Kermit Lee Mayberry contributes Family Files and Photos

Thanks to Uncle Lee we now have many new family photos and genealogical information on the Aldersons, Chaneys, Whites, Sheltons, Donelsons, and Morrises who all seemed to live in the Laurel Grove area northeast of Danville, Virginia from the 1750's onward. These families lived and intermarried in the area for generations. The files include land grants, wills, census reports, and pedigrees. Lee was given much of the genealogical material by Fay and Albert Taylor (?), perhaps from the Mayberry side of the family. Fay has sadly died. She reported to Uncle Lee that the library (?) has a lot of info. Visitors can see more genealogical information which is kept in a locked  genealogy room there. Among other information, the record of where Jerri (Jeremiah?) White, Abraham White's (born 1794) son, is buried on the old plantation land, marked by a stone. Jeremiah Sr's will bequeathing slaves ( a horrifying discovery) and property complete with a list of all  properties down to the silverware, is included in the material Lee sent me. Some of the land deeds also mention Birch Creek and Sweeting Fork, also in the area. This is an introduction; much more to follow!
If anyone can add information to the above, there is room for comments below. For a start, how old is Daddy in the wonderful portrait on this page?

HS Moore Ancestry Blog Up and Running

So far, so good. The blog thing seems to be a good start for gathering, posting info on the ancestry of the HS Moore clan. Got a tidbit from Daddy Pete today confirming that yes, Grandma Inez Sims Moore Mayberry was indeed a local union organizer at the Danville textile mills during the early decades of the 20th century. She worked with regional organizers to recruit locals, meeting them at her home.
Pete reported to me in his usual taciturn, crusty style: "Two of the union guys came to our house for, I assume, consultation and planning-------what did I know?. I was a kid. I remember they got me a pair of moleskin "riding pants" to go with my hightop boots.


I will attempt to attach links I found online that follow some of the union activites in those days of unfair employment practices, pay, working conditions, and harsh treatment.  For you young'uns who want to know more about unions and working conditions in the mills and factories that brought our country out of the rural past, I recently saw a  fascinating movie called Harlan County Kentucky about the violence often sparked by union protests. It was set during the 1970's and is a trip back in time, a powerful and realistic depiction of mountain folk back in the day.....Beddow/Breeden/Lawson folk! Wow.


As with the Beddow-Breeden blog, family members and friends can come online to add or correct  information or just find out stuff about their family.