International African American Museum, Charleston, South Carolina

I visited the International African American Museum located on Gadsden’s Wharf in Charleston, South Carolina. Gadsden’s Wharf was the first destination for an estimated 100,000 enslaved Africans during the peak of the international slave trade. Some researchers estimate that 40% of the enslaved Africans in the United States landed at Gadsden’s Wharf. The museum covers the history of Africans in America starting with the Black … Continue reading International African American Museum, Charleston, South Carolina

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?

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

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