William Henry Harrison Yates or is it???

Side Note: Recently I viewed Family Trees on Ancestry.com, looking for Kesiah Bell Rushing.  I believe there were 8 that showed her father as George Bell and her mother as Mary Champion Bell.  This is not true; however, the thing that amazed me the most was the date of birth given in all 8 Family Trees for Kesiah and the date of death for Mary Champion Bell.  All 8 showed Kesiah/Keziah was born in 1786.  I suspect this is accurate or at least close; however, all 8 gave Mary Champion Bell's date of death as being 1777.  No, that is not a typo, 1777!  I'm sorry, but this belongs in one of those supermarket tabloids and not on anyone's Family Tree!  I can see the headline now, "Woman gives birth nine years after her death".  Please pay attention, perhaps the world will end tomorrow and there will be no need for anyone's famiy heritage, but to be on the safe side, if you're taking the time to do research use a little common sense.


Now off of my soapbox and on to William H. Yates.

I suppose, when all is going smoothly, regardless of the task we have a tendency to think or even believe whatever we're doing is easy.  Right?  Of course there are times when we are sliding along without a hitch, then suddenly realize somewhere along the way we got off track.  That intended straight line has more bends in it than an uncoiled "slinky".

Okay, my Dad referred to this man as Uncle Bill Yates.  He married my grandparents and one of my Granddad's brothers and his wife and, he preached my great-grandfather's funeral.  But, I just cannot make a connection, hehe, I'm not even sure what his name was, when he was born or when he died and as you can see, I have his death certificate and photographed his tombstone.

It has been speculated William Yates was the son of Elisha Yates and possibly the brother of Washington Ann "Jorgie" Yates Marchbanks, but it seems, per his death certificate, his father was Josh Yates.  However, should I accept this a fact?  The informant, B.H. Yates is more than likely his son Buel, but the date of death given is 10 November 1934 and as you will notice, the date of death on his tombstone is 10 December 1934.  Obviously an error was made and one would assume that was his tombstone; however, my experience with the Yates family has proven nothing can be taken for granted or assumed.  You will also notice his date of birth is also different, 6 June 1839 on his death certificate and 13 June 1838 on his tombstone????



Okay, Elisha Yates son was Joshua Yates, but I have found no evidence that he was the father of William H. Yates.  But, I did find a Joshua Yates in the 1840 Williamson County, TN census.  First, Joshua Yates married Nancy Ann Inman, 20 February 1832 in Williamson County, TN.  Now the 1840 census entry -

2 - males under 5; 1 - male 30-39;1- female under 5; 1 - female 5-9.  Obviously the mother died, deserted or whatever since there is not a female the age of a mother.  Also, with William H Yates birth being 1838-1839, he could definitely be one of the makes, as could Washington Ann (Jorgie) Yates Marchbanks be the female 5-9.  However, I have been unable to locate this family anywhere in the 1850 census, so the mystery continues.

I must include this, call it a gut feeling or whatever, but please do not even suggest this as fact.  I do not believe William H Yates is the son of Elisha Yates, but I do suspect he was a brother to Jorgie.

I am writng this in segments, so please forgive me if it is jumbled or I repeat myself, but somewhere I have found William H.H. Yates, as his name is recorded in the 1880 US Census for Carroll County, TN, to be William Henry Harrison Yates.  If this is factual and Jorgie was George Washington Ann Yates, perhaps the parents named their children after US Presidents.  This could be a lead in finding other siblings??  Yes, no doubt that is grasping at straws, but that is about all I have left.  Maybe tomorrow will bring something new and informative or maybe someone will read this and be able and willing to fill the gaps.  But until then, I will continue my quest of uncovering who the Yates family were.  If only I could find William H Yates in the 1850 census!  I have found him from 1860-1930, with the exception of the 1890 census.  Oh, one final thought, there is a William H. Yates in Grainger County, TN, maybe late 1800's or early 1900's.  This is not the same William H Yates as thr one buried at Chalkhill Cemetery, in Benton County, TN.

Again, I apologize if this is difficult to read, but I suppose that is par for the course since most everything about the Yates family has been difficult.

Until next time, have a safe, enjoyable Thanksgiving and ask your older relatives about their ancestors and then write it down.

Tim