Unknown Photograph

This photograph was among the collection of my great grandmother Mary Byrd Markham of Lincoln County, MS. The woman in the photograph is unknown to cousins. She may be kin or a neighbor to my ggrandmother. I would love to know her identity.

Wordless Wednesday Jace's First Haircut

Jace, the one getting the haircut.
Neil the Barber
Jarret the Dad

Mary Winston's Headstone

In Memory of Mary P
Wife of Andrew Winston
Born Dec 22 1828
Died Dec 27 1884
Hunters Cemetery
Smyrna, Copiah County, MS.
Apparently Mary's headstone was provided after her death. According to her will, she died in 1895.

Picture from Find a Grave.

Amanuensis Monday The Will of Mary Peachy Demyers Winston

Mary Peachy Demyers Winston
Born about 1828 - Died about September 1895 Through this will Mary bequeathed 290 acres of land. Mary and her husband Andrew Winston were the slaves of Peachy Ridgway Taliaferro in Copiah County, MS. Peachy died in 1852. Per his inventory listing of slaves, Andrew was valued at $1000 and his wife Mary was valued at $900. The couple's daughters Malinda and Sidney were also included on the list, valued at $150 and $125 respectively. Per the family's oral history, Peachy Taliaferro was also Mary's father. Inventory Listing - Page 1 and Page 2 - Mary and husband Andrew had eight children. Five children survived at the writing of the will: Malinda, Sidney, Eliza, Edward Robert, and Andrew.

THE WILL
Near Hunter
Copiah County State of Mississippi

In the name of God Amen, I Mary Winston of feeble health but sound mind make this my last will & testament. I bequeath unto my son Edward Winston forty acres of land, where his house now stands, beginning at the Southwest corner on the Hazlehurst & Port Gibson Road & running Eastern hundred & twenty yards, thence North eight hundred forty yards, thence West two hundred & twenty yards thence South to place of beginning.

I bequeath unto my son Andrew Winston forty acres of land, the South forty of the land I bought of Mr. & Mrs. J. J. Holliday. If one or both of my above mentioned sons should die without any male heirs, then the above mentioned land is to go back to the Winston Estate & if one or both of them should have male heirs they are not to have possession until they are twenty one years old, but in case of death of one or both of my sons & the wives of either or both, should remain single they are to have & control the above mentioned property until they mary(sp) again.

I bequeath to my three grandchildren (children of Charles Winston deceased) the North forty acres of land of the land I bought from J. J. Holliday & wife…but my husband Andrew Winston is to manage & control it until they become of legal age. In case of his death, then it is to be managed & controlled by one of my sons who is to be selected by my executrix whom I will hereafter mention.

I bequeath unto my husband one hundred & seventy one acres of land my residence now is on a portion of said land, & all of my personal property, consisting of one horse & my household & kitchen effects & my other property I fail to mention.

I appoint Mr. M. M. West & T. E. Groom, executors without bond to enforce this my last wish. Given under my hand & seal this 7th day of Dec 1894.

Mary (her x mark) Winston
Witness T. E. Groom & M. M. West

The State Of Mississippi Copiah County
Chancery Court
Vacation AD 1895

In the matter of a certain instrument – purporting to be the last will and testament of Mary Winston deceased of Copiah County.

Be it remembered that before Chancery Clerk of said County and State on the 28th day of Sept AD 1895 personally appeared F. E. Groom and M. M. West and subscribing witness to a certain instrument of writing purporting to be the last will and testament of Mary Winston deceased, late of Copiah County who having first been duly sworn, deposed and said that the said Mary Winston signed, published and declared said instrument as her last will and testament on the 7th day of December 1894, the day of the date of said instrument in the presence of the deponents and that the said instrument testatrix was then of sound disposing mind and memory and twenty one years of age and that these deponents subscribed and attested said instrument as witnesses to the signature and publication thereof at the special instant and in the presence of the said testator, and in the presence of each other, on the day and year of the date thereof sworn to and subscribed before clerk on the 28th day of Sept 1895.

J Q Martin, clerk

F. E. Groome
M. M. West

Source: Copiah County, Mississippi, Will Book Volume A, Page 104
Microfilm Number: 8150
Microfilm found at Mississippi Department of Archives and History.
Image courtesy of Reginald Stanton via Facebook

Mary was the eldest daughter of my 3rd great grandmother Peggy Demeyers.

Wordless Wednesday Andrew Winston

Born about 1821 in Virginia
Died between 1900-1910 in Mississippi
Husband of Mary Peachy Demyers
Father of Malinda, Sydney, Eliza, Charles, Bettie, Mary, Edward Robert, and Andrew, Jr.
Slave of Peachy Ridgway Taliaferro in Copiah County, MS

Picture courtesy of Reginald Stanton via Facebook
Andrew was the husband of my 2nd great grandaunt Mary Peachy Demyers.

Watch Night Richmond and Jane Furnace Overton

...shall be then, thenceforward, and forever free...
Emancipation Proclamation
January 1 1863
Celebrating the 150th anniversary of the signing of the Emancipation Proclamation.

Richmond Elijah Overton
Born About 1856
In 1863, he was a slave on Hezekiah G D Brown Plantation
Near Hazlehurst, Copiah County, MS

Grandpa Richmond was the only child of Dave Brown Overton and Alice Demyers. Grandpa did not remember his father who left the plantation following Union troops, never to return home. Grandma Alice wrote poignant letters to the Pensioners Board requesting a pension for herself and son. During slavery, Richmond was trained as a carpenter. It was said the master saw his intelligence and knew an extar dollar could be made.

Richmond married Jane Furnace who was born about 1860 in Mississippi. Census records indicate that HGD Brown may also be the slave owner of the Furnace family. Richmond and Jane had about 10 children. Jane died about 1902, Richmond died in 1928.

Richmond and Jane were my father's maternal grandparents.

Watch Night Washington and Mary Hardgraves Marshall

...shall be then, thenceforward, and forever free...
Emancipation Proclamation
January 1 1863
Celebrating the 150th anniversary of the signing of the Emancipation Proclamation.

Washington and Mary are the oldest of the great grandparents at Emancipation. Washington was born about 1822 in Virginia, Mary his wife about 1839 in Mississippi. Four of their 15 children were born in slavery. Washington told his children the sad story of being sold from his siblings and parents in Virginia. He wanted his Mississippi family to know that they had family in Virginia.

The names of the Virginia family did not survive to me. The first time I visited Virginia, I remembered what was told to me and softly whisper to Grandpa Washington that I was home.

Washington and Mary are my mother's paternal grandparents. Both were deceased when she was born.