Greene County, Georgia Poor School Fund records

The records I share today were another unexpected find discovered through random searches on the FamilySearch website’s ‘Experiments’ page. On this page, you can harness the power of artificial intelligence to expand your search of historical records with full-text capabilities. I have had great success with this function for ancestors in the United States, United Kingdom, and New Zealand. 

In this case, I discovered Greene County, Georgia Poor School Fund records for my direct ancestors and others in the family tree. These appear to be detailed vouchers submitted by teachers for payment of their services. The vouchers include the head of the family, the names of their children, the number of days each child attended school, whether they were orphans or not, and the total amount due to the teacher. The majority of classes were taught in Penfield in Greene County.

In 1859, Adrian S. Morgan submitted voucher number 12, in the amount of $179.07, “for teaching the following named poor children of said county in the elementary branches of an English education.” In the first record I discovered, three families stood out to me: Lankford, Wilson, and Jenkins.

Jas. Lankford’s children
James Meriweather Lankford was my 3rd great grandfather. His daughter, Mary T. Lankford, attended Mr. Morgan’s class for 90 days in 1859, and his son, James C. Lankford, attended for 91 days. I descend from his son James. This is one of the few records I have found documenting James with his children. It is also the first record I have found that describes him and his family as poor. James lived and worked in Penfield among the wealthy plantation owners, many of whom were millionaires. Although he lived and worked near and with them, he was not one of them. James was a member of the working class. I had wrongly assumed he did well for himself as an entrepreneur and businessman, owning a daily hack service, livery stables, and mercantile stores. James was a soldier, constable, stock trader, dabbled in real estate, was a horse doctor, and even wrote and published a book about horses. Despite all that, I never thought of him as poor, but apparently, I was wrong.

O. P. Wilson’s children
O. P. Wilson was Oliver Porter Wilson, my 3rd great grandfather. His daughter and my direct ancestor, Mary Ann Wilson, who attended Mr. Morgan’s classes for 181 days, was my 2nd great grandmother. She married James C. Lankford, son of James Meriweather Lankford. Oliver’s daughter, Martha, attended class for 83 days and William attended for 182 days.

Jenkins orphans
The three Jenkins orphans were John Nathan C. Jenkins, who attended Mr. Morgan’s class for 191 days; his sister Mary Elizabeth Jenkins, who attended for 114 days; and another sister, Marion Louisa Jenkins, who also attended for 114 days. Their mother, Marian Langford Hobbs, was my 4th great-aunt. Their father, John Jenkins, had been declared insane in the late 1840s and was unable to support his family or manage his property. John’s brother-in-law, James L. Tarwater, who was married to Marian’s sister Rebecca L. Hobbs (also my 4th great-aunt), had been appointed as John’s guardian. In 1850, Marian petitioned the courts for assistance in providing for the family’s support and safeguarding John’s property. She feared further loss of property and expressed concern about falling into poverty along with her children. John passed away sometime before 1856. Although Marian was still alive in 1859, it is unclear why they were labeled as orphans.

 

 

 

 

I found two of James M. Lankford’s children on another invoice, this one voucher number 11, submitted by John W. Lankford “for teaching the following named poor children of said County in the elementary branches of an English education during 1859.” This invoice included James C. Lankford and Emma S. Lankford. James attended Mr. Lankford’s class for 52 days, and Emma for 59 days. Mr. Lankford was likely James and Emma’s first cousin, son of William A. Lankford and his wife Nancy O. Goodman. William was the older brother of James M. Lankford. John would have been 21 years old at the time. He lived in Penfield in 1860, where the classes took place in 1859. 

 

Interestingly, William and his son Robert were listed on page two of the invoice but were crossed out. It also included another family I am familiar with: the Silas A. Wilson family, including Linsey, James L., Alexander A., and Ella A. Wilson. His son, James, was 12 years old that year and had attended Mr. Lankford’s class for 26 days. Eleven years later, James married James M. Lankford’s daughter, Emma. 

In 1860, the James M. Lankford family once again appeared on the Poor School Fund list. This time, the teacher was Miss Mary Callaway, who submitted a voucher for teaching named Greene County poor children during the year in one or all of the following: reading, writing, arithmetic, spelling, English, grammar, and geography. 

 

His son, James (age 11), had attended Miss Callaway’s class for 25 days, and daughter, Emma (age 8), attended her class for 50 days.

 

Miss Callaway also taught three children in the Silas A. Wilson family in 1860: Linsey who attended her class for 34 days, Ella, who attended for 25 days, and James, who attended her class for 22 days. 

 

In 1861, James C. and Emma Lankford were taught spelling, reading, writing, arithmetic, English, grammar, and geography by Dr. W. H. Patterson. James attended class for 80 days at a rate of tuition of $24, while Emma attended 85 days at a rate of $16. 

Dr. Patterson also taught three of Oliver P. Wilson’s children in 1861: Martha, who attended class for 50 days, and both Mary and William, who attended for 110 days each, all at a rate of $24.

 

In 1862, Cassander Corlew submitted an invoice for teaching the children (scholars) of James M. Lankford, James L. Tarwater, and William Bryant: James Lankford, Emma Lankford, Emerette “Nannie” Lankford, Nathan Lankford, Mary Jenkins, Alexander Bryant, and Charles Bryant. William Bryant was the husband of Elizabeth Ann Lankford, sister of James Meriweather Lankford. William and Elizabeth lived most of their life in Oglethorpe County, which borders Greene County.

 

 

In 1864, John R. Boswell taught five of James M. Lankford’s children: James (age 15) who attended class for 90 days, Emerette (age 13) who attended for 60 days, Nathan (age 11) who attended for 150 days, Laura (age 9) who attended for 60 days, and Marion (age 7) who attended for 30 days. All five were taught spelling, reading, and writing. 

 

Mr. Boswell also taught the children of William Bryant, who lived in the 146th District. The children who attended Mr. Boswell’s classes included: William Jr. (age 15) who attended for 90 days, Alexander (age 13) who attended for 60 days, Charlie (age 11) who attended for 150 days, Mattie (age 9) who attended for 200 days, and Herbert (age 7) who attended for 200 days. William and Alexander were taught spelling, reading, arithmetic, and writing; Charlie and Mattie were taught spelling, reading, and writing; and Herbert was taught spelling.

 

These Poor School Fund records are just an example of what you might find using the FamilySearch Experiments search engine. There were many others to explore. If you are not already using this capability in your research, I highly recommend checking it out. The web address is https://www.familysearch.org/search/full-text.

References

Estate Records: Greene County, Georgia, Probate Estate Case Files 1790–1943, images 593, 812–815, 821–823, 910, 1002, 1219–1220, 1143; https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:3Q9M-C9RB-TNF4?view=explore&groupId=TH-909-50366-14822-39&grid=on (access requires free registration).  

Dick and Aimey, servants of R. Hobbs and T. Stocks

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

Shiloh Baptist Church Minute Extracts 

Shiloh 28th August 1842

Conference met for the benefit of the black brethren, Bro. Jesse M. Wood, moderator, opened a door for the reception of members when Dick, servant boy of Mr. Robin Hobbs came forward and after relating as we hope an experience of grace, was received into the fellowship of the church. Granted a letter of administration to Aimey, servant girl of Bro. Thomas Stocks. Conference adjourned.

E. C. Shackelford, Church Clerk

Note: I believe Robin Hobbs is actually Robert Hobbs.

Reference

Church records, 1839-1859, Greene County, Georgia, Shiloh Baptist Church Records, image 46; https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:3Q9M-C34J-3QQP?cat=193117&i=45 (free registration required). 

Heirloom Christmas tree skirt

As we took our Christmas tree down last weekend, I finally remembered to take a photo of my tree skirt so it could be added to my list of heirlooms. Every year, I always think about it after my husband had already packed everything away. Since I am certain neither of my sons has a clue where the tree skirt came from, I thought it was time to document its provenance.

One of the families I grew up with in Atlanta was the Rath/Knight family. The mother, Chris, was divorced but later remarried and became Chris Knight. Her daughter Peggy was two years older than me, and her son Gary was my age. After Chris’ second marriage, she had another daughter, Katrina. Their house was on a street parallel to our backyard. The photo below was taken in early 1960 from the backside of our front yard. Their house is the one pictured in the middle, with the garage (not the one above it).

Peggy and I were friends for many years. I remember going to her house to play with her Barbie dolls. She had a nice wooden dollhouse, and Chris sewed all sorts of Barbie clothes. I never had a Barbie doll, so Peggy very kindly shared hers. In the winter months, if by chance we had any snow—which, of course, living in Atlanta, was not very often—the neighborhood kids gathered at their house because they lived at the top of a hill. Having moved there from Michigan, they had sleds, while all we had was cardboard. We took turns having someone stand at the bottom of the hill to watch for cars while everyone else sledded down.

We played card and board games and set up Gary’s Hot Wheel tracks on their driveway to watch the cars roll down the hill. At Christmas time, we made huge tissue paper flowers to decorate packages. In the summer, we put records on the record player, and Peggy and I sat in front of the windows, singing our hearts out. We read Nancy Drew and Pippi Longstocking books and hung out with the other neighborhood kids. We spent any money we earned on a Coke and Reese’s Peanut Butter Cup at Davis Grocery, the mom-and-pop store next door to our house. We walked to our elementary school and went trick-or-treating together.

Chris always had no-bake chocolate peanut butter oatmeal cookies or a Crisco pound cake for a treat. And like Mama, she made different flavors of divinity candy every Christmas.

A birthday party at my house. That’s me in the back (right side)
with the white headband. Peggy is sitting on my right.

After Peggy’s high school graduation in 1972, the Knight family moved to Warrenton, Virginia, to manage the Rip Van Winkle Motel there. A little over six years later, Peggy convinced me to move to Virginia, and we were roommates for a while. I met my husband my first week in Virginia, and we married the following year. Our first home was less than 30 minutes from Chris’ house in Haymarket, Virginia. Before my children were born, I often visited Chris on weekends with Peggy, so we could work on ceramics. She had a basement full of molds and a kiln and gave us free rein to make what we wanted as long as we paid for the ceramic slip. 

One Christmas between 1980 and 1985, Chris gave me this tree skirt, which she crocheted. My husband and I have used it every Christmas since then. As you can see, the skirt is circular, 32 inches in diameter, and made with white, red, and green yarn. It is still in excellent condition, although it could probably use a good cleaning. I can safely say it has never been washed. We generally just box it back up when we take the tree down every year.

As time passed, my family dynamics changed, as did my interests, and Peggy and I eventually grew apart. Their entire family left Virginia separately by the mid-1980s, if I recall correctly. Gary visited my house a couple of times when he was in the area, but otherwise, I have not seen any of them for years. Despite this, we shared many childhood and early adult memories, and I think of this family every year when we set our Christmas tree up. 

Tuggle legacy: Rebecca named

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

Georgia, Greene Co.

Received, February 19th 1862 of William Tuggle Executor of the last will and testament of the late William Tuggle of said county, deceased, the sum of Two thousand and thirty-six dollars in cash, and one negro girl named Rebecca, valued at one thousand dollars, being a part of P. J. Tuggle's legacy in the remainder of property belonging to the estate of said William Tuggle, deceased.

P. J. Tuggle, L.S.

Signed, sealed, and delivered, the date above written in the presence of William A. Overton.

William L. Tuggle, J. P.

Reference

P. J. Tuggle, Greene County, Georgia, Probate Estate Case Files 1790–1943, image 789, FamilySearch (access requires free registration); https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:3QS7-993B-Q8H1?view=fullText&keywords=P%2CT%2CGreene%2Cnegro&groupId=TH-1951-30544-2203-51.  

New Shields Family Photos

While going through online trees recently, I found the two photos featured in this post—one of the Samuel Cas Shields family and one of my grandmother, Daisy Lee Shields. Both photos were posted on another Shields family researcher’s online family tree. That researcher, Oliver Cagle, and I are 2nd cousins once removed, and we are both descendants of Cas and his wife, Martha Ann Ogle. Oliver’s grandmother was Cas and Martha’s daughter, Melona Jane Shields, and a sibling of my great-grandfather, James Stewart Shields. Years ago, Oliver, my sister, and I exchanged Shields family information and photos, but he did not have these particular photos back then. After discovering the photos, I reached out to Oliver to inform him of my intention to use them on my blog and asked where he found them. He replied that they came from either his grandmother or her daughter Betty, both of whom have since passed away. 

The family photo features (from left to right) Melona Jane Shields, Maude Maree Shields, and Pearl Lewcrilly Shields in the front row. Jane, also known as Janie or Dicie, later married, moved to California, had four children, and lived to the age of 95. Maude married young and sadly died at age 16, likely due to childbirth complications. Pearl’s life was particularly tragic. She married a man who struggled with alcoholism and was unable to support their family of five children (four sons and one daughter). Pearl contracted tuberculosis and died at the age of 31. After her death, her husband abandoned the children, who ranged in age from 2 to 11. They spent some time with their grandparents, Cas and Martha, but due to financial constraints, the four youngest children were eventually placed at Georgia Baptist Children’s Home. The sons were placed in one home and the daughter in another, through their church, where they stayed until they turned 18. The oldest son, being old enough to work, lived with an uncle (Elmer Shields) for a short time and then with an aunt (Addice Shields). Despite their tragic beginnings, all five children grew up to lead good, productive lives.

In the back row are (from left to right) Walter C. Brown Shields, Sallie Addice Shields, Albert Conley Shields, James Stewart Shields, and Martha and Cas Shields. Walter, a farmer in Whitfield County, Georgia, married and had eight children before he passed away at age 57. Addice, the mother of six children, was married three times. She lived to age 87 after taking care of her mother and brother Blaine Arthur Shields following Cas’ passing. Conley, who lived to age 72, married and had one daughter and worked in construction. Stewart, my Pappy, married and had 12 children. He passed away at age 70 after working as a farmer for many years in Whitfield County, Georgia, and then at a cardboard manufacturer in Chattanooga, Tennessee. Martha and Cas Shields, farmers in Sevier County, Tennessee, before moving to Whitfield County, Georgia, raised 10 children before their deaths at age 91 and 85, respectively.

Oliver estimates that his grandmother was about 13 years old at the time the family photo was taken, which would place it around 1920.

Samuel Cas Shields family (ca. 1920). Photo from Oliver Cagle.

The second photo features my granny, Daisy Lee Shields, the eldest child of James Stewart Shields and Hattie Jane Rhinehart. I believe Daisy was in her late teens or early 20s when this photo was taken on the back porch of Cas and Martha’s home in Tunnel Hill, Georgia. Daisy was married six times and had one daughter. She worked as a beautician and lived to the age of 77. If you would like to learn more about Daisy’s life, click here.

Daisy Lee Shields (ca. 1930). Photo from Oliver Cagle.

Although I titled this post “New Shields Family Photos,” these photos are not new in the traditional sense—but they are new to me. It was thrilling to discover these photos, as I had never seen either of them before. I do have one photo of Cas and Martha Shields, taken around 1910, with all but two of their children—my great-grandfather Stewart, who had already married and left home, and Maude, who had not been born yet. I am thankful Oliver took the time to post these photos. 

28 slaves recorded in Holcomb G. Moore’s estate inventory

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

Inventory and Appraisement of the Estate of Holcomb G. Moore, late of Greene Co., Ga., dec’d.

37 hogs $200.00, 20 pigs $40.00, 16 head cattle $200.00 - $440.00
1 bay horse 75.00, 1 bay mule 150.00, 1 sorrel mule 150.00 – 375.00
1 black mule 125.00, 1 bay mule 140.00, 1 bay mule 150.00 – 415.00
300 bushels corn 375.00, 6 stacks fodder 24.00, 5 bushels wheat 8.75 – 407.75
1 lot plow stocks and gear 20.00, 1 lot hoes, spades, wedges and axes 5.00 – 25.00
1 buggy and harness 50.00 – 50.00
1 negro man Tom $1000.00, 1 negro man Lewis $500.00 - $1500.00
1 negro man Haynes 400.00, 1 negro man Henry 800.00 – 1200.00
1 negro man Henry 700.00 – 700.00
1 negro woman Carmilla and 3 children (Green, Charles and Evalina) – 1400.00
1 negro boy Jack 500.00, 1 negro man Edmond 100.00 – 600.00
1 negro boy Daniel 400.00, 1 negro woman Harriet and child Ann 900.00 – 1300.00
1 negro woman Clara and 2 children (Charles and Horace) – 1100.00
1 negro girl Mary 700.00, 1 negro girl Sophia 500.00 – 1200.00
1 negro boy Henry 400.00, 1 girl Lou 200.00 – 600.00
1 negro woman Sarah and 2 children (Butler and Nancy) – 1000.00
1 negro girl Parilee 350.00, 1 girl Emma 600.00 – 950.00
1 negro girl Dora 300.00, 1 boy Jackson 300.00 – 600.00
1 saddle 1.00, 3 sacks salt 48.00, 5 jars lard 50.00 – 99.00
27 bu. peas 27.00, 1600 lbs. bacon 400.00 – 427.00
1 lot plow hoes 16.00, 3 smoothing irons 1.50 – 17.50
1 wagon and britching 125.00, 1 cotton gin 60.00 – 185.00
1 pr. steelyards 2.00, 2 plow stocks and plow hoes 5.00 – 7.00
1 wagon 10.00, 1 pr. Andirons shovel and tongs 2.00 – 12.00
4 flower vases 2.00, 3 window curtains and shades 10.00 – 12.00
1 lot books 20.00, 1 table and cover 5.00 – 25.00
1 tea stand 2.00, 1 lot parlor chairs 15.00 – 17.00
1 lot cottage chairs 6.00, 1 rocking chair 6.00 – 12.00
1 sofa 20.00, 1 parlor carpet 15.00 – 35.00
1 gold watch and chain 140.00, 1 bedstead and furniture 40.00 – 180.00
1 washstand and furniture 2.50, 5 plain chairs5.00 – 7.50
1 carpet 10.00, 1 bureau 25.00, 1 pr. Andirons. 50 – 35.50
1 safe 8.00, 4 candle sticks and 1 small bell 2.00 – 10.00
1 egg stand 10.00, 1 castor 30.00 – 40.00
1 lot tin ware 6.00, 1 lot table ware 80.00 – 86.00
2 buckets and dippers 2.00, 1 pine table 2.00 – 4.00
1 dining table 20.00, 1 lot table linen 10.00 – 30.00
1 bedstead and furniture 40.00, 1 table and cover and glass 4.00 – 44.00
1 washstand 2.00, 1 bedstead and furniture 25.00 – 27.00

Carried Forward 15,175.25

1 dressing table and glass $2.00, 1 washstand 2.00 – 4.00
1 lot bed clothing 80.00, 1 small bedstead and furniture 6.00 – 86.00
1 bedstead and furniture 12.00, 1 shot gun 5.00 – 17.00
2 small tubs .75, 1 spinning wheel 2.00 – 2.75
1 lot kitchen furniture 25.00, 1 wash tub and churn 1.50 – 26.50
15 bales cotton badly injured by high water –

$15,311.50

We do certify upon oath, having first qualified each other as the law directs, that so far as was produced to us by Green Moore, Administrator of Holcomb G. Moore, dec’d, the above and foregoing contains a true inventory and appraisement of the goods and chattels of said Holcomb G. Moore dec’d to the best of our judgement and understanding.

Given under our hands and official signatures this 24th day of March 1862.
Jas. B. Park
James N. Armor, Appraisers
William Armor
J. J. Zachry

Inventory of the Rights and Credits of Holcomb G. Moore
1 tract of land in Greene County containing about 420 acres
13 23/100 8/9 shares in the Eatonton Mfg. Co. worthless

The above and foregoing contains a true statement of all the property of Holcomb G. Moore, dec’d required by law to be inventoried, embracing all his estate of which as his Administrator I have been possessed or could control or that has come to my knowledge.

March 24th 1862
Green Moore, Adm. of Holcomb G. Moore
Filed in Office March 28th 1862.
May 5th 1862. Examined and ordered to be recorded.

Recorded May 7th 1862.
Eugenius L. King, Ordinary

Reference

Holcomb G. Moore Inventory and Appraisement, Appraisements: Greene County, Georgia, Appraisal Records 1852–1865, images 170–171, FamilySearch (access requires free registration); https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:3QSQ-G93L-DHQ8?view=explore&groupId=M9KL-K4G.  

Wesley Bluford Young Jr.

This blog post is another in a series connecting the dots in my tree to the souls buried at Bairdstown Cemetery in Bairdstown, Oglethorpe County, Georgia.

Wesley Bluford Young Jr., son of Wesley “Mike” Bluford Young Sr. and Pearl Durham, was born in Sparta, Hancock County, Georgia, on July 16, 1911. Wesley was the youngest of five children: Ernest W. Young, Thomas Y. Young, Gladys E. Young, Florene M. Young, and himself.

Wesley’s relationship to me is that he is the nephew of the wife of my first cousin four times removed. His aunt, Martha Elizabeth Young, was married to John Wesley Lankford, son of Robert Chester Lankford, who was the brother of my third great-grandfather, James Meriweather Lankford. We have no direct common relative.

On January 2, 1920, Wesley and his family lived on a rented farm located on Stephens Road in Bairdstown, Oglethorpe County, Georgia. Wesley’s father was a farmer on the home farm, assisted by Wesley’s brother, Thomas. Everyone in the household was literate. However, at age nine, Wesley was not attending school, nor were his sisters, Gladys and Florene. Wesley’s brother, Ernest, aged 21, was attending college at that time.

It appeared that the Young family lived two houses away from the John Wesley Lankford family (enumerated as Langford). However, a closer look reveals that the Lankford family actually lived on Briscoe Road, not two houses away. I checked Google Maps to see how close the two roads are to each other, but unfortunately, Briscoe Road does not show up. John Wesley Lankford’s wife, Martha Elizabeth (Young) Lankford, was the sister of Wesley Sr. 

I have been unable to locate Wesley in the 1930 census, but records indicate he was residing in Bairdstown in 1935. By February 1936, Wesley had relocated to Augusta, Richmond County, Georgia, approximately 77 miles from Bairdstown. On February 17, 1936, he enlisted in the U.S. Navy in Macon, Bibb County, Georgia. The Macon Evening News reported his acceptance into the Navy on February 20.

CITY ITEMS. Accepted for service in the U.S. navy yesterday were: James E. Elder, Carl F. Hutcheson, Jr., Atlanta; Cater M. Rountree, Augusta; George M Turner, Jr., Miles F. White, Atlanta; Marvin Stillwell, James A. Wood, Columbus; Wesley B. Young, Jr., Augusta. To conclude the February enlistments Macon men will be accepted today.

On June 12, 1936, Wesley was assigned to the U.S.S. Salinas. Two years into his military service, he was stationed in Norfolk, Norfolk County, Virginia, a major hub for the U.S. Navy. On June 19, 1938, his engagement to Martha Lynn Payne, daughter of Howard David Payne and Bessie Mae Jackson, was announced in The Atlanta Journal:

PAYNE-YOUNG. Mr. and Mrs. H. D. Payne, of Blue Ridge, announce the engagement of their daughter, Martha Lynn, to Wesley B. Young, Jr., of Bairdstown and Norfolk, Va., the marriage to be solemnized in the fall.

As noted in the announcement, they were married that fall. By 1939, they lived on Hamilton Avenue in Norfolk. Their union was blessed with two sons: Richard Ray Young and Wesley Bluford Young III.

On March 31, 1939, Wesley appeared on the muster roll of the U.S.S. Salinas, the ship he was first assigned to in June 1936. He remained on the ship until at least February 1940.

Wesley reenlisted for four years in March 1940 and appeared on the muster roll of the Naval Receiving Station in Norfolk. On April 10, 1940, the Young family lived in a rented home on Lens Avenue in Norfolk. Wesley served as an electrician’s mate in the Navy. He appeared on the muster rolls for the U.S.S. Hilary P. Jones in September and December 1940, and January 1941. On June 4, 1941, Wesley was received at New York, New York on the U.S.S. Catlinn. He transferred to the U.S.S. Tarazed on June 14, 1941, which was commissioned that day. He remained on the ship at least through the end of the year. During peacetime, the Tarazed was used to transport fruit and passengers.

U.S.S. Tarazed (ca. 1942, public domain)

In January, February, April, and June 1942, Wesley appeared on the muster rolls for the U.S.S. Talamanca. From at least March to December 1943, Wesley was on the muster roll for the U.S.S. Perkins, a Mahan-class destroyer that served in the Pacific during World War II.

On December 31, 1943, Wesley appeared on a muster roll for the Shoemaker, California receiving station. By February 1944, he held the rank of ensign, an entry-level commissioned officer in the U.S. Navy, equivalent to a Second Lieutenant in other military branches and often referred to as junior officers. 

Wesley, an electrician, was a member of the Massachusetts Grand Lodge of Masons in 1944.

On October 3, 1944, Wesley appeared on a muster roll at the Summer Street receiving station in Boston, Massachusetts. Sometime afterwards, he moved his family to Atlanta, Fulton County, Georgia, where they lived in an apartment on 4th Street NE until at least 1947. Wesley’s father passed away on May 16, 1947, and was buried at Bairdstown Cemetery in Bairdstown. On October 23, 1948, Wesley appeared on a muster roll for the Newport, Rhode Island Naval Training Station.

By April 3, 1950, Wesley and his family were residing in the community of Fairfield, near Richmond in Henrico County, Virginia. The census record from that year reflects his service in the armed forces. The 1950 Richmond City Directory showed Wesley working as the assistant officer in charge at the U.S. Navy Recruiting Station in Sandston, Henrico County, Virginia. His wife, Martha, was not employed, and their sons were 15 and 10 years old. 

On June 12, 1956, Wesley appeared on a “List of In-Bound Passengers” aboard the USNS Henry Gibbins (T-AP-183), departing Cristobal in the Panama Canal Zone, with an expected arrival at the port of New York, New York on June 18.

It appears Wesley was traveling home in preparation for his retirement. On June 30, 1956, he was discharged from the Navy after serving 21 years and holding the rank of Lieutenant at the time of his retirement. In the fall of 1957, Martha, a member of the Cradock Music Club, assisted in organizing a luncheon following the first meeting of the season for the club, held in Cradock, a historic district in Portsmouth, Virginia, near Norfolk.

Wesley’s son, Wesley III, married Carolyn Vaughn Frazier, daughter of Raymond Leslie Frazier and Celia Jones, at the First Baptist Church in Richmond, Virginia, on November 30, 1963. Wesley’s oldest son, Richard, who lived in Milwaukee, Wisconsin at the time, served as his brother’s best man.

Wesley’s mother passed away on December 20, 1969. She was buried at Bairdstown Cemetery in Bairdstown.

Wesley, aged 85, died in DeKalb County, Georgia, on November 16, 1996. He was buried at Bairdstown Cemetery following a funeral service held at Bill Head Funeral Home, Lilburn/Tucker Chapel. At the time of his death, Wesley lived in Norcross, Gwinnett County, Georgia, and was a member of the Lilburn First Baptist Church. He was survived by his wife, his two sons, six grandchildren, and five great-grandchildren.

References

• Bessie Jackson, Georgia, County Marriages, 1785–1950.
• Carolyn V. Frazier Married, The Daily Advance, Lynchburg, Virginia, December 9, 1963.
• City Items, Macon Evening News, Macon, Georgia, February 20, 1936.
• Martha Young obituary, The Atlanta Constitution, Atlanta, Georgia, April 5, 2007.
• Norfolk, Virginia, City Directory, 1939.
• Payne-Young, The Atlanta Journal, Atlanta, Georgia, June 19, 1938.
• Personal visit to Bairdstown Cemetery, Bairdstown, Oglethorpe County, Georgia.
• Singer Opens ‘57 Season for Club of Music Lovers, Ledger-Star, Norfolk, Virginia, October 3, 1957.
• U.S. Federal Census, Bairdstown, Oglethorpe County, Georgia, 1920.
• U.S. Federal Census, Fairfield, Henrico County, Virginia, 1950.
• U.S. Federal Census, Morganton, ED 41, Fannin County, Georgia, 1920.
• U.S. Federal Census, Norfolk, Norfolk City, Virginia, 1940.
• USS Tarazed; https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/USS_Tarazed. 
• Wesley B. Young Jr., The Atlanta Constitution, Atlanta, Georgia, November 18, 1996.
• Wesley B. Young Jr., The Atlanta Journal, Atlanta, Georgia, November 19, 1996.
• Wesley B. Young, Atlanta, Georgia, City Directory, 1944, 1947.
• Wesley B. Young, Georgia, U.S., Death Index, 1919–1998.
• Wesley B. Young, Norfolk, Virginia, City Directory, 1939.
• Wesley B. Young, Receiving Station, New York, Ny. 30 Apr 1931 to 1 Nov 1946 Part 1, 1 Jan 1939 to 30 Jun 1941, U.S., World War II Navy Muster Rolls, 1938–1949.
• Wesley B. Young, Richmond, Virginia, City Directory, 1950.
• Wesley B. Young, U.S., Department of Veterans Affairs BIRLS Death File, 1850–2010.
• Wesley B. Young, U.S., World War II Navy Muster Rolls, 1938–1949.
• Wesley Bluford Young Jr., U.S., Select Military Registers, 1862–1985.
• Wesley Bluford Young Jr., U.S., Social Security Applications and Claims Index, 1936–2007.
• Wesley Bluford Young Jr., U.S., World War II Navy Muster Rolls, 1938–1949.
• Wesley Bluford Young, 3rd, Certificate of Marriage no. 35352, Commonwealth of Virginia, November 1963.
• Wesley Bluford Young, Jr., U.S., Veterans’ Gravesites, ca. 1775–2019.
• Wesley Bluford Young, Massachusetts, U.S., Mason Membership Cards, 1733–1990.
• Wesley Young, Receiving Station, Ntdc Shoemaker, Ca. General Detail Part 4, 1 Dec 1943 to 31 Dec 1943, U.S., World War II Navy Muster Rolls, 1938–1949.
• Young, Frazier Vows Said, The Atlanta Journal, Atlanta, Georgia, December 17, 1963.