We stand on the shoulders of those who’ve gone before!
No where is this statement more visible than Tennessee Research. We have all bemoaned the lack of early census schedules for Tennessee–especially East Tennessee counties.
In post for 5 June 2009, I described finding the “Early Ohio Records Series, Volume 2” which Ronald Jackson published several years ago. These entries were listed as South of the Ohio River, a description of the territory encompassing East Tennessee. And the names are East Tennessee names.
Now we have Partial Census of 1787 to 1791 of Tennessee (as taken from North Carolina Land Grants), 2 volumes. Compiled by Lucy Kate McGhee–one of Penelope Johnson Allen’s DAR members who worked on the Historical Records Survey program of the WPA.
Do you suppose that this volume is one of the 1500 volumes that Mrs. Allen and her corps of volunteers prepared?
There is a copy, and it is indexed, at the Family History Library on microfilm reels #1728882 item 4 and #1683130 item 3. The filming was done in 1990, probably at the Tennessee State Archives. And this record is easy to overlook in the Family History Library Catalog.
The Daughters of the American Revolution have always tried to shorten and ease the research process for their members seeking new Revolutionary War ancestors. They do the same for those who register with them before they actually prove a lineage.
So creating a substitute census from land grants made by the State of North Carolina is not surprising. I am going through the Family History Library Catalog as I have a chance, to identify other volumes prepared by the DAR. And I will share the information with you as I discover them.
There will be copies of these volumes in other libraries. When the original typing was done, up to 7 carbon copies were made so they could be spread around. When you visit Tennessee, watch for these volumes in public libraries and archives as well as used book stores. Your favorite Tennessee genealogist, Arlene Eakle http://www.arleneeakle.com
PS I’m going to the Tennessee State Archives and other libraries around the state very soon. If you have a research problem you’d like help on, let me know.