Cluster Research

You find information about your ancestors by looking at the people around them. This is called cluster research. I looked at the will of James Jackson. Background information: John McFarland's wife's name is Rebecca Jackson. Her father is James Jackson and he made his will out in 1838. So Rebecca did not receive the slave Pleas until after 1838. I now need to find out what year John McFarland and Rebecca were married and what year James Jackson died. Remember, by 1840 John McFarland had five slaves. The reason for this research is to find what year John McFarland purchased his slave Penelope. Penelope is the matriarch of my family - McFarland.

Clues to Who Sold Penny to McFarland

I have already looked at every probate, will, and estate papers belonging to John McFarland and his father Robert McFarland. Unfortunately, there wasn't anything concerning purchases of slaves. So, I am thinking the transaction took place between the neighbors. I am now comparing the 1830 Census with the 1840 Census to determine who had slaves and when they had them.