OREAR-L Archives

From: Donna Sarchet <>
Subject: Descendants of Fields C. Knight
Date: Thu, 07 Aug 1997 21:46:33 -0500

wrote:
>
> Is anyone on this discussion list researching Richard Orear, son of Fields C.
> Orear and g-son of Daniel Orear?
>
> Linda

Hi, Linda!
I've gone through all but a very small portion of the microfilm of E.C.
O'Rear II's family group sheets. These are group sheets that he
collected, oftentimes from descendants, in the 1940s - 1975 (the
microfilm was made in 1976). Usually at the bottom of the sheet he
would make the notation "from Minden, LA 1975 reunion" and the
preparer's name, etc. In the 1940s, it appears to me that he did a
mailout to known O'Rear descendants.

Anyway, I found two group sheets that relate to your Fields C. O'Rear,
son of Daniel and Susan (Gooch) O'Rear. I'm not sure that there's
anything new for you in this, but here goes:

Husband: Fields C. O'Rear Wife: Elizabeth ---?-----
b. GA, 1803 b. GA, 1807
Father's name: Daniel O'Rear
Mother's name: Susan Gooch
Occupation: Master Mechanic

Ch:
1. Richard (or Richmond) O'Rear, b. 1835, TN
2. Elizabeth, b. 1836, TN
3. Mary O'Rear, b. 1840, GA
4. William Harrison O'Rear, b. 1842, GA, m. Martha Fitzhugh
5. Melinda O'Rear, b. 1842, GA
6. Susan O'Rear, b. 1846, AL
(Note from DS: This FGS is in the handwriting of E.C. O'Rear II. Also,
I remember your note that the Martha Fitzhugh name is in error.)

The next group sheet was filled out by a completely different
handwriting. A notation at the top of the sheet indicates that the
informant/preparer is giving information on his/her *grandfather's*
family. If I were guessing based on the detail of information given on
Richard, I would say that a child of Richard was the one filling out the
sheet.

Husband: William Harrison O'Rear Wife: Martha Fitzhugh
b. Brinkley, Ark.
Father's name: Fields C. O'Rear

ch:
1. William O'Rear, b. about 1914
2. Richard L. O'Rear, b. 29 Oct. 1879, Brinkley, Ark.; d. March 1937,
m. Eva Russel (sic)
3. Martha O'Rear--living, m. Barney Kelley

======================================================

The other microfilm roll contains O'Rear family documents and
letters--many of which were written in the 1940s with various
correspondents telling about their branches of the family. I have
really found these and the family group sheets interesting because
sometimes there are preparers/informants who were b. in the 1860s and
1870s giving information about their immediate families.

Anyway, I will be going through that roll next and will keep watch for
information on Fields and his family. Also, there's a letter in there
somewhere that talks about Daniel Orear (m. Susan Gooch) and how he
would be in the local Independence Day parades in GA as an elderly man.
He rode in some type of wagon or carriage and yelled "Tora! Tora!" (I
need to re-confirm this actual quote) with a raised fist as he was
riding down the street.

I have made photocopies of all the Southern branch family group sheets
plus any family with Texas connections on down the line.

BTW, based on the group sheets I've seen so far, it appears that the
descendants of Daniel's sons Martin, Benjamin, and John were the primary
attenders at the southern reunions, along with descendants of Daniel's
brothers John and William. Of course, these are the O'Rears who
remained in that area after other branches (including mine!) had moved
on.

Will keep you posted as the microfilm rolls!

Donna

This thread:

• Descendants of Fields C. Knight by Donna Sarchet <>