The life of Book Pilgreen

The purpose of this entry is to help me reason out if Book Pilgreen could be parent to Britta Ann Green, one of my brick wall ancestors. 

Oh, Lordy! The "facts" about Book are so confusing. Some of them make no logical sense. People have copied them without thinking critically. Yet there seem to be some wheat amongst the chaff.

Let's start with his real name.

Some family trees list him as Booker Warren Pilgreen, and that may actually be his birth name. Or it may just be the name of his grandson, and people assume that it was his name. In all official documents I've seen his first name is always listed as "Book." 

His surname offers issues, too. 

Book's surname is recorded everywhere officially as "Pilgreen." My ancestors' surnames are recorded everywhere as "Green" or "Greene." If you actually check the Shelby, AL, records—and I did in March 2019—you will find occasions where several of Book's known children (John, Jesse, Zerrell, Elias, William H., Silas, and Ransom) are referred to as Pilgreen, Green, Pilgrim, Pillgrine, or even P. Green. All these surnames are interchangeable. 

Of course they are...

From here on I'm going to refer to him as "Book Pilgreen."

Fact #1: Book Pilgreen.


Where did he come from?

Definitely Carolina. Whether North or South is hard to say. 

Some family trees say Book was born in Kershaw County, SC, on December 17, 1777. I have never seen documentary evidence for this. Other trees say he was born in Pitt County, NC. The only US Census in which his data is recorded says he was born in NC in 1775.

https://www.ancestry.com/interactive/8054/4198714_00234?pid=2929698&backurl=https://search.ancestry.com/cgi-bin/sse.dll?db%3D1850usfedcenancestry%26h%3D2929698%26indiv%3Dtry%26o_cvc%3DImage:OtherRecord&treeid=&personid=&hintid=&usePUB=true&usePUBJs=true

Fact #2: Book was born in either NC or SC between 1775 and 1777.


What about his parents?

In Ancestry family trees Book's parents are usually listed as William Pilgreen and Nancy Priscilla Crenshaw. I have seen listings but no proof of this. No marriage bond, no license, no will.

There IS a William Pilgreen in Pitt County, NC, in 1790. Book would have been about 13 - 15. Could this William be Book's father?  Let's look. 

In the 1790 US Census for NC, William Pilgreen is listed in Pitt County. In the household are three "other" free whites. Since there are no females listed, they must all be men. Since there are no males of 26 and upwards, and no males of under 16, they must be three free white males 16 - 26 (born 1764 to 1774), with William being the oldest.

https://www.ancestry.com/interactive/5058/4440913_00585?pid=189734&backurl=https://search.ancestry.com/cgi-bin/sse.dll?db%3D1790usfedcen%26h%3D189734%26indiv%3Dtry%26o_cvc%3DImage:OtherRecord&treeid=&personid=&hintid=&usePUB=true&usePUBJs=true

How can a man (William) born 1764 sire a son in 1775? Maybe there were two William Pilgreens?

Weird.

There is another listing in Ancestry's American Genealogical Biographical Index. It says that William Pilgreen of NC was born in 1750.

https://search.ancestry.com/cgi-bin/sse.dll?indiv=1&dbid=3599&h=1073786&ssrc=pt&tid=106751356&pid=362064900594&usePUB=true

This person is a much more logical candidate to be Book's father. A man born in 1750 could easily sire a child in 1775 - 1777. But there are no other records I can find anywhere about him. 

I'm not even going to list this as fact but as a possibility: Book's father may have been William Pilgreen born between 1750 and 1764, maybe in Pitt County, NC.

And Book's mother?

Most trees list Nancy Priscilla Baird as the wife of William. It may be true, but can't find proof yada yada yada.

Here is the next documentary evidence about Priscilla:

In the 1810 US Census for NC, Presiden (transcribed as "President," reads as “Presilla”) Pilgreen is living in Pitt County, NC. In the household are two males under 10 (born 1800 - 1810), two males 16 - 25 (born 1785 - 1796), one female 16 - 25 (born 1785 - 1796), 1 female 26 - 44 (born 1766 - 1784; has to be Priscilla); two people under 16, one over 25, six people in the household. Neighbors: Chana (O’hara??), Jolly or Lolly, Legat, Cagleton, Moore, Garganus, Taylor, Borough, Knox, Briton, Handcok, Richard, Smith, Jones, Ward, Andrews, Crawford, Davenport, Rollin.

https://www.ancestry.com/interactive/7613/4433311_00500/395687?backurl=&ssrc=&backlabel=Return

Assuming Book belongs to this family, he must be out of the house, because there is no male born around 1775 - 1777. 

Even more curious: the oldest female has to be Priscilla, but the oldest she could have been was 44, born in 1766. Book was born 1775 - 1777. How could she then give birth to Book at age nine to 11?

So let's mark William and Priscilla as Book's parents as a "maybe." 

What about Book's wife? 

Most trees list Rebecca Baird as the wife of Book Pilgreen. From the 1850 Census we know that Book moved to Louisiana by 1850 with Rachel/Rebecca. Findagrave.com shows a dual headstone in Wesson, Copiah County, MS, for Rebecca Pilgreen and Rizpha Purtle. 

https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/29102405/rebecca-pilgreen#view-photo=12334397

This Rebecca Pilgreen died in 1868 at 85, making her birth year 1783. If so, and if she was the mother of John Pilgreen, who was born about 1801, then she would have been 17 - 18 when she married Book. 

As it happens, a number of the Ancestry DNA kits that match kits I manage/collaborate on show a connection to Rizpha Purtle. So I accept that Rizpha was a daughter of Book, and if that's the case, then the Rebecca Pilgreen that Rizpha is buried with is the wife of Book Pilgreen. 

Likely-to-be-true Fact #3: Book Pilgreen was married to Rebecca Baird.  


Next bit of documentary evidence we can find about Mr. Book is the 1820 Census:

In the 1820 US Census of August 20, Book Pilgreen is living in Kershaw County, SC. In the household are three males under 10 (born 1810 - 1820); one male 10 - 15 (born 1805 - 1810); one male 16 - 18 (born 1802 - 1804); two males 16 - 25 (born 1795 - 1804, John, born 1801; one of them the previously identified male 16 - 18); one male 45 and over (Book, born 1775 or before); one female under 10 (born 1810 - 1820; Rebecca/Rizpha, born 1813); one female 10 - 15 (born 1805 - 1810); one female 26 - 44 (born 1776 - 1794; Rebecca, born 1783); four people engaged in agriculture; six people under 16; 10 people total. 

https://www.ancestry.com/interactive/7734/4433160_00314/175477?backurl=https://www.ancestry.com/family-tree/person/tree/36619432/person/19113533464/facts/citation/67831230699/edit/record


Book shows up next in the 1830 Census:

In the 1830 US Census for AL, Book Pilgreen is in Shelby County. In the household are one male under five (born 1825-1830, Ransom?), one male 5 - 9 (Silas, born 1821, born 1820 - 1825), two males 10 - 14 (William H, born 1818, Silas, born 1816 - 1820), one male 15 - 19 (Elias, 1814, born 1811 - 1815), 1 male 50 - 59 (born 1771- 1780, Booker, born 1775). Also in the household are one female 5 - 9 (Louisa, born 1820 - 1825), one female 10 - 14 (Unidentified, born 1816 - 1820), one female 20 - 29 (born 1801 - 1810, Rebecca, born 1808 or 1813), and one female 40 - 49 (born 1781 - 1790, Rebecca, born 1783). Seven people under 20, two 20 - 49 (elder and younger Rebeccas?). Neighbors: Charles Seals, Elisha Green, Abraham Crim, Fereby Runnals, John Armstrong, Prentice, Juilus Roberts, Thomas Davis, George Lucas, John Veasy.

https://www.ancestry.com/interactive/8058/4410702_00528/1825154?backurl=&ssrc=&backlabel=Return

Documentary evidence I found on my trip to the Shelby County Courthouse in March 2019:

In 1832 (son) Jesse Pilgreen entered in to an agreement with Book Pilgreen about a "certain gray pony" for $52. If I read the transaction correctly, then Jesse bought the pony with Book acting as his security for the $52, with the pony as the asset and collateral. For my purposes, the transaction itself doesn't matter so much—just that "Book Pilgreen" was in Shelby County in 1832.

Shelby County Deed Book A - E, Page 503.

In 1839 Book bought 40 acres in Shelby County: Township 24, Range 13 East. The name on the document reads "Book Pilgreen."

https://www.ancestry.com/interactive/1246/RHUSA2007B_AL2600-00170/2138064?backurl=https://www.ancestry.com/family-tree/person/tree/114426166/person/260143460639/facts/citation/820356767547/edit/record

Next:

In the 1840 US Census for AL, B. P. Green is in Shelby County. In the household are one male 10 - 14 (born 1826 - 1830), two males 15 - 19 (born 1821 - 1825; Silas and Ransom), one male 50 - 59 (Book), one female 10 - 14 (born 1826 - 1830; Louisa, born 1827), one female 50 - 59 (born 1771 - 1780; Rebecca, born 1777/1783). Neighbors include Samuel Green, Crim, Seals, Harris, Lawry, Martin, McCashin, Cashhatt, Hutton, Elias P. Green, John P. Green, Armstrong. 

John, Zerrell, Jesse & Elias Pilgreen are out of the house but living close by. 

https://www.ancestry.com/interactive/8057/4411216_00701/1353781?backurl=http%3a%2f%2fsearch.ancestry.com%2fcgi-bin%2fsse.dll%3fdb%3d1840usfedcenancestry%26gsln%3dgreen*%26gsfn_x%3d1%26gsln_x%3dNS%26msrdy_x%3d1%26msrpn__ftp%3dalabama%26msrpn__ftp_x%3d1%26hc%3d50%26new%3d1%26rank%3d1%26redir%3dfalse%26uidh%3dwy5&backlabel=ReturnSearchResults#?imageId=4411216_00701

And finally:

In the 1850 US Census for LA, Book Pilgreen is in Union Parish. He is 75, a farmer, born NC, $600. Also in household are Rachael, 66, born SC, Louisa, 23, born AL, Rebecca Milton, 7, born AL, William Pilgreen, 14, born AL. 

Book, 75, would have been born 1775. 

https://www.ancestry.com/interactive/8054/4198714_00234?pid=2929698&backurl=https://search.ancestry.com/cgi-bin/sse.dll?db%3D1850usfedcenancestry%26h%3D2929698%26indiv%3Dtry%26o_cvc%3DImage:OtherRecord&treeid=&personid=&hintid=&usePUB=true&usePUBJs=true

There is some debate as to whether the wife's name should be Rachel or Rebecca. I don't have any trouble believing this is Rebecca Baird Pilgreen for two reasons: the very close birth year (1783 - 1784) and personal experience with a Rebecca often being called Rachel. 

In conclusion, what can we prove about Book Pilgreen?

• Three facts:

• Two documents that refer to him

• Four censuses that list him


So, is he likely to be the father of Britta Ann Green? Stay tuned for the next blog entry.

Richard Green—Britta's dad? Part 2

In Part One I explored the life of Richard Green of Shelby County to see if it were possible to be Britta Ann Green's father. So far he fits two out of three criteria. Time to delve further!

It looks as though Richard died around or after 1842. So let's look where his family might have ended up.

Doing a search of the 1850 US Census, we find Leacy Green (remember, Leacy was named as Richard's wife in several Shelby County deeds) in Union Parish, LA. In the 1850 U.S. Census for LA, Mrs. Leacy Green is living in Union Parish. She is 50, born SC, no occupation, no money. Also in the  household are Caroline, 18, born AL, John, 16, a farmer, born AL; Samuel, 14, born AL; and Lemuel,  10, born AL. Next door is Jonathan Merril, 27, farmer, born TN, $200; Lucinda, 24, born AL, and Mary, 2, born LA. Other neighbors are Fellow, Eckles, Black, Free, Nail, Palmer, Newsom, Funderburk, Carter, Gibson, Bird, Burren, Brasher.

https://www.ancestry.com/interactive/8054/4198714_00257/2930628?backurl=http%3a%2f%2fsearch.ancestry.com%2fcgi-bin%2fsse.dll%3fdb%3d1850usfedcenancestry%26gsfn%3dleacy%26gsln%3dgreen%26gsfn_x%3dNN%26gsln_x%3d1%26hc%3d50%26new%3d1%26rank%3d1%26uidh%3dwy5%26redir%3dfalse&backlabel=ReturnSearchResults

Is it the same Leacy Green? Let's see:

Well, on July 27, 1845, Lucinda Green married Jonathon Merril in Shelby County, AL. Marriage performed by M.L. Horton, J.P. Those two names match Leacy's next-door neighbors in 1850.

https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:3QS7-99HV-WZ2J?i=178&cc=1743384

And then there's the fact that Hanson (logged as "Hanson," reads as "Harison") Green married Cynthia Merrell on February 4, 1845, in Shelby County, AL. Guess who turns up living with Harrison and Cynthia in 1860?

Leacy.


In the 1860 US Census for TX, Harrison Green is living in Jasper County, Newton Post Office. In the household are Harrison, 32, a farmer, $1,500, $200, born TN. Also in the household are Cynthia, 32, born TN, Mary, 4, born LA, William 1, born TX; John Green, domestic, $125, born AL; Leasey, 60, born SC. Caroline, 26, born AL. Neighbors: Hamilton, Ralph, Leavis, Dubose, Dabbs, Primrose, Good, Camison, Musick, Breed.

https://www.ancestry.com/interactive/7667/4297440_00264?pid=35092657&backurl=https://search.ancestry.com/cgi-bin/sse.dll?db%3D1860usfedcenancestry%26h%3D35092657%26indiv%3Dtry%26o_cvc%3DImage:OtherRecord&treeid=&personid=&hintid=&usePUB=true&usePUBJs=true

Just FYI:

In the 1850 US Census for LA, Harrison Green is in Union Parish, LA. He is 21 (born about 1829), a farmer, $200, born AL. Also in the household are Sarah, 23, born AL (mistake??); Amanda, 2, born LA; and A. Music, 24, laborer, born AL. Neighbors: B. Merril, Briggs, Wright, Hughes, Miller, Dyer.

https://www.ancestry.com/interactive/8054/4198714_00236?pid=2929786&backurl=https://search.ancestry.com/cgi-bin/sse.dll?db%3D1850usfedcenancestry%26indiv%3Dtry%26h%3D2929786&treeid=&personid=&hintid=&usePUB=true&usePUBJs=true

Did you notice the surname of the next door neighbor? Merrill. Like Jonathon and Cynthia.

So many close associations: children married in Shelby County, where we know Richard lived; Richard's wife named as "Leacy" in several Shelby County court documents; neighbors' names; Leacy living with Harrison in 1860. In my experiences one association is coincidence; two is interesting; three reveal a likely family connection.

But still—do the birth years suggest anything?

Comparing the 1830 and 1840 AL Censuses, we can see that Richard was born between 1780 and 1790. OK. His wife in 1830 was born 1800 - 1810; in 1840 same. There were two males born 1820 - 1825 in both censuses. In 1830 there was one male born 1825 - 1830; in 1840, two males born 1835 - 1840. In 1830 one female born 1825 - 1830 and one female born 1815 - 1830. In 1840, one female born 1825 - 1830 and one born 1830 - 1835.

In 1840 Richard's family consisted of:

• Himself, born 1790 - 1800

• His wife, born 1800 - 1810

• Male, born 1825 - 1830

• Male, born 1825 - 1830

• Female, born 1825 - 1830

• Male, born 1835 - 1840

• Male, born 1835 - 1840

• Female, born 1830 - 1835.

In 1850 Leacy's family was made of:

• The ghost of Richard, dead, dead, dead

• Leacy, born 1800

• Lucinda, 24, born 1826

• Harrison, 21, born 1829

• Caroline, 18, born 1832

• John, 16, born 1834 (age 24 in 1840; alternate birth year 1836)

• Samuel, 14, born 1836

• Lemuel, 10, born 1840

Putting the two together, we see:

• Richard himself, born 1790 - 1800, and still dead

• His wife, born 1800 - 1810 (Leacy, born 1800, SC)

• Male, born 1825 - 1830 (Harrison, born 1829, AL)

• Male, born 1825 - 1830 (Unknown; wait!)

• Female, born 1825 - 1830 (Lucinda, born 1826, AL)

• Male, born 1835 - 1840 (John, born 1834 - 1836, AL)

• Male, born 1835 - 1840 (Samuel, born 1836, AL)

• Female, born 1830 - 1835 (Caroline, born 1832, AL)

• And of course, Lemuel, born 1840, AL, after the Census was taken but before Richard died (if he were born later, that would be a different story altogether!)

The families match up so well that I am willing to conclude that the Leacy and Harrison and Lucinda of 1850 - 1870 are the same family as Richard's of the 1830 & 1840 Shelby, AL, Censuses.

Phew!

Where are we?

We've established two things: 1) Richard Green was in the right place at the right time to be Britta's dad; 2) he disappeared at the right time to be Britta's dad. What about the third—being born in NC or SC?

For a short and sweet answer to that question, we can look at Harrison Green's entry in the 1880 Census: it states that Harrison's father was born in VA—Virginia. Not SC—South Carolina. BUZZZZZ!!!!

Two facts now convince me that Richard Green is NOT Britta Ann's father.

1. There is no room in Richard's family in either the 1830 or 1840 Census for Mary Ann McKinney (born NC 1822), Nancy (born GA 1832), or Britta (born AL 1834). All family members are accounted for in 1850 in LA.

2. Richard was born in VA, not SC. Britta's father is consistently born in either NC or SC.

A loud, resounding "NO!" is the best conclusion I can make in this matter. But there are some very interesting mysteries still to be investigated:

• Who and where was the missing Green son born 1825 - 1830?

• Who is the mysterious Samuel Green who witnessed Richard's and Leacy's deed transaction in Shelby in 1837?? Was he Britta's father?

Stay tuned!

Richard Green—Britta's dad? Part 1

The purpose of this post is to explore whether Richard Green of Shelby County, AL, could be Britta Ann Green's father. By the end both parts, I hope to come to a definitive answer. 

I am just back from Shelby County, AL, where we spent time at both the Shelby County Museum and Archives and the SC Courthouse. Not much in the Archives (except lovely, helpful aides) but gold at the Courthouse. 

Let's begin with what we know for sure about the father of Britta Ann Green:

• He was born in either NC or SC (various censuses)

• He was in AL in 1834 (Britta's birth)

• He does not show up any time in any way in Britta's life after 1850, when Britta is living with the family of Mary Ann Green/e McKinney in Shelby County, AL during the 1850 Census.

That's it. 

Here's what may be true about the father of Britta Ann Green:

• He may have been known in Davidson McGuires's neighborhood (Jefferson, Shelby, Bibb Counties). Davidson's letter to Judge Bagley giving permission for son John L. to marry Britta gives basic information about Britta and says that "all is willing to it."

https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:3QS7-99HV-W49K?i=607&cc=1743384

• He may have been married to Nancy Greene, born 1794 in NC, living with John & Mary Ann Green McKinney (McKinnie) in Shelby County during the 1850 Census.

https://www.ancestry.com/interactive/8054/4191539-00660/16778612?backurl=http%3a%2f%2fsearch.ancestry.com%2fcgi-bin%2fsse.dll%3fdb%3d1850usfedcenancestry%26gsfn%3dJohn%26gsln%3dmckinnie%26gsfn_x%3dNN%26gsln_x%3dNS%26msrdy_x%3d1%26msrpn__ftp%3dshelby%252c%2balabama%252c%2busa%26msrpn__ftp_x%3d1%26msrpn%3d2683%26msrpn_x%3d1%26hc%3d50%26new%3d1%26rank%3d1%26redir%3dfalse%26uidh%3dwy5&backlabel=ReturnSearchResults

• He may also be the father of Mary Ann Green McKinney and/or Graphen Holt Green and/or Nancy Elizabeth Ellen Green Garrett Adams. 


Or not.


Now let's look at what we can prove about Richard Green of Shelby County.

1. Richard Green is not listed in the 1820 US Census for Shelby County, AL.

http://www.trackingyourroots.com/pdf/1820Shelby.pdf

Richard Green likely arrived in Shelby County between 1820 and 1830 because of the next item. 

2. An Index to Early Deed Book, 1827

"Early Deed Book" with dates of recording beginning January 1827 with a few recorded in the years 1833 and 1834 was found away from the courthouse depository, reportedly in a trash can. A member of the Shelby County Historical Society rescued this book. The front cover of the original deed book is missing and the book begins with page 148. However, it appears to be complete from that page to the end of the book, which has the original back cover.

In 1980 Tom O. Caldwell, M.D. transcribed this early deed book listing many names as witnesses, state and county officials, and other valuable genealogical data. As noted by Dr. Caldwell, the page listing the alphabetical Direct and Reverse INDEX was present and only one deed was not found.

Lists on Pages 159 - 160 from Richard Green to Meredith Seal and West Allen Seal. Gift Deed. Legatee of estate of Elijah Seal, dec.

http://www.rootsweb.ancestry.com/~alshelby/deedbookIndex1.html

The original is found in the Shelby County Deed Book A - E, pp. 116 -117. Richard Green "for love and affection" grants the two males his part of the land that "may belong" to him as a legatee of Eliza (Elijah) Seal. The land is in Township 22, Section 13, Range One West. The land becomes theirs at age 21, but till then it is to be used to sustain "Nancy Seal, their natural mother." The indenture is dated November 5, 1825. Recorded February 2, 1827. 

So Richard Green was in Shelby County at least by Fall 1825.

3. In the 1830 US Census for AL, Richard Green is in Shelby County. In the household are one male 0 - 5 (Unknown, born 1825 - 1830), two males 5 - 10 (born 1820 - 1825), and one male 30 - 40 (Richard, born 1790 - 1800). There are also one female 0 - 5 (born 1825 - 1830), one female 10 - 15 (born 1815 - 1820), and one female 20 - 30 (his wife, born 1800 - 1810). Neighbors: Lee, Harper, King, Mardis, McClanahan, Seals, Owens, Williams, Hobs, Elijah Green, Blankenship, Josiah Quinn, Post, Mabry, Maxwell, Carden, Akins, Michael Ragsdale, Elliott, William Armstrong, McAdams, Nall, Mundine, Brasher, McGehee, Shelton, White, Thweatt.

http://content.ancestry.com/Browse/View.aspx?dbid=8058&path=Alabama.Shelby.Not+Stated.7

4. The next time we see Richard Green is in the Shelby County Deed Book F & G in August 1837. On Page 193 "Richard and Lecy Green, wife of Richard Green" sell land in Section 15 Township 22 Range One West to C.H. Rowe for $600. The deed is dated August 3, 1837, and recorded September 14, 1837. Witnesses were J. M. McClanahan and Samuel Green. Richard Green signed and Lecy Green made her mark. Recorded by O. B, Hovis.

Richard Green's wife was Lecy. There was a Samuel Green in town. It's likely that Samuel was not one of the boys in Richard's 1830 household because those males were 5 - 10—too young to be legal witnesses.


5. On the same trip into town, Richard Green bought land from David and Martha Nelson for $1,200. The land was Section 24 Township 22 Range One West. The deed is dated September 12, 1837. Witnessed by John M. McClanahan and John Strain, recorded September 15, 1837, by O B, Hovis.

Richard Green was well enough off to buy land. 


6. On October 14, 1837, "Jeacy Green wife of the said Richard Green" and Richard sell a piece of land to Charles Mundine. The land is described in Shelby County Deed Book H on Pages 57 and 58 as located in Section 3 Township 22 Range One West. The sales price is $335. Justice of the Peace A. A. Stirit (Sterritt) witnessed the sale. It was filed and recorded on December 11, 1837.

And more land.


7. On September 20, 1839, Richard Green was issued a patent on land in Shelby County. Two 22 S, Range 1 West, Section 15, Aliquot E1/2NE. On the current map this is near Routes 42 and 37, near Hillsdale and Columbiana. His abutters were Greenberry Seal, Jackson Porter, Edmund King, Welden Coker, Howell Sammons, Zerrell (Pil)Green, John Lowry.

https://glorecords.blm.gov/details/patent/default.aspx?accession=AL2630__.129&docClass=STA#patentDetailsTabIndex=1

More land.

8.  Let's assume that Richard Green is the R. Grun in Shelby County in 1840. (More on that in Part 2) In the household there are two males 0 - 5 (born 1835 - 1840), two males 15 - 20 (born 1820 - 1825), one male 40 - 50 (Richard, born 1790 - 1800, consistent with the 1830 Census), one female 5 - 10 (born 1830 - 1835), one female 10 - 15 (born 1825 - 1830), and one female 30 - 40 (born 1800 - 1810, consistent with wife from 1830 Census). Neighbors: Thomas, Cooper, Slane (Sloane?), Hortons, G T or Y. Mason, Lawrence, Williams, Graff, Salster, Ham, Baker, Adams, James Merrell, Dickerson, Gilbert, E. Green, Henley, Glasscock, Mabry, Prim, I or J. Green, Steel, S. McLanahan, Nickles, Kelly, Quin, Brasher, Ellison. 

https://www.ancestry.com/interactive/8057/4411216_00725/1354118?backurl=http%3a%2f%2fsearch.ancestry.com%2fcgi-bin%2fsse.dll%3fdb%3d1840usfedcenancestry%26gsln%3dgreen%26gsfn_x%3d1%26gsln_x%3d1%26msrdy_x%3d1%26msrpn__ftp%3dshelby%252c%2balabama%252c%2busa%26msrpn__ftp_x%3d1%26msrpn%3d2683%26msrpn_x%3d1%26hc%3d20%26new%3d1%26rank%3d1%26redir%3dfalse%26uidh%3dwy5&backlabel=ReturnSearchResults


9. On December 8, 1841, Richard Green used a piece of land as collateral for a $125 loan from Bryant Rushing. The land was in Section 23 Township 22 Range One West. The note was due December 25, 1842. If Richard failed to pay back the loan, Bryant could advertise and sell the land in order to recover payment. Witnessed by Noel Mason. Filed and recorded on December 13, 1841, by Noel Mason in Shelby County Deed Book H on pages 241 & 242.


10. Shelby County Deed Book H shows an 1841 entry on Pages 243 & 244. In it "Richard Green and his wife Leacy of the County of Shelby" sold land in Section 15 Township 22 Range One West for $300 to John M. McClanahan. The indenture is dated November 27, 1841, witnessed by Samuel McClanahan, Henry Harless, Noel Mason, and recorded on December 31, 1841, by Samuel McClanahan.


11. In Shelby County Deed Book I on Pages 19 & 20 Anderson Chapman and his wife Sophronia sell to Richard Green Section 23 Township 22 Range One West for $250. The sale is dated October 1, 1841. The witness was Henry Harless. Filed and recorded on January 1843 by Noel Mason.


12. This next transaction, located on Page 20 of the Shelby County Deed Book I, is hard to read. As best I can make out, it says that on the 30th of December 1842 "Richard Green and Leesa Green his wife" sold a piece of land to Howell Sammons for $160. The description of the land looks like Section 23 Township 22 Range One West. Abraham Smith witnessed the sale on December 30, 1842. It was recorded January 28, 1843. Can't read the recorders name, but it was probably Noel Mason.

1842 is the last year that Richard Green shows up on documents anywhere. 


So how well does Richard Green match the known criteria to be Britta Green's dad? Let's see: he was in AL in 1834, and he doesn't show up after 1850. We don't know where he was born (yet).


Thus far he matches two out of three criteria. Could he be Britta's dad???


Read on for Part 2. 

Update: Greens & Pilgreens

My brick wall is my third great-grandmother Britta Ann Green/Greene. Who were her parents? Unknown. Who were her siblings? Unidentified. Who were her relatives? My latest research has brought answers to the last question a little closer.

Based on dozens of shared matches from Ancestry.com kits, it's now possible to name Graphen Holt Green/e and Nancy Elizabeth Ellen Green/e as definite relatives to Britta. These names are in addition to Mary Ann Green, who married John P. McKinney. And probably Mahala Green, who married John B. Davis.

Furthermore almost all of the kits that match the people named above also trace back to Booker Warren and Rebecca Baird Pilgreen of North Carolina. The Pilgreens went by several names: Green, Greene, Pilgreen, Pilgrim and P. Green.

What are the relationships among all these people? Unknown, but I'm working on it.

My current theory—as yet unproven—is that Mary Ann, Graphen, Mahala, Nancy, and Britta are siblings. Going by their birth years and places, one can trace the family's movement:


• Mary Ann, born 1822 in NC, lived in AL, died after 1870, probably in AL

• Graphen Holt, born 1824 in Pitt County, NC, lived in AL, moved to AR and OK

• Mahala, born 1826 in NC, lived in AL, probably stayed in AL

• Nancy, born 1832 in GA, lived in AL, died in AL

• Britta, born 1834 in AL, lived in AL, died in AL


Who were their parents? My best guess is that their father was a son or brother of Booker Warren Pilgreen. Most likely son is Jesse Pilgreen. Another candidate is Richard Green.

I haven't included all the proofs here, but they exist and I will post them. Still lots of work to do, but now you know what I know.

The Love Connection

Samuel Love and Elizabeth Nation had multiple children, including Sarah Elizabeth Love who married William Ragsdale and Kiziah Love who married John Lawley/Lolly.

William and Sarah Love Ragsdale have several connections to Britta Green and the McGuires. First, William and Sarah's son James Marion Ragsdale and wife Drucilla lived next door to Britta and John McGuire in Jefferson County in 1860. While there's no smoking gun, I believe that Britta named her second daughter Mary Drucilla after her sister and Drucilla Ragsdale.

Also William and Sarah Love Ragsdale's children married McGuires: Sidney Jackson Ragsdale married Sarah Ann McGuire, and Louisa Caroline (Carrie) Ragsdale married Robert McGuire. The website below doesn't list all its sources, but everything I have checked has checked out, so I am inclined to accept its data:

http://freepages.genealogy.rootsweb.ancestry.com/~mytexasroots/wmragsdale.htm

In another Love line...

Kiziah Love married John Lawley and had umpteen children, among whom was Lurana Lawley who married William Henry Davis.

http://trees.ancestry.com/tree/20465111/person/951564645

And Carolyn E. Davis married Elisha Lawley.

http://trees.ancestry.com/tree/20465111/person/951564754

Is William H. Davis brother to James B. Davis who married Mahala Green?? How about Caroline Davis?

And what's Love got to do with it, anyway????

Nancy E.E. Green—Just the facts, ma'am

For a long time I have suspected that Nancy Elizabeth Greene, aka Nancy Ellen Green, was related to Britta Ann and Mary Ann Green. While there's still no smoking gun (direct DNA comparison via Gedmatch.com), there are enough matches on Ancestry to convince me that it's true. Here then are facts I can prove about her with documentary evidence.

Nancy E. Green/e was born in either AL or more likely Georgia about 1832. Hmmmmm....We know this from the 1860, 1870 and 1880 U.S. Censuses.

1860:

https://www.ancestry.com/interactive/7667/4211196_00246/12616698?backurl=http%3a%2f%2fsearch.ancestry.com%2fcgi-bin%2fsse.dll%3fdb%3d1860usfedcenancestry%26gsln%3dGarrett%26gsfn_x%3d1%26gsln_x%3d1%26msrdy_x%3d1%26msrpn__ftp%3dshelby%252c%2balabama%252c%2busa%26msrpn__ftp_x%3d1%26msrpn%3d2683%26msrpn_x%3d1%26hc%3d20%26new%3d1%26rank%3d1%26redir%3dfalse%26uidh%3d000&backlabel=ReturnSearchResults

1870:

https://www.ancestry.com/interactive/7163/4257737_00249/13047121?backurl=http%3a%2f%2fsearch.ancestry.com%2fcgi-bin%2fsse.dll%3fdb%3d1870usfedcen%26gsln%3dadams%26gsfn_x%3d1%26gsln_x%3dNS%26msbdy%3d1833%26msbdy_x%3d1%26msbdp%3d2%26msrdy_x%3d1%26msrpn__ftp%3dshelby%252c%2balabama%252c%2busa%26msrpn__ftp_x%3d1%26msrpn%3d2683%26msrpn_x%3d1%26hc%3d50%26new%3d1%26rank%3d1%26redir%3dfalse%26uidh%3dwy5&backlabel=ReturnSearchResults

1880:

https://www.ancestry.com/interactive/6742/4239792-00406/6402469?backurl=http%3a%2f%2fsearch.ancestry.com%2fcgi-bin%2fsse.dll%3fdb%3d1880usfedcen%26gsfn%3dNancy%26gsln%3dadams%26gsfn_x%3d1%26gsln_x%3dNS%26msbdy%3d1833%26msbdy_x%3d1%26msbdp%3d2%26msrdy_x%3d1%26msrpn__ftp%3dshelby%252c%2balabama%252c%2busa%26msrpn__ftp_x%3d1%26msrpn%3d2683%26msrpn_x%3d1%26hc%3d50%26new%3d1%26rank%3d1%26redir%3dfalse%26uidh%3dwy5&backlabel=ReturnSearchResults

The 1880 Census tells us that her father was born in SC and her mother was born in GA. Maybe...

On Sunday, February 24, 1856, she married Sanford V. Garrett in Shelby County as Ellen Green. Minister of the Gospel L.B McDonald officiated with a license signed by J. M. McClanahan, Judge of Probate.

https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:3QS7-L9HV-W62P?i=433&cc=1743384

Nancy Ellen had several children with Sanford, including James B., born 1857; Thomas G., born and died about 1860; and Mary Elizabeth, born 1863. Hmmmm...More on that tidbit anon. There may have been a boy named Josh; several Ancestry trees list him but I have never seen any documentary proof of his existence. Maybe he existed—I would love to see the evidence. 

Nancy Ellen and Sanford were married for about five years. I really hope they were happy years because it was all over when Sanford left to fight for the Confederacy during the Civil War. He enlisted and served in Company K, AL Third Infantry and then moved to the White Plains Rangers, Company C, Fifth Alabama. Various family trees and online sources say he died anywhere from 1861 - 1864. The best source, his Confederate death record, says he died on October 11, 1861, at the Clay St. Hospital, Richmond, Henrico County, VA. 

https://www.fold3.com/image/11497496

Sanford is buried in Hollywood Cemetery, Richmond, VA. In an odd discrepancy, his death is listed at Findagrave.com as December 16, 1862. 

https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/93141573/sanford-v-garrett

Hmmmm....

The 1866 State Census for Alabama shows Mrs. Ellen Garrett living in Township 24, Range 12 East, Shelby County. The location is near/in Montevallo. The census entry agrees completely with the the household that should be showing: one male under 10 (James Garrett, about 10), one female under 10 (Mary E., about three), and one female over 30 (Nancy Ellen, about 34). Thomas Garrett died young and Josh (if he existed) probably died young as well.

Significantly, Mrs. Brittan McGuire (Britta Ann), James Adams (NEG's future husband), and Henry Backus (father of JG's future wife) live in the same area. It makes total sense for Nancy and Britta to have moved closer to each other after losing husbands to the War, doesn't it?

According to this site, Ellen Garrett married James Adams in Shelby County on January 21, 1868. James Adams was about 66 and she was about 36; ages extrapolated from the 1870 Census. 

https://www.ancestry.com/interactive/7163/4257737_00249/13047121?backurl=http%3a%2f%2fsearch.ancestry.com%2fcgi-bin%2fsse.dll%3fdb%3d1870usfedcen%26gsln%3dadams%26gsfn_x%3d1%26gsln_x%3dNS%26msbdy%3d1833%26msbdy_x%3d1%26msbdp%3d2%26msrdy_x%3d1%26msrpn__ftp%3dshelby%252c%2balabama%252c%2busa%26msrpn__ftp_x%3d1%26msrpn%3d2683%26msrpn_x%3d1%26hc%3d50%26new%3d1%26rank%3d1%26redir%3dfalse%26uidh%3dwy5&backlabel=ReturnSearchResults

By the 1870 US Census for AL, James and Nancy E. had a five-month-old son named James R. While the child's age doesn't jive with the dates on his tombstone (December 1869), it is clear that young James—later to be known as Robert Lee—was born in wedlock. Hmmmmm....

Note the difference in the name our gal is using between 1866/68 and 1870: Mrs. Ellen Garrett to Nancy E. Adams. We know it's the same person because of the other children listed in the household. 

In the 1880 US Census for AL, Nancy Adams is living on Beat 4, Village of Montevallo. She is widowed, at home, born GA, father born SC, mother born GA. Also in the household is son Robert Lee, 10. Neighbors: Elbert Nelson (husband of daughter Mary E.), Mary Large, John Bradford, Shortridge, Stephen Dill, Acker, West, Wilson, Bradford, E. M. Carleton (one of Britta and her neighbors in 1866). So James Adams left or most likely died between 1870 and 1880. Children James Garrett, Mary Garrett Nelson, and Robert Lee are still living.

From a letter shared by Robert Lee's granddaughter, we know that Nancy also included "Elizabeth" among her given names. Robert Lee wrote:

“I was a six year old boy on the train with my mother (Nancy Elizabeth Greene) enroute from our hometown Montevallo, Ala. to Selma, to visit my brother...”

http://trees.ancestry.com/tree/19413000/person/818356771/media/1?pgnum=1&pg=0&pgpl=pid%7cpgNum

Nancy Adams disappears after the 1880 Census. She died in Montevallo, Shelby County, AL, probably after 1890, according to another letter Robert Lee wrote about his life:

{I was married} "...June 4, 1890, about 8 pm by Rev Rice.  Left on our honeymoon the next evening for Rome Ga where I was a train dispatcher for ETValley Ry.  We stopped at my sister's home, Mrs Ed Nelson, in Rome GA.  The RR transferred me to Selma Alabama.  From Selma we moved to Paduca Ky with C&O Ry.  My mother died at Montevallo Ala."

http://trees.ancestry.com/tree/19413000/person/818356771/media/2?pgnum=1&pg=0&pgpl=pid%7cpgNum 

These letters contain lots of useful nuggets about the lives of Nancy's descendants, but as this blog post is specifically about the documented facts of Nancy Elizabeth Ellen Green's life, that's all I can prove. Other guesses and theories will just have to wait for the next post.

Hmmmm.....

Refinement on "BREAKTHROUGH!"

I should mention that my cousin who is much more educated about the science of DNA pointed out that we can't be 100% percent sure that Graphen Holt Greene is the brother/cousin/uncle of our Britta Ann Green, born 1834 in AL, until we compare DNA segments, and they match. 

In addition, "triangulation" really means comparing at least two segments from known descendants against suspected descendants to conclude that they match. Here's a description:

The definition of triangulation in this context means:

• To find a common segment
• Of reasonable size (generally 7cM or over)
• That is confirmed to a common ancestor with at least two other individuals
• Who are not close family

Close family generally means parents, siblings, sometimes grandparents, although parents and grandparents can certainly be used to verify that the match is valid. The best triangulation situation is when you match those two other people through a second child, meaning siblings of your ancestor.

https://dna-explained.com/category/triangulation/

Since Ancestry doesn't have a chromosome browser, it won't be possible to scientifically triangulate to a high degree of certainty until some of GHG's descendants can be persuaded to send their raw DNA data to Gedmatch. 

I'm on it. 

In the meantime, let me bolster my claim that GHG is Britta's relative by adding these facts:

• I currently manage or have access to seven DNA kits at Ancestry of people that we can prove are descended from Britta Ann Green, born 1834 in AL. They include one great-great grandchild and six great-great-great grandchildren. 

• I can identify the DNA kits of dozens of other people who are known/proven to descend from Britta Ann Green. 

• BAG was married twice, once to John L. McGuire and once to Mike Flynn. I have access to the kits of descendants from both of those marriages.

• BAG is my third great-grandmother. If the descendants of GHG were related to me, they'd probably be in the vicinity of fourth to sixth cousins. Same with most of the Ancestry kits I manage or have access to. 

It is possible that for people to match IBC (identical by chance) rather than IBD (identical by descent). Not every Ancestry member who lists GHG as an ancestor will match me or the kits I manage/access. And not every family tree at Ancestry has the correct ancestors in the correct line. 

However, in 12 examples of Ancestry members who list GHG as an ancestor, there are multiple matches between those kit owners and the kits I manage/access. In addition some of those kits simultaneously match the kits of Britta's descendants from both marriages. 

So I'm convinced. And when I have this many matches, I'm usually right.