Eliza Rowena Autry

“We all grow up with the weight of history on us. Our ancestors dwell in the attics of our brains as they do in the spiraling chains of knowledge hidden in every cell of our bodies”. ~Shirley Abbott

This is my attempt to prove my Autry line using genetics and paper.

Please keep in mind I’m just feeling my way here. I’m not an expert. Please confirm for yourself and if you have any comments, suggestions, or proof that is a contradiction to what I have concluded, please let me know.

The Paper Trail to AutryMy grand-parents:

On 4 Jan 1925, my grand-parents, Louise Myrtle Haywood and Orvan O. Plunk were married in Sebastian County, Arkansas. (Arkansas County Marriages Index, 1837 – 1957).

My great grand-parents:

The parents of Louise Myrtle Haywood were Elijah C. Haywood and Mary Elizabeth Bridges. Elijah and Mary were married on 25 Jan 1905, Viola, Fulton, Arkansas. (Arkansas County Marriages Index, 1837 – 1957).

My 2nd great grand-parents:

Elijah C Haywood is the son of Jeremiah Calvin Haywood and Eliza Rowena Autry. Jeremiah and Eliza were married 1 June 1867, Carroll County, Tennessee.

Eliza Rowena Autry Haywood

My 3rd great grand-parents:

Eliza Rowena Autry is the daughter of William Autry and Malinda/Belinna Haywood. Other than the date of their marriage on 9 October 1848, Carroll County, Tennessee, the marriage record of William Autry and Malinda/Belinna Haywood doesn’t have any information about their ages.

The 1850 U.S. Federal Census, enumerated 29 Nov 1850 has Malinda/Belinna living with her parents, George Braddock Haywood and Charity, District 14, Carroll, TN, aged 21. That would put her birth at about 1829.

What happened to William Autry? When and where was he born? Who were his parents? I can find no other record of William Autry than the above.

Enter Autosomal DNA

This test is for the segment of DNA inherited from all ancestors, male or female. The results can be mother/daughter, sisters, cousins, etc. Think of it this way, everyone has 4 grand-parents, 8 great grand-parents, 16 2nd great-parents, 32 3rd great grand-parents, 64 4th great grand-parents, etc. You can imagine what a daunting task this can be when you get your results. It says you match this person as a 2nd to 4th cousin, probably a 3rd cousin, but they can’t tell you which one of all those grand-parents you share.

To make things more difficult, some matches do not upload gedcoms, and when you email and ask for the names and dates of their grand-parents and/or great grand-parents, you get a response with either 3 or 4 names, or wanting you to give all of your information without giving you anything in return.

To be fair, the majority of my matches are probably looking to fill in blank holes just like I am. And in truth, they may not know complete sets of grand-parents. Not only that, but I don’t have access to their proof and am relying on their conclusions as to who they descend from.

I’m just mentioning all of these pitfalls so you will understand that this takes an abundance of work and dedication.

This chart represents the DNA contribution from my sixteen 2nd great grandparents to me.

Autry FFM1:

I do have a match with a person with the name Autry in their list of surnames. This person is listed as a 2nd to 4th cousin, with a suggested relationship of a 3rd cousin. Keep in mind, the test is not going to tell you how many times removed that cousin is either! According to this match, her Autry ancestors are:

Grandparents: Martha Ann Autry, 1870, Carroll County, TN married Clayborn Jackson Callaham

Great grand-parents: William Tyson Autry, 1841, Carroll County, TN married Mary Louise Horn

2nd great grand-parents: Elijah Henry Autry, 1813, Stanley, Montgomery, NC married Mary Polly Parish

3rd great grand-parents: William A. Autry 1784, NC married Mary Campbell

4th great grand-parents: Elijah Autry 1765, NC married Rebecca Sheffield

5th great grand-parents: James Autry 1742, Edgecombe County, NC married Elizabeth Hampden

6th great grand-parents: Cornelius Autry 1709, France married Nell Culbreth

I think to be a 3rd cousin to me, this person and I should share the same 2nd great grand-parent. But remember, 3rd cousin was the suggested relationship and the range was 2nd to 4th cousin.

My 3rd great grand-parents William Autry and Malinda/Belinna Haywood were married 1848, Carroll County, TN. In 1850, Malinda/Belinna is living with her parents in Carroll County, TN and William is missing. I’m putting her birth at about 1829, because she was listed as being aged 21 on the 1850 census. I have no information as to the birthdate of William Autry, but going by the assumption he was the same age or a year or two older, for now, I will put him born about 1829 as well.

If I start at the 2nd great grand-parent of this match, I’m looking at Elijah Henry Autry, 1813, NC. I know he went to Carroll County, TN, because of his son, William Tyson Autry, born 1841 in Carroll County, TN. But this William born 1841 can’t be my William born abt 1829. Would Elijah Henry have named two sons William? It is possible, but for now, let’s say not. I need to look at the brothers of Elijah Henry and see if they had a son named William born abt 1829.

Looking at the research of my match, she has her 3rd great grand-parents as William A. Autry 1784, NC married Mary Campbell.

Autry is a surname that has been researched by others over the years. For now, I will use those conclusions as a guide to see if I can find the connection to my Autry. When I determine the link, I will then conduct my own research and gather documentation to either prove or disprove, as the case may be.

It is said that one of the sons of William A. Autry and Mary Campbell is William C. Autry born 1825, North Carolina. Could this be my William Autry? I put him in my database as if he were, along with the family of my match, and my software tells me this would make my match my 4th cousin 1 times removed. This would fit into the DNA prediction of a relationship range of 2nd to 4th cousin.

Although this family ended up in the right time frame and place as my William Autry, other researchers have him in Texas at a later date than the 1850 census in which Malinda/Belinna is living with her parents. Their daughter, Eliza Rowena Autry, was born in 1850 but she wasn’t listed on the census with her mother. Did my William Autry leave a pregnant Malinda/Belinna in Tennessee while he went to TexBas with other Autry family members?

Or, do I have the wrong William Autry

I do have other possible leads through my autosomal DNA test and will be pursuing those to find the father of my William Autry. But, with paper and genetics, in my view, I definitely have an Autry bloodline.

Me

SalesCotsar TigerUnknown wife of TigerUnknown MoodyYarna/Yanna (Native American)Daniel VanBenthuysenCelia Ann AllenJohn C. BurchettNancy Ann RennisonUnknown Plunk fatherUnknown Plunk motherJohn E. KelleyMary Jane BurnleyJeremiah Calvin HaywoodEliza Rowena AutryJohn William Bridges Nancy Adeline Pugh0.250.250.250.250.250.250.250.250.250.250.250.250.250.250.250.25