Thanks again!
The Family Griot
Showing posts with label Wilkinson county. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Wilkinson county. Show all posts
Wednesday, July 27, 2011
The Family Griot Blog Network
I appreciate the support I've received since I started actively blogging about my family lines in Alabama and Mississippi. I've recently decided to start two new blogs to be included in a network of blogs called The Family Griot Network. One blog is specifically devoted to telling the story of The Rounds Family of Adams County, Mississippi . Additionally through my research I have found that the availability of online records regarding African-Americans in Wilkinson County, Mississippi are difficult to find. My second blog, The Family Griot Repository will be a central resource for records I've located in Wilkinson County and Adams County, Mississippi pertaining to solely to African-Americans.
Thanks again!
The Family Griot
Thanks again!
The Family Griot
Thursday, June 23, 2011
Road Trip Countdown: Wilkinson County Courthouse
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| Wilkinson County Courthouse Woodville, Mississippi |
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| Wilkinson County Courthouse Crest Woodville, Mississippi |
Tuesday, June 29, 2010
Tombstone Tuesday: Perkins Galmore
The tombstone of Perkins Galmore, son of Kenndy and Clara (nee Perkins)Galmore. I suppose that she wanted us to remember who her people were, so she gave one of her sons her maiden name.
Monday, March 1, 2010
Wilkinson County, MS Marriage Records
For the individual who has been looking for Wilkinson County Colored Marriages, here are a few that I picked up last summer while visiting family. These are marriages which occurred from about 1869 forward. I hopefully will be in the area again this upcoming summer and will try to to get the Freedmen's Marriage records. I can't make any guarantees, but I will try!
Here are the documents I was able to get copies of from Wilkinson County, MS. (Double clicking on the photo will enlarge the file for a closer look)
Here are the documents I was able to get copies of from Wilkinson County, MS. (Double clicking on the photo will enlarge the file for a closer look)
Sunday, July 19, 2009
More Photos from the Genealogy on the Road Trip
While on my trip, I took several photos of historical records and locations that I just couldn't seem to fit into my blog postings. So some of the more interesting ones I'm posting about now. Enjoy the photos and the story behind them!
Port Hudson, Louisiana This is the post where my great-great grandfather Benjamin Thompson served while in the Army with the 10th Regiment Infantry Corp de Afriq, which later was changed to the 82nd United States Colored Troops. They were organized on 1 September 1863. To learn a brief history of all the Union colored troops visit http://www.civilwararchive.com/Unreghst/deafriq.htm
Ormonde Plantation, Mississippi This is the Ormonde Plantation I believe to have been owned by Dr. William Mercer and his wife where Charity Rounds and her family were enslaved for decades. Quick note this is less than a mile away from the Rounds Plantation which Charles and Charity Rounds purchased. These days the Ormonde Plantation is mainly used for hunting.
Mammy's Cupboard Resturant I'd seen this place as a child during our summer vacations to Mississippi. Even as late as the early 1980's 'Mammy' was pitch black. After some political rumblings a compromise was apparently made and Mammy was given a skin bleaching and miraculously overnight she became light brown. She didn't trade in her headscarf for a nicely done hairstyle, nor did she trade in that slave era outfit or that god awful name "Mammy". Its 2009 and this place still gets quite a bit of business. Sigh.
Welcome to Natchez, Mississippi Hwy 61 This is the sign that welcomes visitors into Natchez city limits. Or Natchez proper as it would be called if it were in the Northeast. This is a fairly new marker, added in the late 1990's. Its just a couple miles up from Mammy's Cupboard.
Marriage Bond of Edmund Brown and Harriet Bewitt dated March 1866, Woodville, Wilkinson County, MS This Marriage Bond was in the same book as many of my ancestors. This bond stood out immediately. The first thing I noted was that Mr. Brown signed his own Bond in cursive. The second thing I noted was the year 1866. This record is obviously a Freedman's record. What I also find amazing is the possibility that Mr. Brown learned how to sign his name either during his enslavement or shortly thereafter when teachers from the North came down to Mississippi to teach the former slaves how to read and write. Either way this makes for an interesting record. Again I have to give kudos to the Wilkinson County Clerks for maintaining such pristine and organized records! Thank you for making my research that much easier.
I will definitely have more stories and photos to come about my Mississippi family later this year. I'll also be getting into my Callins and Lanier families of Alabama in much greater detail. Thanks for reading!
Port Hudson, Louisiana This is the post where my great-great grandfather Benjamin Thompson served while in the Army with the 10th Regiment Infantry Corp de Afriq, which later was changed to the 82nd United States Colored Troops. They were organized on 1 September 1863. To learn a brief history of all the Union colored troops visit http://www.civilwararchive.com/Unreghst/deafriq.htm
Ormonde Plantation, Mississippi This is the Ormonde Plantation I believe to have been owned by Dr. William Mercer and his wife where Charity Rounds and her family were enslaved for decades. Quick note this is less than a mile away from the Rounds Plantation which Charles and Charity Rounds purchased. These days the Ormonde Plantation is mainly used for hunting.
Mammy's Cupboard Resturant I'd seen this place as a child during our summer vacations to Mississippi. Even as late as the early 1980's 'Mammy' was pitch black. After some political rumblings a compromise was apparently made and Mammy was given a skin bleaching and miraculously overnight she became light brown. She didn't trade in her headscarf for a nicely done hairstyle, nor did she trade in that slave era outfit or that god awful name "Mammy". Its 2009 and this place still gets quite a bit of business. Sigh.
Welcome to Natchez, Mississippi Hwy 61 This is the sign that welcomes visitors into Natchez city limits. Or Natchez proper as it would be called if it were in the Northeast. This is a fairly new marker, added in the late 1990's. Its just a couple miles up from Mammy's Cupboard.
Marriage Bond of Edmund Brown and Harriet Bewitt dated March 1866, Woodville, Wilkinson County, MS This Marriage Bond was in the same book as many of my ancestors. This bond stood out immediately. The first thing I noted was that Mr. Brown signed his own Bond in cursive. The second thing I noted was the year 1866. This record is obviously a Freedman's record. What I also find amazing is the possibility that Mr. Brown learned how to sign his name either during his enslavement or shortly thereafter when teachers from the North came down to Mississippi to teach the former slaves how to read and write. Either way this makes for an interesting record. Again I have to give kudos to the Wilkinson County Clerks for maintaining such pristine and organized records! Thank you for making my research that much easier.
I will definitely have more stories and photos to come about my Mississippi family later this year. I'll also be getting into my Callins and Lanier families of Alabama in much greater detail. Thanks for reading!
Wednesday, July 15, 2009
Wilkinson County Chancery and Circuit Clerk Offices
After heading to the cemeteries, the very next locations I went to was the Circuit and Chancery Clerk's office in Woodville, MS. The county had their Independence Day holiday on Monday following so the offices were closed. I had to turn my lemons into lemonade. Fortunately for me, the Wilkinson County Museum was just around the corner and even more fortunate although they were 'closed', the curator was in doing some work and welcomed me in to her museum. She gave me quite a bit of information about the local plantation, Jefferson Davis (Former Confederate President) who had his home in Wilkinson County, and about genealogical information that was being collected by local researchers and compiled into a series of books entitled "The Journal of Wilkinson County History". I left her a business card and I plan on visiting there again later this year.
The next day I was able to get into the County Clerk's offices and found some interesting information, cleared up a mystery and looked into possible leads on Washington family members. The marriage license books at the Wilkinson county Circuit Court are meticulously maintained covered in cloth book protectors labeled clearly with the and the records were in nearly mint condition. It was clearly obvious that they cared about their records. As did many southern states, Mississippi kept seperate records on 'colored' marriages and 'white' marriages. Colored couples in Mississippi were required to complete a Marriage Bond in which the requirements were a bond of $100 by the prospective groom that had to be co-signed by another man, they had to find a reputable minister to marry them and return to the courthouse to document their completed marriage. I would imagine that those couples truly loved one another because $100 in the late 19th century was quite a sum of money! I located the marriage licenses of my great-great grandparents Scott Washington(Eliza McLain) and Roxana McFarland(John Earls), pictured below.
The bondsman for Scott Washington was Jack Westrope. It appears as if Scott Washington may have signed his own paperwork, which means he may have been literate.
The bondsman for John Earls was James M. Griffin. It also appears as if John Earls signed his own paperwork. Its worth noting at this point, both of these men are listed in the Mississippi census records as mulattoes. Which could mean that they were children of privilege who were able to learn to read and write.
The Marriage Bond reads as follows:
The State of Mississippi, Wilkinson County
Know all Men by these Presents this
That we [groom and bondsman] of the county of Wilkinson and the state of Mississippi, are held and firmly bound unto the state of Mississippi aforesaid, in the sum of ONE HUNDRED DOLLARS, lawful money of said state, for which payment, well and truly to be made and peformed, we each of us do bind ourselves, our heirs, executors, administrators and assigns, jointly, severally and firmly by these presents.
Sealed with our seals, and dated this [day] of [month] 18[yr]
The condition of this Obligation is such that whereas a marriage is shortly to be celebrated between the above bound [groom's name] and [brides name]. Now, if there is no lawful reason to obstruct said marriage, then this obligation to be void, otherwise, to remain in full force and virtue.
Signed, sealed and delivered in presence of us [circuit clerk signature]
Signature of Groom and Bondsman
Monday, June 22, 2009
Family Griot "On The Road Genealogy"
Welcome back to my blog, The Family Griot where I'm digging up the family roots and shaking up the branches. I took a short break after discovering my maternal African Ancestry. I did this for a few reasons, to reorganize and redesign the blog, to plan a genealogical research trip and research the next subject matter I'd be blogging about. I'm pleased to report that I've accomplished all!
My new page design is wonderful in my opinion! These changes come just in time for my research trip to Adams and Wilkinson counties, Mississippi and the Washington-Rounds Family Reunion. This is the perfect opportunity for starter genealogists like myself to record valuable genealogical information by visiting local county clerks office, talking to older relatives, visiting family cemeteries and just having a good time with my family! My trip will also be my initial visit to any local records office. I'll be visiting the chancery clerk and circuit clerk's office to search for records on my mother's families. I'm very excited about what records I'll be able to discover at these locations. Additionally, I'll be visiting the Wilkinson County historical center to get information about the county that may be helpful in my research.
I'll be blogging while I'm on my genealogical research trip and posting pictures of all that I find while I'm out digging up my roots in Mississippi!
My new page design is wonderful in my opinion! These changes come just in time for my research trip to Adams and Wilkinson counties, Mississippi and the Washington-Rounds Family Reunion. This is the perfect opportunity for starter genealogists like myself to record valuable genealogical information by visiting local county clerks office, talking to older relatives, visiting family cemeteries and just having a good time with my family! My trip will also be my initial visit to any local records office. I'll be visiting the chancery clerk and circuit clerk's office to search for records on my mother's families. I'm very excited about what records I'll be able to discover at these locations. Additionally, I'll be visiting the Wilkinson County historical center to get information about the county that may be helpful in my research.
I'll be blogging while I'm on my genealogical research trip and posting pictures of all that I find while I'm out digging up my roots in Mississippi!
Saturday, May 30, 2009
The Hinyards of Mexico
I want to thank all of the readers who have been coming to my blog from all over the United States. I appreciate you all reading my blog and following my journey into discovering my ancestry.
My latest discovery in my genealogy has been the Hinyard family of Mexico. I discovered them in my research of my great-great grandmother Roxie McFarland-Earls. She is the paternal grandmother of my maternal grandmother Saint Arby Washington-Thompson. As I indicated in my two previous postings on Roxie Earls, not much was known about her or her family.
I began to take a closer examination at the census records where Roxie's family appeared in Wilkinson County, Mississippi. I took what some genealogists call "a walk around the neighborhood". Using Family Search and Heritage Quest Online, I began to scan through each household grouping listed as a family who were living close to the McFarlands. As I looked at the vital information I noticed that there were other people who were listed as being born in Mexico who lived close to Roxie Earls parents, Peter and Milly McFarland.
I discovered that Thomas Hinyard b. 1836 and Ned Hinyard b.1842 and their families lived in Beat 1, Wilkinson county near Peter and Milly on the 1880 and 1900 census records. Both were born in Mexico as well. Having this information leads me to the conclusion that Milly McFarland may have been their sister. They are the only Blacks born in Mexico on the 1880 census in Beat 1, Wilkinson County.
Thomas Hinyard and Family as they appear on the 1880 Census Beat 1, Wilkinson Co.,MS
Thomas HINYARD Self M Male B 30 MEXICO Farmer MEXICO MEXICO
Rosanna HINYARD Wife M Female MU 34 MS Keeping House MS MS
Ellen HINYARD Dau S Female B 16 MS Farm Laborer MEXICO MS
Thomas HINYARD Son S Male B 12 MS Farm Laborer MEXICO MS
Milly HINYARD Dau S Female B 8 MS MEXICO MS
Mary HINYARD Dau S Female B 5 MS MEXICO MS
William HINYARD Son S Male B 4 MS MEXICO MS
George HINYARD Son S Male B 3 MS MEXICO MS
Ned Hinyard and Family as they appear on the 1880 Census Beat 1, Wilkinson Co.,MS
Ned HINYARD Self M Male B 38 MEXICO Farmer MEXICO MEXICO
Matilda HINYARD Wife M Female B 28 MS Keeping House MS MS
Henry HINYARD Son S Male B 21 MS Farm Laborer MEXICO MS
Jeff HINYARD Son S Male B 18 MS Farm Laborer MEXICO MS
Ned HINYARD JR. Son S Male B 17 MS Farm Laborer MEXICO MS
Stephen HINYARD Son S Male B 15 MS Farm Laborer MEXICO MS
Jim HINYARD Son S Male B 13 MS Farm Laborer MEXICO MS
Matilda HINYARD Dau S Female B 9 MS MEXICO MS
Lizzie HINYARD Dau S Female B 7 MS MEXICO MS
Mary HINYARD Dau S Female B 3 MS MEXICO MS
Abe Lincoln HINYARD Son S Male B 1 MS MEXICO MS
I am so grateful to have been able to make this find and this connection to the Hinyards. This information has opened up the doors to discovering key information about someone in my ancestry whom I knew was named Earls and had four children.
My latest discovery in my genealogy has been the Hinyard family of Mexico. I discovered them in my research of my great-great grandmother Roxie McFarland-Earls. She is the paternal grandmother of my maternal grandmother Saint Arby Washington-Thompson. As I indicated in my two previous postings on Roxie Earls, not much was known about her or her family.
I began to take a closer examination at the census records where Roxie's family appeared in Wilkinson County, Mississippi. I took what some genealogists call "a walk around the neighborhood". Using Family Search and Heritage Quest Online, I began to scan through each household grouping listed as a family who were living close to the McFarlands. As I looked at the vital information I noticed that there were other people who were listed as being born in Mexico who lived close to Roxie Earls parents, Peter and Milly McFarland.
I discovered that Thomas Hinyard b. 1836 and Ned Hinyard b.1842 and their families lived in Beat 1, Wilkinson county near Peter and Milly on the 1880 and 1900 census records. Both were born in Mexico as well. Having this information leads me to the conclusion that Milly McFarland may have been their sister. They are the only Blacks born in Mexico on the 1880 census in Beat 1, Wilkinson County.
Thomas Hinyard and Family as they appear on the 1880 Census Beat 1, Wilkinson Co.,MS
Thomas HINYARD Self M Male B 30 MEXICO Farmer MEXICO MEXICO
Rosanna HINYARD Wife M Female MU 34 MS Keeping House MS MS
Ellen HINYARD Dau S Female B 16 MS Farm Laborer MEXICO MS
Thomas HINYARD Son S Male B 12 MS Farm Laborer MEXICO MS
Milly HINYARD Dau S Female B 8 MS MEXICO MS
Mary HINYARD Dau S Female B 5 MS MEXICO MS
William HINYARD Son S Male B 4 MS MEXICO MS
George HINYARD Son S Male B 3 MS MEXICO MS
Ned Hinyard and Family as they appear on the 1880 Census Beat 1, Wilkinson Co.,MS
Ned HINYARD Self M Male B 38 MEXICO Farmer MEXICO MEXICO
Matilda HINYARD Wife M Female B 28 MS Keeping House MS MS
Henry HINYARD Son S Male B 21 MS Farm Laborer MEXICO MS
Jeff HINYARD Son S Male B 18 MS Farm Laborer MEXICO MS
Ned HINYARD JR. Son S Male B 17 MS Farm Laborer MEXICO MS
Stephen HINYARD Son S Male B 15 MS Farm Laborer MEXICO MS
Jim HINYARD Son S Male B 13 MS Farm Laborer MEXICO MS
Matilda HINYARD Dau S Female B 9 MS MEXICO MS
Lizzie HINYARD Dau S Female B 7 MS MEXICO MS
Mary HINYARD Dau S Female B 3 MS MEXICO MS
Abe Lincoln HINYARD Son S Male B 1 MS MEXICO MS
I am so grateful to have been able to make this find and this connection to the Hinyards. This information has opened up the doors to discovering key information about someone in my ancestry whom I knew was named Earls and had four children.
Monday, May 4, 2009
Who is Roxie Earl? Pt. 2
In my continued quest to find out about Roxie Earls, I have been fortunate enough to uncover some new information. First, I would like to thank the experts over at Afrigeneas.com for their continued assistance with my genealogical research. They are as follows: Al Thomas, Vicky Mitchell-Davis, Selma and Angela Walton-Raji (If I messed up your names, I'm sorry, I cannot recall which surname comes first! lol). Your expertise is what keeps the world of African-American genealogy turning!
Below is the information that was discovered about Roxie Earls:
Roxana/Roxie/Rockey McFarland was born in District4, Wilkinson county, Mississippi
Click title to read more. . .
The 1870 census reports the following McFarland family members residing in Wilkinson County, Mississippi:
Peter McFarland b. abt 1805 in Virginia
Milly McFarland b. abt 1850 in Mexico (YES MEXICO!)
Rockey McFarland b. abt 1856 in Mississippi
Albert McFarland b. abt 1860 in Mississippi
Julius McFarland b. abt 1862 in Mississippi
Thomas McFarland b. abt 1863 in Mississippi
Mary McFarland b. abt 1866 in Mississippi
Roxana McFarland married John Earls on 17 Feb 1876 and had the following children:
Daughter Kate was born in September 1876 in Wilkinson County, Mississippi
Daughter Millie was born in abt 1877
Daughter Lucy was born in about 1879
Daughter Mary was born in about 1880
Daughter Jane was born in about 1886 (I think that Aunt Jane is the connection to the McFarland's. I'll write on this more later once I get my old family reunion books out)
Roxie had the following children with Scott Washington:
Son Will Washington born in December 1888
Son Elijah born in about 1892
So far with this research I am so thrilled that I am finally able to know more about Roxie Earls! It definitely fills in a void for me personally as I knew nothing about her, the basic information. Now to find that old Bunker Hill cemetery in Woodville where she is buried. . .
More to come!
Below is the information that was discovered about Roxie Earls:
Roxana/Roxie/Rockey McFarland was born in District4, Wilkinson county, Mississippi
Click title to read more. . .
The 1870 census reports the following McFarland family members residing in Wilkinson County, Mississippi:
Peter McFarland b. abt 1805 in Virginia
Milly McFarland b. abt 1850 in Mexico (YES MEXICO!)
Rockey McFarland b. abt 1856 in Mississippi
Albert McFarland b. abt 1860 in Mississippi
Julius McFarland b. abt 1862 in Mississippi
Thomas McFarland b. abt 1863 in Mississippi
Mary McFarland b. abt 1866 in Mississippi
Roxana McFarland married John Earls on 17 Feb 1876 and had the following children:
Daughter Kate was born in September 1876 in Wilkinson County, Mississippi
Daughter Millie was born in abt 1877
Daughter Lucy was born in about 1879
Daughter Mary was born in about 1880
Daughter Jane was born in about 1886 (I think that Aunt Jane is the connection to the McFarland's. I'll write on this more later once I get my old family reunion books out)
Roxie had the following children with Scott Washington:
Son Will Washington born in December 1888
Son Elijah born in about 1892
So far with this research I am so thrilled that I am finally able to know more about Roxie Earls! It definitely fills in a void for me personally as I knew nothing about her, the basic information. Now to find that old Bunker Hill cemetery in Woodville where she is buried. . .
More to come!
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