This library shows the work behind the stories: sources, conflicts, unanswered questions, and the next records needed. Genealogy is much more trustworthy when the uncertainty is allowed to remain visible.
Published research notes
McKellar Family Duplication Question
The current GEDCOM repeats a family group and requires record-based resolution.
Native Ancestry Tradition: Research Plan
The family tradition is preserved, but tribe, ancestor, and generation-by-generation connection remain unknown.
James Clarence Buffington: Record Plan
A focused plan to document his family, work, residences, death, and burial.
Behind the family stories
What We’re Researching Next
Our family tree is a starting point, not proof by itself. These are some of the questions we’re working through before turning research into finished family stories.
- James Clarence Buffington: Locate and compare original records for his family relationships, life, and timeline.
- The earlier Buffington line: Test the proposed connections between generations using census, marriage, probate, and other records, rather than assuming a matching surname proves a relationship.
- The Miller, Padgett, Perry, and Hughes lines: Follow the documentary trail generation by generation, preserving differences between sources. A family tradition of Native American ancestry remains unverified; no tribal affiliation is being claimed.
- Caudle and McKellar family: Check the duplicated family groups and uncertain relationships before updating shared trees.
- Old family photographs: Identify people, dates, and places where possible. Some captions come from family recollections, while others remain tentative.
How we label evidence: documented records, family-identified memories, research leads, and unresolved questions are kept distinct. We also protect the privacy of living relatives and do not publish private family albums or contributed material without permission.
Have a correction or a story to share? Email Kritter Ridge.
Mary Robb Miller Buffington: Research Notes
The working family tree lists Mary Robb Miller Buffington (1916–2006), remembered as Granny Buff, as the daughter of James Chestnut Miller Jr. and Lula Mae Padgett. These names and dates come from our existing family-tree research and still require independent record verification.
The next records to examine are Mary’s obituary and marriage record, the 1920–1950 census households, and records identifying the parents of James Chestnut Miller Jr. and Lula Mae Padgett. We’ll compare names, ages, locations, and household members before treating any relationship as established.
A family tradition suggests a connection to Mary Boykin Chesnut, but no documented relationship has been established. Another family tradition concerns Native American ancestry through this branch; no specific tribal connection has been verified. Both remain research questions rather than published family claims.
Family memories of Granny Buff and Jack Buffington’s birthday remembrance are preserved on the Buffington & Caudle Family page. This library tracks the records and unanswered questions behind that story.
Useful public research tools
- FamilySearch Getting Started for building a tree, searching records, and preserving memories.
- U.S. National Archives genealogy resources for federal records and research guidance.
- National Archives genealogy charts and forms for organizing research.
Buffington family records
JC Buffington 1910
Open the census image and source citation (PDF)
Preserved under the family’s original filename. The document includes a census image and a FamilySearch citation to image 336 of 613, Image Group 004970726, citing the United States National Archives and Records Administration.
Research status: The relevant household, transcription, and family relationships need verification before this record is used to support a conclusion.