Dennis Bearden Part 2

 Dennis Bearden lived with his family in Pike County, Mississippi, after 1880. His wife, Charity, who appeared with him in the 1880 census, seems to have passed away sometime after that year. Mississippi did not record death certificates until 1912. The exact date of her demise is unknown. He married Delsie (Dilsie, Duclie) Holmes on January 25, 1883.

Dennis Bearden marriage certificate January 25, 1883
Pike County, Mississippi File # 0041663 Book "A" page 131

The Mississippi Enumeration of Educable Children Data Base 1850-1892 and 1908-1957 has been instrumental in identifying families between the years of the United States federal census. The data in the records designate the sex, age and race of the children. In 1885 Dennis and Dilsie Bearden's children are enumerated in the Pike County school census.

"Mississippi Enumeration of Educable Children, 1850-1892; 1908-1957", , FamilySearch (https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:QK6W-546H : Sat Mar 09 17:56:38 UTC 2024), Entry for Dewitt and Dennis Beardon, 1885.

Transcribed 1885 Pike County, Mississippi School census of  Dennis Bearden and Dilsie Bearden.

Dennis Bearden and his family were enumerated in the 1900 Federal census.

"United States Census, 1900", , FamilySearch (https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:M9XT-J3W : Thu Apr 11 20:23:20 UTC 2024), Entry for Dennis Bearden and Dulcia Bearden, 1900.

Transcribed 1900 Pike County, Mississippi Federal census of Dennis Bearden and Dilsie Bearden.

 

Dennis and Delsie were married for 17 years, not 40. According to the 1900 census record, Delsie was the mother of nine children and six are living.  Six children have been identified from records, and three are unknown or erroneously recorded. Dennis was the father of twelve children with his wife Charity and six children with his wife Delsie. Josephus and Joseph S. Bearden are probably the same individual. I have found a marriage record for Josephus Bearden to Annie Lee Brister

 28 Apr 1912 Pike County, Mississippi File 0038084 Book "Q" page 275

According to the Mississippi Death Certificate Index, Josephus Bearden died in 1922 in Pike County. The exact date is unlisted and race is listed as other. I have not found any information for a black man named Joseph S. Bearden in Mississippi who might have been a child of Dennis and Delsie.

More information to come.

The Tree Gardener

Dennis Bearden Part 1

 Dennis Bearden a Black man was born in 1840 in Mississippi or Tennessee according to the Lincoln and Pike County Mississippi federal census of  1870 and 1880 respectively. His father was born in Tennessee, and his mother’s birthplace is unknown. Because of the time and location, it is thought to be enslaved. He was a farm laborer enumerated with his presumptive wife and children in the 1870 Lincoln County, Mississippi Federal Census. 

"United States Census, 1870", FamilySearch (https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:MFSX-TKD : Tue Mar 05 09:46:15 UTC 2024), Entry for Dennis Bearden and Charity Bearden, 1870.

Transcribed 1870 Pike County, Mississippi Federal Census

In the 1878 Pike County school census the parents and familial relationships are not identified. From the record eight of Dennis and Charity's children Nelson 19, Emma 13, Charles 12, Lizzie 12, John 11, Jim 8, Dewitt 6 and Willie 2.

"Mississippi Enumeration of Educable Children, 1850-1892; 1908-1957," database with images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:939F-PV9H-VN?cc=1856425&wc=M6NC-9NT%3A167436801%2C167437302 : 18 September 2015), Pike > 1878 > image 146 of 200; Government Records, Jackson.

I have not been able to find Emma Bearden in other records.

In 1880 Pike County, Mississippi Dennis is enumerated with his identified family. The quality of the census record is poor.

"United States Census, 1880", , FamilySearch (https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:M4G1-5BS : Sat Mar 09 22:47:26 UTC 2024), Entry for Dennis Bearden and Charity L. Bearden, 1880.

         Transcribed 1880 Pike County, Mississippi Federal Census

Dennis Bearden paid personal property tax in the Carter Creek election precinct in 1881.  Transcription summarized (poor quality) at that time he owned property valued at 4 cattle at $50, 1 horse at $70, and  1 carriage at $30  for a total of $150 ($3,718.06 in 2024). I have not found any records in which Dennis homesteaded land or land deeds at this time 

More information to come.

Updated September 24, 2024

---- The TreeGardener

Marriage Monday

The enslaved in the United States experienced multiple separations of family and friends.  The isolation from familiar people was a tool used to control the behavior by the slave owner.  The emotional connection between a man and a woman was tenuous at best while enslaved.   Informal marriage ceremonies “jumping the broom” were occasionally allowed by slave owners.   Many family relationships were never re-established after the Civil War.  Legal marriage between the former enslaved was not recognized until after the Civil War in 1865. Research has begun to find early marriage certificates.

Eugene McEwen was born on July 6, 1885 in Mississippi. He was a farmer, was called to the ministry, and became a pastor at Pink Hill Church in McComb, Pike County Mississippi. Ellen Conerly was born on November 1887. They were both born in established families in the county.

They were married on September 23, 1906 in Pike County.

"Mississippi Marriages, 1800-1911", database, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:HQFV-RQMM : 25 March 2020), Eugene McEwen, 1906.

Eugene and Ellen were important contributors to their community.

----The Tree Gardener

MEMORIAL DAY 2024

 For many, Memorial Day is considered the first day of summer to celebrate with family gatherings, shopping, cookouts, and vacations. It is however a solemn day. Let us now hold each other close, forgetting grudges and disappointments within our family. 

 Memorial Day was established as a United States federal holiday to honor those who made the ultimate sacrifice and died while serving in the military.  "The   National Moment of Remembrance," asks all citizens to have one minute of silence at 3 PM local time in tribute to those who died in the military.  Taps Across America will be played at that time.

This day is also a day I have chosen to acknowledge and remember all non-military family members who have died.  I would like to recognize family members who have died from all causes from Memorial Day 2023 to the present. We will remember the smiling faces, and life lessons learned, and celebrate their lives.

GOD bless those who have gone before us.

----The Tree Gardener