Warner Harrell Migrated Up North

Warner Harrell
Photo Courtesy: Montreal Harrell 

Warner Willie  Harrell was born to Alexander and Emma Mead Harrell.  He was born in 1892 in Amite,  Louisiana. His WWI Draft Registration Card documented that he was self-employed as a farmer. He was married to Velma Warford in Amite, Louisiana. He and Velma had two sons; Willie and Dan Harrell. His siblings were; Authur, Ella, Shelton, Henry, Alex, Edgar, Virginia, Jasper, Bertha, and Palmer Harrell. His brother Henry moved to Milwaukee and died there. 

Warmer died in 1949  at the age of fifty- six years old in Milwaukee County Asylum from advanced Pulmonary Tuberculosis and is buried in Glen Oaks Cemetery in Milwaukee.  On his death certificate his brother Henry was the informant. 

When he left and went up North, he never returned  to Louisiana to live and rarely visit the Deep South. His offsprings knew very little about their family in the south. I found them on facebook and start inviting them to our Harrell family page. 

Years ago, my Uncle Raymond took me to Milwaukee to meet cousin Dan Harrell and his wife. Cousin Willie had just passed away when I went to visit. I was delighted to meet the family. We sat and talked with them and looked at pictures and took pictures.  The family down south knows very little about Uncle Warner.  Uncle Raymond told me that the woman in the picture is his sister Bertha Harrell Hooper. 

On his Draft Registration Card, they listed him as African. The 1910 United State Federal Census listed him as Mulatto.  Uncle Warner 

Source: Findagrave

Mary E. Cain and Matilda Tillery Owned Six Enslaved in St. Helena Parish

Mary E Cain and Matilda Tillery, 1847  File C-1

Nov. 25, 1847-Abrah Womack Jr. appointed adm. of succession with Abram Womack Sr., security.
Nov. 6. 1847-Inv. of the property held in Community between Matilda Tillery decd and her surviving husband Abram Womack JR., and the succession property of Mary E. Cain decd. Sarah Ann  Cain, a sister is the wife of William K. Davis. Abram Womack Jr. is the tutor of the minors. Six slaves appraised at $2475.00.

Sources: Succession Records of St. Helena Parish, Louisiana 1804-1854
Abstracted by : Clyde Purser Young

Capt. Richard Ward Owned Two Enslaved People; St. Helena Parish

Capt. Richards Ward, 1823  Files W-7

May 3, 1823. Thomas J. Davidson petitions for administration. Capt. Richard Ward has recently died, leaving a wife and some children; by they have not come forward to the administrator. 

May 26, 1823. Inventory, Zelotus Tucker and Luther Bradley were appraisers. One plantation on Bayou Barbary-640 aces, horned castles, horses, plows, wheel barrow, grindstones, carpenter tools, bart lead, mill stones, 3 fathoms of cordage, medicine chest, 1 bucketful of articles, one basket of studies, 2 slaves.

July 23, 1823. Bond was given to Thomas J. Davidson, curator. Sale of personal property.

Source: Succession Records of St. Helena Parish, Louisiana 1804-1854
Abstracted by: Clyde Purser Young

William Harris of St. Helena Parish, Louisiana

William Harris, File H-6

Jan. 13, 1832 - Pet. of Jacob Smith curator and bono of William Harris.  Sd. minor is in possession of considerable property, wants sale.
Jan. 13. 1835-Micajah Harris has been appointed curator ad bono of his brother Wiliam Harris.
Mar. 3, 1832-William Harris is minor of James and Elizabeth Harris decd. Family meeting decided to sell slaves.


Source: Succession Records of St. Helena Parish, Louisiana 1804-1854
Abstracted by: Clyde Purser Young

Timothy Crier of St. Helena Parish, Louisiana

Timothy Crier, 1810 File C-5

Aug,, 7, 1810 William Cryer represent that his brother Timothy Crier died intestate, leaving plantation, slaves, etc., and no relations except his father Thomas Cryer and brothers, petitioner and Morgan Cryer. Inventory shows 1 slave and personal property.

Kids Learning How to Read Microfilms

Genealogy Research with Grandmother

The kids are out of school for the holiday break for one week. I decided to take them to the Louisiana State Archives with me to conduct genealogy research on their family history. They were so eager to learn how to work the microfilm machine. They were more excited to find a death certificate for their ancestors.

Jo'elle used the database of the Vital Records to find the names, volume, page, and certificate number of several of her ancestors. Soon the boys wanted to learn how to research as well. I was so proud of them for getting involved with research.

They learned that one of their paternal 3rd great aunts died from a horse kicking her. The death certificate stated that there wasn't a doctor available. They couldn't wrap their heads around that. Genealogy is a great way to get children interested in local and national history. It's also a great tool to teach them about the history of the parish and state they live in. I enjoy making genealogy field trips with them. Sometimes we pack our lunch and take to the road to on a new adventure of ancestor hunting. 

Several years ago, I published a coloring activity book entitled " A Genealogy Field Trip With Grandmother" the children are the characters in the book, they are exploring the parish, museums, archives, and treasuring hunting in their homes for pictures, heirlooms, and other family valuables. The activity book also helps them to learn and define new words. While increasing their vocabulary. Teaching them while they are young have so many benefits.

Connor reading microfilms

This summer, I would like to take them to Virginia with me to do some more research on my Harrell side of the family.  Besides I want them to see the Atlantic Ocean. They've traveled several states with me conducting research and exploring and having some fun for relaxation.  It's not all learning and researching; they have fun exploring the parks, nature scenes, and children's museums. 

When Jo'elle was a student at Spring Creek Elementary School, she received an award from her history teacher Mrs. Cindy Blade for her knowledge of history and current events. "Connor, on the other hand enjoy talking about all 64 parishes."

The most important thing of all is the memories that we are making together that they will carry with them as adults. The quality time we spend together is so priceless and valuable. I wish that my paternal and maternal grandparents would have taught me about their parents, grandparents, aunts, and uncles. If we really want our children to be good students in history, math, and science; teach them to embrace their own family history and make it fun for them to learn. When they see themselves in the picture, the picture had more meaning to it. 

Green Burton of St. Helena Parish, Louisiana

Green Burton.

Green Burton was born in 1843 in St. Helena Parish, Louisiana. According to the 1880 United States Federal Census was 37 years old when the census was taken. He lived in the 2nd Ward in St. Helena Parish.  He was listed as a Mulatto. He was married to Elcy Holden Burton. They were the parents of; Nancy, Leah, Alice, Charles, Sally, and Manzell Burton.

Some Burton family trees list John "Jack" Burton as his father and his mother was an enslaved woman. John "Jack" Burton's father was Col. Jacob Burton of St. Helena Parish.

John "Jack" Burton was born in 1803 in Elbert County, Georgia. and died in 1871 in St. Helena Parish, Louisiana. John's father Jacob was born in 1755 in Buckingham County, Virginia and died March 1835 in St. Helena Parish. Jacob's father was Robert Burton and he was born in 1732 in Deep Creek, Amelia County, Virginia. He died 1810 in Buckingham County, Virginia.

Some Burton family trees listed him as being married twice. He was married to Hannah Durnin August 12, 1875. They were the parents of; Handy, Eddie, Milton, Lula, Lizzie, and Emma Burton.

How Much Did They Sale Green Burton For?

The Sale of Green Burton
One Negro Man named Green Burton sold for $1070.00

Source
St. Helena Parish Courthouse

Who Purchased Jacob Burton Enslaved People in St. Helena Parish, Louisiana.

Dr. Antoinette Harrell researching history

This information can provide  helpful information to the genealogists that looking for their ancestors who were enslaved on Jacob Burton of St. Helena Parish. Sitting at my desk tonight thinking about the day they were appraised. That meant sometimes they had to take their clothes off, and be put on display to be examine to have a price tag put on them for sale.  I know this was a very painful and hurtful day for Aggie, Toney, Ben, Gabriel, Violet,  Aaron, Nelly, some named I could make out. The following people purchase;

C. D. Strickland purchased negro man named Ben at five hundred dollars.
Robert Burton purchased negro man named Gabriel at five hundred and thirty dollars.
C.D. Strickland purchased negro woman named Violet at four hundred and fifty dollars.
Abraham Womack purchased negro woman  named Aggie for nine hundred and twenty-two dollars.
John Burton purchased  negro boy  named Toney for six hundred and seventy dollars.
John Burton purchased negro woman and her child Maria and Annis one thousand dollars.
C.D. Strickland negro woman named Felp for three hundreds dollars
Robert Burton negro girl named Linda for four hundred dollars
Robert Burton negro girl  named Jane for three hundred dollars

Abraham Womack negro woman named Nelly  for Twenty-five dollars.

The Enslaved Sale

Source: St. Helena Parish Courthouse
Reseached and compiled by Dr. Antoinette Harrell

The Enslaved People Owned By Jacob Burton of St. Helena Parish, Louisiana

Enslaved list on Jacob Burton Place

The Inventory of Jacob Burton of St. Helena Parish, Louisiana. This record is dated March in the year of our Lord One Thousand Eight Hundred and Thirty-Five. I Samuel Leonard Parish Judge in and for the Parish and State aforesaid and proceed tot eh last resident of Jacob Burton late of said Parish, deceased, in order to make an Inventory and Appraisement of the property belonging to  to the Succession of said deceased and having sworn James Newsom and Jacob Womack as apprasisers, and appraiser ? Youngblood and Thomas Hill.

Negro man named Aaron at the some of $800.00
Negro man named Gabriel at the sum of $500.00
Negro man named Ben at the sum of $500.00
Negro woman named Violet at the sum of $500.00
Negro woman named Peggy at the sum of $600.00
Negro woman named Lucy at he sum of $350.00
Negro woman named Nell  at the sum of $50.00
Negro man named Toney at the sum of $400.00
Negro woman named Rice and her child $700.00
Negro girl  named Filpha at the sum of $400.00
Negro  girl named Luida at the some of $300.00
Negro girl named  Lou at the sum of $200.00

Grandfather Charlie Married Twice

Charlie Mckay and his wife Julia Bickham McKay

My father passed away this past February, and for something strange reason, I'm learning more about his family since he passed away. I can't explain this type of strange paranormal things. I just go with  the flow and follow the leads. My father didn't discuss his maternal grandfather at all. He talked about his paternal grandfather because he lived with his grandparents sometimes. 

If I would've asked him, he wouldn't tell me anyway. Dad knew how to hold secrets with a smile on his face. Somehow life has a way if of revealing to you the answers you're searching for. Are perhaps the ancestors are ready to tell you. I sometimes wonder if dad wants me to find out now that he is gone, so he won't have to answer my questions. I guess I had to throw that sense of humor in there because that sounds like something he would say.

I can see him smiling and saying, "well-baby" that's just the things were in those days. As if that is telling me somethings important. I think about him often the way he told family stories. I  wonder why he didn't tell me that his maternal grandfather Charlie was married twice and had children by his second wife, Julia Bickham. Charlie and his first wife, Florence Williams has three children. Mary, William, and Lonnie. My direct line is Mary McKay Boykin. Charlie's and his second wife had five children; Albert, Luella, Emily, Prentiss, and May Helen McKay.

I learned through ancestry that one of my great-aunt's just passed away in 2014. I will do my best to find their children and make a connection. I know that they are in Washington Parish, Louisiana. My Charlie was born around 1891 and died in 1961.  He and Florence divorced and left Mississippi and moved to Louisiana. His first wife Florence, died in 1966. His second wife Julia, died in 1977.

I was happy to find any information I could find.  I couldn't find anything on Charlie before the 1880 United States Federal Census.

Questions I need answers to?

Where did Charlie come from? 

Who were his parents? 

Who was his siblings?

Is McKay his true name? 

Why can't  I find anything else on him? 

How much does his descendants in Washington Parish, Louisiana, know about him? 

Finding My Mississippi Roots; Harrell, McKay and Williams

Chatawa, Mississippi

My Mississippi roots are strong. All of my ancestors lived on the border of Louisiana and Mississippi. The Harrell ties are in Amite County, Mississippi, and the McKay and Williams family are tied to Pike County, Mississippi.  I've conducted genealogy research in Amite County Courthouse in Liberty, Mississippi and  Pike County Courthouse. in Pike County, Mississippi. The Amite County Courthouse is the State's oldest courthouse, built- in 1839-41, replaced the original 1812 building located on the historic site. Amite County was formed in 1809 from Wilkerson County. 

Amite County were named after the Amite River. The named derived from the French amitié, meaning  "friendship" and was used I commemoration of their friendly treatment by the Houma Indians. When you're researching your family history it's important to know when the counties or parish were established. 

I recently started researching my McKay and Williams,  which is on my paternal side of the family. Soon I will to go to the courthouse in the near future to look for records on the two families.  I know that I will have to visit the Mississippi State Archives to search for documents as well. 

I have several family trees based on the surnames that I'm researching. Charlie McKay was listed at a Mulatto in 1910 United States Census. He lived on Chatawa Road. He was married to Florence Williams, and he worked at a  Saw Mill. Charlie and his wife didn't own their own home in 1910, they were renters. The census documented that he couldn't read or write. Charlie was twenty-six years old when the census was taken.

Three children were born at the time; Mary, William, and No Name McKay. My direct line is through Mary. Mary later met and married Ernest Boykin. After they married, they made Fluker, Louisiana their home.

DNA Test Results Revealed Our Grandmothers Were Sisters

DNA Test Connected Cousins

A couple days ago a lady named Georgia Marie Strickland message me about a DNA result. She said that our grandmothers' were sisters. I know my maternal grandmother's sisters. So I immediately thought that this had to a connection on my father 's side of the family. I didn't know anything about my paternal grandparents or great-grandparents. Only what I found on the United States Census. I started researching my maternal grandmother Mary McKay Boykins and found a lot about her family. She was from Pike County, Mississippi. He parents were Charlie and Florence Williams McKay.

My great-grandmother Florence parents were; Alex and Rebecca Williams. Her sibling were; Jerry, Ada, Amanda, and Rosa L. Williams. Georgia Marie Strickland is the granddaughter of Rosa. Rosa was the youngest of Alex and Rebecca children. She was born in 1898 in Amite County, Mississippi and died in McComb, Mississippi in 1986. 

Florence was born in 1884 and died in 1966. I was very happy to see that we connected through DNA.

Four Enslaved People on John Burton and Rebecca Womack Burton Place

Jacob "Jake" Boykins and his wife
Martha Burton Boykins

I spent the day researching my paternal ancestors in St. Helena Parish Courthouse. My paternal great grandmother Martha Burton Boykins. I researched the files of John Burton and Rebecca Womack Burton.  John married Rebecca in 1821 and she died in 1834, leaving community property, 5 negroes, tracts of land with mills, stock of horses, cattle, household, etc.

December 3, 1833 Oath of Abner Womack under-tutor to the minor heirs of Rebecca Womack, decd wife of John Burton, viz, Celia, Nancy Lucy, Jane, Abner and Rebecca Ann Burton.

December 3, 1835-Property appraised at $2000.00

December 3, 1835-Family meeting composed of friends and relatives of John Burton and his dead wife, wiz: Abraham Womack, Robert Burton, Daniel Addison, Cade D. Strickland, and Simpson Hutchinson.

Probate sale to be held Jan. 11, 1836, 160 acres bounded W by Tickfaw River, saw mill, house, slaves, cattles, etc. Estate purchase by John Burton for $2000. 

My heart ached when I read some of the document that said who was going to be sold on the St. Helena Courthouse steps that morning. I look at each of  their names listed on the inventory document and thought long and hard about how hard this was for each of them. My father passed away February 2019 and, "I know if he was alive he would be so happy to know that I'm finding his family history,"

The Burton and Boykins Family of Tangipahoa & St. Helena, Parishes

Lewis and Malinda Burton's Marriage License 1867

I recently started researching my father's side of the family this year after my father passed away. My father told me some history about his family. Mostly about his mother and father. His mother,  Mary was a McKay from Pike County, Mississippi.  Mary's mother was name Florence Williams McKay. Florence married Charlie McKay, and they were listed at Mulatto in the 1910 United States Federal Census.  

On his father's side of the family, his parents were Jacob'Jake" Boykins and Martha Burton Boykins. Martha's parents were; Louis and Malinda ? Burton. I haven't yet found any records with Malinda maiden name.  I checked the Louisiana Statewide Death Index, 1819-1964, and I didn't see it there. I'm planning on going to the State Archives in Baton Rouge, Louisiana to, pull the death certificate. Malinda was born in 1850 and died in 1936 in Tangipahoa Parish, Louisiana. 

Jacob's parents were Samuel Boykins and Catherine Dykes Boykins. Samuel was born around 1822 in Louisiana. Catherine's birthplace is Kentucky. In the 1880 United States Census. Samuel said that his mother was born in Georgia and his father was born in Louisiana. 

Samuel and Catherine Dykes Boykins Marriage License

So far, the new names that I have to research on my father's side are  Burton, McKay, Dykes, and Williams. On my paternal and maternal side of the family, the family history can be found in St. Helena Parish, Tangipahoa Parish, East Feliciana Parish, and Orleans Parish, Louisiana. In  Mississippi, my family history can my found in Pike and Amite County, Mississippi. 

I know that William Boykin owned several enslaved people in 1829. Rachel Boykin, the late wife of William Boykins, left to his heirs: Susan Boykins wife of Knighton; John Boykin, wife of Simpson Hutchinson; with two minors children; James 19 and Frank 17 years old. Rachel requests that her son John Boykins be appointed curator with petitioner, that and inventory was made. Six hundred and forty acres bounded by Leonard tract; also the interest of John Boykins of his father, William Boykins. At this point, it's  time for me to look at the inventory to see if the enslaved persons was listed by named. In most cases,  they are listed by name, gender, and age.

I didn't find any other Boykin's in the Succession Records of St. Helena Parish. Therefore it is the only files that state that those held as slaves in the courthouse records. I hope to find my 2nd great-grandfather Samuel Boykins in the files. Samuel would have been only five years old in 1829. So it is a strong possibility that I will find his mother.