Brumfield Settlement Part 1

I have been doing research concerning my Brumfield ancestors from Pike County, Mississippi.  Older relatives have told me my ancestor Irvin Brumfield was a farmer who was a former slave. He was not a share-cropper but owned his land. How did he get the land?  

May 20, 1862 while Irvin Brumfield was still  enslaved and the Civil War in progress the United States Government passed the Homestead Act.  There were several requirements in order to obtain the land.  The applicant had to file an application, improve the property and file for the deed of title. An applicant had to be at least 21 years old or the head of a family, live on the land for five years and show evidence of making improvements to the land. The person could not have carried arms against the United States.  It was not necessary to be a United States citizen.

Irvin Brumfield homesteaded 80 acres of land.  He was the head of family which consisted of a wife and 4 children whose names are not given.  Irvin's wife was Louisa and the 4 eldest of his 10 children were Martha Ann, Sherman, Irvin Jr., and William.   Henry Conerly and Calvin Caston were sworn witnesses that verified that Irvin Brumfield  (name listed Ervine  Brumfield) was on the land beginning  September 1, 1870.  He had cultivated 30 acres with a corn crib and stables.  Irvin Brumfield received title to the land June 13, 1881. Irvin Brumfield homestead is a portion of the Brumfield Settlement.
                                                              
                                                                                 -------The  Tree Gardener

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

Wisdom Wednesday

My father gave my sister and I the following advice concerning saving money prior to marriage " Two can live as cheap as one but only half as long. "

--- The Tree Gardner

The Most Important Things You Can Do

I have had the opportunity to hear internationally known genealogist Tony Burroughs author of Black Roots speak several times.  He suggests the most important things you can do is record your personal history and interview your oldest family member.  I am in the process of writing my personal story.  Recording my story for me is more difficult than researching family genealogy!  My story will be a subject for a different time.

I have through the years “talked to” my older relatives.  I unfortunately, did not have the interviewing skills to ask the questions to provide a full picture of their lives. My  questions consisted of who, what, when, where and how.   I began my research of Brumfield and Bearden families because my older relatives were their descendants. I was told that my Brumfield and Bearden ancestors were former slaves.  My  initial  research started with the Brumfield tree from Pike County, Mississippi  the  first home of my relatives.  I would like to begin with my ancestor Irving Brumfield.

 Irving Brumfield was born in August, 1846 Mississippi  as listed on census records. Through my research he has multiple spelling of his first name Irving, Ervine and Irvin.  He is thought to be part or all Choctaw Indian and mother is listed as Norma Lilian as told by descendants.  This information has not been verified.

I have link to family group sheet.  Will give more information latter.


https://docs.google.com/open?id=0BxDJ-PeOTwHrR244ZDlwbVJ1NXc