An 89th Birthday Declaration

Months before her 89th birthday my mother, Evelyn O. Brown Williams, decided she was not going to renew her driver's license. She had already curtailed her driving in prior years by not driving at night and only taking necessary trips to the doctor and the grocery store. Her mother, Lucy Washington Brown, (aka Granny) also gave up her drivers license in her senior years. 

 

I remember when my mother learned to drive in the late 1960s-- taking lessons from a driving school and supplementing those lessons with her brother, Arthur Brown. She was never a long-distance driver and she wasn't a jump-in-the-car-and-just-drive kind of driver. Her trips always had purpose. However, I think the most joy she got from driving was errands such as picking up my daughter from school, taking her to the library, Girl Scout meetings, and anything to do with being a doting grandmother while I was working.

Mommy sold her last car this month -- a sports car that she inherited from the estate of her oldest son and my brother, Flick. When he purchased the car, his colleagues teased that he was going through a mid-life crisis. I found it amusing that in her time owning it, the car sported a handicap license plate and she told me that people were always surprised went she got out the driver's side. She's a true polyester-dressed little old lady -- 5 feet nothing and thin.

Copyright © 2020 by Sandra Williams Bush, Ancestor Callings: Georgia and Mississippi Roots. All Rights Reserved.

Riding While Black Memories

I read both Driving While Black by Gretchen Sorin and Overground Railroad: the Green Book and the Roots of Black Travel in America by Candacy A. Taylor. Later I saw the 2-hour documentary based on Ms. Sorin's book.

Both had me remembering that our family was one of many that did not have a car in the 1950s and 1960s. Two of our neighbors across across the street on Walnut had cars and they each made the annual trip South to visit family. Both families were also very active in their respective churches which they drove to --  and I'm sure the family cars were used for the necessity of grocery shopping.

My family never made that Southern pilgrimage. My mother's mother, Lucy Washington Brown, never took her children South, probably because she was basically a single mother trying to made ends meet. Growing up I do remember her taking annual trips to Mississippi, Chicago, and Ashtabula Ohio to see her siblings and other family; however, this was long after her four children were adults with lives of their own. Her mode of transportation was either bus or train.

It wasn't until I saw the Freedom Rides Museum / Historic Montgomery Greyhound Bus Station in 2019 that I realized how difficult Granny's travel to Mississippi must have been -- the mental strain to switch from Northern to Southern thinking and actions. To stand in this museum that still had the vestiges of a segregated bus station was overwhelming.

From the personal collection of S.W. Bush

The Colored Entrance (now boarded up) where a passenger would go inside to purchase a ticket and then have to go outside to wait the bus. 

Neither of my parents drove or had a driver's license. My experiences of riding while Black include the jitney rides my mother took from the grocery store. We usually walked to the grocery store.  Jitney drivers (most often men) acted as taxicabs in their private cars and they were unlicensed. The drivers waited outside grocery stores to see if someone needed a ride home and they would charge a small fee.

My favorite car experiences were the occasional Sunday rides with my grandparents, Richard and Anna Davenport. What a treat viewing the world from the back of Popoo's station wagon! Also there were the rides to their summer place, Golden Hor-Shoe Motor Court in Idlewild Michigan. During those long rides from Buffalo, New York the car was packed with food, beverages, blankets, and pillows --  and laughter.

Copyright © 2020 by Sandra Williams Bush, Ancestor Callings: Georgia and Mississippi Roots. All Rights Reserved.

Genealogy Books -- Select Titles

I am a book person and my shelves overflow with books on various subjects. I am also a Librarian (retired) so I tend to group my collections by subject. Listing all my genealogy book would be a bit much. Listed below are some of my favorite titles.

General Titles

The Family Tree Toolkit: A Comprehensive Guide to Uncovering Your Ancestry and Researching Genealogy by Kenyatta D. Berry

The Best of Reclaiming Kin: Helpful Tips On Researching Your Roots by Robyn N. Smith

The Researcher's Guide to American Genealogy by Val D. Greenwood

How to Do Everything: Genealogy by George Morgan

Genealogy Standards compiled by Board for Certification of Genealogists

Research Like a Pro: A Genealogists Guide by Diana Elder and Nicole Dyer

African American Genealogy

A Genealogist's Guide to Discovering Your African-American Ancestors: How to Find and Record Your Unique Heritage

Black Genealogy by Charles L. Blockson

Black Roots: A Beginner's Guide to Tracing the African American Family Tree by Tony Burroughs

African American Genealogical Sourcebook edited by Paula K. Byers

Finding a Place Called Home: A Guide to African-American Genealogy and Historical Identity by Dee Parmer Woodtor

Help Me to Find My People: The African American Search for Family Lost in Slavery by Heather Andrea Williams

Organization

Organize Your Genealogy: Strategies and Solutions for Every Researcher by Drew Smith

The Organized Family Historian: How to File, Manage, and Protect Your Genealogical Research and Heirlooms by Ann Carter Fleming

How to Use Evernote for Genealogy: A Step-by-Step Guide to Organize Your Research and Boost Your Genealogy Productivity by Kerry Scott

Copyright © 2020 by Sandra Williams Bush, Ancestor Callings: Georgia and Mississippi Roots. All Rights Reserved.

Connecting to Enslaved Ancestor -- Sylvia Adair Washington

June 2020 was the summer of Covid-19, protests marches highlighting Black Lives Matter and the push for police reform.

June 2020 was also the summer I broke through I brick wall and found family connected to an enslaved ancestor.

    My grandmother, Lucy Washington Brown was the daughter of Peter Washington (1872-1953).  Peter was the son of Ned Washington (1822-1918). Ned was the son of Sylvia Adair Washington who was born around 1795-1800.

Going backwards in time, of course --  the 1880 U.S. census, has Sylvey Adair, age 80 living with her grandson, Oliver Washington. They are living together in Barkers, Floyd County, Georgia.  Oliver is single and a farmer. Sylvey is recorded as "widow".  Living next door is Ned Washington, his wife and sons: Silas, Newton, Elijah, Peter, and Ned. (Peter Washington is my great grandfather)

Year: 1880; Census Place: Barkers, Floyd, Georgia; Roll: 146; Page: 314A; Enumeration District: 071

Ten years earlier, the 1870 U.S. census was the first census to name formally enslaved Black Americans and list them together in family units. My 3rd great grandmother is recorded as Sieve Washington, age 75,  living with  her son Ned Washington, his wife and family (including Ned's son, Oliver) in Cedar Town, Polk County, Georgia. Ned Washington is my 2nd great grandfather.

Year: 1870; Census Place: Polk, Georgia; Roll: M593_170; Page: 336A; Image: 227515; Family History Library Film: 545669

Can't help but wonder why Mz Sylvia moved from her son's home and she's living in her grandson's home in 1880.  I image her as one of those down-home nurturing grandmothers -- "Mmmm, baby, I'm gonna come over and fix you sumthin to eat." And so one week led to another and there they were living together comfortably.  I also imagine that Oliver decided that it was time to "strike out on his own" but  still wanted to be close enough to help his father on the farm. Those Washingtons . . . I'm looking forward to finding out more of their stories.

Adair surame
Why was the surname of  Sieve / Sylvey different in the 1870 and 1880 census?  Was she looking to connect to family? What was her connection to the Adair surname?

DNA told me that I am genetically connected to the Adair line.  So I researched the Adair family and found that one line were enslavers who lived in Georgia.  The brother who seemed to most probably be connected to Sieve / Sylvey was Bozeman Adair.

Bozeman Adair was a Georgia farmer and among his enslaved was a woman named Sylvia. When he moved to Carroll County, Georgia; Bozeman and his wife Sarah joined New Hope Primitive Baptist Church of Christ, Villa Rica in January 1829. Years later included in the church membership record of 23 Apr 1836 is "SYLVIA, A WOMAN OF COLOUR, property of BOZEMAN ADAIR  RBE"

Bozeman Adair died at the age of 86 on April 7, 1857 in Paulding County, Georgia. Listed in the 1858 estate papers of Bozeeman Adair (Paulding County, Georgia) are Neal "man",  Lige "old man", and Sylvia "old woman.


Bozeman Adair, enslaver
     According to the 1820 U.S. census, Bozeman Adair lived in Madison County, Georgia with his inferred family and five enslaved people:                                                                                                                                                                          Enslaved male, under 14: 1
Enslaved males, 14-25: 1 Enslaved female under 14: 1 Enslaved female, 14-25: 1 Enslaved female 26-44: 1
1820 U S Census; Census Place: Madison, Georgia; Page: 43; NARA Roll: M33_9; Image: 67



     By the 1830 U.S. census he had moved to Carroll County, Georgia along with is inferred family and three enslaved people:
Enslaved male 24-35: 1
Enslaved female, 24-35: 1
Enslaved female, 36-54: 1
1830; Census Place: Carroll, Georgia; Series: M19; Roll: 16; Page: 214; Family History Library Film: 0007036.



     In the 1840 U.S. census Bozeman was still in Carroll County and had four enslaved people:
Enslaved, males, 10-23: 1 Enslaved males, 36-54: 1 Enslaved females, 24-36: 1 Enslaved females, 55-99 1
Year: 1840; Census Place: District 642, Carroll, Georgia; Roll: 38; Family History Library Film: 0007042

.

     In the 1850 Slave Schedule Bozeman was living in Paulding County, Georgia and had four enslaved people:
Female, 68 Male, 54 Female, 47
                                           Male, 24
1850 U.S. Federal Census - Slave Schedules. Census Place: Militia District 951, Paulding, Georgia.



Of course all of this leads to many more questions: Are Bozeman and Sylvia related? Why did he sponsor her church membership? Was Sylvia able to marry? Who was the father of her child(ren)?  Did she have other children?

My primary question is:  Where was Sylvia Adair Washington, my third great grandmother, between the death of Bozeman Adair in 1857 and the 1870 census?




Copyright © 2020 by Sandra Williams Bush, Ancestor Callings: Georgia and Mississippi Roots. All Rights Reserved.

Research Log -- What Works For Me

I have had a question on a family relationship in the back of my head FOREVER. By using a Research Log, I'm finally heading in the direction to finding an answer.

Genealogy or family history research is more than names and dates. It's who is related to who? Why did a person/family relocate to a certain area? How did an historical event effect a family line? And so much more.

There have been way too many times I have looked at a record or got excited about a record only to realize that I've been down that road before. I need to get organized about my research!  Research logs are one way to organize.

Yes, there are many genealogy research logs out there but I just haven't been able to wrap my brain around them --  they are just too complicated for me.  Besides needing a more simplified approach, I need to somehow document what I already know, along with a "To Do" list to supplement my Research Question.  Since a Research Question is based on a speculation, family lore, what may already be known or found, etc. -- I need structure on where to go from there and a "To Do" to work on that question.

Based on the various Research Logs I have seen, I put together what works best for me. I was getting too frustrated with other logs and yet I knew I HAD to have something to guide me or I would continue to go around in circles with my research.

RESEARCH LOG for (Name)

RESEARCH QUESTION:  How is XX1 related to XX2 family

WHAT I KNOW:  XX1 is living with XX2 family as niece in a census, but has a different last name

TO DO:  

1. Start with that census record to find others with XX1 surname in the area
2. Look at previous census year to see if XX1 family and/or XX2 family are in same area

3. Try to find obituaries or death records that may list family connection

DATE	WHERE I SEARCHED	TASKS	SOURCE	NOTES

SUMMARY / WORKING CONCLUSION:




Copyright © 2020 by Sandra Williams Bush, Ancestor Callings: Georgia and Mississippi Roots. All Rights Reserved.

Transcription of Death Certificate for Peter Washington

On March 11, 2020 I ordered the Coroner's Certificate of Death for my maternal great grandfather, Peter Washington.  I received the document on April 8, 2020 via email attachment.

Following is a partial transcription of the first half of the document. I put asterisks at the information I believe to be questionable or incorrect.

1. PLACE OF DEATH:
     a. COUNTY: Cook Illinois
     b. CITY: Chicago
     c. LENGTH OF STAY (in this place): 17 yrs
     d. FULL NAME OF HOSPITAL OR INSTITUTION (If not in hospital or institution, give street address or location): 3011 S. Calumet Ave*

* Peter Washington probably died at home and was pronounced by the Coroner who, along with the Deputy Coroner, signed the Certificate the following day (May 5, 1953).  Perhaps he died before he could be taken to the hospital. Or perhaps going to the hospital was not an option due to finances or medical coverage.  The Provident Hospital was about three miles from Peter Washington's home.
      An historical aside: As late as the mid-20th century many hospitals in Chicago refused to treat Negroes or even hire Negroes as doctors and nurses.  The Provident Hospital  was organized by Dr. Daniel Hale Williams in 1891 to ensure hospital care for African Americans, as well as a place of employment for African American medical professionals.   (Buelow, Paul A. The Electronic Encyclopedia of Chicago; Chicago Historical Society: Chicago, Illinois: 2005)

2. USUAL RESIDENCE:
    a. STATE: Illinois
    b. COUNTY: Cook
    c. CITY OR TOWN: Illinois
    d. STREET ADDRESS: 3011 S. Calumet Ave
 
3. NAME OF DECEASED: Pete Washington **

** His name is listed as Peter Washington in the U.S. Census records of 1880, 1900, 1910, 1920, and 1930; as well as his marriage record (Ancestry.com. Georgia, Marriage Records From Select Counties, 1828-1978 {database on-line}. Provo, UT, USA: Ancestry.com Operations, Inc., 2013)

4. DATE OF DEATH:  May 4,1953

5. SEX: Male

6. COLOR: Negro

7. MARRIED, NEVER MARRIED, WIDOWED, DIVORCED (Specify):  Widowed

8. DATE OF BIRTH:  Dec. 25, 1892***

9. AGE (in years last birthday):  60 ***

*** According to the 1900 U.S. census, Peter Washington was born Dec 1872. This would make him 80 years old at the time of his death. (1900; Census Place: Beat 1, Holmes, Mississippi; Roll: T623_810; Page: 8A; Enumeration District : 34)

*** If Peter Washington was born in 1892 he would have been eight years old when his son (and informant) Ned Washington was born in 1900. In the 1910 U.S. census Holmes County, Mississippi, Ned is listed as 9 years old and his father, Peter, is 38 years old. (U.S. 1910 Census, Place Beat 1, Holmes, Mississippi; Roll T624_742; Page 5B; Enumeration District 39; Image: 861)

*** In 1953 (Peter Washington year of death), his son, Ned Washington was 52 years old. Ned's date of birth is July 17, 1900 which is listed on several documents --  including his WWI Draft Registration Card and WWII Draft Registration Card.

10a. USUAL OCCUPATION (Give kind of work done during most of working life even if retired): Laborer

10b. KIND OF BUSINESS OR INDUSTRY:  General

11. BIRTHPLACE (State or Foreign Country):  Georgia

12. CITIZEN OF WHAT COUNTRY:  U.S.A.

13. FATHER'S NAME:  Peter Washington ****

14. MOTHER'S MAIDEN NAME:  Mary Barrett ****

15. WAS DECEASED EVER IN THE U.S. ARMED FORCES: No

16. SOCIAL SECURITY NO,:  Unknown

17. INFORMANT:
      Name:   Ned Washington
      Address:  3011 S. Calumet
      Relationship to the deceased:  Son

**** Peter Washington and Mary Barrett are the parents of Ned Washington, the informant; not the parents of the deceased.   (U.S. 1910 Census, Place Beat 1, Holmes, Mississippi; Roll T624_742; Page 5B; Enumeration District 39; Image: 861)

18.  CAUSE OF DEATH:  Atherosclerotic Heart Disease

20. AUTOPSY? No

What I learned:
1. My great grandfather, Peter Washington, may have lived in Chicago for 17 years
2. He died at home and his son, Ned Washington, was the Informant for the death certificate
3. Cause of death
4. Burial date of May 9, 1953
5. Funeral Home: Douglas Funeral Home, 4521 So. State Street
6. Place of Burial: Lincoln (the same cemetery as his wife, Mary Barrett Washington)
7. Reinforcement of the need to analyze information

Questions for further research:
1. Who are Peter Washington's parents?
2. Confirmation of when he moved to Chicago
3. Did Peter Washington live with his son, Ned --  or visa versa?
4. Was there a church service for his funeral?

Copyright © 2020 by Sandra Williams Bush, Ancestor Callings: Georgia and Mississippi Roots. All Rights Reserved.

Henry Clay Button -- Timeline Analysis

1870
Henry Clay Button is my paternal great grandfather. According to census records, he was born between 1858 and 1862 in Georgia.  It took a bit of deduction to find him. In the 1870 census of Bibb County, Georgia, it is not far-fetched to believe that Henry Clay was called by his middle name, Clay, in the household of his possible father, Henry Button. In this record he is 12 years old, making his birth year about 1858.

Year: 1870; Census Place: Subdivision 8, Bibb, Georgia; Roll: M593_136; Page: 731B; Family History Library Film: 545635

1880
Ten years later, he is again listed as Clay Button and 18 years of age which would make his birth year about 1862. Although he is not ten years older than his 12 years in 1870 and he is not with his family, he is still in Bibb County, Georgia. He is a boarder and field hand in the household of Simon Andrews who is a farm laborer.  Also in the household are Anna Andrews (wife), their five children, Willis Andrews (brother), and another boarder, George Sharp, age 18.

Year: 1880; Census Place: District 514, Bibb, Georgia; Roll: 134; Page: 46C; Enumeration District: 008

1883
The next thing I knew about him was through a marriage record that I had found when researching his wife, my great grandmother Mary Lane. They were married on 28 Dec 1883 in Bibb County, Georgia. No ages are on the record but it is proof of their marriage.

Doggone that 1890 census!

1900
For quite awhile I was unable to find Henry Clay Button and family in the 1900 census. Then I decided to try the F.A.N. club --  Family, Associates, Neighbors. I concentrated on the neighbors with unusual names in the 1910 census of Macon, Georgia and worked backward to see if they were in the 1900 census.  Henry Cornelius. Joe Life. Nothing.  But I hit pay dirt when I just used the last name Cornelius in Georgia, USA on FamilySearch.org. It wasn't the Cornelius family from the 1910 census but the family above them is listed as Henry Battle (head), Mary (wife) and Florence, Ida B., and Annie N (daughters).  YES!!! The family relationships, ages, street (Flanders) were all in sync with the 1910 census --  just the last name was wrong. In this record he is 40 years old, making his birth year about 1860.

Year: 1900; Census Place: East Macon, Bibb, Georgia; Page: 3; Enumeration District: 0014; FHL microfilm: 1240180

1904
I was able to locate Henry Button in Macon, Georgia in 1904 living at 534 Flanders (East Macon). He is married and his occupation is listed as fireman. (Macon, Georgia, City Directory, 1904: Ancestry.com. U.S. City Directories, 1822-1995)

1905, 1906, 1907, 1908
During each of the years above, he is married and living at 532 Flanders (East Macon). In 1905 his occupation is listed as laborer at the Acme Brewing Company; in 1906 - fireman; in 1907 and 1908 - laborer. (Macon, Georgia, City Directory: Ancestry.com. U.S. City Directories, 1822-1995)

The Acme Brewing Company had one of the best equipped plants in the south. The company was housed in a brick building that was four stories high, located among a system of railroad tracks. As one of the most successful businesses in the south, it.employed hundreds of people. Digital Library of Georgia: Georgia Historic Newspapers: The Macon telegraph. (Macon, Ga.) 188?-1905, July 22, 1894, Image 3
In a company this large, I would image that there were various positions which is why my great grandfather was a laborer or fireman in different years.

1910
His family had grown by two daughters (Bessie and Verna E.) in the 1910 census, still living at 532 Flanders. An addition to the household is a niece, Fanny Gross.

Year: 1910; Census Place: Macon Ward 1, Bibb, Georgia; Roll: T624_173; Page: 6A; Enumeration District: 28; Image: 614.

1912, 1914,  1917
In each of the years above, he is married and continued to live at 532 Flanders (East Macon).  His occupation is listed as laborer in 1912 and fireman in both 1914 and 1917. (Macon, Georgia, City Directory: Ancestry.com. U.S. City Directories, 1822-1995)

The table of contents of the Macon City directories indicate that white and colored residents are grouped separately in 1904 through 1908 and 1912; churches and secret societies are also grouped in that way. The 1914 and 1917 Macon City directories listed all residents together but Colored residents were indicated by an asterisk (*). Churches and secret societies were still separated and grouped by white and colored.

1918
Not listed in the 1918 Macon, Georgia City Directory.

Death
Henry Clay Button probably died between 1917 and 1920. In the 1920 census, his wife Mary is listed as a widow, still living at 532 Flanders with son-in-law William Burkett as head of household and husband of her daughter, Florence and their 1 1/2 year old son Joseph.  Still in the household are the two youngest Button daughters: Bessie, 16 and Lizzie, 10.

Death Certificate
The state of Georgia did not begin statewide registration of births and deaths until 1919. Death records from 1919 to 1930 are indexed and available online through the Georgia Archives Virtual Vault (Death Certificates collection).  The site also includes a small collection from the years 1914-1918. The entire collection may be searched by County of Death and/or Year of Death.

This timeline helped me (1) fill in "holes" in my great grandfather's story; (2) look at what I had more critically; (3) realize the year span for my great grandfather's death.  Maybe I can find what I need online and maybe not. At any rate, the search continues . . .





Copyright © 2020 by Sandra Williams Bush, Ancestor Callings: Georgia and Mississippi Roots. All Rights Reserved.