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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And the Plot Thickens!

This past week, I've been researching and reading on my Cornett relatives even though I haven't been posting new articles as I go along. In the beginning of the week I received a book that I purchased on Amazon's web site, entitled, "Grayson County: A History in Words and Pictures".
I found a few things about my family personally inside and a couple of photos also, which was very exciting. I can actually put a face to the name now. The book explains the history of Grayson County and how it came to be what it is today. 

Image Source

Grayson County, Virginia Map

Among the events that happened in the 1700's is a story, which caught my attention and it's the legend of Caty Sage. She was kidnapped at a young age and given to Indians. Caty's mother had been at the creek, and came back to get clothes for washing when she found her daughter was missing. Caty grew up among the Indians and even spoke their language, she even married a Chief of the tribe, so when she was eventually found some fifty years later, she needed an interpreter as she no longer knew the English language. The sad part of the story is that when she was about to be reunited with her mother, the mother was already in her elderly years, and died before she was able to set eyes on her beloved daughter. There is so much history regarding Grayson County as a whole; before white man settled here, it was the hunting ground of many different Indian tribes, not only was settling in Indian territory one of the events of the time but the families had to deal with the effects of war too. 


Today, I am still researching my Cornett family and just enjoying the time I get to spend learning about them, their hardships, their way of life, their occupations, the way they dressed and a little about how they raised their children back in the day. It is one never ending journey that I have been taking one day at a time! As a family historian, researching your ancestors will never, ever really be completed, no matter how hard you try. I can't imagine someone saying "I'm done with my family tree!" Ummm....really? That's nice, but HOW? I don't even consider that a possibility! There are so many people in your tree that could be studied and their parents, grandparents, aunts, uncles, cousins and siblings, for generations and generations. I just don't see it happening like that. I don't think my research will ever be complete, at least not in my lifetime! 

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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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Phebie "Feby" Sutherland (Cornett)

Image: Personal Collection

Also Found Same Image On Find A Grave Web Page

(Link Source Below)

Feby was my 3rd great grandmother, born in 1809 and died in 1885; she married David "Blue" Cornett on February 22, 1826 in Climes Branch, Grayson County, Virginia. Feby was born in Elk Creek, Grayson County, Virginia. Place of burial is at Central Cemetery in Flat Ridge, Grayson, Virginia. 

Ancestry.com File: 
ID: I117654
Name: Phebe SUTHERLAND
Sex: F
Birth: 15 MAR 1808 in Montgomery County, Virginia
Death: 5 MAR 1885 in Grayson County, Virginia


Father: Alexander A. SUTHERLAND b: 3 JUN 1743 in Sutherland, Caithness, Scotland
Mother: Margaret Elizabeth BRYAN b: 1771 in Culpepper County, Virginia
Marriage 1 David Blue CORNETT b: 3 NOV 1805 in Grayson County, Virginia

• Married: 9 FEB 1826 in Grayson County, Virginia

Children

1.  Allen CORNETT b: 27 MAR 1827 in Grayson County, Virginia
2.  Peter CORNETT b: 3 MAR 1829 in Grayson County, Virginia
3.  Rachel Isabell CORNETT b: 25 APR 1828 in Grayson County, Virginia
4.  James Monroe CORNETT b: 23 DEC 1831 in Grayson County, Virginia
5.  Lorenzy Dowell "Dow" CORNETT b: 24 SEP 1833 in Grayson County, Virginia
6.  Joseph Alexander CORNETT b: 16 MAR 1835 in Virginia
7.  Margaret Jane CORNETT b: 30 MAY 1837 in Grayson County, Virginia
8.  Dudley Jackson CORNETT b: ABT 1838 in Grayson County, Virginia
9.  Wesley Isom CORNETT b: 27 MAR 1841 in Grayson County, Virginia
10.  Barbara Eveline CORNETT b: 2 JAN 1843 in Grayson County, Virginia
11.  Olive Melvine CORNETT b: 12 JUN 1844 in Grayson County, Virginia
12.  Nancy Levine CORNETT b: 11 JUL 1846 in Grayson County, Virginia
13.  Stephen Thomas Columbus "Doc" CORNETT b: 19 MAR 1849 in Grayson County, Virginia
14.  John Wesley CORNETT b: 13 JUL 1851 in Grayson County, Virginia

Image from Find A Grave WebPage

Photos Submitted by: Clinton G.

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My Sutherland Family Quest

Image Source

Sutherland Family Crest

Is it morning already? I feel like I just fell asleep not too long ago. Have you ever felt that when doing research, you get so involved in it, that you dream about it too? I think that's what I did. So it's 8 a.m. here in Hawaii and I am up and at it again. I am actually trying to locate more information to share with you about my Sutherland family, but on a more personal level. The Sutherlands' that I am seeking were born in Scotland around the 1700-1800's. I am definitely interested in Alexander Sutherland who was born in 1743(one source says he was born in 1755) and died in 1843, as far as I can tell he married a Margaret Bryan. I just need to find that missing link of information that I have been looking for. It's like trying to find a needle in a haystack! But I did come across another blogger site, that has loads of information pertaining to the Sutherland's of Scotland and other surnames involved; if you are searching for your Sutherland roots as I am, it may interest you to just take a look at it. You might find a connection here on this site; I think I will also be sending an e-mail to collaborate further with the researchers that gathered this information to see if I can find my missing connection.


Another Sutherland Blogspot


I am sure that every Sutherland family may have an "Alexander" somewhere in its' family, as it was a pretty common name. I have yet to find out what his middle name was, but someone put a bug in my ear that it may be the "Albert Sutherland" I was searching for awhile back. Nothing has been determined as of yet, but it's a thought that I definitely need to dig a little deeper to find out if it has any truth to it. 
                                          

Name: Alexander SUTHERLAND

Given Name: Alexander

Surname: Sutherland

Sex: M

Birth: 1743 in Sutherland County, Caithness, Scotland

Death: 1843 in Elk Creek, Grayson County, Virginia

MARC: 1784 Culpepper, Virginia

Note:

Margaret Elizabeth Bryan, wife

Alexander Sutherland was one of the original pioneers of Grayson County, Virginia.

Alexander came to America from Scotland as a Captain in the British Army. After the Revolutionary War he decided to remain in America, and he was given a land grant of 114 acres in what was then, Montgomery County and is now and Grayson County, Virginia due to the sectioning off of land.

 Father: John, Jr. SUTHERLAND b: February 6, 1726 in Watten, Caithness, Edinburg, Scotland
Mother: Jean MCCLELAND b: 1720 in Edinburg, Scotland

NOTE TO SELF: I have other research that declares Samuel J. Sutherland and Jane Barbour Sutherland as the parents to Alexander Sutherland.

Marriage 1 Margaret Elizabeth BRYAN b: 1771 in Culpepper, Virginia

• Married: 1784 in Culpepper, Virginia
• Children

1.  Joseph Alexander SUTHERLAND b: July 4, 1788 in Elk Creek, Grayson, Virginia
2.  John Thomas SUTHERLAND b: February 1, 1785 in Elk Creek, Grayson County, Virginia
3.  Mary SUTHERLAND b: September 19, 1787 in Montgomery, Grayson County, Virginia
4.  John Joseph SUTHERLAND b: September 19, 1787 in Montgomery, Grayson County, Virginia
5.  Jane SUTHERLAND b: 1791 in Elk Creek, Grayson County, Virginia
6.  Phillis SUTHERLAND b: November 11, 1793 in Elk Creek, Grayson County, Virginia
7.  Peggy SUTHERLAND b: 1795 in Elk Creek, Grayson County, Virginia
8.  Polly SUTHERLAND b: 1799 in Montgomery, Grayson County, Virginia
9.  Sarah SALLIE Sutherland b: 1801 in Montgomery, Grayson County, Virginia
10.  Phebe SUTHERLAND b: March 3, 1808 in Elk Creek, Grayson County, Virginia
11.  Barbary SUTHERLAND b: May 22, 1805 in Elk Creek, Grayson County, Virginia

Source: Linda Cornett Genealogy via Ancestry.com (Rootsweb)

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