Research Credentials

"A Walk In Life And War: Stories Of Southern Gentlemen" was intentionally written and organized with a researcher in mind. The soldier’s personal information was derived from my personal genealogical family data base. That information was derived from 40 years of research at county record of deeds, research at the Library of Virginia, many visits to cemeteries, historical societies, many out-of-town trips for specific research details, personal interviews and family reunions. About 10 years of military research was completed on the soldiers. The primary source of military information was derived from General Index Cards (GIC’s), which are the actual War records written in hand by the actual soldiers in the Regiments. My personal genealogical information was combined with the military information.

My ancestors originally settled in Southwest Virginia in the early 1700's, from Ireland/England/Europe to the Jamestown settlements along the James River and then to Southwest Virginia. I am a descendant of the “Southwest Virginia Long Hunters”.  My ancestors were some of the first immigrants to arrive in America.  The Clay line arrived in 1615 at Charles City, Virginia; the Compton line arrived in Massachusetts in 1634; the French line arrived before 1710 in Virginia; the Lambert line arrived about 1750 in Virginia; the Skaggs line arrived about 1690 in Virginia; the Stump line arrived in 1743 to Philadelphia; and the Whitt line arrived in 1665 at Charles City, Virginia. 

I am a member of the Jamestown Society, the National Society of the Colonial Daughters of the Seventeenth Century, the National Society Daughters of Colonial Wars, Inc., the National Society of Colonial dames XVII Century, Governor John Archdale and the Daughters of the American Revolution. My proven soldiers in Southwest Virginia are Mitchell Clay, Sr. my fifth great grandfather, John Compton II my fourth great grandfather, John A. French my fourth great grandfather, Matthew H. French my fifth great grandfather and Richard P. Whitt my fifth great grandfather.  There are over 40 or more of my ancestors in the Revolutionary War that were my fourth or fifth great grand uncles. Most of my ancestors militarily supported this great country before, during and after the founding of our country.