DeKalb Trails - The Waufords

Date: [unknown] [unknown]
Location: DeKalb, Tennessee, United States
Surnames/tags: Wauford Warford

DeKalb Tales – The Waufords

Research takes time, and when you get caught up in researching a community, not just your ancestors, there are always people that still require researching. The Waufords are one of my lines that still requires a lot of work. Luckily, others have compiled a fair amount of research; however, I still need to complete additional research to validate their work and complement it with DNA comparison to ensure accuracy.

The Waufords of DeKalb, spelled initially as Warford, are believed to likely originate from John Warford, who came to the colonies about 1680. One of the first Warfords in the area was John Warford, born about 1768, likely in North Carolina. Before they arrived in the area, he is believed to have married Mary Barclay in October 1791 in Rowan County, North Carolina.

John was provided a land grant in 1830 containing 83 ½ acres on the waters of Helton's Creek, near Liberty. His exact list of children is not complete, however when John passed away, he left his estate to what are believed to be his remaining living descendents:

• David Warford receipt $150.00 • Benjamin Warford " 137.08 • Isaac Warford " 143.58 • Robert Warford " 140.22 • John Johnson " 140.37 • Amount due said administrator, one of said legatees $176.72

It is believed that John Johnson's wife is Jane Warford Johnson. Shortly after John Warford’s death, we start seeing the last name transitioning to the many ways we see it in the cemeteries and records in DeKalb, such as Wauford, Woffard, and other versions. Interestingly, only one burial in DeKalb is listed under the name Warford; the challenge now is to determine the time frame of was born a Warford and died as a Wauford.

Interestingly there are not many living descendants with the last name Wauford left in DeKalb County. Much like the Roberts, many of the male descendents left the immediate area. This left only descendants of the daughters to continue their legacy. Those daughters would marry into the Rigsby, Johnson, Yeargan, Crook, Bennett, Reasonover, Chumley, Bates, Flippin, Bain, and other families. I’ve recently met a new double cousin who descends from John Darius Warford and Malinda Crook; it's been a pleasure to get to know her and her family's stories.

While on my visit last year, I had the opportunity to capture the family file in the Justin Potter Library. Luckily it held a mapped-out area where the tombstones are believed to have been in the Helton cemetery. From what I understand, most of the tombstones are no longer recognizable.

What I would give to accurately identify the exact places my ancestors owned in the Dismal/Helton area, as there were so many. Ideally, if it was no longer in the family, to be able to purchase the lands where the cemeteries were, restore them and place markers for those that were laid to rest there. Unfortunately, time marches on, and we have to choose where to place our resources and what to rescue.

When visiting the Carthage library, I ran across detailed transcriptions of the diaries of two Wauford brothers that Daphene Willoughby completed; it turns out she's related to me at least by marriage. The first are the diaries of Reverend Charles Wauford from 1909 to 1924, and the second are the diaries of Rev. William Wauford. Daphene has given me permission to share her hard work, and it is very interesting reading through the day-to-day lives of those who lived in the area over 100 years ago.

This November, I've lucked out, and the quaint cabin that feels like home is available again. I'll be returning to continue research on DeKalb County for another month, this time with my faithful fluffy mascot. Meanwhile work continues on the one-place study for the area between Liberty and Alexandria. Part of this is confirming the final list of unmarked graves in the Dismal Fuller's Church cemetery, and it is hoped that the tombstone will be able to be ordered by the new year. To aide in the study, Family Tree DNA has granted my request to start a DNA project for those with their roots in DeKalb County.

If you'd like to join the DNA project, have records you'd like shared or recorded for the future, or be pointed to where you can read the Wauford Diaries, I can be reached at kris.family.research@gmail.com.