Put your Nose in the Neighbor's Business Tuesday's Tip

In the genealogy research world, knowing your ancestors' neighbors' business will provide clues to your own family history, so, put your good manners to the side. Go ahead and look at the neighbors' cemetery records, deeds, wills, probate records, vital records, taxes, diaries, personal letters, etc. Its okay to check out the family history of his wife or her husband. Its okay to know how they acquired those cows. Go ahead and be nosy.

One of my favorite research tools is the Civil War pension records. What do you do if you don't find a relative with pension records, as in my case? Look and see if the neighbors has one. My relatives testified in their neighbors cases and I was able to confirm oral history and relationships.

Go ahead and use your favorite research tool on the neighbors. You may be handsomely surprised at what you discover about your own people.

Alice Usher's Letter

Alice Demyers Overton Usher
Born About 1845 - Died 1933
Various records date my second great grandmother Alice Demyers Overton Usher's birth somewhere between 1830 and 1845. I believe she was born about 1845. The oral tradition is that she had a relationship with Dave Overton when she was about 14-15 years of age. This relationship produced her only child, a son, Richmond Overton. Dave Brown Overton left the plantation during the Civil War when his son was to young to remember him, following the Yankee soldiers.

Alice wrote several letters to the Pension Board in Washington, D.C., requesting the pension of the husband she believed served with the Union Troops. Alice could not provide any evidence of Dave's military service. He may have followed the troops and served in a non military capacity or became contraband of the War. If she could have proved Dave Brown's service, Alice would not have qualified as Dave's widow because she was married to Elijah Usher.

Alice started her writing campaign in 1923 and would continue to write through 1931. Here is one of her many letters.

November 21, 1923
Barlow, Miss

Dear Mr Gardner I received your message ok and answering the same my husband Dave Overton or Brown went to the Yankee army and never return enymore I dont no wheater he got kill I never did heare from him eny mo I have one son by him I maried the man by the name of Elijah Usher I have been married about 49 or 50 years as near as I can think I am old and cant rember.

My witeness is Bettie Toliver and Virginier Demyse

From Alice Usher