My Farrar roots - Part I

Wow!!  YesterdayThursday, 19 April 2012 was certainly a , RED LETTER day for Farrars, at least in my small world of Farrars.  I had a comment on this blog, I had a message on Ancestry.com and I received an email, ALL about the Farrars.  So, I will address my Farrar ancestors and relatives.

As many of you have no doubt discovered, there is a lenghty Farrar family tree of sorts, that is easily accessible online and dates back to - V Foulques, Count of Anjou, born 1092; died 1143.  In getting to this individual, we are shown Kings and Royalty of Portugal, Spain, England, etc., it is said these folks are Farrar/Farrow ancestors.  My goodness, this is certainly interesting and may indeed be "spot-on" accurate; however, it is too in depth for me to accept.  Yes, I know something being "too in depth" to accept sounds crazy, right?  But, I don't remember any references or documentation and I'm one of those who needs facts or proof before I can accept whatever information that is put before me.  On the other hand there are so many out there who take, well I have found just a name and run with it.  An example, my Great, Great Grandfather Bell, William Charlie/Charles Bell.  I discovered online a known relative of mine had a family tree and had him in Australia at the same time that he was in Benton County, TN, raising a family in both places.  I'm sorry, but in the mid-1800's folks didn't jet from continent to continent.  Obviously there were two Charlie Bell's, about the same age and I suspect there were more than two, but only one of them was my Great, Great Grandfather.  If I have learned anything in my years of research, it is . . . if you want to be accurate do the work yourself. That sounds a bit harsh I suppose, but mistakes can be made and as I mentioned there are some, for whatever reason, who are more interested in numbers or just getting something to fill in a generation than to be accurate.  Of course there are some who can be trusted, but trust is earned and built over time.  More on this later.

There seems to be more than a little confusion as to the first name of my Great, Great Grandfather, Madison Farrar.  Was his first name William or was it James?  I truly wish I could give a definite answer, but I can't. I know his tombstone, at Chalkhill Cemetery, in Benton County, TN shows Wm Madison Farrar.  Also, I know his father was William and I am not familiar with a James in the Farrar line, but I'm writing this from memory and not looking at my notes.  But, I think his first nsme was William using logic, so that is how and why I have it as such.

My information on the Farrars is limited to some extent, at least the research I have done.  Earlier I mentioned not using someone else's research unless you are familiar with their thoroughness. Well, that is what I have done, except I am currently I suppose it could be said, checking my facts.  Please allow me to explain and how I obtained the information I have.

Years ago, 1979 I think I was trying to learn something about my Frazier ancestors.  I knew little about them and was told about a lady who lived in Virginia that had a wealth of information on the Fraziers. But, I was warned she seldom shared her research with anyone.  I was even told she would not share certain information with her sister.  I was desperate, had hit a dead end with my research and hey all she could tell me was no, so one Sunday afternoon I gave her a call.  At first she didn't appear to be interested in sharing anything with me, but she knew my Dad.  This helped and bought me a little time and in that time she somewhat baited me to find out how much I knew and how much I had researched.  We talked for 2+ hours and as it turned out we were related through the Fraziers, Farrars, Leighs, Coles and another family line or two. Over the years she was extremely helpful in some of my research and never hesitated to answer my questions.  Of course this was pre-internet and her research had come from the National Archives and the Library of Congress, as well as various places she had traveled going through courthouse records, etc.  The reason I point this out in talking about the Farrars is, most of my information and documentation past William Farrar, Madison's father came from this lady.  That is not to say I have not researched the Farrars, but I must admit I haven't devotred as much time to them as other lines.

Mable's research showed George Farrar married Judith Jefferson, daughter of Thomas Jefferson, sister to Peter Jefferson and aunt of Thomas Jefferson, the 3rd President of the United States.  However, now DNA testing supposedly shows my Farrar line is not the Farrar line connected to the Jeffersons.  I must be totally honest here, I do not undertand DNA testing when it comes to our ancestors.  Oh, I understand how DNA can prove or disprove someone being related to someone else, but it is my understanding the whereabouts of George Farrar's grave is unknown.  Therefore how is it possible for anyone to prove kin without George's DNA?  Of course that may be something I could answer if I knew more about DNA testing.  And I have an email I have scanned, but not read thoroughly that may explain DNA testing enough that even a skeptic like me can understand it.

Well, this has become lengthy.  I appologize and will continue with my Farrar ancestry a bit later. As always, thank you for visiting my blog.  Please feel free to comment, share your thoughts and ideas and/or correct me on any mistakes I may have made.

'Til next time.

Tim