Thank you Frank Gill for your help. The William Spears I am searching for was born in 1828. He is my Great Grandfather. The only information I have on William is that he was from North Carolina and his birth date was 1828. At some time, he moved to St. Landry Parish in St. Landry, Louisiana because he is on the 1850 Census in St. Landry, Louisiana. In 1851, he has a daughter named Mary Spears. I find them located in Lenoir City, Loudon County, Tennessee on a Tennessee Census. Mary's birth is listed as being born in Tennessee. William Spears is listed as the father and that he is married. I found no information about who his wife was or who his parents were from North Carolina. Mary Spears had a child named Henry Spears in 1892 at the age of 41. Mary never married, so she had to endure the social embarrassment of having a child out of wedlock. I have been trying to find out the father's name of Henry with not much luck. Henry is my grandfather and father of my dad Franklin Spears. Henry married Mattie Ervin. Mary Spears died in 1940 and we found her burial marked with only a small stone with her name on it in the Lenoir City Cemetery. My family bought a new headstone for Mary. A few years ago, I decided to do a family tree and discovered that I couldn't get very far, only back to my great grandfather William Spears. If anyone can provide any help in my research would be much appreciated.
