Is Rose Watkins my 4th Great Grandmother?

1880 U.S. Census- 2nd Ward, Catahoula Parish, Louisiana

Previously, I mentioned that I may have uncovered evidence that suggest that at least one of my 3rd Great-grandfather's parents was still living well after emancipation. Unable to locate Paradise's parents, Louis & Rose Taylor in 1870, I assumed that both had died while enslaved. Recently, while looking at the 1880 U.S. Census I noticed an elderly couple named Lem & Rose Watkins who lived near the Taylors. The name of Lem's wife, her age, place of birth, and close proximity to my family suggested a probable family relationship based on what is known about Paradise's mother.

The following six (6) points lead me to believe that Rose Watkins is the mother Paradise.

1. We know from the death record of Paradise Taylor that his mother was named Rose and that she was born in Kentucky.

2. Naming patterns were evidently of great importance to Paradise & Cynthia as they named one of their daughter Rose, and two of their sons Lemuel and Louis. Lemuel may have been named for both Cynthia's father and Paradise's suspected step-father.

3. According to the Census, Rose Watkins stated that she as well as her parents were born in Kentucky. Paradise consistently reported his mother's place of birth as Kentucky in 1880, 1900, and 1920.

Paradise Taylor, 1880-1920

4. Paradise and his family moved from Catahoula Parish to the neighboring Franklin Parish [where his wife was from] sometime after 1880 as he and Cynthia officially married there in 1887.

Louisiana Parish Map

5. The Louisiana marriage index, shows that Godfrey Neal [a neighbor of Cynthia's parents Lemuel & Ann] married Rose "Wadkins" on December 14, 1890 in Franklin Parish, Louisiana. It would appear that after Lemuel Watkins death Rose followed her son to Franklin Parish.

6. A copy of the marriage license of Godfrey Neal & Rose Wadkins. Two of the witnesses to the marriage Brit Buie [Older brother of my ancestor Jesse Buie] and Rev. Monroe L. Richardson were former residents of Catahoula Parish.

1890 Marriage License

More research is being done in order to verify that Rose Watkins is the mother of Paradise Taylor.

Terrence A. Garnett
[August 16, 2014]

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 Source Citations

1. 1880 United States Census, index and images, FamilySearch, Rose Watkins (Age: 50), 2nd Ward, Catahoula, Louisiana, United States; sheet 105C, (https://familysearch.org/pal:/MM9.1.1/MD6K-CKH : accessed 16 Jul 2014), NARA microfilm publication T9. 
2. Louisiana, Marriages, 1718-1925 [database on-line]. Provo, UT, USA: Ancestry.com Operations Inc, 2004.
3. Neal, Godfrey & Rose Wadkins [December 14, 1890]: Franklin Parish Marriages; Clerk of Court, Winnsboro, Louisiana.

A Family Connection: Are Judy & Maria sisters?

In May of this year, I decided to take another look at the family of Anderson & Judy Brown of Catahoula Parish, Louisiana. This family has been of interest to me because Anderson was listed as a witness on several family members marriage records, and he also provided testimony in order to help Roland Norris [aka Roland Ford] obtain his Civil War Pension and later assisted Peggie Norris in obtaining her Widow's Pension. Peggie and my ancestor Jesse Buie were siblings.

1870 U.S. Census -- Ward 7 , Catahoula Parish, Louisiana [p. 12]

After reviewing the 1870, 1880, and 1900 census for the Brown family I searched the Louisiana Death Index on Familysearch looking for the children of Anderson & Judy Brown. One of the death records immediately caught my attention. It was their daughter Edith Brown Taylor, her parents were listed as Anderson Brown & Judy LANE. Could Judy and my ancestor Maria Lane Buie be sisters? Both Women had daughters named Edith/Edie which was the name of Maria's mother Edith Lane. Based on the naming patterns among the children I'm inclined to believe that it's a strong possibility.

Louisiana Death Certificate of Edith Taylor - Vol. 2, p. 544
Informant was niece Annie Brown Turner

Judy's age and maiden name lead me to believe that her and Maria could be half-siblings rather than full siblings. The Louisiana Marriage Index list Judy under the name "Julia Fortner". Anderson and Judy married on January 3, 1867 in Catahoula Parish. I placed an order for their marriage certificate and received a copy in the mail the following week. The actual marriage certificate shows her maiden name as "Fortune" and not Fortner [though there was a family of white Fortners in the area].

 Anderson Brown & Julia Fortune [Vol. B - p.142]

    Married by: Rev. Thomas B. White at the residence of Benjamin Cuny, Esq.

                    Witnesses: John Oliver, George West, and Frank Lewis

I remembered that on the 1880 Census the Brown's lived right next door the Lane's in Catahoula Parish, Louisiana. Living in the household of William & Edith Lane was grandson, Henry Fortune. Henry was listed under the surname Lane in 1870 and resided in the household of his grandmother Edey Lane. It appears that Henry is likely an older child of Judy Fortune Brown who ended up in the care of his grandparents. 

1880 U.S. Census -- Ward 2, Catahoula Parish, Louisiana

I recently placed an order through the website http://www.acwancestor.org/ to obtain the Pension File of Anderson Brown and Minor Pension (for his young children). I should receive my copies soon and my hope is that the depositions/testimony located within the files will help confirm my suspicions. In addition to that I able to locate a descendant of Anderson & Judy Brown on Ancestry.com in order to explain our potential family connection.

Terrence A. Garnett
[August 5, 2014]

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 Source Citations:

1. 1870 United States Census, Ward 7, Catahoula Parish, Louisiana; p.12, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/pal:/MM9.1.1/M8QY-8FJ : accessed 05 Aug 2014), NARA microfilm publication M593, FHL microfilm 000552008.
2. 1880 United States Census, William Lane, 2nd Ward, Catahoula, Louisiana, United States; citing sheet 107D, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/pal:/MM9.1.1/MD6K-9TH : accessed 05 Aug 2014), NARA microfilm publication T9.
3. Louisiana, Marriages, 1718-1925 [database on-line]. Provo, UT, USA: Ancestry.com Operations Inc, 2004.
4. Civil War Pension File of Roland Norris & Widows Pension of Peggie Norris obtained on 26 May 2009.

Slaves of William D. Reitzell

The Inventory of William D. Reitzell [Died: August 18, 1853]
Microfilm #: 311884
Succession Records, 1838-1908
Volume: D-E (1852-1873), Pages 186-190
County and State: Caldwell Parish, Louisiana
Inventory & Appraisal Filed: October 19, 1853
Widow: Rachel Rogillio Reitzell

• A negro man named Dick aged about 28 years appraised at $1,000.
• A negro woman named Sarah aged about 30 years and her three children, Amanda, Allen, and America appraised at $1,650.
• A negro man named Anthony aged about 26 years appraised at $1,000.
• A negro boy named Bob aged about 19 years appraised at $900.
• A negro man named Henry aged about 33 years appraised at $750.
• A negro woman named Lucy aged about 32 years and her five children, Wash, Harriett, Eli, Jordan, and Jane appraised at $2,000.
• A negro girl named Lavinia aged about 15 years appraised at $750.
• A negro girl named Eliza aged about 10 years appraised at $500.
• A negro girl named Florida appraised at $100.

Slave	Name after Emancipation	1st Census Listed
America	America Reitzel Calloway	1870  United States Census, index and images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/pal:/MM9.1.1/M8QT-LL3 : accessed 16 Jul 2014), America Reitzel (Age: 18), Louisiana, United States; citing p. 8, family 57, NARA microfilm publication M593, FHL microfilm 000552008.
Lucy	Lucy Harrold	1870 United States Census, index and images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/pal:/MM9.1.1/M8QT-4G5 : accessed 16 Jul 2014), Lucy Harrald (Age: 35) in household of A W Faulkner, Louisiana, United States; citing p. 5, family 41, NARA microfilm publication M593, FHL microfilm 000552008.
Wash	Washington Harrold	1870 United States Census, index and images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/pal:/MM9.1.1/M8QT-Z4D : accessed 16 Jul 2014), Wash Herold (Age: 23), Louisiana, United States; citing p. 1, family 7, NARA microfilm publication M593, FHL microfilm 000552008.
Harriett	Harriet Harrold Williams	1870 United States Census, index and images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/pal:/MM9.1.1/M8QT-Z4K : accessed 16 Jul 2014), Harriet William (Age: 22) in household of Nathan William, Louisiana, United States; citing p. 1, family 9, NARA microfilm publication M593, FHL microfilm 000552008.
Eli	Eli Harrold	1870 United States Census, index and images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/pal:/MM9.1.1/M8QT-Z4F : accessed 16 Jul 2014), Eli Harrold (Age: 21), Louisiana, United States; citing p. 1, family 8, NARA microfilm publication M593, FHL microfilm 000552008.
Jordan	Jordan Harrold	1880 United States Census, index and images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/pal:/MM9.1.1/MD6V-GQT : accessed 16 Jul 2014), Jordan Harrold (Age: 26) in household of Lucy Harrold, 4th Ward, Caldwell, Louisiana, United States; citing sheet 28A, NARA microfilm publication T9.
Lavinia	Lavinia Harrold Starks	1870  United States Census, index and images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/pal:/MM9.1.1/M8QT-4ZB : accessed 16 Jul 2014), Lavinia Stark (Age: 30) in household of Rachel Reitzell, Louisiana, United States; citing p. 11, family 77, NARA microfilm publication M593, FHL microfilm 000552008.
Eliza	Eliza Harrold	1870 United States Census, index and images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/pal:/MM9.1.1/M8QT-4GR : accessed 16 Jul 2014), Eliza Harrald (Age: 26) in household of A W Faulkner, Louisiana, United States; citing p. 5, family 41, NARA microfilm publication M593, FHL microfilm 000552008.

Note: The slaves Lucy and daughter Lavinia are my 4th and 3rd great-grandmothers, respectively. A volunteer listed on RAOGK obtained copies of this Succession for me in 2009.

Terrence A. Garnett

Blog Name Change...

After much thought I have decided to change the name of my blog from "My Panola County Roots" to "My TX/LA Roots". I felt that the stories of both my Texas & Louisiana Branches need to be told. It's what I should have done in the beginning. I also plan to document other African-American families from the areas my ancestors lived.



Terrence A. Garnett