Civil War research and Fayette County Peppers

I received a couple of e-mails recently which I want to pass on to you.

Gregory Lanman of Peachtree City writes:

"I have had much success in accessing genealogy records and information regarding ancestors who have lived in the North, Northeast and Midwest sections of America, but have run into some roadblocks in obtaining specific information regarding my ancestors who may have lived in the South/Southeast.

"I'm specifically interested in their participation during the War Between The States.

"My original family roots go back to Virginia and North Carolina, a large family of several brothers, with one brother (responsible for my line of the family) going west upon America's Independence from Great Britain. But I can find no records regarding any of his brothers or anyone remaining in Virginia or North Carolina. "I would greatly appreciate any insight or advice you may have to offer. If you have any questions or need more information, please contact me ... by e-mail at greg4ez@msn.com. All of my research has been limited to the Internet.

"Gregory P. Lanman, Peachtree City, Ga."

Limiting your research to the Internet may be causing your problem, Greg. While it is a great communication tool, it has its drawbacks. You can only go so far with information online, then it just takes old-fashioned footwork to get any farther.

What's on the Internet is limited to what people have put there and it is subject to error. If no one from your family is online, then there may be nothing. That was my problem with my Fowlers. I seemed to be the only one researching my particular line via the Internet and there was nothing to be found. But the number of online researchers is growing every day by leaps and bounds and last week I finally found someone who is researching my Fowlers of Hightower, Ala.

Another roadblock may be not using the search capability on the Internet to its full capacity. Using a general search engine such as www.google.com or www.altavista.com can lead to Web sites not included on regular genealogy sites such as Rootsweb, Ancestry, FamilySearch or Genealogy.com (Family TreeMaker).

I have had much success with searching records at the LDS Family History Center, public libraries and genealogical libraries, then taking that new information back to the Internet on a new track. Also, finding the names of spouses and siblings can give you new names for research which will eventually lead back to your line, as I mentioned a few weeks ago.

For Civil War research, you can't beat the Georgia Archives in Atlanta, although there are many sites on the net. There is also a Roots-L list for Civil War buffs. Check Rootsweb's home page for specifics.

Good luck with your search, Gregory. I hope this information has helped some.

Another e-mail comes from Elsie Nix, who is looking for her Peppers family in Fayette and South Fulton counties. Elsie writes:

"I am researching my Pepper/Peppers family. Henry and Sarah Williams Pepper were married in Walton County, Ga. in 1845. By the 1850 census they were in Campbell County, now Fulton County, Ga. They lived for the rest of their lives in Campbell and Fayette counties in Georgia and raised their family. Their son William married Sarah Head from Fayette County. This is my line. I am looking for relatives and parents and siblings of Henry and Sarah Williams Pepper. Do you have any info on this line that will help me get started again? I am at a brick wall. I can't find anything on Henry and Sarah before they were married in Walton County, Ga.

"ElsieNix@aol.com"

This letter actually came to me as a personal e-mail since I, too, have Peppers in Walton County. But since this is a Fayette County tie, I promised Elsie I would toss it out there for those of you who live in Fayette County.

Elsie, your Peppers may be tied in to the family of my John Pepper(s) who married Hester Whaley and lived in the Walton/Jackson/Gwinnett area during the period you mentioned. I know some of the Whaleys came to Fayette County as there are records of them here, but I didn't know the Peppers may have come this way also. John Pepper(s) was born about 1770 in Pennsylvania, according to the 1850 Walton County census where he gives his age as 80. He died in Walton County about 1855 and left a will there. John's wife, Hester, died about 1866-1867 and there is an estate settlement on record at the Walton County courthouse which gives the names of persons mentioned in the settlement. John and Hester's daughter, Elizabeth Pepper(s), married Nathan Fowler about 1823, we think in the Gwinnett/Jackson/Walton area. Nathan and Elizabeth were my GGGgrandparents.

I have found the Genforum message boards on Pepper and Peppers to be most helpful. There are many messages there from people who had Peppers in that area of Georgia at that time. There is also a Peppers Family site on MyFamily.com, which is open by invitation only. Leave a message on Genforum saying you want to join this site and someone will get back to you. To my knowledge, parents of John Pepper(s) have not been found as yet. I would be very interested if you find any leads as the information may shed some light on my Pepper family also.

Thank you, both Gregory and Elsie, for writing. I hope anyone else who has information will contact them either by e-mail or through this column.

Looking for your ancestors? Got a genealogy tip? Write to The Citizen, Drawer 1719, Fayetteville, GA 30214; e-mail jkilgore@thecitizennews.com or jodiek444@aol.com.

Until next week, happy hunting!