Researching friends, associates, and neighbors, also known as FANs, may provide research paths that lead to breakthroughs on a brick wall ancestor. It is essential to extract every bit of information from what records you have on your brick wall ancestor, which includes researching every person mentioned on a record.

There are many examples of this type of research depending on the record type. On a marriage record, look at the bondsmen and witnesses. On a deed, look at the grantors and witnesses. You can literally identify neighbors by looking at the the people listed above and below your ancestor on the census. Wills, probates, guardianship papers, pensions, etc., all list additional people. Very often the people mentioned have some kind of connection, including familial relationships. Those connections are not always obvious until you dig deeper because last names may differ from your ancestor, but they are at least FANS. You will be surprised as you begin to research these additional people at how they are connected.

Limestone Marriages 1832-1862

In my Darthula Ross research project I have only one record that mentions Darthula Ross by name. That record is her marriage with William Jasper Eaton. This marriage record comes from Limestone Marriages, 1832-1862¹. These marriage records are extremely valuable because Limestone County is considered a burned county and there are few records from before the Civil War. The courthouse in Athens was burned in 1862 during the Civil War so it is difficult to know what records were lost. This surviving marriage collection is extremely valuable to anyone researching in this county.

In addition to surviving potential loss, the marriage records have some unique bits of information. Starting around 1850 and continuing through the rest of the collection, the marriage records began to include where the marriage took place and also relationship statements. For example the record may state, “marriage solemnized at the home of the bride’s father, William Hudson.” These kinds of statements are valuable for the connections it can make.

Darthula Ross and William Jasper Eaton’s marriage records states that the marriage took place “at the residence of the bridegroom’s father by Christopher Myers, J.P.” It is often customary for a wedding at that time to take place at the bride’s residence, so this statement indicates something unusual.

Besides the bride and groom, there are two additional names on the record, Thomas G. Tyers, Judge J. P., and Christopher Myers, J. P. Researching these two other individuals may reveal connections that suggest familial ties to Darthula Ross and William Jasper Eaton. Thomas G. Tyers and Christopher Myers are FANS of Darthula Ross and William Jasper Eaton.

Thomas G. Tyers

Thomas G. Tyers has been difficult to research because his name did not pop up in quick searches on Ancestry and FamilySearch. Based on the marriage record for Darthula Ross and William Jasper Eaton and other marriage records in the same record collection, Thomas G. Tyers appeared to operate as the County Clerk even though that does not appear to be his official position. On the marriage record for Darthula, the words county clerk are crossed out and it is handwritten that Thomas G. Tyers is a judge or Justice of the Peace. Thomas’ name appears on literally hundreds of marriage records, for at least the initial marriage license portion. Because of this, Thomas G. Tyers is unlikely to be helpful in finding connections for Darthula Ross. Thomas is literally connected to every person who applied for a marriage license.

Christopher Myers

Christopher Myers, on the other hand, does appear to be rather important. Christopher Myers was born about 1798 in Tennessee. He married his first wife Delilah Henderson about 1826. They had 8 children, all in Limestone County, Alabama. Christopher married his second wife Kesiah Roberts about 1852 and they had 3 children together, all in Limestone County, Alabama. His death date is unknown.

Christopher Myers appears to have served as a Justice of the Peace from about 1860-1862. It is not known if he served after the Civil War, but it is possible. During his short stint prior to the Civil War he only solemnized 6 marriages. Most of the Justices of the Peace and ministers found in the Limestone Marriages 1832-1862 collection performed many more marriages than 6. I suspect those 6 marriages are significant because they form the foundation of the FANS for Colby Ross and Darthula Ross.

Christopher Myers performed marriages for these couples:

1. William Franklin Greenhaw and Emily S. Horton
2. Samuel M. Horton and Sarah A. Peace
3. Colby Ross and Tabitha Reed
4. Darthula Ross and William Jasper Eaton
5. Squire Alfred Grey and Matilda Reed
6. William Cannon and Phoebe Ann Gulley

The first two marriages are for extended family members of Christopher Myers – William Franklin Greenhaw-Emily S. Horton and Samuel M. Horton-Sarah A. Peace. The marriage of Squire Alfred Gray and Matilda Reed took place at the residence of Christopher Myers. This is curious because Matilda Reed is the daughter of Tabitha Reed and Colby Ross’ step-daughter. This implies that Colby Ross and Christopher Myers knew each other and may suggest a family relationship of some kind.

I could not find a direct connection between Christopher Myers and William Cannon and Phoebe Ann Gulley, but there still appears to be a connection of sorts. Colby Ross sells some property to J N Hayes and Charles B Hayes². Charles B. Hayes lived next door to Thomas Gulley³. Thomas Gulley is the father of Phoebe Ann Gulley. If there is a family connection between Christopher Myers and William Cannon-Phoebe Ann Gulley, it is not clear based on available evidence.

Charles B. Hayes is also a neighbor of the William Eaton family, appearing on the same page and a few household away from each other⁴. Charles B. Hayes is family #228 and the William Eaton family is #234. There is a high likelihood that Charles B. Hayes and William Jasper Eaton knew each other, and by extension Colby Ross. Both William Eaton and William Jasper Eaton are missing from the 1860 census, but we at least know that William Jasper Eaton is alive because he marries Darthula Ross not long after the census enumerator visits the family.

That leaves the marriages of William Jasper Eaton-Darthula Ross and Colby Ross-Tabitha Reed. From this analysis, Christopher Myers and Colby Ross knew each other well enough to have a family wedding at Christopher Myers’ home. All of the marriages performed by Christopher Myers had some kind of connection, possibly familial. Does this mean there is a likely connection between Darthula Ross and Colby Ross, and by extension Christopher Myers? There were a number of Justices of the Peace and ministers in the area that could have performed the marriage of Darthula Ross and William Jasper Eaton, so I find it unique that the marriage was performed by Christopher Myers. This analysis does not provide direct evidence but it does provide very strong indirect and circumstantial evidence of a connection.

FANS

This study of the marriages performed by Christopher Myers has generated a list of surnames and people that all seem interconnected in some way. I have seen the names of many of these individuals on the 1850 and 1860 census, but would never have known of their connections to each other except for living as neighbors. It appears that several are family, or at least extended family. These FANs need further research to better establish their connection and also to see if they can reveal any more about Darthula Ross and others.

These FANS surnames are:

1. Meacham
2. Collier
3. Horton
4. Greenhaw
5. Myers
6. Batts
7. Peace
8. Henderson

In order to figure out the relationships of these families, I had to create a chart to show the connections. It is clear that these families were close because several of the children intermarry with each other and name children in honor of each other. A chart is a good way to track connections.

Further Research

I suspect there is a family relationship between Colby Ross and Christopher Myers. The maiden name of Tabitha Reed, Colby’s second wife, is unknown. Perhaps Tabitha is related to Christopher Myers? It would not be unreasonable for Colby Ross to ask Christopher Myers to perform the marriage for Darthula if Darthula was his daughter-in-law.

The surnames generated from the analysis of the marriages performed by Christopher Myers gives several avenues for additional research. These people were definitely friends, associates, and neighbors, and likely family.

Sources

1. Limestone County, Alabama History and Archives, marriage certificate, Darthula Ross, Cert. 3122, 1860; digital image, “Limestone Marriages 1832-1862,” database, Limestone County, page 859 (https://archives.limestonecounty-al.gov : accessed 29 January 2023).
2. Limestone County, Alabama History and Archives, deed of sale, Colby Ross, 18 January 1860; digital image, “Limestone Mortgages and Deeds,” database, Limestone County, page 391-392, (https://archives.limestonecounty-al.gov : accessed 11 February 2023).
3. 1860 U.S. Census, Limestone County, Alabama, population schedule, Division No. 1, Shoal Ford Post Office, p. 34 (penned), dwelling 228, family 228, Charles B. Hayes household; digital image, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org : accessed 11 February 2023); citing NARA microfilm publication M653.
4. 1860 U.S. Census, Limestone County, Alabama, population schedule, Division No. 1, Shoal Ford Post Office, p. 34 (penned), dwelling 234, family 234, Susan E. M. Eaton household; digital image, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org : accessed 29 January 2023); citing NARA microfilm publication M653.