A Brick In the Wall Has Fallen Part 1 Ancestral Photograph

Ancestral Photograph

In my research of my family trees, one of the biggest challenge is to find information prior to 1870 in the United States concerning black African Americans.  In genealogy parlance, it is a "brick wall".  It is considered a major brick wall because prior to 1870 enslaved black people were not enumerated by first and last name in the United States federal census.

 It is important to know there were exceptions where black or people of color were enumerated in the federal census prior to 1870. In the 1790 and 1810 census, free non-white people were entitled in a category of "all other free persons".  It is not clear if this distinction included black and or native american people. Free people of color were enumerated in the federal census in 1850 and 1860.  The Federal Mortality schedules of 1850 and 1860 slaves are listed and cause of death.  Military records can also be a source for locating black African Americans prior to 1870 who were union and confederate soldiers.  In the 1860 census, enslaved black people were enumerated who were over 100 years old.  These enslaved black centenarians were usually listed by first name only. I have included a link with listed names and locations.
https://sites.rootsweb.com/~ajac/slave100up.htm. 
  
 My family’s roots were planted in the southern portion of the United States.  Prior to 1865, most black African Americans were someone’s property as slaves. I have made the assumption that my ancestors were enslaved.  In prior blogs, I have focused on the descendants of   Liddie Brumfield Caston an enslaved woman who had two husbands with two sets of children in Mississippi. Louis Brumfield her first husband who was probably enslaved was sold or died.  Calvin Caston who was Liddie’s second husband whom she helped established a homestead. The blended family tree of Liddie Brumfield Caston.
 Elvira's surname maybe  Brumfield or Caston based on information found on records which will be disclosed latter blog. The surname of the former enslaved may be from a slave master at the time of the Emancipation Proclamation, former slave master or an adopted name. In the case of Liddie Brumfield Caston, the surname of the former slave owner was retained. 
A brick in the wall of Liddie Brumfield Caston family tree has been removed with the help of the descendant of Henry S. Brumfield. A photograph was given to my cousin Manuel Graves by Laura Brumfield descendant of Henry S. Brumfield   identifies several of our ancestors. 

The Black individuals in the picture are Calvin "Cad" Caston and Lydia Brumfield "Bromfield" Caston,  Richard Brumfield "Dick Bromfield" and Eli Brumfield "Bromfield".  The Caucasian   individuals are Henry S. Brumfield "Grandpa Bromfield" Lucinda Brumfield Andrews "Aunt Lucinda Andrews" and Joseph Warren Brumfield "Uncle Joe Bromfield". This is an amazing and exciting discovery. More information concerning the individuals in the picture will be coming in future posts.


Forever Grateful ----- The Tree Gardener

Putting the Pieces Together Part 3

Isham Brumfield Family

 The Federal Agriculture Non Population census I have found to be helpful in filling in the gaps of missing people and family relationships. The 1870 and 1880 Agriculture Non-Population Census helped fine tune geographic locations. For example, Charlotte Brumfield was the wife of Isham Brumfield.    I found Charlotte listed in Labor contract in 1865 for Washington Parish and the Washington Parish, Louisiana Agriculture census in 1870(shown in prior blogs) .    In the 1870 Federal population census for Pike County, Mississippi Isham Brumfield born in Louisiana is listed with Eli, Hester and Harriet born in Mississippi who are probably his children.  The 1880 Agriculture Census for Pike County, Mississippi lists Isham and Eli Brumfield 

Hope Smith, Bob Magee, Isham Brumfield, Eli Brumfield, Jacob Ellezy, George Lundy, Green Smtih, Casander RimeJames McDaniel  Richard McDanie

 In the homesteader records in 1883, Isham property is near Walker’s Bridge and he states he has three children but no mention of a wife.  Charlotte has probably died.   I know that Charlotte was the wife of Isham because I found an two important pieces of information.  In the 1865 Labor Contract, Charlotte is listed and grandchildren Keziah,Wade and Charlotte are also listed. Eli had a child named Keziah.   Eli Brumfield died in June 2, 1933 in Pike County, Mississippi and his parents are listed as Isom Brumfield and Charlotte Brumfield on the death certificate.

----The Tree Gardener

Climbing The Brick Wall

 Freedmen

In black African American genealogy,  family history prior to 1870 is  hard to find. The lack of family surnames and documentation has been called one of the brick walls.    

Just before the end of the Civil War in 1865,  the Freedmen ’s Bureau (Bureau of Refugees, Freedmen, and Abandoned Lands) was established to aid former slaves and whites in needed assistance for survival.  Attempts were made to provide food, clothing, educate, reunite families, legalize marriages, provide employment, and aid the black military.  This was an ambitious undertaking to provide all these services.  A paper trail however was established which lead the road to finding some of my ancestors.

In the search, I looked for the former slaves with the Brumfield surname in Washington Parish Louisiana, and Pike County Mississippi in Freedman Bureau records. There is voluminous amount of information to review.    I realize that my ancestors may have come from other areas and possibly different surnames.  The homestead records however lead me to believe that these geographic areas must have been considered home.  Home is defined as a place where a person has knowledge, history, and familiarity.  

During my investigation, I looked for names of ancestors in locations where they may have lived.   I looked at Freedman labor contracts.  Labor contracts were established to assist in the employment of former slaves now Freemen.  Terms of employment were established.  In the contract, the name of the former slave was given sometimes with a surname along with the name of the planter.  

 In records of the Bureau of Refugees   Freedmen and Abandoned Lands, Louisiana 1865-1872 I found the following:

 

Charlotte 48(infirm), Harriet 28(good hand), Margaret 16(daughter), Sarah 23, Mary 8 (child of Sarah) Ophelia 4, Sam 2 Grandchildren of Charlotte; Wade 10, Charlotte 8, Keziah 4 signed September 18, 1865 with Wily G. Collins

 

      These are my people!  Charlotte was married to Isham Brumfield and Harriet was married to Gale Brumfield.   Sarah was married to Eli Brumfield (son of Isham).   I have been able locate their  one of their children Keziah granddaughter of Charlotte.

                                                                              -------- The Tree Gardener

Brumfield Settlement Part 3

Isham Brumfield

Irvin and Robert Brumfield homesteaded 80 and 160 acres respectively in Pike County Mississippi. My mother Irvin Brumfield’s granddaughter stated that Isham or possibly Isom Brumfield was Irvin’s father.  I have yet been unable to verify this information. Subsequent research suggests that this information is incorrect.  Isham Brumfield (Broomfield/ Bromfield) however homestead 160.26 acres of land in Walkers Bridge, Pike County, Mississippi beginning in December 1870. At the time of his homestead, his family consisted of 3 children.  The 1870 Federal Pike County census lists Isham Brumfield as 49 years old with 3 children Eli 14, Henrietta 18, and Hester 10.  His initial application was filed on March 6, 1873. 

  He almost missed the opportunity to own the land because of a missed proof filing date. He missed the filling date after five weekly notices dated from March 12^th to April 9 1880 in the newspaper Magnolia Gazette.   He requested that his homestead application be reinstated which was canceled on January 14, 1881.   The reason for the missed filing in the request for reinstatement was secondary to “severe disease of both of his eyes from which he became totally blind.” and ignorance of the law.  In the testimony of the claimant dated October 21, 1881, he stated he was 63 years old with three children.  He had a dwelling house, and stables valued at $200.00 and cultivated 20 acres, and raised 5 crops. His witnesses Solomon Singleton and Jacob Ellzey also verified his homestead from December, 1870 to October 12, 1881.    Isham Brumfield displayed fortitude of character because with sightlessness his homestead was reinstated and he received title to the land on December 13, 1884.