in DeSoto County, MS in 1870.

This family was enslaved in Marshall County and DeSoto County, MS., so that is why it has been so hard to track them. Well after we discovered them, I really got excited. I was not sitting at the desk anymore, but I was practically over the desk.

Steve Bailey and Robin Foster finding her 3rd great grandmother at Anson County Historical Society, Wadesboro, NC. Taken by Ellis McClure on July 5, 2021.

It was good for me to be in that position. For years, I have been in the position of Steve. I got to feel how others feel when I help them to find their ancestors. I hope Steve knows how much I appreciate him.

Here is my 3rd great grandmother, two sons, and several grandchildren:

Lucy Nelms - 75 and widowed

2 sons - Buck Nelms who is 52

Ed Nelms who is 39

Year: 1880; Census Place: Stewarts Store, DeSoto, Mississippi; Roll: 646; Page: 486A; Enumeration District: 054

Year: 1880; Census Place: Stewarts Store, DeSoto, Mississippi; Roll: 646; Page: 486B; Enumeration District: 054

I was so excited to know the mother of Buck was Lucy Nelms. Buck Nelms had named Lucy, a daughter after his mother. You can see her on the 1870 Census where she is listed with the family. The Lucy Nelms Bradford (listed above) is 20 years old and was married to Sam Bradford. Awhile ago I had discovered their daughter, Olean. Here is her death certificate:

Tennessee State Library and Archives; Nashville, Tennessee; Tennessee Death Records, 1908-1958; Roll Number: 8

The Lucy Nelms listed as the mother of Olean is the same person as Lucy Bradford on the 1880 Census. Lucy Nelms Bradford Nelms was the daughter of Buck and Mary Nelms. She married Sam Bradford and on the 1900 Census she was married to Henderson Nelms. They both had Ora Nelms Foster who is my grandmother.

Henderson Nelms had been owned by Eben Nelms and was transferred to DeSoto County from Anson County, NC during enslavement. I need to also figure out who his parents were. This branch of my family were owned by two Nelms brothers. Even though Henderson has the same last name, he was not related to Lucy Nelms Bradford Nelms.

I guess by now you might be confused. It's okay if you are. African American genealogy is very challenging. I have used oral history, historical records, and DNA. This time I had Steve Bailey who went in and found my 3rd great grandmother. He has created more avenues for me to research. It was worth it to travel the distance from Fayetteville, NC to Wadesboro, NC (1 1/2 hrs.)

My Genealogy Came to Life Today

Mrs. Willoughby and Mr. Willoughby and Robin Foster met for the first time. Meeting set up by Steve Bailey. Ellis McClure, May 31, 2021.

We took a couple of hours out of our Memorial Day to get some more of my questions about family that Buck Nelms left behind when he was taken to Mississippi. On our way to Anson Historical Society, the feelings came that told me that I was going to be starting a whole new adventure. I knew I would meet people that would make me feel a part of Anson County, NC.

I never know how these things unfold, but I know to be present and listening. Steve Bailey was once again ready for me. I first looked through the Richmond County books which he had ready and out on the table for me. I discovered the Nelms family had estate records in Richmond County.

I found Eben Nelms and William Smith summoned to appear on behalf of Presley in 1842. I will go into that in another blog post. I also will explain how Steve showed me how to search for bills of sale. I soon found out what my journey would today.

One of the questions I had was if Steve had anything on Rocky Mount AME Zion Church. He had a short piece from a book which I will cite later. It was started in 1880. The reason I had a question about it was because last night I found this death certificate:

"North Carolina Deaths, 1906-1930," database with images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3... : 3 May 2019), 004219835 > image 2190 of 2289; State Department of Archives and History, Raleigh.

Tom Smith was born in Anson County about 1849. He was married to Anna Eliza Smith. His parents were York Smith and Charlotte Nelms Smith. I knew I had to find out more about the place where he is buried (Rocky Mount Church).

I looked on FindAGrave.com. To my surprise, I found him, his wife, children, and some siblings:

, Walter Thomas "Tom" Smith - Find A Grave

Tom was his name on the death certificate. Find A Grave had him as, Walter Thomas "Tom" Smith from Ansonville. He was buried at Rocky Mount AME Zion Church Cemetery. I now knew, as I told Ellis on the drive down to Anson County, I must visit the church one Sunday and look over the burial site.

Well, Steve Bailey is to be commended because he jumped on the phone, and before I knew, he was introducing me to a cousin and his wife, Mr. and Mrs. Wilbert Willoughby. You know I do not meet strangers. We talked about how the Willoughby's are related to the Nelms family. We talked about how we must track our churches to find our family because the formerly enslaved are buried in the churches.

Right there at Anson County Historical Society we talked about Gatewood Station AME Zion Church. Mr. Willoughby said that some members of that church bury family at Madison Grove Baptist Church Cemetery which is near Gatewood Station AME Zion Church.

Anson County Historical Society has the deed showing Madison Grove Baptist Church got the land from Mr. Madison and Mrs. Mary Little in 1893 (Anson County, NC, Deed Book 30 pg. 6). An article in the Messenger-Intelligencer (Wadesboro, NC) on Thursday, April 4, 1918 on page 7, tells how Rev. W. K. Bennett of Cheraw, SC founded the church in 1892.

Mr. Willoughby and Robin Foster meet at Anson County Historical Society. Meeting set up by Steve Bailey. Willoughby and Foster both had formerly enslaved Nelms family. Mr. Willoughby's ancestor took the Willoughby surname instead of Nelms. Ellis McClure, May 31, 2021.

We then concluded the founding of the churches are as follows:

Madison Grove Baptist Church - 1892 Rocky Mount AME Zion Church - 1880 Gatewood Station AME Zion Church - to be determined Other churches will be added

When we left this morning, we only knew about Rocky Mount AME Zion Church. Mr. Willoughby said that he knew of formerly enslaved people buried at Madison Grove Baptist Church. We will visit these churches. On a Sunday in July, the Willoughby's and Steve Bailey will accompany us when we go to Rocky Mount AME Zion Church. That's where Walter is buried. I want to find out where Charlotte Nelms Smith was laid to rest. We want figure out who many be related to us.

I also want to feel what Buck Nelms missed having been separated from his family since the 1840's.

Don't Overlook the History of the County

"History of Anson County, North Carolina, 1750 - 1976,"

Mary L. Medley, 1976

You can find the history about the county where you are researching. Many counties have more than one. I have gotten these county histories through the:

public library genealogy society historical society WorldCat.org

I used to go to the library and read them there, but now I realize that county histories have led me to records. Each county that I research now I have purchased one or more histories.

When I am looking for a person, I can find a clue here or there by reading the county history. I do not let the county history collect dust. I find myself returning to it again and again.

Even during the times I feel I have much already to go on, I stop to find out how the person I am researching interacted in his or her community.

County histories help me to tell a more complete story, but I do not stop there. They lead me to other places such as the archives, manuscripts, and even living people.

The latest county history that I have purchased is the "History of Anson County, North Carolina, 1750 - 1976," by Mary L. Medley. Steve Bailey from the Anson County Historical Society suggested it.

I ordered the book from Steve on May 6th. I received it right away, and I already have been able to find the following things in the history:

businesses cemeteries church migration occupations plantations schools surnames

Using those eight things, I can research my ancestor, Buck Nelms, and the Nelms family that enslaved him in Anson County. Buck went with Eben and Charles to Mississippi in 1841, however he had family that lived in Anson after the 1900's.

With this county history, I will begin to piece my family back together again.