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)
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| 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.
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| 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
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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.
