Writing about only ONE Brick Wall is the challenge this week. I have several ancestors who just sort of appear one day and just as mysteriously disappear, without a trace! One such person is the father of my 2nd great grandfather, Richard (also known as Dick) Miller.
The Marriage Record for Richard's brother, Joseph Miller and Susan Bragg is found on the same page as Richard, above! They were married the same day by the same Justice of the Peace!
And the marriage record for Perlina Kirby and Lavender Sullens, on March 16, 1856. Just 2 months later!
I have not been able to find any more information about Caroline KIRBY. I wonder what might have happened in 1855-1856 to cause all 3 in this family to marry so close together!
The first time I heard the name Dick Miller was from my mother, Dorothy Nell (Clark) Springer, his great granddaughter. Dorothy Nell was the only child of Elmer and Agnes (Spurlock) Clark; and Agnes was one of the daughters of John Wesley and Jennie Catherine (Miller) Spurlock. Jennie was the oldest daughter of Richard (Dick) Miller.
My mother told me about this family sometime in the late 1980's. Her mother, and all of her Spurlock cousins and grandparents were long sense passed away. So, the only thing I had to go on at that time was her "story"!
I had begun my genealogy research journey about 1985, so I knew a few places I could check for more information. Richard's daughter, Jennie (Miller) Spurlock died in Texas and so I checked for a Death Certificate to confirm her father's name.
On this document, Jennie's father is listed as "Dick Miller" and her mother is listed as "unknown". So, this document supports the "Story"! I was also able to locate a copy of the Tennessee Death Certificate for Jennie's sister, Amanda "Mandy" (Miller) Wallace, who died in Tennessee.
This document only shows Mandy's father as "Miller" and her mother as "Miller". So, no real help there. Jennie also had three brothers. I have been unable to confirm any death information for two of them, John Thomas and Marion R Miller. The third son, John Joseph "Joe" Miller, was the subject of a previous post, https://regnirpsstories.blogspot.com/2019/03/bachelor-great-great-uncle-john-joseph.html. You can see there that Joe's father is listed as "Richard Miller" of Cannon County, Tennessee and his mother is listed as "unknown". The next source I checked was the census taken every 10 years.
The first census that Richard/Dick would have been on was the 1840, but since that census only lists the names of the Head of Household and tic marks for all other persons in the household, his name will not appear. I have yet to find ANY 1840 census in Cannon County or surrounding areas that seem to be a viable family for Richard and his parents. The earliest census that I found for Richard Miller was the 1850.
The challenge of this census is that Richard Miller, age 15, is living with a man named Frances Kirby, age 42 born in Kentucky, and wife, Sarah Kirby, age 51, born in North Carolina. Other people in the household are:
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| Agnes, Dorothy Nell and Elmer Clark (from Personal Collection) |
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| John Wesley and Jennie Katherine (Miller) Spurlock and Family (abt 1901, from Personal Collection) |
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| Notes of Dorothy Nell (Clark) Springer |
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| Certified Copy of Texas Death Certificate for Jennie Katherine (Miller) Spurlock |
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| Source Citation: Tennessee State Library and Archives; Nashville, Tennessee; Tennessee Death Records, 1908-1959; Roll #: 2 Description Year : 1928 |
The first census that Richard/Dick would have been on was the 1840, but since that census only lists the names of the Head of Household and tic marks for all other persons in the household, his name will not appear. I have yet to find ANY 1840 census in Cannon County or surrounding areas that seem to be a viable family for Richard and his parents. The earliest census that I found for Richard Miller was the 1850.
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| Year: 1850; Census Place: District 5 Crafts, Cannon, Tennessee; Roll: M432_872; Page: 392A; Image: 229. Source Information: Ancestry.com. 1850 United States Federal Census [database on-line]. Provo, UT, USA: Ancestry.com Operations, Inc., 2009. Images reproduced by FamilySearch. |
Caroline Kirby, age 23
Joseph Miller, age 17
Joseph Miller, age 17
Perlina Kirby, age 16
James Wamack, age 10
RD Hannah (sic) Miller, age 4
All of the children were born in Tennessee. They were living in Crafts the 5th District of Cannon County, Tennessee on August 22, 1850, when the information on this page was recorded. Since this is the ONLY Richard Miller I find in Cannon County, Tennessee, I am assuming it is the correct one. My assumption is that Richard's father had died sometime between 1846 and 1850 and his mother, Sarah, remarried to Francis Kirby. The "Miller" children listed seem to be Richard's siblings, with Sarah as the mother and the Unknown Father. Caroline and Perlina Kirby, I believe are the daughters of Francis Kirby, their late mother having been Francis Kirby's previous wife. I have no idea who James Wamack is!
I was able to find a marriage record for Richard Miller and Margaret Denton on January 13, 1856 in Cannon County.
I was able to find a marriage record for Richard Miller and Margaret Denton on January 13, 1856 in Cannon County.
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| "Tennessee, County Marriages, 1790-1950," database with images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:3Q9M-C9BN-T39S-6?cc=1619127&wc=Q633-MZF%3A1589264534%2C1589372741 : 28 July 2016), Cannon > Marriage registers, 1838-1866, vol A-A2 > image 282 of 355; citing Tennessee State Library and Archives, Nashville and county clerk offices from various counties. |
And the marriage record for Perlina Kirby and Lavender Sullens, on March 16, 1856. Just 2 months later!
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| "Tennessee, County Marriages, 1790-1950," database with images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:3Q9M-C9BN-T3MC-L?cc=1619127&wc=Q633-MZF%3A1589264534%2C1589372741 : 28 July 2016), Cannon > Marriage registers, 1838-1866, vol A-A2 > image 252 of 355; citing Tennessee State Library and Archives, Nashville and county clerk offices from various counties. |
I have been able to track more information about Joseph and Richard's families, but still have been unable to find any death, burial or any other records for their father. That's why they call it a Brick Wall!
'Til Next Time!
#52Ancestors
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