4th great-grandmother Martha Blizzard
I have recently found the maiden names of two of my female ancestors both on my maternal grandmother’s maternal lines. I can’t tell you how excited I am about this because oftentimes, women’s entire identities were wiped away when they got married. The first one is my 4th great-grandmother Martha Cypress nee Blizzard. Here she is on my My Heritage tree, which I have not … Continue reading 4th great-grandmother Martha Blizzard
Historical Black Newspapers
I wasn’t finding obituaries or any mention of my relatives prior to maybe the 1950s in the local newspapers that are available via Newspapers.com, VirginiaChronicle.com and NewsBank. Something I specifically didn’t find was an obituary for each of my Allmond great-grandparents. The only mention I found was a notice for a pressure canner clinic for Farm Security Housewives at my great-grandmother’s house in 1946. My … Continue reading Historical Black Newspapers
Virginia Free Negro Registers
Last weekend, I participated in a transcribe-a-thon to index Free Negro Registers that have recently been digitized by the Library of Virginia. In 1793, the Virginia General Assembly passed a law requiring that all free Black people “be registered and numbered in a book to be kept by the town clerk, which shall specify age, name, color, status and by whom, and in what court … Continue reading Virginia Free Negro Registers
Another Lighthouse Related Find
Here’s another situation where I was working on genealogy stuff and happened upon something lighthouse related. My relatives are at the top of this page from the Portsmouth City Directory from 1933 but I immediately saw the USLS (United States Lighthouse Service). More can be found about Holder Almy at the United States Lighthouse Society’s J. Candace Clifford Lighthouse Research Library: https://archives.uslhs.org/type-person/engineers Continue reading Another Lighthouse Related Find
I Just Broke My Whole Family Tree: Are We Johnsons, Lesanes or Both?
I just broke my whole family tree, well not the whole tree but definitely the Johnson line. Family oral history says that my great-grandfather Charley Johnson was born Charley Lesane but due to circumstances in the South he changed his name to Johnson when he moved to Philadelphia. But then I found this marriage notice from Mayesville in 1916, I was definitely confused. Here was … Continue reading I Just Broke My Whole Family Tree: Are We Johnsons, Lesanes or Both?
Stumbled Upon A Lighthouse
Looking at the lands where my South Carolina ancestors lived, I stumbled upon a lighthouse on this Civil War map. I was scrolling in South Carolina and went too far to North Carolina. I recognized Frying Pan Shoal because there’s a Texas Tower style lighthouse there. Then I looked up and saw the lighthouse. This is Bald Head Lighthouse (Old Baldy) on Bald Head Island. Continue reading Stumbled Upon A Lighthouse
One Negro Woman Charlotte 1854
A year ago I found the will of William Allmond on an index of wills in Isle of Wight County, Virginia on Ancestry. It’s taken me a year to circle back to look for the will on FamilySearch and I found it! It’s so hard to read but I do see “one Negro woman Charlotte”, “one Negro boy Sam”, “one Negro girl Hester” and “one … Continue reading One Negro Woman Charlotte 1854
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
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
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