Maria and her six children—property of Mrs. Hannah Foster

This post is part of an ongoing project to record names of enslaved people of Greene County, Georgia I find in historical records. 

Temperance Crusader, Penfield, Georgia, December 10, 1857

ADMINISTRATOR’S SALE.

Will be sold, by virtue of an order of the Court of Ordinary of Greene County, on the first Tuesday in January next, in front of the Court House door in Greenesboro’, between the legal hours of sale, the following negroes viz. Maria a woman about 40 years old, and her six children, Sarah 17 years old, Adam about 15, Charity 12, Victoria 7, Silas 5, and Stafford 1. All sold as the property of Mrs. Hannah Foster late of said county deceased, for the purpose of distribution.

Terms 12 months credit.

Greenesboro’ Ga, Nov. 12th, 1857. R. J. WILLIS, Adm’r.

Reference

Administrator’s Sale, Temperance Crusader, Penfield, Georgia, December 10, 1857. 

Oscar Lee Burnette

Oscar Lee Burnette, son of Samuel Pride Burnett and Millicent Virginia Overton, was born in Loganville, Walton County, Georgia on January 12, 1874. His parents had 14 children—John William Burnette, Thomas Terrell Burnette, C. B. Annbelle Burnette, Abijah Winkfield Burnette, Oscar Lee Burnette, Mathew E. Burnette, Laura Jane Burnette, Frances Elizabeth Burnette, Mattie Lou Burnette, Benjamin Franklin Burnette, Virginia O. Burnette, Joseph Benjamin Burnette, Mollie Mae Burnette, and one unknown child. Oscar is my 2nd great-uncle.

Just like my Lankford/Langford lines with the “k” and “g”, the “e” in “Burnette” comes and goes. You see that here with the spelling of Oscar’s and his father’s last name. It seems Oscar’s family used the “e” consistently.

On June 18, 1880, the Burnette family lived in the Harbins District of Gwinnett County, Georgia. Oscar’s father and brother John and Thomas were farm laborers, his was mother keeping house. The census enumerator left a check mark in the box “Is the person [on the day of the Enumerator’s visit] sick or temporarily disabled, so as to be unable to attend to ordinary business or duties?” so apparently Oscar’s father, John, and Thomas were all three sick that day. He did not list what illness each had though.

1880 Soundex Card for the Oscar L. Burnette family

Oscar married Lou Ella J. Peters, daughter of James Marion Peters and Lucinda Julia Andrews, in Gwinnett County, Georgia on October 2, 1898. Their marriage ceremony was performed by T. A. Pate, Justice of the Peace. The couple had eight children together—Clarence Lyman Burnette, Gordon Lee Burnette, Grover William “G. W.” Burnette, Samuel “Pleamon” Burnette, Essie Mae “Mamie” Burnette, James Rowdes Burnette, Simmie “Sim” Courtland Burnette, and Curtis “Matibel” Burnette.

Oscar and Lou Ella's marriage certificate

Sometime after their marriage, Oscar and Lou Ella moved to Walton County, Georgia where the census enumerator found them living in the Vinegar Hill District on June 22, 1900. Oscar was working as a farmer. Lou Ella was enumerated as having had one child, Clarence (age nine months), who was living in the home. Oscar was unable to read or write, while Lou Ella could do both. Oscar and Lou Ella’s second son, Gordon, was born in December 1902. Sadly, he passed away, cause unknown to me, on October 28, 1903. They buried Gordon at Bay Creek Cemetery in Loganville, Walton County, Georgia.

Oscar was listed on the “Veteran and Descendant Registered Voters” list in Walton County on March 26, 1910. Living in Loganville at the time, he worked as a farmer. His brother Abijah was also on the list. 

On April 28, 1910, Oscar and his family lived in the Buncombe District of Walton County. He and Lou Ella had been married for 11 years. Oscar worked as a farmer on a general farm. Sons Clarence and William were both farm laborers on the home farm. Lou Ella was enumerated as having had six children, five of which were living. Oscar’s mother died in Georgia on January 10, 1916. She was buried at Shiloh Primitive Baptist Church Cemetery in Loganville. On September 12, 1918 at age 45, Oscar registered for the World War I draft. He recorded his address as #4 Loganville, Walton, Ga., and his wife “Ella” as his nearest relative. He also listed his birth year as 1873, a year earlier than would be recorded on his death certificate and tombstone. Oscar was of medium height and build. He had gray eyes and hair. As far as I can tell, Oscar never served during the war. His son Clarence registered for the World War I draft on the same day and listed his father as his nearest relative.

Oscar's WWI draft registration card

On January 19, 1920, Oscar and his family lived at Lawrenceville and Monroe Roads in the Buncombe District of Walton County. Oscar continued to work as a farmer on a general farm while sons Grover (age 17) and Pleamon (age 14) both worked as laborers on the home farm. The only child going to school at the time was Essie (age 12). Grover, Pleamon and Essie were all able to read and write. James (age 10) was not attending school at the time, nor was he able to read or write.

On April 3, 1930, Oscar and his family lived in the Buncombe District of Walton County. Three children were still living in the home—Pleamon, Simmie, and Matibel. Matibel (age 15) was the only one of the three attending school. Oscar worked as a farm operator, running the day-to-day business of the farm. Pleamon and Matibel both worked as farm helpers, while Simmie worked as a farm cropper. 

Oscar (age 64) died from heart lesions at his home in the Split Silk community of Walton County on October 29, 1938. According to Kenneth Krakow, Split Silk was “a small community located between Between and Loganville” and “was reportedly given this name when a girl accidentally tore her silk dress in front of the C. L. Ivey General Store.” Oscar had been attended by a physician for three months. He was buried at Bay Creek Cemetery in Loganville on October 31 following a funeral service officiated by Rev. Weyman Fields at the church. 

Oscar was survived by his wife, sons Clarence, Grover, Pleamon, Simmie, and James; daughters Essie and Matibel; three sisters; and four brothers. According to his obituary, Oscar was a “well known Walton county citizen.” He “spent the greater portion of his life” in Walton County and “was a devoted member of Bay Creek Baptist church and a man of loyal friendships and fine christian character, and occupied a high place in the public esteem.”

Five of Oscar’s children—Grover, Essie Mae, James, Matibel, and Samuel (1948)

References

• Clarence Lyman Burnette, U.S., World War I Draft Registration Cards, 1917–1918.
• Curtis Mattie Smith, U.S., Social Security Applications and Claims Index, 1936–2007.
• Find a Grave, database and images (https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/38841661/lucinda-julia-peters: accessed 31 October 2023), memorial page for Mrs Lucinda Julia Andrews Peters (20 Nov 1857–23 Mar 1930), Find a Grave Memorial ID 38841661, citing Friendship Primitive Baptist Church Cemetery, Snellville, Gwinnett County, Georgia, USA; maintained by Quietly Resting (contributor 47077524).
• Find a Grave, database and images (https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/43349662/james-marion-peters: accessed 31 October 2023), memorial page for James Marion Peters (17 Oct 1845–9 May 1902), Find a Grave Memorial ID 43349662, citing Friendship Primitive Baptist Church Cemetery, Snellville, Gwinnett County, Georgia, USA; maintained by HTH (contributor 47002328).
• Krakow, Kenneth K., Georgia Place-Names: Their History and Origins, Macon, GA: Winship Press. p. 210, 1975; http://www.kenkrakow.com/gpn/s.pdf. 
• Mr. Oscar Burnette Died Last Saturday, Walton Tribune, Monroe, Georgia, November 3, 1938.
• Oscar Burnet and Lou Ella Peters, Georgia, U.S., Marriage Records From Select Counties, 1828–1978.
• Oscar L. Burnette Certificate of Death no. 29672, State of Georgia, Georgia Department of Public Health, Bureau of Vital Statistics.
• Personal memories and family photo provided by Priscilla Burnette.
• Personal visit to Bay Creek Cemetery, Loganville, Georgia.
• U.S. Federal Census, Buncombe District, Walton County, Georgia, 1910, 1920, 1930.
• U.S. Federal Census, Cates, Gwinnett County, Georgia, 1880.
• U.S. Federal Census, Harbins District, Gwinnett County, Georgia, 1880.
• U.S. Federal Census, Vinegar Hill, Walton County, Georgia, 1900. 

Martha, Amanda, Chaney, and Mahala: Servants of Mr. Chamberlain, Brs. Andrews, Sanford, and Martin

This post is part of an ongoing project to record names of enslaved people of Greene County, Georgia I find in historical records. 

Penfield Baptist Church: 1839–1885

Colored Church, November 14th, 1857.

Church in conference. The door being opened for the reception of members, Martha, Servant of Mr. Chamberlain, of Greensboro, and Amanda, Servant of Br. L. L. Andrews, were received on a relation of this experience. Chaney, Servant of Br. S. P. Sanford was restored.

B. F. Gray
Clerk, Pro. Tem.

Colored Church, Nov. 29th, 1857.

In conference, Mahala, Servant of Br. T. D. Martin, was received on a relation of her experience, as a candidate for baptism.

U. W. Wise, Clerk of Ch.
T. D. Martin, Moderator.

Reference

Penfield Baptist Church Minutes: 1839 – 1885, Penfield, Greene County, Georgia, p. 251. 

Emma A. Harrison of Hillcrest Cemetery

Photo from The Atlanta Constitution (1927)

This sketch highlights Emma A. Harrison who is buried at Hillcrest Cemetery in East Point, Fulton County, Georgia.

Emma A. Harrison, daughter of John C. Harrison and Sarah E. Miles, was born in Campbell County, Georgia on April 22, 1869. She was the seventh child of nine—Hilliard A. Harrison, Robert Lewis Harrison, Benjamin F. Harrison, William Beauregard Harrison, John W. Harrison, Sarah Francis “Fannie” Elizabeth Harrison, Emma A. Harrison, Lelia May Harrison, and Charles J. Brannon Harrison.

On August 8, 1870, Emma and her family lived in the Goodes District of Campbell County, Georgia. Her father was a farmer with real estate valued at $800 and a personal estate worth $500. Her brother Robert worked as a farm laborer. 

Emma’s mother died on October 31, 1879 at the age of 46. She was buried at the Antioch Methodist Churchyard (also known as the Antioch United Methodist Cemetery) in the Fairburn District of Campbell County (now Fulton County).

On June 1, 1880, Emma and her family lived in District 1134 of Campbell County, Georgia. Her widowed father, now raising the children alone, worked as a farmer. Emma’s brother Hilliard had moved out of the home. Brothers Robert, Benjamin, William, and John worked as laborers; Fannie and sister Emma were keeping house. 

Emma’s sister Lelia died on November 29, 1891 at the age of 20. She was buried at the Antioch Methodist Churchyard with her mother. Her father died in Fulton County on April 2, 1897 and was also buried at Antioch United Methodist Cemetery. 

By the end of the decade, Emma had moved to East Point, Fulton County, Georgia and was a member of the First Missionary Society of East Point Methodist Church.

On June 1, 1900, Emma lived in the East Point home of her brother William. Others in the home were William’s wife Jennie and daughter Jewell, Emma’s sister Fannie, and brother Benjamin. William worked as a switchman and Benjamin a grocer. None of the females in the home worked. Everyone except Jewell, who was six months old, were able to read and write. In March 1903, Emma and Fannie sold a 114x50 lot on Spring Street in Atlanta to A. C. Hemperly for $125. Her brothers filed a quit claim deed, giving up their claim to the property, to Mr. Hemperly for $10. About 1908, Emma took a job as a reporter with The Constitution in Atlanta. She often attended or hosted social events with her sister Fannie. One example was an October 1909 Woman’s Foreign Missionary Society tea they hosted together from their Church Street home in East Point. The event, attended by at least 45 guests, included a program of music and a talk about missions. Afterwards, everyone enjoyed sandwiches and tea, and took up a collection for the society.

In February 1910, Emma and Fannie hosted a social event for the Epworth League where the guests were entertained with vocal and piano solos by a variety of young women. Afterwards everyone enjoyed refreshments of ambrosia and cake. A second event took place in February 1910 when Emma attended a pre-wedding party held in honor of Mary Simmons who was to be married the following week. The party featured a presentation of “A Rural Wedding” with “the guests wearing costumes of 50 years ago” and marching to the parlor to music played by Mrs. J. C. McKenzie. Afterwards, they had a linen shower for the bride and refreshments. On April 18, 1910, Emma lived on Church Street in East Point with her brother John. Others in the home were her brother Benjamin and sister Fannie. John worked as a railroad conductor, Benjamin as a salesman for a retail grocer, and Emma was a newspaper reporter. Fannie was unemployed. Emma attended an “All Hallowe’en party” in October 1910 at the home of Rev. and Mrs. O. C. Simmons in East Point. The home was decorated in “autumn leaves and grinning pumpkin heads” and favor cards were “hand-painted, the design being an ear of corn with tiny pumpkin heads.” They spent the evening playing games, including a haunted chamber where witches escorted the blindfolded guests while singing “dismal music.”

Emma was a charter member of the East Point Woman’s Club formed in January 1911. The idea to form the club began with Mrs. W. C. Carroll who “selected a lady from each religious denomination of the town and asked them to meet in her home” to discuss. Emma represented the Southern Methodist and became the “corresponding secretary and press agent.” Each member paid dues of 10 cents per month. These charter members became officers of the club and were tasked with soliciting new members from their respective churches. By February, they had about 20 new members with the numbers growing each month. With a mission of “charity and benevolence” and the help of the men of East Point, they raised money by sponsoring plays and dinners to help feed the hungry, provide clothing for those in need, care for the sick, pay rent and drug bills where needed, and help with funeral expenses for the dead. They helped schools and hospitals, and during World War I, worked with the Red Cross by knitting sweaters and bath rags to support the “boys in the trenches.” 

Emma’s brother John died in February 1911. John, a conductor for the A. & W.P. Railroad, was buried at Hillcrest Cemetery in East Point. 

The Junior Epworth League hosted a concert at the Southern Methodist Church in East Point mid-October 1911 where Emma sang “Love’s Old Sweet Song” with five other young women. In June 1912, Emma and Fannie attended a large reception for Miss Adelaide Hughes at the East Point home of Mrs. Erwin Wilson. In July 1912, they attended a reception for Mrs. Anna L. Kuppinger of Philadelphia at the home of Anna’s daughter. In August 1913, Emma participated in a “musical and literary” program held at the East Point city hall to raise money for the Presbyterian Aid Society’s building fund. Emma sang “Send or Go” at a Southern Methodist Church reception held at the Main Street home of Dr. and Mrs. George Trimble. In February 1914, they attended a “Martha Washington spend-the-day party” at the home of Mrs. James Greer, an “old classmate.” The home was appropriately decorated in red, white, and blue, flags, red hatchets, and cherries. 

Emma’s brother Robert died at his home in East Point in July 1915 at the age of 58. He was buried at Floral Hill Cemetery in Palmetto, Fulton County, Georgia. Emma lost her event partner in April 1917 with the death of Fannie at the age of 50. Fannie was was buried at Hillcrest Cemetery in East Point.

On January 3, 1920, Emma and her brother Benjamin lived alone in the Church Street home. Benjamin, the head of the household, worked as a railroad watchman. Emma worked as a social reporter for a newspaper. Their brother Hilliard lived seven houses away. Emma attended a spend-the-day party hosted by the Woman’s Missionary Society of East Point at the home of Mrs. J. D. Campbell in June 1920. She participated in the program by reading and singing. Emma taught Sunday school classes at the Southern Methodist Church in East Point. In June 1921, she took her class to Grant Park for a box luncheon; in April 1922 she treated her class to an Easter egg hunt. 

A strange thing happened to Emma in August 1924 when a young man showed up at her house and told her “that her brother, B. F. Harrison, had been arrested in connection with a ‘shooting scrape,’ and needed $20 at once.” She gave him a check, told him what he needed to do to cash it, and he left. When her brother came home from work that day, Emma discovered the man had seen Benjamin at the East Point depot earlier in the day and asked for his address, which he apparently provided. They called the police, Emma described what the man looked like, and then learned a man of that description had victimized several people in Atlanta in the same manner. 

Emma hosted a kitchen shower for her soon to be married niece Jewell Harrison in late May 1924. She used a white and pink color theme and decorated with Dorothy Perkins roses. Emma attended the 75th birthday party for Maggie Mixon, “a pioneer citizen of East Point” in October 1925. Emma’s brother William died in December 1926. He was buried at Hillcrest Cemetery in East Point. In August 1927, The Atlanta Constitution featured Emma in an article detailing her 20 years of writing for the newspaper. At the time, she was “the oldest female correspondent of the paper.” During her time at the newspaper, she was “the official representative of East Point” writing about social events that took place. She wrote about parties and dinners, describing the clothes the guests wore and what food was served, who visited who, until one day she was called into the editor’s office and told that was no longer news. Times had changed and “so the day of many frills in the life of Miss Emma Harrison, as social correspondence, passed away.” 

Three of the Harrison children died in 1929. The first was Benjamin, who died at the age of 60 in East Point on June 2. He was buried at Hillcrest Cemetery in East Point. The second was Hilliard, who died from acute cardiac debilitation in East Point on July 27, 1929. He was buried at Fairburn City Cemetery in Fairburn, Fulton County, Georgia. And finally, Emma died at her East Point home on November 5, 1929 from uremia, “a condition where there is abnormally high levels of waste products in the blood due to kidney failure.” At the age of 59, she was buried on November 7 at Hillcrest Cemetery following a funeral service officiated by the Revs. Venable and Weathers at the East Point Methodist Church. Emma was survived by her brother Charles, now the sole survivor of the immediate Harrison family, her sister-in-law Janie Harrison (wife of William), and several nieces and nephews.

Photo used with permission of the East Point Historical Society

Emma had been active in the East Point Methodist Church and club circles for many years. A writer, she worked for The Constitution for 21 years. In March 1930, the East Point woman’s Club planted a tree on club grounds in Emma’s memory. The “Emma Harrison Missionary Circle” continued to meet after her death. 

As I got to the end of the paper trail for Emma, I discovered a discrepancy in her birth year. The news article published by The Atlanta Constitution on November 6, 1929 and her death certificate both record her age as 59 and birth year as 1870. Her tombstone was engraved with a birth year of 1869. When you go back to the 1870 census taken in August, you see that she was enumerated as one year old. Since she was born in April, that means she was born in 1869. But then again, when she was enumerated in the 1880 census, taken in June, her age was recorded as 11. In the 1900 census, Emma’s birth was enumerated as April 1876. In the 1910 census, her age was recorded as 36, which would make her birth taking place in 1874. In 1920, the census enumerator recorded her age as 47, which would make her birth about 1873. I believe 1869 is the correct year.

References

• A Pleasant Occasion, The Atlanta Constitution, Atlanta, Georgia, February 6, 1910.
• Afternoon Reception, The Atlanta Constitution, Atlanta, Georgia, June 16, 1912.
• Afternoon Reception, The Atlanta Constitution, Atlanta, Georgia, October 26, 1913.
• Capt. J. W. Harrison, The Atlanta Constitution, Atlanta, Georgia, February 18, 1911.
• Class Picnic, The Atlanta Constitution, Atlanta, Georgia, June 19, 1921.
• Concert in East Point, The Atlanta Constitution, Atlanta, Georgia, August 10, 1913.
• East Point Family Tree, Charles W. Strickland, President, East Point Historical Society; https://www.ancestry.com/mediaui-viewer/tree/30876178/person/26000786154/media/6d10d16a-7787-4fe8-abff-a705579b69eb. Photo originally shared by Kenneth Whitehead.
• East Point News of Social Interest, The Atlanta Constitution, Atlanta, Georgia, November 8, 1931.
• East Point Social News of Cordial Interest in State, The Atlanta Journal, Atlanta, Georgia, March 30, 1930.
• Fannie Harrison funeral notice, The Atlanta Constitution, Atlanta, Georgia, April 18, 1917.
• Find a Grave, database and images (https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/251903233/sarah-e-harrison: accessed 26 October 2023), memorial page for Sarah E Miles Harrison (25 Jun 1833–31 Oct 1879), Find a Grave Memorial ID 251903233, citing Antioch United Methodist Cemetery, South Fulton, Fulton County, Georgia, USA; maintained by Anonymous (contributor 46960440).
• Find a Grave, database and images (https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/46120251/emma-a-harrison: accessed 26 October 2023), memorial page for Emma A. Harrison (22 Apr 1869–5 Nov 1929), Find a Grave Memorial ID 46120251, citing Hillcrest Cemetery, East Point, Fulton County, Georgia, USA; maintained by East Point Historical Soc (contributor 50779333).
• Find a Grave, database and images (https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/10288860/hilliard-a-harrison: accessed 26 October 2023), memorial page for Hilliard A Harrison (17 Feb 1851–27 Jul 1929), Find a Grave Memorial ID 10288860, citing Fairburn City Cemetery, Fairburn, Fulton County, Georgia, USA; maintained by Love in Family (contributor 48149498).
• Find a Grave, database and images (https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/46120253/benjamin-f-harrison: accessed 26 October 2023), memorial page for Benjamin F. Harrison (21 Aug 1859–2 Jun 1929), Find a Grave Memorial ID 46120253, citing Hillcrest Cemetery, East Point, Fulton County, Georgia, USA; maintained by East Point Historical Soc (contributor 50779333).
• Find a Grave, database and images (https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/46120244/william-beauregard-harrison: accessed 27 October 2023), memorial page for William Beauregard Harrison (31 Oct 1862–28 Dec 1926), Find a Grave Memorial ID 46120244, citing Hillcrest Cemetery, East Point, Fulton County, Georgia, USA; maintained by East Point Historical Soc (contributor 50779333).
• Find a Grave, database and images (https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/70127739/robert-lewis-harrison: accessed 27 October 2023), memorial page for Robert Lewis Harrison (15 Mar 1857–20 Jul 1915), Find a Grave Memorial ID 70127739, citing Floral Hill Cemetery, Palmetto, Fulton County, Georgia, USA; maintained by Love in Family (contributor 48149498).
• Find a Grave, database and images (https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/12143024/john-c-harrison: accessed 28 October 2023), memorial page for John C. Harrison (2 Apr 1823–2 Apr 1897), Find a Grave Memorial ID 12143024, citing Antioch United Methodist Cemetery, South Fulton, Fulton County, Georgia, USA; maintained by J. Colin Clark (contributor 47094715).
• For Mrs. Kuppinger, The Atlanta Constitution, Atlanta, Georgia, July 10, 1912.
• Fulton and Campbell Counties, Georgia, Cemetery Records, 1857–1933.
• Hallowe’en Party, The Atlanta Constitution, Atlanta, Georgia, November 2, 1910.
• Harrison, Miss Emma, East Point Woman’s Club History Is Given by a Charter Member, The Atlanta Constitution, Atlanta, Georgia, January 13, 1929.
• Harrison-Hicks Wedding Plans and Parties of Wide Interest, The Atlanta Journal, Atlanta, Georgia, May 25, 1924.
• John Harrisen and Sarah Miles, U.S., Marriage Records From Select Counties, 1828–1978.
• John W. Harrison funeral notice, The Atlanta Constitution, Atlanta, Georgia, February 19, 1911.
• Junior Concert, The Atlanta Constitution, Atlanta, Georgia, October 22, 1911.
• Kitchen Shower, The Atlanta Journal, Atlanta, Georgia, June 1, 1924.
• Miss Emma Harrison Passes in East Point; Funeral on Thursday, The Atlanta Journal, Atlanta, Georgia, November 6, 1929.
• Miss Emma Harrison, Certificate of Death no. 29435, Georgia State Board of Health, Bureau of Vital Statistics, 1929.
• Miss Harrison Dies After Long Illness, The Atlanta Constitution, Atlanta, Georgia, November 6, 1929.
• Miss Harrison Relates Changes in Writing News for 20 Years, The Atlanta Constitution, Atlanta, Georgia, August 21, 1927.
• Misses Harrison Entertain, The Atlanta Constitution, Atlanta, Georgia, October 17, 1909.
• Missionary Tea, The Atlanta Constitution, Atlanta, Georgia, October 10, 1909.
• Mr. H. A. Harrison Certificate of Death no. 18413, George State Board of Health, Bureau of Vital Statistics, 1929.
• Mrs. Greer Entertains, The Atlanta Constitution, Atlanta, Georgia, February 25, 1914.
• Mrs. Mixon Celebrates 75th Birthday, The Atlanta Constitution, Atlanta, Georgia, October 18, 1925.
• Personal Mention, The Atlanta Journal, Atlanta, Georgia, December 24, 1903.
• Robert L. Harrison death notice, The Atlanta Constitution, Atlanta, Georgia, July 21, 1915.
• S.S. Class Enjoys Egg Hunt, The Atlanta Constitution, Atlanta, Georgia, April 16, 1922.
• Spend-the-Day Party, The Atlanta Constitution, Atlanta, Georgia, June 6, 1920.
• Stranger Gets $20 for Man “Arrested,” The Atlanta Journal, Atlanta, Georgia, August 7, 1924.
• To Miss Simmons, The Atlanta Journal, Atlanta, Georgia, February 7, 1910.
• Transfer of Property, The Atlanta Constitution, Atlanta, Georgia, March 13, 1903.
• U.S. Federal Census, District 1134, Campbell County, Georgia, 1880.
• U.S. Federal Census, East Point, Fulton County, Georgia, 1900, 1910.
• U.S. Federal Census, Goodes District, Campbell County, Georgia, 1870.
• Uremia, MSN Health, Focus Medica; https://www.msn.com/en-us/health/condition/uremia/hp-uremia?source=bing_wpt.
• W. B. Harrison’s obituary, The Atlanta Constitution, Atlanta, Georgia, December 29, 1926. 

Property of Henry Sanford—21 slaves named

This post is part of an ongoing project to record names of enslaved people of Greene County, Georgia I find in historical records.

The Temperance Banner, Penfield, Georgia, February 21, 1852.

Notice.

Will be sold in Greenesboro’ Greene County, on the first Tuesday in March next, the boy Tom, belonging to the Estate of Henry Sanford, deceased, for the benefit of the creditors. Terms Cash.

SUSAN A. SANFORD, Adm’x.

JOHN SMITH, Ad’r.

Jan 3, 1852. 1–2m

I found an appraisement in Henry Sanford's will that included a list of 21 negros. One of them was labeled a “man” vs. “boy” named Tom. This does not confirm it was the same person but was the only Tom listed so I mention it here. 

Appraisement of the property of Henry Sanford [unreadable] deceased.

1 negro man Peter - $1200.00
1 negro man Tom - 1200.00
1 negro man Dick – 1200.00
1 boy Hamilton – 1200.00
1 boy Beny – 300.00
1 old negro man Dick – 100.00
1 old negro man Sandy – 100.00
1 negro boy Charles – 800.00
1 negro boy Ben – 700.00
1 negro boy John – 500.00
1 negro boy Bill – 400.00
1 negro boy Isiah – 450.00
1 negro boy Jim – 250.00
1 negro woman Darcas & child – 1000.00
1 negro boy Oscar – 250.00
1 old negro woman Violet – 50.00
1 woman Ritta – 600.00
1 woman Sidney – 800.00
1 negro girl Emily 250.00
1 old woman Becky – 300.00
1 old woman Ginny – 1.00
[Total] $11651.00

 

Another item in the will papers was this receipt “for the hire of boy Tom” so am including it here. 

One Acct on [unreadable] Lawrence for fifteen dollars one note for the hire of boy Tom for the year 1851. 

References

Notice, The Temperance Banner, Penfield, Georgia, February 21, 1852.

Henry Sanford, Georgia, U.S., Wills and Probate Records, 1742-1992.

Celebrating a 73rd wedding anniversary

Today would have been my in-laws 73rd wedding anniversary. 

Earl Lloyd Murphy and Mary Margaret Athya, who both lived in Warren, Trumbull County, Ohio at the time, met at a Warren pizza parlor sometime between 1949 and 1950. They married on January 12, 1951 in what was probably a small, intimate ceremony performed by Rev. William B. Waters, pastor of the Derwood Church in Rockville, Montgomery County, Maryland. More than likely, Earl’s brothers, Raymond and Glenn, who both lived in Montgomery County, attended the wedding. As you can see in the photo below, Mary wore a fitted jacket and skirt popular in the 1950s. The ensemble included a corsage pinned to her jacket lapel. Earl wore a suit jacket with a light color shirt and a tie. After the ceremony, it appears they had drinks and/or dinner at a local eatery.

 

A wedding announcement was published soon after, newspaper and date unknown:

Miss Athya Wed at Rockville, Md.—Mr. and Mrs. George Athya, 1019 Brier Pl. NE, announce the marriage of their daughter Mary to Earl L. Murphy of Littleton, W. Va. The double ring ceremony was performed January 12th by Rev. W. B. Walters [sic] of Rockville, Md. The bride is a graduate of Harding High School. Mr. and Mrs. Murphy are living at Herndon, Va., where the groom is employed by a gas company.

The newspaper article stated theirs was a “double ring ceremony” and in the above photos, you can see both wearing a wedding ring. My husband has no memory of ever seeing his father wearing a wedding ring, nor does he know what happened to Earl’s ring. I do remember that Mary wore one, although it was not her original wedding ring. That would have been the one pictured below and now part of our family treasures. 

 

Earl purchased the original 18K gold wedding ring at Falls Church Jewelers in Falls Church, Virginia, located about 18 miles from Rockville, Maryland. He paid $6.50 for the ring. We found the receipt folded and tucked inside the ring box.

The ring is about the size of a penny and a tad bit larger than my pinkie finger. Mary was always a petite woman, with small hands and fingers. 

At the time of their marriage, Earl was 22 and Mary 21; both lived in Herndon, Fairfax County, Virginia. Earl worked as a pressure operator and Mary was unemployed. Their marriage license recorded Earl as a divorced man when he and Mary wed, something my husband knew nothing about until the early 2000s. For some reason, they chose to keep that information from their children for many years. His first marriage to Zania “Vernell” Tarkenton lasted from December 1948 to August 1950. I wrote about it in 2017, after my husband shared the divorce papers he now has possession of. Click here to read that story.

We celebrated Earl and Mary’s 40th anniversary as a family in January 1991. The next two photos were taken that day.

Mary and Earl

In January 1996, we celebrated their 45th anniversary. Truth be told, Mary had been diagnosed with lung cancer and we did not know what the future held for her. We asked family and friends to share their memories of Earl and Mary and then put a book together with what we received. These photos were taken that day.

Mary and daughter. Family friends in the background.

Mary and Earl. Family friend in the background.

Mary and granddaughter

Earl and his brother Glenn

In January 2001, we had a small celebration for their 50th anniversary that included my husband, our two boys, me, my mother, brother-in-law, and his wife. Mary had survived her bout with lung cancer but now had emphysema. Instead of a party, we all gathered at their house and just spent the day with them. This photo was taken that day.

Mary and Earl

Mary passed away on December 26, 2006, just shy of their 56th anniversary. Earl passed away on January 13, 2015—one day after their anniversary. Like so often happens, was he waiting for that day to arrive and pass before letting go? Only he knows.

References

• Earl L. Murphy and Mary Margaret Athya Marriage License no. 35415, State of Maryland, Montgomery County, 1951.
• U.S. Federal Census, Wheaton, Montgomery County, Maryland, 1950.
• Wedding announcement, publication unknown, 1951.  

Elizabeth, George, Robbin, Venus, Sidney, and Lizzy (Penfield Baptist Church)

This post is part of an ongoing project to record names of enslaved people of Greene County, Georgia I find in historical records. 

From Penfield Baptist Church Minutes: 1839 – 1885

Colored Church, Sunday Evening, Oct. 30th 1859

The door of the Colored Church was opened, and Elizabeth, servant of Dr. T. P. Janes, George, Servant of Prof. J. E. Willet, Robbin, Servant of Mrs. C. Sanders, Venus, Servant of Mrs. Scott, near Woodstock, and Sidney, Servant of Mr. L. L. Andrews, were received by experience as candidates for baptism. 

Lizzy, Servant of Dr. N. M. Crawford, baptized several years ago, and received into Church fellowship in a Church in Tennessee, having in consequence of the dissolution of the Church organization, been unable to procure a letter of dismission, was, on the relation of her experience, received as a member in full standing. 

Reference

Penfield Baptist Church Minutes: 1839 – 1885, Penfield, Greene County, Georgia. 

Lankford Family Bible

For the first post of 2024, I share a family treasure I received this past October. Over the summer, my sister-in-law texted to let me know my brother planned to give me the Bible that once belonged to our paternal grandparents, Carroll Harvey Lankford (Grandpa) and Floria Mae Burnette Lankford (Grandma) on our next trip to Atlanta. Of course, as the family genealogist, I was thrilled.

Now in my possession, I can tell you the Bible is large, 11.5” x 9” and 1.5” thick. Unfortunately, the book spine is damaged and has been repaired with duct tape. Some other sort of tape was also used on both the outer and inner binding, along with a small piece of scotch tape that is still in place on the inner binding. 

The pages are somewhat yellowed and aged around the edges. Some of them are separating from the spine.

Daddy wrote a message on the title page that reads “To my Mother and Father this 8th of April 1957” so the Bible is 66 years old. You can see he signed the message.

Unlike my Granny’s Bible that I blogged about on January 6, 2023, there are no markings on the pages. But, thank goodness, someone entered names and dates on the two pages set aside for family history. Is it Grandma’s handwriting? I wish I knew, but whoever recorded the information, they included the following:

Name: Carroll H. Lankford and Floria Mae Burnette, married March 12, 1922 in Penfield, Georgia.

Father’s grandparents: This section was left blank. 

Mother’s grandparents: 

Samuel Pride Burnette: This is one of two documents we have that lists his middle name as “Pride.” All others only list his middle initial, so I was happy to see this written out.

Virginia Overton Burnette: Her given name was Millicent Virginia Overton.

Henry Claborn Jones: Most records only list his middle initial, so this confirms his middle name, although I usually see it spelled “Clayborn.”

Elizabeth Tuck Jones: Her given name was Sarah Elizabeth Tuck.

Grandparents: 

Alice Callaway: This would be Grandpa’s mother, Alice Beman Lankford, not his grandmother. Because he was illegitimate, no father is listed. I have published several blogs detailing speculation of his birth and how DNA connects me to the family that was rumored to be his father’s. If you search his name on this blog, you will find several posts.

Parents: This section lists Grandpa and Grandma, rather than their parents, Thomas Terrell Burnette and Elizabeth Jones.

Children: All eight of their children are listed, along with their birthdates. There are a few marriage dates but they are incomplete and perhaps even wrong.

Grandchildren: There are 26 of their 28 grandchildren recorded, along with their birthdates. Two more were born five years after the last child was recorded. 

For privacy’s sake, I am not posting a photo showing their children (one still alive at 95 years of age) or grandchildren. It was interesting to see the list of grandchildren. I have never counted them so was surprised by the number, although I knew there were quite a few. I was number 13—my lucky number!

Several items were found between the pages of the Bible:

• Grandma’s obituary from an unknown newspaper
• One dried flower that looks like a rose, pressed in plastic
• A green envelope with the words “To Dad” written on it
• A piece of paper marking Luke 6:46-49 and Luke 7:1-50

  

 

My paternal grandparents, Carroll and Floria (Burnette) Lankford

I am grateful my brother gave this family treasure to me, and it now rests with the other family Bibles in our collection.  

Ausrka, Fereby, and Cheney, servants of B. M. Sanders, T. West, and Prof. Sanford

This post is part of an ongoing project to record names of enslaved people of Greene County, Georgia I find in historical records.  

Penfield Baptist Church: 1839–1885, p. 126.

Penfield Feb. 4th, 1849

The colored church met in conference and bro. Howel presided. The door of the church was opened and sister Ausrka a female servant of Bro. B. M. Sanders presented a letter from Greensboro Church and was received. After an examination of the case of sister Fereby, it was found that her crime was “having used opprobrious language.” She was called to make explanations to the church, but replied that she had none to make. Supposing from her conduct that she designed not to be submissive to God and the church she was unanimously excluded from fellowship. A collection was then taken up for purchasing a table for the use of the church. Adjourned. W. Morgan, Clk.

Note: Opprobrious is an adjective that means “expressing severe criticism and blame” according to the Cambridge English Dictionary.

Penfield Baptist Church: 1839–1885, p. 129.

Penfield, July 1st, 1849 

The African Church met in conference Brother Everett, presiding. The door of the church was opened. Fereby, a servant girl of T. West, who was formerly excluded, expressed a desire to unite with the church again and after making satisfactory acknowledgements and exhibiting to the church signs of a sincere repentance for her misconduct, was restored to full fellowship. Sister Cheney, a maid servant of Pro. Sanford’s, applied for a letter of dismission, which was not granted, in consequence of some misdemeanor or difficulty in which she was involved. A committee was appointed consisting of Breth’ P. Jackson, A. Cox, G. D. Hubbard to investigate the matter and if possible adjust the difficulty. No further business, the conference adj. 

H. F. Lipford, Clk pro tem

Reference

• Opprobrious, Cambridge English Dictionary; https://dictionary.cambridge.org/us/dictionary/english/opprobrious.
• Penfield Baptist Church Minutes: 1839 – 1885, Penfield, Greene County, Georgia, pp. 126 and 129.