"New" member introducing myself

Question

I started this profile three years ago, and simply forgot about it, so I'm not necessarily new, but I am!
I have been really lucky to have many of my relatives do much research over the years, and finding many family members has been relatively easy for me.

I am stumped on my maternal side--Smiths. Yes, I know. lol My uncle had some DNA tested about 20 years ago, but very few markers, and the sample is no longer available for further testing. His kit is part of the Smiths Worldwide at FTDNA, but no close relative hits as of yet. Our farthest known ancestor is Valentine Smith, born c. 1818 in what is now East Lake, Dare County, NC. It was Tyrrell County until Dare was formed in 1870. He was married first to Christiana Furbish, from whom I descend, and after her death, he married her sister Elizabeth.

My other mystery is on my husband's side--he descends from Barefields, most recently his grandfather, who went to NC from Georgia, where he was born. His maternal ancestry is in the Lake family in Georgia, and finding his mother, who seemed to have vanished off the face of the earth before 1917.

My roots are deep in NC, and, if the research is correct, I descend from people who were indigenous (Powhatan) as well as the first white settlers (Mayflower, Jamestown). My DNA links are on my profile for comparison. But I would love to trace my Smith family further, as there are stories that we may descend from Roanoke Colonists--you know, the ones they lost! lol

Looking forward to hopefully connecting with those who know more about how to look around for this information.

P.S., I am trying to convince my husband to take a DNA test. His father was adopted, and we only know that he came from Florida. It would be interesting to at least know who he came from.

Answer 1

Welcome back Susan!

On each profile, click on the RootSearch button.  I did so on grandma Alice Armstrong, and see her marriage record to WR, other children, etc.  Narrow it down to Census records and find the ones that match.  Even though it's pretty common names, Smith/Armstrong, etc, you can narrow it down since you know the location.

Good hunting...

Rick

Comments

For example, here is a census record for other grandma Lulu Strickland, with her parents and siblings:

* "United States Census, 1900", database with images, FamilySearch (https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:MSYT-P6C : 7 January 2022), Lula M Strickland in entry for Thomas Strickland, 1900.

Name Lula M Strickland

Sex Female

Age 4

Event Date 1900

Event Place Meadow Township, Johnston, North Carolina, United States

Event Place (Original) Meadow Township, ED 58, Johnston, North Carolina, United States

Event Type Census

Birth Date Dec 1896

Birthplace North Carolina

Marital Status Single

Race White

Relationship to Head of Household Daughter

Father's Birthplace North Carolina

Mother's Birthplace North Carolina

Household Identifier 244

Line Number 85

Sheet Letter B

Sheet Number 13

Sheet Number and Letter 13B

Affiliate Publication Number T623

Affiliate Name The U.S. National Archives and Records Administration (NARA)

Lula M Strickland's Parents and Siblings

Father Name Thomas Strickland

Sex Male

Age 32

Birth Date Jun 1868

Birthplace North Carolina

Marital Status Married

Race White

Years Married 4

Relationship to Head of Household Head

Father's Birthplace North Carolina

Mother's Birthplace North Carolina

Ester C Strickland Mother

Harvey D Strickland Brother

Willis R Strickland Brother