Tuesday, July 31, 2012

Tombstone Tuesday: Granny Bounds Cemetery, Forrest County MS

The Granny Bounds Cemetery is located west off Highway 49, just outside of Brooklyn, Mississippi in what is now Forrest County.  There are a total of 31 known interments in this cemetery, named after Naomi Rebecca Bounds, the wife of James Bounds and the one that is said to have been called "Granny Bounds".  It is also claimed that Naomi was full-blooded Choctaw Indian.  

Photo Credit:  William Tatum

Photo Credit:  William Tatum

The cemetery is located in a wooded area down a two path road but the grave sites are well maintained.  Some of the older graves had been marked with chunks of red sandstone but it is said that a well-meaning individual moved the stones to one side of the cemetery to mow the grass.  Many of those old stones have been replaced by newer headstones, probably by their descendants.  

Family members buried in this cemetery directly linked to me are:


The grave marker that replaced the old one for
John E. "Jack" Anderson
Photo Credit:  Kerry Cayten


The new grave marker for Sarah Davis Anderson,
wife of John "Jack" Anderson
Photo Credit:  Kerry Cayten

Memorials listed on Find A Grave
Added by Robert E. Lee
Click here for John "Jack" Anderson
Click here for Sarah Davis Anderson

The head stones of Joseph Anderson and wife Julia Ann Pushmataha, more famously known in the Anderson family circle as "Running Deer" also claim their spot in this cemetery.  Family history states that John E. "Jack" Anderson was the son of this couple.  I only wish there was documented proof of this information.  It is claimed that Julia Ann Pushmataha was the daughter of Choctaw Chief Mingo Pushmataha, an admired and well respected man of his time.  

Also called Julia Ann Pushmataha
Photo Credit:  Kerry Cayten

Photo Credit:  Kerry Cayten

If anyone has information to substantiate the connection of John E. "Jack" Anderson to Joseph Anderson, or of Julia Ann Pushmataha to Choctaw Chief Mingo Pushmataha, please do not hesitate to contact me, thanks!


Monday, July 30, 2012

John E. "Jack" Anderson, c.1797-1865, SC>MS

John E. "Jack" Anderson, my maternal 4th great-grandfather, was born c. 1797 in South Carolina.  There has been a great deal of controversy in who the actual father of Jack Anderson was.  Several online family histories state that this Jack Anderson was the son of Joseph Anderson, who supposedly married Julia Ann Pushmataha, or "Running Deer", daughter of Choctaw Chief Mingo Pushmataha.   To my knowledge, this family story remains unproved.  Other family histories report that Jack's father was Daniel Austin Anderson, who supposedly was a major during the War of 1812.  I have been unable to find any information on this Daniel Austin Anderson thus far.  

There was a John Anderson listed on the 1816 State & Territorial Census, Wayne County, Mississippi.  The household consisted of 1 male < age 21, 1 male > age 21, 2 females < age 21 and 1 female > age 21.  Jack would have been about 19 years old at that time- I wonder if perhaps this John Anderson was related.  Could Jack have been the male under age 21 on this census record?  

Jack married Sarah Davis c. 1822 in Perry County, Mississippi.  Sarah was born 26 December 1803 in South Carolina and was said to be the daughter of James Davis and Elizabeth Daughdrill.

The 1830 federal census of Perry County, Mississippi listed John Anderson with the following in his household: 2 males under age 5 (John Harris and James Aaron), 1 male age 5-9 (unknown), 1 male age 20-29 (unknown), 1 male age 30-39 (Jack); 1 female under age 5 (Sarah Ann), 1 female age 5-9 (Elizabeth), and 1 female age 20-29 (wife, Sarah).

The 1840 federal census of Perry County, Mississippi listed John Anderson with:  2 males under age 5 (Daniel Austin and Elisha Ryan), 2 males age 5-9 (William Hawkins and James Aaron), 1 male age 10-14 (John Harris), 1 male age 40-49 (Jack), 1 male age 50-59 (unknown); 1 female age 5-9 (Mary Jane), 2 females age 10-14 (Sarah Ann and Elizabeth), and 1 female age 30-39 (wife, Sarah).

In 1850, Perry County, Mississippi, John and Sarah have three children remaining in their household- William, age 17, Daniel, age 15, and Elisha, age 13.  John Harris Anderson, the son of John and Sarah, resided next door.  Note that the census taker made an error in writing the ages of the John H. Anderson family.

1850 Federal Census, Perry County, Mississippi, Pg 40

A decade later, John and Sarah are shown as residents in the household of Moses Fillingame who lived in Marion County, Mississippi.  Their daughter, Elizabeth, had married Moses.

1860 Federal Census, Marion County, Mississippi, Pg 41

John E. "Jack" Anderson died in 1865.  He was buried in the Granny Bounds Cemetery, Forrest County, Mississippi.

In 1870, Sarah was once again a resident in Perry County, living near her sons, John and William.  She died 28 October 1879 in Perry County and was laid to rest next to her husband.  

Children of John E. "Jack" Anderson and Sarah Davis:
i.    Elizabeth Anderson (1823-1863), married Moses Fillingame
ii.   Sarah Ann Anderson (1826-1909), married Daniel Austin Boon
iii.  John Harris Anderson (1828-1890), married (1) Elizabeth Jane Anderson (2) Alice Hodgepeth Roberts
iv.  James Aaron Anderson (1830-1865), married Mary Louise Fillingame
v.   Mary Jane Anderson (1832-1906), married Austin Fillingame
vi.  William Hawkins Anderson (1833-1888), married Drucilla Landrum
vii.  Daniel Austin "Bunk" Anderson (1834-1913), married Rebecca Henrietta "Kissie" Stafford
viii. Elisha Ryan Anderson (1837-1866), married Nancy Lee

See also:
Tombstone Tuesday: Granny Bounds Cemetery, Forrest County MS





Sunday, July 29, 2012

Sharing Memories: (Week 31) It's the Ice Cream Man!

This photo is a rather exaggerated version of the ice cream truck that came into our neighborhood, but I just thought it was cute.

How many of you remember the ice cream truck that made neighborhood rounds during the summer?  Oh boy, do I remember those days. Those sweltering, humid, hot days of summer in southern Louisiana when there was not even the slightest breeze blowing. Those days when my siblings and I would turn on the garden hose and drink water from it while soaking ourselves to cool off. Those days when we would have a blast playing under the lawn sprinklers.

All of a sudden, one of us would hear it in the distance... the familiar tune that we knew all so well. We would stop whatever we were doing at the time and start running toward our house. "Mom! Mommmmmmm!!! Here comes the ice cream man!"  "We need some quarters Mom, pleaseeeeeeee!!!"
We would wait impatiently while she dug through the various things she kept her change in... a cup in the kitchen cabinet, her purse, a ceramic dish on her dresser.  "Hurry Mommmmmmmm, he's coming, he's coming".
"Okay, okay, patience please", She would retort back.
Once we had the silver pieces of change in hand, outside we would dash looking for the ominous sign... the bright-colored truck with the speaker on top of it. We would stand on the curb of our driveway, waiting, thinking... trying to decide what we wanted ahead of time.
When the ice cream truck pulled over beside us, we would look at all of the bright pictures on the side which depicted what was available. Mom usually wanted us to bring her an ice cream sandwich. I liked the "Sidewalk Sundaes" or the "Fudgesicles".
After getting our goods, we would sit down on the lawn and enjoy... yumyum!
This was only one of the few things that I found great about the summer :)

Richard Fillingham, Sr., 1638-1675, England to America

Richard Fillingham (Fillingame), Sr., my 8th great-grandfather, was born c.1638 in Normanton, Nottinghamshire, England.  He was the son of Richard Fillingham (1572-1616)  and Katherine Britton of Nottinghamshire, Leicestshire, England and the grandson of Bartholomew Fillingham (1553-1618) and Elizabeth Benskin of England.  He married Sandra Jane Wright.  

Richard Fillingham (spelled variously Phillingham, Fillingane, Fillingane & Fillingim) was transported to America from England by a Kent/Cecil County, Maryland planter named Thomas Hinson, who transported a number of people in two separate shipments. Richard Fillingham was indentured to Mr. Hinson (for his passage) and at the end of his indenture, received 50 acres of land. Although no record can be found of Richard's wife, his will states he wished to be buried on his land, "Arcadia," next to his wife. Richard assigned Samuel Tovey of Bristol, England as executor of his estate and left the care of his young son Richard. Mr. Tovey was a lawyer in Maryland. The two churches in Kent and Cecil Counties have records (handwritten and microfilm) of who owned church pews, marriages, births, deaths, etc. It is from this source that the information was obtained relating to John Fillingim/Margaret Money family. One church bought part of the Richard Fillingham's estate, "Arcadia." The Hall of Records, in Annapolic, Maryland has various land records, probate records, patent records, etc. *** This information taken from family group records, it has not been confirmed.

Richard Fillingham died  23 March 1675 in Kent, Maryland.  Little is known about his wife, Sandra.  According to family history, they had one son- Richard.


Gary Wayne Fillingame has done extensive research on the Fillingham/Fillingame family.  His research is published online at www.gfill.tripod.com.  

Richard Fillingham, Jr., c.1670-1717, Maryland

Richard Fillingham (Fillingame), Jr was born c. 1670 in Kent, Maryland, the son of Richard Fillingham, Sr and Sandra Jane Wright.  He married Martha Jarvis.  The couple resided in Kent, Maryland where their children were born and reared.  

Richard died 16 January 1717 in St. Paul's Parish, Kent, Maryland.  The date of his wife's death or the names of his wife's parents remain unknown.

Children of Richard Fillingham, Jr and Martha Jarvis:
i.   Sarah Fillingham, baptized 27 April 1701 in St. Paul's Parish, Kent, Maryland
ii.  Richard Fillingham III, baptized 07 August 1705 in St. Paul's Parish, Kent, Maryland
iii. John Fillingham, Sr, baptized 13 July 1709 in St. Paul's Parish, Kent, Maryland, married Margaret Money (Monnet)

John Fillingham Sr, 1709-1773, MD>NC

John Fillingham (Fillingame) Sr, my maternal 6th great-grandfather, was born 13 July 1709 in St. Paul's Parish, Kent, Maryland.  He was the son of Richard Fillingham (Fillingame) Jr and Martha Jarvis.  

He married Margaret Money (Monnet) on 21 March 1734 in Cecilton, Cecil, Maryland.  She was the daughter of Robert Monnet and Margaret Darrel.  It is known the couple resided in St. Stephens Parish, Cecil, Maryland from 1734 through 1754 as all of their children were born there.  Sometime before 1771, John and Margaret moved to Pitt County, North Carolina.  This is proved by the date on his will, 11 November 1771.

Will of John Fillingham Sr, Pitt County, North Carolina


John died in 1773, as his will was probated 22 December 1773 in Pitt County, North Carolina.  It is presently unknown when his wife Margaret died.

Children of John Fillingham Sr and Margaret Money:
i.     Margaret Fillingim, born 01 December 1736 in Cecil, Maryland
ii.    Martha Fillingim, born 12 August 1738 in Cecil, Maryland
iii.   John Fillingim Jr, born 09 April 1739 in Cecil, Maryland
iv.   Richard Fillingim, born 14 April 1742 in Cecil, Maryland
v.    Mary Rebecca Fillingim, born 20 April 1744 in Cecil, Maryland; married William Hayes
vi.   Robert F. Fillingim, born 02 February 1745 in Cecil, Maryland
vii.  Samuel Fillingim, born 03 September 1750 in Cecil, Maryland
viii. Lewis Benjamin Fillingim, born September 1754 in Cecil, Maryland
ix.  Jarvis Fillingim, born September 1754 in Cecil, Maryland; married Elizabeth Ince


John Fillingame Jr, 1739-, MD>NC

John Fillingim (Fillingame) Jr. was born 09 April 1739 in St. Stephens Parish, Cecil, Maryland and died between 1791-1807.  He was the son of John Fillingham (Fillingame) Sr and Margaret Monnet.  

John Fillingham Jr., was in Craven County, North Carolina in November 1790, but was not on the 1800 census.  In 1807 his orphans drew for land in the Georgia Land Lottery, so he must have died between 1790 and 1807.  It is not known where he died, or  who he married. Neither is it known  exactly how many children he had. On the 1790 census, there were a total of 7 males and 3 females in his household. Besides himself there were 2 males over 16, 4 males under 16, and 3 females. The only children we are fairly sure of are William, Robert, Samuel, and possibly Moses.  Also Nancy, but she was born after the 1790 census. In Oct. 1800 there was a John Feldingin who was a witness to a land transaction in Anson County, North Carolina who may have been our John Jr.  The name of wife J.L. Kloylock was taken from an Ancestry.com family tree. It is not verified.


Children of John Fillingame Jr and Unknown Spouse:
i.    Nancy Fillingame
ii.   Robert Fillingame
iii.  Samuel Fillingame
iv.  William Fillingame, born c. 1789, married Frances Grantham.

Saturday, July 28, 2012

William Fillingame, c.1789-1836, NC>GA>MS

William Fillingame, my maternal 4th great-grandfather, was born c. 1789 in Craven County, North Carolina.  William drew for land in the 1807 GA land lottery with the other orphans of John Fillingim, Jr.  But it was only William who sold that land in 1812. ( this sale provides the link from William to his Father, John, Jr.)  William served in War of 1812. From the 9th of August until the 13th of September, 1813, William Fullingame served as a private in a detachment of militia ordered to the fromtier of Twiggs Co., GA by Brig. Gen. Blackshear for the protection of the inhabitants and for the erection of a fort called Telfair.  William and his brother Robert, were on the 1818 Greene County, Mississippi tax lists, and their sister Nancy married in 1817 in Greene County. It is estimated they arrived in Mississippi before 1818.

William married Frances Grantham, sources say the couple married 1810 in South Carolina.  It is unknown who her parents were. 


Family tradition states that five of William and Frances' sons were in the Confederate Army and fought in the Civil War.  Two of them were killed in action- Ransom and Austin.  Another died from measles- Moses.  Two sons returned home from the war- James and William.

Children of William Fillingame and Frances Grantham:
i.    Elizabeth Fillingame, born about 1811 in Georgia, married Samuel Dennis
ii.   Sarah Adeline Fillingame, born about 1814 in Georgia, married Rev. Richard Reuben Breland
iii.  Olive Fillingame, born about 1815 in Georgia, married Samuel Asa Hartfield
iv.  Moses Fillingame, born about 1816 in Georgia, married Elizabeth Anderson
v.   James Fillingame
vi.  Harriet Fillingame, born about 1818 in Greene County, Mississippi, married Lyman Carley
vii. William C. Fillingame, born about 1822 in Mississippi, married Margaret (last name unknown)
viii. John Fillingame, born 14 February 1823 in Mississippi, married Jane Grubbs
ix.  Nancy Anne Fillingame, born about 1825 in Mississippi, married William Armistead Terrell
x.   Ransom Fillingame, born about 1828 in Mississippi, married Caroline Whiddon
xi.  Austin Fillingame, born about 1829 in Mississippi, married Mary Jane Anderson
xii. Mary Louisa Fillingame, born about 1829-30 in Mississippi, married James Aaron Anderson


Moses Fillingame, c.1816-1863, Perry County MS

Moses Fillingame, my maternal third great-grandfather, was born c. 1816 in Georgia, the son of William Fillingame and Frances Grantham.  

In 1840, the federal census of Perry County, Mississippi has Moses Fillingame with the following in his household- 2 males age 5-9, 1 male age 10-14, 1 male age 15-19, 1 male age 20-29; 1 female age 5-9, 1 female age 10-14, 1 female age 20-29, 1 female age 40-49.  Because Moses was only about 24 years old on this census, I speculate there was another family residing in his household.  

Just five years later, the 1845 State & Territorial Census, Perry County, indicated that Moses Fillingame had only three persons in his household- 2 males and 1 female.  Also listed on the census was Francis Fillingame, who had six persons in her household.  It is speculative that Francis and her family were residing with Moses in 1840.  

Moses married Elizabeth Anderson, the daughter of John E. "Jack" Anderson and Sarah Davis.  She was born c. 1823 in Perry County, Mississippi.  They resided in Perry County 1850.  The couple had one child- son Daniel, age 1.  

1850 Federal Census, Perry County, Mississippi, Pg 36

In 1853, the State & Territorial Census, Perry County, shows that Moses had 5 persons in his household.  Next door was his brother William Fillingame, with 3 persons in his household.  

By 1860, Moses and Elizabeth were listed in Marion County, Mississippi. The federal census shows the following in their household- Moses (head, age 45), Elizabeth (female, age 37), Daniel (male, age 11), Alvin (male, age 8), Almeda (female, age 6), Alice Jane (female, age 4) and Benjamin (male, age 1).  Also living in their household were Elizabeth's parents, John and Sarah Anderson.  On either side of Moses and Elizabeth  resided two of the brothers of Elizabeth- William Hawkins Anderson and James Aaron Anderson.

1860 Federal Census, Marion County, Mississippi, Pg 41


In the early 1860's the rumors of civil war had spread across the nation.  Hundreds of men across the south signed up to take their place on the battle field.  Moses would be among them.  He enlisted in the Confederate States Army in 1862, Perry County, Mississippi.  He was with Company F, 7th Battalion, Mississippi Volunteers.  A muster roll card states that he was sent to the field hospital 06 September 1862.  Moses, being too sick to return to his duties, was sent home.  Soon after Moses returned home, his wife Elizabeth fell ill.  In early 1863 (January or February), they both died from the measles.  It is not known if Moses contracted the measles while in the army or after returning home.  Moses and Elizabeth left six orphaned children upon their deaths.  Their youngest, Elizabeth, had been born after the 1860 census was taken.  In 1865, the sister of Moses (Harriet) and her husband Lyman Carley filed for guardianship of the orphaned Fillingame children. 

In addition to his military service, Moses Fillingame was a Mason with the Enon Lodge #199, New Augusta, Mississippi.


Children of Moses Fillingame and Elizabeth Anderson:
i.   Daniel B. Fillingame, born 29 December 1848, married Sarah Angeline Housley
ii.  Alvin Fillingame, born December 1852, married Sarah Palmer
iii. Almedia Fillingame, born 25 December 1854, married Stephen Johnson
iv. Alice Jane Fillingame, born June 1856, married Hezekiah Slade II
v.  Samuel Benjamin Fillingame, born 09 May 1859, married Sarah Henrietta Bocolm
vi.  Elizabeth G. "Betty" Fillingame, born c. 1860-1861, married Wilson "Babe" Johnson


More About Moses Fillingame:
Military Monday- The Story of Moses Fillingame



Elizabeth G. "Betty" Fillingame, c.1860-1943, Lamar County MS

My maternal great-great grandmother, Elizabeth G. "Betty" Fillingame, was born c. 1860-1862 in Marion County, Mississippi. I had hit a "brick wall" in my genealogy research on Elizabeth Fillingame.  Both Moses and William Fillingame had a daughter named Elizabeth.  Moses' daughter Elizabeth was born between 1860-1862 and William's daughter Elizabeth was born c. 1858.  After researching all the census records and dates and reviewing other Fillingame histories, I came to the conclusion that the Elizabeth Fillingame who married Wilson Babe Johnson is most likely the daughter of Moses Fillingame.  I do not have the actual facts to prove this, only an educated conclusion.  

1870 Federal Census, Marion County, Mississippi, Pg 78

Elizabeth, the daughter of Moses and Elizabeth Anderson Fillingame, became an orphan when she was only a toddler.  Her mother died in 1863, followed by her father in 1864.  On the 1870 census, Elizabeth and her siblings Almedia, Alice Jane and Samuel Benjamin were enumerated in the household of Lyman and Harriet Carlin (Carley).  Harriet was a sister to Moses and William Fillingame and she and her husband Lyman filed for guardianship of the orphaned children in 1865.  William Fillingame was widowed in 1870 and also resided in the household of Lyman and Harriet Carley.  Elizabeth had two brothers, Daniel and Alvin, who aren't shown on the 1870 census.  Their whereabouts at that time are unknown.  (Note the two Elizabeth's on the census, one was 12 years old and the other 8 years old.  One was the daughter of Moses and the other the daughter of William.  This is where the confusion began).

Betty married Wilson "Babe" Johnson, the son of Edward Johnson and Martha Ann Lee.  From their union, nine known children were born.  More can be read about Betty and Babe here.  

Betty died 26 December 1943 in Lamar County, Mississippi.  According to her death certificate, she was born March 1859 and was 84 years old at the time of her death.  The date of birth is probably an error because she is not listed on the 1860 federal census.  The cause of her death was unknown.  Informants on the death certificate were Henry Johnson and Abb Johnson, her sons.  Her father was listed as "Joe Fillingame" and her mother wasn't listed. The informants apparently didn't know the name of Betty's mother, which wasn't unusual considering Betty was an orphan.  It is also probable they didn't remember the name of Betty's father.  Betty was buried next to Babe in Caney Baptist Church cemetery, Lamar County, Mississippi.

Death Certificate- Elizabeth Johnson


Green Herrin, c.1816-1880, GA>MS

Green Herrin (seated), with sons William H. and James

Green Herrin, my maternal 3rd great-grandfather, was born c. 1816 in Georgia.  Some family records state he was the son of Green Herron and Julia Ann Reynolds but that remains unproven to my knowledge.  He married Cynthia Lott, daughter of Luke Lott and Cynthia Lee Herring.  She was born 11 March 1819 in Mississippi.

On the 1850 federal census of Marion County, Mississippi, Green "Hering" and his family resided next door to the Luke Lott family.  Green's household members were listed as- Green (head), age 35, C. (wife, Cynthia), age 25, N. (daughter, Nancy), age 6, M.A. (daughter, Mary Ann, age 4), B. ("Beth", daughter Elizabeth), age 2, and F. (daughter, LucyAnn) age 1.  

1850 Federal Census, Marion County, Mississippi, Pg 26

On 02 May 1859, Green Herrin purchased 160.29 acres of land in S17, T4, R16W, evidenced by a transaction recorded in the U.S. General Land Office.

Green Herrin Land Record, 02 May 1859,
Cash Entry, Lamar County, Mississippi

The 1860 federal census helps identify the children of Green Herrin and his wife Cynthia.  The family remained in Marion County, Mississippi and had grown quite considerably in ten years.  The household then consisted of Green Herrin, age 45, "Cyntha", age 40, Nancy, age 16, Maryann, age 14, Elizabeth, age 12, Lucyann, age 10, James, age 8, William, age 6, Julyann, age 4, Roseann, age 2, and Susan, age 1 mo. (on next page).   The record also states that Green was born in Ga while the others were born in Miss.

1860 Federal Census, Marion County, Mississippi, Pg 38

Thus far I haven't located Green's family on the 1870 census.  The next record I have of him is the 1880 federal census taken in Marion County.  By that time, most of Green and Cynthia's children had grown and were married with their own families.  Two daughters remained at home then- Roseann and Mary.  

1880 Federal Census, Marion County, Mississippi, Columbia, Dist 131, Pg 21

Green Herrin died in July 1880 (U.S. Federal Census Mortality Schedule).  Family history states that his wife, Cynthia, "died in 1919 while visiting relatives in Pine, Louisiana".  In 1919, Cynthia would have been about 100 years old- I can't imagine her "visiting relatives" at that age.  Maybe she was residing there with relatives, or maybe that statement is fictitious, but the facts surrounding her death are presently unknown.

Known children of Green Herrin and Cynthia Lott:
i.    Nancy Herrin, born about 1844
ii.   Mary Ann Herrin, born 10 December 1846, married Robert Boyd Newell
iii.  Elizabeth Herrin, born about 1848
iv.  Lucy Ann Herrin, born about 1849
v.   James H. Herrin, born about 1852, married Matilda Crawley
vi.  Julyann Herrin, born about 1856
vii. William H. Herrin, born 25 December 1857, married Sabra Crawley
viii. Roseann Herrin, born 30 October 1858, married Jefferson David Warden
ix.  Susan Herrin, born about 1859, married William Q. McLelland



William H. Herrin, 1857-1928, Marion & Lamar County MS

William H. Herrin (standing, left) with brother, James
and father Green Herrin (sitting)

My maternal great-great grandfather, William H. Herrin, was born 25 December 1857 in Marion County, Mississippi, the son of Green Herrin and Cynthia Lott. He is listed with his parents on the 1860 federal census of Marion County.

He married Sabra Crawley, daughter of John Crawley and Mary "Polly" Merritt.  She was born May 1857. In 1880, William "Herring" and Sabra resided in Columbia, Marion County, Mississippi.  They had one child, a daughter- "Melisa", age 1. 

1880 Federal Census, Marion County, Mississippi, Columbia, Dist 131, Pg 4
On the next available federal census record, taken in 1900, William and Sabra were enumerated in the Carley district of Marion County.  Their household had grown to include daughters Sarah (listed as Melisa on 1880 census), Lou, Susanna and Ada, and sons Will, Alvin and Albert. 

1900 Federal Census, Marion County, Mississippi, Carley, Dist 77, Pg 9


A decade later, William and Sabra still resided in Marion County, Mississippi.  By the time the 1910 federal census was taken, they had another child, son Robert, who was born in 1902.  A couple of their children had grown and married- their daughter Sarah, my great-grandmother, had married Robert "Bob" Johnson  and their daughter, Lou, had married Frank Lee.  I'm uncertain as to what became of daughter Susanna but I suspect she was deceased because, according to the record, they were parents of 8 children with 7 still living.  Their son, Will, had married Mary E. Johnson and the couple resided in the same household.   William and Sabra's younger children, Albert and Ada, also remained in the household.

1910 Federal Census, Marion County, Mississippi, Beat 2, Dist 0102, Pg 41

William's wife, Sabra, died on 28 January 1925 and was buried in the Oral Baptist Church cemetery in Lamar County, Mississippi. William died three years later on 31 January 1928 in Lumberton where he had been hospitalized with bronchitis.  He was buried beside Sabra in the Oral Baptist Church cemetery.  The date of death listed on his grave marker states 27 January 1927.  However, the death certificate for William states he died 31 January 1928.  

A summary of their children:
i.    Sarah Herrin, born Sept 1878, married Robert "Bob" Johnson
ii.   Lou Herrin,  born April 1882, married Frank Lee
iii.  Susanna, born 1885?  No further info
iv.  Will Herrin, born 16 February 1887, married Mary E. Johnson
v.   Alvin Herrin, born 20 September 1889
vi.  Albert L. Herrin, born 26 March 1893, married Sarah A. "Tisha" Graham
vii. Ada Herrin, born 22 February 1895, married John R. Rayborn
viii. Robert Herrin, born 14 March 1902, married Minnie L. Blackburn

Most of the dates of birth for the above do not match the dates on the 1900 census.  I obtained these dates from family group records.  For corrections to these dates, please contact me, thanks!

See also:
Tombstone Tuesday:  William H. and Sabra Crawley Herrin
Historical Photos:  Sabra Crawley 
Death Certificate- William H. Herrin
Death Certificate- Sabra Crawley Herrin

Wednesday, July 25, 2012

Breakthrough- Minerva Warden's Family Identified!

Minerva Warden
On December 15 of last year I wrote a post about Minerva Warden, Treasure Chest Thursday: Photo of Minerva Warden.  An excerpt from that post:  Minerva Warden married Thomas Riley Woodard.  The family resided in Lumberton located in Marion County (now Lamar), Mississippi in the late 1890's through the early 1900's.  The Warden and Woodard families are bricks in "My Brick Wall"- I have accomplished very little in my research on them.  I have no knowledge of Minerva's parents or siblings at present.  From my own estimates, Minerva was born probably between 1850 and 1860.  She lived to be an elderly woman, as evidenced by her photo.  She was likely in her 80's or even her 90's when this photo was taken.  Her husband, Thomas Riley Woodard, had died in his late 30's leaving her a widow with 7 children that I have knowledge of. 

While having coffee early yesterday morning, I was thinking about Minerva and her husband Thomas Riley Woodard.  I had no information at all on Minerva's family and very little on the Woodard family.  They all resided in southern Mississippi yet they have remained so mysterious.  Efforts on finding the families by surname search on Ancestry and Genealogy.com had been fruitless.  I made up my mind to manually sort through the census records of Hancock and Marion Counties in Mississippi to find some sort of connection to them.  I had gone through all of the 1870 Federal Census records of Marion County with nothing notable.  

I called my cousin, Sylvia Elaine (Herrin) Knight and we discussed the Woodard/Warden families.  Elaine informed me that she had been working on a line of Lee's for a friend of hers, and she found some possible clues for Minerva Warden.  Of course, that immediately grabbed my attention.  Elaine stated that on the 1930 census in Lamar County, a Minerva Woodard, age 86, was listed as an aunt and resided in the household with a W. John Lee, age 70.  The household also listed Susan Sumrall, age 40 and Arabella Cagle, age 40.  Elaine also explained that the W. John Lee on the census was a son to Nancy Warden Lee, born 1841, who had married Zinnamon Frank Lee, Sr.  She said another name that rang a bell was Arsineth Seale, who had married John Riley Lee, and this Lee family was connected too.  As she spoke, I jotted down these tidbits of information.  

After the phone conversation, I decided to search through the 1880 Federal Census of Marion County, page by page, surname by surname, hoping for clues while keeping in mind the information I had just learned from Elaine.  I had gone through several census images when finally, on page 7 of ED 133 in Beat 5, I noted a E. Lee, age 33, head with his wife, Minerva Lee, age 24.  


A few pages later, I took note of the Wordin families listed, and the Lee family residing between them.  On page 10, ED 133, Beat 5 in Marion County, in House #4, William Wordin and his wife Martha resided.  Of particular interest was the name of  Harriet Wordin in their household.  House #5 listed the Hansford Lee family.   In Houses #6 and #7, more Wordin families.  Farther down the page, in House #10, the family of John Lee resided.  


I immediately felt a sense of connection here.  I just knew there was a link between these Wordin and Lee families, and I felt this was the John Lee that Elaine had mentioned.  Call it strange, but I had a "familial feeling" about Harriet Wordin in the above census record.  Could my great-grandmother, Harriet Woodard, have been named after this Harriet Wordin (Warden)?  Harriet Woodard was the daughter of Minerva Warden and Thomas Riley Woodard.  The tradition of our ancestors naming their offspring after loved ones  came to mind and I had a gut feeling about this one.  I hurriedly called Elaine to report my findings and emailed a copy of the census images to her.  She agreed- there was a connection here.

During a search on Ancestry for William Warden, I discovered a list of his family members posted by another member.  They were:  William M. Warden (head), his wife Martha Patsy Spikes, and children- Nancy, James, Martha, John Wesley, William Harrison, Mary, Harriet, Daniel and Jefferson David.  Could this Nancy Warden be the one Elaine talked of, the one who married Zinnamon Frank Lee?  I also remembered that Jefferson David Warden was already connected to our family through the Herrins.  I was so excited about this information I could hardly contain myself!  I called Elaine again, reporting this information to her.  We were getting soooo close to Minerva's family!  Though Minerva wasn't listed as one of the children of William and Martha Warden, I suspected she was connected to them.  

I then browsed the 1850 Federal Census of Marion County, Mississippi, seeking the William Warden family.  I found not only the Warden family I sought, but the family of Martha Patsy Spikes, living next door!  

1850 Federal Census, Marion County, MS
Page 185

The William Warden family is enumerated in House #45 on the above census.  It is my belief that M. Warden, age 4, is our Minerva Warden because the age stated would be about right, placing her year of birth about 1846.  I don't understand why she wasn't listed with the William Warden family on Ancestry, but she could have been mistaken for one of their other daughters, Martha or Mary.  I then looked back at the 1910 census record that I had saved for Minerva (Mrs. Menervia Woodard), then listed in Beat 4 of Lamar County (county lines had changed by then)- she was listed as age 64 (supporting an 1846 birth year).  

This page of the 1850 census is significant in connecting the Warden-Spikes-Lee families.  I took note that in House #48, the family of John Lee (John Riley Lee) and his wife, Arsineth Seale, resided. This is the same family Elaine had spoke of in our phone conversation. 

I tried to call Elaine back a couple of times to report the information on the 1850 census, but no answer.  I could hardly wait to tell her!  When I finally reached her on her cell phone, she had been researching the William Warden family online, and had already made the connection.  She informed me of the name of William Warden's father, James Theodore Warden, Sr.  We celebrated in conversation because the mystery had finally been unfolded.  The brick wall was breaking down, after all these years of trying to find Minerva's family.  I am so grateful for the power of online research when searching census records and family connections.  It also helps tremendously when others are assisting in the research.  Elaine and I put our clues together and came up with the answers... Bravo!!!!  

I will post an update listing all of Minerva's family when I sort through all the information that I now have.  Next in line- the Woodard family, wish me luck!



Tuesday, July 24, 2012

Tombstone Tuesday: Ed Johnson Family Cemetery, Lamar County MS

The Ed Johnson Cemetery (also called the Old Ed Johnson Family Cemetery) is located west of Purvis, Mississippi, in what is now Lamar County.   In an open field of tall, dead grass the old grave stones are remnants of a family whom once resided in the area.  In all, there are seven head stones marking the graves of those buried here. 

Ed Johnson Cemetery, Photo credit: William Tatum

The first known interment was Martha Ann Lee Johnson, wife of Edward Johnson, who was laid to rest  on 20 May 1897.  She was born 18 February 1833 in Marion County, Mississippi, the daughter of William S. "Bill" Lee and Margaret "Peggy" Collins.  Martha and Ed married about 1850 and settled in the rural area between Columbia and Purvis, where they reared nine known children.  The dates on Martha's headstone are extremely worn making them difficult to decipher.  Her name, Martha Ann, is clearly visible across the top.  Some family records list her date of birth as 13 February 1833.  

Martha Ann Lee Johnson Grave Marker
Photo credit:  William Tatum

On 13 September, 1899, the body of three year old Mollie Johnson was laid to rest.  Mollie was the daughter of Lee Edward Johnson and his wife Laura Beach, and the granddaughter of Ed and Martha.  The cause of Mollie's death is unknown.  

Mollie Johnson Grave Marker
Photo credit:  William Tatum

Edward "Ed" Johnson was the third known interment in the cemetery.  Ed was born in Marion County, Mississippi, the son of James Absalom Johnson Sr and Luvenia "Lucy" Brinkley.  His wife was Martha Ann Lee Johnson, see above.  On family records, there are conflicting dates of Ed's birth and death.  Edward Johnson was born 14 April 1826 and died 25 June 1918, documented by his certificate of death.  His grave marker reflects his birth year as 1827, therefore showing there is an error in either the death document or the grave marker.  Furthermore, Ed was buried on 20 July 1918, the date shown on his grave marker, but his actual death took place on 25 June 1918.  These two dates are documented on his certificate of death.  Click here to read more about Edward Johnson and Martha Ann Lee Johnson.

Ed Johnson Grave Marker
Photo credit:  William Tatum

On 12 April 1920, the body of Laura Beach Johnson was laid to final rest.  Laura was born 15 February 1881 in Marion County, Mississippi, the daughter of William C. and Dora Beach.   She married Lee Edward Johnson, the son of Edward "Ed" Johnson and Martha Ann Lee.

Laura Beach Johnson
Photo credit:  Secky

Laura Johnson Grave Marker, Photo credit:  William Tatum

The next known interment was Fleming Johnson, son of Edward "Ed" Johnson and Martha Ann Lee.  Fleming was born 30 April 1859 in Marion County, Mississippi and died 18 March 1921 in Lamar County.  He married Nancy Ann Bounds on 06 January 1880 in Marion County.  

Fleming Johnson Grave Marker
Photo credit:  William Tatum

More than twenty years later, Willie Ray Johnson was buried on 23 February 1943.  Willie Ray was born 10 January 1899 in Marion County, Mississippi, the son of Lee Edward Johnson and Laura Beach.  He married Minnie Dennis.  Little else is know of him at present.

Willie Johnson
Photo credit:  Rhonda Johnson

Willie Johnson Grave Marker, Photo credit:  William Tatum

The last known interment in the cemetery was Lee Edward Johnson, the son of Edward "Ed" Johnson and Martha Lee.  He was born 25 January 1875 in Marion County, Mississippi and died 25 June 1951 in Lamar County.  He married Laura Beach, the daughter of William C. and Dora Beach, on 13 November 1913 in Marion County, Mississippi.  Lee and Laura had a large family consisting of nine children in all.  It is said that Lee was a well known fiddle player and he enjoyed showing off his talent at family gatherings and local dances.  

Lee Edward Johnson,  Photo credit:  Secky

Lee Edward Johnson Grave Marker, Photo credit:  William Tatum

The above memorials are also listed on Find A Grave,
Added by Ann Turner.
Click links below to view the memorials:





Sunday, July 22, 2012

Sharing Memories: (Week30) "Mounds" of Fun

 I was probably about eight or nine years old when my family moved from Westwego to Marrero, Louisiana.  As mentioned in my previous Sharing Memories post, the subdivision in Marrero was fairly new when we moved there.  Several vacant lots were available on either side of our house.  

When a lot was sold and ready to built upon, dump trucks unloaded red clay dirt for the foundation of the new house.  With a huge mound of fresh dirt nearby, my siblings and I became pretty creative in ways to use the dirt for our playtime benefits.  For example, the dirt mound made a perfect hill for jumping our bikes. We posed ourselves several feet from the mound and quickly pushed our pedals as we gained forward momentum then rushed up the mound. At the top of the mound, we sternly pulled up our handlebars and popped our wheels to make a crash landing on the dirt pile below. It was all fun until the day I had my first bicycle wreck. I lost control while gaining forward speed. My bike slammed into a wooden crossbar, causing me to flip over my handlebars and land on the concrete sidewalk below. Big Ouch!!! I was dizzy and hurting. I could barely stand up. Of course, I went crying to Mom, blood oozing from both my legs and elbows.  As she cleaned my wounds, the damage was visible... I had terrible open abrasions on each knee and each elbow. She put ointment on them and bandaged them well. I could barely walk for a few days without a great deal of pain. Needless to say, I was much more careful on my bike afterwards.

From the tall dirt mounds, Frank Jr. and I also played "King of the Hill". I'm not sure if this was a common game among kids back then, but we sort of made our own rules up. Several of us would gather atop the mound and wrestle with each other, competing to gain control of the hill. We would push and shove, kick and squirm until one of us was left standing and this officially made the winner the King of the Hill. When we were finished playing in all of that red dirt, we were pure filthy. I wonder how often Mom scorned us beneath her breath while she was trying to remove the red dirt stains from our clothing.  

Too bad these shirts weren't available when we were
children- it would have made Mom's laundry job much easier!

Sometimes we would create sculptures from the red dirt by scooping out the clay clumps and forming them into some amusing little people. When we grew tired of doing that, the little clay people were rolled in our hands to form balls which we threw at each other. My sister, Sandy, was quite satisfied as she sometimes sat at the bottom of the dirt mound with her plastic cups and spoons, filling them up then emptying them out, over and over again.

Frank Jr. liked his "G.I. Joe" figures and accessories. He spent a lot of time on the mounds with his little friends and their GI Joe's. They would dig holes in the mound and pretend to be in a war zone. By the time they were finished playing, they looked like they had been in a war zone ;)

As the neighborhood became filled with new houses, the dirt mounds slowly disappeared. Within a couple of years, we had to find other ways to amuse ourselves. And that, we did.


Friday, July 20, 2012

Harriet Woodard, 1883-1952, Lamar County MS

Robert "Bob" Johnson and wife
Harriet Woodard Johnson

Harriet Woodard, my maternal great-grandmother, was born 13 May 1883 in Marion County, Mississippi.  She was the daughter of Thomas Riley Woodard and Minerva Warden.  

At the age of 17, Harriet married her first husband, Simon Peter Smith, on 04 May 1901 in Marion County, Mississippi.  He was the son of Manson Smith and Elizabeth Ann Reid. From their union four children were born- Bertha, Paul, Louella and Nathaniel.  Family history states that sometime after the birth of their four children, Simon divorced Harriet then, shortly thereafter, married Harriet's blood sister, Mary Woodard.  Supposedly Simon and Mary had six children from their union.  Further investigation into these family stories led me to seek the truth.  As it turned out, the story was indeed accurate.  I will write more about Mary Woodard and Simon Peter Smith in another post.  For this post, I will focus on Harriet.  

Marriage Record- Simon Smith and
Harriet Woodard, Marion County, MS

The 1910 census of Lamar County, Mississippi shows the household of Simon Smith with his wife "Hetty" and children- son Nathaniel, age 7, daughter Louella, age 4 and son Paul, age 3.  The couple had been married 10 years and had 4 children, of whom 3 were still living.  From this information, I assume Harriet and Simon's daughter, Bertha, is the one that died. 

1910 Federal Census, Lamar County, Mississippi, Beat 1, Dist. 0087, pg 16

Harriet and Simon were divorced by 1914 because it is speculated that Simon married Harriet's sister, Mary Woodard, that year in Picayune, Pearl River County, Mississippi.  

Harriet married second James El Simmons, the son of James C. "Jim" Simmons and Celia Anna Yates on 15 December 1915 in Walthall County, Mississippi (source: Hunting For Bears, comp.. Mississippi Marriages, 1776-1935).  James "El" had previously been married to Corrine Elizabeth Graham, the daughter of Albert and Mit Graham.  She died 17 November 1910, leaving 9 children motherless.  Family history states that Corrine died after giving birth to their son, William Houston Simmons.  

In 1920, Harriet and El resided in Lamar County, Mississippi.  El's son from his first marriage, Rufus "Elmore" Simmons, listed as age 13, resided with them.  Harriet and El also had a child together- Woodrow Wilson Simmons, age 3, who later became my paternal grandfather.  Apparently, all of their other children from their first marriages had either married and moved out or they were living with other family members, as they are not in the household of Harriet and El.  

1920 Federal Census, Lamar County, Mississippi, Beat 4, Dist 101, Pg 2

Where were the children of Harriet and Simon Smith in 1920?  A check of the Simon Smith household that year gave me the answer.  In Jefferson Davis County, Mississippi, "S.P. Smith" is head of household with his wife, Mary, and children- son Nat, age 18, daughter Luella, age 14, son Paul, age 9, daughter Annie Bertha, age 6, son Walter, age 3 years 9 mos. and a boarder, M.D. Smith, age 19.  From this information, I conclude that this family was that of Simon Peter Smith, Harriet's ex-husband.  Their children resided with Simon and his second wife at that time.  I can speculate that Simon moved his family to Jefferson Davis county to secure employment there.  The census listed his employment as "wood chopper" for a log company.  On that same page of the census, nearly every male listed of employment age worked for a log company.  Obviously, the logging industry in Jefferson Davis county provided wages to several households then.

1920 Federal Census, Jefferson Davis County, Mississippi, Beat 2, Dist 75, Pg 38

I have questions concerning Annie Bertha, the 6 year old daughter from the 1920 census.  She would have been born about 1914.  Who was her mother?  Was it Harriet or Mary?  

In 1930, Harriet and El are again listed in Beat 4 of Lamar County.  From their union, two more children were born- son Andrew, age 6, and daughter Bertha L., age 3.  Their son, Woodrow W., who was 13 was also included in their household.  Living next door to the couple was El's son from his first marriage, Walter William Simmons, who had married Callie Cordelia Madden.  


1930 Federal Census, Lamar County, Mississippi, Beat 4

Note that Harriet and El named their youngest child Bertha.  This child is Bertha Lollita Simmons, born in 1927.  If I am assuming correctly, Harriet and Simon had a daughter named Bertha sometime between 1901 and 1910 who had died (see 1910 census notes above).  I also suspect that Annie Bertha, born about 1914, was Harriet and Simon's daughter.  What was Harriet's obsession with the name Bertha? Was she close to someone named Bertha, such as a family member?  Or is the information regarding their names incorrect?  I will have to follow up on this.

Update:  February 8, 2017- The confusion over the Bertha's has been cleared.  Click on link to The 2 Bertha's below for story.

Harriet's husband, James El Simmons, died 28 December 1927.  He was laid to rest in Grantham Cemetery, Lamar County, Mississippi.   There is presently no grave marker.

On 13 July 1939, Harriet married her third husband, Robert "Bob" Johnson, the son of Wilson "Babe" Johnson and Elizabeth G. "Betty" Fillingame.  Bob had previously been married to Sarah Herrin, the daugher of William H. Herrin and Sabra Crawley.  Sarah died about 1935, leaving Bob a widow.  There is a strange twist in the family tree with the union of Harriet and Bob.  Let me explain- three years prior to their marriage, on 04 July 1936,  Harriet and El's son, Woodrow Wilson Simmons, had married Bob and Sarah's daughter, Susie Johnson.  Because of that fact, I suppose the families had close ties beforehand.  In other words, Woodrow and Susie became step-siblings after the marriage of Harriet and Bob in 1939.  My late mother, Lula Sue Simmons, was close to her "grandpa Bob" and "grandma Harriet" when she was a youngster and has fondly written of them in her memoirs (see Memoirs of Lula Sue Simmons).  

Marriage Record- Robert Johnson and
Harriet (Woodard) Simmons, Marion County, MS
Harriet and Bob remained together, residing in Lamar County until his death on 25 August 1952.  According to his death certificate, Bob died of sudden death, cause undetermined, but questionable coronary thrombosis (blood clot in his heart), secondary to a history of heart disease.  The death record states he was 76 years old at the time of his death and that he had lived in Baxterville, Lamar County, Mississippi for 35 years. 

Robert "Bob" Johnson was laid to rest in the Caney Baptist Church cemetery in Lamar County next to his first wife, Sarah.  Only three weeks after Bob's death, Harriet followed him to the grave.  She died 14 September 1952 at the Martine? Sanitorium located in Picayune, Pearl River County, Mississippi of complications with pneumonia following a sudden cerebral hemmorhage (stroke).  The death record indicates Harriet had been hospitalized for 9 days prior to her death, which means she was hospitalized on 05 September, less than two weeks after Bob died.  Harriet was laid to rest next to her late husband Bob. My mother told me many years ago that Harriet died of a "broken heart" after she lost Bob. 

Death certificate- Mrs. Harriet Johnson

Additional information gathered from Harriet's death record:  the Informant was listed as Mrs. Bertha Mills, her parents were listed as Thomas Woodard and Minervia Wardeen and her date of birth was 13 May 1883. Funeral arrangements were made by the Colonial Funeral Home in Columbia, Marion County, Mississippi.  


More About Harriet Woodard: