The Spring House: Most Important “House” in Family’s History

The theme for the next Carnival of Genealogy is “Shelter from the storm, stories of the home and hearth…. It’s time to tell all about your family’s abode!”

The most important “house” in the Mitchell Family history was not an abode, but the spring house on the family farm in Guilford County, North Carolina. A spring house was a colonial version of a refrigerator - a crude structure built into the side of a hill with a spring running through it. The water from the spring kept milk, eggs, and other perishables cool. I wrote in more detail about what a spring house is and my experience of finding a real spring house behind a historic home in North Carolina. There’s even a photo of the spring house I saw.

The first book in my family history series was named Spring House because so many important events took place in that rough little building. I wrote the story as fiction so I could fill in the gaps when details weren’t known, but there is nothing in the book that contradicts known facts. I had Adam Mitchell proposing to both of his wives (his first wife died in childbirth) in the spring house, which may or may not have actually happened.

But the most important event that took place in the spring house is well-documented in historical records. During the Battle of Guilford Courthouse in the Revolutionary War, Adam Mitchell fought in the battle while his mother Margaret, his wife Elizabeth, and their children hid in the spring house on their nearby farm. They also hid a trunk containing an elegant collection of pewter plates and drinking vessels, most likely the largest collection of pewter in the state, with the mark of an M on each piece for the Mitchell name.

The following excerpts from Spring House show why this rough storage building was the most important “house” in my family’s history.

The spring house was about four feet high on the outside, but because the dirt floor was dug down two feet, a grown person could stand up inside. The spring house had only one opening - the door, which was no more than three feet wide. From a distance the structure looked like a clump of brush, making it the best place for the family in the event of an attack.

Stores of dried foods were neatly wrapped and buried in the dirt floor, and the spring water that naturally flowed through the spring house could support the family for an extended period of time. Elizabeth packed up her treasured pewter plates and drinking vessels that her father had given the newlyweds as a wedding gift. Adam thought it best to store the pewter inside the spring house in a large trunk under piles of his mother’s undergarments. If the pewter were to fall into enemy hands, it could be melted down for ammunition and used against the patriots.
……..
A wounded British soldier seeking water found the spring house on the Mitchell plantation. As he drank water from the spring coming from underneath the spring house, he could hear movement and voices inside. He reported the incident to his superior who opened the small door of the spring house. Inside he found Margaret, sitting on a trunk dressed in her Sunday best clothes; Elizabeth standing beside her holding three-month-old Elizabeth, called Ibby by the family; and four young children - William, Margaret, John, and Adam Jr. – next to her. Margaret’s hoop dress with its many petticoats hid the hair trunk and fourteen-year-old Robert, who was behind his grandmother’s wide hoop dress and the trunk with his grandfather’s flintlock pistol cocked and ready for his grandmother to give the word to fire.

The British officer demanded that she remove herself from the trunk at once so that he could see what was in it.

Elizabeth’s children were afraid, hungry, and crying loudly.

Margaret Mitchell looked the officer squarely in the eye. “You have already killed my favorite nephew John. Most likely my only son has been killed in today’s fighting, as he hasn’t returned home. Your men have ransacked my home, taking the few possessions we had left, including food needed to feed my poor hungry grandchildren.” She leaned forward slightly. “Sir, you may kill this old lady if you wish, but I am not moving from this trunk.”

The officer, not accustomed to such defiance from a woman of his own mother’s age, turned and left the three generations of the Mitchell clan unharmed. It was a good thing he didn’t pursue the issue further as Robert was at the ready to fire on his grandmother’s order.

[tags]spring house, family history, genealogy, Carnival of Genealogy[/tags]

Carnival of Genealogy, 18th Edition

The 18th edition of the Carnival of Genealogy is posted.

You’ll find some excellent tips on specific genealogy research. One of these ideas may just what you need to find that elusive information you’re looking for.

 

[tags] genealogy research, Carnival of Genealogy[/tags]

Holding History in My Hands

In my last post, I mentioned the University of Tennessee Special Collections Library. The Tennesseana Collection contains more than 52,000 rare books and more than 4,000,000 manuscripts. The library describes these documents as “private papers, literary manuscripts, business records, political files, and historical records mostly relating to Tennessee and the Southeast.” Although this collection is primarily a historical collection, genealogy researchers may find the historical documents useful in their research. I’ve learned how important history is to genealogy. Adam Mitchell’s life — and the lives of his descendants — would not have been the same without the Revolutionary War.

My visit to the Calvin M. McClung Historical Collection of the Knox County Public Library was a high point in a research journey with lots of exciting adventures and discoveries. I have not yet been able to verify this, but I believe Calvin M. McClung may be in some way related to William McClung who witnessed the will of Rev. James Witherspoon (the husband of Margaret “Peggy” Mitchell, one of Adam’s Daughters).

The collection includes more than 65,000 books (mostly rare), thousands of newspapers (mostly pre-1920), more than 3,000 printed genealogies and 41 genealogical collections, 2,000 maps, and 100,000 photographic negatives. The 600 manuscript collections comprise ledgers, account books, private papers, and documents of all kinds.

But I wasn’t interested in thousands of books or maps or printed genealogies. I was primarily interested in one manuscript collection: the Sevier Family Papers.
 
John Sevier was the Governor of the state of Franklin, a state created out of the western part of North Carolina in 1784. The state existed for only four years and eventually became part of the state of Tennessee. John Sevier was a good friend of Mr. Mac (John McMachen) and Adam Mitchell. He was involved in much of the family dealings that will be a part of the story in Adam’s Daughter’s.

I actually got to hold in my hand papers written by John Sevier in 1793, and I left with copies of important documents. The library staff helped me tremendously in my research so I have a far better understanding of the John Sevier’s place in history and his relationship to my ancestors.

The library recommends you call ahead and explain your research needs to make your visit more productive. You will have to complete an application to use the special materials and follow the library’s rules for the security and protection of valuable documents. You may not be able to touch all documents, but even looking at a fragile original document in a glass case is exciting.

As I sat holding an original document written by John Sevier in 1793 … I held history in my hands.

Five Tips for Specific Genealogy Research

Since I am writing my family history through several generations and locations, I have to research a variety of time periods and places. Regardless of what generation I’m researching or where they lived, these five tips always help me find what I need.

1. Whenever possible, visit the physical location. I know I’m not the only genealogist who plans vacations around research. There’s no substitute for actually standing on the ground your ancestors walked, seeing the physical environment (changed as it may be from the historical time you’re studying), and simply breathing in the atmosphere. Visiting the site of the Battle of Guilford Courthouse, part of which had been my ancestor Adam Mitchell’s farm before the battle spread into his cornfields, made a huge impact on me. Visiting your ancestors’ homeland may be difficult if they came from another country, but traveling to the place where your roots are will be an experience you’ll never forget.

And when you’re there, make contact with the local residents. Often people in the community know a lot about the history and the original families of the area. When I was researching in Jonesborough, Tennessee, I needed a haircut and went to the local barber shop. The folks in the barber shop gave me lots of great information! Ladies’ beauty salons and coffee shops or cafes where the locals hang out are other great places to make contacts and find out what’s going on the neighborhood.

2. Always be willing to share information first. Often I’ve learned something I’ve been searching for from someone who first asked me a question. Since Spring House, the first book in my fictionalized (but historically and genealogically accurate) family history, has been published, a number of people have contacted me with questions. Some have been about shared ancestors; others have been about the time period or the location of the book. I enjoy sharing what I’ve learned, and often I end up learning more from the person who asked me a question than they learned from me. The more you give, the more you receive.

3. Join local genealogical societies. If you’ve been reading this blog any time at all, you know I’m a big fan of these organizations. My family story began in North Carolina during the Revolutionary War. The Guilford County Genealogical Society proved to be a huge help to my research there. Then after the Revolution, my family moved to Tennessee. I’m currently writing about the family’s time in Tennessee in Adam’s Daughters: Book 2 in the Westward Sagas. During one of my research trips, I attended a joint meeting of the Jonesborough Genealogical Society and the Washington County Genealogical Society. Not only did I have access to lots of valuable research, but these folks were gracious and helpful. They introduced me to the local artist who is painting the original art that will be the cover of the book, and the society is a strong supporter of my writing and publishing the book. The third book will take place in Texas, where my family moved when they left Tennessee. I’ve already started research on that book and have found lots of great information in the library of the San Antonio Genealogical Society.

Most genealogical societies have dues of about $25/year. Not only can you research in their libraries, you also get a monthly or quarterly journal. One of the most valuable benefits is being able to query: ask for information about a specific person, place, event, etc. Other members who have found that information will share with you, just as you share with others. Genealogical societies have limited budgets and are manned completely by volunteers, so you can’t expect them to do your research for you. But you’ll gain access to research material and tools — and perhaps most importantly — other people who are interested in the same areas of research that you are.

4. Take advantage of hereditary organizations. You probably also know how much I appreciate these groups, as I have talked about them in previous posts. The San Antonio Chapter of the Sons of the American Revolution has been an incredible resource for me since I first began my genealogical research.

5. Use historical and genealogical libraries and museums in the area of your research. Librarians, genealogists, historians, and curators are often passionate about a region, time period, or historical event. They will usually bend over backwards to help a researcher as enthusiastic as they are about the subject. For my research in Tennessee, I visited the University of Tennessee Special Collections Library and the Calvin M. McClung Historical Collection of the Knox County Public Library. I’ll share more about these incredible resources in my next post.

Whatever time period, location, or family you are researching, these tips should help lead you to what you need. I’ve shared specific experiences following this advice in these previous posts:
Thanks!
Art, Books, and History
Praise for Hereditary Organizations
Attending the Church of My Ancestors
A Real Spring House
Wow!
Visiting in Mississippi
The Story of a Pioneer Woman
On the Road: The Natchez Trace, Friendly People, and a Touching Meeting
Getting to Know People and Stories

Carnival of Genealogy, 17th Edition

The topic for the latest Carnival of Genealogy is acknowledging and thanking those who inspired and helped genealogists. You’ll enjoy reading these posts – you’ll see some common threads and some very different sources of inspiration.

[tags]carnival of genealogy[/tags]