Ancestry/ Pettigrew/Hatcher/Mays/Mcandrew/Rowe Families

I started this research after both my Mom & Dad passed away. Mom & Dad relayed some of this information, but most was determined by questioning of long lost or newly found relatives, and a lot of research, mostly old census records.
Dad was raised under a different name than he was born with. His birth parents William Madison Hatcher & Lydia Caroline McAndrew named him William Oliver Hatcher. One month after his birth, his mother, Lydia Caroline, (Carrie) died from septic fever, and he was taken to live with his maternal grandmother, Alice Jane Belt McAndrew, and her second husband Thomas (Tommy) Pettigrew. He was never legally adopted, but was raised as if he was their birth child. When he was sixteen, his brother Homer Hatcher came to see him and told him who his birth parents were. He apparently was very angry and hurt that he had not been told of his true identity and he left the Pettigrew home at that time.
Later in life, after raising 4 birth children, my husband & I adopted 2 children, ages 8 and 6. Dealing with the problems and issues facing adoptive children and their parents, I started thinking about the feelings of loss that come with not knowing your blood roots. I have always considered myself a "Pettigrew", but knew that I had no blood ties to this family, and I always felt a little lost when thinking about my birth line. I then decided to research Dad's genealogical history. The research is addictive, and time consuming. It has been so amazing to find information and pictures about people that actually resemble our family. Now when I think about Dad, I can put names to people (Pettigrews and Hatchers) that were a part of his childhood. I still have no pictures of Dad as a child, his dad or his mother or the grandparents that raised him. Hopefully, someone will see this and recognize the family and share with me.

My Family History

• Surname List


• Index of Individuals


• InterneTree


• Sources

Family Tree Maker Reports and Trees

• InterneTree: Descendant Tree of Linda Diane Mays


• All-in-One Tree of Bruce Allen Mays (PDF Format)


• Descendant Tree of Franklin Edward Mays (PDF Format)


• Descendant Tree of Maridell Pettigrew (PDF Format)


• All-in-One Tree of Franklin Edward Mays Jr. (PDF Format)


• Report: Kinship of Amanda Jean Mays (View PDF)