The more you learn, the more you don’t know.
One of the men named Henry Gines (and that’s a whole other story) was married to a woman named Adline Gines. Wanting to know more about her, I obtained her death certificate some time ago. [Her name is spelled "Adline" on her death certificate and I've seen [...]
Continue reading about The Mysteries of Adline Gines & Belle Wheeler
The Freedman’s Bank, a distinct entity from the Freedman’s Bureau, was established by Congress on March 3, 1865. The bank’s official name was the Freedman’s Savings and Trust Company. The bank’s purpose was to assist African-Americans recently freed from bondage to adjust and thrive economically. It had branches in 16 states and the District of [...]
Continue reading about Freedman’s Bank Records Open New Doors, Reveal Much
George Gines appeared on the 1870 census of Caddo Parish, Louisiana as “George Guion.” In April, 1872, however, the Freedman’s Bank lists him as “George Guynes.” The bank record also lists “Ed” and “Henry” apparently as separate persons. The absence of Ed on the census, combined with known family naming patterns, had led me [...]
Continue reading about George Guynes [Gines] Freedman’s Bank Record
Hint: You’re Not Going to Disneyland!
Next in a multi-part series
As with a physical barrier, breaking through a genealogical “brick wall” may expose an entirely new landscape. The new landscape must be explored, analyzed, and documented. In other words, once the barrier is breached, the real work begins. If one realizes this fact early, the new [...]
Continue reading about You’ve Broken Down a Brick Wall–Now What?
Fifth in a multi-part series
I had hypothesized that my Gines people were associated with English-speaking people named Gines who came from the West Midlands area. They came to Virginia and North Carolina and from there moved on to South Carolina and other states of the Deep South, eventually winding up in Louisiana and Texas. That [...]
Continue reading about Breaking Down A Brick Wall–The Problem with Surnames, Part II
Fourth in a multi-part series
In the comments to the last post our friend Apple [her blog is Apple's Tree; visit it!] writes:
It certainly seems like the right family. I’ve seen some interesting name variations but how did they get Guion from Gines? Or visa versa. I’d be very comfortable going with this.
That’s the very question [...]
Continue reading about Breaking Down A Brick Wall: The Problem With Surnames
Remember the The Wrong Longs?
Third in a multi-part series
One of my other great-grandfathers on my mother’s side was named James William Long. As with Richard William Gines, I set out to find the parents of James Long. That search seemed like a stroll in the park compared to this one! I quickly found a James [...]
Continue reading about “So What Makes You So Sure You’ve Knocked Down a Brick Wall?”
Second in a multi-part series
Here’s a synopsis of how I achieved my #1 research goal: finding the parents of my great-grandfather, Richard Gines of Shreveport, Louisiana. Bear in mind that eahcof these steps took months or even years to complete and some ran concurrently.
Step 1: The Neophyte Phase. I was new to genealogical research and [...]
Continue reading about The Process of Breaking Down a Brick Wall
First in a multi-part series
I started my serious research in December of 2003. From the beginning, my leading goal was to discover the paternity of Richard Gines of Shreveport,Louisiana, my great-grandfather. I knew very little about him; until I was an adult, I had never heard his name. And then, over the years, my mother [...]
I have done it! I’ve made my greatest genealogical discovery ever! For five years, my top research priority has been to discover the parentage of my great-grandfather, Richard Gines of Shreveport, Louisiana. Following an intensified search this spring and summer, I can now say with the appropriate degree of confidence utilizing the Genealogical Proof Standard, [...]
Continue reading about Breaking News: Man Smashes Through Brick Wall in Louisiana!
