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.

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