The RLP Week #5 research planning assignment felt very satisfying to me as I compiled the elements from previous assignments into my research plan. My husband and I were on a family history trip for over a week, so I went to the FamilySearch Library the day before we left. I wouldn’t be able to go to the library during the week #6 assignment, and I knew some of the needed materials were available there. I didn’t find information to answer the question of John’s father directly, but I did find some offline material to work with. I’m excited to start next week’s assignment by exploring some online sources and correlating them with the FamilySearch Library sources.
For our Research Like a Pro assignment this week, we worked on research planning for success. Using our objective, we followed these steps:
- Adjust the research objective, if needed
- Gather and summarize known facts
- Assemble background and locality information
- Form a working hypothesis
- Identify sources to prove or disprove the hypothesis
Detailed Research Planning Steps
1. Adjust the research objective, if needed
Modify the objective when called for. While working on a timeline and locality guide, we often realize sources to explore that may require adjusting our original research objective. For example, while building my locality guides, I found some essential avenues to explore. I adjusted my objective to explore sources that may identify John’s father in North Carolina and Kentucky.
Adjusted Research Objective for the John Stokes Project:
Explore all known information about John Stokes’s father and make approximations about his birth, marriage, death, relationships, and residences. Explore sources that may give more specific clues to his identity. John Stokes, a resident of Union County, Illinois, was likely born in 1778 in Lunenburg, Virginia, or the surrounding area. John’s father was probably born between 1735 and 1755 in the same area of Virginia. He died anytime after 1788 when his son Young Stokes was born. This is the last known and documented event in the life of John’s father. He probably died in North Carolina or Kentucky.
2. Gather and Summarize Known Facts
Use the sources gathered in the Timeline Analysis (RLP Step 2) to compile established and estimated information items. This step encourages more analysis and correlation of previously known information and can often reveal unknown evidence. This step is vital to a successful genealogy research plan.
Summary of Known Facts for the John Stokes Project:
| John Stokes’ Father (Unknown Stokes 0) | ||
| Dates | Event | Citations and Notes |
| 1735-1750 | Probable birth in Virginia | Note: Birth was estimated using the birth of his first child in about 1770. No other solid information is available. |
| 1855-1769 | Possible marriage in Virginia | Note: Marriage was estimated using the birth of his first child in about 1770. No other solid information is available. |
| 1770 | Birth of son, Allen Stokes, no birthplace known. [His birth year Indicates that John’s father was probably married before 1770] | 1840 U.S. census, Burke County, North Carolina, population schedule, page 286, line 7, entry for Allen Stokes household; digital image, Ancestry (http://www.ancestry.com : accessed 17 Sep 2023); citing NARA microfilm publication M704 (FamilySearch Library film #0018092). Note: Allen was age 70-79 [1761-1770]. |
| 1776 | Birth of son, Jones Stokes, born in Virginia | 1850 U.S. census, Todd County, Kentucky, population schedule, District 1, sheet 210 (stamped), dwelling 232, family 233, entry for Jones Stokes household; digital image, Ancestry (https://www.ancestry.com : accessed 17 Sep 2023), image 33 of 100; citing National Archives and Records Administration microfilm publication M432, roll not given. Note: Jones was age 74, born in Virginia. |
| 1778 | Birth of Son, John Stokes, born in Virginia | 1850 U.S. Census, Union, Illinois, population schedule, page 210A, dwelling 931, family 931, entry for John Stokes household; digital image, Ancestry (https://www.ancestry.com : accessed 17 Sep 2023); citing NARA microfilm publication M432, roll 130. Note: John was age 72 and born in Virginia. |
| 1780 | Birth of Son, David Stokes, born in North Carolina | Find a Grave, memorial page for David Stokes (1780-1844), born 28 May 1780 in North Carolina, Memorial # 126350813; authored memorial with grave marker image (https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/126350813/david-stokes : accessed 17 Sep 2023); citing Stokes Cemetery, Mount Auburn, Christian County, Illinois. Gravestone appears broken but is somewhat readable. |
| 1786 | Birth of Son, Matthew Stokes, in North Carolina | 1860 U.S. census, Todd County, Kentucky, population schedule, Elkton PO, page 695, dwelling 167, family 167, entry for Mathew Stokes; digital image, Ancestry (http://www.ancestry.com: accessed 17 Sep 2023); citing NARA microfilm publication M653, roll 396. |
| 1788 | Birth of Son, Young Stokes, in North Carolina | A.B. Whillhite, Christian County Co., Kentucky Tax List 1804-1809 (Russellville, Kentucky: A.B. Whillhite, no copyright year); copy in Hopkinsville County Library, Gen KY Christian 929.3 TAX. The tax year 1809 is the first year that Young is named as a male over 21.1810 U.S. Census, Hopkinsville, Christian, Kentucky, population schedule, page 77 (handwritten 534), lines 8 & 10, entries for Young & Matthew Stokes; digital image, Ancestry (http://www.ancestry.com : accessed 4 Sep 2023), image 24 of 69; citing NARA microfilm publication M252, roll 9. |
| 1800 | Census of son, Allen Stokes, in Burke County, North Carolina | 1800 U.S. census, Burke County, North Carolina, population schedule, page 792, line 9, entry for Allen Stokes; digital image, Ancestry (http://www.ancestry.com : accessed 4 Sep 2023); citing NARA microfilm publication M32, roll 29. |
| 1800 | Burke Co, North Carolina Census of Jonas [Jones] Stokes–two adult males in the household, who could be John’s father and brother | 1800 U.S. census, Burke County, North Carolina, population schedule, page 792, line 8, entry for Jonas [Jones] Stokes; digital image, Ancestry (http://www.ancestry.com : accessed 4 Sep 2023); citing NARA microfilm publication M32, roll 29. |
| 1800-1810 | Sons Jones, John, Matthew, and Young moved to Christian County, Kentucky | 1810 U.S. Census, Hopkinsville, Christian, Kentucky, population schedule, page 76 (handwritten 532), line 1, entry for Jones Stokes; digital image, Ancestry (http://www.ancestry.com : accessed 4 Sep 2023), image 24 of 69; citing NARA microfilm publication M252, roll 9. 1810 U.S. Census, Hopkinsville, Christian, Kentucky, population schedule, page 114 (handwritten 608), line 12, entry for John Stokes; digital image, Ancestry (http://www.ancestry.com : accessed 4 Sep 2023); citing NARA microfilm publication M252, roll 9. 1810 U.S. Census, Hopkinsville, Christian, Kentucky, population schedule, page 77 (handwritten 534), lines 8 & 10, entries for Young & Matthew Stokes; digital image, Ancestry (http://www.ancestry.com : accessed 4 Sep 2023), image 24 of 69; citing NARA microfilm publication M252, roll 9. |
| 1844 | Son, Young Stokes, penned a letter for Matthew Stokes to Allen Stokes. The letter mentions Jones, John, and David. | Young Stokes writing for Matthew and Sally (Underdown) Stokes of Todd County, Kentucky, letter to “Mr. Allen Stokes,” of Burke County, North Carolina, 6 June 1844; copy of transcription privately held by Lisa Stokes, Provo, Utah, obtained 2015, stored in Stokes File; original transcription by R Stephen Watson with permission from Nita Eason; originally posted on Ancestry Message Board by casapapa on 28 Apr 2001, reposted on Ancestry Member Trees by shanklge on 15 Mar 2018. Note: Probable provenance is listed in Stokes-Underdown Letter document. |
To learn more about crafting clear and consistent citations for your genealogy projects, visit my blog series, Genealogy Source Citations Simplified. I also have helpful videos on my YouTube Channel.
3. Assemble Background and Locality Information
Compile a summary of the background and locality information. Background information can include information about the family or the locality that is important to the project. Writing the background also helps organize ideas for the research plan.
Background Information for the John Stokes Project:
Migration:
The above summary indicates that John Stokes, his father, and his brothers migrated from Virginia to Burke County, North Carolina. Then before 1810, Jones, John, Matthew, and Young Stokes moved to Christian County, Kentucky. (They lived in an area that later became Todd County.) John moved to Union County, Illinois, after 1810.
The Stokes-Underdown Letter:
This letter is an important source that supports the residences and family relationships of John Stokes and his brothers. Here is a link to the Stokes Underdown Letter and my analysis of the letter. Below is a screenshot of part of the transcription.
Naming Pattern:
Previous research identified dozens of different Stokes men in Lunenburg, Virginia, the surrounding counties, and North Carolina. Many of them were named the unusual names of Allen, Jones, and Young. Others were named the more common names of William, John, and David.
- John’s known brothers were: Allen, Jones, (John), Matthew, David, and Young (in birth order).
- John named his sons: Allen, John, Jones, Thomas, Matthew, George, Young, and William (in birth order).
Record Availability:
Lunenburg County, Virginia, has numerous documents to sort through. On the other hand, Burke County, North Carolina, is a burned county and has fewer extant records. Unfortunately, Christian County, Kentucky, is also a burned county with limited records.
Published Material:
Unfortunately, none of the published sources found so far name John’s father. However, multiple county histories mention that the Stokes Family were Quakers from North Carolina. Exploring the Quaker clue needs to be part of the research plan.
4. Form a Working Hypothesis
Develop a logical working hypothesis to prepare for research planning. A working hypothesis is a starting point for the research. Using the summary of known information, think through the most likely event and relationship scenarios for the research subject. Then during the research phase, work to prove or disprove the hypothesis. Be careful to avoid bias and be prepared to let go of preconceived notions when they are proven false. Keeping an open mind to new ideas and information prevents getting stuck on false ideas when they are proven incorrect.
The Working Hypothesis for the John Stokes Project:
The working hypothesis is that John Stokes’s father was from Lunenburg County, Virginia, or a surrounding county. John’s father moved his family to North Carolina between 1778, when John was born in Virginia, and 1780 when his brother David was born in North Carolina,
1790 US Census:
John’s father was not enumerated in Burke County, North Carolina, in 1790. Previous research identified over ten Stokes men enumerated in North Carolina in 1790 that could be John’s father.
1800 US Census Background:
The 1800 census only lists the head of household by name, with all other household members listed with tickmarks. The enumerator placed a tickmark for each person into five age categories for males and females. The enumerator also added a tickmark for the named head of household.
Two Stokes Men in Burke County in the 1800 US Census:
In 1800, Allen Stokes, 26-44 years old (born between 1756 and 1774), was enumerated in Burke County, North Carolina. Jonas [Jones] Stokes was also enumerated in Burke County, North Carolina, in 1800. There were two adult males in his household. One was over 45 years old (born before 1755). The other adult male was 26-44 years old (born between 1756 and 1774).
First Option:
If Jones Stokes was the older male, then he is a possible candidate to be John’s father, who was likely born between 1735 and 1755.
Second Option:
If Jones was the younger man, then he was likely the known brother named Jones, born about 1776 in Virginia. (The 1800 birth range is off by two years, but Jones’ birth year is not set in stone, so there is wiggle room with his age.) Additionally, if Jones was the younger man, then the older man could be his father (and John’s father). Or the older man could be the father of Jones’s wife. He could also be another older man living with the family.
Estimated Death of Jones Stokes (possible father):
If the Jonas [Jones] Stokes enumerated in Burke County in 1800 was John’s father, then he likely died after 1800, either in Burke County, North Carolina, or he might have moved with some of his sons to Kentucky and died there. Finding more evidence of “Jones Stokes” in Burke County, North Carolina, or Christian County, Kentucky, may help prove a parental relationship. Finding evidence of his death in either place would also strengthen evidence for the relationship.
5. Identify Sources to Prove or Disprove the Hypothesis
Use the locality guide to identify record types and record sets to use in the research planning phase. Look for sources that will prove or disprove the working hypothesis.
Top sources for the research plan:
- Land records in North Carolina or Kentucky could identify the residence of John’s father.
- Tax records could identify John’s father and his sons as they came of age.
- Tax records could identify nearby neighbors of John’s father to build a FAN Club for the family. FAN stands for friends, associates, and neighbors who could be listed in court records with the family. For example, they could witness probate, marriages, or deeds. Stokes family members could have also been witnesses for their FAN Club.
- County histories could identify candidates to be John’s father. Gather and compile a list of all clues in published books.
- Contact the Caldwell County library to locate a copy of the original Stokes Underdown letter.
Additional Sources for the research plan:
- Stokes Bible records from North Carolina and Kentucky could identify a death date for John’s father and could mention family relationships.
- Probate records in Burke County or Christian County could identify a death date and family relationships for John’s father. Unfortunately, these records might not be available due to “burned county” status.
- Census records in Kentucky for John and his brother could identify an older man living in one of their households.
- Quaker records in Burke County, North Carolina, or Christian County, Kentucky, could identify whether the Stokes Family was part of this denomination.
I hope seeing my research planning process in action will give you ideas for your own projects!