What makes Record Click unique from other genealogy research firms is our understanding that the “hunt” is part of the thrill of a genealogy “find.” While Record Click offers full genealogy research services, some of our clients, upon hitting a brick wall, just need a new strategy to get them back on track. That’s why Record Click offers its warrior genealogists a different kind of service with its Strategy Session plan. Next time you hit an impasse, let Record Click pair you up with one of our professional lineage researchers, who will review your case, and offer you alternative, concrete ways to reach your goal. If it can be found, our researchers will help you find it.
Record Click posted a call-out in July for brickwall cases to be submitted by our readers. Of the many great submissions we received, our staff selected a case sent in by JP, an avid genealogist from Austin, Texas. JP had mapped her ancestry to a 3rd great grandfather, Uriah Frazier, but was stymied in verifying Uriah’s father, who was believed to be William Frazier. One of JP’s relatives had engaged the services of Brent Holcomb, a well-known professional researcher and prolific author of Southern history. Mr. Holcomb located documents involving the two Frazier men and wrote about the family in one of his many books. Unfortunately, JP’s relative misplaced Holcomb’s report, and JP had no clue how to relocate the information, short of contacting Brent Holcomb and starting all over again.
Record Click selected one of its Accredited Genealogists (AG) based in Salt Lake City to perform the Expert Review for JP’s query. Our AG went to the Family History Library and began her search by combing through Brent Holcomb’s books – a “time consuming search” in her words – focusing primarily on his research of the Lexington-Fairfield-Orangeburgh areas in South Carolina.
JP’s relative was under the assumption that after the death of William Frazier, his children (including Uriah) sued their stepmother, Catharine Frazier, the William’s widow. While there was indeed a lawsuit in 1840, Record Click’s AG discovered in “Some South Carolina County Records – Vol 1” compiled by Brent Holcomb in 1976, that the facts were different from those relayed by JP’s relative. It turns out Catharine Frazier, after the death of her husband William, filed a petition in November 1840 in the Court of Ordinary for Lexington District against her husband’s children, including Uriah and his siblings. It seems William Frazier had died intestate and left a tract of land, which the Court decreed be sold in public sale, and which was purchased by Catharine Frazier.
From the information found in Brent Holcomb’s book (which was clearly noted for source), JP contacted the State Archives of South Carolina and asked about acquiring a copy of the record. The archivist referred to the Lexington County Courthouse fires, stating that only scattered records were available for pre-1839; however, JP pursued it, explaining that Brent Holcomb had written about the case in a 1976 publication. She shared the source information listed in the Expert Review, and that was the clue the archivist needed to know that the information was contained in the Lexington County Deed Book, which he located. He is sending a copy of Catharine Frazier’s petition to JP.
Now, we play the waiting game. Will the record identify Catharine’s husband as William? If so, JP will have solved the mystery: “Who is Uriah’s father?” If not, then it’s back to the drawing board. We will be updating you all as this genealogy research project unfolds. In the meantime, Record Click’s AG offered additional verification to JP in regard to Uriah’s siblings and their spouse’s names, all of which is important to expanding the family’s pedigree.
Don’t miss out on Record Click’s insightful interview with Brent Holcomb.
To hire an professional genealogist for your expert genealogy analysis, contact us.
