Robert Brumfield Part 2

 

Robert Brumfield homestead located in Pike County, Mississippi was near the homesteads of  Ervin (Irvin) Brumfield, Jack Gatlin and Calvin Caston.  Irvin Brumfield was a homestead witness for Robert Brumfield. The geographic  location of the other men's land suggest that knew each other.

Diagram of Land Patent Pike County T2-N, R9-E Section 15 and part of Section 22

I have been unable to locate Robert and Ann Brumfield in the 1900 Federal census. Many times adult children live near their parents. I used the names of their children  and their spouses to try to locate them.

 Using this method, I was still unable to locate them.   I was however able to locate two individuals who are probably  their children Senia Brumfield and James Brumfield  in the 1900 census enumerated on the same page as Jack Gatlin. 

"United States Census, 1900," database with images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:M9XT-14J : accessed 18 October 2022), Jack Gatlin, Beat 1 (part of), Pike, Mississippi, United States; citing enumeration district (ED) 105, sheet 5A, family 65, NARA microfilm publication T623 (Washington, D.C.: National Archives and Records Administration, 1972.); FHL microfilm 1,240,825.

Senia Brumfield and James Brumfield 1900 Federal Census Pike County, Mississippi extracted

Jack Gatlin is listed on the marriage bond of Seany Brumfield and Richard Conerly on January 29, 1891. A marriage bond is different from a marriage license. A marriage bond requires that an individual give a monetary amount for the intent to marry.   If it is later found that there was a legal reason for the marriage not to take place the bond amount is forfeited. Jack Gatlin assisted in paying the bond.  

The search for more information concerning  Robert and Ann Brumfield will continue.

---The Tree Gardener

Robert Brumfield Part 1

 

Robert Brumfield was born enslaved in about 1834 in Mississippi. His parents nor enslaver have not been identified at this time.  On September 11, 1869, he filed application #3212 for 160 acres of land at the Pike County, Mississippi Land Office in Jackson, Hinds County. 

 He is enumerated as a 35-year-old farm hand in the 1870 Pike County, Mississippi census with inferred wife and children. His inferred wife was Ann 32, and the children were Anna Bell 10, Jennette 6 and Robert 1 years old.  On August 29, 1876, Robert submitted his final proof document for his homestead. Henry Conerly and Irvin Brumfield were his sworn witnesses. They were prevented from attending in person at the land office secondary to distance and means. The witnesses in a single document stated that he had a wife and six children. He had cultivated 35 acres of land, 2 cotton houses, a smokehouse, crib stables and other houses.  Irvin Brumfield was the son of Liddie Brumfield Caston. Henry Conerly was also a witness for Irvin Brumfield's homestead on August 21, 1877. Robert received his homestead patent on June 24, 1878.

Robert Brumfield is enumerated in the Pike County 1880 census.  He and his wife Ann had five additional children during the intervening years Frank 9, Harriet 6, Cina 5, Jimmy 2 and Jesse 2/12 months. Significantly, Jack Gatlin's family is enumerated on the same census page.

"United States Census, 1880," database with images, FamilySearch (https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:M4G1-Y9G : 14 January 2022), Bob Brumfield, Beat 1, Pike, Mississippi, United States; citing enumeration district ED 37, sheet, NARA microfilm publication T9 (Washington, D.C.: National Archives and Records Administration, n.d.), FHL microfilm .

1880 Census

Brumfield,    Bob               Male                46 y

                         Ann           Female             41 y

                        Jenette         Female            15 y

                        Robert          Male                10 y

                        Frank            Male                 9 y

                        Harriet         Female             6 y

                        Cina              Female             5 y

                        Jimmie         Male                 2 y 

            

The Mississippi Enumeration of Educable Children Data Base 1850-1892 and 1908-1957 has been instrumental in identifying families between the years of the United States federal census. The data in the records designate the sex, age and race of the children.  Robert's children attended school and worked on the farm. In the Holmesville, Pike County 1885 census Robert and his children are listed as Robert 16, Harriet 14, Frank 11, Cina 9, Jas (James) 7   and John 5.  On the school census, are familiar names of other parents and children from prior blog posts: Frank Brumfield, Edmond Downs, Gale Brumfield and Eli Brumfield.

Mississippi Enumeration of Educable Children, 1850-1892; 1908-1957," database with images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:939F-PV9F-WD?cc=1856425&wc=M6NC-7P8%3A167436801%2C167437202 : 18 September 2015), Pike > 1885 > image 6 of 178; Government Records, Jackson.

A list of established schools in the county with trustees and teachers was identified in the Magnolia Gazette in 1886. Numbers 11, 12 and 13 are African American men who were involved in the education of their children.  The Pink Hill trustees were Jack Gatlin, Robert Brumfield and Jerry Conerly 

The Magnolia Gazette 

Magnolia, Mississippi

 12 Feb 1886, Fri  •  Page 2

 In the Holmesville, Pike County 1890 school census Robert Brumfield's children Harriet 16, Sina 14, James 12, John 9 and Jesse 7 are listed. Other parents and children are listed on the page which includes Thomas Brumfield, Ely (Eli) Brumfield, Irvin Brumfield, Ellen Brumfield and Harry Barnes. 

Robert had one child enrolled in school seen in the Holmesville, Pike County 1896 census Jess (Jesse) 12. On the school census, are familiar names of other parents and children: Irvin Brumfield, Eli Brumfield, Leah Bridges, George and Harry Barnes. 

More information to come.

--- The Tree Gardener

Finding Frank Brumfield Part 1

 DNA Analysis

Liddie Brumfield Caston born 1825 in Mississippi had children with the surname Brumfield and Caston.  Liddie and the presumptive father Louis Brumfield had 4 known identified children  Richard, Irvin, Thomas and Frank. These children born in Mississippi prior to the end of the Civil War were enslaved.  Information of the lives of Richard, Irvin and Thomas have been given in previous blogs.  Frank Brumfield identification has been elusive.

I have been searching for Liddie’s Frank. Finding Frank Brumfield has been a genealogy brick wall. From family history, I know there was a Frank Brumfield.    I have identified 3 black individuals with the name Frank Brumfield. They lived in the same geographic area corresponding to the slave owners surname Brumfield in Washington Parish, Louisiana  and Pike County, Mississippi. This is also the geographic area that Liddie Brumfield Caston lived.  The estimated date of birth are similar ranging from 1845 to1855.  

My initial goal was to present my research for each of the three Frank Brumfield to determine Liddie's son. The research records I found did not allow me to definitively identify Frank Brumfield. I was however have been able to identify Frank Brumfield through genealogy research and genetic autosomal DNA analysis.  

The Facts and Assumptions that have been identified concerning Richard, Irvin, Tom and Frank Brumfield:

1. They all are brothers and have the same mother Liddie. It is the presumption or reasonable to assume that they have the same father Louis.

2. The brothers have the same maternal autosomal DNA.

3. The brothers lived in the same geographic area during most of their lives.

4. Genealogy research of Frank Brumfield and his family tree are available. 

5. All the brothers had descendant children.  

5. Results of most of the brothers descendants DNA are available.  

The Challenges of DNA Analysis in finding Frank Brumfield

1.  Ancestry.com DNA data base was used.  Ancestry.com  has the largest commercial DNA data base at this writing.  There are other commercial DNA data bases available which were not included.   I will not be disclosing specific DNA results or the names of descendants of recently deceased or living individuals used in identifying  Richard, Irvin, Tom and Frank Brumfield to protect their privacy.  

2.  Not all known living descendants of Richard, Irvin, Tom and Frank Brumfield have submitted DNA samples for analysis and comparison.  The DNA samples submitted may not be considered a  significant size number.

3.  The public published family trees in Ancestry.com and Family Search.org along with personal research of Richard, Irvin, Tom and Frank Brumfield was used to identify Frank Brumfield. These family trees may contain incomplete information.

4.  Not all descendants of Richard, Irvin, Tom and Frank Brumfield have submitted public published family trees in Ancestry.com and Family Search.org. There maybe DNA matches without family tree information which can be correlated together.  

5. Frank Brumfield date of birth is thought to be between 1845 to 1855. Pike County, Mississippi 2010 federal census states there are approximately 40,000 and Washington Parish, Louisiana 47,000 residents. Over 100 years ago the population was much smaller.  Frank Brumfield DNA tested descendants maybe related through more than one ancestral line.    

    

 To use a phrase from the book Alice in Wonderland  by Lewis Carroll  I will be going "down the rabbit hole", entering the situation of finding Frank Brumfield using  genetic genealogy. 

Special thanks to cousin K. S.

------The TreeGardener

Irvin Brumfield Identified

 I have been trying to identify the Brumfield children of Liddie Brumfield (Caston) and Louis Brumfield.  One of Liddie’s children  was Tom Brumfield. In my genealogy research, I have found several men with the name of Irvin Brumfield who lived in Pike County, Mississippi. I have been trying to ascertain if Irvin Brumfield born August, 1846 is a child of Liddie .

I have established that Irvin Brumfield definitely knew Liddie Brumfield's second husband Calvin Caston. Calvin Caston was a sworn witness on Irvin Brumfield’s homestead application. Tom Brumfield was a sworn witness on Calvin Caston’s homestead application.  The children of Tom and Irvin Brumfield and Calvin Caston are listed on the 1885 Pike County, School record.  Irvin’s children’s names were Martha Ann, Irvin Jr., William, Sherman, Louis, George, Isom, Mamie, Daisy and Mattie.

It was exciting for me to meet Eddie Brumfield Sr.  His grandfather was Tom Brumfield son of Liddie and Louis Brumfield. Irvin Brumfield Sr. died in 1900 before Eddie Sr. was born. Eddie Brumfield Sr.  however knew the some of the children of Irvin Brumfield Sr. They were  Irvin Jr., Isom, Sherman, Louis, Mamie and Mattie who were his father’s Willis age and his cousins.  I believe Tom Brumfield and Irvin Brumfield were brothers.

         

Irvin Brumfield Sr. would be Eddie Brumfield Sr. grand-uncle .

----The Tree Gardener

The Story of Latimore Brumfield

FAN

FAN is a mnemonic in genealogy circles for Friends, Associates and Neighbors.  In my genealogical research,  I try to accumulate information from my ancestor's FAN (Friends, Associates & Neighbors) club. The FAN of ancestors is comparable to the modern social network.   I have many surnames which include my ancestors names, their neighbors, their in laws and my in-laws. I have also found that in  genealogical  research that having the same surname in the same geographic area does necessarily equal a blood relationship.  Some surnames of individuals have no  obvious relationship I have seen repeatedly in my research.  I can not resist saving information of a family that lived in same geographic area and may or may not be  related to an ancestor.       


I have been able to people in connect FAN connections from geographic location using homestead information from the Bureau of land Management. The chart has information posted in a previous blog except for Calvin Caston.

Walkers Bridge Pike County, Mississippi

All of these men possibly knew each other prior to establishing a homestead. Calvin Caston was probably the stepfather of Irvin and Tom Brumfield. Henry Conerly knew Calvin Caston, Robert and Irvin Brumfield.  Possibly Henry Conerly and Joseph Conerly are related. I found Henry and Joseph enumerated in the 1880 census.

Henry Conerly 55 years old and Joseph Conerly 23 years old enumerated  in the  Pike County, Mississippi 1880 Federal Census

Maybe they homestead near each other because they had were friends or previously lived together.  

------The Tree Gardener

UPDATED October 11, 2022

Irvin Brumfield son of Liddie

It has been my attempt in research to try to find evidence that identifies the Brumfield children of Liddie Brumfield Caston.  Prior to November, 1912 in Mississippi, there were no death or birth certificates registered with the state.  Many of the ancestors also could not read or write.  I have not been able to locate a family bible which may have vital records.  I suspect that a bible of this type may not exist.  Some of Liddie's children had the good fortune of long lives such as Tom and Richard Brumfield and death certificates have been located. 
I have been unable to establish a  maternal relationship between Liddie and Ervin (Irvin) Brumfield.  I however been able authenticate that Ervin (Irvin) Brumfield definitely knew Calvin Caston. In my blog post "Ervin, Irvine, Irving, Irvin Part Two" published in November 21, 2012, I mentioned that Calvin Caston signed the homestead affidavit for Irvine Brumfield

Affidavit  of residence for the homestead of Ervin Brumfield 

Henry Conerly and Calvin Caston stated that they knew Ervin Brumfield for 7 years past which would have been 1870. His settlement was established September 1, 1870. Ervin had a wife and four children in 1877. Ervin is thought to have been born in 1846 according to the 1900 Federal Census. In 1870, Ervin would have been 24 years old.

------The Tree Gardner

Putting Pieces Together Part 1

 Homesteader

In the initial process of searching for family connections,   I have used a common surname Brumfield and locations Pike County, Mississippi and Washington Parish, Louisiana as my starting points.  My sources for information have been the Federal Census records and Bureau of Land Management records.  From this information I have date and relationship chart. 

 

Homesteader	Year Start of Homestead		Witnesses	Year final of Homestead	Family
Robert Brumfield 41-42 years old		Sept. 12, 1869	Henry Conerly & Irvin Brumfield	Aug 31, 1876	Ann(wife)  6 children Anna, Jeanette, Robert, Frank, Cina & Jimmie
Isham Broomfield(Brumfield) 63 years old		March 6, 1873/Dec.,1870	Robert Magee, Joseph Conerly & Jacob Ellzey	June 21, 1883	Charlotte (wife) 3 children Eli, Henrietta & Hester
Irvin Brumfield 34-35 years old		September 1, 1870	Henry Conerly & Calvin Caston	June 13, 1881	Louisa (wife) and four children Martha Ann, Sherman,  Irvin & William
Gale Brumfield51-56 years old		Dec 10, 1869	R. S. Wilson & W. W. Wilson	March 14, 1876	Harriet (wife) and 8 children George, Sylvia, Rosetta, Martha, Louisa, Janetta, Grant & Oliver

 In a previous blog post, I listed Thesionie  28 years old as a child of Gale Brumfield because she was listed with him in the Federal 1870 census but I am not sure  she was his child.   In the 1870 census, relationships with the head of the family are not listed.  She is not listed in the 1880 census with Gale Brumfield.

In the 1880 census for Gale Brumfield, Willie age 15 years old is a nephew and Sylvia is a niece.  These children are also listed in the 1870 census.  They are possibly orphans and Gale and Harriet are their uncle and aunt.

The child Jeanette is listed in the 1870 & 1880 census with Robert Brumfield. A child Janetta is listed in the  1870 & 1880 census with Gale Brumfield.  Simliar names maybe the same people.

Brumfield Settlement Part 2

Irvin Brumfield homesteaded 80 acres of land in Pike County, Mississippi submitting an application in September 1, 1870 and receiving title in June 13, 1881.   The Brumfield Settlement described by descendant relatives was over 300 acres.  Adjacent to the Irvin Brumfield homestead was the 160 acre homestead of Robert Brumfield. I have been unable at this time to verify if Irvin and Robert are related.  It is clear however that they knew each other.  Irvin Brumfield and Henry Conerly   were sworn witnesses that verified that Robert Brumfield was on the land beginning on September 12, 1869.

  Robert was the head of a family consisting of a wife and five children. In the 1870 Pike County Federal census,  Robert Brumfield 35 years old  is  listed with Anna 32 years old, Anna M. 10 years old, Jennett 6 years old and Robert 2 years old all born in Mississippi.  He had cultivated 30 acres with a 2 cotton houses, smoke house, crib and stables.  Robert Brumfield received title to the land August 31, 1876.

Irvin & Louisa Brumfield

         Irvin Brumfield and wife Louisa McEwen (Ellzey)  born about 1846 and 1849 respectively are thought to be former slaves in Mississippi.  In the Federal 1880 Pike County, Mississippi census, Irvin Brumfield is listed as Louis Brumfield.  I have been unable to verify if Irvin and Louis Brumfield is the same individual.  It was not uncommon for former slaves as freedmen to change their names and Irvin may have become the preferred name.   I was able to identify Irvin (Louis) based on the family members listed.  Irvin and Louisa are listed as a family in the Federal 1880 census with 5 children Martha Ann, Sherman,   Irvin Jr., William and Louis.  The quality of the census record is very poor and I cannot read all the details recorded. HIs occupation was a farmer.   Irvin Brumfield and both parents place of birth are listed in the 1880 census as Mississippi.  Louisa McEwen was born in Mississippi and parents were born Virginia.    I have not been able to find Irvin or Louisa in the 1870 census for Pike County, Mississippi but a  22 years old Louis Brumfield is listed.   Their oldest child Martha Ann was born in 1872 therefore Irvin and Louisa may have not been together in 1870.

         My older relatives told me that my Brumfield ancestors owned over 300 acres of land known as the Brumfield Settlement.  This was initially incredible to me. During slavery the family structure was destroyed.     In 1865, Irvin may have been probably 19 years old and Louisa 16 years old.  After the Civil War, former slaves without money, housing, clothes or food of their own were freedmen.  They had nothing to start a new existence apart from life experiences and a will to survive.    How could a former slave buy land?    It took more research to determine if the information was fact or fiction.

------Tree Gardener