You folks know the story – Catie {b. 1850} left her Sister Allie behind on a Warren Co. CODY plantation when she was brought to Washington-Wilkes by Rev. James Madison DICKEY in 1859.

Well tonight, I’ve located an Aly DAWSON {b. 1848} married to Elbert DAWSON, living  with their children – Ike {6}, Sarah {4} & Rachel {3} in Hillmans Farm, Warren Co!

It gets BETTER! Marion M. Cody, the eldest son of Michael {Lori’s Ancestor!} & Rebecca ROGERS CODY are also living in Hillmans Farm at dwelling #964; Aly DAWSON is living at dwelling #971!

According to the 1915 book Cody-Rogers of Georgia by L.L. CODY, on page 14, Marion inherited his Grandfather James CODY’S property in 1850 & most of the CODY slaves were Family slaves, from inheritance.

In addition to Marion & Aly, a slew of former Michael CODY slaves are also living in Hillmans Farm, Warren Co! Reference the CODY Freedman cluster research I did here comparing the 1870 Warren Co. Census against slaves identified in Edmund & Michael CODYS wills!

Maybe our 22 yr. old Aly DAWSON & my Catie, are the descendants of the slave “Aily” identified in Edmund’s will? God, I wonder which others could be my Ancestors too?

Amazing that it’s taken me 12 yrs to find Allie/Aly/Aily!

I now know why — the digitized 1870 Census listed Aly DAWSON as male! Look, her sex is obscured on the original record, so I suppose, Ancestry guessed! However Aly was keeping house & had small children at home, which you can clearly see!

I don’t know where we go from here, but I feel slightly comforted.

I’m on to something! Wooooo-hoooo!:-)

Luckie.

Okay, here’s the skinny…

Since Lori, a descendant of Michael CODY of Warren Co. GA has come across OGR’s path, I am even more convinced that this year I will solve my #1 family mystery — who was Catie’s original CODY owner in Warren Co?

Now, although Lori & I had both ruled brothers Michael & Edmund out, due to their 1831 deaths, I think their wills bear witness that there could still be a Catie-connection because of how their estates were parsed out.

The approach? To post the wills of both CODYS & the questions each will raises.

My gut {or maybe it’s Catie!} tells me that I am on the right path… I just have to follow the clues. From the beginning, I’ve thought the answer was here, maybe now it’s time for it to be revealed?!

Fingers crossed!:-)

Edmund CODY. The line we’re following for now is Edmund’s Son – James {d. 1825 Warren Co.}. James had Sons – Edmond, Benjamin, Robert, Elias, Christopher, Albert & James. I want to rule-out Robert CODY first, before I look at the other sons. About the will:

• Who was his estate sold to in 1832, along with 16 negroes - James, Susan, Dicey, Julia, Rachel, Vincent, Alfred, Aily, Betty, Cloe, Ruby, Dolly, Rebecca, Martha, Matilda, & Tempy? Both his land & slaves went to this person. It doesn’t appear that any of the slaves were willed to his children — just real money & revenue yielded from the sale.
• I need to obtain the estate inventory, it will tell me more by identifying slave ages & purchaser. I will contact the Warren Co. Courthouse on Monday to see if a volunteer can pull it for me.
• The slave “Aily” could be Catie’s sister “Allie” in that right now, we don’t know how old she is. Catie was born in abt. 1850, & Allie could have been an older Sister. Also important, this is the only Aily/Allie slave I’ve come across to date.
• Curious, why Robert was called out apart from the other Grandchildren? Born abt. 1809, he would have been 23 yrs when Edmund passed — old enough to own a plantation.
• The book reference mentioned by Lori in re: to Edmund & Cathy living on what’s called the “Bob Cody Place” leads me to believe Edmund’s land & slaves could have gone to Robert. Need to confirm this through deeds.
• I see significance in Catie’s memory being of a “Master CODY”. For me this means we are looking for a CODY male descendant & not a son-in-law.
• Robert was a deeply religious Hardshell Baptist & traveling missionaries frequented the property according to Pierce CODY, former slave. This slave narrative by Pierce is KEY – Robert had missionaries visiting the plantation, Rev. James Madison was a traveling missionary. Pierce describes a “colored church”; Rev. DICKEY Pastored “colored missions”.

Michael CODY. Lori descends from this line of CODYS — there were #3. Michael #1 died 1831. Michael #2 moved to Barbour Co. AL {spooky, that’s where my other *roots* are!:-} in 1847. Michael #3 was born & died in Alabama. While I don’t believe Michael #1 owned Catie, I still believe he could have owned some of my CODY Ancestors, so I want to follow where his slaves went too. About the will:

• Michael willed what appears to be 1,335 acres of land to his Wife, Rebecca, along with 42 slaves – Armstead, George, Big Jack, Lewis, Jefferson, John, Rose, Anderson, Reddick, Daniell, Jerry, Elbert, Grace, Philly, Abram, Reuben, Stephen, Rosetta, Hannah, Richmond, Aggy, Eliza, Cynthia, Elias, Mary, Isham, Harry, Ailsey,
  Martha, Maria, Lavinia, Isabel, Anthony, Sarah, Henry, Bet, Bob, Little Jack, Garrison, Ellick, Emily, & Harrison John.
• Michael has a slave “Ailsey“! I want to see his estate inventory too to determine her age!:-)
• He specifically stipulated that the slaves & land were the ONLY parts of his estate not to be traded. Does that mean we should be able to trace the cluster {thanks Michael Hait!}?
• He gave his Grandson James Madison Gray 1 Negro girl – Liller w/her increase.
• He gave his Daughter Elizabeth 3 Negroes altogether — w/their increase Jane & Haste & a girl named Pats.
• To note, Michael’s land was adjoined to George HARDAWAY {Edmund’s son-in-law & estate executor} & Edmund’s.

I definitely have my work cut out for me but I believe 100% the answer is right here!:-)

What did I miss?

Luckie.

Warren County GaArchives Wills…..Edmund Cody August 15 1831
************************************************
Copyright.  All rights reserved.
http://www.rootsweb.com/~usgenweb/copyright.htm
http://www.rootsweb.com/~usgenweb/ga/gafiles.htm
************************************************
File contributed for use in USGenWeb Archives by:
Betty McLarry bjemcl@charter.net and Norma  Heron nje47@charter.net September 8, 2003, 3:36 pm

Source:  WarrenCo,Ga  1798-1852 admr est/wills
Written: August 15 1831
Recorded: March 9 1832

The Last Will & Testament of Edmund Cody Deceas’d

Georgia, Warren County} In the name of God Amen. I Edmund Cody of the county

aforesaid Do make & Ordain this my Last Will & Testament in manner & form
following: To God I commend my soul & my body to the Earth in decent Buried.

And as it respects my Earthly estate I wish first that all my just debts be
paid and

Second} It is my will & pleasure that all my estate both real and personal,
that I shou’d die in possession of be sold on a credit of twelve months the
purchaser giving small notes with approv’d security that is two hundred &
seventy eight acres of Land where I now live and sixteen negroes (to wit)
James Susan Dicey Julia Rachel Vincent Alfred Aily Betty Cloe Ruby Dolly
Rebecca Martha Matilda and Tempy Together with my horses & stock of every
kind. One wagon & gig working utensils together with my House & Kitchen
furniture and increase if any and

Third} I give my Daughter Sarah Hardaway seven hundred dollars to be paid out
of my Estate in eighteen months from the sale.

4th} I give my Grandson Robert Cody fifty Dollars in cash to be paid out of my
estate in eighteen monts from the sale.

5th} I give to the children of my son James Cody deceased to be equally
divided share & share alike (to wit) Edmund Cody, Benjamin, Robert, Celia,
Elias, Christopher C., Katherine, Eliza, Lucretia and James Cody Seven hundred
dollars to be paid out of my estate and furthermore it is my will and pleasure
that my Executors pay off those my above named Grandchildren that has or may
arrive to the age of twenty one years their full parts or shares in eighteen
months from the sale and the minors if any their shares be kept in my
Executors Hands by their paying the interest and payed of as the arrive at
twenty one years and

Sixth} I give my Grandson Albert L. Cody five hundred Dollars to be paid out
of my estate and to bear interest in the hands of his guardian in eighteen
months from the sale, but provided he should die before he is twenty one years
of age the whole shall be made a part of my Estate and subject to distribution
between my Daughter Sarah Hardeway and my Son Barnett Cody and aforesaid Grand
children Sons and Daughters of James Cody deceas’d.

7th} It is my will & pleasure that the surplus of my estate be equally divided
share & share alike between by Daughter Sarah Hardaway and my Son Barnett Cody
and aforesaid Grand Children Sons & Daughters of James Cody Deceas’d.

I nominate constitute & appoint my Son Barnett Cody and G W Hardaway my
Executors of this my Last Will & Testament hereby revoking all other wills by
me made August 15th 1831

Edmund Cody (His mark)

Signed in presences of us: Peter Cody, James Higginbotham, Drury A. McCullers

Georgia Warren County} You Drury A McCullers Swear that you saw Edmund Cody
the Testator sign seal publish & devise the within Instrument of writing as
his Last Will & Testament and that at the time of his so doing he was of sound
mind & Disposing memory (in your opiinion) & that he did it freely without
compulsion and that you farther swear that you saw Peter Cody & James
Higginbotham Sigtn their names as witnesses also. So Help you God. Drury A
McCullers

Test: T. Franklin Clk…..Order’d of record by the Court and Recorded 9th of
March 1832. T. Franklin Clerk C O W C

Warren County GaArchives Wills…..Michael Cody August 3 1831
************************************************
Copyright.  All rights reserved.
http://www.rootsweb.com/~usgenweb/copyright.htm
http://www.rootsweb.com/~usgenweb/ga/gafiles.htm
************************************************
File contributed for use in USGenWeb Archives by:
Betty McLarry bjemcl@charter.net and Norma Heron nje47@charter.net September 9, 2003, 4:06 pm

Source: # 0219573 WarrenCo,Ga; 1798-1852 admr est/wills
Written: August 3 1831
Recorded: May 25 1832

The Last Will and Testament of Michel Cody   deceased
Made 3rd Day of Augbust 1831

Georgia, Warren County}  In the name of God Amen.  I Michael Cody of this
county aforesaid being sick of body but of perfect mind and memory considering
the uncertainty of this life do make and ordain this my last will and
testament in manner and form following (viz)  To God I commend my soul and my
Body to the Earth in Decent burial.  And as regards my temporal estate or
matters I give will & bequeath in the following manner & form (to wit).

First}  I wish all my just debts paid.

Second}  I give my wife Rebecca during her life or widowhoon one thousand thru
hundred & thirty five & one half acres of land including the Prior tract on
Big Brier Creek the ballance on the waters of said Creek whereon I now live
adjoining lands of Washington Hardaway Edmund Cody & others with the profits
and improvements thereunto being or belonging Forty-two Negroes (to Wit)
Armstead, George, Big Jack, Lewis, Jefferson, John, Rose, Anderson, Reddick,
Daniell, Jerry, Elbert, Grace, Philly, Abram, Reuben, Stephen, Rosetta,
Hannah, Richmond, Aggy, Eliza, Cynthia, Elias, Mary, Isham, Harry, Ailsey,
Martha, Maria, Lavinia, Isabel, Anthony, Sarah, Henry, Bet, Bob, Little Jack,
Garrison, Ellick, Emily, and Harrison John , with all their future increase
all my stock of horses, cows, hogs and sheep household furniture & kitchen
furniture every kind of Plantation tools one wagon two carts & a Riding
Carriage the Crop on hand. Stock of provisions, clock, watch, debts & money
legasies herein after mentioned & specify’d  for her to pay and otherwise
execute this my will as far as in her power lies according to its true intent
and meaning.

Thirdly}  I give my Grandson James Madison Gray one Negro girl named Liller
with her increase and one hundred dollars in cash to be diliver’d and paid
when he arrives to the age of twenty one years by my wife but if he dies
before he is twenty one years old I wish the legacy divided one third to my
Son Peter Cody one third to the children of my son James Cody and the other to
the children of my Daughter Elizabeth Neal.

Fourthly}  I have already given my Daughter Elizabeth two Negroes with their
increase Jane & Haste and I now give her another Negro girl by the name of
Pats which is now in her possession also I give her four hundred & eighty nine
acres of land more or less on Big Brier Creek Adjoinging Lands of McMath Hodo
and others whereon he now lives with seven hundred dollars in cash to be paid
by my wife within two years after my Death, and after her death to her then
living children.

Fifthly}  I give my son Peter Cody in trust for my son Green Cody two thousand
dollars to be paid by my wife in two years after my Death provided my said son
Peter shall give Bond & good security for his faithfull management of said
Legacy and give myh son Green the interest, lawfull for his annual support and
in extreme necessity a small sum of the principal and provided the same shall
not go in payment for any debts now owed and which may hereafter be contracted
by him my said son Green.  Only in a moderate supposrt and if anything is left
of the principal or interest after the death of my said son Green Cody the
same shall be divided one third to my said son Peter Cody one third to the
children of my son James Cody and the ballance to my Daughter Elizabeth Neal
and provided also.  If my son Peter shall decline or refuse to accept the
above appointment then the Court of Ordinary may appoint some suitable person
in his stead.

Sixthly}  I give my son Michael M. Cody one fourth part of all the property
left my wife to be deliver’d when he is twenty one years of age as follows.  I
wish his mother to have him liberally Educated out of the proceeds of the
property and when he is of this age aforesaid I wish the Court of Ordinary to
appoint three or more suitable persons to go upon the Premises veiw the
property and whatever can be conveniently spar’d not to extend to one fourth
to be appraises and set over to him at the appraised vallue then after making
a like provision for my Daughter Louisa Amanda Cody when she marries or comes
of age and my son Jeptha M. Cody and Madison D. Cody and after the death of
their mother the whole ballance to be equally divided among myu four last
mentioned children and if either of them die before they marry or come of age
I wish the surviving child or children of the four last mentioned have their
legacy equally divided among them.  I wish the commissioners the Court may
appoint always to leave the undivided Property Sufficient to make losses good
of my wife marries or dies I wish Guardian appoint’d for any Children and the
property equally divided.  I wish my wife permitted to make such trade of any
thing except the Land & Negroes she may think to be beneficial to all concer’d
and for my wife to be at liverty to give my Oldest Set of Children or Grand
Children what she in her judgement may see fit to give.

Seventhly}  I likewise appoint my son Peter Cody with my wife Rebecca Codyn
Executor and Executrix to this my last will & testament revoking all other
wills by one made Pronouncing this and no other to be my last will & testament.
                                  Michael Cody  (his Mark)
Sign’d seal’d & acknowledge’d in presence of kus who in the presence of each
other had hereunto set our names this the third day of eighteen hundred &
thirty one.
Drury A. McCullers, Ezekiel Hillman, William Castleberry
                           Probate
Georgia Warren Count May 7th 1832}

You Drury A. McClullers, Ezekiel Hillman & William Castleberry do Swear that
you saw Michael Cody The testator sign (by making his mark) publish & declare
this Instrument of writing as his last will & testament that at the time of
his so doing he was (in your opinion) and  disposing memory that he did it
freely without compulsion.  So help you God.
William Castleberry, Ezekiel Hillman, Drukry A. McCullers
Test T. Franklin, Clerk  Recorded May 25th 1832 by T. Franklin Clerk C O W C
{Probate in all cases annex’d to the Original}

All day I’ve been thinking of a way to pay homage to both the survivors & victims of Hurricane Katrina.

Hard to believe it’s been 4 yrs already! I remember the sting – the devastation, the suffering, the loss, the governmental neglect & fumbles. The children. My anger & cringing EVERY time I heard the word “refugee”!

When not in shock, I would just watch CNN & feel TOTALLY useless. I was so angry with my family for not donating to the displaced families brought to Georgia Tech. I just wanted to do something – anything to help.

But I have to wonder if we as a society have forgotten the suffering  & injustice we witnessed? Has Katrina & her aftertaste been put on the social-conscious back-burner?

As I sat down to pen this post, I overheard a random news quote from a CNN reporter covering Katrina: 

“If years from now, we don’t gather to discuss race relations, socio economic disadvantages & poverty in America, we the media, have failed to do our jobs.”

I’m still waiting for the conversation. Did I miss it? Will an honest, open, civil dialogue about racial injustice in America EVER take place?

To my Sister who believes “The train has already left the station” & that honest talk is well on its way, I certainly pray you’re right.

In truth, maybe the best way to honor the suvivors & victims of Katrina is to REMEMBER. To take action & prevent the wrongs from ever, EVER happening again.

Lennon’s “Imagine” has been in my spirit the entire day – so I leave it with you now.

Seems appropriate for today… Imagine.

Imagine there’s no Heaven
It’s easy if you try
No hell below us
Above us only sky
Imagine all the people
Living for today

Imagine there’s no countries
It isn’t hard to do
Nothing to kill or die for
And no religion too
Imagine all the people
Living life in peace

You may say that I’m a dreamer
But I’m not the only one
I hope someday you’ll join us
And the world will be as one

Imagine no possessions
I wonder if you can
No need for greed or hunger
A brotherhood of man
Imagine all the people
Sharing all the world

You may say that I’m a dreamer
But I’m not the only one
I hope someday you’ll join us
And the world will live as one

Luckie.

I REALLY had to think long & hard about broaching the matter of reparations here at the OGR blog.

The concern? My unconfirmed belief that the word reparation strikes fear and/or anxiety in the listener or reader – prompting him to switch on his mental *mute* button. In my head, I can see this person {head tossed back; eyes rolling} asking, “Reparations?! Are we STILL talking about that?!”.

Well, hey, at least I’m honest!:-)

However my responsibility to my Ancestors goes beyond digging-up roots & connecting the family dots. My accountability includes expressing what my Ancestors did not, & in most instances – could not.

Funny, this is actually the second time this week reparations has been the topic of my conversation! I hope the insightful Gal I had that chat with, will contribute here. She offered a new perspective that left me seeing the matter a bit differently. It’s amazing what clear, open dialogue can do!:-)

So when Renate of  “Just Thinking…” responded to my Freedom post of yesterday with the following comment, I knew immediately what my next post HAD to be:

This is why I believe, to a degree at least, in African-Americans right to reparations. Yes, I know it’s a delicate subject, and if carried out, there would be lots of things to consider, and yes, it would be tricky to determine who deserves to get what and why. However, when I see laws like this, I’m reminded that so many of our ancestors were HELD BACK, and not allowed to better their circumstances, even if they had the means to do so. Not only that, but I believe there is a link between the type of work that our ancestors were forced to do, and the debilitating and life-ending diseases that are found so disproportionately in the Black Community.

To speak to Renate’s comment, I must admit – I wholeheartedly agree.

In 1885, my 4th Grandmother Catie was pregnant with my Uncle Elbert WINGFIELD when my Grandfather, James WINGFIELD, was lynched in Washington-Wilkes.

She was a housewife, with 4 other children at home.  A farmer, James was lynched after he received a return on his crops. As told to me by her Grandson Elbert STRINGER, Catie was not permitted to question what had been done to my Grandfather or to even grieve in public — she had to move on as if nothing in her life had changed.

Pregnant, with small children at home & dealing with the loss of her husband — the only family income source, what did Catie do? I often wonder how my family makeup would look today had that event not taken place?

How many ENDLESS stories are there like Catie’s [or worse] in my family history & that of other African-Ancestored people?

I agree with Renate that reparations is a “delicate” conversation to have, but a necessary one nonetheless.

The U.S. Chattel System was a Government sponsored/supported institution. There should be accountability & some measure of restitution made for its impact to African-American families & culture.

Do I think this will ever happen? Unfortunately – NO. The bias with which this issue has been treated publicly is appalling. If there is a “rug” then reparations for African-American people has long since been “swept” under it.

Some of my readers & friends may take offense {really, it is not my intention}, but I must say when I witness the ongoing punishment of Michael Vick or Chris Brown — two men who without question, made VERY big mistakes – I am reminded of the hypocrisy this Country can be guilty of.

Two guilty men who have made restitution, in countless ways, for their wrongdoing to another human being and animals, find themselves still being punished by society & subjected to the reprimands of the law, while a Country whose wrongdoing exceeds their actions a million times over, feels no accountability beyond a begruding Senate apology, for the sins & trangressions it’s committed against MILLIONS of families.

Something is VERY wrong with this picture!

And bless God that even if my Catie could not voice it in 1885, today in 2009 her Great Great Great Granddaughter, Dona Amechia, sure can!

Luckie.

DISCLAIMER: If you choose to comment to this post, I ask that you please be respectful, cool & as objective as possible. Open dialogue is welcomed but let’s remember - we are all part of the same Tribe here – GeneaHolics!:-)

Have you seen the Georgia USGen Web Court Records?

During the last conversation I had with Rev. DICKEY’S descendant, he speculated that my Catie had been manumitted {freed} when the Minister left Wilkes Co. in 1861.

I cannot tell you how excited I was! Just the thought of Catie escaping the bonds of slavery made me  — exhale. Made me smile.

Now, several months later, although I do not believe that an 11 yr. old Catie was freed, I still get excited to learn of those blessed Ancestors who were — be they related or not.

The optimist in me wants to believe freedom made their lives easier, although I’m not sure it did. Can you imagine how they felt or what they encountered?

If you have Georgia Ancestors, take the time to read through these court records which include several records of manumission {1799-1856} & provides a historical context on how the State of Georgia drafted laws in respect to slavery.

For the record, here are the high-level bullet points – Section 46 from A Digest of the Statute Laws of the State of Georgia, Athens, 1851:

• Slaves can be manumitted only by the Georgia Legislature
• Penalties for any manumitter from $200 to $1000
• The manumitted slave shall be liable to arrest, conviction, and re-enslavement
• Contracts or deeds of manumission are null and void and are not to be recorded by Clerks of the County Courts
• Free people of color are forbidden to own real estate and slaves

Luckie.

P.S. And thanks to this comment from Renate {which as usual, got me to thinking, expect a Part II post — Reparations.

This image is from the December 11, 1860 Daily Federal Union Newspaper & was captured from the Milledgeville Historic Newspapers Online Database.

It shows Rev. James Madison DICKEY {Catie’s owner} receiving his 1860 [church] Appointment to Wilkes County from the Georgia Annual Conference. Specifically, the “Wilkes and Colored Mission”.

My question to historians/experts, what does the notation “one to be supplied” reference?

What will be supplied? A slave? An indenture? A second minister?

HELP???

Luckie.

Harry Ester Jackson {1918-1960} was my Mom’s Uncle – my Grandmother Fannie’s oldest Brother.

Anbownes {our name for Fannie} used to say that her Brother Harry was the best looking of his siblings and knew it!

My Mother says this picture doesn’t do him justice… she describes him as “Clark Gable fine” and says that when he entered a room, it lit UP! Always smiling, she says that she never saw him angry.

Mom says Uncle Harry would park his shiny Cadillac in front of my Great-Grandmother Annie’s house at 1401 Baymiller Street in Cincinnati & start walking.

When asked why, he would respond “Baby, they can’t track Uncle Harry’s footsteps!”.

She loved him enough to name her first born son {my oldest Brother} Harry, after him.

Luckie.

Yesterday while scanning Ancestry’s African American Collection, Slave Information Message Board, I noticed a post in regards to the transcribed Estate Inventory of John HUGULEY of Wilkes Co. The information had been posted by someone with the surname FAVOR.

Given that my 4th Paternal Grandmother was Annie FAVER CARTER, anytime I see the surname FAVER/FAVOR I perk-up but especially when it’s associated with Wilkes Co!

So I sent a message to the original poster inquiring about her surname & to my surprise, she responded back immediately!

With her permission, I’ve included her response below. In more ways than one it speaks to the importance of sharing both your & others Genealogical information within the research community.

Please take note of the information she is sharing as well — we never know where a connection might be found!:-)

Hi Luckie,

I have been to OurGeorgiaRoots.com. It gave me inspiration to continue this search. To answer your question, I don’t know. I have looked extensively at the John Faver family line in Alabama, Georgia, Mississippi and Texas. I have their entire descendant chart. I traced one branch from Alabama to Fannin County Texas but have not been able to make a link. My ancestor was Pomp Favors. Reported in 1880 census as born in Alabama. He died before 1890. He was freed at age 14 in Fannin County (family rumor not fact with maybe a brother George-rumor not fact). I have gotten as far back to his 1876 marriage but have found nothing on him beyond that. I have found George who shows up in the 1867 voter registration. It reports him born in Alabama. It reports that he had been there for 17 yrs. George shows up in the 1880 census on the farm next to Pomp. But we really don’t have any evidence yet that they were even brothers. I only find them in the 1880 census. I am assuming that they both died shortly after that. Pomp’s wife was remarried by 1889, but she had a child by Pomp born in 1888. So, I am still searching for some kind of connection to the Faver family of Alabama and Georgia.

Has your family any thoughts of doing a DNA project? I hope this answers your questions.

Information that I posted re: the Hughley Estate was information I transcribed from the copy of Wilkes County Probate book that was posted by Mechie on Picasso. I found a reference to a slave named Pomp in that book but have not gone any further on my research in that area yet.

Now the original poster’s “Pomp Favors” does sounds familiar to me — so I plan to spend some time reviewing where I’ve come across the name. There is also a GOOD chance that she could be connected to my other FAVER cousins, Barrett & Farrel!

But what was heartwarming to me was that visiting OGR’s blog inspired her to continue her search & that she’d transcribed John Huguley’s estate inventory from the Wilkes County Inventories I posted on Picasa! I am the “Mechie” she referenced {Dona Amechia by birth}!:-)

How cool is that?!

Over the years, there have been countless times when being online has made ALL the difference. I’ve been blessed by many by way of this blog & previous iterations of it. Glad to know that others are benefiting from my efforts to share the love too!

If you are NOT actively online somewhere you really have no right to complain when your research doesn’t advance at the rate you want it to OR to criticize others who aren’t sharing their research. Ya’ll are passengers of the same ship!:-)

C’mon — do it for you, do it for your Ancestors, do it for other researchers who DESPERATELY need to know who their Ancestors are & you may hold the key!

There are new folks joining the GeneaTribe everyday & long-time clan members going a step further! Check-out these…

• My Nola Heritage – Felicia started off as a client courtesy of GenFreelancers & is certainly now my Sister on the GeneaJourney! She’s starting off with researching her Maternal line from Webster Parish, LA! Twitter: @Matfam42.
• Just Thinking- Nadasue emailed me with questions regarding OGR & then the next thing I knew, she was blogging! I always appreciate the detail to her posts & feedback on mine! Twitter: ??? {yes, Renate — this is my way of saying, get going!}
• Conversations With My Ancestors- A new Geneablog from my girl Mavis of Georgia Black Crackers, as she digs deeper into her Paternal family line. Twitter: @NCChemist
• Giving Back To Kin – A digital Act of Kindness from GeneaBloggette Robyn of Reclaiming Kin. I love it!:-) Twitter: ??? {Ditto!:}
• OurAlabamaRoots – This is my newest blog dedicated to my BARWICK Ancestors of Barbour, Henry & Montgomery Co. AL.  Twitter: @OurGeorgiaRoots

Now, if you are not blogging, posting or tweeting but you want to – no worries! Here are a few GREAT resources to get you on your way!:-)

• GeneaBloggers.com – A one stop shop for ALL things related to Genealogy blogging! If T2 doesn’t have it – it’s not to be found!:-) Twitter: @GeneaBloggers
• Forums at LowCountry Africana – LowCountry Africana has recently launched its own Message Board! If you have South Carolina, Florida and/or Georgia Ancestors, this is the place for you! Twitter: @LCAfricana
• GenealogyWise - Think Facebook meets Genealogy!  Twitter: @GenealogyWise
• African-American Genealogy Examiner- Great articles from seasoned Genealogist, Michael Hait! Twitter: @MichaelHait
• AfricanRootsPodcast- Weekly podcast STUFFED with informative Genealogy goodies presented by uber-knowledgeable, Angela Walton-Raji. Twitter: @AYWalton

So as I exit from my soapbox, I leave you with a quote from Angela Walton-Raji that sums up this post:

Share what you find, and also share what you seek!

Luckie.