In my quest to learn more about the family of my great-great grandfather Scott Washington, I ordered his death certificate from MDAH (Mississippi Department of Archives and History. My goal was to obtain the names and birth states of his parents leading to possible siblings and other family members of the Washington family lineage. However, upon receipt and review of the death certificate of Scott Washington, I was met with a surprising revelation instead of the information I was seeking. Instead of the names and birth states of his parents, the below modification appears in its place.
The modification to the cause of death reads as follows:
Scott Washington.
Item 17. Cause of death, Homicide (Murdered)
A.R. Brown Local Registrar
The original item 17 reads as follows:
. . . and that death occurred on the date stated above {8/4/1917} at 7:30 AM
the CAUSE OF DEATH was as follows:
Gunshot wounds on right breast - illegible. . .
Signed A. Davis, Astly Brown M.D.
August 6th 1917 Address Natchez, Miss
Scott Washington was murdered. This death certificate raises more questions than it gives answers. One thing that does come to mind immediately is a family story that appeared in the 2003 edition of the Washington-Rounds Family Reunion. The story being oral history doesn't go into detail about how, but a white man named Jake Laub acquired Scott's land (known as Ben's Corner). However, Scott's son Will Washington was able to reacquire the land by 1918. The modification also indicates is that there was some investigation into his death since the homicide appears as a modification. This opens up another set of records that I can use for research, police records, if they are available. Other records I plan to research are deeds and court documents surrounding the property.
I was able to gain some vital information. Scott's mother was born in Virginia according to the informant L.J. Mazique. It also gives the cemetery, Mt Sinai Baptist Church and the burial date of August 7, 1917. Mt. Sinai church has been rebuilt since the death of Scott Washington. I would have to also find out if the location of the new building is different from the old location. Also, I would like to find out about Bluff City Undertakers company. Bluff City is a nickname for Natchez, MS. Apparently this company buried African-Americans in Natchez and surrounding areas.
On a personal note, saddens me to think that a family member was murdered most likely for his land ownership. My initial review of his death certificate was shock, then anger because of my own personal knowledge regarding the treatment of African-Americans in Mississippi, especially at the turn of the 20th century.
The Family Griot
