Perhaps it is understandable that genealogy . . . family research and history . . . and just having any interest in our heritage is considered boring.  The culprit for this . . . in my humble opinion . . . is history classes in school.  Think of this . . . how often are students expected to "memorize" dates?  This . . . at least for me . . . was . . . well . . . boring.  Why should I remember when this occurred or that battle was fought . . . or . . . okay . . . it is said . . . in our history books that Columbus "discovered" America in 1492 . . . right?  There is so much research that strongly suggests . . . Columbus did NOT discover America and do we really have proof/evidence that it was 1492 when his ships landed somewhere on America's side of the Atlantic?

Yes . . . as I get older and observe how history is being written . . . for events in my lifetime . . . it jades my opinion on the accuracy of the history that was written long ago.  But . . . isn't history more about events than dates?  While the duration of World War II is definitely significant and important . . . isn't it more important to know and understand about the war?  The bombing of Pearl Harbor was extremely significant . . . but was the fact that it occurred 7 December 1941 just as significant?  For me the answer is simple . . . no, the date doesn't compare to the actual event.  That is not to say the date is insignificant . . . just that it is not as . . . let me change words . . . important as what happened.

Confused??  Yeah . . . I got a wee bit "out there" and over-explained waaay too much!  Sorry, but allow me to reel myself in and get back to my point.  I suspect . . . being forced to "memorize" dates in time . . . dates from our history . . . causes many to become disinterested in history itself.  The truth is . . . not once today . . . this past week, month or year . . . was it necessary for me to know what occurred on 7 December 1941; however, the war that followed and the United States and our allies winning WWII is paramount in most U.S. citizens lives each and every day.

Researching our ancestry . . . learning about our past . . . knowing where we came from and the hardships our ancestors experienced is both interesting as well as amazing and extremely important.  Why?  If for no other reason . . . whether it is our heritage, our history or the history of our country . . . learning from past mistakes helps each of us to be better at whatever it is we do.  If nothing more . . . it saves time!

I fear so many of us . . . forget or ignore or simply have no interest in the lives our ancestors lived.  We do not appreciate the sacrifices and struggles of generations past.  Some years ago . . . it was late in the evening and I was driving east on Interstate 40 . . . crossing the Cumberland Plateau.  Suddenly it occurred to me how my ancestors had crossed the same area 200 years earlier, except they were headed west.  I began to compare my trip to their journey.  It was early Fall and the weather was relatively warm, I had the a/c on.  I was sitting in an extremely comfortable padded seat, driving on a smooth, paved highway, in a vehicle that had rubber tires, shock absorbers and springs . . . and traveling at speeds in excess of 85 - 90 mph.  My ancestors rode in a wagon or perhaps some walked, no temperature controlled, comfortable vehicle, no smooth, paved road . . . most likely not even a road and did they have a fear for their lives from attacks by other human beings or animals?  Yes, my drive was easy . . . but their struggles, their hardships . . . were made for what they hoped would be a better life.

Yes . . . I find genealogy . . . tracing my ancestry . . . climbing my family tree extremely interesting . . . not because of dates . . . but because of the stories  . . . the exercise in using my imagination and the amazement of the things they encountered and survived. 

Some of our research will cross from genre to genre if movies were made about how we became who we are.  So . . . there is something of interest for everyone!  Give genealogy a shot . . . learn about who you are . . . where you originated . . . and who knows . . . you may have a famous ancestor.

May I ask one favor?  If any of this made sense . . . or was of any interest . . . would you please leave a comment or just check one of the three boxes.  Thanks!

Information about my 3rd great, grand uncle . . . Benjamin Bell.

Stewart County Court Minutes

TSLA Archives, Stewart Co. Roll 38, Minutes Part 8, Aug. 1821 - May 1824

Monday, 4 February 1822 Court:

Page 60 -   - Court appoints Benjamin Bell overseer in place of George Bell

Stewart County Settlements and Bonds, Volume B (Nov. 1824-Feb. 1829)

page - 209          Nancy Bell, Zachariah Wyatt, James Wyatt, administrator’s bond for Benjamin Bell; 5 Nov 1827

page - 236          sale of the estate of Benjamin Bell on 15 Nov 1827 by administratrix Nancy Bell; buyers include Nancy Bell, Charles Summers, Willie Pitt, Henry Wyatt, Zachariah Wyatt, Asa Prier, James Daniel, John Bell, John Thomason, Pinson Wyatt, Daniel McLoud, James Wyatt, Elisha Jackson, John Wyatt, Thomas Harris

page - 249          court orders year’s provisions to be laid off for the widow of Benjamin Bell; Feb. term 1828

Please excuse my absence from this blog.  Life is not always a pre-determined . . . planned event and there can be obstacles in our path . . . that require detours.  Hopefully, I will be able to keep this blog going . . . if there is still anyone interested in visiting and reading the things I write.

Tracing our ancestry is not an easy task.  Sure, many of our beginnings are as smooth as a piece of glass . . . but I can promise there will come a time when you hit a snag.  Sometimes that "snag" can be a towering block wall . . . an obstacle you may ultimately believe you will never overcome.  Don't give up!  Keep in mind why you were curious and began this journey.  After all, most of our ancestors crossed an ocean to get to this land . . . now known as the United States of America and then traveled across the land . . . meeting obstacle after obstacle . . . but they never gave up . . . they did not quit . . . they did not say . . . this is too hard.

My effort to learn about my ancestors began in the late 1970s and the Bells was my main objective.  Truthfully, I was curious to know if I was related to Alexander Graham Bell.  I knew my Grandfather and knew the name of his father . . . so I suppose I had a head start on the information many begin their journey.

Of course there was no internet then, so accessing records meant visiting libraries, courthouses and for some . . . having conversations with older relatives.  I wasn't that lucky . . . but it didn't take long for me to discover who my great, great grandparents were . . . well at least their names.  I was fortunate . . . others before me had written about and documented parts of the county history. 

Oops . . . over time I learned there were published books, by a seemingly well respected and perhaps self-proclaimed historian that were not accurate; however, this person's contribution to the preservation of the county's history was believed by many to be the gospel . . . totally and completely accurate.  This is how I learned to research and prove the information from others.  Also, those family stories that are passed down from generation to generation . . . can be embellished and may contain information that sidesteps reality.  Always write those wonderful tales down . . . but keep in mind . . . they may be just that . . . a tale.

Moving along . . . I learned who my 3rd great grandfather was but he had died in 1843 and did not have a will.  This presented numerous complications and barriers.  Had my 2nd great grandfather not been a co-administrator of his estate, I am not sure I would have ever made the connection.  You see, the 1850 U.S. census was the first to give names of those living in a household.  But . . . this was my snag, my block wall and for the next 40 years . . . my 3rd great grandfather was as far back as I could go in my Bell line.

I had no idea where the family originated and without that link . . . well at times it seemed hopeless.  Then . . . I stumbled onto something that opened the door and allowed me to tear down my block wall.  Actually . . . an ex-sister-in-law discovered information that led me to find documentation that proved who my 4th great grandfather was.

I will stop for now . . . but will continue at a later time.  Remember . . . NEVER give up and if you have ancestors who you believe were living in the western part of Tennessee in the early 1800s or late 1700s . . . check Stewart County, Tennessee.

left to right . . . Lattie Rushing and Pearl May Rushing Bell, my maternal Grandmother