Comments on The I Seek Dead People Blog: Was Grandma stepping out, or what?

HIHaving spent thousands of hours on family geneal...

2007-11-23T09:27:00.000-05:00

HI
Having spent thousands of hours on family genealogy, there are 2 instantly apparent possibilities which I see (but I know nothing about your case). I'll just run them by, in case:
1. William Lee TURNER (1840-1896) has a much younger second wife- this usually means he was married before-did you find a first wife?

2. William born to Eli TURNER (~1819-1902) and his "older" first wife Mary WILLIAMS --often means that the first wife was married previously and is a widow perhaps with a child. Sometimes she married under her maiden and sometimes with her married name. What if her married name was Mills?

Remember these southern men married as many as 4 times and had as many as 35 children! The south seems to have produced many living children compared to the north. I was wondering if it was because the south was warmer and the children better able to survive, despite malaria and yellow fever.
Susan Aldridge

Hi Janice, and thank you!It's funny you should men...

2007-11-06T09:29:00.000-05:00

Hi Janice, and thank you!

It's funny you should mention the name change possibility. There is a family tale that when the Turners "came over on the big boat," they changed their name. I don't know if there is any truth to this, and if there is, I can't imagine why MILLS to TURNER, but I'm trying to keep an open mind.

Unfortunately I don't know of any other living Turner males, outside of those in our line of course. Don't think I won't be keeping my eyes open for one, or more, though! :-)

Lee,Excellent post and a curious conundrum. What a...

2007-11-05T18:15:00.000-05:00

Lee,

Excellent post and a curious conundrum. What a shock to discover your family is Mills and not Turner. Have any Turner cousins, close and distant been tested? Have you considered there was a legal name change somewhere along the line?

Janice

Thank you and thank you again, Craig! It is so goo...

2007-10-28T18:24:00.000-04:00

Thank you and thank you again, Craig! It is so good to be back! I've really missed being a part of the geneablogging community.

BTW, your recent contributions to the genealogy community are invaluable! I look forward to every installment.

Mary Beth, that is an excellent suggestion! Unfort...

2007-10-28T18:19:00.000-04:00

Mary Beth, that is an excellent suggestion! Unfortunately, there was no property to be divided when these men died. Tax records suggest John might have owned land in the early 1800s, but we can't find any record that proves it.

Congratulations on your new blog!

Great post, Lee! Good to have you back.

2007-10-28T13:30:00.000-04:00

Great post, Lee! Good to have you back.

You mentioned your family doesn't have Wills. Do y...

2007-10-27T20:45:00.000-04:00

You mentioned your family doesn't have Wills. Do you realize that when someone dies with property there has to be action taken to divide it? Without a will it is called intestate and an administrater is selected, and probated. If you haven't already seek a probate file from the County Clerk-probably through the Circuit Court. Do you live in a "burn county?"
MBT