Gale (Gayle) Brumfield Part 3

 

Gale Brumfield established a homestead in Washington Parish, Louisiana filed December 10, 1869 and finalized June 13, 1876. He continued to work as a farmer on the homestead which can be verified at least to October 23, 1879.  Gale Brumfield and Ned Brock served as witnesses for the homestead of Sampson Dyson in Washington, Parish, Louisiana. 

St. Tammany Farmer
Covington, Louisiana
01 Nov 1879, Sat  •  Page 3

In March 22, 1883 in the Magnolia Gazette in a Petition For Retail License Gale Brumfield name is listed along with other residents of Pike County, Mississippi. It is not clear why he left his homestead and moved to Pike County. Gale and his children listed in the Pike County, Mississippi 1885 school census. Image of the school census seen in prior blog. 

 Gale is  later found in the 1900 Federal Census for Yazoo County, Mississippi. Enumeration of his family at the bottom of the page.

Year: 1900; Census Place: Green Hill, Yazoo, Mississippi; Page: 6; Enumeration District: 0123; FHL microfilm: 1240835

 Household Member               Age           Relationship

Gale Brumfield	80	Head
Harriet Brumfield	64	Wife
Joseph Brumfield	20	Son
Jennett Jones	34	Daughter

I have been unable to locate a death certificate for Gale or Harriet Brumfield.  From the Social Security information for their child Joseph (Broomfield) Brumfield, Harriet's maiden name is Sanderson. I have obtained a death certificate of  Grant Brumfield their son and his mother's surname is Washington the informant was Oscar Brumfield  both older brothers of Joseph.

  From research, several of his children continued to reside in Washington Parish, Louisiana as adults. I have not been able to establish a family connection of Liddie Brumfield Caston or Calvin Caston.  From the 1885 Pike County school census , it is clear that Gale Brumfield knew Liddie's children.   Descendants of  Gale Brumfield married into the family descendants of Ned Brock, Washington Jackson and Van Causey.

---- The Tree Gardener
  

Gale (Gayle) Brumfield part 2

Gale Brumfield Homestead 

Gale Brumfield was a farmer in Washington Parish, Louisiana.   He obtained his land through the homestead application  #1153 which was initially filed in December 10, 1869. 

According to the 1870 census , Gale Brumfield would have been 44 years old at the time of his application.  In the Final Proof document of the homestead application, he had a wife and eight children and cultivated 40 acres with the improvements of a corn crib, smoke house and stable.

 March 14, 1876  almost 7 years after the initial application  he later satisfied the necessary requirements for the homestead. Gale Brumfield was able to receive final approval June 13, 1876 of 153 acres of land in Washington Parish, Louisiana. 

Gale Brumfield continued to work his homestead. He is enumerated in the 1880 Federal Agriculture census for Washington Parish, Louisiana. His name is the second name listed.

----- The Tree Gardener

Gail (Gayle) Brumfield

 

I  first identified Gale Brumfield with his children  in the 1885 Pike County, School census. He is listed with  Edmund Downs, Frank Brumfield, Eli Brumfield, Robert Brumfield, Irvine (Irvin) Brumfield, Tom Brumfield and Calvin Caston. It is from this school record I am convinced he knew these men and their families. I decided to search for more information about Gale Brumfield.  

I was able to locate Gail (Gayle) Brumfield in the 1870 Federal Census in  Washington Parish, Louisiana. It is important to note that everyone was born in Mississippi except William 2 years old born in Louisiana. It is inferred that  Theonise Brumfield is his wife. She however was not his wife from other information to follow. The children's names which are enumerated with Gayle Brumfield correspond to the names in the 1885 Pike County, Mississippi school census. 

Year: 1870; Census Place: Ward 2, Washington, Louisiana; Roll: M593_535; Page: 224A; Family History Library Film: 552034

Household Members	Age
Gayle Brumfield	45
Theonise Brumfield	28
George Brumfield	14
Louisa Brumfield	12
Sylvia Brumfield	10
Rosellia Brumfield	8
Martha Brumfield	6
Jeannette Brumfield	4
William Brumfield	2

Gale Brumfield is enumerated in the 1880 Federal census in Edward Dykes, Washington Parish, Louisiana. In this census record his wife is identified as Harriet. Also, Willie 10 and Sylvia 21 are identified as Gale Brumfield's nephew and niece. Theonise Brumfield who is no longer enumerated was possibly Gale Brumfield's sister.

Source Citation Year: 1880; Census Place: Edward Dykes, Washington, Louisiana; Roll: 473; Page: 167D; Enumeration District: 194

Household Members	Age	Relationship
Gale Brumfield	60	Self (Head)
Harriet Brumfield	48	Wife
George W. Brumfield	25	Son
Sylvia Brumfield	21	Daughter
Rosellia Brumfield	19	Daughter
Martha A. Brumfield	17	Daughter
Jennetta Brumfield	14	Daughter
Grant Brumfield	11	Son
Wesley Brumfield	9	Son
Oliver Brumfield	7	Son
Oscar Brumfield	5	Son
Joseph Brumfield	1	Son
Willie Brumfield	15	Nephew
Sylvia Brumfield	21	Niece

From labor contracts from Washington Parish, Louisiana (seen in previous blog), I was able to identify the wife Sarah (Sally) and two children Keziah (Kizzie) and Charlotte (Lottie) of Eli Brumfield. Eli Brumfield was enumerated with them in the Federal Census of Pike County, Mississippi.  Gale Brumfield’s wife Harriet was identified in the labor contract and the 1880 Federal census for Washington Parish, Louisiana.  I do not know at this time if Gale and Harriet Brumfield are related to Eli, Isham, or Charlotte. Their lives and children however are intertwined with each other.    

----- The Tree Gardener

Washington Parish, Louisiana Labor Contracts

From caucasian Brumfield genealogy, it is known that Brumfield families travelled from the Carolinas and established homes in Pike County, Mississippi as well as Washington Parish, Louisiana  which was formed from a portion of St Tammany Parish in 1819. 

Following the American Civil War, the Bureau of Refugees, Freedmen, and Abandoned Lands also known as the Freedman's Bureau was created in 1865. The former enslaved people without money and  few personal possessions  signed labor agreements.  Labor contracts were established with former enslaved people in order to provide food, clothing and housing.   In a prior post "Climbing the Brick Wall",  records of the Bureau of Refugees   Freedmen and Abandoned Lands, Louisiana 1865-1872 I found the following the following labor contract. The people in this labor contract in agreement with Wiley G. Collins was signed in Washington Parish, Louisiana in September 18, 1865 .  Wiley G. Collins signed other labor contracts.  Some of the individuals listed  are relatives of Eli Brumfield from the census and records presented in previous blog posts.  The labor contract does not mention the surname Brumfield. There are two records of the labor contract agreement. The first is the actual contract which was on a previous blog post. It is listed again because of additional information. 

 

Charlotte 48 years old (infirm) was the probable wife of Isham Brumfield. Charlotte's grandchildren are identified as Keziah (Kizzie) 4, Charlotte (Lottie) 8 and Wade 10 years old.  She is not enumerated in the 1870 census with Isham Brumfield and children because being infirm or sick probably died. 

 Sarah (Sally) 23 years old is named on the labor contract. Sarah (Sally) has been identified as the wife of Eli Brumfield. Sally and Eli had two daughters Charlotte (Lottie) 8 and Keziah (Kizzie) 4 which are enumerated in federal census records  as their children and are the grandchildren of Charlotte from this labor contact.  Harriet 28 years old was the probable wife of Gale(Gayle) Brumfield. I have not given information concerning Gale Brumfield's family at this time but will be featured in future blogs. The most valuable piece of information is the notation at the bottom of the page "the whole of the above are one family". There are major discrepancies in the documentation information  with other records correlated with these families. The ages of the individuals doesn't correspond with subsequent information in later federal census enumerations and school records.  There is also a book ledger Records of the field offices of the state of Louisiana,  Bureau of Refugees, Freedmen, and Abandoned Lands,  1863-1872. 

In the ledger, there are additional pieces of information not present on the labor contract. There are individuals who might be related to a black Brumfield families namely Hester 25, Thomas 25 and Irvin 14. There are children described as orphans Mary 8, Ophelia 4 and Sam 2.  Specific information about Minerva Arg?? 30 portion of  corn agreement with husband $3 pr month to stay as before rations + clothes + came on place Aug 15 having been away for 2 years.
There are other also people I have not identified them with the Brumfield surname. I have included other labor contracts that are associated with names entered in the ledger.  More to come.

-----The Tree Gardener

FOOTNOTES

1 "Louisiana Freedmen's Bureau Field Office Records, 1865-1872," images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:3QS7-99G2-6SXW?cc=2333781&wc=STRY-SPF%3A1458447902%2C1444396285 : 20 January 2015), Amite City (assistant superintendent and assistant sub assistant commissioner) > Roll 58, Register of contracts, Jun 1865-Oct 1866 > image 4 of 44; citing NARA microfilm publications M1905 and M1483 (Washington, D.C.: National Archives and Records Administration, n.d.).

2 "Louisiana Freedmen's Bureau Field Office Records, 1865-1872," images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:3QS7-99G2-6SXW?cc=2333781&wc=STRY-SPF%3A1458447902%2C1444396285 : 20 January 2015), Amite City (assistant superintendent and assistant sub assistant commissioner) > Roll 58, Register of contracts, Jun 1865-Oct 1866 > image 4 of 44; citing NARA microfilm publications M1905 and M1483 (Washington, D.C.: National Archives and Records Administration, n.d.).

Jack Gatlin Homesteader Part 4

Robert Brumfield Testimony

In the process of a homestead application, it was necessary to have at least two people to testify that the applicant had lived on the land.  Robert Brumfield was the second witness to verify that Jack Gatlin was a homesteader.  Jerry Conerly was the other witness. At the time of Robert Brumfield's testimony, he was a 51 year old farmer. His birth year would have been 1836. 

There were a series of testimony questions.  In question 3 Are you related to the claimant or in any way interested in the claim, or are you connected with him in business of any kind?   "I am not--- no way interested or connected with him. I am only a neighbor of his." 

 In questions 4 through 8,  Robert explains that he lives about a half mile away from Jack and he has lived on his property for 16 years which would have been in 1871. Two other neighbors are Tom Magee and Gail Brumfield live  further away.  He lives nearer to him than any one else. Robert can not give a description of the land. He has known Jack Gatlin for 17 years.

Robert Brumfield's testimony agrees with that of Jerry Conerly. Jack Gatlin a farmer, has lived with his family on his land  since March, 1879. He has seen him working on the land.  "Saw him many times, too many to remember and every time I passed,  I saw him at work ... I saw him building his house there. He has lived there seven years and lives there now." 

 His description of improvements made on the homestead correspond to that given by Jerry Conerly. In question 23, Robert states "I think the land is worth $300.00 and has never offered for sale that I know of." The value of three hundred dollars in 2017 is $7468.05.  Robert Brumfield states in questions 26 through 28  Jack has planted crops for the season and "I think he intends to remain on the land after making final proof. 

Jack provided witnesses concerning his homestead yet almost failed to receive his homestead. More information to come.

----The Tree Gardener

Jack Gatlin Homesteader Part 3

Jerry Conerly Testimony

In the process of a homestead application, it was necessary to have at least two people to testify that the applicant had lived on the land.  Jerry Conerly was one of the witnesses to verify that Jack Gatlin was a homesteader.  At the time of his testimony, he was a 50 year old farmer. His birth year would have been 1837. He states that Jack Gatlin was his son-in-law.   Jerry Conerly lived on his land for 12 years and Jack lived about a mile away. Tom Magee and Gail Brumfield are Jack Gatlin’s neighbors who live about a half a mile away. 

Jerry states that he has known Jack for about 18 years living in various places in Pike County.  Jack Gatlin was 34 years old in 1887 at the time of his testimony therefore Jerry Conerly knew him since he was 16 years old. 

Jerry Conerly states that Jack is a self-employed farmer with no boarding place on the land.  He describes the homestead as pine land, timber and farming.  The timber on the land has been used only for fencing and farming purposes. Jerry states that he has “been on the land a number of times too many to remember.” 

 In Question # 21 State in detail the character of the improvements; what they consist of, and when they were made; the value of each distinct improvement, fully describing the same; also weather they were made by the claimant or by some other person.

Jerry’s testimony gives a detailed description of Jack’s family house. The ”Dwelling house , a boxed house of one room with a gallery, with 3 doors and 2 windows, a dirt chimney, a kitchen”   On the homestead, there also was a “ log house with one door dirt chimney, a smoke house built with logs; a chicken house made of logs and split pickets; log corn crib with double slabs and a loft overhead; 3 log cotton houses; they were built at different times during the seven years by the claimant, but do not know when each house was built.  He has fences and cleared lands. They are valued as follows: Dwelling house worth about $35 ($871.21 in 2017), kitchen worth about 10 dollars ($248.94 in 2017), smoke house $10 ($248.94 in 2017), chicken house $5 ($124.97 in 2017), corn crib, stables worth about $30($746.81 in 2017) , cotton house about $30 ($746.81 in 2017)."    

In Question #23 and 24  inquires about the estimated value of the land and how long the claimant has lived on the land. Jack Gatlin and his family have occupied the land since March, 1879. “The land is worth $300 and never been offered for sale that I (Jerry) know of.”

Jerry states he believes that the family resides on the land and “by seeing him there and at work, and seeing his family there I know he has been living there.

Jerry Conerly signs his testimony with an X.

----The Tree Gardener

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.