My Black History Month 2/29/24

Today, I’ll wrap up my Black History Month by thinking about my maternal grandparents, Wilson and Clittee. I’m eager to learn more about their backgrounds, their parents, and the stories that defined their lives.

My Black History Month 2/28/24

Wordless Wednesday

My Black History Month 2/27/24

In 1900 my 3x Great Grandfather, Ellis Burke along with daughter Rebecca, sons, Bryant and James, sister Caledonia and mother Rebecca lived in Cahaba or Cahawba, Alabama first state capitol located in Dallas County,Alabama. Cahaba was once a bustling city, but today, Old Cahaba, as it is commonly referred to, is now an archaeological park open to the public, allowing exploration of the landscape and the remaining structures of the ghost town.

My Black History Month 2/26/24

According to the 1900 U.S. Census my 2x Great Grandpa William Wesley occupation was a Ditcher.

Source Citation
Year: 1900; Census Place: Germany, Monroe, Alabama; Roll: 32; Page: 4; Enumeration District: 0165

Source Citation
Year: 1900; Census Place: Germany, Monroe, Alabama; Roll: 32; Page: 4; Enumeration District: 0165

My Black History Month 2/25/24

FamilySearch.org has a collection of records called ‘Alabama Births and Christenings, 1881-1930.’ While browsing recently, I found the birth record for one of my grandfather Jessie’s older brothers. My uncle was born on February 28, 1916, in Lowndes County, Alabama. From the record, you can see that he didn’t have a name, was born at 4 PM, and came out headfirst. Additionally, the document includes the names of his parents, their occupations, the age of the mother, the number of children born and living at that time, and the reporter, who I assume was the midwife. ‘Hannah Moorer’ could have been a relative of my great grandmother, so I will have to look into that. Unfortunately, my uncle didn’t live long. I found an index of his death, but I’m not sure how long he lived.

My Black History Month 2/24/24

Just five years after the “official end of the enslavement of Africans in America,” my 3x Great Grandpa Adam Moorer, who lived in Lowndes County, Alabama, had a personal estate with an estimated value of $300, according to the 1870 United States Federal Census. Examples of personal estate included things like livestock, household goods, carriages, etc. Today, Grandpa Adam’s estimated $300 in 1870 is equivalent in purchasing power to about $7,062.98 today.

My Black History Month 2/23/24

On the 1900 U.S. Census, my Great Grandpa Dock was listed as unable to read and write. However, 10 years later, according to the 1910 U.S. Census, he was noted as being able to read and write. Additionally, Grandpa Dock was mentioned a few times in The Baldwin Times “Honor Roll” section of the paper for either subscribing to or renewing their subscription. I think it’s pretty cool to see Grandpa Dock’s journey from being unable to read or write to enjoying a newspaper subscription.

Sources:
https://www.newspapers.com/clip/30503983/the-baldwin-times/

My Black History Month 2/22/24

In this deed affidavit, you can see that my Great-Grandmother Lillie’s younger brother, James Watson, served as a trustee of the O.F. Bluefield Lodge No. 74260. F., alongside Prince Crook and Daniel Todd in 1927.

My Black History Month 2/21/24

Wordless Wednesday

My Black History Month 2/20/24

140 years ago, my Great Great Grandparents Cornelius Moorer and Linda Snow tied the knot in During a research trip a few years back, I had the opportunity to discover their marriage license in the Colored Marriage book for Lowndes County, Alabama.