Maps: Neighbors or Family or Both?

When searching census reports I often look at the other people on the page or in nearby pages. Sometimes I find family members who lived next door or nearby. I’m sure that many researchers do the same thing.

Another way to find neighboring family members is through maps. I have had great success by using the Family Maps books by Gregory A. Boyd, J. D. I have a few & have blogged about them in the past. I am revisiting those books to see what I have missed.

Family Maps

Of Pike, County, Mississippi

Deluxe Edition

Gregory A. Boyd, J. D.

2005

I looked for my Fortenberry family & found the surname in map group 12, section 34, near Smithburg, MS.  Along with the Fortenberry surname I found Smith surnames. I made a list in my notebook and then looked closely at their relationships. Soon I was sketching two family trees.


Wm. J Fortenberry & Violette Kennington          Jeremiah Smith & Joanna Dillon

My 4^th great grandparents                                        My 4^th great grandparents

They were not listed in the map book but these children were:                                           

Gasua C Fortenberry 1805 – 1884                             Calvin Smith 1812 – 1881

Burrell T. Fortenberry 1820 – 1863                           Jeremiah 1821 – 1894

Euseba Fortenberry 1809 – 1878      ….Married...   Wyatt Smith 1808 – 1894

In this area of Pike County these two families, united by the marriage of Wyatt & Euseba (Fortenberry) Smith, my 3^rd great grandparents, lived and worked side by side.

In the adjoining section, section 35, more of the same surnames are shown along with a couple new names. Here is the list of landowners along with their relationship to Gasua Fortenberry to illustrate their connection.

Gasua C Fortenberry, 1805 – 1884; my 3^rd great grand uncle

Warren M Huffman, 1835 – 1905; son in law of Gasua, husband of Narcissa

Benjamin C Fortenberry, 1856 – 1895; nephew of Gasua Fortenberry

Wyatt Smith, 1809 – 1895; brother in law of Gasua; my 3^rd great grandfather

Calvin Smith, 1812 – 1881; brother of brother in law of Gasua

Harrison H Burch, 1867 – 1935; grandson in law of Gasua

Isaac Broomfield, 1823 – 1909; brother of sister in law of brother in law of Gasua

Lewis W Brown; unknown

Lewis Brown is a missing piece. I know my Brown family is related to Fortenberry, Smith & Brumfield and my family was (and still is) in the county. Lewis might be a family member but at this time I cannot find a connection.

Looking at one after another section on these maps I can find more & more family connections. Celebrate Mappy Monday by looking at a map!

Related Posts:

• Maps Lead Places
• Mississippi Maps