Imagine going back in time to talk to your brick-wall ancestor(s)! Who would you start with? What questions would you ask?
I would go back to the time of my great-great-grandfather, James W. Smith. He was supposedly born in Pike County, Mississippi, on 11 November 1819. I have no physical proof of the date of his birth. I also know he supposedly died on 01 December 1896 in Pine Bluff, Jefferson County, Arkansas. This information came from his wife, Sarah, when she applied for a pension.
Question 1. What are your parents names?
Question 2. When were you born?
Question 3. Where were you born?
Question 4. When did you marry?
Question 5. How many children did you have?
Question 6. Why did you move to Missouri, where my great-grandfather was born?
Question 7. Why did you move to Arkansas?
Question 10. Was it true that you were a school teacher, as stated in the 1850 Jasper County, MS Federal Census?
Question 11. What happened to your parents?
Question 12. Where are your parents buried?
Question 13. What war did you fight in?
Question 14. What types of jobs did you have?
Question 15. What is your favorite childhood memory?
Question 16. How many siblings did you have?
I would love to ask this man at least 100 more questions. He has been a brick wall in my family tree for many, many years.
Other researchers on this family are at the same point I am in finding information - there is none. I do have some information on his brother, Henry B. Smith (some say the B is for Burge, supposedly the mother's maiden name). Henry was born on 18 Aug 1821 in Mississippi and died on 27 January 1901 in Ashley County, Arkansas. He was married and had five children. James' sister, Martha Smith, was born on August 28, 1824, in Monticello, Mississippi, and died on March 19, 1919, in Newton County, Mississippi. Thanks to Newton County researchers, I have been able to document her life. Her obituary states she was left an orphan at the age of ten years and for a time under the tutelage of her maternal aunt, the wife of ex-governor McCrae. It tells of her marriages, two of them, and her children are listed as survivors as well.
Now, why couldn't my great-great-grandfather have something like this?
Let me know which ancestor you would like to go back and visit!