The Mystery of My Grayson Family Heritage~ Will It Unfold or Be Untold?

Photo Courtesy: Darlene Cornett-Griffey (2012)

This past week has been all about making new contacts that would eventually help me in researching my Cornett ancestry and understanding exactly who they were. I found a connection and a book entitled, "Bicentennial Heritage Grayson County, Virginia 1793", which was published in 1995 by the Grayson County Bicentennial Foundation. This book is no longer in print, unless you are lucky enough to have a copy of it in your possession already.


My "connection" has sent to me, parts of this book as they relate to the Sutherland and Cornett families and to myself. Just scanning through these pages, I'm  thinking that my new "connection" might in actuality be related to me in some way, not just through the Sutherland lines, but also through the Cornett family too. How exciting is that? Finding a family member that has been researching the same families lineage that I am; I am super excited to read through these papers more. There are several pages of Cornett names and their ranks listed on both the American Revolutionary War and the Civil War pages. 


There is still the mystery that surrounds Alexander Sutherland (Southerland) and his wife, Margaret Elizabeth Bryan. Who were they really? What were their hobbies? Did Alexander like to hunt like most men back then? In what year did he move to Virginia from Scotland? What kind of life did they live? Will I ever find out who Alexander really was? So many questions, so few answers.


In my past posts, you've read about Alexander and his role in the British Army. I think I read somewhere that he was 2nd Lieutenant. But don't quote me on that just yet! He has been the most intriguing family member I have researched so far; probably because there are so many different views from so many other people, that the truth has yet to be documented. Alexander Sutherland is a true mystery; one that I hope I can solve one day. 

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The Fascinating World Of Genealogy

Has your family research come to a standstill? What about that proverbial brick wall that has you stumped? What will you do next? Many researchers both newbies and the more experienced, get stumped all the time. Myself included! It is very frustrating to finally get the lead you have been searching for only to find out that it really hasn't led you anywhere. Sometimes I feel like a dog who is running around in circles chasing its' own tail!


Here are a couple of ideas that might get you back on track. I hope the ideas help you and I also hope they help me in searching my ancestral roots.


U.S. Geological Survey Maps- Have you thought about topography maps to aid in your research? The U.S. Geological Survey web site can help you locate historical maps of interest that may help you in your genealogy searches. In addition, this site also features a National Atlas, which will help you by offering a number of maps that can include country boundary lines, cities, lakes and rivers, and other topographical points of interest. 
** Another idea that just came to mind: Blow up the map to a large wall size and use different colored "ball" tacks for different family surnames to give you the visuals that you may need in your research. It could help you track their movements especially if they have migrated from other countries.


Direct Line Software- A software program that is called Deed Mapper. Deed Mapper works with old land records. Whether you have one deed or a hundred, this software program will help you:

• Find the location of a particular plot by anchoring a group of neighboring plots against a stream.
• Discover genealogical relationships by showing that person X sold a part of person Y's land.
• Untangle people having the same name by analyzing their landholdings and transfers.
• Create a map of original landholders in a region. 
• Trace changes in parcel ownership over the years.

There is also an online community that you can interact with other members. Deed Mapper is designed for historical research so it handles surveys that have straight lines. So it may be worth checking out at least!

Direct Line Software Screenshots


Dead Fred- This web page is dedicated to genealogists and family researchers, who can search and post photos, search surnames and the like. It is a free, fun photo genealogy research site devoted to helping you visualize your heritage! Wouldn't it be great to find a lost ancestor on this site?  Your bonus would be a photo you may have been searching out for years! 


Image Source:
Dog Chasing Its' Tail

Dog Chasing His Own Tail

Image no. 700-00046138

Photo by  Graham French  (click to view more images of this artist)

  - model release: no release on file      - property release: no release on file   

700-00046138 [65 - Masterfile] / 4160133 [1]

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A Little Twig On My Family Tree

I have been researching the Cornett, Canute, and Sutherland family surnames off and on for the past few months. Along the way, I have met new cousins and created a few contacts, both professional and personal, as it relates to the topic of Genealogy. It seems that my family tree is one twisted tangle of little twigs. But I seem to think that there may be some vines intertwining with those twigs that cause me to search even deeper. I can almost picture myself spreading this vine curtain to see what's inside, stepping into the past and being swallowed up as the curtain closes. Sounds like a creepy movie in a way. 


I have been reading up on the book I purchased a few months ago, titled, "Grayson County: A History in Words and Pictures", I have also enjoyed looking at the photos of the first settlers to Grayson County, Virginia. The book encompasses a little less than 400 pages of fact written by the Grayson County Historical Society during the years 1792-1950. There are many interesting details and stories in this book that I will have to share at a later date. 
I have been most curious while searching for answers to all the mysteries of my family, I have yet to uncover the greatest mystery and a mountain of a brick wall called Alexander Sutherland. I hope to one day solve this with the help of my cousins, who happen to be also doing their own research on the same family surname. 


According to some, the Canute surname was believed to have actually been named "Carnutte", stemming from Danish origin. There are many variations to the name and some also believe the name was of French origin. So really, who is correct? Is it speculation? How did they come up with this? I can understand the Danish part in this, as King Canute was most likely of that descent, as he was King of Denmark. But French? I'm not sure about that yet, although it could be very possible, I just need the cold, hard facts!


So if the Cornett family did descend from Carnutte, researching the Carnutte surname should be foremost on the list of priorities. It is said, and passed on from generation to generation that the Cornett family descended from King Canute II of Denmark. King Canute II was also known as Canute the Great, who reigned as King of Denmark during the time period of 995-1035. Canute the Great, being the son of Sweyn, King of Denmark.


Below is an excerpt I found on a web site dedicated to the genealogy of the Cornett family. The link source is also below if you would like to visit the site and utilize any other links on the site itself.

 If the Cornetts descended from Carnutte, one may begin with the Carnutte's history. It is believed by some that the family is descended from King Canutte II of Denmark. King Canutte II of Denmark "Canute the Great" (995-1035).  He was the first Danish King of England.  Under his rule Norway was conquered.  He was the son of Sweyn, King of Denmark.¹ On the other hand, if the Cornetts were of French origin, it is likely that the family came across with William the Conqueror.

Erin Cornett was born in 1676 in Northumberland, England; he raised sheep. There is no record of his wife's name. His son, Earl, was born in Southampton, England in 1696. He was a farmer and a member of the Church of England. He had seven sons: John, Roger, George, Francis, Frank, Jesse, and James. John Cornett ...born in Southampton ,England in 1727. In 1740, he sailed to the Colonies with six of his brothers. They worked as indentured servants on an English  lord's farm near Philadelphia, Pa. After gaining his freedom, John went to Henrico, Co.Va. (near Richmond) and raised tobacco for a living. He was taxed for land there on March 24,1747... His will lists that he had six sons and no daughters. His second wife was Elizabeth Bacon Mosby.She was a widow with one son... John died about 1776 at Elks Creek, Va. He was a member of St. John Episcopal Church. Four of his sons fought in the Revolutionary War (another source says six²⁾. These four were later given land grants for their war service.William and Sam settled on Line Fork... Nathaniel and Roger settled in Benge, Clay Co.⁴ "[He] died about 1776 in Elm Creek, Virginia... his children were Rebecca Canute Cornett; David Cornett, born about 1750; James Canute Cornett, born about 1755; John Samuel Cornett, born about 1759; Nathanial Cornett born about 1760; William Jesse Cornett, born in 1761 in Henrico County, Virginia; and Roger Cornett, born about 1768.

My ancestors are William Jesse Cornett who died November 26, 1836 and is buried in Cornettsville Cemetary and Rhoda Gilliam, his first wife. They were married on May 7, 1787 in Washington County, Virginia"³  William Cornett enlisted twice in Virginia Revolutionary War units and received a pension (# W6723). His son, John (b. 1794) married Rachel (Smith) Kelly, and their son Russell (b. 1840) married Ailey Amburgey (b.1841), their last child being Sarah Elizabeth Cornett, my grandmother. Russell and Ailey's brother, John J. Amburgey, had served together in Co B. of  Benjamin E. Caudill's 13th Cavalry CSA.

Source: Mark S. Carroll/ Cornett Ancestry
Image Source: Getty Images

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Your Genetic Genealogy~ Is It As Accurate As You Think?

Good morning and Aloha! 
It has been breezy but also rainy here on Oahu this morning and it makes for great sleeping weather, so what am I doing up? It's 9 a.m. that's why; I cant sleep in like my husband can, he can sleep through a tsunami! If I were only that lucky...but anyway, I have been wondering about the accuracy of DNA in our genealogy. 

Image Source:

DNA Genetics

How do we know this is truly accurate, as DNA is taken from the living, not the dead? The genetic genealogy tests can be expensive, depending on your own economic standpoint. So just how great is this anyway? I've been reading up on several different articles that pertain to this topic and in my opinion, I wouldn't waste my time or money on something that isn't 110% accurate. I'm not saying that a person shouldn't do this type of testing, if it leads them to finding their missing links in their families history. By all means, go for it if that's what you want to do. I am merely expressing my own opinion. After reading the following article, I became a little skeptical. There are many companies offering these types of services that promise to trace your lineage through means of a DNA test, whether it's paternal or maternal, the price goes up depending on your needs. Read this article from another blogger, who seems to have done her research and then let me know whether you think this type of test is something you would do. 


Genetic Genealogy Blog




To My Readers: Have you tried this sort of testing to trace your ancestral roots? Did you have any success? Please post your success stories! Below is a company offering this type of service. What do you think?


DNA Ancestry Project

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The Mystery of My Grayson Family Heritage~ Will It Unfold or Be Untold?

This past week has been all about making new contacts that would eventually help me in researching my Cornett ancestry and understanding exactly who they were. I found a connection and a book entitled, "Bicentennial Heritage Grayson County, Virginia 1793", which was published in 1995 by the Grayson County Bicentennial Foundation. This book is no longer in print, unless you are lucky enough to have a copy of it in your possession already.

Image Source

Grayson Seal

My "connection" has sent to me, parts of this book as they relate to the Sutherland /Cornett families and myself. Just scanning through these pages, I'm  thinking that my new "connection" might in actuality be related to me in some way, not just through the Sutherland lines, but also through the Cornett family too. How exciting is that? Finding a family member that has been researching the same families lineage that I am; I am super excited to read through these papers more. There are several pages of Cornett names and their ranks listed on both the American Revolutionary War and the Civil War pages. 


There is still the mystery that surrounds Alexander Sutherland (Southerland) and his wife, Margaret Elizabeth Bryan. Who were they really? What were their hobbies? Did Alexander like to hunt like most men back then? In what year did he move to Virginia from Scotland? What kind of life did they live? Will I ever find out who Alexander really was? So many questions, so few answers.


In my past posts, you've read about Alexander and his role in the British Army. I think I read somewhere that he was 2nd Lieutenant. But don't quote me on that just yet! He has been the most intriguing family member I have researched so far; probably because there are so many different views from so many other people, that the truth has yet to be documented. Alexander Sutherland is a true mystery; one that I hope I can solve one day. 

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Grayson County: A History in Words and Pictures

Very excited as I have purchased a book on Amazon, entitled "Grayson County: A History in Words and Pictures". I just can't wait to receive this book! The book was published by the Grayson County Historical Society. Many of my ancestors settled here and still live in the area. This may just give me a little more insight to who my family really was. I can't believe I found this gem of a book and didn't have to pay a fortune for it!

Image Source:

Grayson County: A History in Words and Pictures (Book)

There is also a FaceBook page for the Grayson County Heritage Foundation, if any of you are interested. Grayson-County-Virginia-Heritage-Foundation
Another site of interest is Olden Times (Virginia)

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Family Tree Road Blocks

Lately, I haven't been finding the information that I have been seeking. This is a huge deterrent in my overall genealogy research. Why can't I find what I need? Am I looking in the wrong places? I'm thinking so, at this point. So what do I do now? Keep forging on! Go, Go, Go!! Right now, I've been searching the Sutherland part of my family branch and have come to a detour of sorts. I've tried multiple search engines and keep coming up with the same sites that I've seen a hundred times over. What do you do when the road seems to have come to a dead end?

Things You Can Do:
1. Take a break!
2. If you have an idea, write it down. (Or you can do as I do and leave yourself a little note via your iPhone).
3.Read some of the message board forums. I know Ancestry.com has some good ones.
4. Talk to family members, they may have something to share with you too.
5. Talk to other Genealogy researchers, bloggers, even librarians! Someone should be able to help or at least point you in a new direction.


Have you thought about a research plan? You may be able to isolate the problem and come to some type of conclusion. It might even get you out of the rut that your research may currently be in.




Free Genealogy Forms


The Bailey's Free Genealogy Forms


Printable Charts and Forms


Ancestry Charts- Free Download




There are also many audio/video podcast's that you can listen to via iTunes! Check it out!
If you do not have iTunes, you can download it here: iTunes Download


Here is a sample podcast link for you!
Genealogy Gems Podcast (Episode #103)

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My Canute Family

I am near ecstatic today after doing some research on the Canute lineage and finding out that not only did our family descend from royalty, but there are some ancestors way beyond the Canute people. Starting off, there is Erin First Canute, Harthacanute, Canute the Great, Richard I of Normandy, and thousands of others. I'll be researching for years to come! I have spent some time going through all the data that is involved and I'll give you the link to view the entire family tree on the Ancestry Web Page. * You may have to already be a member of the site to view this, just so you know!

Members of Ancestry.com can view my Cornett Family Ancestry Tree here. You shouldn't have any problems viewing the tree, as I have made it available for public viewing for a limited time only. If you cannot view it, my apologies as it will probably require you to become a member to do so.

Image Source

Tree Clipart

At first, I wasn't really wanting to pay for the subscription to Ancestry.com but really, it is worth it in the end. There are documents, war draft cards, photos, and other members trees in which to view, but there are also documents from the UK that can be viewed also. They offer many great features and free services if you don't feel that you wish to become a member at this time.

Here is one of the stories of William Longsword I that I retrieved from the Ancestry web site; it was originally submitted by another member of the site, whose name I do not want to mention for privacy reasons. 

William I Longsword (French: Guillaume Longue-Épée, Latin: Willermus Longa Spata, Scandinavian:Vilhjálmr Langaspjót; 893 – 17 December 942) was the second Duke of Normandy from his father's death until his own assassination. The title dux (duke) was not in use at the time and has been applied to early Norman rulers retroactively; William actually used the title comes (count).

Little is known about his early years. He was born in Bayeux or Rouen to Rollo and his wife Poppa. All that is known of Poppa is that she was a Christian, and the daughter to Berengar of Rennes, the previous lord of Brittania Nova, which eventually became western Normandy. According to the William's planctus, he was baptised a Christian.

William succeeded Rollo sometime around 927. It appears that he faced a rebellion early in his reign, from Normans who felt he had become too Gallicised. Subsequent years are obscure. In 939 William became involved in a war with Arnulf I of Flanders, which soon became intertwined with the other conflicts troubling the reign of Louis IV. He was killed by followers of Arnulf while at a meeting to settle their conflict. His son Richard the Fearless, child of his first wife, Sprota, succeeded him. William also left a widow, Liègard (Liutgard), who died in 985.

If you are looking for more information on William Longsword I, You can see an article here. Brittanica Encyclopedia


Aloha!

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