In Cumberland County, North Carolina, during the Revolutionary War, the organization of militias followed a structured yet community-driven approach. At the county level, these militias were composed of local men who either volunteered or were conscripted to serve. Recruitment efforts were often spearheaded by prominent community members, including local leaders, landowners, and respected veterans. These... Continue Reading →
Isaiah Smith: The Deception of Identical Names
The "name’s the same fallacy" is a common pitfall in genealogical research where a family genealogist assumes that two individuals with the same name are the same person. This fallacy arises from the mistaken belief that identical names across different records indicate the same individual, neglecting the broader context and additional corroborative details needed for... Continue Reading →
Battles and Bovines: Isaiah Smith Jr.’s Seminole War Campaigns and Florida Cracker Heritage
Isaiah Smith Jr was born circa 1816 in Georgia and was the presumed son of Isaiah Smith Sr. Based upon my research, the possibility exist that Isaiah Smith Jr was born in Wilkinson County, Georgia. In 1827, his father Isaiah Smith Sr moved to Houston County, Georgia and lived on the adjoining property of Needham... Continue Reading →
Indigenous Identity: The Mystery Surrounding Charlotte Mott Smith’s Ancestral Origins
In the mysteries of family lore, the figure of Charlotte Mott Smith looms large, shrouded in mystery and intrigue. According to legend, she was believed to be of Native American descent, with her son, Richard Isaiah Smith, purportedly born on a reservation in Florida. The narrative is further embellished by documents from a grandmother's bible,... Continue Reading →