Parents of Richard M. Tanner, born c. 1818 in Prince William County, VA. -- anyone?

Question

I'm starting to think this guy just sprang out of the ground or something. He was allegedly born c. 1818 in Prince William County, Virginia. He married a Paulina or Polina, and had a son named Frederick M. Tanner. He *probably* also had sons named Reuben and John W. and a daughter named Susie who married an Utterbach and was widowed. He died on 28 June, 1883 in Virginia and was buried there with his wife. All of these things are pretty well documented.

Has anybody got the slightest clue who his parents might have been? I've searched the entire web every way I know how, and I just can't find anything beyond what I already know. Any clues would be greatly appreciated.

Comments

Who is John W. Tanner?

Richd M Tanner

 in the 1850 United States Federal Census

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Name:	Richd M Tanner
Age:	30
Birth Year:	abt 1820
Birthplace:	Virginia
Home in 1850:	Prince William, Virginia, USA
Gender:	Male
Family Number:	847
Household Members:	Name Age Richd M Tanner 30 Polina Tanner 30 John W Tanner 4 Frederick M Tanner 2 Maria Carper 50 Martha Bramell 20 John W Tanner 22

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It's a good question. I *think* the younger John W. is Richard's son, and the elder is a brother or cousin of some kind, since if you look at the original document he's listed as a miller, like William, so probably he's an employee. That hasn't gotten me anywhere yet, though. And of course, I could be completely wrong. I've marked the relationship "uncertain" in the profile.

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Here's the family in 1860

John A C Tanner

 in the 1860 United States Federal Census

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Name:	John A C Tanner
Age:	14
Birth Year:	abt 1846
Gender:	Male
Birth Place:	Virginia
Home in 1860:	Fairfax, Virginia
Family Number:	0
Value of Real Estate:	View image
Household Members:	Name Age Richard M Tanner 40 Paulina Tanner 40 John A C Tanner 14 Fredk M Tanner 12 Reuben Tanner 10

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Here's Reuben's marriage

Reuben Tanner

 in the Virginia, Select Marriages, 1785-1940

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Name:	Reuben Tanner
Gender:	Male
Age:	36
Birth Date:	1850
Marriage Date:	16 Sep 1886
Marriage Place:	Montgomery, Virginia
Father:	R. M. Tanner
Mother:	T. V. Tanner
Spouse:	Martha E. Crumpler
FHL Film Number:	2048462
Reference ID:	n 61

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This family is certainly very confusing. If R.M. is Richard, then who is T. V. Tanner?

 

Betty

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I'm not sure who T.V. is. Based on Reuben's age, he seems to have been born close to the time Frederick was, quite possibly by another woman. Paulina died not long after Frederick's birth, so perhaps Richard brought her son into his household? The Tanner men got around a bit from what I know, so it seems like a reasonable possibility, but I doubt I'll ever know for sure.

Answer 1

Did you try Probate records ? Not only of his so, Frederick, but also himself and his wife.

Comments

http://www.findagrave.com/cgi-bin/fg.cgi?page=gr&GRid=67690394&ref=acom

 

If this was my ancestor, I would call the cemetery for the plot papers. He may have siblings and parents buried in this cemetery. OR it may also reveal his wife's family.

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I'm not quite sure how to find probate records -- I did a google search but didn't come up with much. Can you point me in the right direction?

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Thanks Maggie, I will definitely give that a try first thing tomorrow!

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I  will check on the old Probates in the Ancestry database tomorrow ( do you have Ancestry ?)

https://familysearch.org/learn/wiki/en/Virginia,_County_Probate_Records_%28FamilySearch_Historical_Records%29

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https://familysearch.org/learn/wiki/en/Virginia_Probate_Records

 

Answer 2

Are your Tanner also listed as Danner in the earlier years? And are they from Germany?

David Anthony Taylor