Hardy Johnson Found in Road Construction Camp for 1930 Census

It might just be me, but I get a little excited when I find relatives on the Census living in anything other than a house with just one family. (I’m especially intrigued with lodgers.) A few months ago I found what appeared to be a brothel next door to some folks who share my last name on the 1870 Census. Here on the 1930 Census, I found … Continue reading Hardy Johnson Found in Road Construction Camp for 1930 Census

Slingshots Will Put Your Eye Out

I found this article from 1897 last year and put it aside. Looking at it again today the ages match up to my great-grandfather John Allmond and his brother, Moses (Lam). I initially didn’t think it was because generally when the newspapers were talking about Black folks, they made sure they specified it. But now I’m wondering. Meanwhile, I’m looking for a WWI draft card … Continue reading Slingshots Will Put Your Eye Out

National Memorial for Peace and Justice In Montgomery, Alabama

I finally made it to the Equal Justice Initiative’s National Memorial for Peace and Justice (also known as the National Lynching Museum). We actually drove there from Nashville in 2018 soon after it opened but arrived less than an hour before closing. A docent there told us that we would need at least an hour to walk through the site so we should come back another … Continue reading National Memorial for Peace and Justice In Montgomery, Alabama

Alick Spratley of Surry County, Virginia

How did I miss this? I had the information the whole time. I found my 4th great-grandfather, Alick Spratley, following back on one of my maternal grandmother’s maternal lines. I was so happy to go that far back that it didn’t click that I got his information from the 1850, 1860 and 1870 Censuses in Surry County, Virginia. WHAT?!!? Here’s the 1860 Census for reference. … Continue reading Alick Spratley of Surry County, Virginia

A Quick Visit to South Carolina

We drove to Hemingway, South Carolina, for barbecue. I was game because why not? Also, I have two family lines that are from South Carolina (Mayesville and Summerville). Both of sets of paternal great grandparents moved to Philadelphia from these towns in the 1920s. Mayesville is on the way and Summerville is not that far and I wanted to see them. It was just a … Continue reading A Quick Visit to South Carolina

Prostitutes, Bar Keepers, A Musician, and A Fisherman

Looking for people who may or may not be related to me in the 1870 Census, I stumbled upon this. I saw one woman listed as a prostitute and then turned to the page before to be nosey. I have never seen this up until this point. I find it fascinating to be honest. You have prostitutes, barkeepers, a musician and a fisherman in these … Continue reading Prostitutes, Bar Keepers, A Musician, and A Fisherman

Africa Allmond

Africa Allman/Allmand/Allmond/Ives When I’m searching a genealogy database, normally the first thing I do is search for Allmond. Last year I found this pension card for Africa Ives also known as Africa Allman. I found it on FamilySearch but this one from Ancestry looks better. I think what stood out most was that his name was Africa. I was going through my genealogy OneNote notebook … Continue reading Africa Allmond

Memory Lane

From December 2015: My uncle gave my grandma a photo of herself as a teenager (taken 70 years ago!). She said it had to be one of her granddaughters. She was in disbelief for a good while. Her: How do you know its me?Uncle: Because you wrote your full name on the back.Her: How do you know I wrote it?Uncle: Your handwriting is the same. She starts flipping the … Continue reading Memory Lane