Pittsclan Genealogy

Charlie Brooks and Lilly Foster

2008-06-05T17:34:00.002-04:00

Ancestry.com always pops up with a surprise for me. I guess thats why'll I'll always renew.

On my wife's side I've been trying to find out the exact name of Charlie Brooks wifes surname. I've had Foster, Forester and Forster. Even from the SS death index of one of the daughters.

Imagine my surprise when I came up with the Marriage certificate on Ancestry.com as well as the license registration.

Laurens trip, SC

2008-03-01T11:13:00.003-05:00

Still getting behind on blogging.
Besides lunching with uncles, aunts and cousins, I spent some time in the Laurens County Library. As usual instead of sticking to a plan of attack I used the shot gun approach. Whatever I hit, I copied for later evaluation. On microfilm I have the estate and will of John W Pitts, brother of Edwin Leroy Pitts which I'm transcribing. Not easy interpreting the handwriting. Also William Pitts whom I believed was killed by a slave, George, in 1851 but then the will implies 1848. I can't seem to tie him into a Pitts Family. I'll transcribe this next. I have pictures from various books dealing with Boyds, Parks and McClurkins. I found that my Sony Digital camera works as a copy camera as long as the anti-shake and macro is on and the flash is turned off. The book needs to be flattened though so I will make some kind of glass plate with camera mount.

Laurens SC trip

2008-02-14T17:14:00.002-05:00

Here it is the middle of February and I haven't posted anything this month. Jeannie and I will drive to Laurens SC 21 - 23 of February. A few days away from the house and a little research. The Laurens Library is first rate and hopefully I have a reason to go to the court house. I'll probably go after my Coates/Coats obsession but I will research targets that jump up. Part of the fun is unexpected bits of data that open up a new direction.

Thomas Coates of Laurens SC

2008-01-31T08:01:00.000-05:00

I have been obsessing about finding the parents of Mary Margaret Coates,wife of Joel Cooper Blackwell. So far I can find circumstantial evidence in the 1830-1880 census placing Thomas and his wife Frances close to various kinfolk and at one time close to 2 households from Joel and Mary. Thomas Coates lived in the Simpson's Mill/ Ekom area or Waterloo District of Laurens County. November 18 1837, He and John Gary donated land to Union Baptist Church but cannot find his burial or other information.

census writing, Blackwell - Coates stuff

2008-01-04T13:49:00.000-05:00

Part of the 'fun' of researching census forms is the sloppy handwriting and tendency to abbreviate names. Its hard enough deciphering the Victorian styles of writing. many times the name-surname search of Ancestry.com fails because of this and then you try many various spellings. If this fails then you try to hope they didn't move from the last census. Then you try to narrow down the the district and eventually search page by page with an eagle eye.
Eventually I found Tho's Coats (Thomas Coates) and his wife F's " (Frances ") in the Laurens County 1860 census.
At least this census proved a connection between Thomas Coates and Joel Blackwell. According to a post in ROOTSWEB , Joel Blackwell married Mary Margaret Coates. I could not find anything on her and decided to look for her parents. Eventually I settled on Thomas Coates but needed more.
In the 1860 census I found Thomas Coates and Joel Blackwell only 3 households apart. Very good circumstantial evidence. More research will be done but I feel more comfortable with my research.

Pitts Family Christmas Party

2007-12-27T17:30:00.001-05:00

Well we had the Pitts Family Christmas Party early. Standing: Me holding Chipper, My son Daniel, Brother Bill and Pat, Cera my niece, My sister Betty, Andrew, Chris and wife with new baby, My son Jon with his fiance

Seated is Jeannie my wife and Brother-in-law Wade.

John Caldwell, USC Graduate 1807

2007-12-10T09:04:00.000-05:00

I, my wife and son, Daniel attended the Newberry festivities at the Historic Newberry Opera House. The reception was held in the old firehouse, converted to a reception meeting hall adjoining the Opera House. At the Opera House was a Theatrical performance of the 5 graduates performed by students in period costume with music. All in All it was a wonderful evening.

Schutz Family

2007-11-13T12:28:00.000-05:00

Uncle Xavar, My last living uncle (sigh) is having his 80th birthday celebration November 22. My cousins on my My Mothers side are German and live in Bavaria. I had entertained the fantasy of visiting him but time has run out. Still no passport or money or nerve. I never did learn to speak Deutsch. Such a coward I am. At least I will get a card and pictures out.

Henry

Caldwell Anniversary

2007-11-13T12:18:00.000-05:00

I hope the word is getting out about the events dealing with the 1807 South Carolina College graduation of John Calhoun Caldwell, not to be confused with John Caldwell Calhoun, a first cousin 5x removed. for the events I have posted the invitation at www.pittsclan.com
I have mailed brochures to a cousin to get the word out.

Henry Pitts

DNA Testing

2007-10-26T10:27:00.000-04:00

The results are in. I am a human. To be more specific
I am related to the Pitts group 2.This pretty much verifies
that I am related to Isle of Wight County, Virginia Pitts line.
There is one mutation in the gene but that is usually
to be expected. More later on what this might mean.

Henry

My Fathers Name

2007-10-19T09:21:00.000-04:00

Things have been slow. Haven't got DNA results yet so here's one of my old success stories:

My Father was named Claude Mills Pitts.
A bit of trivia, Mom had told me that Dad was named after the Doctor that delivered him. With a bit of research I found Dr. Claude Benjamin Mills. Dr Claude Mills was married to Ethel Lee Chandler who was a 2nd Cousin to Molly Caldwell. The common Gr-Gr-etc Grandparents would be
Weitt Chandler (1786-1847) and Sarah Bailey (1795-?) .

POPUP ALERTS

2007-10-12T10:45:00.000-04:00

PLEASE DO NOT CLICK ON NEXT BLOG ON THIS PAGE AT THE SCREEN.
Many blog sites are there to cause popups of ads and pornography. I will be looking for an alternative if Google and Blogger do not stop allowing this practice.

Scrolling up and down on my posts should be ok. Just don't look for someone else's blog.

If any problems please let me know at
www.pittsclan.com

Henry

Legal Documents

2007-10-10T08:12:00.000-04:00

I'm in the process of adding legal documents that I've scanned in from the Laurens County Court house and Laurens County Library. transcripts will be published, Scans available on request. There also will be transcripts of documents from other sources. I will note the source.

Henry Pitts

Grandson of Rev. J.A. Cooper and Louisa Jane Pitts

2007-10-03T17:21:00.000-04:00

Excert from Michael Bryant

Just wanted to let you know that (most likely next spring) The Grand Lodge of South Carolina, Ancient Free Masons, is planning to have a grave marker dedication for Robert Archer Cooper, Past Grand Master of Masons of SC (1917 - 1918?). He is buried in the Laurens City Cemetery. As I'm sure that you know, R.A. Cooper was the grandson of Rev. J.A. Cooper & Louisa Jane Pitts. When I know more information, I'll let you know.

John Caldwell, USC graduate 1807

2007-10-02T09:26:00.000-04:00

John Caldwell was 0ne of the first five alumni from what was then South Carolina College. The University of South Carolina are planning to celebrate the 200th year of USC commencements.
The five students all came from Newberry county. The events are planned for the month of December and they are looking for descendants.
Please contact James Hammond at (803)771-8474 jhammond@thestate.com or Ben Boatwright bensbassbuggies@yahoo.com. Ben is the person who contacted me and is known in the genealogist community.
The other 4 graduates were Anderson Crenshaw, Walter Crenshaw, George W. Glen and John W. Harper

Henry

Claude Pitts, Father

2007-09-30T21:07:00.000-04:00

While entering pictures on my web site of dad stationed at the Panama Canal Zone, I remembered a story he told me when he first enlisted before WW2. The recuitment officer gave him a choice of 2 assignments. One was to be stationed at the Panama Canal, the other was at the Philippine Islands. He said it didn't make a difference to him so a flip of the coin picked the Canal Zone. He could have been a part of the Death March when Japan invaded and I wouldn't be here today.

Henry

DNA testing

2007-09-28T14:03:00.000-04:00

While googling around for something completely different I came across this site.
http://www.worldfamilies.net/surnames/p/pitts/index.html
I got completely intriqued and saw results of the various Pitts clans. I joined and submitted for a 37 marker test, about $180. I should match up to the Pitts group 2. If I don't then this will be a short forum. Results in about 4 weeks.

Henry