Cousins Spending Time Together on a Summer Day

Allura Freeman Wade and Bettie McDaniel Neal

The joy seen on their faces is priceless. I think this was the first time the cousins met. One lives in Arizona and the other in a Chicago suburb. They share a set of 2nd great grandparents, John Coleman Bryant and his wife Elizabeth McDaniel.

John and Elizabeth were slaves in Franklin County, Mississippi. The couple had two sons to survive to adulthood and produce children. One son chose to use the surname of his mother's slave owner, John McDaniel; the other son chose to use the surname his father used, which was Bryant.

How do the 2nd cousins connect to my family tree?
Their 3rd cousin, Mary Lou McDaniel, married my 1st cousin 2x removed, Frank Scott, Sr.
Their 3rd cousin, Mamie J Bryant, married my 1st cousin 2x removed, James Coleman.

Photograph Courtesy of Anthony Neal, Sr

Kisanna Middleton Jones - Her Story 1833~1937

Picture from St Luke Cemetery - Franklin County MSGHN

Kisanna/Cassandra Middleton Jones was born between 1833-1845 in Franklin County, MS, on the Columbus Grissom/Grisham's farm. Kisanna's parents were Wilson and Fannie Carnell. The Gisham's farm had a total of 9 slaves in 1860. As soon as she was capable, Kisanna's responsibility was to nurse the sickly mistress of the household, Mary Grisham.

After the War, Kisanna remained on the plantation where she married another of the Grissom's slaves whose surname was likely Middleton. Casandra along with three other freedmen were named on a Freedmen's Bureau labor contract with C. K. Grisham, dated September 12, 1865.

I couldn't find Kisanna in 1870, but she (Cassandra Middleton) was found in 1880 living alone with her four sons: Walter Gainer, 14; Preston Middleton, 10; Joseph Middleton, 7; and Jesse Middleton, 3, in the Cains community of Franklin County, MS. Kisanna worked as a house servant for the William McDonald family and her son Walter was a farm laborer. None of the children attended school and no one in the household could read or write.

Kisanna Middleton married Elbert J Jones, 04 Dec 1899, in Franklin County, MS. His children and hers are all living together in 1900. Elbert owns his own farm free of mortgage. His sons are working as farm laborers and daughter is a day laborer. Kisanna and her children are not listed with occupations. The family is living next door to Dan Buie and his family. According to Kisanna's slave narrative, Kisanna and her family worked for the Buie family. No one in the household had attended school and no one could read or write.

Preston Middleton, Kisanna's eldest son is listed as blind in the 1910 census, living with his mother and her husband Elbert. In 1920, the Middleton's household is full with Kisanna's son Preston, Elbert's son Ebby, Ebby's wife and seven children. Other members of the family are living near them.

Elbert died Dec 31 1928. Kisanna is living with her two sons in 1930. Joseph Middleton is divorced, 56, head of the household and is farming on his own account. Preston, who never married, and Kisanna are unemployed. On 29 Nov 1937, Kisanna died over the age of 100 years. She is buried in the St Luke Church Cemetery in Franklin County, MS.

Kisana Jones' Death Certificate

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Workers Project Administration Slave Narrative
Kisanna Middleton

Kisanna's mother was a slave belonging to Columbus Grissom. Kisanna was born on this plantation about 1834 as a slave. As soon as she was large enough she began helping in the Grissom home. Mrs. Grissom was ill much of the time and Kisanna nursed her and cared for her as long as she belonged to the Grissoms. Kisanna married one of the slaves on the Grissom plantation, but she continued her work at the house.

When the slaves were freed they did not know where to go or what to do with their new found freedom. Kisanna and her husband stayed on at the plantation and worked for wages for several years. During this time her first husband died. She then moved about from one plantation to another for several years and worked as share cropper.

Kisanna married again and moved to the Dan Buie place in District 5. She helped in the house here and nursed the Buie children. She had several children of her own and these boys helped rear the Buie children.

Kisanna and two of her sons now live near the old Buie home. Kisanna is blind and very feeble. She can hardly walk for she is bent and crippled. She has only a few kinks of white hair left. Her oldest son is blind and has a long white beard. Her baby son is more than sixty years old. These three live in an old tumbled down shack; neither of the boys are married.

They like to talk about their masters and old slave days when they were well cared for and happy.

Freedmen's Bureau Labor Contract - 1865 James R Godbold

List of Freedmen Residing on James R Godbold's Plantation
in Franklin County, Mississippi
Oct 7th 1865

NAME	AGE	SEX	COLOR	FORMER OWNER	FORMER RESIDENCE
Silvester Crossley	47	male	2/3 white	James R Godbold	Woodside
Louisa Crossley	46	woman	black	do do	do
Andrew Crossley	11	male	1/3 white	" "	"
Kate Benton	45	woman	black	" "	" "
Jane Crossley	22	do	copper	" "	" "
Mathew Benton	11	boy	do	" "	" "
Missouri Benton	16	do	do	" "	" "
Hannah Benton	7	girl	do	" "	" "
Charlotte Pettis	18	woman	do	" "	" "
Jeni Pettis	1/2	girl	do	" "	" "
Robeson Monan	28	man	black	" "	" "
Clorinda Monan	21	woman	do	" "	" "
Joseph Monan	1/2	boy	do	" "	" "
Silvy Dixon	32	female	do	Departed from	the place
Clorinda Dixon	7	do	do	" "	" "
Therisa Dixon	4	do	copper	" "	" "
Davidson Dixon	2	male	black	" "	" "
Harriet Morris	34	female	do	" "	" "
Patsey Morris	6	do	do	" "	" "
Elec Morris	4	male	do	" "	" "
Elizabeth Morris	1	female	do	" "	" "
Nora Morris	1	do	do	" "	" "
Betty Morris	48	do	do	" "	" "
Isabelle Morris	13	do	do	" "	" "
Mary Morris	7	do	do	" "	" "
Rose Wells	45	do	do	" "	" "
Macdaniel Wells	15	male	do	" "	" "
Jinney Wells	9	female	do	" "	" "
Racheal Guthrie	22	do	do	" "	" "
Will Guthrie	3	male	do	" "	" "
Harrison Guthrie	1	do	yellow	" "	" "

Source: Record Group 105 - NARA Microfilm M1907: Records of the Field Offices for the State of Mississippi, Bureau of Refugees, Freedmen and Abandoned Lands 1865-1872
Roll #35
Natchez Office - Registry of Freedmen, August to October 1865

Christmas 1938 Leslie Guiser Family

Leslie Guiser Family, 1938
The Guiser family Christmas celebration of 1938 was identified in The Daily Leader. Standing around a food-laden table are (l-r): ___ Haywood, Clara L. Guiser, Genoa Sartin Sr., Nannie Jackson, Elizabeth Guiser, Ulysses Guiser and Wille Mae McDaniel Guiser. Seated is Leslie Guiser Sr.

I found this picture on the Flicker page for the Lincoln County Public Library and recognized a couple of the names. I was not familiar with Leslie Guiser, the man seated but decided to do a census search.

Leslie was born Feb 1886-1888 in Mississippi, likely Franklin County near Meadville. He is the son of Virginia/Jennie Guiser and his father is unknown. I first find Leslie, 14 years old, in the 1900 Franklin County census living with his aunt Nancy/Nannie Guiser Jackson. Living next door was his grandmother Louisa Guiser, his mother Virginia and her four children.

By 1910, Leslie was a married man with two children. He married Elizabeth Wilkinson 08 Jan 1907 in Franklin County. Elizabeth was from Kentucky. The couple's children were: Leslie, Jr., Ulysses, Nan, Clara, Elias, Sterling, and Arnell.

Leslie and his family had settled in Brookhaven, MS, when the 1930 census rolled around. Leslie worked as a laborer for the Mississippi Power and Light Company. Leslie died in 1965.

Obituary of Ulysses Guiser, Son of Leslie and Elizabeth Guiser
Obituary of Willie Mae Guiser, Wife of Ulysses
Death Certificate of Louisa McCoy Guiser, Leslie's Grandmother
Obituary of Nancy "Nan" M Guiser Riggs, daughter of Leslie and Elizabeth Gusier

Photograph Courtesy of
Lincoln-Lawrence-Franklin Regional Library
100 S. Jackson St
Brookhaven, MS 39601
601-833-3369

Come Let Us Worship

Where and how did our slave ancestors who were Christians worship God? Who preached the message? Looking through records where my ancestors lived, I found five different methods used by my ancestors.

1. Slave Owner(s) Hired Preacher for Negroes
Slave owners of Jefferson County, MS, hired Rev Smily to preach to their Negroes. I haven't found information on Zion Hill but know the family worships(ed) at a Zion Chapel in the area. I don't know if there is a connection between Zion Hill and Zion Chapel.

We the undersigned promise to pay the Rev. J H Smily the sums annexed to our names for his services viz to preach to the Negroes at Zion Hill twice in each month for the balance of this year commencing with April, payable the first of January next. this April 3rd 1858

Wm Shaw $15.00 paid - Shaw owned 53 slaves in 1860
D McArn $20.00 paid - McArn owned 51 slaves in 1860
D H Cameron $5 paid - Cameron owned 21 slaves in 1860
R D Torrey $5 paid - Torrey owned 24 slaves in 1860
M McPherson $5 paid - McPherson owned 8 slaves in 1860
John C McCormick $2 paid - McCormick owned 9 slaves in 1860
J ? Scott $5 paid - J L Scott owned 18, J W Scott owned 22 in 1860
?? paid by corn

Shaw, McArn, Cameron, Torrey, and McCormick owned members of my family.

2. Separate Service in Slave Owner's Church

Mrs Lottie Warren, a member of Union Church Presbyterian Church of Jefferson County. MS, gave this account of the separate church services. The picture of the building in the forefront is the actual building the ancestors used.
Church services were held once a month. On that Sunday two services were held, one for the whites and later in the afternoon one was held for the servants. The Elders of the church always attended these services. The singing of the servants was said to be so beautiful that the people of the village would come outside to hear the singing.

We was let go to church in de white folks meetin' house an' us was taught to be polite an' how to act.
Simon Durr, Simpson County, Mississippi - Simon was enslaved by Michael Durr of Simpson County, the same slave owner of my 2nd great grandfather Josephus Durr.

3. Services in Woods Under Brush Arbor

Picture from Latiba Museum
When we wanted to have our own services we collected up an' went to de woods an' built big brush arbors an' at nite we'd build great big fires an' had sho' nuf services. We could sing an' shout, an' dats what we wanted to do. Dey would hum an' morn all through de services. De preachers didn't hab no book learning but when a darkie wanted to preacher, he was give a try out, by gitting up an' trying to preach a time or two an' if he suited de folks an' they thought he could preach, dey would say fer him to preach an' if he didnt suit 'em dey would say fer him not too.
Robert Weathersby of Simpson County, Mississippi - Robert Weathersby was a part of the same family that enslaved my 2nd great grandfather Josephus Durr.

4. Attended Services with Slave Owner
Us went to meetin' once a month wid de white folks an' set in de back. Us waited on 'em, toted in water an' tended ter de chilluns. When de meetin' was ober us kotched de horses an' led 'em to deir blocks an' brung de carriages 'round fer 'em.
Manda Boggan of Simpson County, MS

On church days I driv' de carriage. I was proud to take my folks to meetin'. I always set in de back pew an' heard de preachin' de same as dey did.
Isaac Stier of Franklin County, MS.

5. Slave Owner Gave Biblical Instructions
We didn' go to church, but Sundays we'd gather 'roun' an' listen to the mistis read a little out o' the Bible. The marster said we didn' need no religion an' he finally stopped her from readin' to us.
Charlie Moses of Lincoln County, Mississippi - Charlie lived in the ancestors hometown, Brookhaven, MS.

How and where did your ancestors worship during slavery?

Amanuensis Monday I Bought her in Natchez

James and Amanda McDaniel
Photograph Courtesy of James Scott

Amanda McDaniel was married to James McDaniel also known as Jim Mack. James McDaniel served with the 58th Regiment, United States Colored Infantry during the Civil War. James died of brights disease 02 May 1887; Amanda applied for her widow's pension.

James H. McDaniel, Amanda's former owner, testified that the couple was married and that he performed the ceremony.

Dec 25 1889
Veto, Franklin County, MS

Deposition of James H. McDaniel in the case of Amanda Mack/McDaniel, widow of James McDaniel.

My age is 75 yrs. I am a planter and live near Veto, Miss, which is my post office. I knew "Jim Mack" a negro who belonged to my father John McDaniel. I knew him from his birth and he ran away about 1864 and I understood he enlisted in the U S Army. I also knew Amanda Mack who belonged to me. I bought her in Natchez about 1856 or 58. She had no name but Amanda, A year or so after I bought her here I performed the ceremony of marriage between her and Jim Mack. I always insisted on my slaves being married in that way; I was a Justice of the Peace at the time. They were regarded as man and wife from that time until he ran away, and I know from observation and general report that they lived together as man and wife after the war up to his death. I did not see him for a good while after the war. Whenever I saw him he looked well and hearty. He was a big stout man to all appearance. I don't know that he was sick or made any complaint. I do not know anything as to time or cause of his death. I heard of his death at the time it occurred.

I made no record of the marriage of Amanda and Jim, but I well remember that I performed the ceremony and that they lived as man and wife afterward. Neither of them were ever previously married so far as I know.

I have no interest in this claim. I have heard the above statement read and it is all right.

J. H. McDaniel

Sunday Obituary Priscilla Culver Humphrey 1895-1987

Mrs. Priscilla Culver Humphrey, daughter of the late Mr. Sol and Francis Prenell Culver was born February 24, 1895 in Franklin County.

She confessed Christianity at an early age and united with the Galilee A. M. E. Church, and served faithfully. She later moved her membership to Triumph Church where she served faithfully. She was married to the late Mr. John Humphrey.

She departed this life July 4 1987 in King Daughter's Hospital, Brookhaven, MS. She leaves to mourn her passing a loving daughter, Sally Robinson, one son Rufus Humphrey, both of Brookhaven, MS. One stepson, Luther Humphrey of Homestead Florida. One son preceded her in death. Thirteen grandchildren, thirty-nine great grandchildren, one sister Sara Effern, three daughter-in-laws Cloratee Humphrey, Ada Humphrey, Rose M. Humphrey, two brother-in-law Willie Humphrey, Phillip Wesley, two sister-in-law Allie Mae Humphries and Alice Wesley. A host of nieces, nephews, relatives and friends.

Obituary Courtesy Robin Diane Hunter and Velma Markham Hunter
Photograph Courtesy of Nathaniel Thomas
Members of Priscilla's family, the Culver family, married into my Markham family.

Interest in Your Community Vote

John Robert Bryant
1850-1942
During Reconstruction, Cousin Robert Bryant worked as an election manager. He was interested in the welfare of his community, was a successful farmer, and owned a good home. He reared a family of good citizens and he believed in education. It was required that at least one manager on an election committee be a Republican. Cousin Robert was of the party of Lincoln. However, his ticket was often intercepted, and was always found to be for the Democratic candidates.

Today, when I cast my vote, I will be thinking of Cousin Robert and the ancestors.

Robert was the son of John Coleman Bryant and Elizabeth "Lizzie" Bryant. Robert was born about April 06, 1850, and raised in Veto, Franklin County, MS, on the John McDaniel's farm where he, his mother Elizabeth and siblings were slaves.

Information from Slave Narrative of Robert Bryant
Photograph Courtesy of Joyce Coleman Johnson

Thriller Thursday Died from Fall at Church Door

Missouri Sanders spent her last Sunday morning listening to a sermon by Reverend Alex Jones at Cool Spring Church. She probably meditated on his sermon and on the one who gave the sermon. After service, she was greeted by family and friends. According to a witness, she slipped and fell on the church steps. She was asked if she was alright, she said she was okay and proceeded to her car. Church members noticed she did not leave the church grounds, approached her car and saw her body was slumped and she was unconscious. Missouri was rushed to the local hospital where she died hours later of a broken neck.

Missouri's death was similar to her life, much to talk about. The Reverend Alex Jones was the father of her nine children. He was also her sister Mary Jane's husband. Alex Jones married Mary Jane in August 1900. Their first child of 15 children was born about 1903. Missouri had her first child with Jones about 1907.

The enumerator of the 1930 census described the children as bastards. Apparently, tongues wagged.

Alex Jones could have his cake and eat it too. Alex and wife lived a few doors down from Missouri in Franklin County, Mississippi.

May she rest in peace.

Missouri was born 03 Aug 1895, died 09 Aug 1942, in Franklin County, Mississippi. Missouri and Mary Jane were the daughters of Paris Sanders and Eveline Saulsbury. Their half sister Freddie Nelson's son married into my maternal family.

Cool Spring Missionary Baptist Church Cemetery

Almost Wordless Wednesday Amanda Miller Bell of the Free Woodscirca 1863

Amanda Miller Bell born about 1827
Baby Mary Elizabeth Bell born about 1862
Amanda was a member of the Free Woods, Franklin County, MS, "an isolated farming community where people of three races are said to have intermarried and abolished slavery well before the Civil War."

Free Woods: 19th Century Community Unique in Area

Amanda is distantly related to Cousin Bettie McDaniel Neal.

Photograph courtesy of Anthony Neal, Sr.

Herring Plantation House Franklin County, MS

Picture circa 1950
This is a typical plantation house built during the late 1820s. David Herring and his wife Mary Leggett owned this home near the Homochitto River in Franklin County, MS. It was a two story oblong shape with chimneys at either end, a one story lean-to across the back and a porch across the front. It was made of hand hewed logs and covered with dressed lumber. The doors and flooring are hand hewed, and are about two inches thick.

Members of my family were slaves on the Herring farm. They worked the land, cooked the meals, maintained the house. Steve Herring was the fiddler and entertained the guests on the front porch and in the parlor. David Herring died in 1842, leaving a widow with several children. When the children reached their majority, the slaves were distributed causing rifts within slave families.

The enslaved men left the plantation to serve in the Civil War. A few enlisted with the Colored Troops and others worked for the Troops as cooks and laborers. A couple of the men's widows applied for pensions from the United States government, giving informative testimonies about their lives on the Herring place.

Below are recent photos of the home. The second story was taken off and the house still stands. The last picture is of the building that housed the kitchen. Kitchens were built separately from the main house for safety reasons, to protect from kitchen fires.

Pictures Courtesy of Freddie Johnson
House description from the research notes of Freddie Johnson.

Tombstone Tuesday - Milly Woods 1836 - 1928

Mily Woods
Apr 8 1836
Apr 14 1928
The faithful are certain of their reward.

Buried at Cool Spring Missionary Baptist Church
McCall Creek, Franklin County, MS

Photograph courtesy of Nathaniel Thomas.

Milly's Husband's Headstone

Elizabeth Bryant's Sons James and Daniel McDaniel, Union Soldiers

James and Amanda McDaniel
Photograph Courtesy of James Scott
Elizabeth and her children lived on the farm of father and son, John and James McDaniel, near Meadville, Franklin County, Mississippi. They lived between two Union occupied towns, Natchez and Vicksburg. Once Elizabeth's family learned of the occupation of Natchez and they had the opportunity, several of them fled to Natchez.

Elizabeth was from Virginia, born about 1813, during the presidency of James Madison to parents whose names are unknown. When she was a young woman in her late teens, she was sold from the people, places and things familiar to her, purchased by John McDaniel about 1834. She was admired and respected by the people in her community. She worked the fields, helped with domestic chores and acquired the skills of midwifery.

Elizabeth's husband was on the farm of William Coleman, within walking distance, across county lines in Jefferson County. Coleman and McDaniel were long time friends as were their slaves. Neither family were large slave owning families. They slowly acquired slaves through births and an occasional purchase. By the Civil War, each family had enough slaves to put them in the planter's class, they had over 20 slaves. In 1860, the Coleman family owned 22 slaves, and John McDaniel owned 38 slaves. John's son, James McDaniel owned 22 slaves.

After the death of his first wife, John Bryant became the husband of Elizabeth, he was a decade older than Elizabeth. He was sickly with a hernia but he was a productive worker, good with the hoe. The couple was married by Elizabeth's owner John McDaniel, as he required a wedding ceremony for his slaves, and they celebrated their union with a wedding supper among the slaves.

John and Elizabeth had seven children, all born into slavery. Two of their sons would serve in the Union army. Both would enlist using the surname Mack, a name they knew their family would recognize.

JAMES "MACK" MCDANIEL also known as "Jim Mack," was the first of eight children born to John and Elizabeth. James would chose to use the McDaniel surname, passing the surname to his descendants. He was born about 1840 on John McDaniel's plantation. James' wife AMANDA was the slave of James McDaniel. Amanda was purchased in Natchez, MS, about 1856 or 1858. James and Amanda were married on the McDaniel Plantation according to Amanda, "three years before the War commenced."

James left the plantation in 1864 going to Natchez, MS, to join the United States Colored Troops, leaving behind his wife and two children. He enlisted with Company E, 58th Regiment, United States Colored Infantry on September 05, 1864, the same day his brother Daniel enlisted. James was about 24 years old at enlistment. He was described as 5 feet 8 and a half inches tall. He was a stout, robust man with black hair and eyes. As with most of the men who served during the Civil War, James suffered measles, pneumonia, bronchitis, acute diarrhea, constipation, and fevers. He was discharged at Vicksburg, Warren County, MS, on April 30, 1866.

After returning home to his family, James and family moved to Malcolm Buie's place in 1866 where Amanda, James' wife, was the Buie's cook. James worked for Dr. Gray and he would visit Amanda on Sundays. Eventually, James purchased their own 120 acres of land near Union Church, Jefferson County.

James was diagnosed with kidney disease known as Brights Disease by Dr. J. J. McLean in 1868 or 1869, and Dr. Clark diagnosed him with diabetes in 1867 or 1868. James remained healthy looking and survived kidney disease much longer than Dr. McLean expected. James suffered with backaches, bladder and urination problems. Amanda would saturate his back with liniment and coal oil. He worked hard to provide for his family, hiring others to do the hard labor he could not do. At the time of his death, James was in the process of buying additional land. Special Examiner F. T. Dennis of the United States Pension Board copied this statement from Amanda's bible; "James McDaniel died May 02, 1887 aged 49 yrs, 10 months - sick 2 weeks, in bed 2 days." James died of Brights Disease.

James and Amanda had a total of 12 children, 10 children survived to adulthood. They were: Margaret b. 1863 , Ellen b. February 1865, Mary b. February 1868/1870, William b. December 1868, twins Reed and Luberta b. May 15, 1871, John b. May 05, 1872, Preston April 15, 1877, Cameron b. May 01, 1878, and Melvin b. September 01, 1880. Elizabeth Bryant, James' mother, was the midwife at the birth of each child.

Amanda and her eligible children received a pension for James' services.

James and Amanda's descendants are all over the United States and continue to use the surname McDaniel.

DANIEL "MACK" MCDANIEL was born about 1845 on John McDaniel's plantation. He lived in the same house with his mother. Daniel ran away from the McDaniel's plantation in 1864. He enlisted September 05, 1864, in Natchez, MS, with Company E, 58th Regiment, United States Colored Infantry.

He was described as 5 feet 7 inches tall with black hair and eyes and dark copper complexion. He was about 19 years of age when he enlisted.

Daniel sent money, a watch, and shoes home to help support his family. Too embarrassed to see John McDaniel when he came to Natchez for business, Daniel would send the gifts by his brother-in-law Israel Etta to give to McDaniel, and McDaniel would give the gifts to Elizabeth.

Daniel died February 06, 1865, of bronchitis and pneumonia following measles at a Natchez hospital. He did not leave a wife nor children. His mother applied for dependent mother pension which was approved.

Sources:
Civil War Federal Pension Records of Daniel Mack
Civil War Federal Pension Records of James Mack
Slave Schedule - 1860 Franklin County, MS
Slave Schedule - 1860 Jefferson County, MS

Links
Tombstone Tuesday - Elizabeth Bryant
Elizabeth Bryant's Will
Meeting and Researching with Art Thomas

Meeting and Researching with Art Thomas Slave Owner Descendant

Photograph is of Art Thomas, 3rd great grandson of William D. Coleman, and Nathaniel Thomas, 4th great grandson of John Bryant standing in the Robinson Cemetery, Jefferson County, Mississippi.

Art Thomas replied to an old query I left on Jefferson County MSGenWeb site inquiring about Neil McCormick. Art and I corresponded, he writing about his family history and I about the research projects I was working on.

William Coleman, Sr., was Art's 3rd great grandfather. After Coleman's death, Neil McCormick was named as guardian of Coleman's minor children and the family slaves. One of Coleman's daughters married McCormick. Several of my female relatives married the sons and grandsons of Cupit Coleman born about 1811. Art and I started working together because both families shared the Coleman surname.

Art mailed William Coleman's documents pertaining to his slaves. We went through the list and did not find a connection to my family. I was 95% sure of the slave owner of Cupit Coleman and was confident of the slave owner of Cupit's wife and children. We knew Coleman was not the last owner of Cupit and his family, maybe, he was a previous owner.

Art shared a story about one of William Coleman, Sr.'s slaves, John Bryant. John was a body servant to William, Jr., during the Civil War. According to Art's family oral history, John Bryant rescued a wounded William Jr., from the battlefield, nursing him to health and returning him home. Art said John had been buried near William, Jr.

Cousins Nathaniel Thomas, James Scott and I were researching Nathaniel's 4th great grandmother Elizabeth "Lizzie" Bryant. We had hit a brick wall with Lizzie as we could not get information on Lizzie previous to 1880. I shared with Art the little we knew about Elizabeth and as far as we knew she didn't have a son named John and we did not know the name of her husband. In 1880, Lizzie, head of household, was living with her children and grandchildren, and her deceased daughter's son and husband, Bryant Coleman and Dock Coleman.

While I am corresponding with Art, Nate and James are corresponding with Anthony Neal, husband to one of Lizzie's descendants. Anthony shares with us the slave narrative of one of Lizzie's sons, Robert Bryant. In the narrative, Robert said that his father John Coleman was the slave of Neil McCormick. Robert's mother was the slave of John McDaniel. I realized that the family had at least three different surnames they could have used in the 1870 census.

In their 1870 Lincoln County household, the family was using the surname McDaniel: Jno McDaniel, 75, and Elizabeth, 65, with their children Robert, Emily, Martha, Amanda, and grandchildren Simon and Minerva. Based on Robert's slave narrative, John McDaniel's 1857 Deed of Gift, records of William Coleman, and the census records, we knew John McDaniel was also John Coleman.

The question for us became was John Coleman of the slave narrative also John Bryant of the oral family history? We knew that William Coleman's probate records named a John and that John was under the guardianship of Neil McCormick. We have a bill of sale of one of McCormick's slaves but did not have a complete listing of the eight slaves he owned per the 1860 Jefferson County slave schedule. We needed to know if McCormick owned a slave named John before we could conclude our John was John Bryant. McCormick died after slavery ended, his probate records or will would not include the names of his slaves.

I decided to check my favorite research documents, the Civil War pension records. There was an Elizabeth Bryant named as a dependent in the Civil War pension index to a Daniel Mack. I decided to order the pension file, hoping that Elizabeth was the one I was researching, indeed, she was. Daniel Mack was John and Elizabeth Bryant's son. The Civil War pension records clearly stated Elizabeth Bryant's husband was John Bryant and he had been a slave of William Coleman.

Art invited the cousins and me to visit him, which we accepted. We met on a cold raining January morning at Art's home in Meadville, Franklin County, Mississippi. We were warmly greeted, felt at ease as though we were buddies visiting after a long absence. We exchanged documents, chatted for awhile before going to visit John Bryant's burial site.

John Bryant
Age 75 Years
Epitaph - "Farewell John Bryant, Tho Lost to Sight to Memory Dear"
John Bryant was buried in the Coleman - Robinson Cemetery located in Jefferson County near the Franklin County line. It was off a gravel road used by lumber companies. When we visited, the cemetery had been cleared enough for us to walk comfortably, a quite, peaceful setting. John was buried a short distance from the others. We were grateful to Art for helping us to discover an ancestor we didn't know.

John was born between 1795 - 1805. He died of kidney and heart disease 05 Apr 1875.

Tombstone Tuesday - Buried Near Enslavers

John Coleman Bryant
Born About 1795 - Died 05 April 1875
Robinson Cemetery
Jefferson County, MS
Epitaph - "Farewell John Bryant, Tho Lost to Sight to Memory Dear"

Read more about John at this site - Bryant - McDaniel Family of Franklin and Jefferson Counties, MS.