Once again, it has been over year since I last blogged and there is much to be told. As I am connecting the dots in my own family, I all to well understand there are many others researching as well and like me are asking "How does it all connect?" and this is just a small porting on my many connections through my maternal Great-Grandparents, Mitchell Heath and Anna Lue Barrow-Heath.
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Where did the families originate? Where did the trail begin? Who are the Ancestors? And just how did they all connect over decades of southern exploration, slavery, westward expansion, and placing down roots and establishing families? There is one key indentifying factor between the Heath, Hubert, Barrow, Wright, Searcy, Flewellyn, Barksdale, Battle, Ivey, Searcy, Dickson, Lynn, Felts/Phelps, and Chappell/Chapple families, and they key remains the same through generations of bloodlines -FAMILY!
The Searcy Connection of the South
One of the early families of exploration is the Searcy family of Virginia, North Carolina, Georgia, and Texas. The Searcy family is unique in nature that it is connected to the Heath, Hubert, Ivey, Dickson, Chappell/Chapple, and Theawtt families also of Virginia, North Carolina, Georgia, and Texas. For more information, go to the following link: http://www.searcyfea.com/5601.html. Of special note is the Daniel Searcy family and William Searcy which both have ties and dealings with the Hiram Hubert family and Thomas Heath family, both of North Carolina and Georgia. The Searcy family connection lies within Warren, Wilkes, Talbot, Taylor, and Harris counties in Georgia. There are many marriages among the Heath and Searcy slaves with connections to the Ivey and Dickson families as well.
Let's Explore the Heaths and the Huberts
Another interesting early family explored heavily within my online family tree is the Heath and Hubert families and the clear connection with the Ivey, Barksdale, and Battle families as they all come together in old Wilkes County in towns known as Old Mill, Barnett, Warrenton, Powellton, White Plains, Mayfield, Goose Pond, Red Lick, Norwood, and Sharon Town in what are now present day Warren County, Hancock County and Taliaferro County. My Heath lineage begins with my maternal Great-Grandfather, Mitchell Heath, who was the son of Phelps Tug Heath (Phelps Heath III) and Eunice "Eunie" Frazier-Heath. Mitchell's paternal grandmother is, Jane "Jincy" Hubert-Heath, wife of Phelps Heath I and daughter of Paul Hubert and Jennie "Jincy" Hubert. I have been researching the Heath family for quite sometime to include both the white and black families from the late 1700s to present day. It has been an incredible journey. Just recently in late spring of 2014, I began the journey of unraveling a mystery with understanding who my Jane Heath was and what her connection was to the Hubert family in Hancock County as well as Warren County. This Hubert ancestral journey began to morph into something even greater than I ever imagined as well as taking a step back and really evaluating " what is my purpose" and "what do I have to offer our present generations and generations of the future" along with fully reviewing everything without leaving no stone uncovered. Thanks to my Cousins @Powell_88 and @bettyjharris53, we are on the move upward and onward making our Ancestors proud! With the help of Cousin @Powell_88 and other archived data, we have uncovered a huge ancestry find with the Heath and Hubert families of Warren County and adjacent counties. And it was all based on discovering my Jane (Jincy Hubert). The Heath and Hubert slaves at many times after the slavery were using both the Heath and Hubert names sending us family historians in a frenzy trying to find our Ancestors. After tracing back the Heath and Hubert family origins coupled with land and plantation locations, the Heath and Hubert families were side by side for several generations along with the Barksdale, Battle, Ivey, Dickson, Harrell, Felts, Johnson, and Flewellyn families. In some instances, the slaves were shared among the plantations because of the skills. For example, Clack Heath (brother to Elisha "Lige" Heath, Phelps Heath II, Hezekiah Heath, Jefferson "Jeff" Heath, and others) was a very skilled worker and often loaned out to the Barksdale, Battle, Felts, Hubert, Johnson, and Ivey plantations which were all connected or side by side with one another. His work and wages paid for his service was documented in the estate of Henry Heath in 1855 (a descendant of Abraham Heath and Winnifred Cotton-Heath).
So one may ask, how do all the other families fit into the mix? Well, it is very interesting!!! There are numerous marriages between the Heath, Hubert, Ivey, and Searcy families within Warren, Hancock, Taliaferro, Taylor, Talbot, Harris, and Muscogee counties in Georgia. There was a great deal of migration among the family members as well along the Georgia railroad expansion which relocated several of the white and black families from east Georgia (Wilkes, Warren, Taliaferro, and Hancock counties) to west Georgia (Talbot, Taylor, Muscogee, and Harris counties). And from Georgia, we see a great deal of migration into Alabama in Russell, Lee, Chambers, Randolph, and Henry counties. Through the slave ancestry research by reviewing wills, inventories and appraisements, deeds, tax records, and census records, we are seeing a clear distinct pattern in the migratory patterns of the white families which ultimately involved our Slave Ancestors and their families in leaving Georgia for Alabama and Texas. TEXAS....oh what a connection!!!
The Texas Connection: It's Just the Beginning
The Texas connection has become very interesting to say the least as there are so many families that migrated together but seperated by county and occupation. In Texas, Camp, Morris, Cass (originally Davis County), Titus, Upshur, Sabine, and Marion counties were of interest where the families seem to have settled in the mid 1800s and later traveling to Collin, Tarrant, Harris, and Dallas counties as well. The Texas migration has brought about a great deal of discussions as we have found a significant greater picture with linkage among the white planter families and their slave workers. We are finding in the slave ancestry research a key connection within the Slave Owner (Master) and our Slave Ancestors' relationship, they were not only owner and slave but they indeed formed a bond. Another interesting piece to the puzzle is there was significant migration between the 1880s and 1900s where many families reunited with their brethren families from Georgia in Texas by relocating when the white families relocated after slavery, houston....we have proved the theory of a bonded relationship. The white Heath, Hubert, Searcy, Barrow, Wright, Lynn, and Chappell families settled many great towns in Georgia and Alabama, and subsequently Texas. It was a part of the great westward expansion movement. Were they all friends? Were there other mitigating circumstances? Was it strictly Slave Owner and Slave Ancestor relationships exemplifying no bond at all, I am sure it is all of the above. There were some good and some bad, but we the descendants of these great unions are coming into an understanding of a long history which all began in Virginia along the James River.
Understanding the Family Connections
The Barrow, Wright, and Chappell/Chapple family connections to one another as well as to the Heath, Hubert, Flewellyn, Ivey, and Barksdale families is another great story of "what did I just uncover" and "did I read that right", the plot thickens. Some of the white Heaths took Barrow, Wright, and Chappell family members as their spouses such as Nancy Heath-Wright (daughter of Richard Heath and Rebecca Chappell) married William D. Wright, Rebecca Heath-Barrow (another daughter of Richard and Rebecca) married William Barrow, Patsy Heath-Wright (another daughter of Richard and Rebecca) married Lewis Wright, Sally Heath-Chappell (daughter of Abraham Heath and Winnifred Cotton) married John Chappell, Polly Heath-Barrow (another daughter of Abraham and Winnifred) married Warren Barrow. Many of these marriages and further estate slave distributions are the direct links to Troup County, Georgia and Chambers, Lee, Russell, and Randolph counties in Alabama. Why is this so fascinating and important? My maternal Great-Grandmother is Anna Lue Barrow-Heath, daughter of John Erwin "Jack/Pete" Barrow, Sr. and Annie Elizabeth (Hunter) Nelloms-Barrow. Anna's paternal great-grandmother was Rena Rose Wright-Barrow (as of February 2016, I'm running to ground a Sampson family connection). And there we have a full circle of common family names associated with white planters from Georgia settling in Lee, Russell, Chambers, and Randolph counties in Alabama and Troup County, Georgia. But not only is there the possible link to my great-grandparents, the link among the Hubert, Heath, Barrow, Wright, Searcy, Hugeley/Hughley, Sibley, and Chappell families extends over into Texas immensely with ties back to the Alabama, Georgia and ultimately back to North and South Carolina as well. There are many towns within Texas that are the same name and affiliated with the same families from Alabama.
William Barrow and his wife, Rebecca Heath-Barrow, were married in Warren County, Georgia and relocated to Putnam County, Georgia and ultimately migrated over to Chambers County, Alabama. This is a huge piece of information in the Barrow and Heath family as Granddaddy Mitchell's Ancestors were Heath slaves of Abraham Heath (Rebecca's Uncle) and Richard Heath (Rebecca's father). While my Granny Anna Lue's Ancestors were slaves of the Barrow family which is directly tied back to the Barrow families of Halifax County and Edgecombe County in North Carolina. In addtion to the North Carolina connection of the Barrow family, we also can clearly see the connections of the white families from state to state which began in the Surry and Sussex County areas of Virginia, down to through North Carolina, then to Georgia, over into Alabama, and then onto Louisianna and Texas. This is another proven fact that the white families and the black families have been tied together for centuries. Good or bad, our stories are the woven fabric of our nation.
More To Unravel: Family Connections Worth Exploring
As time passes, I will add more to this ancestry research pertaining to the Ivey, Barksdale, Battle, Dickson, and Chappell families as well as the Lynn, Harrel, Ruff, and Felts/Phelps families. The Ruff family was recorded in the 1850 Census as free blacks beginning with Julia Ruff and her children. Lucretia "Cretia" Ruff is a prominent planter with wealth and documented in the 1850 and 1860 Census' as well with all her many children with some marrying into the Barksdale, Heath, Battle, Ivey, and Hubert families in later generations. The Harrell families were intertwined with the Heath, Bacon, Norflett/Norfleet, and Ivey families in Warren County and surrounding counties. What is interesting about the black Harrell families is that there are several which seem to connect to the Heath, Ivey, Bacon, Hubert, Barksdale, Norflett/Norfleet, Brinkley, and Dickson families which all seem to lead back to the white families and possible marriage connections of the Slave Owners.
Another interesting twist to the many family puzzles is the Dickson families of Talbot and Taylor counties in east Georgia and Warren and Hancock counties in West Georgia and there subsequent connection to Texas as well. Many of the descendants of the Dickson family are using both spellings of Dickson and Dixon today. In addition to the variation in spelling, there is also Dickerson which is primarily in Texas. The Texas Dickerson family can be traced to one Tillman Heath Dickerson, who was a Heath slave descandant willed to John Heath in the 1807 will of Abraham Heath (husband of Winnifred Cotton-Heath)*. Tillman migrated with Benjamin Heath's (son of Abraham and Winnifred) family to Monroe County, Georgia and ultimately to Texas where he is found under the assumed name as Tillman Dickerson. There is indeed a great story to be told, a great genelogical mystery to unravel.
In addition to this story of family relationships, we will expand more on the Lynn family connection as they definitely tie back to the Heath and Hubert families in many ways to also include the Flewellyn/Fluellen and Dozier families. Although I have not fully explored the Dickson and Lynn families respectively, the family lines are becoming more and more clear and yet more and more intertwined with one another. The white Lynn family and their migratory patterns and marriages into the families listed in the first paragraph continues to open up new doors of information as to how some Slave Ancestors were Heath, Hubert, Ivey, and Dickson slaves throughout various time periods during their lifespan. It should also be noted that many Slave Ancestors were skilled workers which was used to benefit building of towns and communities as well as used as leverage between families during and after slavery.
Stay tuned as the Ancestors are leading the way and I am following their path in which they are lighting!! I am grateful for the Ancestors, grateful for this incredible journey, and grateful to share our rich legacy!
Dante' Eubanks
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Originally Shared via my Ancestry.com Family Tree
September 2014 (Original), October 23, 2014 (Update), March 3, 2015 (Update), April 14, 2016 (Update)
Friday, May 27, 2016
Tuesday, March 17, 2015
Celebrating a Year of Accomplishments & Yes, I'm Irish Too!
Hello there readers! And thank you for taking time to stop by and check out my blog! I am so excited and so grateful for the Ancestors continually opening up new doors of discovery. And I am overjoyed as well for the Ancestors allowing me opportunities to share information across channels with my family and new found cousins. Since March 2014, I can honestly say it has been a year of accomplishments! So many things have transpired, so many discoveries, so much joy, loads of information, and even relatives from various states are now on the crusade of discovery as we share our roots to all generations.
In March 2014, there were two great discoveries that not only confirmed oral history but it also opened doors to discoveries abroad and the Ancestors are leading the charge onward and upward to heights I never imagined!!!! The first discovery was finding the March 8, 1855 Inventories and Appraisement record of Henry Heath of Warren County. You see, Henry Heath was the owner of my Heath Ancestors, and there in black in white was the name I always connected with, a slave named Felts. Felts (later spelled Phelps in U.S Census and marriage records) is my 3x Great-Grandfather as well as my maternal Great-Grandfather's, Mitchell Heath, Grandfather. Phelps was the second slave listed in the inventory and valued at $900.00 which was substantial in 1855. He is one of forty slaves accounted for in the appraisement record, and of the forty slaves recorded Phelps along with 3 others are individually valued at $900.00 or greater. This was awesome to see as my Ancestors had value!!!! Although I could look at this from a negative light, I choose not to and instead look at this from the positive, they had value and they were valued according to their skill. Finding the Heath slaves owned by Henry Heath was not just a coincidence but rather a blessing as I was researching something else entirely and then decided to look at the Henry Heath reference. I knew then, the Ancestors were at work!
After looking at the Heath slave inventory over and over, I began to notice that all the slaves listed were indeed FAMILY. I had the majority of the names recorded in my family tree which was purely based on oral history and stories passed down through the generations. I could now trace all the slaves and I was blessed when other cousins abroad with whom I have had the pleasure of collaborating with through the years confirmed names as well. A shift in my research took place as family names, places, and records I had researched for years were looking different and new. I then started retracing my years of research, starting anew and yet revisiting everything again, and again removing doubt that I would not find another clue. And then "cluster genealogy" and "triangulation research" took effect! I switched from researching my families to researching the white families! Can you say JACKPOT!!! Stay tuned for the journey continues!
The second great discovery was also in March 2014 where my Ancestors blessed me by receiving my AncestryDNA results, and I could not be more proud! I am 82% African descent, 16% Eurpoean descent, 1% Asian descent, and 1% Melenesian descent. The Melenesian descent was a shocker as I am connected to those whose roots are in the Papua New Guinea, Bougainville, Fiji, Aboriginal Australia, Solomon Islands, and New Caledonia regions of the world. Oh, it's getting good y'all!!!!!! But since it's St. Patrick's Day, Kiss Me because I'm IRISH!!!! Yes, I am 1% Irish and my AncestryDNA proved the oral history of my family's Irish roots. I couldn't be more happier now to actually have concrete evidence of my Irish ancestry. As I continue on my paths to discovery, I am emphatically enthused as well as amazed at the guidance and blessings of my Ancestors as they are paving the way while lighting the path! I encourage all to celebrate your heritage and always be proud of who you are!
From April 2014 to September 2014, I challenged myself in many ways. As I previously stated, I started retracing my years of research, starting anew and yet revisiting everything again, and again and again!!! What was so amazing and made me tremble was my Heath Ancestors were calling me and calling me morning, noon day, and night!!! Everything during these months somehow centered around my Heath family and associated families. For years, I would occasionally look at neighbors and occasionally look at occupations, but it was not until finding the 1855 inventory and appraisement record of Henry Heath that I really paid attention to occupation. Within the estate papers of Henry Heath were another set of documents documenting my Heath Ancestors occupations as well as payments given for their service. YES, my Ancestors not only worked for Henry Heath, but they were loaned out to the neighboring plantations, community, and sometimes the state and county governments all because of their mastery skills. I mentioned my 3x Great-Grandfather, Phelps, was valued at $900. Well, his brother, Clack, was valued at $1500 and was the most valued slave owned by Henry Heath according to the 1855 record. Can you say, WOW!!!!!! Clack was a blacksmith, carpenter, and repairman for so many things on the Heath plantation as well as in the Warren County area, Richmond County, Hancock County, Taliaferro County, and Wilkes County areas of Georgia. Clack was sought out by many among the prominent members of the Heath, Hubert, Ivey, Harrell, Felts, Rabun, Barksdale, and Chapple families. Moving on from the estate documentation and discoveries, I began looking at the occupations more closely in the U.S. Census records, and realized my Ancestors proved to be valuable as well as needed in society. There is so much more to share, so again stay tuned for the journey continues!
Clack was just the beginning and the beginning is still now! After discovering more on Clack, I began to notice how my Heath Ancestors always lived near and worked for the white families whose names I saw in many estate records (family names mentioned above). I began to ask myself, is there a connection? Is there some sort of loyalty? Is there some other information I am overlooking? And then I realized I was in the middle of "cluster genealogy" and "triangulation research" at it's best as I was seeing information from all angles and no longer walking away from my brick walls, but instead knocking the brink walls down by force. As I went back and retraced years of research as far back as 1987 and came forward not just with my Ancestors but now with the owners of my Ancestors and the owners' families. The slave owners were now becoming my focus as I realized there was indeed a connection and it all began with the union of the families through marriages and as neighbors. They were among those who helped to settle Wilkes County pre 1795 era and their beginnings in Virginia and migration to the Carolinas and Georgia laid a foundation and ultimately a trail to follow. Warren County was formed out of Wilkes County, and the white Heath families were a big part of Wilkes County and Warren County. Oh, did I mention it's getting good y'all!!!!
So what have I learned through all of this? What new information have I gained? Where are my Ancestors leading me? And what will I do next? These are all valid questions each one of us dedicated to genealogy must ask ourselves daily. I can tell you this, I am on the move upward and onward. As I research now, I read through everything and I cross check everything. I no longer discount information that appears to not connect with my Ancestors, but instead I follow the trail as I've learned it all triangulates back to somewhere which can connect to my Ancestors, a place, or time in history relative to my ancestry journey. Push forward and allow the Ancestors to guide you, and you will not be disappointed!! I've been on an incredible journey of rediscovery, accomplishments, and research firsts. It's been an awesome year from March 2014 to March 2015, and my journey continues!! There is so much more to share, and one that sticks out is on my Heath-Hubert connection through my 3x Great-Grandmother, Jane Hubert-Heath. She was my Granddaddy Mitchell's Grandmother and was married to Phelps Heath. Stay tuned as the best is yet to come!
I'm celebrating a year of accomplishments! Thank you again for stopping by and sharing in my amazing year of accomplishments and discoveries. I am celebrating Collaboration, Communication, and Support! I'm proud of my heritage, and yes I'm Irish too!!!
Danté
St. Patrick's Day 2015
In March 2014, there were two great discoveries that not only confirmed oral history but it also opened doors to discoveries abroad and the Ancestors are leading the charge onward and upward to heights I never imagined!!!! The first discovery was finding the March 8, 1855 Inventories and Appraisement record of Henry Heath of Warren County. You see, Henry Heath was the owner of my Heath Ancestors, and there in black in white was the name I always connected with, a slave named Felts. Felts (later spelled Phelps in U.S Census and marriage records) is my 3x Great-Grandfather as well as my maternal Great-Grandfather's, Mitchell Heath, Grandfather. Phelps was the second slave listed in the inventory and valued at $900.00 which was substantial in 1855. He is one of forty slaves accounted for in the appraisement record, and of the forty slaves recorded Phelps along with 3 others are individually valued at $900.00 or greater. This was awesome to see as my Ancestors had value!!!! Although I could look at this from a negative light, I choose not to and instead look at this from the positive, they had value and they were valued according to their skill. Finding the Heath slaves owned by Henry Heath was not just a coincidence but rather a blessing as I was researching something else entirely and then decided to look at the Henry Heath reference. I knew then, the Ancestors were at work!
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| Portion of the March 8, 1855 Inventory and Appraisement record of Henry Heath Warren County, Georgia |
After looking at the Heath slave inventory over and over, I began to notice that all the slaves listed were indeed FAMILY. I had the majority of the names recorded in my family tree which was purely based on oral history and stories passed down through the generations. I could now trace all the slaves and I was blessed when other cousins abroad with whom I have had the pleasure of collaborating with through the years confirmed names as well. A shift in my research took place as family names, places, and records I had researched for years were looking different and new. I then started retracing my years of research, starting anew and yet revisiting everything again, and again removing doubt that I would not find another clue. And then "cluster genealogy" and "triangulation research" took effect! I switched from researching my families to researching the white families! Can you say JACKPOT!!! Stay tuned for the journey continues!
From April 2014 to September 2014, I challenged myself in many ways. As I previously stated, I started retracing my years of research, starting anew and yet revisiting everything again, and again and again!!! What was so amazing and made me tremble was my Heath Ancestors were calling me and calling me morning, noon day, and night!!! Everything during these months somehow centered around my Heath family and associated families. For years, I would occasionally look at neighbors and occasionally look at occupations, but it was not until finding the 1855 inventory and appraisement record of Henry Heath that I really paid attention to occupation. Within the estate papers of Henry Heath were another set of documents documenting my Heath Ancestors occupations as well as payments given for their service. YES, my Ancestors not only worked for Henry Heath, but they were loaned out to the neighboring plantations, community, and sometimes the state and county governments all because of their mastery skills. I mentioned my 3x Great-Grandfather, Phelps, was valued at $900. Well, his brother, Clack, was valued at $1500 and was the most valued slave owned by Henry Heath according to the 1855 record. Can you say, WOW!!!!!! Clack was a blacksmith, carpenter, and repairman for so many things on the Heath plantation as well as in the Warren County area, Richmond County, Hancock County, Taliaferro County, and Wilkes County areas of Georgia. Clack was sought out by many among the prominent members of the Heath, Hubert, Ivey, Harrell, Felts, Rabun, Barksdale, and Chapple families. Moving on from the estate documentation and discoveries, I began looking at the occupations more closely in the U.S. Census records, and realized my Ancestors proved to be valuable as well as needed in society. There is so much more to share, so again stay tuned for the journey continues!
Clack was just the beginning and the beginning is still now! After discovering more on Clack, I began to notice how my Heath Ancestors always lived near and worked for the white families whose names I saw in many estate records (family names mentioned above). I began to ask myself, is there a connection? Is there some sort of loyalty? Is there some other information I am overlooking? And then I realized I was in the middle of "cluster genealogy" and "triangulation research" at it's best as I was seeing information from all angles and no longer walking away from my brick walls, but instead knocking the brink walls down by force. As I went back and retraced years of research as far back as 1987 and came forward not just with my Ancestors but now with the owners of my Ancestors and the owners' families. The slave owners were now becoming my focus as I realized there was indeed a connection and it all began with the union of the families through marriages and as neighbors. They were among those who helped to settle Wilkes County pre 1795 era and their beginnings in Virginia and migration to the Carolinas and Georgia laid a foundation and ultimately a trail to follow. Warren County was formed out of Wilkes County, and the white Heath families were a big part of Wilkes County and Warren County. Oh, did I mention it's getting good y'all!!!!
So what have I learned through all of this? What new information have I gained? Where are my Ancestors leading me? And what will I do next? These are all valid questions each one of us dedicated to genealogy must ask ourselves daily. I can tell you this, I am on the move upward and onward. As I research now, I read through everything and I cross check everything. I no longer discount information that appears to not connect with my Ancestors, but instead I follow the trail as I've learned it all triangulates back to somewhere which can connect to my Ancestors, a place, or time in history relative to my ancestry journey. Push forward and allow the Ancestors to guide you, and you will not be disappointed!! I've been on an incredible journey of rediscovery, accomplishments, and research firsts. It's been an awesome year from March 2014 to March 2015, and my journey continues!! There is so much more to share, and one that sticks out is on my Heath-Hubert connection through my 3x Great-Grandmother, Jane Hubert-Heath. She was my Granddaddy Mitchell's Grandmother and was married to Phelps Heath. Stay tuned as the best is yet to come!I'm celebrating a year of accomplishments! Thank you again for stopping by and sharing in my amazing year of accomplishments and discoveries. I am celebrating Collaboration, Communication, and Support! I'm proud of my heritage, and yes I'm Irish too!!!
Danté
St. Patrick's Day 2015
Sunday, September 7, 2014
Mitchell Heath: The Greatest Man on Earth in my Lifetime
Greetings family, friends, fellow genealogists and a special hello to the Ancestors! It has been several months since my last post in March, and yet there is so much to share and sometimes it seems like so little time. The Ancestors have been hard at work and the pathways have been ever so clear with so much more unfolding day by day. I have been truly blessed through an outpouring of new and exciting information regarding my Georgia lineage through my maternal Great-Grandfather with whom my maternal Georgia lineage begins through the Heath and Frazier families.
In the beginning of discovering what blogging was about, I created this blog as a means of sharing the rich legacy of my Ancestors. I first began with one of the biggest discoveries and special woman in our family, my 2x Great Grandmother Annie Elizabeth Nelloms-Barrow. She is my maternal Great-Grandmother, Anna Lue Barrow-Heath's mother. Annie was affectionately called Grand Annie by her family and Anna Lue to me was always Granny. I share this story again as this has a special connection with my Great-Grandfather, Mitchell Heath (Granddaddy) who was married to the love of his life none other than Granny. Granny shared so many memories with us about her Alabama and Georgia family, and it is from Granny I found my niche and my calling to bridge the gaps between the past and the present. Granddaddy too left me with a rich legacy to share, uncover, and to honor. I thought I knew a lot, but my journey from March 2014 till now has proven I have only just begun. With the Ancestors guiding me along the way, I sincerely pray I am honoring them as I share their story.
Mitchell Heath, Granddaddy as he was affectionately called was born January 19, 1910 in Crawfordville, Taliaferro County, Georgia to the union of Phelps Heath III and Eunice Frazier-Heath. Granddaddy was truly a man after God's own heart and taught his family that faith in God and good works was key to making it to Heaven. Granddaddy did not talk much about his family, but what he did share was key to finding amazing discoveries about the Heath family. Granddaddy had many brothers and sisters and always said by the time he was born, some of his siblings were already grown and married themselves. His oldest sibling was his sister, Lena who was born in 1890 and his youngest sibling was his sister, Mattie Jane who was born in 1916. That is a huge span of years for siblings, but Phelps III and Eunie had several children. Granddaddy said that his mother had about 20 children, but he did not know all of them. There were several children he said had died before he was born. This is not hard to believe but yet it is difficult to find records for the deceased children as Georgia was not the best at good record keeping. My quest continues to identify Granddaddy's siblings who died young. Granddaddy's known siblings were Lena (previously mentioned as the oldest born in 1890), Nina born in 1893, Allen born in 1898, Essie born in 1900, Percy born in 1902, Martha born in 1903, Nancy born in 1905, Earnest born in 1906, Luna born in 1908, Earl born in 1913, and Mattie (previously mentioned as the youngest born in 1916). It is an amazing discovery of my southern roots to find that many of my Ancestors produced large families. Another amazing discovery has been the various family lines Granddaddy descends from and all connecting to Taliaferro, Hancock, and Warren Counties in Georgia through his parents, Phelps III and Eunie.
When it comes to relationships, Granddaddy was very fond of his sister, Essie Mae (nee Heath) Patterson-Tillman. I do not remember much except the family preparing for her homegoing services in 1981 and Granddaddy speaking of his fond memories of his older sister. He was also very close with his brother, Earnest Heath, and his baby sister, Mattie Jane (nee Heath) Montgomery. Out of all the family members on my Heath side, these were the names I heard the most. As I grew older, I began to hear more about Uncle Allen Heath, Aunt Nancy (nee Heath) Carter, and cousins Anna Bea and Casper (Uncle Allen's children). Granddaddy was man of few words when it came to his family, but he truly embraced his family with love and instilled in his daughter, grandchildren, and great-grandchildren to love and cherish family.
As a young boy, Granddaddy and his family had relocated to Cincinnati, Hamilton County, Ohio. By 1924, Granddaddy's parents were documented as Cincinnati residents living at 544 George Street which was then in the old historic West End community near downtown Cincinnati. There were many black families living in the West End who had migrated north from the south. Granddaddy would have been 14 years old in 1924 and own his way to becoming a man and establishing his place in Cincinnati. On September 16, 1928 Granddaddy married the love his life, my Granny and his precious Anna Lue Barrow. Together, their love story is amazing. Mitchell and Anna only had one child, their one and only Jessie Mae and my beloved Grandmother. Granddaddy worked hard to provide for his family as well as establish a strong sense of giving back to his community. By the mid to late 1960s, Mitchell and Anna had purchased their home located at 218 Donahue Street in the Corryville community of Cincinnati. This home was a part of the family through fives generations, and their are so many precious memories of family gatherings in which Mitchell and Anna ensured all the family enjoyed through their labor of love.
Granddaddy was a faithful member of the Beulah Missionary Baptist Church also located in the old West End area of downtown Cincinnati. Granddaddy was instrumental in many church ministries to include the Male Chorus and the Usher Board. As a senior member of the Male Chorus, Granddaddy was a lead vocalist who certainly stirred up the church with his melodious rendition of "Have I Given Anything Today" and oh the memories that are flooding my mind and soul right now. Just as much as he loved singing, he was a faithful and dedicated usher for many years and instrumental in Beulah establishing a Senior and Junior Usher Board. Many church members as well as community members looked up to Granddaddy and he was an inspiration to all he came in contact with. Granddaddy was a true man of God, a man of distinction, a man of honor and integrity, and a legend in his own right. He is the greatest man on earth in my lifetime as he taught me to be a follower and believer in my Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ. Thank you Granddaddy for the message of faith!
Today, I am singing "Have I Given Anything Today?"
Have I given anything today?
Have I helped some needed soul on the way?
From the dawn till setting sun, have I wounded anyone?
Shall I weep for what I've done today?
Oh today, oh the day, oh the day
Have I failed some greater flame on the way
Just to know I've done my best as I go to take my rest
Let my name be blessed today.
Have I made some person glad today?
Did I help someone who had a mortal day?
Did I cancel with the sad try to make some poor heart glad.
Answer wisdom what I had today.
Oh today, oh the day, oh the day
Have I failed some greater flame on the way
Just to know I've done my best as I go to take my rest
Let my name be blessed today.
Thank you Thomas A. Dorsey for these words of a powerful testimony and thank you Granddaddy for singing from the heart! As I continue to my ancestry journey in discovering more of my Heath family, I continue to reflect upon Granddaddy's lifelong lesson of FAITH and FAMILY, the tie that binds! Granddaddy, thank you for asking "Have I given Anything Today!"
In the beginning of discovering what blogging was about, I created this blog as a means of sharing the rich legacy of my Ancestors. I first began with one of the biggest discoveries and special woman in our family, my 2x Great Grandmother Annie Elizabeth Nelloms-Barrow. She is my maternal Great-Grandmother, Anna Lue Barrow-Heath's mother. Annie was affectionately called Grand Annie by her family and Anna Lue to me was always Granny. I share this story again as this has a special connection with my Great-Grandfather, Mitchell Heath (Granddaddy) who was married to the love of his life none other than Granny. Granny shared so many memories with us about her Alabama and Georgia family, and it is from Granny I found my niche and my calling to bridge the gaps between the past and the present. Granddaddy too left me with a rich legacy to share, uncover, and to honor. I thought I knew a lot, but my journey from March 2014 till now has proven I have only just begun. With the Ancestors guiding me along the way, I sincerely pray I am honoring them as I share their story.
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| Mitchell Heath cir. 1959 Beulah Baptist Church Usher Board Anniversary |
When it comes to relationships, Granddaddy was very fond of his sister, Essie Mae (nee Heath) Patterson-Tillman. I do not remember much except the family preparing for her homegoing services in 1981 and Granddaddy speaking of his fond memories of his older sister. He was also very close with his brother, Earnest Heath, and his baby sister, Mattie Jane (nee Heath) Montgomery. Out of all the family members on my Heath side, these were the names I heard the most. As I grew older, I began to hear more about Uncle Allen Heath, Aunt Nancy (nee Heath) Carter, and cousins Anna Bea and Casper (Uncle Allen's children). Granddaddy was man of few words when it came to his family, but he truly embraced his family with love and instilled in his daughter, grandchildren, and great-grandchildren to love and cherish family.
As a young boy, Granddaddy and his family had relocated to Cincinnati, Hamilton County, Ohio. By 1924, Granddaddy's parents were documented as Cincinnati residents living at 544 George Street which was then in the old historic West End community near downtown Cincinnati. There were many black families living in the West End who had migrated north from the south. Granddaddy would have been 14 years old in 1924 and own his way to becoming a man and establishing his place in Cincinnati. On September 16, 1928 Granddaddy married the love his life, my Granny and his precious Anna Lue Barrow. Together, their love story is amazing. Mitchell and Anna only had one child, their one and only Jessie Mae and my beloved Grandmother. Granddaddy worked hard to provide for his family as well as establish a strong sense of giving back to his community. By the mid to late 1960s, Mitchell and Anna had purchased their home located at 218 Donahue Street in the Corryville community of Cincinnati. This home was a part of the family through fives generations, and their are so many precious memories of family gatherings in which Mitchell and Anna ensured all the family enjoyed through their labor of love.
Granddaddy was a faithful member of the Beulah Missionary Baptist Church also located in the old West End area of downtown Cincinnati. Granddaddy was instrumental in many church ministries to include the Male Chorus and the Usher Board. As a senior member of the Male Chorus, Granddaddy was a lead vocalist who certainly stirred up the church with his melodious rendition of "Have I Given Anything Today" and oh the memories that are flooding my mind and soul right now. Just as much as he loved singing, he was a faithful and dedicated usher for many years and instrumental in Beulah establishing a Senior and Junior Usher Board. Many church members as well as community members looked up to Granddaddy and he was an inspiration to all he came in contact with. Granddaddy was a true man of God, a man of distinction, a man of honor and integrity, and a legend in his own right. He is the greatest man on earth in my lifetime as he taught me to be a follower and believer in my Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ. Thank you Granddaddy for the message of faith!
Today, I am singing "Have I Given Anything Today?"
Have I given anything today?
Have I helped some needed soul on the way?
From the dawn till setting sun, have I wounded anyone?
Shall I weep for what I've done today?
Oh today, oh the day, oh the day
Have I failed some greater flame on the way
Just to know I've done my best as I go to take my rest
Let my name be blessed today.
Have I made some person glad today?
Did I help someone who had a mortal day?
Did I cancel with the sad try to make some poor heart glad.
Answer wisdom what I had today.
Oh today, oh the day, oh the day
Have I failed some greater flame on the way
Just to know I've done my best as I go to take my rest
Let my name be blessed today.
Thank you Thomas A. Dorsey for these words of a powerful testimony and thank you Granddaddy for singing from the heart! As I continue to my ancestry journey in discovering more of my Heath family, I continue to reflect upon Granddaddy's lifelong lesson of FAITH and FAMILY, the tie that binds! Granddaddy, thank you for asking "Have I given Anything Today!"
Thursday, March 20, 2014
FAITH and FAMILY: The Tie That Binds
FAMILY is often a word many of use to describe a group of people we identify with on a regular basis as the backbone of our support system. FAMILY could include those related by blood lines as well as those we have established a great kinship with through friendship, loyalty, and respect. My mother taught me one simple principle throughout life and I continue to share it with my children and that is "if you don't have nothing else in this world, next to God you have FAMILY." These words have resonated with me through the years. As I approach my fourth decade of living, I too am reminded that FAITH in God and FAMILY are two great power sources of strength we just can't live without.
FAMILY: a group of people who are related to each other; a group of related people including people who lived in the past. (Merriam-Webster Dictionary)
FAITH: strong belief or trust in someone or something; belief in the existence of God; strong religious feelings or beliefs. (Merriam-Webster Dictionary)
After reading a soul stirring rendition of FAITH as recalled by a fellow genealogist and supporter of all things technology related with respect to genealogy and FAMILY history, I began to reach back to my childhood and remember the days of old. Thank you +Luckie Daniels for the revival and I must say again, thank you to your Uncle Jake for the sermon. Uncle Jake is of no relation to me (at the present moment but we share southern roots alike) and he was a beloved family member and great uncle of Luckie who wrote the beloved rendition 5th Edition Carnival of African American Genealogy ~ REBIRTH: Journeying By Faith post on her blog Our Georgia Roots. As I began to read and travel along Uncle Jake's journey and understood FAITH more and the connection with FAMILY, I immediately went back to my childhood memories of growing up on Cincinnati, Ohio and my beloved church family.
Going to church as a child was not a task, but it was FAMILY tradition. I remember going to church Sunday school promptly every Sunday while attending the Beulah Missionary Baptist Church. Sunday mornings consisted of eating breakfast with my great-grandparents Granny (Anna Lue Barrow-Heath) and Granddaddy (Mitchell Heath), their beautiful daughter my beloved Grandmother, Jessie Mae Heath-Eubanks, and my aunts who are like my big sisters, Darlene and Sherry. Sunday morning was about FAMILY. And after Sunday school, we held our lesson review which always included the church and family elders rendering praise to us 'young folk' for remembering our bible verse or simply being able to stand before the congregation and summarize what we learned in forty-five minutes. Singing in the choir was not a task either, but it was so much fun because it was the one time children could stand in church and belt out melodious songs loudly without being scolded for being too loud. And we were a part of the worship experience! What's amazing to me now as I am writing this is the fact I called the church service a worship experience, because as child growing up old school - it was simply church. After church, we would travel back to Granny and Granddaddy's house to a home cooked meal like no other. Every Sunday was like Thanksgiving. And every meal was prepared with love and especially for the FAMILY.
One of my favorite songs growing up was 'God Has Smiled On Me' and then for the choir director to pass each one us in the choir the microphone to sing a lead part, well you couldn't tell me nothing then and you can't tell me nothing now!
God has smiled on me, He has set me free.
God has smiled on me, He's been good to me.
He is the source of all my joy, He fills me with His love.
Everything that I need, He sends it down from above.
God has smiled on me, He has set me free.
God has smiled on me, He's been good to me.
A light unto my path is He, Without Him I would fall.
I don't know what He is to you, But to me He's my all and all.
God has smiled on me, He has set me free.
God has smiled on me, He's been good to me.
A simple song but with a powerful message for the young and the old. FAITH and FAMILY for me are joined at the hip. Why one may ask? Well for me it is simple and pure in nature. Our Ancestors lived on the promises there would be better days than their eyes had seen. The Ancestors had FAITH God would bring about change if not in their time, then in the time of their children and generations of grandchildren. The Ancestors believed in the power of prayer, believed in the FAMILY network, believed in the principle their is power in numbers, and more importantly believed in a higher power guiding them through the ages. So the Ancestors had FAITH which has been instilled in all of us whether we embrace it or not. And the Ancestors and how we identify with one another today is representative of our FAMILY.
On November 9, 2013, I joined the FaceBook group African American Genealogy & Slave Ancestry Research (AAGSAR) and immediately my life changed as a result of a group of individuals dedicated to our respective families' histories and honoring the Ancestors as they guide us along our journey. The group's founder is +Luckie Daniels and subsequently the founder of the new Google+ group +AAGSAR: You Got Roots?! which is another extension of the AAGSAR FAMILY. This group of professionals, mentors, supporters, teachers, and leaders of all things technology related has pushed so many of us newbies into an online experience uniting family history and genealogy research with online exposure like no other. I can tie the two experiences of church and social media together because for me it is FAITH in knowing I can reach the masses in a new way as well as building upon FAMILY connections in a way I never imagined. In November, I never thought I would be blogging. In November, I never thought I would create a Twitter account or even Google+ account, and fast forward to today and I am doing all three. And it is simply because of the belief Luckie and the AAGSAR Tribe FAMILY has in me to rise to the occasion. It is because of countless family members who call upon me day and night asking how the branches connect? Where did various surnames originate? When did the FAMILY migrate north, west, and east? It is an honor and I count it a privilege to have the knowledge as well as the willingness to share it. FAITH and FAMILY, The Tie That Binds!
Through the years as I have journeyed searching and searching for answers to who I am and just where did my Ancestors come from, I have learned to rely on my FAITH trusting and believing I would find them. I would find the roots of the many branches, the lines that connect us all, the tree that keeps on growing and sprouting new branches and leaves in each new season. Yes, we are in a new season but filled with the 'ole time way' and yet I still feel like the little boy singing 'God Has Smiled On Me'. I am grateful for my 40 years of living, and I know my living will not be in vain. I am grateful the Ancestors called upon me and countless others to tell their stories, fill the pages so they can be read, post online so they can be found and families reunited, and take to the airwaves so all can listen to their voices. FAMILY is everything to me and my FAITH keeps me strong.
As I continue to bridge the gaps between the past and present, songs of old like Leaning On The Everlasting Arms, Down At The Cross, Glad To Be In The Service, and It Is Well With My Soul touch my heart and fill me with great joy and pride with a sense of belonging. To Some Ancestry studies and genealogical research is a chore or even a burden. To me and many others, it is rejuvenating and rewarding as we champion on behalf of the Ancestors as well as the generations of kinfolks searching for answers in hopes they too can find a connection as well as be found. I am living each day #WalkingInPurpose while leaning, trusting, believing, and praying I will make a difference and leave the legacy for the next generation to pay it forward. My FAITH is strong and the FAMILY is keeping me motivated. Thank you to my beloved family and my precious gifts, my children for believing in me and sharing in all the excitement as you have embarked on the journey along with me over the years. To Luckie and +AAGSAR: You Got Roots?! FAMILY, many thanks for the continued support and motivation!
Ancestors, I am listening, honored, and thankful for the Ancestors Call! FAITH and FAMILY, The Tie That Binds!
Dante
FAMILY: a group of people who are related to each other; a group of related people including people who lived in the past. (Merriam-Webster Dictionary)
FAITH: strong belief or trust in someone or something; belief in the existence of God; strong religious feelings or beliefs. (Merriam-Webster Dictionary)
After reading a soul stirring rendition of FAITH as recalled by a fellow genealogist and supporter of all things technology related with respect to genealogy and FAMILY history, I began to reach back to my childhood and remember the days of old. Thank you +Luckie Daniels for the revival and I must say again, thank you to your Uncle Jake for the sermon. Uncle Jake is of no relation to me (at the present moment but we share southern roots alike) and he was a beloved family member and great uncle of Luckie who wrote the beloved rendition 5th Edition Carnival of African American Genealogy ~ REBIRTH: Journeying By Faith post on her blog Our Georgia Roots. As I began to read and travel along Uncle Jake's journey and understood FAITH more and the connection with FAMILY, I immediately went back to my childhood memories of growing up on Cincinnati, Ohio and my beloved church family.
Going to church as a child was not a task, but it was FAMILY tradition. I remember going to church Sunday school promptly every Sunday while attending the Beulah Missionary Baptist Church. Sunday mornings consisted of eating breakfast with my great-grandparents Granny (Anna Lue Barrow-Heath) and Granddaddy (Mitchell Heath), their beautiful daughter my beloved Grandmother, Jessie Mae Heath-Eubanks, and my aunts who are like my big sisters, Darlene and Sherry. Sunday morning was about FAMILY. And after Sunday school, we held our lesson review which always included the church and family elders rendering praise to us 'young folk' for remembering our bible verse or simply being able to stand before the congregation and summarize what we learned in forty-five minutes. Singing in the choir was not a task either, but it was so much fun because it was the one time children could stand in church and belt out melodious songs loudly without being scolded for being too loud. And we were a part of the worship experience! What's amazing to me now as I am writing this is the fact I called the church service a worship experience, because as child growing up old school - it was simply church. After church, we would travel back to Granny and Granddaddy's house to a home cooked meal like no other. Every Sunday was like Thanksgiving. And every meal was prepared with love and especially for the FAMILY.
One of my favorite songs growing up was 'God Has Smiled On Me' and then for the choir director to pass each one us in the choir the microphone to sing a lead part, well you couldn't tell me nothing then and you can't tell me nothing now!
God has smiled on me, He has set me free.
God has smiled on me, He's been good to me.
He is the source of all my joy, He fills me with His love.
Everything that I need, He sends it down from above.
God has smiled on me, He has set me free.
God has smiled on me, He's been good to me.
A light unto my path is He, Without Him I would fall.
I don't know what He is to you, But to me He's my all and all.
God has smiled on me, He has set me free.
God has smiled on me, He's been good to me.
A simple song but with a powerful message for the young and the old. FAITH and FAMILY for me are joined at the hip. Why one may ask? Well for me it is simple and pure in nature. Our Ancestors lived on the promises there would be better days than their eyes had seen. The Ancestors had FAITH God would bring about change if not in their time, then in the time of their children and generations of grandchildren. The Ancestors believed in the power of prayer, believed in the FAMILY network, believed in the principle their is power in numbers, and more importantly believed in a higher power guiding them through the ages. So the Ancestors had FAITH which has been instilled in all of us whether we embrace it or not. And the Ancestors and how we identify with one another today is representative of our FAMILY.
On November 9, 2013, I joined the FaceBook group African American Genealogy & Slave Ancestry Research (AAGSAR) and immediately my life changed as a result of a group of individuals dedicated to our respective families' histories and honoring the Ancestors as they guide us along our journey. The group's founder is +Luckie Daniels and subsequently the founder of the new Google+ group +AAGSAR: You Got Roots?! which is another extension of the AAGSAR FAMILY. This group of professionals, mentors, supporters, teachers, and leaders of all things technology related has pushed so many of us newbies into an online experience uniting family history and genealogy research with online exposure like no other. I can tie the two experiences of church and social media together because for me it is FAITH in knowing I can reach the masses in a new way as well as building upon FAMILY connections in a way I never imagined. In November, I never thought I would be blogging. In November, I never thought I would create a Twitter account or even Google+ account, and fast forward to today and I am doing all three. And it is simply because of the belief Luckie and the AAGSAR Tribe FAMILY has in me to rise to the occasion. It is because of countless family members who call upon me day and night asking how the branches connect? Where did various surnames originate? When did the FAMILY migrate north, west, and east? It is an honor and I count it a privilege to have the knowledge as well as the willingness to share it. FAITH and FAMILY, The Tie That Binds!As I continue to bridge the gaps between the past and present, songs of old like Leaning On The Everlasting Arms, Down At The Cross, Glad To Be In The Service, and It Is Well With My Soul touch my heart and fill me with great joy and pride with a sense of belonging. To Some Ancestry studies and genealogical research is a chore or even a burden. To me and many others, it is rejuvenating and rewarding as we champion on behalf of the Ancestors as well as the generations of kinfolks searching for answers in hopes they too can find a connection as well as be found. I am living each day #WalkingInPurpose while leaning, trusting, believing, and praying I will make a difference and leave the legacy for the next generation to pay it forward. My FAITH is strong and the FAMILY is keeping me motivated. Thank you to my beloved family and my precious gifts, my children for believing in me and sharing in all the excitement as you have embarked on the journey along with me over the years. To Luckie and +AAGSAR: You Got Roots?! FAMILY, many thanks for the continued support and motivation!
Ancestors, I am listening, honored, and thankful for the Ancestors Call! FAITH and FAMILY, The Tie That Binds!
Dante
Thursday, March 6, 2014
Thinking of Grandma Jessie Mae Heath-Eubanks: Her Life, Her Story, Her Legacy
As time passes by, I am always pondering the memories of time spent with my Grandmother, her parents, and all my aunts and uncles. As a little boy growing up in Cincinnati, I was lucky because I spent every weekend at my Grandmother's house. And every weekend, my Grandmother made me feel extra special just by sharing any and everything with me. And to think, we did so much just on Saturday and Sunday. My Grandmother was a special lady with class and style like no other. To many, she was the neighborhood popcorn lady or simply the best chocolate cake baker, and she could even make the best potato salad in the midwest. She was awesome and even on what we thought were her bad days, my Grandmother always smiled with grace, dignity, and love! Her smile was infectious and her laughter was memorable. Her name is Jessie Mae Heath-Eubanks.
Affectionately known as Momma, Grandmomma, or Aunt Jessie Mae to family, Sister Eubanks to her church family, or simply Jessie, she was known by everyone! In 1929, the lives of Mitchell Heath and Anna Lue Barrow changed forever as their one and only child, Jessie Mae, was born. Jessie Mae Heath was born on February 19, 1929 in Cincinnati, Ohio. Grandmomma was raised and reared in the old West End section of Cincinnati along with several of her Alabama and Georgia relatives.
Grandmomma, like her mother Anna, often spoke of her family members especially her maternal grandmother, Annie Elizabeth Hunter Nelloms-Barrow, she affectionately called Grand Annie. Grandmomma spent her younger years under the wings of her maternal grandparents and many of her extended family members. Her extended family included the Barrow, Hunter, Nelloms, Heath, Carter, Stonestreet, Griffin, and Montgomery families to name a few. Yes, between Grandmomma's parents, she was from a big family and she knew them all.
As a young girl, Grandmomma attendend Cincinnati Public Schools and graduated from the old Woodward High School which was located in downtown Cincinnati at that time. She had also attended church with her family and became a member of the Beulah Missionary Baptist Church at the age of 14. During her younger years, Grandmomma worshiped under the leadership of Rev. Johnson, Rev. David S. Glenn, Rev. James E. Martin, and Rev. Dr. John B. Ivey. She loved her Pastors and faithfully served God until her health began to fail. Grandmomma had held many positions in the church, but one close to her heart was serving through song as a choir member. Grandmomma was actually one of the original Junior Choir members when she joined as a teenager. She remained with the same choir through the years as the choir changed names and evolved as well bringing many new members and families to the church. Church was everything to Grandmomma, and there wasn't any doubt where you could find her on Sunday mornings.
Grandmomma would talk for days about family, and for that I am grateful! On one of my many days of interviews and discussions about our family history, Grandmomma shared with me about her trips down south with her aunt on her father's side, Aunt Ornnie Smith-Heath. Her trips south were one of many fond memories of family, but it truly is a fond memory of mine recalling how Grandmomma would tell the story. She enjoyed going down to Georgia visiting relatives and spending quality time with them, and this is what I believe began her knowledge of our family history. She talked about going to see her Nelloms family and a few Barrow cousins too, but her favorite part of the trips south were visiting with Uncle Clem, Uncle Tom, and Cousins Effie and Tess, the Atlanta Nelloms family members. The trips were something she looked forward to every summer as little girl, and she could recall names just as quick as you asked her who someone was or how they were related. On one particular trip down south, while going out on the town visiting and shopping, Aunt Ornnie and Grandmomma got on the bus. Aunt Ornnie paid for the both of them, and Grandmomma sat down in a seat in the front!! During the 1930s, this was not the thing to do for blacks, but my Grandmother did not know as she was born up north. The bus driver talked very sternly to Aunt Ornnie and told her to get "that gal" to the back or there would be trouble. Grandmomma said she moved quickly while Aunt Ornnie talked softly letting her know what she had done wrong. It was this trip that changed my Grandmother's view of the south, and according to her it was her last trip down south to visit family.
Another fond memory I recall was hearing my Grandmother talk of her aunt on her mother's side, Aunt Jennie (Granny's oldest sister). Aunt Jennie was the oldest daughter of Papa Ervin and Grand Annie, and she was beautiful! Grandmomma always said Aunt Jennie was her favorite aunt and just watching my Grandmother talk of her was a joy in itself because you felt the love Aunt Jennie had for Grandmomma and the love Grandmomma had for Aunt Jennie. Now Aunt Jennie passed away before my mother was born which was in the early 1950s. Aunt Jennie was married to Uncle John Henry Harper, and they had two daughters, Janice & JoAnn (affectionately known as Peaches and Puddin respectively). Stay tuned for a post on Aunt Jennie and Uncle John Henry. Grandmomma always said Aunt Jennie was sweet as sugar with a heart pure as gold. As I am typing, I am tearing up as I am reminded of my Grandmother's love and all the memories are racing through my mind.
Now, I could go on and on about Grandma Jessie Mae but I must save some information for more posts. As a family, we honored her on her 85th birthday by remembering her love of family, church family, and community. She indeed was a classy woman with style, grace, and poise. Thank you Grandmomma for loving life to the fullest and for sharing a rich heritage with us all.
Grandmomma, like her mother Anna, often spoke of her family members especially her maternal grandmother, Annie Elizabeth Hunter Nelloms-Barrow, she affectionately called Grand Annie. Grandmomma spent her younger years under the wings of her maternal grandparents and many of her extended family members. Her extended family included the Barrow, Hunter, Nelloms, Heath, Carter, Stonestreet, Griffin, and Montgomery families to name a few. Yes, between Grandmomma's parents, she was from a big family and she knew them all.
As a young girl, Grandmomma attendend Cincinnati Public Schools and graduated from the old Woodward High School which was located in downtown Cincinnati at that time. She had also attended church with her family and became a member of the Beulah Missionary Baptist Church at the age of 14. During her younger years, Grandmomma worshiped under the leadership of Rev. Johnson, Rev. David S. Glenn, Rev. James E. Martin, and Rev. Dr. John B. Ivey. She loved her Pastors and faithfully served God until her health began to fail. Grandmomma had held many positions in the church, but one close to her heart was serving through song as a choir member. Grandmomma was actually one of the original Junior Choir members when she joined as a teenager. She remained with the same choir through the years as the choir changed names and evolved as well bringing many new members and families to the church. Church was everything to Grandmomma, and there wasn't any doubt where you could find her on Sunday mornings.
Grandmomma would talk for days about family, and for that I am grateful! On one of my many days of interviews and discussions about our family history, Grandmomma shared with me about her trips down south with her aunt on her father's side, Aunt Ornnie Smith-Heath. Her trips south were one of many fond memories of family, but it truly is a fond memory of mine recalling how Grandmomma would tell the story. She enjoyed going down to Georgia visiting relatives and spending quality time with them, and this is what I believe began her knowledge of our family history. She talked about going to see her Nelloms family and a few Barrow cousins too, but her favorite part of the trips south were visiting with Uncle Clem, Uncle Tom, and Cousins Effie and Tess, the Atlanta Nelloms family members. The trips were something she looked forward to every summer as little girl, and she could recall names just as quick as you asked her who someone was or how they were related. On one particular trip down south, while going out on the town visiting and shopping, Aunt Ornnie and Grandmomma got on the bus. Aunt Ornnie paid for the both of them, and Grandmomma sat down in a seat in the front!! During the 1930s, this was not the thing to do for blacks, but my Grandmother did not know as she was born up north. The bus driver talked very sternly to Aunt Ornnie and told her to get "that gal" to the back or there would be trouble. Grandmomma said she moved quickly while Aunt Ornnie talked softly letting her know what she had done wrong. It was this trip that changed my Grandmother's view of the south, and according to her it was her last trip down south to visit family.
Another fond memory I recall was hearing my Grandmother talk of her aunt on her mother's side, Aunt Jennie (Granny's oldest sister). Aunt Jennie was the oldest daughter of Papa Ervin and Grand Annie, and she was beautiful! Grandmomma always said Aunt Jennie was her favorite aunt and just watching my Grandmother talk of her was a joy in itself because you felt the love Aunt Jennie had for Grandmomma and the love Grandmomma had for Aunt Jennie. Now Aunt Jennie passed away before my mother was born which was in the early 1950s. Aunt Jennie was married to Uncle John Henry Harper, and they had two daughters, Janice & JoAnn (affectionately known as Peaches and Puddin respectively). Stay tuned for a post on Aunt Jennie and Uncle John Henry. Grandmomma always said Aunt Jennie was sweet as sugar with a heart pure as gold. As I am typing, I am tearing up as I am reminded of my Grandmother's love and all the memories are racing through my mind.
Now, I could go on and on about Grandma Jessie Mae but I must save some information for more posts. As a family, we honored her on her 85th birthday by remembering her love of family, church family, and community. She indeed was a classy woman with style, grace, and poise. Thank you Grandmomma for loving life to the fullest and for sharing a rich heritage with us all.
Sunday, January 26, 2014
Honoring My Cincinnati Matriarch: Getting to Know Granny, My Great-Grandmother Anna Lue Barrow-Heath Part II
I have always wondered what life was life for Granny, her parents, and the many relatives she often spoke of and shared with us all. This post about Granny is Part II and just another piece of her beautiful legacy. If you have not read Part I, then check it out here. I will follow-up more on how she grew up and the life of her parents in another post. My Granny was like no other. She enjoyed any and everything that had to do with her family. Granny was our matriarch and she possessed the patience of Job and the caring spirit a mother has for her children from birth till her last breath. I have always said Granny is the beginning of my genealogy experience as she shared so much with me and I listened.
Granny was the fourth child born to her parents, the third daughter, and devoted to family. Granny was well known by everyone or at least in my eyes she was as she was the glue that held the Cincinnati families together. Granny was the mother of my maternal grandmother, Jessie Mae Heath, and Jessie Mae was the only child. But only having one child did not stop Granny from loving on all her nieces and nephews. She had that much love for us all. And Granny showed her love to family in many ways, but one way always holds close to everyone's heart and I believe it was Granny's favorite thing to do.
I would have to say Granny's favorite things were her love of God, family, and cooking! Yes, Granny could cook like no other and no other could cook like Granny!!! Oh my, I can smell the fried chicken, ox tails and spaghetti, her famous oven baked barbeque ribs, and did I mention the fried corn!!!! YES INDEED, Granny could make meals that looked to pretty to eat, but you guessed right- we ate everything and savored each and every bite till the plate was clean. Granny put love in her cooking, and that is what made the difference. So you may ask, what is so unique about her cooking? And I will answer and say Granny put her heart and soul in everything she did, and cooking was just another way she shared her love with family.
Granny loved cooking so much that she cooked three meals a day, breakfast, lunch, and dinner. You see, Granny took care of her man! Granny loved her some Mitchell Heath, and Granddaddy, as we called him, loved him some Anna Lue. The two of them were two peas in a pod and created a home filled with love which spread across generations. And in loving her Mitchell, Granny saw to him being well fed each and every day. It was breakfast with my great-grandparents when I first remembered drinking coffee, and I thought it was the best thing. I even had my own cup, and Granny made sure everyone knew it was indeed my cup. Breakfast consisted of meat, usually sausage or bacon, scrambled eggs, grits, and toast. And Granny's breakfast, well there just wasn't any other like it! Lunch was always some good soup and possibly a good sandwich, but then dinner was like eating at a five star restaurant simply because it was Granny's cooking!
There is one traditional holiday gathering in Granny's lineage that never has changed over the years and has consistently took place through five generations and that is Thanksgiving. Thanksgiving was always held in Granny and Granddaddy's home. Granny would begin cooking early in the week, but bet your last dollar the meal was all done, table set, and tea made by early afternoon. There was so much food with enough to feed an army. Yes, I know such a cliché, but it's true! Granny cooked enough for everybody and if someone stopped by just for a quick visit, they left with a plate. That is how much love Granny had and how much she put it in her cooking. Granny showered us all in love, comfort, and with her wisdom. Cooking is not all she mastered, but to me it is the one thing filled with her love and exemplified her love for her family!
Granny's love of cooking and sharing with the family passed onto to her daughter, my grandmother, and in turn to the granddaughters, my mother and her two sisters who continue the Thanksgiving tradition to this day. I'm thinking of the song sang by Tina Turner, 'What's Love Got to Do with It?' and I can honestly say, EVERYTHING!!
Granny, thank you for loving us all and for allowing me to share your amazing journey!
Dante
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| Anna Lue Barrow-Heath, Cir 1940s Cincinnati, Ohio |
I would have to say Granny's favorite things were her love of God, family, and cooking! Yes, Granny could cook like no other and no other could cook like Granny!!! Oh my, I can smell the fried chicken, ox tails and spaghetti, her famous oven baked barbeque ribs, and did I mention the fried corn!!!! YES INDEED, Granny could make meals that looked to pretty to eat, but you guessed right- we ate everything and savored each and every bite till the plate was clean. Granny put love in her cooking, and that is what made the difference. So you may ask, what is so unique about her cooking? And I will answer and say Granny put her heart and soul in everything she did, and cooking was just another way she shared her love with family.
Granny loved cooking so much that she cooked three meals a day, breakfast, lunch, and dinner. You see, Granny took care of her man! Granny loved her some Mitchell Heath, and Granddaddy, as we called him, loved him some Anna Lue. The two of them were two peas in a pod and created a home filled with love which spread across generations. And in loving her Mitchell, Granny saw to him being well fed each and every day. It was breakfast with my great-grandparents when I first remembered drinking coffee, and I thought it was the best thing. I even had my own cup, and Granny made sure everyone knew it was indeed my cup. Breakfast consisted of meat, usually sausage or bacon, scrambled eggs, grits, and toast. And Granny's breakfast, well there just wasn't any other like it! Lunch was always some good soup and possibly a good sandwich, but then dinner was like eating at a five star restaurant simply because it was Granny's cooking!
There is one traditional holiday gathering in Granny's lineage that never has changed over the years and has consistently took place through five generations and that is Thanksgiving. Thanksgiving was always held in Granny and Granddaddy's home. Granny would begin cooking early in the week, but bet your last dollar the meal was all done, table set, and tea made by early afternoon. There was so much food with enough to feed an army. Yes, I know such a cliché, but it's true! Granny cooked enough for everybody and if someone stopped by just for a quick visit, they left with a plate. That is how much love Granny had and how much she put it in her cooking. Granny showered us all in love, comfort, and with her wisdom. Cooking is not all she mastered, but to me it is the one thing filled with her love and exemplified her love for her family!
Granny's love of cooking and sharing with the family passed onto to her daughter, my grandmother, and in turn to the granddaughters, my mother and her two sisters who continue the Thanksgiving tradition to this day. I'm thinking of the song sang by Tina Turner, 'What's Love Got to Do with It?' and I can honestly say, EVERYTHING!!
Granny, thank you for loving us all and for allowing me to share your amazing journey!
Dante
Saturday, January 11, 2014
Honoring My Cincinnati Matriarch: Getting to Know Granny, My Great-Grandmother Anna Lue Barrow-Heath Part I
I was pondering on the thought of why I love genealogy. What is my passion you might ask? What sparked my curiosity? What drives me to research hours upon hours? Well it all began as a simple school assignment and through time has evolved into a hobby and ultimately my purpose. Many family members from across the states call me the "walking family tree" given my wide range of knowledge of our ancestral ties to the south as well as my ability to run down the family tree backwards and forwards without looking at a single piece of paper. I call it “my purpose” in life to help bridge the gaps between our Ancestors and present generations. My journey to the online world of blogging began with my membership in the African American Genealogy & Slave Ancestry Research Facebook group and the support of the Tribe. Granny, this one's for you.
My Great-Grandmother, who I affectionately called Granny, on my maternal Grandmother's side is Anna Lue Barrow-Heath. She was the fourth of eight children born on March 8, 1913 to the union of Irvin Barrow and Annie Elizabeth Hunter Nelloms (Grand Annie). For Grand Annie See The Hunter-Nelloms Connection. Granny is my Cincinnati family matriarch, and the first family member I interviewed about our family's southern roots.
In 1988 on one of many visits to my Grandmother’s house, the family was all together which included my Mom, Joyce, her sisters Aunt Darlene and Aunt Sherry, my Great-Grandparents, Mitchell Heath and Anne Lue Barrow, and of course my Grandmother, Jessie Mae who I loved dearly and spent every weekend with listening to old Sunday worship services while sitting on the porch. To some, one may ask what teenager did that. And I would respond by saying, well I did. We were all gathered on the first floor of the house. You see, Granny and Granddaddy lived on the first floor and Grandmamma lived on the second floor. But anytime we were all together, the gathering place was on the first floor. The conversation somehow migrated from what was on television to Granny and Granddaddy’s childhood years in Georgia. Granny always talked about her Papa and Grand Annie. Granddaddy on the other hand did not like to talk much about his parents (more on the Georgia Heath lineage later). It was this conversation Granny talked about where she was born.
Granny used to say she was born in Atlanta, Ga. In fact, on her obituary my Grandmamma had written her was born in Atlanta, Georgia to Irvin and Annie Barrow. After years of searching through the soundex indexes and the census records, I learned that Granny was born in Chambers County, Alabama along with her older siblings Jennie, Amos, and Leola. I first found Papa and Grand Annie in the 1910 Census married and living on Five Points Road #1 in Fredonia, Chambers County, Alabama (Enumeration District 0022, Precinct 6) with two of their children, Jennie Lou (born 1907) and Amos (born 1909).
In 1988 on one of many visits to my Grandmother’s house, the family was all together which included my Mom, Joyce, her sisters Aunt Darlene and Aunt Sherry, my Great-Grandparents, Mitchell Heath and Anne Lue Barrow, and of course my Grandmother, Jessie Mae who I loved dearly and spent every weekend with listening to old Sunday worship services while sitting on the porch. To some, one may ask what teenager did that. And I would respond by saying, well I did. We were all gathered on the first floor of the house. You see, Granny and Granddaddy lived on the first floor and Grandmamma lived on the second floor. But anytime we were all together, the gathering place was on the first floor. The conversation somehow migrated from what was on television to Granny and Granddaddy’s childhood years in Georgia. Granny always talked about her Papa and Grand Annie. Granddaddy on the other hand did not like to talk much about his parents (more on the Georgia Heath lineage later). It was this conversation Granny talked about where she was born.
Granny used to say she was born in Atlanta, Ga. In fact, on her obituary my Grandmamma had written her was born in Atlanta, Georgia to Irvin and Annie Barrow. After years of searching through the soundex indexes and the census records, I learned that Granny was born in Chambers County, Alabama along with her older siblings Jennie, Amos, and Leola. I first found Papa and Grand Annie in the 1910 Census married and living on Five Points Road #1 in Fredonia, Chambers County, Alabama (Enumeration District 0022, Precinct 6) with two of their children, Jennie Lou (born 1907) and Amos (born 1909).
In the 1920 Census for Fulton County, Georgia, Granny is a little girl at age 7 living with her parents in East Point, Fulton County, Georgia (Enumeration District 161, East Point District) along with her siblings Jennie, Amos, Leola, Sarah, and Ruth. In 1920, Granny's birth place is listed as Alabama along with her older siblings. But as you notice in the 1910 Census, her older siblings are listed as being born in Georgia. This has been a mystery for the family for years.
Granny lived in Georgia and grew up East Point which is a surburb of until the family relocated to Cincinnati, Ohio in 1922 when her father received employment. Moving up north as the family down south called it. There were many migrations from the south to the north all based on better jobs and increased opportunities for the family to prosper. Upon moving to Cincinnati, Granny always stated the family was very close. She said there were many gatherings with family members who had also migrated north. But one gathering Granny always enjoyed and carried forward with her own family was Sunday dinners Granny enjoyed spending time with family and she enjoyed cooking too. Granny was famous for her fried corn, oxtails, pound cakes, and her holiday meals especially those on Thanksgiving and Christmas.
Granny met the love of her life, Mitchell, and on September 16, 1928 the two were married. They only had once child, my Grandmother Jessie Mae. More to come later on Mitchell and Anna's love story and their beautiful daughter. It was my Granny who taught me about her mother, affectionately known as Grand Annie, and her father, Papa Irvin, her aunts, uncles, and cousins. She often talked about two of her favorite uncles, her Uncle Bossie and Uncle Tom, as if they lived right there in the house with her. Family meant everything to her, and I guess in a sense that has passed down through the generations to me. There are so many fond memories of Granny and I intend to pass down her legacy to family and friends alike. I learned a lot from Granny and I swear I was her favorite great-grandson. Stay tuned!
Granny lived in Georgia and grew up East Point which is a surburb of until the family relocated to Cincinnati, Ohio in 1922 when her father received employment. Moving up north as the family down south called it. There were many migrations from the south to the north all based on better jobs and increased opportunities for the family to prosper. Upon moving to Cincinnati, Granny always stated the family was very close. She said there were many gatherings with family members who had also migrated north. But one gathering Granny always enjoyed and carried forward with her own family was Sunday dinners Granny enjoyed spending time with family and she enjoyed cooking too. Granny was famous for her fried corn, oxtails, pound cakes, and her holiday meals especially those on Thanksgiving and Christmas.
Granny met the love of her life, Mitchell, and on September 16, 1928 the two were married. They only had once child, my Grandmother Jessie Mae. More to come later on Mitchell and Anna's love story and their beautiful daughter. It was my Granny who taught me about her mother, affectionately known as Grand Annie, and her father, Papa Irvin, her aunts, uncles, and cousins. She often talked about two of her favorite uncles, her Uncle Bossie and Uncle Tom, as if they lived right there in the house with her. Family meant everything to her, and I guess in a sense that has passed down through the generations to me. There are so many fond memories of Granny and I intend to pass down her legacy to family and friends alike. I learned a lot from Granny and I swear I was her favorite great-grandson. Stay tuned!
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