Monday, June 2, 2008

Rootbound in the Hills #116:
12 Dec 1989

by Rocky Macy

Rootbound's best friend in Oklahoma lives on the shores of beautiful Grand Lake. Please read on...

Rose STAUBER (Rt. 3, Box 1084, Grove, OK 74344) is busy tracing her tangled family roots back through Hawkins County, TN, and on into southwest Virginia. Rose's research centers on Missouri GILLENWATERS (1817-1905) who married John Simmons WILLIAMS (1815-1903) in Hawkins County, TN, in 1840. Missouri's parents were probably Thomas GILLENWATERS (1790-1865) and Ellen CARMACK (1790-1832). It is also probable that the parents of John Simmons WILLIAMS were Aaron Crawford WILLIAMS (1787-1870) and Nancy SIMMONS.

Nancy SIMMONS is presumed to be the daughter of James SIMMONS (circa 1759-1851) who will was proved in Hawkins County, TN. He served in the American Revolution from Virginia and was probably born in that colony. Information now suggests that James SIMMONS married Missouri GILLENWATERS (parents unknown).

Rose would appreciate hearing from anyone that is following a GILLENWATERS, SIMMONS, WILLIAMS, or CRAWFORD lineage back into Tennessee or Virginia. Any takers?

In a separate letter, Rose STAUBER (address above) stated that she is working a STEVENS line in Pennsylvania. She wrote to request information on newspaper columns in the Keystone State. Rootbound suggests the following: The Perry Historians (P.O. Box 73, Newport, PA 17074), a monthly column featured in seven newspapers; and, Our Keystone Families (c/o Schuyler C. BROSSMAN, Box 43, Rehrersburg, PA 19550), a weekly column that runs in two newspapers.

Rootbound has a good listing of genealogy columns in other regions of the United States - and we'll share. Just send those requests to Rootbound in the Hills in care of this newspaper. And please include that important self-addressed, stamped envelope!

Copies of two very good family periodicals have recently arrived on the Rootbound desk. Cook's Crier is published four times a year by Quantic, Inc (542 Cascade Circle, Unit 104, Casselberry, FL 32707). The editor is Carl A. PATIN. The most recent issue has thirty-three pages of information pertaining to COOK families throughout the United States, a section of queries, and a complete surname index. The subscription cost is twelve dollars per year. This is a quality publication, one that should prove beneficial to anyone working a COOK line.

The other periodical is The Ellis Cousins Newsletter. Rootbound had mentioned ECN before. It is published four times a year by Bill and Carol ELLIS (1201 Maple Street, Friona, TX 79035). The subscription price for this publication is also twelve dollars per year.

Family surname periodicals can be a very useful tool, especially for researchers tracking those awful common names. Most, including the two just mentioned, offer free queries to subscribers, and they are eager to print and preserve the various fragments of family history, pieces which may one day tie together into one historical magnum opus.

And speaking of those common surnames, perhaps this columnist should note that his g-g-grandfather, William J. ELLIS (born 1840, GA) married Matilda J. COOK (born July 1842, Washington County, AR). He was the son of Joshua C. ELLIS (born 31 Jan 1814, NC; died 21 Dec 1880, Hindsville, AR) and Sarah KELLY (born 1817, NC; died after 1880). Matilda was a daughter of Thomas COOK (born Sep 1811, NC; died 10 Jan 1867, Washington County, AR) and Sina LEWIS. Thomas and Sina were married 9 Feb 1832 in Vermillion County, IL. Thomas Cook's ancestry extends back to the founding white settlers of Nantucket Island.

Rootbound suggests taking advantage of the holiday season to sit down with family members and share (and preserve!) those valuable memories. If not for yourselves, do it for the kids!

Happy trails!

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