Welcome to JOYFUL REFLECTIONS. Also welcome to MARCH!!!! My header picture this month is a photo I took of the pretty Crocus blooms in our yard... The Crocuses and Daffodils are the first signs of spring here in Tennessee. I am definitely ready for SPRING...

Thursday, September 24, 2009

Me----Kin to Thomas Jefferson??????????


Can you tell that I'm really 'into' this Family History STUFF????? My husband can vouch for that!!!! ha.... Well---when you dabble into 'family,' you find all kinds of neat things (and some maybe not so neat)..

I do my research with the help of cousins who are sending me information and also the internet (Ancestry.com). It's VERY detail-oriented type of work, and there are LOTS of errors on the internet, even in sites that supposedly are 'sourced.' BUT--I know that it's easy to type in the wrong dates and names and connect the wrong people together!!! But---it's still FUN to TRY!!!!

While researching, I heard an interesting story about my 5-Great Grandparents (on my mother's mother's side of the family). Martha Matilda Karr (sometimes spelled Carr) is my great grandmother (who married Daniel Hoge Bruce). Martha's parents were Robert Karr and Sallie King. Robert's parents were John Carr and Margaret Crow. John's parents were James Carr and Ann Eliza Thomas . AND my 5-Great Grandparents were John Carr and Barbara Overton.

Their grandparents (William Overton and Mary Elizabeth Waters ) got married in 1670 on board ship from England to the USA. Apparently, they were of different faiths and could not marry in England. William Overton died in 1697 in Jamestown. Their granddaughter Barbara Overton married John Carr in 1736. They are my 5-Great Grandparents. They had quite a few children. Their son, James, is my direct descendant. BUT---another son, Dabney Carr (1743-1773), was Thomas Jefferson's best friend and he married Thomas' sister, Martha Jefferson (1746-1811). They had SIX children: Jean, Lucy, Mary Polly, Peter, Samuel, and Dabney. Father Dabney was in the forefront of political changes in Virginia pre-1776 but unfortunately he died at an early age in 1773 (age 30). Thomas Jefferson helped raise his good friend's children after his death. Dabney is buried at Monticello along with Martha and Samuel.

Here lie the remains of
Dabney Carr
Son of John & Barbara Carr
of Louisa County, VA
Born October 26, 1743
Intermarried on July 20, 1765 with Martha Jefferson,
Daughter of Peter & Jane Randolph Jefferson
Died May 16, 1773
at Charlottesville, Virginia


I tried to visit Monticello when George and I were there in June of 2007. We got there late in the afternoon---and even though we talked to some people in charge, we couldn't just 'go' in to see the cemetery. AND--we didn't want to pay the total price that late in the afternoon just to get in. One day I will visit that cemetery (I hope) ---but I want to make some arrangements ahead of time to get in. Here's a picture of the marker to the Monticello Graveyard, and the inscription.

This graveyard had its beginning in an agreement between two young men, Thomas Jefferson and Dabney Carr, who were school-mates and friends. They agreed that they would be buried under a great oak which stood here. Carr, who married Jefferson's sister, died in 1773. His was the first grave on the site, which Jefferson laid out as a family burial ground. Jefferson was buried here in 1826. The present monument is not the original, designed by Jefferson, but a larger one erected by the United States in 1883. Its base covers the graves of Jefferson, his wife, his two daughters and of Governor Thomas Mann Randolph, his son-in-law. The graveyard remains the property of Jefferson's descendants and continues to be a family burial ground.

Interesting, huh???? Does that make me 'kin' to Thomas Jefferson??.. Well-- not really! I guess since my relative was Thomas' best friend, that counts for something though...ha

Have a wonderful Thursday. We're headed to Hendersonville to check on George's parent.
Hugs,

P.S. All photos in today's post came from the internet.

55 comments:

Salitype said...

WOW! really interesting....and yeah! it makes you kinda related, cool!

maybe i should do some research as well on my ancestry.it might surprise me in a way like your's or it may not...would be interesting to find out!...hmmmnnn!

maybe i should give ancestry.com a try.

Deb Murphree/Alabama Politics said...

Betsy, are yo possibly related to a Clarence Carr in Tennessee? I went to Shenandoah Valley Academy in the 70s and we used to carpool with Clarence. My dad would pick him up and drive him with us to the Shenandoah Valley in New Market, VA. My husband does a lot of lot ancestry.com research on his family roots.

Deb Murphree/Alabama Politics said...

^^^ "my husband does a lot of ANCESTRY.COM"...I have an extra "lot" in there lol...and weren't you a teacher at one time? You might be grading me on this one LMAO...

Kelly said...

...that is cool and fun. My parents are going to Thomas Jefferson's "other" house (Poplar Forest) this weekend. I went to Monticella two years ago and loved it. I saw the graveyard and that sign about Carr and Jeffererson...very cool!! Who knew I would know someone who could trace a connection back to it!

Beth said...

Wow, Betsy, how exciting! You have certainly made some impressive connections in your family history research---I can see why you enjoy it so. My aunt did some research on the background of my mama's family---mostly Irish, it seems, which would explain why I feel such a connection to all things Irish.

Adrienne Zwart said...

I'm impressed with your dedication to search this out. I know what hard work it is because I've tried to search out my grandparents' parents. Our family was not so good at keeping records and there is little on the internet.

Dorothy said...

Betsy, this stuff is addictive! I did a lot of this a few years ago. Now, Jeep has gotten interested in it and is having a great time finding his roots.

Anonymous said...

Very interesting!

Snap said...

Fun stuff, Betsy and interesting. Can I count George Washington ... I have a great great great who was one of his captains.

cherie said...

i wouldn't be surprised ms. betsy!

Jen said...

This sure is some extensive research when you even find your relatives friends too.
Very cool!

Susie said...

That's very interesting Betsy! I would like to research my family but right now I just don't have time.

You guys be careful going to Hendersonville.

Arkansas Patti said...

Of course you are "related" and should have gotten the family discount.
Really interesting discovery.
Have a good trip and visit.

Lisa said...

I think it is really great and exciting Betsy. Bff is better than kin :)

Nina said...

Works for me.. :-D I do know there was a fair amount of "inter-marriage" back then. So does that make you double almost related? The history I'm not as in depth as you but both sides of my family do keep a basic "family tree" type log. I'm impressed and amazed you find the stories to go along with your family history... Such interesting history. Thank you for sharing. Love and Light, Nina P

Anonymous said...

How cool is that? One of my great great...grandfather's sailed down what is now the Detroit river with Cadillac (and his three beautiful daughters according to a historical book about this area) so I have a similar past association with a famous fella!

Karin said...

Sometimes friendship ties are closer or almost akin to family ties! Glad you're having fun with this! Enjoy!

Busy Bee Suz said...

Kin to Jefferson? CLOSE, but no cigar. I am envious of how far back you have gone in your history. You have done a great job for you...and your kids too.

Jayne said...

I can imagine it takes lots of patience and perseverance to search out information, so I applaud your diligence Betsy! How fascinating!

Roses and Lilacs said...

Hi Betsy. I've been researching my family tree for many years. I'm related to Thomas Jefferson by marriage thru my Woodson ancestors. If you've visited any historical sites in VA you many have seen the famous Woodson rifle and heard the story. Also, the Michie tavern just down the road from Monticello was founded by my ancestor Scotch John Michie. We should compare charts;)
Marnie

Small City Scenes said...

What a great legacy, Betsy. Sometimes best friends are somehow better than family. LOL
My second daughter does our geneology and has found great, great and even a few great great greats but nothing so GRAND as what you have found. ha!! MB

Sunny said...

I have been told that I am a decendent of Captain Kidd but I've never seen any documentation!
Family history is always fascinating.
Sunny :)

Janice K said...

What a discovery! All your hard work is paying off. As I think I shared with you before, my daughter has done a lot of work in this area for our family. Now when I read historical fiction dating back to the time of the earliest settlers of our country, it is a lot more personal because some of my ancestors lived through that time in history.

It is so fascinating.....

Joy said...

That is so cool Betsy. It is neat to think about your ancestors having those relationships.
You have done a lot of research.
The most interesting historical figure I have in my family is William Jennings Bryan of the Scopes Monkey Trial. He was a cousin on my great-grandmother's side but not in my direct line of ancestors. My great-grandmother's maiden name was Bryan.
Keep up the research.
You never know what you'll find.

Joy

Anonymous said...

You sure got me interested w/ the title! hehehe
Very cool post, Betsy!

Mary said...

Interesting! We have a great genealogy library here in Evansville....Willard Library. I've never gotten into studying my family too much, because all my great-grandparents came over from Germany, so we don't have a long history in this country.

Betty said...

My son is the one in the family that is interested in the genealogy of the family.He has found a few interesting people.
Your history is impressive.I enjoy your blog .
~~Hugs ~~

Katherine Roberts Aucoin said...

That is really interesting. I have been wanting to visit Monticello since we moved up here...hopefully one day we will get there.

This Is My Blog - fishing guy said...

Betsy: What a great post and some wonderful history in your linage. The Bruces and Jefferson, no wonder you are so smart.

Patty said...

Besty
I think I might have mentioned to you that the name ADAMS is on my tree and I have been told that I am distantly related to President Adams. One source tells me that the Family china is still in the family where as the Presidental china is in the Smithstonian. I love family history, you never know who might turn up in your closet!

Deborah Godin said...

That is a really cool story. And a trip to that cemetary would be a nice followup to all the work you did!

Diane said...

I DO see a resemblance, Betsy. Incidentally I have a distant relative named Carr. You and I might be related!!!Ha, Ha. Seriously, I must get back to my geneaology this winter.

Darla said...

I really don't know how you deep all of this stuff straight!

Unseen India Tours said...

Nice shots and amazing stuff !! I love to know about History and this is a fantastic post..

Cookie said...

That is fascinating! I don't get very far when i try to figure out ancestory. Good for you! Thomas Jefferson has always been one of my favorites to study.

Brenda Kay Ledford said...

Betsy,
This is so interesting about Thomas Jefferson. My sister does a lot of research in our family tree. Hope you have a great trip to Hendersonville and George's parent is well.

Thoughtfully Blended Hearts said...

Betsy, I always enjoy your posts about your ancestors. I had a lady contact me this week who has the same maiden name that I have...how cool is that...she saw me on twitter or facebook...

Lola said...

Very interesting Betsy. Have you ever come across the name "Nancy Carr"? I believe she is my grandmother on my Dad's side. His mother before marriage.

Cheryl said...

Way cool Betsy! Very interesting to read...I might just have to add "family tree" to my to-do list, if I can find it!

Bill S. said...

Friends can be better than family - unless friendship is included in the family.
Beautiful pictures.

Mandy said...

Very interesting! I used to be really into genealogy but I haven't had much time for it lately!

SaraG said...

Very very interesting post!!
Thanks so much for sharing!!

wenn said...

hi..that's interesting..

EG CameraGirl said...

I think your family history is WAY more interesting than mine, Betsy. Maybe that's why you like studying it so much. ;-)

Shelley said...

Betsy - are you sure you weren't a private detective in your earlier years? LOL! Great job on your family history! I think you're close enough to call T.J. kin!
:-)
Hugs,
Shelley

storyteller said...

How fun to check out your ancestry and make discoveries like this to share ;--)
Hugs and blessings,

SquirrelQueen said...

Well, I think best friend should be worth something.

I love researching the family history. I have my day's side of the family back to the Revolutionary War and Mom's side to Ireland. One link I found say's her side is descended from a Celtic king but it going to take some major research to prove that one, lol.

It's fun and sort of like trying to solve a massive jigsaw puzzle.

Have a good trip to Hendersonville.

Judy

diane b said...

What fun it must be for you to discover this story. It sure is fascinating.

Janie said...

Even if you're not Jefferson's blood kin, that's a fascinating connection. What a fun fact to discover!

A Colorful World said...

Betsy this is just fascinating! Yes, it's been a while since I visited your site, though I was here in the past. It was fun looking to see what you have posted lately, and I thoroughly enjoyed this post! What a wonderful part of history to have as part of your family's history! It's very exciting!

Anonymous said...

Thank you Betsy for sharing this. It is so interesting, especially since I have visited here. Mother and I both just loved history and of course gardening and this was one of the best vacations ever. So neat about your ancestors and a very rewarding hobby - thanks for sharing it.

Lori said...

Betsy, so interesting to come across your blog tonight. The story you tell is so familiar to me as I am a descendent of William Carr, another brother of Dabney. This is my dad's side of the family which my mother has been researching. I know she would love to share stories.

Betsy Banks Adams said...

Hi Lori, SO glad to hear from you all... I'd love to share Carr Stories with you... My email is betsyadams@mac.com.

Hugs,
Betsy

Public Sentry said...

I assume you know that Dabney Carr's wife was Thomas Jefferson's sister.

Betsy Banks Adams said...

Hi There, Thanks for visiting my blog. I tried to go to yours but noticed that you are no longer blogging.. SO--hopefully, you'll see my reply on here. YES---I am very aware that Dabney's wife was Thomas Jefferson... Such an interesting story.. I hope to get back to Monticello sometime --and see the cemetery there...Thanks for stopping by.
Betsy