Monday, December 31, 2012

Watch Night
Richmond and Jane Furnace Overton

...shall be then, thenceforward, and forever free...
Emancipation Proclamation
January 1 1863
Celebrating the 150th anniversary of the signing of the Emancipation Proclamation.

Richmond Elijah Overton
Born About 1856
In 1863, he was a slave on Hezekiah G D Brown Plantation
Near Hazlehurst, Copiah County, MS

Grandpa Richmond was the only child of Dave Brown Overton and Alice Demyers. Grandpa did not remember his father who left the plantation following Union troops, never to return home. Grandma Alice wrote poignant letters to the Pensioners Board requesting a pension for herself and son. During slavery, Richmond was trained as a carpenter. It was said the master saw his intelligence and knew an extar dollar could be made.

Richmond married Jane Furnace who was born about 1860 in Mississippi. Census records indicate that HGD Brown may also be the slave owner of the Furnace family. Richmond and Jane had about 10 children. Jane died about 1902, Richmond died in 1928.

Richmond and Jane were my father's maternal grandparents.

1 comment:

Kristin said...

Having a skill made all the difference, I was going to say in those days but really it still makes all the difference.