Unwrapping Christmas gifts

For this last post of the year, how about a short walk down memory lane before the holiday season ends. I recently found a few more slides to convert and one was the first photo below, taken at our Macon Drive house in Atlanta on Christmas morning 1959. The two men in the photo are my Daddy, Sam Lankford (on the left), and my step grandfather, Hoyt Vest. Hoyt and Granny often traveled from north Georgia to spend Christmas Day with us. Opening the gifts are (from left to right) my sister Bonita (or Bonnie), brother Michael, sister Jennifer, and me. I can read the word STAR on the box Bonnie is opening so looks like she got a pair of roller skates. Michael got a racecar, Jennifer some kind of book, perhaps a coloring book, and my gift looks like a game of some sort, perhaps a mini pinball machine.  

Although there is no evidence of Christmas in the photo above, I remembered sharing another photo of the four of us on this blog which you can see in the photo below. In this photo, we have the same clothes on and you clearly see a Christmas tree behind us. Since there are still presents to be opened, the toys we are holding must have been from Santa Claus. Presents under the tree were not opened until after we had a big breakfast and the dishes done, and Mama and Granny took their sweet time doing both! 

Jennifer, me, and Bonita holding Michael

Willis, servant to William N. Williams, takes a new wife

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

From the minutes of the Shiloh Baptist Church in Penfield, Greene County, Georgia.

Shiloah Church, January 16, 1859

Church met in conferrance for the benefit of the collerd members. J. R. Young, Modr. opened the dore of the church for the reception of members. No applicant. Willis, servant to Wm. N. Williams made application the church to to take a wife as he had been separated from his wife for some time and no expectation of ever being with her anymore. The church granted him the request. No other business. Conference adjourned.

Wm. N. Williams, C.C. J. R. Young, Modr.

click image to enlarge 

Willis was included in a previous post; however, I thought the piece of information about his wives was interesting.

Note: Transcribed as written, including misspelled words.

Reference

• Shiloh Baptist Church Minutes from 1839 to 1959, image 120; https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:3Q9M-C34J-3Q8Z?i=119&cat=193117 (free registration required).

Cranberry Pistachio Biscotti

First of all, I want to thank my friend Stacey for sharing this recipe with me several years ago. Her mother was visiting and had made dozens of Christmas cookies so Stacey very nicely brought some to the office to share. I had never had biscotti before and am actually surprised I tried it. A picky eater, I am not good about trying new things. But in this case, I am glad I did! Because the cranberries are red and pistachios green, this is a good cookie for Christmas. So, since I have now shared this recipe with a couple of family members, and I know at least one has made them, I decided to add it to my family recipes on this blog. I can’t take credit for it though. I didn’t have the recipe Stacey’s mom used but googled it and found one on the internet that was just as good. My version of Cranberry Pistachio Biscotti is below. You can find the original version by Gerry Meyer on the allrecipes.com website.

Ingredients

• ¼ cup light olive oil
• ¾ cup white sugar
• 2 ½ teaspoons vanilla extract (Gerry used 2 teaspoons vanilla and ½ teaspoon almond extract)
• 2 eggs, beaten
• 1 ¾ cups all-purpose flour
• ¼ teaspoon salt
• 1 teaspoon baking powder
• ½ cup dried cranberries
• 1 ½ cups shelled pistachio nuts

Directions

Preheat oven to 300° and line a cookie sheet with parchment paper.

Mix the olive oil and sugar together until well blended. Stir in vanilla, then the beaten eggs. You can use a wooden spoon to do both steps, no mixer required.

Combine the dry ingredients in a separate bowl. Gradually combine with the above mixture. Fold in pistachios and cranberries using a wooden spoon or your hands if necessary. It will be thick.

Wet your hands with cool water (it will be sticky) and divide the dough in half. Form each half into 12x2-inch logs and place side by side on a cookie sheet. 

Bake 35 minutes in a preheated oven (until light brown). Remove from oven and cool 10 minutes. Reduce oven temperature to 275°. Cut the logs on the diagonal into 3/4-inch-thick slices. 

Lay the cookies cut side down on a second cookie sheet lined with parchment paper.

Bake 10 minutes until dry. 

Cool and store in a sealed container.

I made a gluten free version this past Fall for my brother-in-law and it turned out great. Just substitute the all-purpose flour with your favorite gluten free flour and add a little extra olive oil—just a couple of sprinkles. My brother-in-law and sister liked it so much, she is now making it herself. Since she doesn’t like to cook, that says something!

Enjoy and Merry Christmas to all! 

Shiloh Baptist Church: A list of 114 coloured female members

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

The minutes of the Shiloh Baptist Church contains a list of male and female “coloured members” dating from 1839 to 1874. Notes written in the front section of the minutes show the dates covered are August 31, 1839 to March 5, 1859, however, several items are dated as far out as 1874. Below is the list of the coloured female members. 

A list of Coloured Females

page 1
Mary, servant to Broughton – Dead 
Molley, servant to J. Watson – Dead 
Hester, servant to O. Porter – DL
Patience, servant to J. K. Daniel – DL
Selia, servant to Wm. Sanders – Dead 
Ester, servant to R. Hobbs – DL, 7th Jany 1863
Malinda, servant to Maj. Morley – DL 
Lavina, servant to Maj. Morley – DL
Amey, servant to S. Baldwin
Mary, servant to J. K. Daniel – DL
Rachel, servant to W. Findley – DL
Ginney, servant to G. Mathews – DL
Charety, servant to Maj. Morley – DL 
Mariah, servant to Maj. Morley – DL
Rachel, servant to R. Hobbs – DL 7th Jany 1863
Mickey, servant to Mrs. Peek
Judy, servant to Wm. Porter – Dead
Dinah, servant to J. H. Daniel – DL
Aggry, servant to T. Stocks – Dead
Phenby, servant to Mrs. Williams – Dead
Betsy, servant to T. G. Janes – DL
Nancy, servant to W. Sanders – Dead 
Betsey, servant to T. Stocks
Sophiah, servant to S. Gresham – DL 
Jane, servant to S. Gresham – DL
Milley, servant to E. Price – DL
Ester, servant to J. T. Wright – DL, Dead
Pheby, servant to G. Mathews – DL
Nelley, servant to D. R. Malone – Dead
Lucy, servant to J. Cutliff – Dismissed by letter
Nancy, servant to J. M. Porter – Removed
Rebecca, servant to Mrs. Cox – Removed 
Vina, servant to J. Boswell – Excluded
Chanty, servant to F. West – Dismissed by letter
Pham, servant to E. C. Shackelford – DL
Lucy, servant to F. West – DL 
Hanner, servant to J. Harris, Born

page 2
Lecia, servant to Wm. Sanders – Dead
Melvina, servant to T. G. Janes – DL
Nancy, servant to J. Cheney – Born
Amey, servant to N. Thompson – Dead
Anney, servant to T. G. Janes – DL
Samey, servant to T. G. Janes – Dead
Eliza, servant to L. Peek – Dead
Mary, servant to J. Cocroft – Born
Lucy, servant to T. G. Janes – Dismissed by letter
Lilley, servant to A. G. Saffold – Dead
Isabell, servant to T. M. Findley – Dead
Rachel, servant to E. Price – DL
Elila, servant to O. Porter – DL
Orra, servant to Wm. Watson
Rachel, servant to J. Branch – Dead
Fam, servant to L. Green – Born
Amey, servant to T. Stocks – DL
Tabitha, servant to T. Stocks – DL
Jinney, servant to John Malone – DL
Betsey, servant to James T. Findley – Dead
Patsey, servant to L. Green – DL
Hannah, servant to T. G. Gresham
Rachel, servant to N. Baldwin – Dead
Matilda, servant to J. H. Porter – Born
Cassy, servant to J. Early – Dismissed by letter
Sucky, servant to Ellington – Dead
Nancy, servant to Ellington – Dead
[Unreadable], servant to Daniel – [Unreadable]
Stephanie, servant to R. J. Willy
Abbey, servant to R. J. Willy – Dead
Susan, servant to P. Northern – Dismissed by letter
Shandriell, servant to B. M. Sanders – Dismissed by letter
Milliy, servant to Wm. W. Williams – Exd
Dinah, servant to B. M. Hubard – Dismissed by letter
Betsey, servant to [Unreadable] – Dismissed by letter
Jane, servant to J. Davant – Dead
Penny, servant to R. Roberts – Dismissed by letter

page 3
Penny, servant to B. Brantley – DL
Harriet, servant to L. Green – Born
Aga, servant to V. Brown – Dead
Mary, servant to P. Northern – Born
Peggy, servant to Wm. Hubbard – Dismissed by letter
Mary, servant to B. M. Hubbard – Born
Joanna, servant to B. M. Hubbard – Born
Maria, servant to Simon T. Peek
Chloe, servant to V. Brown
Sarah, servant to R. J. Willis
Caty, servant to J. T. Willis – DL
Annis, servant to Thos. Stocks
Fannie, servant to Thos. Stocks – Exc.
Jane, servant to John Branch – DL
Filles, servant to Johnson Boswell
Sofiay, servant to Wm. Sanders – Exc. 10 Oct 1859
George, servant to Daniel
Elva, servant to O. P. Daniel
Charaty, servant to O. P. Daniel
Patience, servant to O. P. Daniel
Abriler, servant to estate of Elington
Gronganna, servant to estate of Elington
Arkey, servant to estate of Elington
Harriet, servant to O. P. Daniel
Harrietann, servant to O. P. Daniel – Ech 24/64
Sillar, servant to W. N. Williams
Mary, Cary, Fanie, Emeline & Dinah, servants to B. J. Willis
Mahada, servant to William Moncrief
Mary, servant to William Moncrief
Carolina, RS Dec 21 1862
Sopily, servant to S. Gresham – RS 21 Dcr 1862
Harriet & Delotha, servant to William Moncrief
Mariah, servant to W. B. Johnson
Mantrval, servant to Wm. Moncrief
Rufus, servant to Y. F. Gresham
Ann, servant to W. B. Johnson
Rebecker, servant to Sallie Greer

page 4
Harriet, servant to estate of Elington
Vicktorion, servant to estate of Elington
Mahaly, servant to Moncrief – Exc June 18, 1865

The estate of Elington may have been William B. Ellington who died in 1848. The list of appraisements found in Williams’ estate papers included a list of slaves he owned. I found several names from the appraisements list on the Shiloh Church members list—Harriet, Sucky, and Nancy. This is not confirmed however. I did not find Mr. Ellington on the list of male members.

I tried my best to read the writing but may have a few names wrong. When in question, please review the images provided. Click on each image to enlarge. You may have better luck than I did at reading.

Legend:
DL may stand for Dismission Letter, Dismissed by Letter, or Letter of Dismission.
Excl. stands for Excluded.
RL may stand for Received Letter.
RS may stand for Resolved.

References

• Shiloh Baptist Church Minutes from 1839 to 1959, images 21 - 23; https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:3Q9M-C34J-3QWS?i=20&cat=193117 (free registration required).
• Wm. B. Ellington (1848), Georgia, U.S., Wills and Probate Records, 1742–1992.

Christmas table scarf

This Christmas table scarf makes an appearance on my dining room table every year from late November through the end of December. I was recently asked whether I made it, so thought it important to document its origins for my family.

I wish I could take credit for its creation, but no, I did not make the scarf. Instead, it was hand made by a co-worker and dear friend. We worked very closely together for many years and at some point, started exchanging Christmas presents. She was a very crafty person so hers were often hand made. I do not remember the year I received the table scarf, but estimate it was during the early 2000s. The table scarf is 18” x 23” and reversible. One side contains patchwork squares and the other a floral print. All the fabric is some sort of holiday print except for the solid red, green, and ecru pieces, which of course are Christmas colors. I prefer the patchwork side so if you come to my house during the holiday season, that is what you will most likely see on my table. I do not know much about fabric, but if I had to take a guess, would say it is cotton. The scarf, which I consider to be a family treasure, is starting to show some wear. I think about my friend with fond memories every year when I place it on my table. 

Shiloh Baptist Church: A list of 70 coloured male members

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

The minutes of the Shiloh Baptist Church contains a list of male and female “coloured members” dating from 1839 to 1874. Notes written in the front section of the minutes show the dates covered are August 31, 1839 to March 5, 1859, however, several items are dated as far out as 1874. Below is the list of the coloured male members. 

Males—A list of Coloured members

page 1
June, servant to Wm. Cook – DEAD
Jerry, servant to J. K. Daniel – Born
Lewis, servant to J. M. Porter — DL – Dead
Sam, servant to Maj. Morley – DL
Pedegru, servant to Mr. Pope – Dead
Ben, servant to D. C. Watson – Dead
Muphry, servant to Wm. Porter – Dead
Eli, servant to Maj. Morley – Dead
Jim, servant to E. Price – DL
Jerry, servant to Wm. Sanders – DL
Muphry, servant to T. Stocks – DL
Mingo, servant to T. Stocks – Dead
Mark, servant to Mary Jenkins – Ex
Dembo, servant to Mary Jenkins – Dead June 16, 1853
Davy, servant to F. West – Dismissed by letter
Peter, servant to B. M. Sanders – Exct 26th June 1841 – Dismissed by DL, restored 25 March 1863
Ben, servant to J. Cutlipp [or Cutliss] – DL
David, servant to J. Watson – Dead
Charles, servant to W. E. West – DL
Bob, servant to S. Baldwin – Dead
Harry, servant to Wm. Sanders – Dead
Frank, servant to E. Price – DL
Giles, servant to J. Cheney – Dead
Jerry, servant to Wm. Price – DL
Tom, servant to L. Peak – Excluded restored Jan 17th, 1847
Phil, servant to T. G. Janes – DL
Jeffrey, servant to J. K. Daniel
Lewis, servant to E. Price – DL
Kent, servant to S. Anderson (Rest) Excluded – Dead
Sandy, servant to T. G. Janes – DL
Elijah, servant to John Malone – DL
Cyrus, servant to L. Green – DL
Dick, servant to R. Hobbs – DL 7 Jany 1843
Peter, servant to A. King – Excluded
     - - - T. Craddock
     - - R. T. Willis

page 2
Abram, servant of Jacob Broughton – DL
Daniels, servant of John Branch
Charles, servant of Johnathan Kenedy – Restored – Dead
Richard, servant of T. Stocks – DL
Leonard, servant of S. T. Peak
Alleck, servant of Sanders
Joe, servant of Edminson
William, servant of J. Boswell
Charles, servant of A. H. Randle – Dead
Tom, servant of Rev. J. S. Baker – DL
Dary, servant of John Broughton – Dead
Gilbert, servant of James Devant – RL DL
Dump, servant to the estate of Elington
Adam, Excluded. RS of Nov 2, 1862
Henry, servant to Br. J. Willis, RS Nov 7, 1862
[Unreadable] servant to the estate of Elington, Nov 7, 1860, Excluded, [Humphrey]
Alford, servant to W. N. Williams, Exc.
Augustus, servant to W. B. Johnson
Isac, servant to O. P. Daniel
Marshel, servant to O. P. Daniel, RS Dec. 21, 1862
Aaron, servant to J. Boswell, RS Dec. 20, 1862, Exc. 64
Green, servant to Sterling Gresham, RS 20, 1862
George, servant to S. Patrick, Exc. Mch 27th, 1864
Rufus, servant to Y. F. Gresham
Oliver, servant to Johnson Boswell
Aron, servant to W. B. Johnson
Sterling, servant to Mayon Anson, Excl. July 25, 1863
Crawford, servant to the estate of Elington, Exc. Dec 1864
--thern, servant to the estate of Elington
Sam, servant to the estate of Elington
Dennis, servant to the estate of Elington
George, servant to J. Patrick, Excl. 27/64
Phelix, servant to W. Sanders, RS 16th, 27/64 – DL
Willis, servant to W. N. Williams
Jackie, servant to W. N. Williams
Burry, servant to the estate of Elington, Exc. Dec. 1864

The estate of Elington may have been William B. Ellington who died in 1848. The list of appraisements found in Williams’ estate papers included a list of slaves he owned. I found several names from the appraisements list on the Shiloh Church members list—Crawford, Dennis, Humphrey, and Burry [may be Barry]. I did not find Mr. Ellington on the list of male members.

I tried my best to read the writing but may have a few names wrong. When in question, please review the images provided (click on each image to enlarge). You may have better luck than I did at reading.

Legend:
DL may stand for Dismission Letter, Dismissed by Letter, or Letter of Dismission.
Excl. stands for Excluded.
RL may stand for Received Letter.
RS may stand for Resolved.

References

• Shiloh Baptist Church Minutes from 1839 to 1959, images 20 - 21; https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:3Q9M-C34J-3QDX?i=19&cat=193117 (free registration required).
• Wm. B. Ellington (1848), Georgia, U.S., Wills and Probate Records, 1742–1992.

Vintage Ceramic Christmas Tree

Yeah, yeah, yeah, I know many of you reading this have one of these ceramic Christmas trees. Obviously, I do as well so why not take the time now to document its origins.

I moved from Georgia to Virginia in 1979, after five years of encouragement from a friend I grew up with in Atlanta. In the early 1980s, I often spent weekends at her mother’s house, about 20 minutes from mine. Her mother had her own ceramic studio set up in the basement, including a kiln, molds, and all the supplies needed to make Christmas themed items. She allowed me to make whatever I wanted, and I paid her for supplies and the use of her electricity. Late summer, my friend and I met at her mother’s house to start pouring whatever pieces we wanted to make that year. While we worked, we played Christmas music and sang along at the top of our lungs. It was the only way I could listen to Christmas music earlier than late November and we really had a good time!

We started by mixing the slip with water until the consistency was right, then poured the slip into the molds for ornaments, Christmas trees, and other decorative pieces. We next bound the molds with large rubber bands and set them aside to dry. Once dry, we scraped and sanded the rough edges of the mold seams, and then cleaned them with water and a sponge until each piece was smooth and clean. Small items like ornaments dried quickly, but larger pieces like the tree took longer, so we often poured on one weekend and cleaned on another. We had to remember to poke holes in the ornaments for the hooks and on the trees for the lights, although I do not remember if that was done while the slip was wet or dry. If I recall correctly, we only fired the tree once, vs. firing to bisque, glazing with the green paint, and then firing again. You had to be very careful when handling the tree before it was fired though, as it was very fragile at the point. One wrong move and a finger might go through the piece, forcing you to start all over again. The firing process took several hours and was not done until the kiln was full, so we usually left our pieces and my friend’s mother fired them before we returned the next weekend. Once fired, the tree was assembled with the electrical parts and lights. The tree itself consists of two pieces, a base, and the tree. When you turn the light on that is hidden inside the tree, the plastic lights shine in all different colors. 

I remember making two, one for myself and one for my mother-in-law. My oldest son now has one of the two. Mine sits on top of a dark red doily my mother made several years ago and I consider both the tree and the doily to be family treasures. 

As mentioned above, we made hundreds of ceramic Christmas ornaments, which were shared with family and friends. Many still hang on my tree today. You can see five of them on a December 2016 Christmas tree of memories blog post (a little past mid-way through the post). I also bartered a deal with a co-worker when I needed help with sewing a cross-stitch Christmas stocking I made for my oldest son Chris. I made her 12 ceramic Christmas ornaments and in exchange, she turned my work of art into a stocking. It was a deal made in heaven for me. You can see Chris’ Christmas stocking on a December 2015 blog post.