Franklin Scott of the 58th Regiment United States Colored Infantry

Franklin Scott's Headstone
Natchez National Cemetery

Franklin Scott served with the 58th Regiment, United States Colored Infantry. He left the Daniel Buie plantation, located in Caseyville, Copiah County, MS, shortly after Grierson Raiders came through in April 1863. Franklin enlisted August 31, 1863.

Left on the plantation were Franklin's wife, Sallie Coleman, and his toddling son James Pearly and an infant. Several men from the area left their familiar places headed to Natchez, the Union occupied town. Traveling by foot would take two days if there were no mishaps.

The family was appraised on the 1862 inventory list of Daniel Buie.

woman SALLY - Sallie Coleman Scott
and child valued at $1300
boy JAMES P. valued at $200 - James Pearlie Scott
boy FRANK valued at $1450 - Franklin Scott

According to his federal pension record, Franklin was born in 1838 in Bedford County, Virginia. He was sold to Daniel Buie when he was about 16 years old. He married another slave of Daniel Buie, Sallie Coleman, daughter of Cupit Coleman and Lucinda.

In April 1866, Franklin was discharged from service in Vicksburg. He gathered his family and moved to Washington, a community near Natchez. They purchased land and the family grew. The family included sons James Pearlie, Frank, Phillip, and Robert; daughters Lucinda and Mariah. Franklin and Sallie separated in 1882 but never divorced. Sallie died in 1915 and Franklin died in 1926. They both died in Adams County, Mississippi.

James Scott at the headstone of his 2nd great grandfather.

How does Franklin Scott connect to my family tree?
Franklin's son James Pearley Scott married Catherine Matilda Markham.
Catherine is the sister of my great grandfather Monroe Markham.

A Body of Cavalrymen Coming Up the Road

Photographs Courtesy of James Scott

Spring Arrives in the Neighborhood

Wordless Wednesday The Jackson Sisters circa 1915

Sarah L Jackson (Howard)
1910-1944
Elvira F Jackson (Wilson)
1909-1971

Jefferson County, MS
Poplar Hill Plantation

They were the daughters of Merriman Howard Jackson and
Mary Lou Gray

Photograph courtesy of Toni Stewart.

The sisters are not connected to my family tree.

Henry "Jack" William Driggs 1874-1962

Jack's family members used the surnames Driggs and Griggs. Jack always used Driggs. He was the son of Gilbert Griggs & Martha Jane Godbold Roundtree, born about 1874 in Caseyville, Lincoln County, MS. Gilbert & Martha were never married. Jack was born during Gilbert marriage to his wife Emily.

Jack's siblings from his father side were: Cynthia, Emily, Easter, Mariah, Isom, Abram, Lavena, Claressa, and Boston Griggs.

From Jack's mother, his siblings were Mary Goodwin Howard, Emma, Pinkney, Ada, Annie/Annis, Rufus, Henderson, Laura, Louisa, Patsy Coleman Hooker, and Mittie.

He was employed as a hod carrier, which was a laborer employed in carrying supplies to bricklayers, stonemasons, cement finishers, or plasterers on the job.

Betty Blue was Jack's wife. The relationship produced one son, Leroy. Henry died September 14, 1862 in Indianapolis, Indiana.

How does Jack connect to my family?
Jack's sister Patsy Coleman Hooker's daughter
Roxanne Smith married Alex Thomas.
Alex and Roxanne's daughter
Ida Mae Thomas married James Monroe Markham, my 1st cousin once removed.
Alex and Roxanne's daughter
Rosanna Thomas married Samuel David Markham, Sr., my granduncle.

Jack's sister Mary Goodwin Howard was a sister-in-law to my grandaunt
Alice Marshall Goodwin.

Picture and obituary provided by Christi Young

Patsy Coleman Hooker's Headstone
Double and Quadruple Cousins
Sickly Felix
James Monroe Markham
Sunday Obituary of Rosanna Thomas Markham

My Cousin, His Cousin

James Earl Scott and Tom Isaac

Cousin - Offspring of an uncle or aunt. A cousin is a relative with whom a person shares one or more common ancestors. Wikipedia

James Earl is my cousin and Tom is James cousin but Tom is not my cousin.

How is James related to me?
We share a gg grandparent, James Markham, which makes us third cousins.
James great grandmother Catherine Matilda Markham Scott, and my great grandfather Monroe Markham were siblings.
We are related through our maternal sides.

How is James related to Tom?
James' gg grandparents, Franklin Scott and Sallie Coleman, are the great grandparents of Tom Isaac, which makes them second cousins once removed.
They are related through their maternal sides.

Photograph courtesy of Nathaniel Thomas

Case Study of the Crossley Family

In the previous post, I showed a photograph of two of my Crossley cousins. For anyone connected to or interested in the Crossley family of Amite and Lincoln Counties, Mississippi, I would like to recommend this book, A Genealogist's Guide to Discovering Your African American Ancestors, by authors Franklin Carter Smith and Emily Anne Croom.

Per a 1843 will, the progenitors of the Crossley family were the slaves of the Weathersby family of Amite County. The parents were to be allowed to live free and the children were to be allowed to purchase their freedom. Of course, there was a court case.

You may read directly from the book about the Crossleys through Google Books. You may purchase the book at Amazon

Wordless Wednesday Crossley Siblings

James Pearly "J. P." Crossley and his sister Mazie Crossley Robinson
Their parents were Nathaniel Crossley, Jr., and Estelle Scott.

How do the siblings connect to my family tree?
The siblings' mother was Estelle Scott.
Estelle Scott's parents were James Pearly Scott, Sr., and Catherine Matilda Markham.
Catherine Markham was the sister of Monroe Markham, my great grandfather.

Estella Scott Crossley's Obituary
Nathaniel Crossley Sr's Obituary
Catherine Markham Scott's Headstone

Photograph Courtesy of Nathaniel Thomas

Country Churches of Learned, MS

My people came from communities in Mississippi, very small rural communities, which consisted of a country store, churches and homes. I imagine their community would have been similar to the village of Learned, MS. Mississippi is part of the bible belt, no matter the size of the community the major Christian denominations are represented, and so it is with Learned.

Per the 2000 census, the demographics were 50 people, 22 households, and 17 families residing in the town. The racial makeup of the town was 82.00% White and 18.00% African American. Wikipedia

Learned United Methodist Church
Established 1892

Presbyterian Church of Learned

Learned Baptist Church

Old Country Store of Learned, MS