Bad news awaited Martin Trantham, my 5th great grandfather, when he returned home after his brief sojourn into the Spanish-controlled Natchez District: he had missed the deadline to be compensated for serving in the Revolutionary War. Ouch. Compensation at the time came in the form of land grants since the fledgling former colonies had very few pesos in the coffers. Fight for… More →
Month: April 2016
Mississippi Martin, Take 2
One of the Martin Tranthams who made an appearance in Mississippi was a horse thief! In a report presented to the Senate in 1813 there appeared an entry concerning some disputed land in Natchez, Mississippi. A few Native American tribes were arguing over who had rights to the land. A witness, Nicholas Chatelin, came forth and testified to events that happened about twenty years earlier.… More →
Mississippi Martin
Herbert R. Trantham, Jr., a distant cousin, wrote a comprehensive history of the Tranthams focusing primarily on the descendants of his ancestor, James Trantham. Herbert puts forth that James was the son of Martin Trantham and his wife “Jane”. And, he wrote that Martin, Jane and James along with brothers Robert and John lived in Kershaw County, South Carolina sometime… More →
Cousins marrying cousins… Dozen Seem Possible
Twelve brides, twelve grooms, twenty-four cousins (of mine) and a first. Unlike the first eleven pairs, the 12th bride and the 12th groom are related to me… and each other. But not close enough to matter. “Frieda” is my 4th cousin, 1x removed on my mother’s side. She’s also related to my father. Her husband, “Fritz” is my 3rd cousin, 1x… More →
Whether Weathered Withers Wandered
Yes, I believe they must have. I had no idea just how challenging genealogy could be until I started working on the Withers family A YEAR AGO. They schooled me. Maria Trantham, my 3rd great grand aunt, married Elihu Withers in Henry County, Tennessee in 1838. Twelve years later, Elihu and Maria Weathers are still living there according to the 1850 census.… More →
My Cousin, My Enemy
We’re taught in school that the Civil War divided not only the nation but also families, often pitting brothers against brothers and cousins against cousins. Genealogically speaking, I have come across instances of this happening within my family tree. For example, my 3rd great grand uncle, Milas Deason, and his 1st cousin Benjamin Turbeville – both sons of Tennessee –… More →
Reincke the Remarkable
Reincke (the Remarkable) Rahtert, my 9th great grandfather, was buried when he was 90 years old according to church records from Hahlen, Germany. My assumption, of course, is that he was deceased at the time; or that would have made him Truly Remarkable Reincke. Nonetheless, his longevity makes him remarkable in my book considering the time period in which he existed. Born in the… More →