More Women in Hats

Cousin Bettie McDaniel Neal
Cousin Sadie Havard McDaniel
Ruby Young Hunter
Mary Coleman & Miss Willis

Neal and McDaniel photographs are courtesy of Anthony Neal, Sr.
Hunter and Coleman photographs are courtesy of Christi Young.

Take another look at Women and Hats.

Tombstone Tuesday - Edmond Woods

In Memory of Edmon Woods
Bornd 1835
Died 1905
Farewell My Wife & Children
All From You A Father Christ Doth Call
Cool Spring MB Church Cemetery
McCall, Franklin County, MS

Edmond Woods served with the 58th Regiment, United States Colored Infantry in Natchez, Mississippi

Photograph Courtesy of Willie L Robinson

Amanuensis Monday - Paying the Freedmen 1865-1866

William Emmerson freedmen received for himself and his two children Willis & Amanda of D McArn 35.60$ amount due for labor rendered from August 22nd 1865 to Jan 1st 1866
his mark X
William was former slave of McArn, married to Elizabeth and their children were: Willis (unsound), Manda, Nancy, Scott, Isaac, Rena, Preston, Jacob, Isabella, William, James, Martha, and Frances

Frank Corbin freedman received of D McArn 16.50$ sixteen fifty cents amount due from August 22nd 1865 to Jan 1st 1866
his mark X
Frank was husband of Rachel during slavery, former slave of McArn. his breast and chest was badly mashed. The couple had one child, Harry, cripple from birth.

Joseph Sartin freedman received of D McArn 11.00$ eleven dollars amount due for labor rendered from August 22nd 1865 to Jan 1st 1866
his mark X

Charles Sartin freedman received of D McArn 16.90$ sixteen dollars ninety cents D McArn amount due for labor rendered from August 22nd 1865 to Jan 1st 1866
his mark X

Chester Sartin freedman received of D McArn 25.00$ twenty five dollars amount for labor rendered from August 22nd 1865 to Jan 1st 1866
his mark X
All three Sartin men were former slaves of McArn. The relationship between the three men is unknown. Charles' descendant married into my maternal family.

Rachel Corbin freed woman received of D McArn 14.33$ fourteen thirty three cents amount due for labor rendered from August 22nd 1865 to Jan 1st 1866
her mark X
Rachel was Frank's wife during slavery, had one child, Harry, cripple from birth. Rachel suffered with pain in head and breast.

George Parker freedman received of D McArn for himself & his two sons Henry & Andrew 31.35$ thirty one dollars thirty five cents amount due for labor rendered from August 22nd 1865 to Jan 1st 1866
his mark X

Duncan McArn was born on February 14, 1810. He moved from North Carolina to Jefferson County, MS, around 1835. McArn taught school in Franklin County during the first five years of his residence in MS. He married Catherine Torrey of MS on May 9, 1844. McArn soon began cultivating cotton on a plantation near Fayette, Jefferson Co. Duncan McArn died February 24, 1875.

According to the Jefferson County, Mississippi, 1860 Slave Schedule, Duncan owned 51 slaves.

McArn (Duncan) and Family Papers, Collection Number: Z/1487, Box 8
Collection found at Mississippi Department of Archives and History

Happy 78th, Mama

This is my mother with her first born son.
Mama, happy 78th birthday. Although Alzheimer's Disease has taken so much from you and us, you are loved and precious as ever. May you have many more peaceful birthdays.

Sunday's Obituary - T. C. Coleman

Mr. T. C. Coleman departed this life Sunday February 5, 1989, at Kings Daughters Hospital, Brookhaven, Mississippi.

He was born October 26, 1908 in Lincoln County, Mississippi and attended the Lincoln County Public Schools

Boomie, as he was known to his many relatives and friends, served during World War II in the U.S. Army from 1942 to 1945.

At an early age he united with the New Hope Missionary Baptist Church, where he served as Church Clerk for a number of years and Chairman of the Deacon Board. He attended services regularly until his health began to fail.

Boomie retired from Escambia Wood Treating Co., Brookhaven, Mississippi.

He was preceded in death by his parents, Luther and Eddie Roberts Coleman and one brother, George Coleman.

He leaves to cherish his memory one son, Mr. Jimmie Coleman of Brookhaven, MS; Three daughters, Mrs. Belinda Irvin of Wesson, MS; Mrs. Brenda Coleman of Baton Rouge, LA; Mrs. Gwendolyn Gayle Kennedy of Houston, TX; Two sisters, Mrs. Lula Mae Jackson of Bogalusa, LA and Mrs. Amy V. Beard of Brookhaven, MS; Two sons in law, Bruce Irvin and Lee Kennedy; one brother in law, Louis Beard; Eight grandchildren and a host of nieces, nephews, cousins, other relatives and friends.

Madness Monday - Killed his Sister
Madness Monday - Killed his Sister - Part 2
Madness Monday - Killed his Sister - Part 3

Wordless Wednesday - Mary Shaw & Daughter ca. 1855

Mary Ann McLaurin Shaw
1828 - 1894
Wife of William Shaw
and
Daughter "Maggie" Margaret Almarinda Shaw
1853 - 1921
William and Mary were slave owners of Samuel Shaw b 1823
in Jefferson County, Mississippi
Samuel's descendants married cousins of my cousins.

Source: Shaw-McCallum Papers
Special Collections of Mitchell Memorial Library
Mississippi State University

Amanuensis Monday - Letter from a Slave to her Former Mistress - 1858

This letter was written by Harriet Walker to Mary Shaw, wife of Thompson Breckenridge Shaw. Harriet, living in Arkansas, wrote inquiring about her children who were living on the Shaw farm in Jefferson County, MS. The letter does not tell us how long she had been away from her children nor whether Harriet, husband and other children were sold as a group. Apparently, the husband was separated from the family, causing sadness for Harriet.

Columbus, Arks
June 7th 1858

My Dear Mistress,

It has been a great while since I heard from you or my children and I know not whether any of you are now in the land of the living. but write begging you to please let me now how they are getting along in the world. Me and my two daughters Caroline, and Mary, my son Colby are still owned by Dr. Walker we have a very kind master and mistress. My son Jim belongs to his son Jim and my two daughters are now grown. I begin to feel very old. I often wish I had never left you but at that time thought I would be with my husband as long as we lived. We never know when we are doing for the best.

I am so very glad my children are so well satisfied and have good homes. tell them to stay by their masters and mistress as long as they can. they do not know what it is to have their families scattered and never expect to see them again.

I am very sorry indeed to hear of Old Masters death, but thus passeth away the world and what was your loss was his infinite gain, and all we can do is to strive to meet him in the world to come where there will be no more pain, no more parting.

And now Mistress, tell my children to be good and faithful servants, to honor their master's, and mistresses and in all things do what is right snd honest and set a good example for their children, and above all things to serve their God, and teach their children the same, for they will have to give an account of their deeds in that last day. give my best love to them and tell them I often think of them.

Farewell my dear Old Mistress please answer this is the last request of your old and faithful servant

Harriet Walker

Source: Shaw (Thompson B.) - McKell Papers
From Special Collections of Mitchell Memorial Library
Mississippi State University