Southeast Georgia Non-White Ancestry Queries

Southeast Georgia
Non-White Ancestry Queries/Information

Jan 22, 2002 22:54

Looking for any Wayne County History related to slavery, particularly on free African American Harvey "W. H." Copeland of Wayne County, Georgia. Samuel O. Bryan, a wealthy land owner and holder of 23 Slaves in 1850, was listed as his guardian in the 1860 Federal Census for Wayne County, Georgia. Gene Givens

Greg Wainright

Jan 23, 2002 22:52

Gene, Thanks for posting. The only other record that I've found that may have been this Harvey Copeland is one in the 1850 Charles City, Virginia census. That Harvey has a birthdate within a couple of years of the one in the 1860 Wayne County, Georgia census and he also is listed as born in Virginia.

1850 Charles City, Virginia census:
Harvey Copeland 23 Male Black None (occupation) Virginia
This record can be viewed at http://ccharity.com/virginia/1850cc1.htm

Please let me know if you have any information on his whereabouts prior to or after the 1860 Wayne Co., GA census or anything else that you may know. Do you know what the "W" in "W.H" may have been? Did you find those initials in some other records or something?

1860 Wayne Co., GA Census
30 143 140 Bryan, Samuel O. 52 M Farmer 3,000 35,000 South Carolina
31 143 140 Bryan, Georgianna 44 F Florida
32 143 140 Stafford, Eliza Amanda 19 F Georgia
33 143 140 Copeland, Harvey 35 M B S. O Bryan Guardian Virginia

Samuel O. Bryan's 1850 neighbor was the Henry Todd family who were listed as mulatto. Actually, the only family with anything marked in the race column. Perhaps there is some connection between someone in this household and Harvey Copeland being in their neighbor Samuel O. Bryan's household ten years later.

10 10 Henry Todd     38   M   M     Mechanic 1000 FL
          Mary Todd        27    F    M     FL
          Evestora? Lang 17      F    M    FL
          Teresa Savalla 15      F    M    FL
          Henry Lewis    17      F    M   GA

Although I currently don't know why Harvey Copeland was in Samuel's 1860 household, I know why Eliza Amanda Stafford was listed. She was listed in his household in 1850 as well. Understanding who Eliza was as well as the other "non-Bryan" members of Samuel's household may eventually provide some clues.

1850 Wayne Co., GA Census
11 11 Samuel O. Bryan 41 M Farmer 3000 SC
Georgia Bryan 33 F FL
Sarah Munden 52 F SC
Mary J. Stafford 14 F GA
Amanda Stafford 9 F "
Rachel Cason 10 F "

Note:
Georgia Munden was in Samuel's 1850 household because she was Georgia's mother and had become a widow due to her husband William Munden's death.

Mary J. and Amanda were in Samuel's 1850 household because their mother Martha Bryan Stafford, Samuel's sister, died in 1843 and their father, James Stafford, Jr. married Elizabeth Burney and moved to Western Glynn Co. to live near Elizabeth's family, leaving the two daughters behind. In the 1830s/1840s, he had been Sheriff of Wayne County, appointed to the Inferior Court and served as Representative of Wayne County.

Rachel Cason was in Samuel's 1850 household due to being the grandaughter of Georgia's aunt Phoebe Munden and uncle Ransom Cason through son William Cason and Susan Smith. Rachel's mother, Susan Smith Cason, died giving birth to her on 3/24/1838. Her father, William Cason , then moved to Alachua Co., Florida where he married Patience Ryals in 1841, leaving Samuel O. Bryan with yet another "orphan" to raise. William's father, Ransom was already living in Aluchua, Florida and I assume he moved to live near him. Rachel married Roderick Goins 12/17/1856 in Wayne Co., GA.

I find it interesting (maybe sad?) that with all three of these "orphans" they were raised by their maternal families after their mothers' deaths even though they all had living fathers who moved away and remarried. This seems odd to me. Was it because of Samuel O. Bryan's wealth that these men thought he could raise them better? Rachel's father William was treated the same was as his father, Ransom Cason, moved to Aluchua when William was young and he was apparently raised by Munden and Cason relatives in Wayne Co., GA.

Given that Harvey Copeland was in the household with his race listed as black, with Samuel being his guardian (as was required for free blacks in Georgia at the time) and his birth location as Virginia, I doubt he was in the household for a similar familial reason.

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SMJ

Apr 2, 2002 07:44

Know your history: As I awaken this morning I find myself looking in old family bible that my Grand Mother left me when she passed. It's been 7 years and her spirit still seem to be forever present. I found an application she started to prepare for request of her birth certicate and it raised my awareness just that much more. My Grand mother was born November 25, 1905 to the parents of Rev. Phillip Lee Johnson and Emmia (Patrie) Johnson in Gardi, GA - Wayne County. Did anyone know these people.

Gene Givens

Apr 30, 2002 12:57

Greg, Do you know anyone on the Wayne County list that does Appling County marriage lookups or where I can get the listing for "C - Copeland, Clay, Cray" "E - Edwards" "M - Moody" "S - Sellers" "T - Tillman" "W - Warrick"?

Gene Givens

Apr 30, 2002 12:59

Greg, Do you know if slaves were listed by name in Wayne County Tax records? Some counties list the names while others just list the quantity and age.

Gene Givens

Apr 30, 2002 18:00

Greg, Here is what I've found on the Harvey Copeland Family, and the possible relationship with S. O. Bryan: In 1870, Samuel O. Bryan's widow, Georgia Ann Munden Bryan was living with her son, William F. J. and his wife Flocey Akins Bryan, Family #46/46 in Doctor Town, Page 370A, Sheet 7. It appears, upon Samuel O. Bryan's death, Harvey had to move off the Bryan's property between 1860 and 1870. Georgia Ann Bryan is listed as William's "Land Lady" in the 1870 Census. In 1880, William Bryan live in District 1313, Page 447D. In 1860 William was listed as Overseer. In 1880, Harvey's occupation is listed as a Minister. Are there religious records for AA who become minsters? What church in Wayne County would he allowed to preach at during those days? Could it be possible that Harvey was brought to Wayne County to serve as Minister to the Bryan slave community, or that he was given to Samuel as part of a dowry when Georgia Ann married Samuel on 8/5/1830, or perhaps he had been purchased as a Bryan slave and freed prior to 1860? Maybe Guardianship records or Samuel's family Deeds/Estate/Will could provide some insight. It also appears that Harvey Copeland (Listed as W.H.(William Harvey) Copeton on 1870 Census CD's) had two wives, or two families, before emancipation in 1865: Drissy Bryan/Briant, born between June 1836 (1900 Census) and 1840 (1870 Census) in Wayne Co. (listed as Briant, born in Wayne Co. on her Daughter's [Drissy] death Certificate in 1924), and Alles Harris b. 1836(1870 Census)/A. (Adlin) Hills b. 1835(1880 Census). Adlin ?? was listed on Harvey's son, Stephen Copeland, death certificate as his mother in 1935. 1870 Wayne Co, Jesup Post Office, Page 374A, Sheet 15A, Family 102 Harvy Copelan M M 42 Working in Forrest 500 300 Virginia (Harvey Copeland) Dressy " F M 30 Keeping House Georgia (Drissy Bryan/Briant) Elisha " M M 13 Working on Farm Mary " F M 9 Caleb " M M 8 Anderson " M M 2 Alles Harris F B 34 Without Occupation Georgia Stephen " M B 14 Working on Farm Lydia " F B 10 Without Occupation Basta " F B 9 Salomon " M B 8 Thomas Reed M M 28 Day Laborer Virginia Upon review of the 1870 Census, I don't see a clear Copeland connection to his 1870 neighbors. He was listed as Family #102/102, 15. His side neighbors, William George (White) was listed as Family #101/101 and Ann Popwell (White) was listed as Family #103/103. In 1870, the nearest black families were Dock and Charlott McIntosh, Family #86/86; John and Iles Gibbs Family #92/92 listed on Sheet 13, and Hermit and Milly Williamson, Family #107/107 listed on Sheet 15, and John and Silvey Bryan Family #109/109 and Russell and Sarah Benjamin Family #111/111 on Sheet 16. However, I suspected Harvey's wife, Drissy (Mulatto, born between 1836-1840), could be a sister, child, or relative of AA John Bryan, Age 45. John is listed as "Black" and his wife, Silvey ("Black"), was Age 28 in 1870, so he could not be the father since Drissey is listed as Mulatto. Other possible relatives could be a Titas Bryan, Age 31, Family #48/48 (two houses from William Bryan) and Antony Bryan, Age 30, Family #52/52 (six houses from William Bryan). Both, Antony and Titas were listed as Mulatto with personal property/land and registered at Mt. Pleasant Post Office. Next door to Antony Bryan lived Joseph Brown, M, B, Age 60, and Minta Brown, F, B, Age 60, Family #53 (seven houses from William Bryan); Henry Brown, M, B, Age 36, and Elcy Brown, F, B, Age 45, family #54 (eight houses from William Bryan) and Milly Bryan, F, B, Age 40, Family #55 (Nine houses from William Bryan). This led me to suspect that Drissy might be a daughter of Samuel O. Bryan, or some "white" individual (other than William Bryan) on the Bryan plantation and slave Minta Brown, F "Mulatto," Age 60 or Elcy Brown/Bryan, F, B, 45, since Drissey is listed as "Mulatto" (white father and black/mulatto mother), age 30, in 1870, and in the 1880 Census her father's place of birth was left blank and her mother's place of birth was Georgia. In 1870, African American Brown and Bryan families worked/lived around the William Bryan homestead. This is the first indication that there is a relationship with the Bryan/Brown family. Another is that in 1880, Harvey's sons, S.C. and E.A. (Stephen and Elisha) lived together, 2 doors/houses down from Harvey in District 1255, Jesup, Page 397C; the widow E.(Elsy) Bryan (listed as Henry and Elsey Brown in 1870), lived 3 doors/houses down with her daughter, Emaline, and her son-in-law, F. J. Duran. (Elsey Brown/Bryan could possibly be Drissey's mother or sister). Harvey's daughter, Mary (Copeland) Rooks and husband Charles lived 5 doors/houses down; and John and Silvey Bryan lived 7 doors/houses down from Harvey and Drissy Copeland. In 1880, Joseph and Minta Brown are now listed as Joseph and Minta Mobley and living next to the widow Saphire Bryan in District 1313, Page 444B, about 20 houses from William Bryan. (Minta Bryan/Mobley could possibly be Drissey's mother). I revisited my first impression and reaffirmed my suspicions that there is a white Bryan connection and these AA Bryan's/Browns could be Drissy' relatives, brothers, and mother. But I still have no proof. Also, in 1880, his son, Elisha is listed in Mt. Pleasant (District 333, Gardi, Page 441C) with Dock/York McIntosh's family as his son in law, and again with Dock's daughter, Mary and His brother Stephen Copeland and his wife, Lizzy (Moody), in District 1255, Jesup, Page 397C). Elisha and Mary divorced (or she died) between 1880-1882. He later married Rachel Smith Bell of Appling County on January 3, 1883 in Wayne County and divorced just before 1900. Neither Elisha or Rachel remarried. They had one child, my great grandmother, Jennie Copeland, who married Joseph A. G. Clay, son of Hardee Clay and Drucilla Sellers of Appling County. I have found a lot of information, but there are so many questions still unanswered.... but I think most of them can be answered with additional research. I hope your resources can help shed some light on some of them. Harvey died sometime between 1880-1900 and is probably buried in Old Fields Cemetery. I was also able to trace most of Harvey's Children to 1920. Thanks, Gene Givens Abingdon, Maryland

Nancy Velazquez

Aug 31, 2002 00:59

Hi, Looking for information of families of the name of Yerby/Colson. Also McLeod. Each of these families appears to have Native American Heritage, and rumors in the family claim this also. I would like to be able to trace this if possible. Can any one help me? In the colson line one of the sons was called Big Toe Colson. They came from perhaps Ware county, but not sure. They ended up settling just south of Tampa, in Ellenton in the mid to late 1800s. Thanks, Nancy

Gloria

Apr 13, 2003 22:42

I am researching the Byrd/Bird family of Camden County. Edmund Bird may have passed for white during 1860 because he was listed on the grand jury. Edmund Bird is listed on the 1870 Census and, they were all mullato, in the Satilla area along with Scilla and South Q Bird. Edmund Bird never married but had children with Clara Bird and by 1880 the last name changed to Byrd. Their children were: Ida, William M., Edmund Eugene, George, Charles, Elizabeth and Richard. In the 1900 Census some went back to Bird. Richard Bird I believe was raised by a Gordon family and may have never used the name Bird since he was about 13 years old at the time of his mother's death. Any information will be appreciated.

Teressa Aldridge Jackson

Aug 15, 2003 17:07

I am looking for information on my 3Xgreat grandmother. Her name was Lewisinda. She is believed to be Native American and to have been born in the Swamp. I believe that she was born around 1828. She married Neal(Neil) Aldridge. They lived in the Pierce county area. She is buried in Ware county. This is all the info that I have. Any help would be GREATLY apreciated.

Gene Arnold

Nov 06, 2003 00:28

seeking anyone related to or know of L.M. Arnold of Reidsville.

Marvin Hart

Jan 18, 2004 06:01

I'am looking for any information about Amos, Curtis, Jake or Raymond Brown that was from Wayne County Georgia prior to 1880.

Shay Turner

Feb 04, 2004 20:27

Looking for information on a Malinda Crews who m. D.H. (Mack) Tuttle on Oct 14 1888 in Charlton County, I have been told that she lived in a town that began with OC or something like that but nothing in Atlas to relate to. She was also married to an unknown Carter, which I believe was the second marriage. She had a daughter Sallie, which is really the only child I have information on, but there were probably more. Sallie was either full blooded american indian or close to it. Any info here would be greatly appreciated. Thanks. Shay

Anita Bingamon

Feb 07, 2004 18:37

I am looking for a lead to either prove or disprove that my Gr-great grandfather Jerry Mosely was full-blooded Cherokee. The 1880 Bell Co, KY Pineville, KY Census lists him as White, being born in TN abt 1827. His son Samuel was the only boy with three older sisters, being born 1873 or 1874 in KY. Samuel is my great grandfather, Grandfather to my mother. Also Jerry's wife Nancy Maiden is also a brick wall. According to the census, she was born in 1840. She is also listed as White and born in TN. Aside from their names and conflicting birthplaces of KY on my Great-grandfather's death certificate, I cannot find anything else on them before or after 1880 - the death certificate does not offer their death places or dates. Just wondering if they somehow ended up in AL or GA. Thank you for your time and effort in advance. Anita B.

Bill Boxx

Feb 23, 2004 14:37

I am interested in the Box family and possible American Indian ancestry, probably Cherokee. John Box born about 1795 in North Carolina and his brother William Box born about 1805 in South Carolina. I do not know where in the Carolinas they previously resided or their parents. By the late 1830s they were in Lowndes and Ware Counties Georgia, respectively. Any leads or thoughts would be helpful.

Debbra Sherouse

Mar 30, 2004 13:47

I am researching my boyfriends family. His father was Matthew Guyton and the only place that I can find him is in the Georgia Death Index. He died in 1981 in the month of March. I can not find him in any of the Georgia Census listed as colored or negro. He is African-American. I know that is how African-Amerincan's wre listed in the 1920 and in the 1930 Census. I also can't find his wife's father whom was Henry Bryant. Matthew Guyton married Mary Bryant before 1946 in Georgia and all 13 of their children were born in Jesup, Wayne County, Georgia. My boyfriend's name is also Matthew Guyton. Any information about this family will be great.

DERRY DELOACH

May 04, 2004 12:41

Information needed to determine ancestry and descendents. Birthdate: approx. 1861; resided in Wayne County, GA; married Annie Stephson in 1881; deceased 1939 or 1940.

Elin Crawford

Jun 11, 2005 14:25

Dear Greg, I have been researching my family history for many years because none would tell me anything so I had to do it alone. My dad's family were from Berrien Co., Clinch, Coffee, Appling, Lowndes and Atkinson. My surnames are Strickland (through David Strickland), Avera, Curry, Guthrie, Sweat, Rouse, Griner etc. I would like to know if you have any info about Nathan Sweat and Elizabeth Sweat Guthrie (wife of John Lee Guthrie) and if there are related. Also Do you know if the Rouses (Martha Patsy) are native american? I have heard they are Creek. Any help would be appreciated. Thanks, Elin Crawford

Jerry Byrd

Mar 07, 2006 21:06

Hi. I am researching the history of my family and am looking for information on the Bird and Hendricks families of Tattnall County. They were black and lived in Cobb Town and later in Aline and Metter in Candler County. My great-grandfather went by the name Sim Bird, but I'm pretty sure his first name was Simion. His wife was called Lottie, but her first name was Charlotty. Her last name was Hendricks, I'm told, but I can't find any Hendicks' in that area. Sim had at least two brothers, John and Frank. John's wife was named Easter. I don't know her maiden name. Frank married Alice Edenfield, who I'm told was mulatto. None of these names appear in any records before 1870, so any information anyone has on these folks would be greatly appreciated. By the way, sometime after 1930 the spelling was changed to BYRD. Thanks much.

Jerry Byrd

Mar 07, 2006 21:07

G. Roberson

Jun 11, 2007 17:55

I have done extensive research on the Rawlinson Falmily. My 4th Grt Grandfather is John Rawlinson and his father is Benjamin Rawlinson. The Rawlinson Family migrated south from Virginia to North Carolina to South Carolina and then to Georgia. From studying migration patterns of various families that were considered "Free Persons of Color" or "Other Free", I have come to believe that the Rawlinson Family are Descendants of the Saponi Nation(Various Eastern Siouan Tribes) from the Virginia and North Carolina Border. In various counties in North Carolina and South Carolina these families were almost always living in close relation to each other. They made up the so-called "Racial or Tri-racial Isolate Groups" in these areas. Some of the counties where these families lived were Granville, Person, Orange, Alamance, Northhampton, Halifax, Edgecombe, Sampson and Robeson in North Carolina. The first seven counties are related to the Saponi and Sampson is related to the Coree/Coharie and Robeson to the Lumbee. In South Carolina some of the counties were Marlboro, Dillon, Darlington(Pee Dee and Lumbee), Richland, Sumter(Saponi and other Eastern Siouan Tribes) and Orangeburg(Santee). In the 1750 tax lists of Granville County, North Carolina, a William Rawlinson and his un-named wife is listed as Free Persons of Color. From various historical documents and accounts, it is known that there were at least 14 Saponi families living in the Granville County area at this time. It is also known that the Saponi had close relations to the Catawba Tribe in South Carolina and they often migrated back and forth between their North Carolina lands and the Catawba. Around 1764 to 1769 William and Benjamin Rawlinson migrated and settled in Richland County, South Carolina between the forks of the Congaree and Wateree Rivers. In 1810 there are 10 Rawlinson/Rollinson families listed as "Other Free". Also, in this same area, there are several other families listed as "Other Free" which are surnames that are associated with the Saponi, Catawba, Lumbee and other Eastern Siouan Tribes which include: Jefferies, Harris, Evans, Griffin, Scott, Jacobs, and Chavis. All these families made up a large community of "Other Free Persons" or a "Racial Isolate Group" in Richland County, South Carolina. John Rawlinson, the progenitor for most of the Raulersons in South Georgia and North Florida, is a descendant of this "Racial Isolate Group" of Mixed Saponi and other Eastern Siouan Tribes as are many of his descendants. As with all good research, mine will continue and I hope to uncover more hidden genealogy. GR

G. Roberson

Jun 15, 2007 15:39

AMMONS FAMILY: I have been researching my Ammons family of Southeast Ga and I would like to post some of the information that I have uncovered pertaining to the Ammons Family Non-white Ancestry. I had two Grt Grt Grandmothers who were Ammons:Louisa P. Ammons who married Jeremiah Johns and Jane Elizabeth Ammons who married James Madison Herrin. I had two 3rd Grt Grandmothers also who were Ammons:Nancy Ammons who married John Kelly and Jane Ammons who was Jane Elizabeth's mother. My 4th Grt Grandfather was William Ammnons who married Elizabeth Tyson. Williams father, my 5th Grandfather, was John Thomas Ammons, Born 1748 in N.C. or Virginia and his wife was Bertha(last name unknown). It is believed that he and his wife were part Native American. John Thomas' father was John Jacob Ammons who is said to have been born in Scotland in 1692 or 1720(two different dates have been found). John Jacob's wife was named Mary(last name unknown). It has been stated that she is believed to have been Native American. From research I have uncovered, the Ammons surname is associated with the Coharie Tribe in Sampson, Hardnett and Wayne County, North Carolina. Ammons is an old core surname in the Coharie Tribe. One of the earliest documentation's of the Ammons surname is of a Jessie Ammons who claimed to be a Coree/Coharie Indian. Jessie was a Grandson of John Jacob Ammons through John Jacob's son Joshua Ammons. One website for the Coree/Coharie Nation is: www.dickshovel.com/coree20.html. In one area of the website, it is stated that, it is not sure how the Ammons name became a Coree/Coharie surname but this is the connection that I have found. From my research, I am confident that this is the Ammons-Coree/Coharie connection. The Ammons surname is also associated with the Lumbee Tribe in Robeson County, N.C. From research, I found that the Lumbee also trace their Ammons line back to a Jacob Ammons. Most likely, it is John Jacob Ammons. I know more research has to be done and I will continue searching. But I can say with confidence, that the descendants of John Jacob and Mary Ammons and John Thomas and Bertha Ammons can say that they do have Native American Ancestors and most likely it is from the Coree/Coharie Nation. GR