Who was William T. Anderson’s friend, F.M.R.?

When William T. Anderson (aka Bloody Bill) was reported to have been killed, a friend known only as F.M.R. placed a flag on the body with the inscription “Let it not be contaminated by Federal hands.”  Author, Betty Dorsett Duke reveals the likely identity of F.M.R. along with several other illuminating finds.

Read Here:  William T. Andersons Friend F.M.R.

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Paper Trail Leads to Jesse James

A James family genealogist told me that the age-old mystery of Jesse James’ true fate could
be solved by following his paper trail. I doubted what she said at first but have since learned she
was right! In 1999 I failed to obtain a court order to exhume my paternal great-grandfather’s
grave (mainly due to lack of evidence) for DNA testing to determine his true identity. He was
known as James L. Courtney in Texas but according to old family stories he was really Jesse
James, America’s most famous outlaw.

This article only reports a fraction of the genealogical information that made me a believer in
genealogy and paper trails. Besides genealogical evidence I, with the help of others, have
amassed pictorial evidence that literally shows the man known in Texas as James L. Courtney
was really Jesse James. Then there’s his 1871 diary that he signed, “J. James” and “James L.
Courtney”, and mentioned historically recognized members of the James Gang. There’s a
preponderance of evidence that he was Jesse James, yet scientific DNA testing taken under strict
chain of custody guidelines, is needed to provide the ultimate identification proof…and it is
currently underway.  Read More Here:  Shelton_Connection_To_The_James_Family

© Betty Dorsett Duke 3/8/2014

Barron’s, Dorsett’s, James’ and Shelton’s: How I Connect To the James Family of America

Betty Dorsett Duke © February 19, 2014

For as long as I can remember I’ve heard old family stories that claim my paternal great-
grandfather, known as James L. Courtney in Texas, was really Jesse Woodson James. I’ve
dedicated the past two decades to determining the truth of the matter. The findings of my
research, as well as the research of many others, resulted in convincing me that the old family
stories are true – Jesse James lived in Texas from 1871 until his death in 1943 under the alias of
James L. Courtney. Y-DNA testing is the final step of my investigation and is currently
underway. From this point forward I’ll refer to James L. Courtney as the real James L. Courtney
in order for the reader to differentiate him from Jesse James.

Jesse James was the son of Robert Sallee James and Zerelda Elizabeth Cole. The real James
L. Courtney was the son of Stephen Courtney and Dianah Andruss. Jesse James and the real
James L. Courtney were cousins – both of them descended from Sarah E. Mason Barbee James. 1
Jesse James was the third great-grandson of Sarah Elizabeth Mason Barbee and Thomas James
(her second husband), and James L Courtney was the fourth great-grandson of Sarah Elizabeth
Mason Barbee and Andrew Barbee (her first husband)…

Read More Here:  BarronDorsettJames&Shelton