I’m taking a break from blogging about my own family and the history of Haywood County to share this rare find my wife received last week from her aunt. This newspaper article about Michelle’s 2nd great-grandmother, Serilda Martina Eaton Warn
Richard Nixon: Mission Accomplished
Last week, I shared my quest to find the general location of the home of Richard Nixon, the first settler to build a cabin in Haywood County, Tennessee, and I quickly received messages from friends and family, including Regie Castellaw
Where was the Home of Richard Nixon, the First Haywood County Settler?
Photo credit: David Foster Example of a Tennessee cabin around 1910. I want to locate the specific site where Richard Nixon, the first non-Native American settler in Haywood County, Tennessee, built his cabin in 1822. In the words of Joseph
Sturdivant’s Brownsville, Tennessee Stew Plant
I’ve always wondered why someone in Haywood County, Tennessee didn’t package and distribute the stew they make in large black pots. As it turns out, someone did. My wife Michelle and I attended this “stew” back in 2011 at Holly
Brantley Family Cemetery Struck by Lightening
While back in Tennessee a few weeks ago, I had a chance to visit a few of my favorite Haywood County spots with my father and youngest daughter. I shared our visit to the remote Brantley Family Cemetery with
Castellaw Family Reunion Recap
I traveled back to Tennessee last week for a reunion of the descendants of Thomas Jefferson Castellaw (1808-1878), and was reminded of the important role storytelling plays in how our family history is passed down through the generations. I’ve long
Author Samuel Cole Williams, Tennessee Historian
While on vacation recently, I finally had a bit of time to catch up on some books I’ve been wanting to read for a while. One was “Beginnings of West Tennessee: In the land of the Chickasaws, 1541-1841” written by
Samuel Cole Williams’ ‘Beginnings of West Tennessee’
I’ve long been aware that both my paternal and maternal ancestors migrated from Bertie County, North Carolina to West Tennessee in the earliest years of the state’s history. When I ran across “Beginnings of West Tennessee: In the land of
Captain James Blount and Culpeper’s Rebellion
My 10th great-grandfather, “Captain” James Blount, was born about 1620, likely in Astley, Worcestershire England. His father was also named James Blount and his mother’s maiden name was Clare. Her first name is unknown. He became a colonial official and
Searching for Margaret Dawson
Researching the Castellaw family has always been fun, but one Castellaw ancestor in particular has always captured my imagination. My 4th great-grandfather, John Dawson Castellaw (1780-1859), led many of the wagon trains from Bertie County, North Carolina to Haywood County,