Madness Monday

Revisiting Ancestral Neighborhoods, Cluster Research, and Continuing the Hunt for a Slave Owner

Back in 2010,  I wrote about why I thought Jesse Pierce was the last slave owner of my 2^nd great grandparents, Jasper and Jane Pierce (Part I, Part II). All I needed was the documentation / evidence to support my hypothesis.

In trying to regroup and revise my strategy for determining the last slave owner of my Pierce ancestors, one the first things I decided to do was revisit both the 1870 and 1880 census with a fresh set of eyes as well as mindset. I also decided to set up a spreadsheet containing information from both censuses in order to better visualize and evaluate each neighborhood on it’s own as well as in comparison to the other, highlighting the names of persons that appeared on both censuses.

When I performed that initial cursory look, I declared that many of the names were the same between the two censuses, especially the African Americans surrounding Jesse Pierce / Pearce. However, as I really looked at both censuses it appears that my cursory assessment might have been a bit off track.

1870
County:	Greene
Enumeration District:
Inhabitants In:	Militia District 144
Post Office	Penfield
Page 90
Head of Households
Name	Age	Race	Sex
Alex Mumford	42	W	M
Jackson Mumford	60	B	M
Thomas Criddle	28	B	M
Joshua Laurence	23	B	M
William Coleman	39	W	M
Wyley Bryant	35	B	M
Elijah Anderson	27	B	M
Jas Bruce	24	W	M
Siney Criddle	76	W	F
Jesse Pearce	64	W	M
Lucinda Fig	46	W	F
King Pearce	58	B	M
Jefferson Pearce	21	B	M
Bird Pearce	26	M	M
Chas Pearce	34	B	M
Alfred Pearce	28	B	M
Anderson Jones	22	B	M
Mason Jones	60	B	M
Alonzo Pearce	18	B	M
Seaborn Pearce	34	B	M
Delila Pearce	27	B	F
Aggie Jasel	20	B	F
Theopelus Pearce	63	W	M
Seaborn Jordon	50	W	M
Daniel Grant	56	W	M
John Grant	44	W	M
Archibald Rhodes	55	W	M

1880
County:	Greene
Enumeration District:	35
Inhabitants In:	144 DC G.M.
Page 252
Head of Households
Name	Age	Race	Sex
Thomas Newsome	50	W	M
Archibald Mapp	31	W	M
Kato Lewis	60	B	M
Nilson Lewis	80	B	M
Archibold P Peek	42	W	M
Jesse F. Pierce	74	W	M
James Figs	26	W	M
Siberenie Pierce	45	W (B)	B
Martha Jackson	42	B	F
Miles Pierce	46	B	M
Jasper Pierce	30	Mu	M
Greene Pierce	48	B	M
King Pierce	69	B	M
Charles Pierce	44	Mu	M
Joseph Chester	22	B	M
Patsey Lundy	16	B	F
Henry Moore	48	B	M
Joseph S Anderson	27	W	M
Elisha Irby	65	W	M
Josiah Caldwell	74	W	M
Robbert Philips	21	W	M
George Moland	21	B	M
James Alfred	55	B	M

On the 1870 Census, there are 8 African-American enumerations for Pierce / Pearce households surrounding Jesse Pearce / Pierce. The 1880 Census contains five such enumerations, one of which is my 2^nd great grandfather, Jasper Pierce.

After looking closer at both censuses, it appears three families of African American Pierces appear on both census, that of King Pierce / Pearce; Chas / Charles Pierce; amd Seaborn / Siberenie Pearce / Pierce. It should be noted that on the 1880 census Seaborn / Siebernie is indicated as being white but the other information, age, contained on the census leads me to believe that this is the same person.

My question is where did the other families from the 1870 census go and where did the new families on the 1880 census come from?

As I continue the hunt to try to determine the last slave owner of my Pierce ancestors, I will try to answer these questions and hope that it leads to some breakthrough answers.

*****

To find out more about cluster research, I recommend reading some of Michael Hait's articles on this research technique.

Free Offline Genealogy Tools - Week 4 of Abundant Genealogy

Week 4 - For which free offline tools are you most grateful? How did you find this tool and how has it benefited your genealogy? Describe to others how to access this tool and spread the genealogy love.


This genealogy challenge runs from Sunday, January 22, 2012 through Saturday, January 28, 2012.


My favorite free off-line genealogy tool has to be the Carolina Room at the Main Branch of the Charlotte Mecklenburg Library. While my hectic schedule has not allowed me to use this local resource as much as I would like and hoped to, I still must tout it.

When I first discovered this wonderful local resource, I was pleasantly surprised that they actually have many resources that pertain to other states. Ironically, for my research focus, there actually seem to be more resources for my Georgia ancestral counties than my North Carolina ancestral county.

The Carolina Room is not just for genealogy but history as a hold and therefore, contains many other valuable resources. The following list provides a general idea of some of the resources available in the Carolina Room:

• Newspapers
• Newspaper Clippings
• Periodicals, which includes over 400 titles
• Census Records
• Pamphlets, Brochures, Ephemera
• Maps

To find out more about the resources available within the Carolina Room's collections, just visit the Charlotte Mecklenburg Library site and do a search for the Carolina Room.

*****

This is the fourth challenge in 52 Weeks of Abundant Genealogy, a weekly challenge developed by Amy Coffin of The We Tree Genealogy Blog. The weekly challenges are posted by Thomas MacEntee at Geneabloggers.

Free Online Genealogy Tools

Week 3 - Free Online Genealogy  Tools: Free online genealogy tools are like gifts from above. Which ones are you most thankful for? How has it helped your family history experience?


This challenge runs from Sunday, January 15, 2012 through Saturday, January 21, 2012.


There are several free online genealogy tools but two of my favorites are definitely Family Search and Georgia Virtual Vault.

Family Search - I think I might have mentioned this a few times but it seems that within the past year, I've probably been able to find more information via Family Search than with Ancestry.

Some information is a duplication of information found on Ancestry, such as census records, but other information is not.

You can browse by location or name. There are also some wonderful learning resources which are provided through courses or wikis. In addition, there are also discussion forums.

Georgia Virtual Vault - If you have roots in Georgia, this site is a must stop destination in your online research.

The Indexed Death certificates (1919 - 1927) and the Non-Indexed Death Certificates (1928 - 1930) will save a researcher both time and money. There are also marriage records, although these are not available for every county or every year within a given county.

The Vanishing Georgia Collection provides many wonderful pictures that just may contain an ancestor.

The site contains many other wonderful resources. You just have to poke around and I'm sure you will enjoy it as much as I have.

......

This is the third challenge in 52 Weeks of Abundant Genealogy, a weekly challenge developed by Amy Coffin of The We Tree Genealogy Blog. The Weekly challenges are posted by Thomas MacEntee at Geneabloggers.

52 Weeks of Abundant Genealogy - Paid Online Genealogy Tools

Week 2 – Paid Online Genealogy Tools: Which paid genealogy tool do you appreciate the most? What special features put it at the top of your list? How can it help others with their genealogy research?

I have just two paid online subscriptions, Ancestry and Fold3 (formerly Footnotes). 

Between the two, I definitely use Ancestry the most. While I think most people really love them for the census records, I think I like them more for some of the vital record information and images they have in their databases. Yes, that information is a bit spotty depending on what state your are researching but it has allowed me to obtain this information / documents without always having to request these document(s) from individual state's vital records departments, thus saving me both time and money.

Even though I've had a subscription on Fold3 / Footnotes for a few years now, I've not really used it that much but, and this might be strange, but I have always liked it. Fold3's main emphasis these days is on military records. That being said it still has other records on the site from its Footnotes days such as the African American Collection and Native American Collection. Since focusing primarily on military records now, it's might be a bit harder to actually find these collections but they are still there.

In the past, I've had a few other paid online tools and can't even remember which ones they are now, which I guess attest the the fact of how much I used them. Needless to say I allowed them to expire due to lack of use.

52 Weeks of Abundant Genealogy - Week 1

Amy Coffin of The We Tree Genealogy Blog has done it again, come up with a weekly challenge to help us hone our genealogy skills. You can read up on challenges from previous years at Geneabloggers.

Hopefully, participation in the weekly challenges will help me to get back on track with my research. I'm only one week behind, so I should be able to get caught up quickly.

The challenge for week one is as follows:

Week 1 - Blogs: Blogging is a great way for genealogist to share information with family members , potential cousins, and each other. For which blog are you most thankful? Is it one of the earliest blogs you read, or a current one? What is special about the blog and why should others read it.


Back in 2009, when I renewed the search for the ancestors, blogging about my research was the furtherest thing from my mind. First, up until I started blogging, I just never really got the whole blogging thing. When I say that, I'm talking blogging in general not just a particular subject.

But as I got back into my research, I came across this wonderful medium thanks to Luckie Daniels of Our Georgia Roots, which sadly no longer seems to be up, and Our Alabama Roots. Three years later, I can't exactly tell you how I came across Luckie's blogs our what drew me in but I remember I enjoyed reading them and slowly began to think I can do this. So, within a few short months I begin blogging about my own research with Luckie's encouragement.

Once I begin blogging, I discovered oodles and oodles of other genealogy bloggers, so many in fact that I can't possibly keep up with all the blogs, even with Google Reader, which I guess is Google+ something now (I really need to get caught up on all the 2011 happenings with Google that I'm out of the loop on).

There are many blogs that I enjoy reading and for various reasons, so it's hard to pick ones that have had the most influence but here are three that I always seem to turn to when I've had a significant lull in my blogging and research and am trying to get back on track.

1. The African-Native American Genealogy Blog - Angela Walton is a wealth of information on African-Native American families and communities. Angela just doesn't tell the history of her family but that of communities. I always seem to learn something that I didn't know when reading Angela's blog. In fact, thanks to Angela, I've learned so much in this area that I was able to assist my BFF with her research.
2. Geneabloggers - when I've been away for awhile, I always check out Thomas MacEntee's Geneabloggers. I can quickly find out what's going on in the geneablogging world through his calendars and posts. I can find out about new blogs, get reacquainted with old blogs, and learn about any concerns or issues going on in genealogy.
3. Eastman's Online Genealogy Newsletter - not exactly a blog but always like checking out Dick's review of various products, new products, and happenings around the country.

Genealogy Goals for 2012

It's the beginning of another year, and like many I find myself reflecting on the past year and contemplating the future.

I didn't get a lot of genealogical work accomplished in 2011. After dad's death, I struggled to get back on track in so many areas of my life. Every time I felt like I was ready to get back at it, I soon realized that I wasn't and needed more time to morn and deal with this huge void left in my life.

But as the year drew to a close, it was like the petals of the flowers feeling the warmth of the spring sun and little by little the petals are opening back up and leading me to rejoin this game called life. So, I find myself tentatively setting goals for the year.

2012 Goals 

1. Attend 2012 African American Historical and Genealogical Society (AAHGS) National conference. The conference is being held in my state this year, so how can I not attend. Looking forward to meeting old friends and making new ones.
2. Work with my Hosch cousins and relatives toward having a family blowout in 2013. Much to be done.
3. Hope to finally get everything organized and make sure citations are up to date, etc.
4. Meet some of my new to me cousins, discovered during the past 3 years. Goals are to meet my cousins "Little" Irene, great granddaughter of Grand Aunt, Mattie Henyard Martin, in July and if things work out, maybe meeting my Perkins cousins, descendants of Great Grand Aunt Penny Rome Perkins.  

2011 Genealogy Christmas Wish List

I just realized that Genealogy Santa was pretty good to me last year. While I didn't get the Flip Camcorder or Wayfarers in Walton County, I did manage to get everything else on my 2010 Genealogy Wish List.

Of course I have to admit that I didn't actually get the Kia Soul at Christmas time but about 6 months later when the Suzuki Forenza decided that it had had enough.

So what's on my Genealogy Christmas Wish List for 2011.

Camcorder - Since Cisco decided to exist the Flip Video business, I've decided that I would prefer a regular camcorder. As I noted last year, the size of regular camcorders has come down tremendously. As stated last year, I think a small camcorder is perfect for those times when a you need a bit more than a still shot. I just have to determine the one that is right for me and my needs so that I can tell Santa.

Wayfarers in Walton County - I still would like a copy of this. Maybe this will be the year Santa can find a copy to place under my tree.

Nook - No particular reason I need this other than I'm a gadget freak. I'm sure genealogist need a reader for something.

So there you have it. No big ticket items like last year, so I'm hoping Santa can be accommodating.

Tombstone Tuesday

Research wise, these past few months have been pretty good. While I've not been able to peel away another layer in my lineage or been able to determine that final slave owner. I have had a few successes.

The first was being able to obtain pictures of my Great Grand Aunt's, Nunna Pierce Sims, final resting place. Nunna, is one of my maternal great grandad's, Cornelius Pierce, younger sisters.

For the bulk of my ancestors and collateral relatives, I have no clue whether there is a marker at their grave or not but I still make request because while its not a picture of the ancestor, for me, a picture of the grave and / or marker is still better than nothing. It gives you something to hold onto, to touch, and to imagine their time here on earth.

First, I found Aunt Nunna's death certificate on Georgia Virtual Vault.

The death certificate indicated that she was interred in South View Cemetery in Atlanta, GA. So, I did what I usually do when armed with such information. Yes, I immediately went to Find-a-Grave and entered Aunt Nunna's information and submitted a photo request. My volunteer went to South View twice trying to find Aunt Nunna's grave but was unable to locate the grave and stated that the cemetery had no records on file for Aunt Nunna.

Yes, I was disappointed but you know we researchers don't give up that easily, so a few months back I decided to try again except this time I wrote the cemetery and included a copy of Aunt Nunna's death certificate. Well, no wonder my Find-a-grave volunteer couldn't find her, because all the cemetery records have Aunt Nunna's first name listed as Unna instead of Nunna. Even the marker on her vault has Unna.

But I was able to determine that this was definitely Aunt Nunna based on the burial records / cards that South View provided in addition to the pictures they took for me.

The burial records indicate that Aunt Nunna's husband bought this four person plot when Aunt Nunna died in 1921. In addition to Aunt Nunna, her husband Matthew is interred with her in the brick vault. There are also two other Sims that are buried in this plot. I plan to explore them more in the future to determine exactly who they are.

I hope to be able to visit my Great Grand Aunt's grave in person one day, hopefully next year during the family reunion, but for now I'll just enjoy these pictures.

Pictures taken by the staff of South View Cemetery Association.