I am always coming across information and "lineages" online that allegedly show our Renfro descent from Baron James Renfrew. Frankly, I am not sure what valid basis there is for even considering such a possibility, much less accepting it as fact. If anyone does, in fact, have something along the lines of real evidence of such, I'd be extremely interested in learning of it.

Baron of Renfrew is a title of nobility, not a personal name. The people who hold this title are, and were, the heirs to the throne of Scotland and, later, Great Britain. For example, the current Baron of Renfrew is Prince Charles. These individuals surnames during the time frame that is relevant to our Renfro research was Stuart - as in the royal House of Stuart. Their last name was not Renfrew.

Unless they died before ascending, these Barons of Renfrew all became the kings of Scotland and/or the united thrones of Great Britain. As such, their biographies and lineages are relatively well known. They were not obscure historical figures, or even lesser nobility. I have seen nothing to indicate that our Renfros (or various spellings) have any familial connection to the House of Stuart. Has anyone else?

this web site has a lot of interesting info on it.
http://familytreemaker.genealogy.com/users/w/i/l/Delores-S-W...

Unfortunately, the previous website does not provide an explanation to the 43 year gap between Baron James Renfrew's death and Symon Renfro's Birth. I would like to have any information that might help with this difference in dates.

I personally don't feel there is any basis for the story of "Baron James Renfrew". I find no historical evidence to support such a person, much less our descendence from him. The Barons of Renfrew were the Stuart heirs to the throne...not people by the name of Renfrew. I suspect that our Renfrew ancestors surname came from living in that area, not from holding a title of nobility. That remains to proven, as well, but there is a complete lack of evidence to support the Baron Renfrew theory.

Furthermore, I find little evidence to support our descent from Symon Renfrew. I don't find this to be a particularly credible theory, either. There seems to be a lack of evidence to support an early establishment of the Renfrew family in James Town, whether from Symon Renfrew or anyone else.

What seems much more plausible is that the Renfrews came to Pennsylvania through Philadelphia in the late 1600's, then followed the historic migration path into the Shenandoah Valley of Virginia. That (the Shenandoah) is the first place we can concretely place our Renfro ancestors and there is compelling circumstantial evidence linking them to a migration from Pennsylvania. To assume they went to Pennsylvania from James Town is contrary to normal migration patterns in those times. With no evidence to support an exception from the norm, it seems much more logical that the Renfros immigrated directly through Philadelphia.

All of this, of course, needs further research and, hopefully, one day we'll know the ancestors. In the meanwhile, I feel this Baron Renfro and Symon Renfro approach is a lot like a wild goose chase that distracts from more logical lines of research.

you could very well be correct!!! If I could just find where my g-grands were buried I would be very, very happy. George Washington Renfroe B.1815 Tn. and nancy Wirack Renfroe B. 1823 Tn. married 1844 Momroe Co. Tn. When & where they died and who their parents are is a BIG brick wall to me.

Do you know any other place in Tennessee that that might have lived, other than Monroe County? I will check my records and see if I come up with anything on this couple. Their names or a Monroe County connection don't ring any bells off the top of my head, but I'll check.

The only counties i know of were Monroe and mcMinn.Their children were:
1.Missouri 1849 McMinn--Daniel Augustus Fox
2. Margaret 1851-Joseph Smith
3.George 1855 Monroe-1924 Al.-Mary jane Moses
4.Robert 1857-1920 AL.-Mary Jane Breeden
5. William C. Bradford 1864 McMinn-1940 Al.-Eliza jane Spurgeon (my grands)
6. Thomas Henry 1872-1955-Marthey jane Newman, Alberta Liller England

There is a possibility that John D. Renfroe and Sarah Lyles Renfroe were the parents of George Washington Renfroe, but i have no proof. Any help at all would be appreciated.

I also thought the conection seemed too easy. Baron James Renfrew was implicated in Mary Queen of Scott's (His Sister)plot to overhrow Queen Elizabeth I. Mary was executed and James fled to France and eventually to Virginia. It's possible there is some connection, but I find it funny that all Renfro's in the U.S. seem to trace their roots back to the Baron.

No wonder I can not find anything on my Isaac Renfro. What a bunch. LOL

try Maury County, TN, most of my family (renfros) have been burried in the renfro family cemetery there, and it goes back to the late 1700s