Walter Allen Cornett Sr ~ UPDATED

My grandfather is being very elusive. I am having a hard time finding information on him. So far, I have some paperwork compiled by a family member of our family tree, some old black and white scanned photos, names, dates, and family members both past and present. Some are familiar to me and some are not. But that is the love of Genealogy research! Discovering family and learning, reading, and visualizing the lives they have led in the past.


But I will tell you what I do know of him so far. Walter Allen Cornett Sr. was born on December 29, 1909 and died nearly five years before I was born, he died on June 30, 1967. He married my grandmother, Lucia Rose Cornett on July 15, 1928. From what my mother tells me, they had 9 children together including a Dorothy Mae who was born on April 11,1930 and died May 10, 1930. She was only a month old when she passed away. I'm not sure what the cause of her death was. He was in the military, but I'm not sure which branch, what his rank was, military responsibilities, or even how long he was in the service.


According to the Social Security Death Index (SSDI), he was 57 years old and 5 months! Pretty exact I would say. I am still trying to find information on him, sent out emails, Facebook messages to family, and once I get more information I will be sure to post an update!


On Familysearch.org, I found the 1930 Census information on Walter's household during that time. The information found is below.


Name:Walter A Cornett
Census Event Date:1930
Event Place: Black Lick,Wythe,Virginia
Gender:Male
Age:21
Marital Status:Married
Race:White
Birthplace:Virginia
Estimated Birth Year:1909
Immigration Year: N/A
Relationship to Head of Household: Head (SELF)
Father's Birthplace:Virginia
Mother's Birthplace:Virginia
Enumeration District Number: 0004
Family Number:469
Sheet Number and Letter: 4B
Line Number: 59
Nara Publication:T626
Roll 2465
Film Number:2342199
Digital Folder Number:4547863
Image Number:00576


Walter A Cornett, Married at age 21 to Spouse Lucy R Cornett age 15.


Please Note: In the 1930 Federal Census- my grandmothers name is stated as Lucy R Cornett but in actuality her name is Lucia Rose Cornett. I guess that is the problem with Census takers, a lot of misspellings in the names and such, which makes it harder to discern your research at times.

Source Citation

"United States Census, 1930," index and images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/pal:/MM9.1.1/CJPG-ZW2 : accessed 16 May 2012), Walter A Cornett, Black Lick, Wythe, Virginia.

Below are some of the photos I have of them. Since I am in the process of moving, I will have to wait until I unpack and get settled to see if I have any other photos I can add to this blog about Walter! Please be patient....

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Cornett Family Genealogy Books

As I am scouring the internet for factual data, I just decided to Google my grandmother's name, Lucia Cornett. (Happy Mother's Day grams!)  I came across her online obituary and I can't believe almost two years has passed since she became one of God's perfect angels. I am saddened by her loss but at the same time I know I will one day meet her again. For those of you who know me personally, you know that I was a small child when my parents divorced and I moved away from the Cornett side of my family. This is where I want to apologize for not staying in close contact with my family. Yes, I was only 6 years old but still feel like maybe I could have at least wrote letters to my grandma or something? Who knows what could have been if I had. But on the bright side of the situation, I have made contact with my Cornett family on Facebook! We stay in touch, communicate, share photos and our life events as they are happening or will happen in the near future. For this, I am thankful.


Sorry for rambling, so back to the internet search! Searching Google I found another name that was familiar due to past research I have done in the past. Archelus Cornutt. It's discouraging as surnames have changed in their spellings over the centuries. Apparently there is a book out there somewhere called, Descendants of Archelus Cornutt: The Son of James Cornutt, 1743-1956 written by Hannah Alice Cornett Magee. I then "Googled" the books title and author and came across the Amazon web page- I must say I had no luck in finding the book because it is no longer in print. But doing more research on this matter, I found out that the book may be located at the Laurel County Historical Society in Kentucky. So now I am on the search for this book and hopefully I will have some luck tracking it down. I wonder if any of my Cornett relatives have a copy? It would be nice if I could even find an e-book for my Kindle regarding this particular book. By the way, I found out about this book by reading the Cornett Family Forums on Ancestry.com. I will share the link below if anyone is interested in this particular family lineage.


Links:
Laurel County, Kentucky Historical Society


Ancestry Cornett Surname Forum


Image Source: Cornett Family Crest

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DAR~ A Free Genealogy Resource

Image Source:
DAR Logo

DAR- Daughters of the American Revolution is a free resource for genealogists and offers aid in their research. The (GRS) Genealogical Research System is a collection of databases, which provides access to the many materials that have been collected over time. The DAR was founded in 1890, the members are passionate about their research findings and are committed to preservation of the history of our ancestors.


This genealogical resource has many volunteers who have scanned and indexed years worth of documents and other materials which can be found in the online database. There is a drawback to sharing this information with others, because of proprietary information and data, and under no circumstances may it be shared or published.


If you are like me, an amateur genealogist, or you may even be a genealogy expert, the DAR could be a stepping stone to finding your ancestral ties that you may have been seeking for so long. It is definitely worth a try, don't you think? Maybe we can knock down some of these brick walls we have encountered and find some really valuable documents that will only further our research and prove who we are and where we come from. It's not just about where you, your parents or grandparents were born and the dates of birth, or even how many children they may have had. To me, and this is my own personal opinion on the matter, genealogy research is about finding out more about who my family really was, what they looked like, their way of life, the career choices they may have made and so many other points of their lives and the direction that those points have taken them over the years. 


I recently received an email from a family member, who as it turns out, was researching the same family surnames that I was. Imagine not knowing that you had a family member and didn't even realize that they were family until you connected through a genealogy resource! Anyhow, back to the email! She has been verified by the DAR and is in the process of getting it signed by officials in Washington D.C. So I can't wait to find out if she was successful in finding the data she needs to prove her lineage and connection to James Canute Cornett! 


I am definitely going to be researching this DAR to gain a more in-depth understanding. So you may see future postings related to the Daughters of the American Revolution. Who knows, maybe I will also find information on some of my Sutherland and Canute ancestors.


Good luck in your research!

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Sutherland Family Cemetery

I'm back! It's been awhile since I last posted any articles on my families genealogy. But research is very time consuming as I'm sure you know! I have been searching for any information leading to the Sutherland family, photos, stories and the like. Recently, I sent out an email requesting photos of the Sutherland family cemetery on findagrave.com. A special thank you to Peggy Cornett, who also granted her permission to display the photos of the cemetery which can be seen in this article. I am still researching the Sutherland's line and hope to one day solve the mystery of Alexander Sutherland- who seems to be eluding me at every turn! This poor forgotten cemetery needs a lot of work to make it beautiful again, maybe one day I can visit it for myself and clean up my families headstones! From the knowledge I have gathered so far, there isn't a marked grave for Alexander A Sutherland, so there is no way to tell exactly where he was buried.

Alexander Sutherland Cemetery Photos

Alexander Sutherland Cemetery_1

Image Source:  Peggy Greene, Photographer (displayed with her permission)

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Alexander A. Sutherland- One Brick Wall I Want To Break Down

The following was taken from the Ancestry website, a story in my family tree. There is no particular source attached to the document. The best I can do as far as citing a source is displaying the actual web link. (http://trees.ancestry.com/tree/4843183/person/-877416113/story)


"Alexander was a native of Scotland and an English soldier during the Rev. War. Story has it that he was going up the gang plank to return home , but turned around, came back down and stayed in America." {WandaLena.FTW} Also, "SOUTHERLAND, Alexander. Will proved November 1843. Names wife, Peggy and children, Thomas, John, Joseph, Jane, Fillis, Peggy, Polly, Barbary and Phebe."
Grayson Co, Va wills 1793-1849--http://ls.net/~newriver/va/graywill.htm 


Daughter of Alexander Sutherland- Phyllis Sutherland


Phyllis Sutherland was born 14 SEP 1794 in Elk Creek, Grayson Co., Virginia, and died 29 OCT 1879 in Round Meadows, Grayson Co., Virginia.
She was buried in Griggs Hampton Cemetery, Grayson Co., Virginia.
She was the daughter of Alexander Sutherland and Margaret Elizabeth Bryan.
She married Griggs Hampton 20 MAY 1811 in Grayson Co., Virginia,
Griggs was son of Andrew Hampton and Sally Minor. He was born 22 NOV 1788 in Grayson Co., Virginia, and died 24 JAN 1860 in Round Meadows, Grayson Co., Virginia.
He was buried in Griggs Hampton Cemetery, Grayson Co., Virginia. Ahnentafel, Generation No. 2




Alexander Sutherland was born 1743 in County Sutherland, Scotland, and died NOV 1843 in Elk Creek, Grayson Co., Virginia.
He was buried in Alexander Sutherland Cemetery, Elk Creek, Grayson Co., Virginia.
Margaret Elizabeth Bryan was born 1771 in Culpepper, Virginia, and died 1845 in Elk Creek, Grayson Co., Virginia.
She was buried in Alexander Sutherland Cemetery, Elk Creek, Grayson Co., Virginia. She was the daughter of Joseph Bryan.




Children of Margaret Elizabeth Bryan and Alexander Sutherland are:
 i.John Thomas Sutherland I, born 17 FEB 1785, and died 26 JAN 1858 in Creston, North Carolina.
 He married Diadama Cornett 12 FEB 1807 in Elk Creek, Grayson Co., Virginia, daughter of David Cornett and Sarah Platt. She was born 17 NOV 1789 in Elk Creek, Grayson Co., Virginia, and died DEC 1863 in Creston, North Carolina.


 ii.Jane Sutherland was born 19 SEP 1787 in Elk Creek, Grayson Co., Virginia, and died 19 JUN 1869 in Elk Creek, Grayson Co., Virginia.


 iii.Joseph Alexander Sutherland was born 9 JUL 1788 in Elk Creek, Grayson Co., Virginia, and died 10 JAN 1867 in Mountain City, Johnson Co., Tennessee.
He married Sarah King.


 iv.John Sutherland was born 1790 in Elk Creek, Grayson Co., Virginia, and died 4 APR 1844 in Elk Creek, Grayson Co., Virginia.
He married Rhoda Isabella Johnson. She was born 15 MAY 1794, and died 9 MAR 1864.


 v.Phyllis Sutherland was born 14 SEP 1794 in Elk Creek, Grayson Co., Virginia, and died 29 OCT 1879 in Round Meadows, Grayson Co., Virginia.
She married Griggs Hampton 20 MAY 1811 in Grayson Co., Virginia, son of Andrew Hampton and Sally Minor. He was born 22 NOV 1788 in Grayson Co., Virginia, and died 24 JAN 1860 in Round Meadows, Grayson Co., Virginia.


 vi.Margaret Sutherland was born 2 FEB 1796, and died 2 DEC.
She married Burris Hale ABT 1816.


 vii.Mary Sutherland was born APR 1800 in Elk Creek, Grayson Co., Virginia, and died 1 MAR 1842. She married William Thomas 16 DEC 1819.
He was born 13 MAR 1802 in Salem, North Carolina, and died 15 FEB 1871.


 viii.Sarah Sutherland was born 1801.
She married Thomas B. Hail. He was born 3 SEP 1796, and died 8 APR 1892.


 ix.Barbara Sutherland was born 22 MAY 1805 in Elk Creek, Grayson Co., Virginia.
She married Peter Hackler II 12 FEB 1823 in Grayson Co., Virginia, son of Peter Hackler I and Mackalana Delp.
He was born ABT 1801 in Grayson Co., Virginia, and died ABT 1870 in Wythe Co., Virginia.


 x.Phoebe Sutherland was born 3 MAR 1808, and died 5 MAR 1885 in Grayson Co., Virginia.Ahnentafel, Generation No. 3






Child of Joseph Bryan is:


 i.Margaret Elizabeth Bryan was born 1771 in Culpepper, Virginia, and died 1845 in Elk Creek, Grayson Co., Virginia.
She married Alexander Sutherland 1784 in Fort Chiswell, Virginia. He was born 1743 in County Sutherland, Scotland, and died NOV 1843 in Elk Creek, Grayson Co., VA.


More about Alexander Sutherland:
1-: Was a British soldier in the Revolutionary War, who decided to stay here and fight against the British.
2-: 1796, Listed in the Grayson Co, Va Land Tax List- 500 acres, value 25, amt of tax-S-1 D-3
3-: 1810, Listed in the Grayson Co, Va. Tax list as having 2 tithables and 9 horses
4-: 1813, Listed in the Grayson Co, Va. Personal Property tax list as 1 tithe, 5 horses, tax 1.39
5-: 1824, Listed in the Grayson Co, VA. Personal Property Tax list as 1 white tithe 4 horses tax .48
6-: 1828, Listed in the Grayson Co,Va Persona Property Tax list as 0-white tithes, 0 black tithes, 0 negroes, 2 horses. tax-.48
7-: 1835, Listed in the Grayson Co,Va. Personal Property Tax list-tithes-1,
Burial: Unknown, Alexander Sutherland Cemetery, Elk Creek, Grayson Co, Va

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Stuart Marvin Cornett and Gincy Malinda Long

Stuart and Gincy were my great grandparents and Stuart was also the grandson of James Monroe Cornett and Mary Ann Cornett. He was born on September 22, 1881 in Grayson County, Virginia and died on February 3, 1966 in Smythe County, Virginia at the age of 84. His immediate family includes his wife, Gincy Malinda Caroline Long and their 14 children.

Stuart Monroe/Marvin Cornett (09/22/1881-02/03/1966)

Gincy Malinda Long (07/01/1886- 09/24/1978)

Married April 5, 1905 by Rev. Johnson Stamper

Children	Born	Married	Died
Della Pauline Wayne Wright	02/06/1906 02/14/1904	11/23/1924	02/07/1963 01/10/1979
Mary Frances Verlin Cornett Frederick L. Corriston	05/04/1908 01/19/1905 04/24/1910	N/A N/A N/A	N/A 04/16/1972 09/10/1979
Anna Mae James Dean Russell	07/12/1910 03/06/1908	07/01/1928	N/A 07/14/1986
Grover Fred Cornett Wave L. Kiser	08/31/1912 07/15/1919	10/07/1939	N/A 01/20/1987
Lucia Rose Cornett Walter Allen Cornett	07/08/1914 12/29/1909	07/15/1928	11/2010 06/30/1967
Pearl Mildred Harmon Harold Hash	05/08/1916 07/17/1913	04/07/1939	N/A 08/04/1986
Elbert Wayne Cornett Edith Roberts	05/04/1918 07/04/1926	07/12/1941	N/A N/A
Charles Estel Cornett Velma Louise Parks	05/02/1920 07/13/1925	10/04/1941	N/A N/A
Lillie Edna Millard C. Parks	04/10/1922 05/29/1921	05/22/1941	N/A N/A
Carl Wesley Cornett Margaret Emaline Watson	03/21/1924 02/22/1929	08/01/1949	N/A N/A
Ora Lee Stanley Franklin Anderson	11/10/1925 05/26/1927	12/16/1946	N/A 06/10/1993
James Donald Cornett Doris Jeanne Leonard	07/22/1928 07/03/1931	09/20/1952	N/A N/A
Billy Cornett Jackie (Wadie) Richardson	07/05/1930 01/19/193_	08/10/1949 (Divorced)	N/A N/A
Claude Scott Cornett Betty Sue Shepherd	11/30/1932 07/26/1934	12/05/1953 (Divorced)	N/A N/A

I have been researching the Cornett line for some time now and have been adding data as it becomes available to me. It is a long process when trying to incorporate data tables of the information supplied to me, in hard copy form I might add. But it is all coming together. Patience is a virtue I am learning, as I like things completed NOW. But in genealogy you have to be patient, so I'm taking baby steps!

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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. 

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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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Are Your Children Interested In Genealogy?

Good afternoon! I have been trying to figure out a way to get both of my sons, ages 20 and 14 to have an interest in their family tree. I have had some success with my oldest son John, but Dakota, well that's another story entirely. All he is interested in, is playing basketball! So how can I get him involved and actually start liking "the hunt"? I have a few ideas that I have been thinking about but have come to realize that he may never really be interested in genealogy or where he comes from, for quite awhile. But in the meantime, I like to share what I have found out so far with both John and Dakota. John likes hearing it to a certain extent, he wants to know about all the drama in our family! Personally, I think he watches too much television! I haven't found any mobsters or convicted criminals yet. My family is not based on a mobster movie like the "Godfather", either! 

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Genealogy For Kids

As much as they would like it to be, I can't say that the research I have come across, resembles anything even close to that. Dakota, on the other hand, thinks I'm weird for focusing my time on research and not doing fun stuff! He told me the other day, "Mom, you live in Hawaii! You need to do fun stuff like going surfing!" Haha, me on a surfboard? Now that would truly be a sight! Don't get me wrong, I love the ocean and watching the surfers do their thing. But I don't want to be one!! I like to go snorkeling. Now that's something I could do without getting cut up by the reef. Besides I kind of fear sharks A LOT! Give me a boat and I'll go out in the middle of the ocean, but you aren't going to find me on a surfboard, catching the next swell anytime soon. 


Are your children interested in Genealogy? Does anyone have any ideas for activities that will help get children involved more? If you do, please share! I imagine if I had started this when they were younger, there would be plenty of things that I could do with them. But they're a little older now, so it may not be such an easy task. Everyone has their own idea of fun, their likes and dislikes and what I may like and think as fun, someone else may not. 

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