Our East Coast Allred meeting last Thursday, April 11th, was a very busy and fruitful one.  22 attended including Alice who drove down from Arlington, Virginia. 

 

 Linda asked for a show of hands so we could see how many people are planning to attend the many Allred reunions scattered across the country this year.  It looks like we will have representation at all of them.  Linda, Franklin, Dot and Lawrence are planning to go to the Alabama Allred Reunion June 2nd.  Adrian, Tot and Alice are planning to go to the Utah Allred Reunion June 28 & 29.  Eddie Clay, Carolyn, Hollis and Sara are planning to go to the Tennessee Allred Reunion July 4th.  Linda, Franklin, Eugene, Blanche, Hollis, Sara, Wallace, Alice and Sue are planning to go to the Texas Allred Reunion in October.  Several mentioned the possibility of also attending the Kansas Allred Reunion August 3rd.   This is a fantastic response - representation at so many reunions!!

 

The discussion then turned to a new DNA study that has been made available through a company based in Houston, Texas.  FamilyTreeDNA.com has been in business for over 3 years and is the company which handled the Thomas Jefferson / Sally Hemmings DNA study that was in the news 2 years ago (proving through DNA that slave Sally Hemmings gave birth to some of Thomas Jefferson's children).  With a minimum of 6 participants at a cost of $99 each, the Allred family can now participate in our own DNA study.  This study could answer some long standing questions such as: 

 

1.  Were Thomas, John, Solomon and William really brothers?

2.  Was William really an Elrod?

3.  Are the descendants of Thomas, John, Solomon and William related to the Allreds in England?

 

This study could also possibly tell us which branch of the family some of our mystery lines belong to.  For example:  Linda's GGGGrandfather Jesse Allred (1783 - 1844) was illegitimate.  Was he related to any of the 4 original Allreds (John, Thomas, Solomon, William)? 

 

Although the DNA study being done by Brigham Young University is free, the requirements prohibited us from participating at this time.  There are less requirements for the FamilyTreeDNA study, so ECA pariticipation is possible.  Everyone was encouraged to study the handouts and the web site (www.familytreedna.com) and be prepared to vote on this at our next meeting.

 

Work in the Billy Trogdon cemetery was discussed next.  Dennis York told us that the cemetery property owner (Alton Garner) was interested in transferring ownership of the property to the ECA.  By incorporating and obtaining 501(c)3 status, Dennis told us that the ECA would be free from liability and able to offer a tax deduction to Mr. Garner for the property.  The ECA would also be able to offer future tax deductions for contributions / donations to the ECA and apply for grant monies.  Incorporating and obtaining 501(c)3 would also allow us to possibly obtain ownership of other abandoned cemeteries in the area, thus protecting them for future generations.  Incorporation papers were filed earlier in the week, signed by ECA Treasurer James Eugene Allred after a meeting of the Cemetery Committee (Harlan, Hollis, Sara, James Eugene, Wallace, Linda and Dennis). 

 

After several questions were answered, Eddie Clay made a motion that we apply for 501(c)3 status and proceed with the process of obtaining ownership of the Trogdon Cemetery.  Hollis seconded the motion and all voted "Yes". 

 

Dennis then explained that part of the process of incorporation is to create Bylaws and elect Officers.  The following Officers were nominated and approved by vote:

 

President:  Linda Allred Cooper

Vice President:  Dennis York

Vice President:  Franklin Allred

Secretary:    Becky Allred Sexton

Treasurer:  James Eugene Allred

 

Darrell Allred has offered to begin work on creating a new set of Bylaws and will bring a draft to our next meeting. 

 

Discussion turned to surveying the cemetery and how much land should be allowed for a "buffer zone" and/or parking area.  We also discussed easement rights as the cemetery is located on "land locked" land.  Harlan Sexton helped answer these questions and told us that he was going to ask a friend of his to do the survey, upon Mr. Garner's approval.  He also told us that he and Becky would be paying for the survey. 

 

James Eugene agreed to set up a meeting with Mr. Garner for next week.  Dennis agreed to continue his research and working on all the paperwork that needs to be done to file for 501(c)3 status. 

 

Our next cemetery work day is scheduled for Wednesday, April 17.  We will meet at 9am at Hardee's in Asheboro. 

 

Our next ECA meeting is scheduled for Thursday, May 2nd, at 6pm at Captain Tom's Seafood Restaurant east of Ramseur (off hwy 64). 

 

(The meeting with Mr. Garner has been set for this Thursday, 10am, at his house.  If you are interested in attending, please contact either James Eugene or Linda.)