Tombstone Tuesday Essie Brumfield McEwen and Edna McEwen

 Essie Brumfield McEwen and Edna McEwen

Essie Brumfield McEwen and her daughter Edna McEwen have family roots for generations in Pike County, Mississippi. They tragically lost their lives in a motor vehicle accident on June 6, 1971. 

The Greenwood Commonwealth Newspaper Greenwood, Mississippi o7 June 1971 page 12

 They are at rest in the Pink Hill Church Cemetery located at 1154 Jewel Drive McComb, Mississippi 39648 which is located across the street from the Pink Hill Church located. 

Precious are our memories ...

----The Tree Gardener

Silas Caston Part 2

 Silas Caston is the son of Liddie Brumfield Caston and Calvin Caston. On July 19, 1912, Calvin Caston died in Pike County, Mississippi.   Calvin was a member of the Masonic Benefit Association.  As a member of this association, he purchase a policy with a graduated payout with a maximum face value of $700.00 he bequeathed 1/3 to his wife Lydia (Liddie) Caston and 2/3 to his son Silas Caston. In his will, Silas was named executor and guardian without bond for Liddie.  Liddie died July 5, 1916.

Silas Caston had an identified second family with Francis Moses Lane and their children in Pike County, Mississippi. From this union Myrtis on May 3, 1903, Eugene Edward 1910 and Rovelia on June 14, 1911 were born. Frances Moses was married to Harry Lane on February 10, 1889.

"United States Census, 1910," database with images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:MPDN-263 : accessed 22 August 2022), Francis Lane, Beat 1, Pike, Mississippi, United States; citing enumeration district (ED) ED 95, sheet 14A, family 236, NARA microfilm publication T624 (Washington D.C.: National Archives and Records Administration, 1982), roll 756; FHL microfilm 1,374,769

On the 1910 census, Francis Lane was enumerated as a widow with children.  Her family was the next household enumerated in the census after Silas Caston's family, 

Name                Relationship            Sex         Age

Lane, Francis         Head                            F              38

           Alpha         daughter                        F               14

           Julie Ann  daughter                        F               12

           Robert            son                             M              10 

            Myrtis       daughter                        F                 6

           Edward           son                            M                3

The birthdate of Myrtis on her Social Security Death Index does not correspond to the birthdate on her obituary and headstone which is May 3, 1907.   Edward (Eugene Edward) 's 1907 date of birth does not correspond to the family reunion record and the 1910 census record. Rovelia on her Social Security Application and Claims Index identifies her parents as Harry Lane and Francis Mosses (Moses).

On Eugene Edward's marriage certificate to Rosa Mae Powell on April  5, 1940 to he identifies his parents as Silas Caston and Francis Caston.

Silas and his family continued to live in Pike County near Magnolia and Walker's Bridge Roads. The family was enumerated in the 1920 Federal census.

1920 U.S. census, Pike County, Mississippi, population scheduled, Leggett precinct Beat 1, supervisor district 7. enumeration district 100, sheet 20B, dwelling 245, family 382, Silas Caston Database with images Ancestry.com 

Name             Relationship        Sex         Age 

Caston, Silas         Head               M           56

              Ruth           wife                 F           52

              Rosa         daughter          F            23

              Dora         daughter          F            21

              Lidy           daughter         F            19

              Fannie's    daughter         F            17

              Golden      daughter         F            10

              Ernest           son               M             4

              Dorie's           son              M           15

Ernest Caston was a grandson. 

The 1930 Federal census is below  

1930 U.S. census, Pike County, Mississippi, population scheduled, Leggett precinct Beat 1, supervisor district 10, enumeration district 57-1, sheet 3B, dwelling 57, family 57, Silas Caston Database with images Ancestry.com

Name             Relationship        Sex         Age 

Caston, Silas                Head                            M               66

              Ruthie              wife                              F                63

               Dora             daughter                        F                29

              Littie              daughter                       F                 27

              Earnest         grandson                       M                14

               Jessie           granddaughter              F                  8

                 S.D.             grandson                       M               7/12

Ruth Williams Caston was enumerated on April 23, 1930 in the census and died in October.  Silas Caston died on January 23, 1938.

Silas Caston

 

Silas Caston is the son of Liddie Brumfield Caston and Calvin Caston.  Silas was enumerated in the 1870 and 1880   Pike County, Mississippi  Federal Census along with his parents and siblings.   From the 1900 Pike County, Mississippi census, Silas was born on June 1864.  The 1870  Pike County, Mississippi Federal  Census does not identify familial relations. Thomas's surname is enumerated as Caston on the census but his surname is actually Brumfield a son of Liddie.

"United States Census, 1870", database with images, FamilySearch (https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:MF3M-66G: 29 May 2021), Silas Caston, 1870.

Household members                       Age

Calvin Caston                                             38

Lydia Caston                                              43

Thomas Caston                                          17

Elvira Caston                                              15

Rosann Caston                                           14

Green Caston                                              10

Silas Caston                                                  7

Jesse Caston                                                 4

Adeline Caston                                             3

 In the 1878 school census record, the parents and familial relationships of the children are not identified. It is inferred from the record correlated with other documents that Silas Caston attended school with his siblings in Pike County.

"Mississippi Enumeration of Educable Children, 1850-1892; 1908-1957," database with images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:QK6W-DDPL: 2 March 2021), Caston in the entry for Silas Caston, 1878; citing School enrollment,, Pike, Mississippi, United States, Mississippi Department of Archives & History, Jackson.

       Names                 Sex                      Age
         Caston Green      male                          17

         Caston Silas           "                               14

         Caston Isham        "                               19

         Caston Jesse          "                               12

         Caston Adeline      female                     11 

Silas is enumerated with his parents and siblings in the 1880 Pike County, Mississippi Federal Census.

1880 U.S. Census Pike County, Mississippi ED 37, SD 3, page 34 Dwelling 282 Family 284 

Household member's                        Age            Relationship

Calvin Caston                                             47

Lydia Caston                                               50                   wife

Green Caston                                              19                     son

Silas Caston                                                 16                     son

Jesse Caston                               can not read                   son

Adeline Caston                                           13                  daughter

Monroe Caston                                            is 7                   son

Silas  24 years old married  Ruth Williams of Mississippi, on 18 Aug 1887 in Pike County, Mississippi (File #0042464 Book/Page B/300). She was the daughter of Sarah Ratliff and Joe Williams born in July 1865 in Mississippi. Silas worked as a farmer and continued to reside in Pike County and started a family.  Silas' children are recorded in the 1896 Pike County school census. Note Calvin his father and Green  Caston his brother's children are also on the school census.

"Mississippi Enumeration of Educable Children, 1850-1892; 1908-1957," database with images, Caston in the entry for Silas Caston, 1896; citing School enrollment,, Pike, Mississippi, United States, Mississippi Department of Archives & History, Jackson.

Parent/Guardian         Children                     Age              Male           Female

Calvin Caston                  Hollis                           6                 X

Silas Caston                     Fleet                             12               X

                                            Sara                              9                                         X

                                          Fred                               8                 X

Green Caston                 Angeline                        7                                         X

                                        Clarence                          6                 X 

 

   Silas and Ruth Caston were enumerated with their children in the 1900 Pike County Federal census. His occupation was a farmer and Ruth maintained the home and cared for the children. It is noted that it was recorded Silas could not read or write. In the census, Dora is 4 and Cora is 2 years old. The girls were actually twins. This information was obtained from Cora's granddaughter.

"United States Census, 1900," database with images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:M9XT-2H6: accessed 19 May 2022), Silas Caston, Beat 1 (part of), Pike, Mississippi, United States; citing enumeration district (ED) 105, sheet 9B, family 143, NARA microfilm publication T623 (Washington, D.C.: National Archives and Records Administration, 1972.); FHL microfilm 1,240,825.

 Household                    Date of birth           Age          Relationship     

Silas Caston                    Jan  1864                   36               Head

Ruth Caston                    July  1865                  34               Wife

Fleet Caston                    Feb 1884                    16               son

Sarah Caston                    Jan  1886                  14             daughter

Fred Caston                      Apr 1888                  12                son

Hester Caston                   Feb 1890                  10             daughter

Robert Caston                  Dec 1892                    8                son

Thomas Caston                Dec 1894                    6                son

Dora Caston                     Oct 1896                    4             daughter

Cora Caston                     Oct 1898                    2              daughter

Lyda Caston                     Sep 1899                  9/12           daughter

Silas and Ruth Caston were enumerated with their children in the 1910 Pike County Federal census.  Fred (Frederick) Caston was not enumerated with his parents because he was living with his aunt Mary Ann Allen Caston along with his wife Carrie and son Harry. In the census records,  Ruth (Ruthie) had 13 children but 11 were listed alive. It is reported by the family that Fleet and Robert died as children.

"United States Census, 1910", database with images, FamilySearch (https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:MNTZ-NK6: 2 February 2021), Silas Coston, 1910.

Name                             Age            Relationship 

 Silas Caston                                     46                       Head

Ruthie Caston                                  44                       Wife

Restillier Caston                             18                     daughter

 Rosa  Caston                                   17                     daughter                      

Tom Caston                                     15                          son

Dora Caston                                    12                     daughter

Cora Caston                                     12                     daughter

Lidie Caston                                   10                     daughter

Fannie Caston                                 7                      daughter

Jesse Caston                                   7                          son 

Noah Caston                                   6                          son

More information to come.

----- The Tree Gardener

Lydia (Liddie) Brumfield Caston

 

Lydia was an enslaved black woman born in December 1825 in Mississippi and died July 5, 1916, in Pike County Mississippi. Lydia had offspring from two men with Brumfield and Caston surnames.   Enslaved individuals were not allowed to marry. Some of her children were born before the Emancipation Proclamation in 1863 which freed the enslaved in southern states.  

  Her first consort Louis Brumfield was identified from the death certificate of her son Richard Brumfield born between 1841 and 1843.  Louis is thought to be an enslaved black man.  What ultimately happened to Louis is presently unknown at this time.

Mississippi Death Certificate of Richard Brumfield

Lydia Caston was identified as the mother of Thomas Brumfield on his death certificate. 

Mississippi Death Certificate of Tom Brumfield

Headstone of Irvin Brumfield in the Caston Cemetery

 Irvin Brumfield was born on August 13, 1844,  died on August 27,1900 and Frank Brumfield's death certificates have not been found. Identification of Frank Brumfield is pending.  Autosomal DNA analysis and genealogy research of descendants of Richard, Irvin, and Tom Brumfield have correlated a familial relationship.  The Brumfield children may have different fathers. DNA "Y" chromosome analysis of male descendants is pending. 

Her second husband Calvin "Cad" Caston has been identified through the census, vital records, and his will in previous blog posts. Lydia has been identified by her descendants as Liddie Brumfield Caston.

Henry Sims Brumfield born Feb 5, 1835- Dec 5, 1915, has been identified as the former slave owner of Richard Brumfield Liddle's son. Henry Sims Brumfield was the son of Jesse Kelly Brumfield who was born in York District, South Carolina Mar 12, 1807-July 25, 1884.  They moved to "Love Plantation" near the Bogue  Chitto River south of Holmesville which was previously settled by William Love in 1809. William Love 1758 or 1765 -1839 was born in South Carolina.  The plantation was passed down to Henry Sims. Jesse Kelly Brumfield in 1856 moved to the "Brumfield Plantation"  3 miles east of Liberty Amite County, Mississippi residing to his death.  In the 1860 Pike County, Mississippi slave census enumerated 62 enslaved individuals for Jesse Kelly and 12 individuals for Henry S Brumfield.    It can be inferred that Henry Sims or his father Jesse Kelly were the probable owners of Liddie, Louis, and Calvin. 

 Details concerning how Calvin and Liddie Caston become owners of 80 acres of land in Pike County and information about  Richard, Irving, Tom,  Frank Brumfield,  Elvira, and Rosann Caston have been given in prior blog posts. Liddie continued to maintain the family home with Calvin.   Calvin died July 19, 1912.   In his will, he appointed Silas Caston to be Lydia's guardian without bond.    Lydia continued to live on their land until her death on July 5, 1916, at 90 years old.

 After the death of Liddie, the homestead land still had her name on the deed. A notice for the sale of land for taxes for Pike county, Mississippi was published in the newspaper on the first Monday of July, 1931. The sale of land was to be on the Magnolia court house for cash for unpaid taxes. Property with Silas and Lydia Caston's names is listed for sale. 

Semi-Weekly Journal 

McComb, Mississippi

 13 Jun 1931, Sat  •  Page 8

Taxes were paid in 1931.  On the third Monday in September, 1935 property with Lydia Caston's name is listed for sale for outstanding unpaid taxes.  I have not researched land records to determine the present land ownership.  

Semi-Weekly Journal  

McComb, Mississippi

 05 Sep 1935, Thu  •  Page 6

----The Tree Gardener

Footnote

Charlotte J. Stewart, Brumfield Blossman Printing Inc. Ocean Springs, Mississippi pages  25, 32