Burrel McFarland's Family

Burrell was the son of Penelope, the Matriarch of the McFarland Clan from Georgia, USA. Please 

note that there were other Black McFarlands living in Franklin County, Georgia. They were 

Daniel McFarland, Evy McFarland, Peter McFarland. There may have been others.

He also had two brothers, Samuel and Pinkney. We will get to them on another post. Burrell had to be a

resourceful person. He received a homestead from Arkansas in 1897 for 154 acres of land. He had moved

with his family to Arkansas in the early 1890's. We will discuss his wife on a later post.

Burrell's wife was Candice/Kansas Knox. They had eight children - Mattie(1882 - 1910), 

Minnie(1885 - 1973), Eveline(1888 - 1977), James(1891 - 1909), Beadie(1892 - 1974), 

Lela(1894 - 1921),  Alma(1898 - 1961), and Goviner(1900 - 1910). Six girls and two boys.

Burrell who died in 1935, outlived four of his children. Candice died in 1924 and also outlived 

four of her children. The remaining four children accept for Alma died in the 70's. Alma died in 1961.

Burrell and Candace took in Mattie's daughter Curley because of her early death. Burrell took in his 

daughter, Alma, in 1930 after her husband, Frank Brittian died. His life could not have been easy because 

of losing four children. He survived the early chaos after the Civil War and was able to start anew in 

Arkansas with his own 154 acres of land as a farmer.

Lost a Family

 I am looking at the descendants of Burrell McFarland. 

And presently, I can't find Burrell McFarland anywhere on the 1920's Federal Census. 

He was in the 1910 Census with his wife Kansas, daughters, Evelyn, Beadie, Lela, Alma, and granddaughter Curlie McCoy living in Bradly, Van Buren, Arkansas. 

Then, I found him again in the 1930 Census with  his daughter, Alma living in Welborn, Conway, Arkansas.

I have looked in every city/township in Van Buren and in Welborn Counties. I should be able to see Burl, Kansas, Alma, and Curlie. Kansas, his wife died in 1924; perhaps, he was with her at some hospital or assylum? But, where was Alma and Curlie? I thought they could have been living as servants somewhere. I am going to look for his other daughters. 

Hopefully, I will have good news when I post next week.

Making Plans for 2022!

 Happy New Year to everyone in genealogy land!

This is the year 2022 and I want to make a list of things I want to accomplish with my genealogy. I feel that I have not pushed as hard as I should. Also, I now have more time because I am retired. So, I have no excuses.

My Plan:

• Blog once a week. 
• Prepare a Locality Guide for Conway County and Van Buren County, Arkansas.
• Start a Neighborhood Research Project (FAN Club) for my ancestors living in Arkansas.
• Get familiar with the Library of Congress, NARA, and Freedman Bureau websites.
• Read more genealogy published books and manuscripts.

I have been concentrating on my grandmother's ancestors on my mother's side. This is just a small part of my family research.  I still need to start on my grandfather's ancestors on my mother's side. On my father's side, I have to start researching for both his father and mother and their ancestors. 

But, in the year 2022, I am just concentrating on my grandmother's ancestry on my mother's side.

If you are reading this blog, comment on what your genealogy plans are for 2022. Thanks.

In Cold Blood by Truman Capote

I had decided to give this book a five stars rating, at first. I enjoyed how he developed the characters and got you involved in their lives. I liked the way Mr. Capote gently brought the reader into how the murders were initiated instead of bringing up the gory details all at once. 

But, the last chapter caused me to give the book four stars. Mr. Capote seemed as if he didn't know how to end the book. I felt as if I was studying a law book; and I did not understand why he included the cases of several death row prisoners. I know he was trying to make a case for or against the death sentence but to me that was for another book. I almost couldn't finish it. Thus, the four stars rating.

Map of my USA Reading Tour

USA Reading Tour 

The Whistling Season by Ivan Doig

 

This was my first time reading any of Ivan Doig's books. He is an excellent story teller and his specialty is about Montana. This particular book was dated in the early 1900's in Marias Coulee township. A recent widower sends out an ad for an housekeeper after losing his wife. She comes to his home along with her brother. Events takes place that involves Paul Milliron and his three young sons and the housekeeper and her brother. There are scenes that make you shake your head in disbelieve and others that make you chuckle. The end of the book gives you a surprise concerning the housekeeper and the brother. I really enjoyed the writing and recommend this book. 

Franklin County, Georgia

INTRODUCTION

Georgia was formed from the Province of Georgia. It was one of the original 13 colonies. James Oglethorpe, in 1732, established the Georgia colony as a buffer between Spanish Florida and the English colonies. They had close ties with Barbados and relied on African slaves. It became the fourth state in January 2, 1788.

This is a map of the British Empire in 1746 - Source: David Rumsey Collection

1746 America British Empire

The Cherokee Tribe was to its North West and the Creek Tribe was to its South West. Everything west of the colony were Indians.

There were eight parishes in Georgia before counties came into being. They were formed March 15, 1758. They were Christ Church, St. Matthew, St. George, St. Paul, St. Philip, St. John, St. Andrew, and St. James. On March 15, 1765, four more parishes were formed which were St. David, St. Patrick, St. Thomas, and St. Mary.

First Georgia was divided into two sections which were Savannah and Frederika Counties. Georgia created eight counties after the Revolutionary War, in 1777. The counties were Burke, Camden, Chatham, Effingham, Glynn, Liberty, Richard, and Wilkes.

County Changes

Franklin county was formed by acquiring Cherokee land in 1784.

Madison county was formed in 1811.

Hart county was formed in 1853.

Banks county was formed in 1858.

Stephens county was formed in 1905.

This is the plat map of Franklin County, 1784 - 1785 - Source: Plat Book, 1784-1785, Superior Court, Franklin County, RG 159-1-26, Georgia Archives

1784 Plat Maps - Franklin County, Georgia