Genealogist Dr. Antoinette Harrell connects with her brother through Ancestry DNA

Patrick, Zelda, Antoinette, Dwayne
Siblings found each other through Ancestry DNA

I am a local historian and genealogist in Tangiphaoa Parish. I began researching my family history more than 30 years ago. My ongoing investigation of my maternal and paternal ancestry in several parishes in Louisiana, Florida Parishes is never-ending. During my research, I spent long hours in courthouses, libraries, university archives, and other sources searching for any information that would help me obtain more information about my family history. 

"Having hit a brick wall, I turned to Ancestry in hopes of finding answers and other clues that would lead me further down the road in my research." My paternal and maternal ancestors were slaves in the Louisiana Florida Parishes. I discovered new family members and a brother through my Ancestry DNA. I learned that I was connected to Dwayne Taylor as a brother through Eric Williams, a family history keeper. To verify what Williams was referring to, I immediately logged into my Ancestry account to look further into this matter.

As Eric Williams and I analyzed Dwayne's DNA and my DNA results together, he informed me that he used Facebook to determine whether we had mutual friends. "Yes, we have mutual friends. One of those friends is Fabiola Clark-Taylor." I was completely blown away, since Fabiola and her husband Donald were my friends.  We have been friends for over 25 years. She often spoke about Dwayne, her stepson. The fact that my dear friend's stepson was my brother shocked me. My mind immediately began spinning with thousands of questions. What? How? Why? I want to learn more.

Antoinette and Dwayne first meeting

I called my sister Zelda to inform her of our new brother. It was shocking news for her as well. Our father told us that there were no other children except for the three of us that he knew of. At that point, we both agreed that our father didn't know he had another son. He would have informed us if he had known. I reassured Dwayne that our father Walter was unaware of him.

Dwayne and I were introduced  by phone by our mutual cousin Eric Williams. Dwayne and I began to talk.  Later we spent  hours on the phone sharing information. Both of us were crying for a variety of reasons. Finding each other was the first reason. I informed him that he had two siblings, a sister named Zelda and a brother named Patrick. He also gained nieces, nephews, and great-nieces and nephews. Me and my siblings gained nieces, nephews, and great nieces and nephews. Now that the cloud of happiness has cleared, we need to speak with a few people who could give us some answers, at least we hope so. 

Zelda meeting her brother Dwayne
 for the first time. 

I know that this was particularly difficult for Dwayne since he was raised by a man who was not his biological father. As far as he is concerned Donald will always be his father.  Our shock at discovering that we had known each other for so long was mutual. "In fact, I took photographs at Donald's funeral, and I would never have imagined photographing my own brother. There was a part of me that wanted to run and scream at the same time." Our minds were overwhelmed by the amount of information we had to digest, let alone process

After several phone conversations, we decided to meet in person. We scheduled a dinner meeting in New Orleans. We were both eagerly anticipating meeting on October 5. I was the first to arrive at their location. Amid excitement, I didn't know if I could have waited for another moment. He finally walked through that door with his wife, daughter, and grandchildren. I met my niece LaShay and her two beautiful children and Dwayne's beautiful wife Sherrice

With open arms, we embraced one another in tears. We held onto each other as if we were afraid to lose each other again. Family members wept with joy and happiness for Dwayne. The only brother he had by his mother had passed away years ago. He thought he was alone all this time, but now he has siblings. I created a Facebook page to bring us all together to share photographs, stories, and build a relationship with each other. Soon afterwards, plans were made to meet Zelda and Patrick in Houston, Texas. 

Once again,  I was the first to arrive. I wanted it to be this way to capture Dwayne meeting his sister and brother. A tear of joy filled Zelda's eyes when she saw her big brother. Patrick told us he cried before he got there so he managed himself well. "We laughed, talked, and took tons of pictures that evening. We shared stories and reminisced about old times. It was a beautiful moment that I will never forget. Patrick, Dwayne and I attended the same schools."  Dwayne's daughter and Patrick's daughter attended the same school. In fact, they were already friends on Facebook. The fact that we were so close to each other and were unaware that we were siblings has shocked us all.

 Patrick and Dwayne

We all agreed to accept without judgement and questions. The most beautiful things we have each other. It was a very powerful reminder of the power of family and how unconditional acceptance can bring people together. Dwayne felt accepted and supported and we were all grateful for that. It was a special evening that we will all cherish. There is a moral to this story: If you are not ready to accept the truth about your DNA, please do not take it, you never know what it will reveal. My siblings and I embrace each other with love and open arms. Patrick was delighted to get a brother and so was Dwayne. The two brothers later had a visit and Zelda met Dwayne son D.J.  

The strange thing is that Dwayne and I are both interested in photography and filmmaking. We both take many pictures and film of our family and events. We share our work and help each other perfect our techniques. Maintaining contact and bonding is something we plan to continue working on. We are excited to having each.

Genetic testing is used by enslaved descendants on Richardson plantation to determine their family relationships

Carl Richardson Descendants

My maternal grandmother's surname name is Richardson. Throughout my childhood, I was acquainted with my grandmother's siblings. My mother frequently shared stories about her mother's relatives and their history. Josephine Richardson, along with her siblings, was born and raised in Montpelier, Louisiana, which is an unincorporated community located in St. Helena Parish. My research delved into the ancestry of my Richardson family, with a focus on my great-grandparents Thomas and Emma Vining Richardson. Through the United States Census, I uncovered valuable information about their lives. Specifically, I discovered that Thomas and his siblings resided in a household with their parents, Thomas and Amanda Breland Richardson.

As I was going through the inventory of the Benjamin and Celia Bankston Richardson Plantation, I found out that my ancestor Carrie and her son Thomas were among the twenty-three enslaved individuals listed. It got me thinking if any of the other enslaved people were related to Carrie. Could one of the women have been her mother, or perhaps her brother or sister? I know of another Richardson family in Tangipahoa Parish, and their ancestral origins are in St. Helena Parish. According to some, we may be related based on oral history, while others dispute this claim. The only sure way to settle this is to undergo a DNA test. Supt. Jimmy Richardson took the Ancestry DNA to get answers.

  Carl Richardson and Joseph Richardson
Descendants

Thomas, son of Carrie, is my maternal 3rd great-grandfather. It was discovered during the inventory
following Benjamin's death in 1855 that Carrie was only twenty years old at the time. The plantation inventory also listed a young man named Nathan, who was fifteen years old then. Nathan later fathered a son named Andrew Richardson. Supt. Jimmy Richardson descends from Nathan Richardson. Recently, my friend Lorraine Lizana informed me that her lineage connects to Thomas and Rebecca Richardson. Through Lorraine, I discovered that her ancestors Thomas and Rebecca are buried in the same cemetery as my 2nd great-grandparents Thomas and Amanda. All of them have been laid to rest in Rocky Hill A.M.E. Church Cemetery. Lorraine descends from Alfred Richardson lineage. Alfred was on the same plantation with Carrie, and Nathan.

Last year, we had individuals whose ancestors were Richardson from Tangipahoa Parish travel to Louisiana to establish a Richardson connection. Their ancestors Carl Richardson's ancestors descends from Louisiana. Their ancestors had to leave the south and they never returned to call Louisiana home again.  

Continuing with the genealogy investigation of Thomas Richardson's lineage, we have discovered another Thomas Richardson, Melbourne McNealty's father Joseph often shared stories about his Richardson relatives. After conducting additional genealogical research, it was discovered that Melbourne's ancestor Thomas arrived in New Orleans aboard a vessel called the State. He was sold to a plantation in St. Francisville, Louisiana.  

I had a conversation with a young named Fagan Davis who shared with me that his family linage traces back to a Richardson family in St. Helena Parish. I asked him about the possibility of taking the Ancestry DNA test to establish and familial connection between us. He suggested that I test his mother who is the daughter of Willie Richardson instead of him. His mother agreed and took the test and now we are presently waiting for the results to come back. After receiving the DNA results, it is important to thoroughly compare and analyze them. To facilitate this process, I plan to schedule a Zoom meeting for everyone to share their DNA matches. This is especially necessary due to the historical separation of families caused by slavery, which often leads to roadblocks in our search for answers.

Earl Richardson, Sr., Dr. Antoinete Harrell, and Supt. Jimmy Richardson, Sr. 
Taking the Ancestry DNA test

Richardson and Richardson DNA Testing to Find Out if They Are Related

Ancestry DNA Testing
Photo Credit: Wallace Gilmore

How often have you heard of two sets of people with the same last name living in a small community? "As a matter of fact, " I have heard of it quite often. In the absence of genealogical research or DNA testing, how can they be sure there two separate families with the same last name that has no genealogical connections? As far back as I can remember, my Richardson family has always spoken of another set of Richardson who also live in Tangipahoa and St. Helena Parishes, Louisiana. 

Both of our families have known each other all our lives. I must mention that Superintendent Richardson's uncle John Wesley Richardson was a witness in my grandparents Jasper Harrell, Sr., and Josephine Richardson Harrell wedding. Another point of interest, Emmitt N. Richardson was witness at the wedding. According to some of my family members, Supt. Alonzo Richardson, Jr., frequently referred to my family as cousins. 

As part of my research into my Richardson family lines, I was conducting advanced research into my ancestors who were held as slaves on the Benjamin and Celia Bankston Richardson plantation in St. Helena Parish, Louisiana. On the 1855  inventory list of Benjamin Richardson, I discovered by my maternal ancestors Carrie aged 23 and her child Thomas aged 1. A total of twenty-three enslaved people were held on the Richardson plantation. One of the enslaved was a fifteen-years-old boy named Nathan. I learned that Supt. Jimmy Richardson is a descendant of Nathan. 

Recently, I had a lengthy conversation with Earl Scott Richardson, Jr., a maternal cousin 3x removed. I asked him if he would take a DNA test to find out if we are related to the other set of Richardson's. He agreed to take a DNA test to determine if we are related to the other set. I was wondering which Richardson I could test from the other set of Richardson's that descends from Nathan Richardson? However, I asked Supt. Jimmy Richardson to contact me through Facebook. Once he called, we discussed the same subject and decided it was time for us to conduct DNA testing to get some answers. I asked him if he would take a DNA test, he agreed and was gratified to do so. 

I met Earl Scott Richardson, Jr., and Superintendent Jimmy Richardson at Richardson Funeral Home, Inc. Amite to take the DNA test. We were all delighted and will wait patiently with anticipation for the results in six to eight weeks. This is something that is long over due. 

Earl S. Richardson, Jr. and Superintendent Jimmy Richardson

                                                               

Unanswered Questions

1. Was the enslaved people on Richardson Plantation related?

2. Could Carrie and Nathan be brother and sister?

3. Who are the other Richardson on the plantations we should be testing?

4. What information could the DNA test provide for us?

5. Can the DNA test help us find the descendants of others who were on the plantation?

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.

Finding My Priscilla

Randall and Priscilla "Silla" Blackburn Harrell
Marriage License: December 26, 1867
Source: Union Parish Courthouse

Whenever any genealogist or family historian finds an ancestor in their research is exciting. For over twenty-five years, I have been researching my Harrell side of the family. My mother's side of the family is my Harrell lineage. Most of my family didn't have any knowledge past my grandfather Jasper Harrell, Sr., parents, and siblings before my research.

Jasper was two years old when his father Alexander passed away in 1914. My mother told me that her father couldn't tell the family anything about the generation before him except that they came from Clinton, Louisiana. I went to the Main Library in New Orleans and certain the United States Federal Census starting at 1930 at that time. The 1940s census wasn't available when I started researching my family history. I started researching the Harrell's in Tangipahoa Parish and found grandfather Alexander and his wife Emma Mead Harrell and all their children. 

Alexander Harrell
Randall and Pricilla Blackburn grandson
Son of Robert and Dinah Harrell

When I got to the 1920 United States Federal Census, I found that Emma was now the head of the household since her husband Alexander had passed away. Living in the house with her were her children; Alexander, Palmer, Theodore, Margareta, Jasper, and her father-in-law Robert Harrell.

A level of excitement took over me when I found Alexander's father, Robert. Robert's wife Dinah or Darska had died sometime back. In the 1910 census, Robert was living along and he was widowed. Robert was born in 1821 in Mississippi and died in 1921 in Amite, Louisiana. He and his Dinah had six children.

That was just about as far as I could go back twenty years ago. A couple of months ago, I found that Priscilla " Silla" Blackburn married a man named Randall Harrell in 1867 in Union Parish, Louisiana. Randall was seventy years old and Priscilla was sixty five when they got married. In the 1870 census Randall and Priscilla were living in Ward 3, Union Parish, Louisiana. Randall was born around 1800 and was seventy years old. Priscilla was born around 1805 in South Carolina or Virginia.  Now, I know who Robert's father was Randall Harrell.  I can't wait to travel to Union Parish to conduct more research at the courthouse and visit the local genealogy library. I hope that I can make a connection with Randall's brother Thomas descendants that could take me to the local cemetery. I met several of Thomas Harrell's descendants on Ancestry. Here are the questions I need answers too:

1. Who owned Randall Harrell?
2. Why did they leave East Feliciana Parish?
3. Where is his brother Thomas descendants?
4. Did Randall and Silla have other children?
5. Why did they return to East Feliciana Parish?
6. Who were her parents?
7. What part of South Carolina?
8. Does the Blackburn name trace back to South Carolina?

I contacted the Clerk Office and Union Parish to purchase Randall and Priscilla Blackburn Harrell's marriage license. When I went to the mailbox and found the marriage license at arrive, I was so excited. There is nothing like travel there personally to research the records in the courthouse. Any information I can locate on my Harrell ancestors is just one more missing piece of the puzzle that is important to the bigger picture.

The great-granchildren of
Randall and Priscilla Blackburn Harrell