Pictures Added to Database

The Briles Information Network is proud to announce that pictures have been added to the database. The pictures are of loved ones lost over the last century. We have uploaded several photos and this will be a work in progress. You will only be able to view the photos on the PAF Database. Check it out NOW!

Claude Davenport Case Solved...maybe?

ISSUE=The BIN has a birth certificate for Lillian Elaine Briles. Her parents are listed as Claude Davenport Briles and Mattie Welborn. Lillian's DOB is Oct. 2, 1948. The certificate lists Claude's age at 45 which should put his birth year around 1903. Mattie is around 1910. Claude was born in Stanley County NC and Mattie is Guilford County. So who is Claude Briles?

FINDINGS: The BIN located an obituary for Robert Briles (the heading said Briles, but his name is really Biles. Claude is listed in the obituary as a brother. The Biles name was confirmed at the cemetery in Stanly County, where Claude was born, and at the register of deeds (marriage and death records). I could not find a marriage listing for Claude and Mattie nor a death certificate for Claude. I did find a marriage license for Claude that puts his age exactly at 1903. He is listed as a Biles. There is NO listings in any records for a Briles, other than a death certificate for Virgil Briles Jr. All are Biles. Now Lillian may be a Briles based on her birth certificate, but this could be in error. At this time, based on circumstantial evidence, the BIN feels that Claude is a Biles and not a Briles. We are 90% sure of this, but we will keep a close eye on any additonal information received.


other cases:

Marion Summey Briles is the son of Russell J and Zola Summey Briles. Edith Briles Nance, who was married to Clayton Nance, is the daughter of John William and Lena Hargrave Briles. Any finally, Gertrude Briles Summey, who was married to Jesse Summey, is the daughter of James Edgar and Mary Little Briles. All these can be viewed on the BIN databases by clicking here.

The Briles Family Crest

The Briles Information Network is proud to present it's family crest. Traditionally, the family crest dates back to the first family who establishes it and is carried on forever. In modern times, each family is allow to adopt the family crest or design it's own. This is usually done by the eldest living member and in this case the crest was designed by Jim Briles. The design is made up of the old crest with two new features, the anchor and star: The meaning of the crest is below. The BIN has a larger version (PSD format) for you. You can email me and I will send it to you at no charge. You may modify it at your leisure.

Black or (Sable)= Constancy or grief
Anchor= Hope; religious steadfastness
Star= Celestial goodness; noble person
Moon= Serene power over mundane actions
Annulets= Fidelity
Helmet= Traditional
Shield= Classic
Decrescent= One who has been honored by the sovereign; hope of greater glory (crescent with horns to the sinister)
Blue or (Azure) Bend= Truth and loyalty; Scarf or shield suspender of a knight commander; signifies defense or protection

Mr. James Davis Medlin Passes

R. Trent Briles, Curator
Briles Information Network

KINGS MOUNTAIN — James Davis Medlin, 60, of 2106 County Line Road, died July 27, 2006, at his residence. He was a native of Taswell County, Va., and the son of the late Jeff Davis and Barbra Louise Smith Medlin. FUNERAL: 2 p.m. Saturday at Revival Tabernacle Church, Mount Holly INTERMENT: Gaston Memorial Park VISITATION: 7-9 tonight at Carothers Funeral Home, Gastonia A veteran of the U.S. Navy, a member of the Revival Tabernacle Church in Mount Holly and a security guard. SURVIVORS: Wife, Claudia Elizabeth Medlin; children, Christina Langley of Gastonia, Tammy and Trent Calhoun of Wilmington, N.C., Mary Melton of Crouse, Becky and Scott McCumbee of Crouse, Grace and Rob Parker of Gastonia; sisters, Virginia Smith of Kings Mountain, Barbara Medlin of High Point, N.C., Launita Pendleton “Tootie” of Kannapolis; brother, William Medlin of Maiden, N.C.; 20 grandchildren. PRECEDED IN DEATH BY: Sister, Pansy Swink PALLBEARERS: Lester, Alex, Aaron and Castle Smith, Greg Melton and Rob Parker; honorary, Scott McCumbee OFFICIATING CLERGY: Dr. John Mayberry.- Carothers Funeral Home, Gastonia

Death Notice: Mr. Paul C. Skeen

HIGH POINT-Mr. Paul Charles Skeen, 84, passed July 19th, 2006 at High Point Regional Hospital. Funeral services will be 11 am July 22nd at Poplar Ridge Friends Meeting; Rev. Randal A. Quate officiating. Interment will follow in the church cemetery. Born November 30, 1921 in Randolph County he is a son of the late Enos Skeen and Winnie Briles Skeen. Preceded in death by his wife Hazel Jester Skeen on April 7, 2001. Survived by two children; Perry C. Skeen and his wife Linda of Thomasville and Phyllis Renn and her husband Ed of Archdale. Also survived by three grandchildren; Jimmy Weston, Jeffrey Veach and Melissa Skeen and two great grandchildren; Hannah and Yancy. Survived by two sisters; Mrs. Radie Kennedy of Trinity and Mrs. Bertie Nelson of Sophia, four step grandchildren. Family will receive friends Friday evening from 7 until 8:30 pm at Cumby Family Funeral Service Archdale.

Error on Death Certificate Leads to Grave

Stanton Harry Briles has been found!!! Well, he was there the whole time. Buried in the Victory Baptist Church Cemetery. His death certificate stated he was somewhere else. We learned a lesson with Stanton...double check your sources. Always check the DC with the obituary or a family member. Stanton's DC stated he was cremated and we took it for granted. His obituary said otherwise and we thought it was a conflict. The obit was corrected. We are happy that we found his gravesite location and the databases has been corrected to reflect the change.

Don't Always Believe What You Read...

The BIN learned a valuable lesson in the month of June. Well, actually two lessons. Don't always believe what you read and don't trust anything on the Internet. We learned that census can be wrong and also death certificates. We also learned that people who post information on the Internet can be DEAD wrong when it comes to genealogy. Case in point, the Stanton Briles Case. His death certificate stated he was cremated and not buried. While searching for gravesites, we locate his grave beside his grandchildren. Of course his obituary was correct. First lesson, always check multiple sources.

When checking lineages on the Internet, take it with a grain of salt. If it doesn't have a source, it's probably wrong. Case, the Howard Briles saga. Three different sources had Howard (same date of birth and spouse) linked to two different parents. Lesson two, VERIFY the source yourself and if you can't, don't post it on the Internet! We learned the hard way. Double check your sources and refrain from posting the information until you yourself can prove it.

Good luck with your research!!

R. Trent Briles
Curator, The BIN

Updated Spreadsheet for July, 2006

An updated Death Spreadsheet for July is ready for download. This spreadsheet contains family members who have passed and their death has been verified personally by the BIN. The BIN verifies deaths by four different ways: Death Certificates, obituaries, photos of gravesite, or verification from a genealogists. This databases lists the name of the deceased, dates of birth and death, parents and spouse's name, location of the body, and what method the death was verified. Click on this link to download the spreadsheet. NOTE: If you downloaded this spreadsheet for June, please update it by downloading the July Version. There will be a new, updated version for August as well.

Download Spreadsheet

June Birthdays

R. Trent Briles, Curator
Briles Information Network

JUNE BIRTHDAYS-The BIN would like to extend a very happy birthday to everyone who has a birthday in June! Three very special greetings go out to Tosha Medlin Briles who celebrates a birthday on the 24th. Phyllis Holder Medlin who has a b-day on the 15th and Derek Medlin, who's special day is the 4th! Also celebrating a birthday in June:1st, Gilbert, Noah and Mary Briles; 2nd, Ninevah Rush Briles; 9th, C.M. Briles, Rebecca Mariah Briles, and Gaither Briles; 10th, C.F. and Martha Briles; 11th, Luther and William R. Briles; 13th,John Briles; 15th, Mattie Graham Briles; 19th, Robin Kennedy Briles; 20th, Branson Briles; 21st, Everette Mayfield Briles; 23rd, Williard Briles; 25th, Phillip Briles; 28th, Julia Thorpe Briles; 29th,H. Lee Briles; 30th, Judy C. and M. Pearl Briles.

The New Death Spreadsheet Available

The New Death Spreadsheet is ready for download. This spreadsheet contains family members who have passed and their death has been verified personally by the BIN. The BIN verifies deaths by four different ways: Death Certificates, obituaries, photos of gravesite, or verification from a genealogists. This databases lists the name of the deceased, dates of birth and death, parents and spouse's name, location of the body, and what method the death was verified. Click on this link to download the spreadsheet.

Download Spreadsheet