Author: Faye Hayes

I started my genealogy journey looking for anyone who had Robert Jenkins and Bridget Guy on their family tree. Almost immediately, 2 unknown cousins connected via e-mail and began sharing stories. It became clear that we knew a few things about the Jenkins branch of our family tree and knew almost nothing about our Smith branch. This blog will share information of my search for Jenkins, Guy, Smith and now Phillips, Torney and Watts people on the branches of my family tree--Maryland to Louisiana! Join me on the journey!

My Woodlin and Woodland Branches

Below is the initial information that was uncovered. As an added bonus, when I added these leaves and branches to my family tree, I discovered a DNA match on Ancestry from my newly found Woodlin family!!!

Listed below and highlighted are the children of Anna Riggs, the great grandchildren of Sam and Mima Riggs (my 4th great grandparents), the nieces and nephews of Sallie Riggs Morgan (my 3rd great grandmother).

Morgan Branches

I am still following the trail of Anna’s children Moses, Charles, Caroline and William, who were freed on the 1843 death of John Palfrey by his son John Gorham Palfrey and shipped to Boston, MA. John Palfrey arranged a welcoming ceremony for the newly freed persons at King’s Chapel. Most of the freed people remained in Boston, but Anna and children were sent to Canandaigua, NY to live with a Quaker family, the Hathaways. Each of Anna’s children went by the last name of Woodlin/Woodland or a variation. I have not yet found out how or why that name was chosen. So far all I have been able to determine is that a number of Black people who lived in Maryland has the same last name. Perhaps that is an indicator of some sort that will be brought to light later in my research.

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I found Moses Woodlin on the 1850 census living in Farmington, Ontario County, New York in the household of Isaac Hathaway. Moses’ age was listed as 15 and his birthplace as Louisiana. By 1860, 23-year-old Moses was living in the household of John S Gould and was recorded as a farm laborer who was born in Louisiana.

Moses was listed on the 1865 Union Springs, Cayuga County, NY census as a 30 Black male. I have not been able to find any record of Moses and family until 1900, when they are listed on the 1900 Sylvania, Lucas County, Ohio census. The household includes Moses and wife Alice Hawkins as well as sons Frederick G, 18 and Blaine, 15. Moses was a farmer and owned his home. Everyone in the household could read and write. The last record I found for Moses and Alice was a 1903 Toledo, Ohio city directory that indicated they lived on a rural route.

I was not able to find any information on Moses’ son Frederick G Woodlin after the 1900 census.

Moses’ son Henry was born May 1876 in Ohio and was enumerated in Toledo, Ohio on the 1900 census. Henry married Amy Tyler 1901 in Toledo and lived at 208 E. Bancroft. Henry died in 1905. His widow was listed on the 1910 census living in Atlantic City, NJ.

Moses’ son Blaine boarded with John H Klatz a theatrical agent at the time of the 1910 census. He worked as a janitor in the Flat Building. He married Cora Smith in 1914. The 2 were listed on the 1920 Toledo, Lucas County, Ohio census along with her mother and her children. Blaine registered for the draft in both WWI and WWII. He was described as 5′ 4 1/2″. He died June 28, 1951 at the age of 66 and was buried in Ravine Cemetery.

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I first found Charles P Woodline on the 1855 Monroe County, NY state census living in Mendon. He was 18 years old and recorded in the household of Daniel Sherwood from Ulster, Ireland. Charles’ birthplace was Louisiana.

He was next listed on the 1880 census in Mendon, Monroe County, NY in the household of his father-in-law Isaac Varnum. Charles was recorded as a 43 year old Black male born in Louisiana with his wife Caroline and children Hannah, 12 and Charles, 1. His infant son, Charles Isaac Woodlin, died at the age of 2, December 18, 1880 and was buried in Oak Hill Cemetery.

Charles and family moved to Battle Creek, Michigan sometime after 1880, because he died September 12, 1882 and was buried in Oak Hill Cemetery, Lot 377, RT 9, Battle Creek, Michigan. Charles’ probate listed land valued at $600 in Lot No 9 in the Manchester Addition near Battle Creek, Michigan.

His daughter Hannah married William H Tucker on July 17, 1889 in Calhoun County, Michigan. Hannah and family were listed on the 1910 Calhoun County census, living at 403 Champion Street in a home that they owned. Hannah was recorded to be employed in general office work, William as a deliveryman and 19 year-old daughter Louise as a music teacher. Hannah’s 14 year-old daughter Ethel was attending school. Everyone in the household could read and write.

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Caroline Woodlin was shipped east as were her brothers, Amos Marshall and the other freed slaves. I found 10-year-old Caroline listed in the household of English lumber man Ed Hedley on the 1850 Ridgeway, Orleans County, New York. Who knew there was an Orleans County in New York?

She was next found in Rochester, Monroe County, NY on the 1860 state census. Caroline and her 1 year, eighteen-month-old daughter Eliza appeared on the 1865 New York state census in Rochester. Their last name was recorded as Kane. By 1870, Caroline and Eliza Kane were living in Battlecreek, Michigan. Per the 1870 census, they lived in the household of John Nichols a threshing machine manufacturer from New York. Caroline was listed as a domestic servant.

By 1880 Caroline was married to Amos Swanagan of Arkansas and had 2 children Ettie M 6 and Freddie C 3. Amos, Caroline, their 2 children, his children from a prior marriage; Jennie and Bell, as well as Eliza Kane and lived in Battle Creek. Amos worked as a drayman and could not write. Eliza and all of the school-aged children were recorded as attending school. Caroline died March 30, 1881 and was buried in Oak Hill Cemetery, Lot 512, Rt 7. Her brief obit read: “Called Home: Mrs. Amos Wanigan died of dropsy at her residence on Warren Street, yesterday afternoon, at two o’clock.” Caroline’s daughter Eliza married Rufus Johnson and had 1 child, Muriel. Eliza died December 31, 1925. Her obit read, “Mrs. Eliza Avery Passes–Mrs. Eliza Johnson Avery, 21 Somerset Avenue, passed away at the Calhoun Tuberculosis hospital this morning at 5:15. She was sixty years old and is survived by one daughter, Miss Muriel Johnson, 25 Vineyard Avenue.” Eliza was buried in Oak Hill Cemetery, Section S, Lot 68, Rt. 5.

Caroline’s son Fred Clinton Swanagan registered for WWI in 1918 while living in Columbus, Ohio. While in Columbus, he worked as a laborer at the Carnegie Steel Company. He married Ethel Clark on June 26, 1920 in Calhoun County, Michigan. Fred later worked as a grinder for Advance Rumely Co and lived at 80 Warren. He died February, 1929 and was buried in Oak Hill Cemetery, Lot 512, Rt 1. His services were officiated by Rev. A. J Irvine.
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William P Woodlin enlisted in the Pennsylvania Colored Troops on August 26, 1863. His military record described him as 5′ 10″ tall. He served in the USC 8th Infantry, Company G. He mustered out on November 10, 1865. He applied for a military pension July 30, 1888 while living in Michigan. His pension file is on NARA, M589, roll 97. He is included on Plaque A-20 as part of the African American Civil War Memorial.

William was listed on the 1865 New York state census living in Union Springs in Cayuga County, NY. He was recorded as the adopted son of Edna B Thomas, a seventy-one-year-old White woman. He was 23 years old Black male who was born in Louisiana. His employer was the Army.

By 1867, William had moved to Battle Creek, Michigan. William and family were living in the township of Baltimore, Barry County, Michigan in 1870. Included in the 1870 household was 30-year-old William, whose birthplace was recorded as Maryland and wife Julie, 25, born in New York as well as children Alice, 3 and William 1. His real estate was valued at $1000. It is unclear why William’s place of birth was listed as Maryland.

The family was counted on the 1880 Battle Creek, Calhoun County, Michigan census. Included was William, wife Eveline Julia (nee Freeman) and children: Alice M, 13; Willie J, 1; John P, 9; Edward G, 7 and Charles R, 2. The 1880 census was the last record for William’s son Charles R Woodlin.

At the time of the 1900 census, William was 58 years old, widowed and living in Bowling Green, Warren County, Kentucky. His occupation was recorded as a missionary. William could read and write. He was enumerated in the home of a Black physician, Dr. Leonides Webb.

William’s s son Edward died June 25, 1897 in Battle Creek, Michigan at the age of 28. His death record did not indicate his marital status.

William’s son John Paul Woodlin married Lucretia Clark in 1898. An announcement of the marriage appeared in the Daily Chronicle of Washington, Michigan. Lucretia died 1 year after their marriage. John was listed on the 1900 Detroit, Wayne County, Michigan census as a 28-year-old widowed cook, rooming with Louis Devers at 279 St Antoine Street. He died March 18, 1909 of pneumonia in Detroit. Death records indicate that he was unmarried. The informant on his death certificate was Dr. W. J Woodlin.

William’s son, William Jeremiah Woodlin was recorded on the 1900 Ashland, Boyd County, Kentucky census as a 30-year-old physician. His 23- year-old sister Alice May lived with him at 417 Winchester Ave. I have not been able to determine which medical school William attended, but a likely candidate is Louisville National College of Medicine. He married Charlotte Myers 1906 in Columbus, Franklin County, Ohio. I last found William and Charlotte on the 1930 Franklin County, Ohio census. Charlotte died in 1931 and William died February 9, 1932. He was buried in Green Lawn Cemetery.

Alice May Woodlin married Daniel L Vaughn September 5, 1900 in Kentucky. Daniel died shortly after their marriage and by 1910 she was a widowed dressmaker living in Columbus, Ohio. Alice died in 1913 and was buried in Green Lawn Cemetery.

Charles and William Woodlin both had the middle initial of ‘P’. Many Blacks born in the 1850s did not have middle names, so I find it interesting that both men were referenced with a middle initial. My overactive, creative side wants to say that the ‘P’ stood for Palfrey as perhaps a reminder of where they came from or to honor the Palfrey who freed them or perhaps as a way to reconnect with the family they left behind in Louisiana. In any case, I will try to find out the name connected to the middle initial ‘P’.

Best,

What Became of Them, Part 2

Phillip Jones was not found on any census after 1855. But other information about him exists. Phillip enlisted in the Union Navy on January 14, 1864 in Boston. He was eighteen years old and his height was recorded 4’ 11 ½”. Phillip married Rebecca Gray June 5, 1889. He was 40 years old and worked as a ship steward. His parents were recorded as John and Margaret. His wife was 20 years old and was born in the West Indies. Her parents were Edward and Henrietta. Their marriage was listed in the Boston Globe on May 30, 1889, page 6.

Phillip had a daughter name Ruth.

Phillip’s November 5, 1895 death record listed his parents as John and his mother’s birthplace as New Orleans. Phillip lived at 69 Kendall Street.

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Louisa Jones Bell and husband Robert Bell were indeed listed on the 1900 Suffolk County, Mass census with their daughter Lillie M Bell. Robert worked as a porter for a railway station. They lived on Buckingham Street.

By 1910 Louisa was widowed. She was listed on the 1910 census as a sixty-year-old Mulatto female, who was born in Louisiana. She worked as a domestic, doing day work. She was now listed on the census as Mary L Bell for the first time. Census data indicated that she had given birth to 3 children of which one was living. Her daughter Lillian M was eighteen-years-old.

Death records document Robert Bell’s death as March 4, 1906. He was born in Gravel Hill, Virginia. His parents were listed as James Bell of Richmond and Selina Brown of Gravel Hill, VA. Robert was buried in Mt. Hope. Mary L Bell died March 6, 1918 at the age of seventy-five. Her death record listed her birth place as New Orleans and her mother’s maiden name as Jones. Mary was buried at Mt Hope. The informant on certificate was L. B McCoy.

What Became of Them?

My family tree includes Ambrose Morgan and Elsie Gibson. I knew that Ambrose’s father was Jim or James Morgan and that Elsie’s father was Bob or Robert Gibson. I knew that Bob had another daughter named Fanny, who had married William Marshall. I knew that the Morgan, Gibson and Marshall families lived in St Mary Parish, because I’d found them on the 1870 and 1880 census pages. Both Jim and Bob were born in Virginia in 1810 and 1800 respectively. I wondered when and how they came to Louisiana.

And so, I looked among Freedmen Bureau records for Ambrose Morgan and William Marshall or their fathers. I found men named Edmond, Jacob and Henry on a labor contract with William T Palfrey in 1867. Also included was Jane, widow of Jerry. All had the surname of Marshall. Another work contract listed the names Ambrose Morgan and Billy Marshall. That contract was with Joshua Baker.

My next search was for records on William Palfrey and family. I found an 1843 St Martin Parish probate for John Palfrey. William T Palfrey was listed among his descendants. In the inventory portion of the probate, I found names of people from whom I descended: Jim and Ambrose.

The probate seemed to be organized in a hierarchical manner. The first names on the list were Amos 61, Clara 55 and her 9-year old son, ‘Little Amos’. Following them were Billy 29, Edmond 27, Jerry 26, Patsey 23, Jacob 20, Henry 18, Newman 13, Richard 12, Polly 30, Perry 8, Clara 6, Edward 4 and Ben Smith 2 and Polly 10. The list also included the names Jim 36 and Sally 37, who was listed as the mother of Minny 6, Haley 3 and Phoebe 1. Following those names were Jack 16, George 13 and Ambrose 11 as well as Betsy 31 and child Ralph 5, Franky 11, Maria 22 and child Emily 2, Margery 20 and an infant child. Jim, Sally, Minny (Mima) and Ambrose are my Morgan ancestors.

Based on the Freedmen Bureau labor contracts and the organization of the probate, I theorized that most of the names on the probate were one family—the Marshalls.

Listed on the 1870 and 1880 St Mary census pages were Jacob, Henry, Richard and Edmond Marshall. Ambrose Morgan were listed in the same enumeration district in 1870 as William Marshall. Also listed was Minny “Mima”, wife of Jesse Hurst. She was the daughter of James ‘Jim’ Morgan. So, these people were a significant portion of those included on John Palfrey’s 1843 probate.

So, what had become of Amos, Clara and ‘Little Amos’ since 1845? They could have been sold away from the other family or they could have died. But, as I researched more into John Palfrey’s family, I learned that he had another son who lived in Boston. This son, John Gorham Palfrey was reported to have freed the 20 slaves provided to him through the succession. These slaves were reported to have been sent out of the state of Louisiana to Boston. Were Amos, Clara and ‘Little Amos’ among those slaves freed?

After searching Ancestry.com, I found Amos and Clara Marshall on the 1850 US census living as free people in St. Martinville. So, if Amos and Clara were freed, was ‘Little Amos’ also freed? And had other people in the allotment to John Gorham Palfrey also been freed? Could they be found in 1850 and after living in Boston?

An eleven-year old Amos was shipped from New Orleans to Boston on September 10, 1844 aboard the Bark Bashaw. The shipper was HW Palfrey. No other slaves were listed on the manifest with him. There was not a record of Amos Marshall, born in Louisiana, on the 1850 federal census in Massachusetts. But, there was twenty-five year old Amos Marshall living in Brooklyn, in 1860 in Kings County, New York. Amos’ birthplace was listed as Louisiana. His occupation was listed as a coachman. In his household was Sarah 22, who was born in Connecticut and children Albertina 2 and Annabella 1.

Amos, wife Sarah and daughters Albertina and Annabella were found on the 1865 and 1875 New York state census as well as the federal 1870 and 1880 census, living in Brooklyn. The 1870 census listed Amos’ occupation as a porter. He had personal property valued at $1000. The 1880 census was the first to include information on the birthplace of parents. Amos and his parents were recorded as all being born in Louisiana. Amos died in Feb 21, 1895. His estate was probated that year and listed his wife and daughters: Albertina B Marshall and Annabella Hunter.

So, now when I see DNA matches for people who live in distant states and whose tree’s never seem to intersect with Louisiana, I wonder if these people are of descendants of those who were freed before the Civil War and whose stories had been lost to us. Or, if we are their descendants who were sold away.

So, what became of them is a question that I ask, but I imagine there are other people wondering the same about my branch on their DNA tree.

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Slaves Inherited by John Gorham Palfrey

I found a listing of the 20 slaves that were reported to have been inherited and then freed by John Gorham Palfrey who lived in Massachusetts. The list of slaves that he inherited are below. The highlighted names are of those that I have found living free in 1850 or beyond.

Anna 43 & her four children Mana (Moses) 9; Charles, 6; Caroline, 4; William, 2
Sarah, 11
Betsy, 31 and her child Ralph 5
Frankey, 11
Maria 22 and her child Emily, 2
Margery 20 and her infant child (Louisa)
Little Sam
Amos 61
Clara 55 and her child Amos, 9
Old Sam 65
Jose ‘Joe’ 40
Rose 12

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Other Freed Palfrey Slaves

Searches for other freed Palfrey slaves revealed possible matches for them in 1850. Four Black females, all born in Louisiana were listed on the 1850 East Boston, Ward 4, Suffolk County census living together. The household included Maria Marshall 28 and Emiley (sp) 8 and Margaret Jones 21 and Louisa 6. In their household was a 1-year-old Black male named Phillip. He was born in Massachusetts. Margaret and Louisa Jones could be the twenty-year-old Margery and infant. And Maria and Emiley (sp) are very likely the same listed in the probate.

Mariah Marshall died August 22, 1851 at the age of 30. Her place of birth was listed as Louisiana. The informant on her death certificate was Dr. Phineas M Crane. Her daughter Emily Marshall would have been 9 years old in 1851. I have not yet found her in Boston after the 1850 census.

Margaret Jones, Louisa Jones, 13; and Phillip Jones, 7; were again listed on the 1855 Massachusetts census. Included in their household was forty-year-old Elizabeth Smith who was born in Louisiana. Was this the thirty-one-year-old Betsy listed on the Palfrey probate? If so, where was her son Ralph, who would have been fifteen? Louisa’s mother Margaret and brother Phillip were not found in census records after 1855.

Mary Louisa Jones married Robert Bell on September 13, 1865. Her marriage certificate recorded her parents as John and Margaret Jones and his parents as James and Angelina Bell. Louisa’s birthplace was listed as New Orleans and Robert’s as Richmond, Virginia.

Louisa and Robert Bell and five-year old Francis were recorded on the 1865 Massachusetts census. Robert was a porter and Louisa took in washing. In the previous household was Lewis Garnett 63, a seaman and Elizh Garnett (sp) 52, born in Louisiana.

Louisa, Robert and Frank Jones were listed on the 1870 and 1880 federal census. The 1880 census listing for the household included: Louisa Bell, 37; Robert Jones, 30; Frank Jones, 20; and E. Garnet. E Garnet was listed as a sixty-four-year widowed old aunt, who worked as a nurse and was born in Louisiana. Is this E. Garnett the same as Elizabeth Smith on the 1855 census and the Elizh Garnett on the 1865 census. Was E Garnett the 31-year-old Betsy listed the 1843 probate? Louisa and family lived at #3 Strong Place near Cambridge Street, the current-day Beacon Hill neighborhood of Boston.

There is a death record for Elizabeth Garnett. She died in 1888 and was listed as a seventy-eight-year-old widow who was born in New Orleans and worked as a cook. Elizabeth died in the Aged Colored Women’s Home in Boston. Her parents’ names were recorded as Samuel and Almira. Wouldn’t it be something if Samuel and Almira were indeed Sam Riggs & Mima!!

Frank Bell was not located on census records after 1880 or in death records. Robert, Louisa and daughter Lillie M Bell were counted on the 1900 Boston, Massachusetts census. Mary L Bell and daughter Lillie M were listed on the 1910 Census. Mary was widowed and worked as a domestic. Mary L Bell, nee Jones died 1918.

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The last possible match that I’ve found is a seventy-year-old Black man named Sam Riggs. He was listed on the 1850 Fausse Point, St Martin Parish census in the household of Henry Dorsey. Sam Riggs matches the sixty-five-year-old Sam from John Palfrey’s 1843 probate. Henry’s parents were Catherine Riggs and John Dorsey. Catherine was born about 1805 to Abraham Riggs of Accomack, VA and Elizabeth Byrd. I haven’t been able to determine if Sam had a connection to the Riggs/Dorsey family before he was freed in 1843 or how he came to live with Henry Dorsey. Sam’s death was recorded in William T Palfrey Plantation Diary, “April 8, 1862, Negro man Sam (free) died.”

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I hope to continue the search to see what became of other slaves freed and their families.

Read About the Morgan, Riggs and Gibson Women on My Family Tree

Best,

So, You Live in Kansas Now!

Maybe your ancestors migrated to Kansas in the 1880s from Louisiana, Texas or some other state. The 1875 Kansas Homestead Act offered free land and a hope for many African American farmers and their families. Read more

Approximately 40,000 Blacks from across the U.S. made their way to Kansas in 1879. Many freedmen settled near the towns of Topeka, Fort Scott, Coffeyville, and Dunlap. In 1880, there were about 2080 Texas born Blacks in Kansas, over 800 in Labette County. Members of my Richardson family branch were in Labette County, Kansas in 1920.

So many families were drawn to Kansas that there soon was not enough land to accommodate them all. Many families on their trek to Kansas, found themselves diverted instead to St. Louis, Missouri and to Nebraska. Hey, maybe the title of this post should have been, “So, You Live in St. Louis, Missouri Now!”

What’s in a Name, Part 2

In the year 2000 while researching my Jenkins branches, I found Amelia Smith and Oliver ‘Alava’ Jenkins on the 1900 census, living in two separate households. Amelia was living with her parents Joseph and Charlotte Smith, her brother Oliver aka ‘Alava’ Smith, her sister Cora, her nephew Matthew Schaffer (Smith) and her son Clarence Smith. Another ‘Alava’, Oliver Jenkins, was living with his brothers Simon ‘Felix’ and Henry Jenkins and his partner Henry Wagner in a separate household. Were both ‘Alavas’ the same man who was being counted twice, in 2 different households, or 2 different men?

I looked for Amelia and Oliver and their children on the 1910 and 1920 census pages but could not find them in any electronically indexed website or on any microfilm. The 1930 census would become available to the public in 2002 and so I waited impatiently for the release. As soon as 1930 census was available online, I logged in and typed Oliver Jenkins in as search terms. And wonders of wonders, I found him. His name was spelled correctly–he wasn’t Alava as he had been listed on the 1900 census. But Amelia was listed as Media! That didn’t matter because listed with them and near them were their children: Livingston, Oliver Jr., Charlotte, Cora, Gladys, Elsie. Also listed were Elzenia, my great grandmother and my grandmother Sarah.

Where had Oliver and Amelia been for the 1910 and 1920 census pages? Who knows, probably living in The House Surrounded by Sugar Cane!

And what had become of Joseph aka Young and Charlotte Smith? I searched for death records for them in Iberia and neighboring St. Mary Parish but could not find any. Then I searched Ancestry.com for public trees that had Joseph and Charlotte Smith. I didn’t find any. So, I searched for Young and Charlotte Smith. And to my surprise, I found a tree with Younger Smith and Charlotte who lived in Iberia Parish. I had found additional offshoots to my Smith branch–Provosts, Williams, Turners, Benjamins, Harris, etc.!!

Since I’d had luck finding Young and Charlotte, I looked to see if anyone else had a Young or Joseph Smith or a Charlotte Smith on their public tree. And I found another tree that listed a Charlotte Smith and included her death record in Lake Charles, Louisiana.

Joy of joys, Charlotte’s death certificate included the names of her parents: Joseph and Charity Phillips. Charlotte was born in Maryland in 1828. So, now I had names of people possibly born before 1800.

Several family members had taken the Ancestry DNA test. There were a number of people who closely matched all of us and they lived in Calvert County, Maryland. I typed Joseph Phillips in the Ancestry.com search boxes and chose Calvert County, Maryland as their place of residence. There in my search results for 1870 were Joseph and Carrity (Charity) Phillips. In the same household was a 74-year-old Hester Phillips and a young boy, Joseph Tawney. And on that very same page was the Tawney family that matched our DNA in Ancestry: Mager, Eliza, Peter, Lloyd, Rebecca, Moses, Joseph and Hester Tawney (Torney).

So, Joseph and Charity ‘Carrity’ were Charlotte’s sister and brother and Hester was her mother. Charlotte must have spoken often about Joseph and Charity Phillips, because someone remembered those names and included them on Charlotte’s death certificate. They may not have remembered the relationship of Joseph and Charity Phillips to Charlotte totally correctly, but they remembered their names. I later found Joseph Phillips’ Maryland death certificate and found out that his father’s name was also Joseph Phillips.

My tree had suddenly grown vertically! Wow!!

What’s in a name? A whole lot!

Proverbs 22
A good name is more desirable than riches; to be esteemed is better than silver or gold.

Learn about destinysmom12 and our Calvert County, Maryland connection.

Finding Phillips/Smiths Who Flown the Coop by 1900

Henry Jenkins, How Many Wives Did He Have

What’s In a Name?

In researching my Smith branches of the Smith-Jenkins family tree, I was confused and unable to determine who were Amelia Smith’s parents. Amelia was born about 1883 and her death certificate listed her father as Young Smith and her mother as ‘S’. Right away I was able to find on the 1880, 1900 and 1910 census a man named Young Smith who was the right age to be her father. His wife’s name was Hester or Esther. This all seemed to fit Amelia’s death certificate. The names fit, but I could never find Amelia in Young’s and Hester’s household or living anywhere near them. Young lived in Glencoe, St. Mary Parish, Louisiana and not Patoutville, Iberia Parish where I was told that Amelia lived.

Amelia’s husband was named Oliver Jenkins. So, I searched for him on the census pages in St. Mary/Iberia Parish beginning with 1900. I couldn’t find him anywhere. Amelia and Oliver’s children were born and grew up in the Patoutville area, so I knew they had to be somewhere on the 1900 Iberia Parish census page. I used Ancestry.com, Familysearch.org and Heritagequest.com, with no luck. I gave up trying to use electronically indexed web sites and went to a local genealogy center and pulled out the microfilm. I painstakingly scrolled page after page and almost gave up until something caught my eye. What I found was a Joseph Smith, his wife Charlotte, two daughters Amelia and Cora and a son named Alava. I turned the reel a half turn or so and then scrolled back. I’d found them!!

Oliver was Alava! But, he wasn’t Amelia’s brother, he was her husband. And, her father’s name was supposed to be ‘Young’ and her mother’s name was supposed to start with an ‘S’. Charlotte could be spelled with an ‘S’–Sharlotte. So, I threw out Young and Hester in Glencoe as Amelia’s parents and instead placed Joseph, aka ‘Young’ and Charlotte, aka ‘S’.

Best,

The House Surrounded by Sugar Cane

I’ve been searching for information about my ancestors Oliver and Amelia Smith Jenkins for quite some time. The search has been complicated by misspelled names on the US. census pages, families totally missing from census records for decades and from the absence of marriage and death records.

houseSurroundedBySugarCane I’ve searched Father Hebert’s books for clues that may be among the births, baptism and death records. But, the only detail that I had been able to find is a marriage record for Oliver and Amelia. That is until the other day. I once again entered the name Oliver Jenkins in a search bar. And, to my surprise, among the search results was a book. The book title was “The House Surrounded by Sugar Cane – The Smith-Jenkins’ Farm”. Needless to say, I could scarcely contain myself. When I clicked the link to the bookseller, there was a brief synopsis of the book and it mentioned Oliver Jenkins, his wife Amelia Smith, and Patoutville, Louisiana.

The book was written by Leanna Williams, granddaughter of Oliver Jenkins. She didn’t know about either Oliver or Amelia as they both died before she was born. But, she described with much detail what life was like for sharecroppers, farm workers and those living near the large sugar cane plantation. The story she tells was a wonderful find for me. She provided insight into how my family lived and a new lead for research. And as always, I found a hidden treasure and research challenge in her story. She mentioned Amelia’s father a number of times as ‘Mr Smith’ and and uncle named David. Who these men were, was a mystery to me. And so, I started by quest to find out how they fit on my Smith-Jenkins tree and how they came to live in “The House Surrounded by Sugar Cane…”.

Best,

Chicago Defender to the Rescue!

I love searching the Chicago Defender Newspaper online. Just when I think I’ve discovered all the articles printed about my long-lost family members or Texas families that I am researching, I find a gold mine of additional treasure.

So, I verified that Henry and Louis Jenkins were brothers. Now I needed to find where their children all disappeared after 1910.

Henry’s children were: Oliver, Victoria, Louisa, Henry Jr., Matthew, Lloyd Joseph, Profit, Clarence, Agnes, Maviola. Several of Henry’s sons moved to Texas, but most remained in Louisiana.

Louis’ children were: Robert, Prophet, Northern, Roselia, Campbell, Clinton, Aurelia, Horace and Ezekiel.

I’d found 2 of Louis’ sons on the 1910 census in Omaha, Nebraska .

Now comes the other really cool part!!

I was searching the Chicago Defender Newspaper via the Houston Public Library online resource. I typed in Jenkins and Omaha. And among the search results was a obit for N. Jenkins who was born in Iberia Parish Louisiana and died in Omaha, November 1935. N’s (Northern) children: Helen Jenkins Lambert and Guy Taylor are mentioned. Also mentioned were Northern’s surviving siblings: Robert and Horace of Houston, Ezekiel of Chicago, Clinton of San Diego, Orelia Johnson of Cleveland and P.H. (Prophet) Jenkins of Omaha. Northern’s funeral was officiated by Rev. J. S. Williams at Hill Side Presbyterian Church and he was buried in Forest Lawn Memorial Park. He worked at the University Club.

P.H. Jenkins was identified as a detective with the Omaha Police Department. Also, in the search results were stories about arrests that P.H. made, of his commendations and about his promotion to police detective. Included were the names of his wife Amanda and his daughters: Verdia Forman and Neola Combs. Even his church is mentioned–Zion Baptist .

And joy of joys, there was even a photo of P.H.! Another bonus in the search results was information about P.H. and/or wife Amanda visiting their married daughter Verdia Forman who lived in Chicago.

After I found out where the other Jenkins siblings moved to from Iberia Parish, I was able to read more about them in the Chicago Defender, through Ancestry.com., Familysearch.org and through old city directories.

I discovered that Ezekiel lived in Chicago and drove a cab and that Robert Jenkins had moved to Houston by 1915 and lived in 3rd Ward Houston with his wife Sophia and daughter Geneva. He operated a barber shop at 2411 McKinney Street. Robert died in 1943 and was buried in Jeanerette, LA.

I found information that P.H. died in 1956. His daughter Verdia married Sidney Forman of Marshall, Texas. They had a daughter who the named Neola. Sidney worked as a cooper (barrel maker) for a packing house.

So, I will continue to mine the Chicago Defender newspaper to see what additional nuggets of information are there to be uncovered.

Got a Library Card, Check Out the Chicago Defender Newspaper

Reached a dead end in tracing your African American family–one census year they were in Texas and then the entire family seemed to disappear? Maybe they moved north in search of better jobs, education or just a chance to start over again. Many people kept track of what family members were doing by reading and submitting articles to the African American newspaper, the Chicago Defender. There were regular features on the happenings in distant states. I found an article about my grandfather being on program in his church in Louisiana in 1932! That was indeed a sweet find. See where your relatives may have gone and what they may have been up to. Use that library card, sign in and read for yourself. Articles from 1910 – 1975.

Houston Library
LSU Library – Proquest Historical Newspapers: Chicago Defender
Proquest Historical Newspapers

Robert and Bridget Guy Jenkins in Your Family Tree?

I am looking for anyone who has Robert Jenkins and/or Bridget Guy Jenkins in their family tree. I am a twig that sprang from the Jenkins Tree. My ancestor is Oliver Jenkins, son of Henry Jenkins of St. Mary and/or Iberia Parish, Louisiana. Henry’s parents are listed as Robert and Bridget. The problem is that I can find Bridget on federal census pages 1880 – 1910 in Patoutville and Jeanerette, but I can only find Oliver from 1900 onward and can only find Henry beginning in 1900 after he married his second or third wife Mary Mathieu. I have never found Robert on any census listing, Louisiana or Texas. And, Bridget is not listed until 1880.

I think Henry had several siblings: Caroline Jenkins Epps Withers Hope, Dora Jenkins Robertson, Louis Jenkins, Stephen Jenkins and Armistead Jenkins. I’ve been trying to piece together who were Henry’s children. This I believe is complicated because I believe his first two wives may have died young and Henry and children may have been living in separate households. I believe his children with his first wife were: Victoria, Oliver, Simon Felix, Louisa and Henry. Henry had a number of childen with Mary Mathieu (Matthews).

The Jenkins family lived in St. Mary Parish and/or Jeanerette, Iberia Parish, Louisiana. If any of the above names fit on your family tree, then we are kin!