Brumfield Genealogy and other Branches and Trees

Researching African American family history across the American South, with a focus on interconnected families documented through archival and genealogical research. Research on this site includes families with the surnames Bearden, Brumfield, Bullock, Caston, Conerly, Downs, Bridges, Edwards, Gatlin, Goff, Hill, McEwen, Power, Raybon, Leonard, Smith, Stacher, and Wynn, with research centered in Georgia, Mississippi, Illinois, South Carolina, Texas, Tennessee, and Louisiana.

Showing posts with label Pike County Mississippi. Show all posts

Wednesday, September 23, 2026

Sylvester Bearden

Dennis and Charles Bearden's occupation were documented in census records as farming from 1870 to 1900 in Pike County, Mississippi. Dennis' 1881 property assessment consisted of 4 cows value fifty dollars, 1 horse 70 dollars, and 1 carriage 30 dollars. Charles and his sons, Chalmers, Estes, and Jonas, worked later in the lumber industry, except for Sylvester. Sylvester Bearden (Silvestus Bearden) was born in January 1887, as recorded in the 1900 Federal Census.

Charles Bearden and his wife with his children and spouses

Sylvester attended school with his brothers in 1890 in Pike County.

Transcribed 1890 Pike County School Census

Parent or Guardian	Name of Children	Age	Male
Chas Bearden	Bearden Chalmers	10	/
	Sylvester	8	/
	Estes	6	/
	Jones	5	/

Transcribed 1890 Pike County School Census

Sylvester was enumerated in the 1900 Pike County Federal census with his parents and siblings.

Transcribed 1900 Pike County, Mississippi Federal Census

According to accounts passed down by family members, Sylvester Bearden had been working on the farm of George Walker and had been courting Walker’s daughter, Evie. Sylvester hoped to marry her and obtained a marriage license on February 10, 1910.

Family accounts state that Sylvester went to the Walker home to propose marriage to Evie. George Walker refused to consent to the marriage and ordered Sylvester to leave. An argument reportedly followed, ending in tragedy. Sylvester shot and killed George Walker and Evie. He was also reported to have shot another daughter and struck some of the children who were present with the butt of a shotgun.

The incident attracted considerable attention and was reported in newspapers around the country. Authorities attempting to locate Sylvester may have followed travel routes and questioned family members, friends and acquaintances. There was no national FBI fingerprint database at the time, and photographs were relatively expensive and uncommon among ordinary people living in rural communities. I have not found a photograph of Sylvester.

Sheriff Holmes of Pike County made efforts to apprehend Sylvester, but those efforts were unsuccessful. Sylvester Bearden disappeared and, as far as I have been able to determine, was never found.

I may never know exactly what happened in those final moments or what became of Sylvester after he disappeared. Some questions may never be answered. My genealogy research has been about recovering the stories of real people—their hopes, relationships, hardships, choices, and losses. Even when the past cannot be fully explained, it does not have to be forgotten.

---- The Tree Gardener

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Tuesday, October 15, 2024

Dennis Bearden Part 3

Dennis Bearden had two wives and children with each wife.

I have tried identifying Dennis Bearden's occupation from the federal census records. Information was enumerated on the 1900 and 1910 Federal Census for Dennis Bearden, didn't own but rented the land he lived on. He may have been a tenant farmer or sharecropper. After the Civil War, the government agency Bureau of Refugees, Freedmen and Abandon Lands (Freedman's Bureau) established in 1865 supervised many of the former enslaved to sign labor contracts. The former enslaved (Freedmen) became an employee of a landowner who agreed to work in exchange for pay, clothing and medical care. This was the precursor for the tenant farmer and sharecropper agriculture system,

Tenant farmers and sharecroppers both farmed the land owned by another person. A tenant farmer could contribute capital, own tools, and supplies, rent the land, and housing. The tenant farmer could sell the harvested crop and pay rent to the landlord. Sharecroppers didn't own or contribute anything except their labor. They had to pay rent for tools, supplies, housing, animals, and seeds. The landlord sold the sharecropper's harvested crop and applied it to the sharecropper's rental account. Tenant farmers and sharecroppers hoped to make enough money from a harvest to pay their debts and earn a profit. If the crop yield or prices were low they remained in debt. Unfortunately, this system historically created a cycle of poverty that was true for Caucasians and Black people. The 1900 in a previous blog post and the 1910 census identify who lived in Dennis' household.

The 1910 census

"United States Census, 1910", , FamilySearch (https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:MPDF-XY1 : Sat Mar 09 08:29:24 UTC 2024), Entry for Dennis Bearden and Dilsie Bearden, 1910.

Transcribed 1910 Pike County, Mississippi Federal census of Dennis Bearden and Dilsie Bearden.

Dennis and his wife Delsie (Dilsie, Delsy) could not read or write. On April 17, 1891, they signed a labor agreement making them sharecroppers. The document is located at the Pike County Courthouse in Magnolia, Mississippi. The title of the record is Conveyance Record Book 11, 1893-1895, page 159(Family Search microfilm #008634974).

The record as it appears below. Transcriptions and summary of portions of the record are given some words of the document could not be deciphered.

This deed of trust made this 17th day of April 1891. Witnesses that Dennis Bearden and Delsy Bearden, his wife of the first part are indebted to PL Barnes and the in the sum of $70 and forty-two cents. Having interest from said no date was given assign 17th. 1891. Where is said party of the first part from expect said PL Barnes to advance him money and sell supplies and merchandise during the year of 1891 and such finance as may be agreed upon at the time of delivery or-- at the usual and customary credit prices in the county of Pike and state of Mississippi, whereas said party of the first part has agreed to secure the payment of said indebtedness as also any further that may be advanced as for said….

The Party of the first part in consideration of the promises as well as for the for $10 to him paid by Jno Walker.

The following described property situated in Pike County, Mississippi___ Any and all crops of cotton, corn and other agricultural products to be planted and raised by them in my hands they may employ during the year of 1891 on land belonging to him now…. or any other land that they may rent and cultivate during said year.

In trust, however, that if said party of the first part should on or before the 1st day of January 1892 pay what may be due said PL Barns for money advancement and supplies and merchandise sold all costs incurred on account after said and all cost incurred on account of said deed of trust thru this deed of trust will be void as to the indebtedness, _____ at that time; but in default of said payments or any part thereof or subsequent indebtedness under this contract the trustee will take possession of same property without notice of any kind. And having given ten day notice of the place and time of the sale by posting written notices at____ public place as in said county, sell said property or a sufficiency of said things to make said payment for cash at public auction at PL Barnes store or any place he designates PL Barns and his legal representatives can at any time they may decide_____Trustee in place of Jno B Walker or any succeeding Trustee.

Dennis and Delsie signed up to work on a designated area of rented land. The land description given was in Pike County in the north half of the northwest quarter section 12, township number 4, range number 9 E 80 acres more or less. This land was owned by Jno (John) B Walker. They bought $70.42 of supplies and equipment from P L Barnes, a store owner, and received a loan of $10 from Jno B Walker. The sum of $70.42 is equivalent to $2,436.04 and $10.00 is worth $345.93 inflation calculated for 2024. Jno (John) B Walker was responsible for the collection of crops. If Dennis and his wife did not produce enough crops to pay their debts, the property they obtained could be removed without notice and sold. I don't know the amount of profit Dennis ever made for his labor. He was tied to the land as a sharecropper and, at best, a tenant farmer. Sharecropping was a different form of enslavement.

--- The Tree Gardener

Tuesday, November 15, 2022

Mary Johnson Enslaved part 4

Delia and Felix Stovall

Walter L. Campbell Sale of Mary Johnson to Delia E. Stovall of Pike County, Mississippi December 6, 1852

Transcribed Bill of Sale

Delia Stovall born in 1838 in North Carolina was married to Felix Crawford Stovall born in 1822 in Mississippi. This is information was obtained from the Federal census records. In the 1850 and 1860 Federal censuses, there were two population schedules those individuals who were free and the enslaved. Felix Stovall in the 1850 census is enumerated as a 28-year-old farmer with inferred parents Drury Stovall 79 and Lucy Stovall 69 years old.

"United States Census, 1850," database with images, <i>FamilySearch</i> (https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:M4LD-28V : 22 December 2020), Felix Stovall in household of Drury Stovall, Marion, Mississippi, United States; citing family , NARA microfilm publication (Washington, D.C.: National Archives and Records Administration, n.d.). 1850 Census Transcribed

Name	Age	Sex	Value of Real Estate Owned	Place of Birth
Drury Stovall	79	M	1500	N. C.
Lucy Stovall	69	F		Va.
Felix Stovall	28	M		Ms.

The enslaved record gave the name of the slave owner, the number of people owned, their age, sex and sometimes skin color. The names of the enslaved were rarely given. Felix Stovall was also the owner of four enslaved people enumerated in the 1850 slave census.

The National Archive in Washington DC; Washington, DC; NARA Microform Publication: M432; Title: Seventh Census Of The United States, 1850; Record Group: Records of the Bureau of the Census; Record Group Number: 29

Felix Stovall 1850 Slave Census Transcribed

Male	28
Male	9
Male	5
Female	24

Delia Stovall purchased Mary Johnson on December 6, 1852.

Felix Stovall received his first homestead land patent for 40 acres of land in Pike County, Mississippi on August 1, 1853. By 1859, Stovall held homestead land patents for over 300 acres of land. In the 1860 Federal census, Felix Stovall is identified as F C Stoval along with his family. The value of his real estate was $3000 and value of his personal estate $ 7,000 which in 2022 would be $107,715.18 and $251,355.42 respectively.

The National Archives in Washington D.C.; Record Group: Records of the Bureau of the Census; Record Group Number: 29; Series Number: M653; Residence Date: 1860; Home in 1860: Pike, Mississippi; Roll: M653_589; Page: 384; Family History Library Film: 803589

Felix Stovall 1860 Census Transcribed

Name	Age	Sex
F C Stoval	38	M
D E	27	F
G W	6	M
E S	5	F
N R	3	M

In the 1860 slave schedule, Felix Stovall as a slave owner enumerated seven enslaved people. Enslaved people were sometimes hired to work for other farmers. This was a source of income for the owner. The slave schedule may not identify a slave owner from an employer. A female age 25 which was possibly Mary Johnson is identified on the schedule. It is noted that there is one slave house.

"United States Census (Slave Schedule), 1860", database with images, <i>FamilySearch</i> (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:WKLR-KRZM : 16 October 2019), Felix C Stovall, 1860

Felix Stovall 1860 Slave Census Transcribed

Gender Age

Female	25
Male	18
Male	15
Female	5
Female	4
Female	3
Female	1

The timeline that followed during the enslavement of Mary Johnson.

April 12, 1861 Civil War started with the Confederate Troops firing on Fort Sumter, South Carolina.
April 16, 1862 Abraham Lincoln abolished slavery in Washington D.C.
January 1, 1863 Abraham Lincoln abolished slavery in states that seceded from the United States with the Emancipation Proclamation.
April 9, 1865 Civil War ended R. E. Lee surrendered at Appomattox Court House to U. S. Grant.
December 13, 1865 The 13^th Amendment was ratified by 27 of the 36 states by the Constitution of the United States. It abolished slavery and involuntary servitude.

Mary Johnson at approximately 31 years old was no longer a slave.

More information to come.

--- The Tree Gardener

Tuesday, October 25, 2022

Mary Johnson Enslaved Part 1

The port city of New Orleans, Louisiana was a vibrant slave destination since the early 1700s. Slavery in Louisiana was first established by the French, followed by the Spanish and English. The development of the Cotton Gin in 1793 and the Louisiana Purchase by the United States in 1803 stimulated the agricultural slave economy. The distance between Pike County, Mississippi to the city of New Orleans is slightly over a hundred miles. Because of the close geographic proximity, my assumption was most of my enslaved ancestors from Africa arrived in New Orleans and then were transported to Mississippi. The assumption may only be partially true.

The Act of Prohibiting Importation of Slaves a United States federal law and Abolition of The Slave Trade Act passed by the British Parliament banned the import of slaves in the British Empire in 1807. This stimulated the domestic slave trade. The enslaved were also illegally imported into the United States from geographic areas that were not part of the United States after 1807.

The ship Amistad is a famous example of the illegal slave trade. The Portuguese ship Amistad in 1839 which held 53 African enslaved people initial route was Havana, Cuba. The Africans seized the ship and killed the captain and cook and tried to return to Africa. The ship was seized in New York and all on board were taken to Connecticut. The plantation owners were freed and the Africans were charged with murder. The murder charges were later dismissed. The plantation owners, the Spanish government and the captain of the ship Washington claimed the African people as property. The case was eventually adjudicated by the United States Supreme Court in 1841 with the Africans represented by former President John Q. Adams. The Supreme Court decided in favor of the Africans and they were released. Thirty-four Africans survived and with the financial help of abolitionists, they returned to Africa.

It is from this historical background, that I have continued to look for my enslaved ancestors from the early transport before 1807 and the domestic slave trade. From the domestic slave trade, I have received from a cousin the documentation of the enslavement of Mary Johnson.

Walter L. Campbell Sale of Mary Johnson to Delia E. Stovall of Pike County, Mississippi December 6, 1852

Transcribed Bill of Sale

Walter L. Campbell a well-established slave trader in New Orleans, Louisiana sold Mary Johnson age estimated 18 years old on December 6,1852 to Delia E. Stovall of Pike County, Mississippi for $925.00 the equivalent of $35,655.51 in 2022.

More information to come.

---The Tree Gardener

Tuesday, September 20, 2022

Tombstone Tuesday Charlie Barnes and Bertha Brumfield Barnes

Charlie Barnes and Bertha Brumfield Barnes

Charlie Barnes born on October 24, 1901 the child of Jerry and Jane Anders (Andrews) Barnes whose roots extend three generations in Mississippi. An extensive genealogy of the Barnes Family of Pike County, Mississippi by Rosie M. Polk is available Genealogy.com.

https://www.genealogy.com/ftm/p/o/l/Rosie-M-Polk/GENE4-0007.html

Bertha Brumfield was born December 10, 1905. The family history of Bertha Brumfield's parents Willis C. Brumfield and Nethia Gatlin has been posted in prior blogs. Bertha Brumfield was the sibling of Eddie Brumfield Sr., Ethel Brumfield Nichols, Bessie Brumfield McEwen, Gussie Brumfield, Wilcous Brumfield, Milton Brumfield, Thad Brumfield, Herman Brumfield, Agusta Brumfield and Essie Brumfield McEwen.

Charlie Barnes and Bertha Brumfield were married in Pike County on January 23, 1926. Charlie and Bertha were farmers raised their children and remained in Pike County their entire lives.