Are you interested in the Southern Pioneers Project? [closed]

Question

The Southern Pioneers project is about the pioneers who left the original colonial settlements and ventured into the wilderness to expand our early nation. Our mission is to preserve and protect the genealogy of these early pioneer families and to provide accurate connections between their immigrant ancestors and modern day descendants based on research and documented sources.

If you are interested please answer the question below   

Here is our project page:

https://www.wikitree.com/wiki/Project:Southern_Pioneers

Comments

Ok I guess. I am in...  my family couldnt get more southern.

Answer 1

I would like to join this project my ancestor McManus-2120 was a settler from 1737 Cecil Co., MD into Salisbury, NC  1749 and into the area called the "backcountry" on both sides of the border of NC-Mecklenburg-Union Counties NC and SC- York, Lancaster, Chesterfield and Kershaw counties to  --- present.  It includes the Great Wagon Rd from Cecil Co., MD through Salisbury NC and into Camden, SC. I'm not a true historian or author and definitely wanting in the technical skills area!  Let me know how I can help?

Thanks for bringing this to the attention of us wikitree-ers for the topic of the week.

Comments

Hello Barbara,

We are very happy to have you join the Southern Pioneer's Project

If you haven't already please add the project sticker to your profile and join us in the Southern Pioneer's Discussion Group.

{{Member|Southern Pioneers}}

Best regards

David Douglass

Answer 2

I would like to be a member of this project. My father's Southern roots extend back from his Grandfather who was born in VA/WV. My mother's side is Southern farther back as well.

Comments

Hello MaryAnn,

We look forward to collaborating with you on Southern Pioneer ancestor profiles.  We are very happy that you joined the Southern Pioneer's Project.   If you haven't already please add the project sticker to your profile and join us in the Southern Pioneer's Discussion Group.

{{Member|Southern Pioneers}}

Best regards

David Douglass

Answer 3

I would be interested in joining the project. Almost my entire family settled first in Maryland/Virginia, and then migrated to Kentucky, and then to Missouri. Most of them stayed put in Missouri. This is one of my biggest research focuses right now.

Comments

Hello Tami

Great to have you join us in the Southern Pioneers Project.  We look forward to working together with you.  If you haven't already please add the project sticker to your profile and join us in the Southern Pioneer's Discussion Group.

{{Member|Southern Pioneers}}

Best regards

David Douglass

Answer 4

A significant number of my ancestors were in Virginia (Abermarle) and North Carolina (Burke and Person Counties), and later in Kentucky.

Comments

Hello Jane,

Welcome to the Southern Pioneer's Project.  Any Texas Morrows in your line ?  If you haven't already please add the project sticker to your profile and join us in the Southern Pioneer's Discussion Group.

{{Member|Southern Pioneers}}

Best regards

David Douglass

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Jane, I stumbled across this book recently about Abermarle County. I have ancestors from that area. Their surname is Allphin.

https://archive.org/stream/cu31924028785703/cu31924028785703_djvu.txt

Answer 5

Hi Paula,

I’d like to join he Southern Pioneers Project. I have quite a few ancestors that were Southern Pioneers.

Comments

Awesome Pip.  We are very happy that you joined the Southern Pioneer's Project.   If you haven't already please add the project sticker to your profile and join us in the Southern Pioneer's Discussion Group.

{{Member|Southern Pioneers}}

Best regards

David Douglass

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Sticker added. I am so pleased. Thanks, Doug!

Answer 6

I guess I would belong in it as much as anywhere.  But I don't get the project thing at all.  I can't/won't monitor google-anything.  I can't possibly have knowledge about everything Southern just because I've never been anywhere else.  At one time here, I was a triple descendant of Pocahontas, but all those links evaporated AFAIK.  I've worked with David some, and butted heads with PJ more than once.  But do I need to join?  IDK... I'm mostly just a visitor here now; having lost all hope of quality genealogy ever taking hold.

Comments

Mikey

First of all, we would love to have you join.  Your commitment to quality genealogy is what the project and WikiTree needs.  Most members come to the project and WikiTree and find our approach to genealogy a new way of doing family history.  The project emphasizes WikiTree's ideals.  Collaboration, accuracy, use of quality sources are a few of the reasons that projects exist.  We know that members come to us with different skill sets, some are new to genealogy, some have many years of working on their family trees.  We try to bring the best that everyone has to offer into an effort that makes use of all the knowledge and skills that the member comes to WikiTree with,  And then, as a project we mentor, and offer our help to each other to improve upon the areas where we can do better.  Working together, we strive to work better.  Better quality, better sourcing, better genealogy.  You can be a part of that effort as a project member.  Think about joining us.

David D

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Ok, but that just sounds like a nice sales pitch.  What I operate best on is logic and details.  Details of how it works or why it is needed is what seems to be missing.  Since I don't monitor google groups, how do I know what the project is doing?  If it is by following a tag for the project, OK, but can't I follow any tag I want anyway?

What I don't want is to let a project take me away from what this is all about, and that is researching my own roots.  Sure maybe I can occasionally help someone along the way.  But, if we let Wikitree system structure take us away from our goal, we win some battles but lose the war.

I don't know; there seems to be something missing, like the real purpose behind this.  Control?  Oversight?  By who?  People with less experience than me?  Why can't WT let us work on what we like and enjoy without trying to fit us into a box?

So, specifically what would I need to do for the project, and what would the project do for me?  Is it just to get some profiles under PPP, or does the project undertake improving profiles someway that I couldn't do on my own?

(Don't have to answer all those ?s - just expressing my thoughts/concerns.)

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To be truthful (which I have no reason not to be) yes, that was a nice sales pitch, but an honest one.  Everything I said I believe to be true.  I can sum up a project's purpose in a few words ... Collaboration, sharing, building consensus, structure, and accuracy.  You can build a genealogy site where everyone builds separate profiles for each of their shared ancestors so that you end up with a 100 profiles for the same person that will most likely differ in some factual details and agree in others, or all be copies of each other whose reliability and accuracy may range from almost correct to being a total fabrication.  Or, you can build a site where there is only one shared profile for each person, the idea being that each member shares in the improvement of that one shared profile and that it is based on accurate information that has consensus among the group as a whole.  The shared profile approach is of course, the way WIkiTree works.  In keeping with that idea, a project makes it easier for members that have shared ancestry to work together in an environment where collaboration, accuracy and structure are valued and operates in the way this community was designed to operate.   Projects are not designed to apply onerous rules or make things harder for members to accomplish.  They are designed to work in harmony with the WikiTree Honor Code and make the process of working together on shared profiles smoother with the goal of bringing about a greater confidence in the overall accuracy of the work produced.  At least that is the way that I see it.  You don't have to be a member of a project to work on your ancestor's profiles but we all need to keep in mind that the idea of one profile per person does mean that we share that ancestor and their profile with other descendants.  Projects can make the process of collaboration smoother and help bring together the skills of other members who may share an interest in improving and maintaining the accuracy and quality of an ancestor's profile.

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Mikey,  If you have ancestors that lived in the Southern states and are you interested in the project  after 1783.

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I don't know - tell me what you mean.  I have ancestors graves all over upstate SC.  I was born there and my family has been there for 250+ years. BUT!... I will not post recent generations online here or anywhere, especially where someone can change things without consent.  I try to stay beyond the 150-200 year range.

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No one can change anything on a profile that does not have an "Open" status but I can appreciate your concern about privacy.

I think what Mary was saying is that if your ancestors lived in the Southern states after the Am Rev the Southern Pioneer's Project may be of interest to you.  It's entirely your decision whether to join or not...the invitation is open.  Only you can decide if it would be of benefit to you.

Best regards,

David Douglass

Answer 7

Hi Paula, thank you for contacting me.  I am definitely interested in joining the Southern Pioneers project and will add my name to the list if that is ok.  After doing some research I discovered that one of my maternal grandmother's ancestors was Mary "Polly" (Bryan) Oglesby (Bryan-124) who was raised in the home of Daniel and Rebecca Boone in Boonesborough, and was the daughter of James Bryan.  I am particularly interested in learning more about the history of those who went on to settle in Tennessee and will be filling out my tree as I find the time.

Comments

Hello Keith,

Welcome to the Southern Pioneer's Project.  Looking forward to getting to know you and collaborating on ancestor profiles. If you haven't already please add the project sticker to your profile and join us in the Southern Pioneer's Discussion Group.

{{Member|Southern Pioneers}}

Best regards

David Douglass

Answer 8

I am interested in joining the Southern Pioneers Project. Almost my entire tree of ancestors were in Virginia, North and South Carolina and Georgia. They drifted westward to  Alabama, Mississippi, Louisiana and finally a few of them to Texas.

Answer 9

I would like to join the Southern Pioneers project. Some of my ancestors were members of Rev. Joseph Rhea's congregation and traveled from Maryland to northeast Tennessee. Others went south to North Carolina then across the mountains to Tennessee. Other families came to Northeast Tennessee by way of Pennsylvania and/or Virginia.

Answer 10

Ok, its now official I'll Join.  I already added the SP sticker. Just waiting for all of ya'll to catch up with me in the AM.

Comments

Thanks, Lynette!! I can always count on you!

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Yeah, just like a bad penny I keep showing up. Truth telling I thought I was already a member.

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Hi Lynette

I thought you were already a member ?  So glad that you joined us !  I will get you added to the discussion group if you haven't been.  I know that you have worked with Paula and Mary and now I get the chance.  Looking forward to working on some Pioneer Trails and getting to know you better.

David Douglass

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I thought I was too.  thank you for your kind words but you may end up regretting them.

Mary's got a mean arm-twist!! Geez, I think I'm going to be in a sling.

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Don't worry, we will take you with a sling, cast or even a bandaid.  We just appreciate your interest and the opportunity to collaborate with you on our Southern Pioneer ancestors.

David D

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If Lynette gets on a case, I wouldn't bet any money. She is that good.

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Unless I get sidelined by a earthquake.  Thanks for the votes of confidence.

Answer 11

I am interested in joining, please.

Comments

Well Hello Sarah, 

Glad to have you join us in the Southern Pioneer's Project. And thanks for your interest.  We are looking forward to getting to know you and collaborating on ancestor profiles. If you haven't already please add the project sticker to your profile and join us in the Southern Pioneer's Discussion Group.

{{Member|Southern Pioneers}}

Best regards

David Douglass

Answer 12

How do you differentiate a "pioneer" from an invader and oppressor?  The land was occupied before the "pioneers" came, and the "pioneers" often used oppressed, enslaved people to do the most difficult work.  Pioneers are people that are the first - the first in space, the first to break the sound barrier, the first to discover penicillin, the first to study in depth the lives of chimpanzees, the first to walk on the sea floor, the first to market a home computer.

Comments

An interesting viewpoint.  Here is one that you may find  interesting and eyeopening.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Slavery_among_Native_Americans_in_the_United_States

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I have a Masters in Secondary Education and taught World History, American History, and Native American Studies.  I'm trained in Anthropology:  Native American Studies and have studied various forms of slavery including today's forms which make more money than big budget film making in Hollywood.

I WANT THE WORD "PIONEER" REMOVED.  Use the word immigrant, since an immigrant can be legal or illegal.  Use settler, homesteader, or squatter since they often choose land previously belonging to others.

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Removed from where ?

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Southern "Pioneers" Project...  Does the project include the first Native American pioneers in the lands?  Does the project include the first African-Americans that joined the Seminoles in the region?  Does the project even include the explorations of Cabeza de Vaca?  No?  Can only people of Western European heritage be "pioneers" when they move onto the lands of others?

"Brothers, we wish to remain on our land, and hold it fast...  We appeal to our father the president of the United States to do us justice.  We look to him for protection in our hour of distress." - John Ross  

Smithsonian.com - The Cherokees vs. Andrew Jackson

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It has been my experience that a person who begins an argument by listing their education achievements knows less about the subject than they think they do.  You are making subjective arguments that do not take into account the beliefs and desires of others.  Perhaps you should stick around a little before you let everyone else know what they should do.

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I am a Davis from a "fine" Southern family.  We trace our ancestry to kings, queens, nobility, and the peerage.  We also trace our heritage to the Africans stolen from Africa and forced to do the most difficult work in the colonies while enduring the most deplorable treatment.  The African heritage shows clear as day in my 90-year-old aunt's DNA results.  You glibly dismiss that line of many people's heritage by focusing on opportunist Europeans.

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You certainly have a diverse ancestry,  I'm sure that you must be proud of that heritage.  

The Southern Pioneer Project documents the genealogy of the individuals and hard working families who with little more than their name and a hope for better opportunity became some of the first after the close of the American Revolution to  settle new areas of the western territories.  Leaving their colonial homes behind they often risked life and limb to carve out a new life in the wilderness on lands they were granted for their service in the fight against British tyranny and oppression,  Then the Louisiana Purchase of 1803 brought into the United States about 828,000 square miles of territory from France, thereby doubling the size of the young republic.  In 1790 the census indicated a population of about 4,000,000 By 1810 there were more than 7, 000,000 people living in the United States.  These people were immigrants, they were pioneers, they were your ancestors.  Their lives and courage deserve to be documented and remembered.    

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Well said David!

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I don't believe the word "pioneer" necessarily needs to have a positive connotation.  A couple of my ancestors were "longhunters" who were among the very first white people to settle in Kentucky as well as Tennessee.  (One of these longhunters describes several "Indian" villages he helped to destroy in his Revolutionary War pension application.)  I stress the word "white" because these were, by their nature, very racist times.  Native Americans were often described as savages, and many settlers owned slaves.  I think what is important to know is that these settlers often viewed themselves as "pioneers," however many of them also paid dearly for their incursions.  Many of those who tried to preserve slavery also paid dearly during and after the Civil War.  Nothing brings this more to life than studying what happened in and around your own family, hopefully also bringing to light some positive evolution in their thinking.

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Keith, you have valid points.  I have direct ancestors that were involved in "slave trade" and oppression.  Sometimes, I ask myself, "Am I still benefitting from those atrocities?"  The land on which my home stands belonged to my great-grandfather who purchased it from a Cherokee family with money my grandfather won at the age of 14 playing poker with African-American families on the river bottoms.  Who lets a 14-year-old get away with that unless he's a white boy no-one can touch? Great-Grandpa Horn was able to migrate to this area with funds left from the large farm worked by enslaved, oppressed people.  Family stories say that after the Civil War Great-Grandfather brought "his boy", a playmate purchased for him, on their journey to Indian Territory.  How much privilege did my European ancestors call their own?  What kind of influence and coercion did they use?  I want to make restitution for their actions by revealing history for what it was.

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David you and I are cousins, so your ancestors must have benefitted from the same funds and political support as mine.  The Creek War was inflamed by British traders, Spanish Officials, and the newly formed American government.  Each wanted the use the war to their advantage.  The US wanted to expand their territory into the Southern regions and formed an alliance with the Cherokee, Choctaw, and part of the Creek.   The war ended and General Andrew Jackson forced the Native Americans to surrender more than 21 million acres, but that was just the beginning.  Your ancestors and mine were later responsible for the Trail of Tears, and those Creeks that never surrendered went deep into the wilds, helped escaped enslaved people, and were called the Seminoles.

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Jerie Leep,  I'm also a fine Southern Davis, and while the Davises may trace their linage to kings, so can most of the descendants of the early colonists.  Your Anthropology studies should have taught you that.  And your Anthro studies should have also taught you that not all of the slaves brought into the colonies and states, were stolen from their homeland. Some were sold by competing tribes  because the slavers were paying them.   Native Americans overhunted the north eastern areas because Europeans were paying for furs.  White Euros weren't the only slaveowners. An indepth reading of the 1790 census you will find numerous Freed Persons of Color and Indians with slaves.

You might also want to extend your Anthro studies into social-networking and kinship. Its a fascinating field.

Oh and BTW, I'm an 8th grade dropout with a GED.

Answer 13

Would love to join Southern Pioneers, I have so many as I am southern by birth and have many patriots in my lines, even out in Texas who helped establish the Republic of Texas.

Answer 14

I would love to join this project. I have many original pioneers as direct ancestors, including my 5th Great-grandfather, William Brice who was one of the first settlers of Bath, North Carolina. I will be creating his profile today.

I look forward to working with you!

Answer 15

I refer you to Gerald Horne's book, _The Counter Revolution of 1776:  Slave Resistance and the Origin of the United States of America_.  You may find chapter 4 interesting,   Building a "White" Pro-Slavery Wall:  The Construction of Georgia.  Europeans were not "pioneers" in the South.  They were opportunists desiring the best of the Native American lands while seeking to keep Africans enslaved under harsh laws and cruel conditions.

Yes, I'm a Horne/Horn from an English Southern family and my DNA proves I'm also African.  We can imagine the many ways in which my black ancestors were treated, and there is also a family story handed down by my Grandmother, Lula Edna Davis Horn.  At the age of 12 in 1912, her family and a group of those related to her family were forced to leave Arkansas.  The women and children were sent secretly by train while the men took what they could in separate routes by wagon to Oklahoma.  They had refused to comply or cooperate with the KKK and forfeited their large farm due to the violence of the KKK.  My Great-Grandfather Davis said they were nothing but a bunch of "ruffians."

Imagine being a child and having to run from your home like my Grandma.  Imagine being a child and hearing that something very scary and wrong happened to your Grandmother. The story stays burned in my memory.

The pioneers of the South were Native Americans.  Anything else is a lie.  Slaves escaped and frequently took refuge with different tribes until Andrew Jackson committed himself to the genocide of complete tribes.

Comments

You need to tone it down quite a lot. We can all learn from your family profiles, but ranting and raving will make us loose interest. Most of us have lines with similar or even worse events. What makes a good genealogist is recording those events neutrally.

Eric Daly MA

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Jerie, what are the percentages of ethnicity in your DNA?

How much British Isles? Continental Europe? Jewish?  New World? African?  And does it say Northern Africa or  Sub-Sahahan?  

Mine says 85% British Isles, 13% around France Germany, and 2% Northern Africa.  Do you realize just how far back 2% is? And Northern Africa is actually considered Middle East instead of Sub-Saharan.

I can't see anything in your tree that suggests you are descended from African slaves in America.

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Ever hear of Lena Horne and Coretta Scott King?

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When did FACTS become ranting and raving?  When did the need for recognition of civil rights ever needed to be toned-down?

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Yes, I have heard of both of them, but that doesn't answer my question.  And yes, they were descended from slaves in America... however, there is nothing in your tree that suggests you are also descended from slaves.

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Because we are genealogists here not civil rights activists.  We really don't care if anyone is black, white, red, brown yellow, green or purple or even from Mars, What we truly care about is Is the genealogy right?  Nothing else really matters. 

But if you are offended by the word Pioneer, then maybe you should read a dictionary occasionally.  1.

a person who is among the first to explore or settle a new country or area.

synonyms:

settler, colonist, colonizer, frontiersman/frontierswoman, explorer, trailblazer, discoverer "the pioneers of the Wild West"

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Jerie.

We can appreciate your commitment to righting wrong and you have had the opportunity to make your position openly known.  At this juncture however, I would like to ask you to please stay on topic if you are going to continue to post here.  This thread is not about former or present injustices done, it's not about righting wrongs or discussing political or social issues whether historical or contemporary.  This thread is solely about joining WikiTree's Southern Pioneer's Project and all future posts should be related to that purpose.  Wikitree, as Lynette said, is about genealogy and posting family trees.  We should keep our post confined to the topic at hand and not branch off into divisive and controversial subject matter.  I am asking that you please stop using this forum as a sounding board for your personal social justice agenda.  There are far more appropriate venues and audiences for sharing your ideas about racial issues to than a genealogy help board.

Thank you

David Douglass

Answer 16

I have many families who were early settlers in Virginia, North Carolina (including Tennessee), and Kentucky, with a sprinkling from Maryland and Delaware, which may not be considered Southern.  By 1800 the majority of them had moved west, and by 1855, all my ancestors were in Missouri.  Some of the early names include Hendrick(s), Welty, Kraus, Bondurant, Hall, King, Brooks, Barnes, Redford/Wradford, Crews, Gilliam/Gillum, Bailey, Oglesby, Ware, Eller, Page, Dunham, Means, and a number more.  I am currently trying to get my research into WikiTree so it will be free to others to use.  I have spent many years collecting what I have, and think some of my primary source research will assist others.

Margaret

Answer 17

My 4th great grandfather was Isaac Harris (1729 - 1777). He was born in Brunswick VA.  He was killed in Foreman's Defeat in the Revolutionary War. His profile states that he is a part of a Southern Pioneer family and links to your profile.

I would like to help grow this project.  I also want to learn more about your project and how my ancestors were part of it.

Comments

Hi Debora

We would be happy to have you join us in the Southern Pioneer's Project. And thanks for your interest.  We are looking forward to getting to know you and collaborating on your pioneer ancestor profiles. To join us please add the project sticker to your profile and join us in the Southern Pioneer's Discussion Group.

{{Member|Southern Pioneers}}  

Copy and paste the bit of code above to your WikiTree profile somewhere below the Biography section.  If you have specific questions or areas of interest that are covered by the project feel free to post a question on the project discussion board,  You may also address your questions or comments to me as well.

Best regards

David Douglass

Answer 18

I'd like to join the project. I have numerous ancestors in North and South Carolina predating the revolution - mostly in the Lincoln/Mecklenburg counties of NC and in York County, SC. The ancestor profile I'm most interested in improving right now is Rhyne-24.

Comments

Hello Mel, 

We would be happy to have you join us in the Southern Pioneer's Project. And thanks for your interest.  We are looking forward to getting to know you and collaborating on your pioneer ancestor profiles. To join us please add the project sticker to your profile and join us in the Southern Pioneer's Discussion Group.

{{Member|Southern Pioneers}}  

Copy and paste the bit of code above to your WikiTree profile somewhere below the Biography section.  If you have specific questions or areas of interest that are covered by the project feel free to post a question on the project discussion board,  

I took a look at your ancestor's profile (Peter Rhyne) and have to agree that it's off to a good start but could use some improvement.  The project currently manages his profile so if you want to be added as a profile manager just let me know.  

Best regards

David Douglass

Answer 19

Hi Paula,

I've been off the air just a bit taking care of parents, but, I'm back. I sit in a swamp in South Georgia, an area settled in 1820. I've given a great deal of research to locating the "Old" highways dating back to that period. Old Federal Highway is the best known, but recently I've located the older roadways and stagecoach roads in southern Georgia.

I'd like to be included in the project. I had the blinding flash of the obvious recently that started my quest when I couldn't locate homesteads, cemeteries, points of reference on what was thought to be the right road. Then I took the road less traveled...

Comments

Out of curiosity, which swamp if you don’t mind saying. We have several here. Ft. Stewart in Hinesville is even called Camp Swampy

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Lowndes County. We call Moody AFB "Camp Swampy." It's in the Grand Bay/Banks Lake watershed. Okefenokee drains into Lowndes on its way to the Suwanee River. You can pretty much take your pick of swamps in Lowndes County. Moody AFB sits on prime swampland! LOL!

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Yes indeed! I live on Wilmington Island, Savannah, Ga in Chatham County. Thanks for sharing!

Answer 20

Hi Paula, I am currently involved in tracking and sourcing my maternal Womack line. They originally settled in the Virginia Colony and spread out to North Carolina, Tennessee, Oklahoma, Texas, and eventually to California where I live. Would like to join your project.

Comments

We are possibly cousins then! Thanks for joining us!

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Shirley, lots of Womacks went to Arkansas too.  And I think some Jesters even marired 1 or 2.