(from the archived Roots of Roane Web site)

Sandy Pierce has in her possession [before 2010] an original paper with the signatures of students who registered for a commercial penmanship class, which she has graciously agreed to share.

She says the flourishes make the document difficult to read, so accuracy is not guaranteed. It would appear some of the students definitely needed the course.

“We the undersigned promise to pay J. C. (could be H.) Walker three dollars at the commencement of the term for ten lessons in commercial penmanship two hours per lesson.” Kingston, Tenn. March 17, 1857

• R L Cardwell
• S M Center
• Allen H Yost
• John Harvey
• Frank W Gilliland
• M Yost
• May Albert (this surname is really a puzzle. . .)
• M E Fleming
• A F Fleming
• J B Atwood
• Mary E Burnet
• Veronica A-C-Bower
• Mariah Smith
• Isaac S T Roberts*
• Mrs. Sarah Goodwin
• J S Reed
• C S Clemens
• Sarahfina Burnet*
• Sampson Mounger*
• John T Rose
• James E Gibbs

*Note from PMc: I believe this would be the Sarahfina Burnett who married Robert Z. Roberts in 1859. He was son of Brashear Roberts, grandson of Zaccheus Roberts.

A son of Zaccheus Roberts, Robert Zedekiah (1807) gets confused with the other R. Z., and he married Martha Barnett. I don’t have anything on the Barnett/Burnet family, but do see land transactions with Wiley and Carter Barnett and this R. Z. Roberts.

The information I have on Brashear Roberts (s/o Zaccheus) is that he lived near John C. Ladd, and Lemuel Harvey.

Elizabeth Roberts, daughter of David, granddaughter of Wright Roberts, married first Sampson Monger (1820). [No known relationship between Wright and Zaccheus Roberts]

Elizabeth’s brother, Isaac S. T. Roberts (1833) married Caroline M. Ladd.