Wordless Wednesday Brookhaven Colored School 1920's Class

Photograph Courtesy of Nathaniel Thomas

Professor Phillip Davenport Gullage's Slave Narrative

Cod-Liver Oil - The Cure All

Oil for the Children

Give them oil - cod-liver oil. It's curious to see the result.

Give it to the peevish, fretful child and he laughs. Give it to the pale, anemic child, and his face becomes rosy and full of health. Take a flat chested child, or a child that has stopped growing, give him the oil, and he will grow big and strong like the rest.

This is not a new scheme. It has been done for years. Of course you must use the right oil, Scott's Emulsion is the one.

Scott's Emulsion neither looks not tastes like oil because we are so careful in making it pleasant to take.

Apparently my mother didn't know about Scott's oil because the cod-liver oil she gave me was not tasty. The purpose was to put "meat on my bones," to gain weight. Now, I need it to help with weight loss.

11 Benefits of Cod-Liver Oil

Advertisement from Brookhaven Leader Newspaper
April 09, 1902

Heir Property - A Tangled Web

It was probably a proud day for Washington Marshall when he scribbled the "x" on the deed. He could now provide for his family on his own ten acres, purchased in rural Copiah County, MS, about 10 miles west of Hazlehurst on 23rd March 1899, from Fred Rembert and his wife Hannah. Fred's father, Richard Rembert, purchased the land from the prominent Millsaps family in 1874.

In 1900, seventy-eight year old Washington was living with his wife Mary, 61, and their children: Willie, 23; Charley, 22; Henry, 21; Dan (my grandfather), 14; Annie, 23; and Alice, 19. Mary had given birth to 14 children, 8 were living. The couple had been married for 45 years. No one in the household could read or write. They were all farming the land.

10 Ac in NW Corner NW 1/4 SW 1/4 - Sec 12 - 9N - 6E
HWY 28

Washington and Mary were still alive in 1910, living with them were three of their children; Annie, Charley and Dan. By 1920, both Wash and Mary were deceased and neither left a will. Living on the land were the same three children from the 1910 census, Charley, Annie, Dan, plus their widowed sister Alice Goodwin. The land was not legally transferred.

Between the 1920 thru 1940 censuses, Charley left to marry Ola Smith Coleman and established a household, helped Ola to raise children from a previous marriage. Dan got himself a wife in 1927, my grandmother Alice Markham. They continued living on the place, added two children. Annie remained single, eventually living with her sister Alice Goodwin who had built a separate house, which she also shared with her daughter, son-in-law and two grandchildren. The land was not legally transferred.

Annie Marshall died in 1937, leaving no heirs. Alice Marshall Goodwin died in 1941, leaving several heirs. Dan was the last of Washington's children to reside on the land. He died in 1955. His wife Alice remained until she developed dementia and left to live with a sister in the early 1960s. Dan's wife Alice died in 1966. Dan and Alice's two children are deceased, leaving several heirs. The land was not legally transferred.

Washington and Mary's children were: Collin, Esther, Margaret, Humphrey, Jessie, Willie, George, Annie, Charley, Mary, Henry, Alice and Daniel, leaving countless, unknown heirs.

The acreage remains in the family, unused. The acreage will likely remain heir's property, too costly to pursue unknown heirs to settle small acreage. I suppose one day the land will be sold for taxes when there are no longer heirs who have a memory of its history.

Mary and Martha FurnaceFriday Furnace Findings

Researching a paternal great grandmother, Jane Furnace born about 1860, to discover her parentage and additional information about her life.

Following sisters Mary and Martha Furnace, who were in the 1870 household of Alexander Furnace, has proved to be difficult. The sisters may be sisters to my great grandmother Jane Furnace.

Between the 1870 and 1880 census Martha had five children: Mariah b. 1868; Alexander (Ellic) b. 1870; Henry b. 1873: Amy b. 1876; and Hart T W b. 1879. They all used the Furnace surname in both census. The father of the children was not in the household and his birthplace was reported as Virginia for all the children in 1880.

A death record for R T Kennard named his parents as Edmond Kennard and Martha Furnace. He was born 1888, in Copiah County, died in Kentwood, Tangipahoa Parish, Louisiana in 1938.

Edmund Kennard was born about 1814. He lived in the same community with the Furnace family. He was a married man with children. He was followed through the 1900 census.

The 1870 census was the only one found for Mary. I searched for her children hoping to find them under a different surname in the household with Mary. The children were Wallace b. 1866, and George b. 1868.

The sisters and their children disappear from the records. They are likely using a different surname, missed or avoided the enumerators.

The Richard Rembert Family

Eight years after the end of the Civil War, Richard Rembert was named as one of the trustees on a 1873 deed for the New Zion Baptist Church.

Richard and his family were the slaves of John Rembert in Copiah County, Mississippi, near Hazlehurst.

John Rembert was a prosperous slave owner who owned 62 slaves at the time of his death in Feb 1858. Those slaves were allotted to his children, less than a year after his death, in January 1859.

Richard and his family were in Lot 1. They went to John's daughter Amelia Rembert Grandberry. She was the wife of Benjamin F Grandberry who was also a slave owner.

Lot 1
Dick, Charlie, Alcinda and child (Cherry), Margaret, Fed, Posh, Jane, Klavia

The values placed on the individuals in lot 1 from John's 1858 inventory and appraisement listing were as follows: Dick $1400; Charlie $1400; Alainda and child Cherry $900: Margaret $300; Fed $300; Poash $1300; Jane $1100.

Richard and Alcinda legalized their marriage 10 Jul 1870.

The Rembert household of 1870 consisted of Richard, 45 - Cinda, 40 - Ann, 15 - Cherry, 14 - Fred, 13 - Cuff 43, and twenty years old James, all born in Mississippi. Cuff's age suggest he may be a brother to Richard or Cinda but more research is needed to confirm relationship. Cuff was also named on the inventory listing. No one in the household could read or write. By 1880, Richard and Cinda had one child living with them, 24 year old Fred and his wife Hannah, 19. Richard was 56 and Cinda hadn't aged, she was still 40. They farmed for a living.

Richard purchased land from E Millsaps in 1874 and the family farm was productive.

Richard and Alcinda disappeared from the 1900 census. Alcinda was found in 1910, a 72 year old widow, living alone. She lived next door to my great grandparents Washington and Mary Marshall in Copiah County. Alcinda shared with the census worker she had given birth to three children, one living. She also shared she could read and write. Alcinda died 11 Feb 1917.

How does the Rembert family connect to my family?
Fred Rembert, son of Richard and Alcinda, sold land to my great grandfather Washington Marshall.

Rembert Marriages (Copiah County, Mississippi)
Richard Rembert married Alcinda Rembert 10 July 1870
Maggie Rembert married Frank Calhoun 02 May 1872
Cherry Rembert married Henry Jackson 06 Sep 1872
Fred Rembert married Hannah Sinclair 30 Jul 1879

Additional Sources:
1880 Copiah County Agricultural Schedule
Copiah County Deed - Book 9 - Page 283

Deed for New Zion Baptist Church 1873

The Indenture made and entered into this 18th day of August AD 1873 by and between David Bufkin and Susan P Bufkin, his wife, of the first part, and Richard Rembert, Andrew Watson and Jefford Campbell, Trustees of New Zion Baptist Church of the second part; all of the county of Copiah and the State of Mississippi.

Witnesseth: That the said parties of the first part for in consideration of the sum of five dollars to them in hand paid by the said parties of the second part, have this day granted, bargained and by these present, do hereby grant, bargain, sell and convey unto the said parties of the second part and their successors in office, and assign all that certain tract of land lying and being situated in the County and State aforesaid. Know and described as follows to wit: Commencing at a point on the Three Notch Road Thirteen (13) chains South and Three (3) chains and Fifty (50) links West of the North East corner of the South East Quarter of the North East corner of Section Thirty five (35) Township Ten (10) Range Six (6) East ? thence West Five (5) chains; Thence South four (4) chains; Thence East Five (5) chains; thence north four (4) chains to beginning; containing by estimation two (2) acres more or less, To have and to hold the same together with all the rights and appurtenances thereunto belonging or in anywise appertaining to the said parties of the second part their successors in office and assigned to fee simple forever.

In trust and confidence to and for the uses, intents and purposes hereinafter mentioned, namely: To have and to hold the monies herein conveyed for the sole and separate use and benefit of the said New Zion Baptist Church and the members thereof to be used, owned and enjoyed by them for the purpose of erecting thereon a church of worship, cemetery and any and all other necessary improvements that maybe beneficial or useful for said church or for any purpose connected therewith.

On testimony whereof the said parties of the first part have hereunto set their hands and seals the day and year above written.

David Buffkin (seal_
Susan P Buffin (seal)

Note: The record was recorded in the Copiah County Courthouse October 22nd 1877.

How does this church connect to my family?
Maternal and paternal family were/are members of this church. It was the childhood church home of my mother

Record found at Mississippi Department of Archives and History
Microfilm Number: 8112
Book DD, Page 597
Image of Deed