Alexander Family and My Headache

 I have a minor mystery. I've been working on my Alexander line lately and have come to several problems I should be able to find answers for.  I'll start with the question I have always had. Female children are so hard to find. I've found if there is a long gap in children during childbearing years, most likely the child died or was a female. 

So, I have a Thomas Augustus Alexander (the Augustus is from other researchers) who was born in 1752, some say Ireland, but I believe somewhere here in the US. He married around 1790 in Tennessee to a Mary Barr, again no records. He did have at least 3 children; George, Grandville C. and William.  Something happened to Mary and there is another marriage.

The second marriage happened about 1800, maybe in North Carolina. Again, I have no records. But Sally (King) is buried with Thomas in Jackson County, Indiana.  She died in 1829 and he in 1849. The only children that I, and many other researchers, have found are: Margaret (KY 1801), James Milton (TN? 1802), John Henry (KY 1803), and Thomas King (KY 1814). She and Thomas were married over 20 years, and she was around 15 to 17 when they married.  There is a lot of gap time. Now on to my real quandary.

I am descended from John Henry (Alexander-24431). In the 1850 Brownstown, Indiana Census he is listed with his wife Mary Frances (Carter) and his children; John H. (my ancestor), and Isaac. That was all. I knew the girls survived because I have their husbands and children. I found Louisa 3, and Mahala 5, in a household in Brownstown with Nancy Hutchinson 43 (KY), Rebecca Hutchinson 14 (IN), and Elizabeth King 45 (KY). My first thought when I found them was, 'Oh, they are visiting with the aunts'. I just felt like I knew that. Seriously. I have not found Nancy or Elizabeth connected to Thomas, or even an Alexander. But they could fit. The girl's father, John Henry is 40 and their mother, Frances is 42 in 1850. They are certainly contemporaries.  

I took a 6-month sub to Ancestry hoping to break through a few of my brick walls. I've been banging my head against this one for just over 3 weeks. So far all I have is a headache. 

In my heart of hearts, I KNOW these women are 'the aunts'.  A knowing cannot be a source. 

WikiTree

Thomas Alexander (Alexander-6724)

Sally King (King-14460)

John Henry (Alexander-24431)

Mary Frances (Carter) (Carter-46827) 

Mahala Alexander (Alexander-24545)

Louisa Jane Alexander (Alexander-24569)

Isaac N. Alexander (Alexander-24570)

The Sad, Embarrassing Truth

 

I think I have finally admitted that one piece of software is not going to cover it all. I have sinned. . . . . (tears and guilt, etc.)  I downloaded the free version of RootsMagic9 just to try and see if I could make sense of it. A couple of videos later I am frustrated not because I couldn't figure it out, but because I couldn't use much of the "new" features that I thought interesting. I had pre-bought 8 before it came out so, I got a discount. Yes, I bought it. Not sorry.

I had created a Fact Type called WikiTree in Legacy and it transferred perfectly to RM9.  But to create one in RM9 is so simple as well.  I can also see who I have gotten entered on the WikiTree site simply by adding it to the People List under Customize. I can see who has a number and who does not, so I know who I need to add to WikiTree.   

I had just started using hashtags in Legacy and loved it. I don't think they transferred. I had added so few that I was unable to find any, but the "Groups" seem to do what I wanted to do with my "tags". I had wanted to be able to make a list of my war veterans by conflict.  Check. Easy peasy. Okay, I still have a lot to do. I can think of so many more "groups" I can do. It's truly a wonderful research tool.

Adding sources are so different from version 7.  I'm not crazy about it, but Legacy is just as different. So, I will have to pull up the big girl panties and do it until it becomes a smooth process.

I have more videos to watch on RM9. I have had trouble finding good videos on 'how to' in Legacy. It's been a little harder.