A Pension File in the latest Family Tree First post

In my latest post at Family Tree Firsts I talk about my 4th great-grandfather, Charles Combs, and his War of 1812 Pension file.  Fitting isn't it?  You can read the post here.

I did find an interesting discrepancy in the NARA files and books/listings elsewhere of the North Carolina Regiments.  In the pension file the government stated that Charles was a member of the 7th Regiment, but when I went looking I was unable to find him on this listing of members of North Carolina Regiments.  However, he was listed under the 8th Regiment 1st Company.  Which, just happened to be from Surry County, was where he lived.  You can read it in this book on page 50.  You will see that there were several more McCraws listed in the unit he served under!  More possibilities for the person he named his son after.

If you are looking into information for men from North Carolina who may have served in the War of 1812, the North Carolina Archives has a finding aid you should read.  It gives you historical details, what you can find at the archives, and even a section on holdings that would be important for genealogists.

WDYTYA Reba and the Brassfields

I saw this clip the other day while reading up on tonight's episode of Who Do You Think You Are? and got very excited.  You see, I have Brassfields in my family who are also from this area of North Carolina.  It will be interesting to see if there are any names, or places, in common!

My nearest ancestor with the Brassfield name is my 4th great grandmother, Abigail Reavis Brassfield.  She was born 13 August, 1806 in Surry County North Carolina and died 16 May, 1859 in Monroe County, Indiana.  Her father, Jesse Brassfield (1778-1826) and her grandfather John Brassfield (1732-1778) were born in Wake County, North Carolina.  Where, it is revealed in the clip above, Reba's Brassfield line is from. 

Here is a lineage for my Brassfield line.  Please note: I have not personally verified the sources, and I am waiting for correspondence from the author on his research.  Fingers crossed for another cousin connection.


*Image from wikimedia: Allison DeMarcus interviews Reba McEntire at the Academy of Country Music 2010.  Allison DeMarcus interviews Reba McEntire