Author name: Michael Willis

Michael Willis is an East Bay Area native who began his genealogical journey at the age of 8 when he memorized seven generations of his maternal line as told to him by his grandmother. An accomplished lecturer and trainer, Michael has covered topics such as oral history, genetic genealogy, the Freedman’s Bureau and African Americans in Civil War military records.He primarily specializes in Louisiana research, particularly in West Feliciana, Orleans, East Baton Rouge and Terrebonne Parishes. Michael is a member of the African American Genealogical Society of Northern California (AAGSNC) where he currently serves on the Board of Directors. He is also a member Le Comité des Archives de la Louisiane, a non-profit genealogical support group for the Louisiana State Archives. A graduate of the University of California, Davis, Michael currently works as an IT Account Manager for the State of California.

A Nine Year Search Has Come to an End!!!

6 Comments / Father's side / /
FINALLY!  

For nine long years I’ve searched for my 2nd great-grandmother’s maiden name and I finally found it! I acquired her death record in 2013, but there was no vital information on it.

She is Mamie PENNY, wife of Edward Benton, my 2nd great-grandfather.  My grandfather’s sister, my Aunt Marguerite, told me her mother, Artimease (Benton) Willis-Jackson and her siblings were born in Gramercy, Louisiana.  This Social Security Application Index of her youngest sibling, Ernest Benton, Sr., confirms the birth location and now presents their mother’s maiden name.  HELLO GRANDMA MAMIE!
U.S. Social Security Application and Claims Index, 1936-2007

Below is her death record–the only other information I had on Mamie.

According to Aunt Marguerite, her mother told her Mamie died at a young age–when Artimease, my great-grandmother & the oldest of seven children, was 15 years old. Artimease, and her father, Edward Benton, had to raise her younger brothers and sisters.  Edward was born and raised in Baton Rouge, Louisiana.  When his wife died, he moved his family from Gramercy (in St. James Parish) back to East Baton Rouge Parish. Their youngest child, Earnest was just 2 years old when their mother died.

To Be, or Not To Be a Wederstrandt: DNA Answered the Question

4 Comments / Father's side / /
Artimease
Wederstrandt Benton

In March of 2013, I posted a blog entitled “Bentons and Jacksons: The Truth Revealed” which detailed new information my cousin, James Hill III, and I discovered about my paternal grandfather’s maternal side of his family.  One of the highlights mentioned was discovering my 3x Great-Grandmother’s maiden name, Artimease (or Arthemise) Wederstrandt.  On May 14, 2013, a gentleman by the name of Herndon Blake Wederstrandt happened to find my blog during a Google search and posted the following comment on my blog:

 
“Sir, my name is Herndon Wederstrandt, I might be able to help you, please reply back if interested.”
 
Herndon Blake
Wederstrandt

Needless to say, I was very intrigued and emailed him right away.  From that day forward James and I began to establish a relationship with Herndon and explore the possibility we may be relatives.  Herndon, better known as “Blake,” expressed great confidence that we were related—not only because of the uncommon last name, but also due to the picture of Artimease he saw on my blog post.  He stated that she looked very much like his ancestors. He sent me a picture of his 1st cousin, 6x removed, Margaret Smith Wederstrandt Morse, to show the resemblance to Artimease and I was dumbfounded!

 
Margaret Smith
Wederstrandt Morse

Nonetheless, I was initially skeptical because being a descendant of slaves, you become very caution about any and all documentation concerning your enslaved ancestors– or as my dear friend and colleague, Nicka Smith, brilliantly labeled them, our “Slavecestors.”  How did I know Artimease was really a Wederstrandt by birth?  In some cases, freedmen didn’t retain the surname of the their former enslavers and some changed their names entirely for various reasons.  If she was a Wederstrandt by birth, which parent carried the name?  In the aforementioned post, I stated that it was discovered Artimease had an older sister named Hiawartha Wederstrandt, but on the 1880 Census, Hiawartha stated her father was born in Maryland, and Artimease did not answer the question which left doubt they had the same father.  I wasn’t sure.  There were so many unanswered questions!

 
However, one document that supported the notion of kinship was a page in Artimease’s Widows Pension Application.  These applications were filed by widows of Civil War Veterans who believed themselves to be eligible for pension benefits.  I ordered this pension file from the National Archives in Washington, DC in July of 2013.  Below is a portion of a sworn affidavit from John Alexander, a former U.S. Colored Union Troop, who testified that he personally knew Artimease and her late husband, my 3rd great-grandfather, Thomas Benton.  It specifically states that Alexander knew “Arthemise Wetherstrane by witch name she wore off her father…” As an original and primary source, this document was critical.

 

Document from Artimease
Document from Artimease’s Civil War Widow’s Pension File


In July of 2013, while attending the Benton Family Reunion in Baton Rouge, Louisiana, James, my dad, my cousin, Tonya and I, arranged to meet Blake and his family for dinner.  We had a great & memorable time!  I mentioned to Blake that in December of 2010, I met a woman named Nancy Wederstrandt on Ancestry.com two months after I met James, but we never established who a possible common ancestor was. Blake explained that Nancy was his 2nd cousin, once removed with Herndon’s dad being her second cousin.  They never physically met, but do correspond with each other periodically. Their most recent common ancestor (MRCA) is Robert (Pronounced “RO-BEAR”) Carroll Wederstrandt (b. 1858) and his wife, Ida Loula (Williams) Wederstrandt. Robert was the son of Robert Charles Wederstrandt (b. 1832) and grandson of John Blake Wederstrandt (b. 1808).

The Wederstrandts: James Hill III (Far left), Tonya Castle (4th from left), Blake Wederstrandt (middle-rear), Amy Wederstrandt (2nd from right), Michael Willis (far right), Sanders Willis, Jr. (seated, front)

I asked Blake to take the DNA test offered by 23andme.com because several of my family members tested with 23andme:

  • James & his mother, Gloria
  • My grandfather’s siblings, Edward Willis and Marguerite Vernell 
  • My dad and I

The MRCA for my grandfather’s siblings and my dad is my great-grandmother Artimease Benton Willis-Jackson (not be confused with her grandmother Artimease Wederstrandt Benton).  Her father was Edward Benton, son of Artimease Wederstrandt Benton.  James & Gloria descend from Edward’s half sister, Maude Jackson which make the MRCA for all 6 of us Artimease Wederstrandt Benton.

Unfortunately, Blake did not match any of us!  We were all very disappointed, but we did not give up hope.  It is important to remember that DNA inheritance is random and the further the MRCA, the harder it is to detect matching segments of DNA.  I inherited approximately 50% of my dad’s DNA and he inherited approximately 50% of his dad’s DNA which means I inherited approximately 25% of my grandfather’s DNA, 12.5% of my great-grandmother’s DNA, and so forth.  This potential common ancestor with Blake would be my 4th great-grandfather, so you can image how small the percentage is and the probability of detection.  Yet, many descendants inherit different pieces of the same puzzle, so the only alternative course of action is to test more people–which brings me to Nancy because she was actually born a generation before Blake.

I’d lost touch with Nancy, but in January of 2015, she emailed me to share with me a 1910 census record she discovered listing a mulatto woman named “Martha Wederstrandt.”  I told her I was aware of the record and that Martha was, in fact, Hiawartha! I also let her know I met her cousin, Blake and was in constant communication with him.  On August 2, 2015, Nancy pleasantly surprised me with an email stating she tested with AncestryDNA offered by Ancestry.com.  Since the rest of us tested with a different company, the only way we could compare our results is by uploading our RAW data to a third-party website called GEDMatch.com that allows you to compare DNA information from 23andme.com, AncestryDNA and FTDNA.  Nancy reported that GEDMatch results yielded a match with Blake–3.9 generations from the MRCA, Gloria–4.1 generations from the MRCA and James–4.6 generations from the MRCA.

We are indeed Wederstrandts!

The difference of 3.9 generations between Nancy and Blake makes sense because their MRCAs, Robert Carroll & Ida Wederstrandt, are 3 generations apart from Nancy and 4 generations from Blake.  In Gloria’s case, Artimease’s unknown father is 4 generations apart from Gloria and Robert’s father, Robert CHARLES Wederstrandt, is 4 generations from Nancy, thus, the numbers would suggest he is Artimease’s father.  It is plausible because she was born around 1853 and he was born around 1832, but could he be old enough to be Hiawartha’s father?  According to all available census records from 1870-1910, it was reported consistently that she was born between 1844-45.  That would make Robert Charles a 12-13 year old father, however it must be noted that the 1900 census shows Hiawartha’s mother, Antoinette King, born in 1831 in Louisiana making her a 13-14 year old mother.  I found no other record of her existence prior to that.

In any case, the journey continues and another branch to explore.  New answers have lead to more questions and more stones to be overturned.  I look forward to it!

Another DNA Discovery: The Descendants of Robert Williams – Grandson of Julia Lee

7 Comments / Father's side / /
This “DNA stuff” has me hooked!
For those of us who have spent years researching our lineages and building our family trees, we know all too well the many brick walls we face in our journey. If you descend from African slaves, those brick walls are even thicker!  Genetic Genealogy is becoming increasingly popular due to the opportunities it presents to knock down some of those walls.  I am of the belief that Genetic Genealogy, when used to compliment traditional genealogical research techniques (versus using it as a primary source for research), can be a very powerful tool to break brick walls, bridge gaps in identifying ancestors and reunite families.
Elodie Schaeffer Carter

On July 7th, 2014, my paternal cousin, Shawn Taylor, introduced me to Rickey Carter and his wife, Elodie (Schaeffer) Carter, on 23andme.com, the website for a privately held personal genomics and biotechnology company that provides genetic testing and analysis of their customers’ DNA.  Utilizing their “Advanced: Family Inheritance” feature which allows two individuals to see the actual location on an entire genome they share identical segments of DNA, I discovered that Elodie’s genomes matched my father and several of his third cousins (see the graphic illustration at the end of this post). Those cousins included Shawn’s father, James Taylor, Michael Taylor, Kirk Young, Marva Harris, and a 4th cousin, Dolores Brown and her daughter, Nija–both previously discovered on 23andme. Excluding the last two people, all of these individuals were personally known to me and each other.  The common ancestor among all these individuals would be my 2x great-grandmother, Lizzie (Williams) Taylor aka “Mama Lizzie” who’s lineage I previously wrote about. Dolores and Nija connect through an ancestor two generations above Mama Lizzie: her grandmother, Julia Lee.  Based on 23andme’s predicted relationships with each known cousin, I was quite confident Elodie descended from one of Mama Lizzie’s siblings (i.e, the common ancestor would be Lizzie’s mother, Mary Haile Lee), but I needed proof.

To explain my presumption, I take you back to 1990 when I interviewed my great-grandmother, Essie Beatrice (Taylor) Mckinley, better known as “Essie B.”  She spoke of her mother, Lizzie’s siblings: Johnny Stone, Rob Williams and Kate Williams.  Essie stated Lizzie was the daughter of her mother’s slave owner, Col. Richard H. Haile, but her stepfather, Sheppard Williams (aka “Shep”), raised her. Her older brother, Johnny Stone, was the son of another white male who’s name is unknown. Sheppard fathered Mary’s last two children, Rob & Kate. Many relatives knew of Johnny & Kate, but no one recognized the name “Rob.”  I mention that fact to emphasize had it not been for Essie, much of what I’m about to tell you would be nearly impossible to conclude.  Essie only mentioned Rob’s name nothing more.  The only other info she provided was that “Aunte Kate’s” daughters or nieces moved her to New Orleans where she subsequently died.
Larry Schaeffer

Over the course of several months, Elodie and I discussed our family trees hoping to find the common ancestor, but part of the problem was not knowing which side of her family I related.  Her mother tested with 23andme and the results showed no one in my family matched her, thus, the process of elimination, stated the obvious– we are related to her father, Larry Schaeffer.  Elodie shared with me that her father and uncles carried their mother’s surname, “Schaeffer”–not their father’s which is “WILLIAMS.” She was unsure of her paternal grandfather’s name which she suspected to be either “Ronald” or “Robert Williams.”  Despite my excitement, their was no certainty the common ancestor was on that branch of her tree.  Even if her paternal grandfather was “Robert Williams,” the age would not match with “my Robert.”  My Robert was born in 1873 which was too old to be Larry’s father.  Also, her uncle told her that his father died in late December of 1971 or 1972 in New Orleans, Louisiana.  As a result, I spent months examining her paternal grandmother’s side (which she knew more about)–if for no other reason, to disprove a relationship on that branch.

Bobby V. Schaeffer

April 14, 2015.  Elodie and I are texting each other throughout the morning and I suddenly receive the following text from her:

“You’re gonna kill me too…Look what I found…”

Attached to the message was Bobby Schaeffer’s Funeral Program from 2003–her paternal uncle.  The obituary states he was the son of Robert Williams, Jr. and Valerie Schaeffer.  Now that we know that her grandfather was named after his father, Robert Williams, Sr., it’s certainly plausible the elder Robert’s age could match my Robert Williams. It also states he is survived by several family members including, but not limited to four brothers, Larry, Tommy, Jimmy & Charley.

 

Obituary of Bobby V. Schaeffer

Elodie searched the U,S, Social Security Death Index and discovered a Robert Williams born July 25, 1908 and died in December of 1972.

For months, I searched GenealogyBank.com, a website that hosts historical newspapers around the country, for old copies of New Orleans’ Times Picayune looking for a death notice in the obituary sections with no success.  Suddenly, I realized if Robert, Jr. died in LATE December of 1972, his death notice wouldn’t be published until January of 1973.  I changed my search criteria and discovered his death notice (shown below).  It states that Robert, the son of Robert Williams, Sr. and Mary Ford, died on Dec 31, 1972 in New Orleans.  His surviving siblings were Gertrude, Eli, Henry, Charles, Sheppard and Johnny.  The first three names Elodie recognized because she remembered her uncle mentioned those names.  The last two names caught my attention because of the name associations of the aforementioned brother of Robert, Sr., Johnny Stone and Robert’s father, Sheppard Williams.  Clearly, Robert, Sr. named these last two children after them.  The obituary also mentions Elodie’s father, Larry and his brother–all with the surname WILLIAMS, including Bobby Schaeffer, referred to as “Robert Williams III.”  Lastly, it states Robert, Jr. was a native of St, Francisville, Louisiana.  That is where my ancestors came from!!!

Newspaper Obituary for Robert Williams, Jr., Elodie (Shaeffer) Carter’s grandfather.

Shortly after this milestone in my research, I discovered the union of Robert Williams, Sr. and Mary Ford produced the following 11 children: Odile, Gertrude, Charles, Viola, Sheppard, Robert, Jr., Henry, James, Johnny, Elijah & Morris. What a wonderful discovery–to find the descendants of Robert Williams, Sr., my 2x great-grandmother brother…and all I had was his name!!!

DNA research continues to amaze me!

This graph illustrates shared DNA between Elodie Carter and some of my other known relatives in a one-to-many relationship validating the existence of close common ancestor.

Where Was This Picture Taken? (UPDATE)

Leave a Comment / Mother's Side / /

I told one of my co-workers about the picture my cousin sent me and he found this article about Ferries in the 1950’s that may have solved the mystery.

The 8th paragraph from the bottom states: 

“Another “walking beam” vessel, the SACRAMENTO, was also a 1922 rebuild, but her hull and machinery were launched in 1877 as the NEWARK. In 1954 the SACRAMENTO was retired, stripped and towed south to Redondo Beach for use as a public fishing pier for a good stretch of years. Today she sits on the bottom of the ocean, splattered into a million pieces.“ 

The paragraph before that one states the following:

“Attracting as much attention was the legendary sidewheeler EUREKA. Following the close of the Northwestern Pacific Railroad’s railferry terminal in Sausalito on February 28, 1941, she was transferred to the Oakland run. Her superstructure was a 1922 rebuild but her hull and machinery dated back to 1890 when launched as the UKIAH. Her demise came just-like-that. At midnight in early 1957, after picking up “Shasta Daylight” arrivals at the Mole, the EUREKA’S crank pin snapped enroute to the City. Repairs could have been minimal, but that was beside the point. The front office retired her, sentiment notwithstanding, and donated her to the Hyde Street Pier.”

“Shasta Daylight arrivals” refers to the SHASTA DAYLIGHT TRAIN owned by Southern Pacific Railroad.  I previously wrote about this train because my great-grandfather, William Leon Whitley, Jr., was the Head Chef on that train for nearly 50 years.


Where Was This Picture Taken?

5 Comments / Mother's Side / /

My cousin emailed this photo to me today, but we can’t figure out where it was taken.  The two young girls are my grandmother, Leona Edna Mae Whitley (Right) and her younger sister, Coralee Whitley, natives of Berkeley, CA. I would assume this picture was taken around 1930 even though it is dated “Oct 27 1938.”  Leona and Coralee were born in 1924 & 1925 so that would make them 14 and 13 respectively, and they are clearly not that old.

Was this picture actually taken in Sacramento, or on a boat known as “The Sacramento?”  If the former, was it the Delta King, or its sister ship, the Delta Queen?  Hmmm…another research project.

My grandmother passed away in 2004 so, my first step will be to ask my Aunt Coralee who is 89 years old.  Hopefully, she will remember this photo.

The backside of this photo reads: “GENUINE KRYSTAL GLOSS – GUARANTEED FOREVER – BEAR PHOTO SERVICE -OCT. 27 1938”

I Googled “Bear Photo Service” and found the following links:

Palo Alto Historical Association – Photograph Collection

Scott’s Photographica Collection

WorldCat: Bear Photo Service

West Feliciana Parish Slaves from Plantations Owned by Richard Haile & Sarah Rucker Haile

6 Comments / Father's side / /

The following is a list of slaves recorded on the succession record of Sarah Rucker Haile, wife of Richard H. Haile, dated May 13, 1859 in West Feliciana Parish, Louisiana.  For more information on this list click here.

Separate Property owned by Sarah Rucker Haile
Name
Approximate Age
Lige
aged 50 years
Betsey
aged 50 years
Lewis
aged 12 years
L. Bob
aged 35 years
Susan
aged 20 years
Louisa
aged 2 years
Pharis
aged 3 years
Francis
aged 28 years
Sam
aged 9 years
Judy
aged 55 years
Dave                 
aged 25 years 
Henrietta          
aged 22 years 
Old Maria      
aged 60 years   
Alfred        
aged 30 years         
John                 
aged 23 years 
Moses                
aged 18 years
Isaac            
aged 24 years  
Taylor                     
aged 13 years     
Community Property owned by Richard H. Haile & Sarah Rucker Haile
Name
Approximate Age
Clarrisa                
aged 50 years 
Jim                           
aged 18 years  
Eliza                     
aged 13 years     
Isabel          
aged 18 years    
Sylvester          
aged 4 years
Kelly                   
aged 30 years
Ellen              
aged 3 years 
Hannah                 
aged 10 years
Anna                       
aged 10 years
Austin          
aged 9 years          
Patrick          
aged 50 years            
Ann                      
aged 45 years 
Milly                            
aged 35 years
Mati?a         
aged 15 years
Kitty             
aged 50 years
Little Lize              
aged 9 years
Lucy                       
aged 8 years
Phillip                    
aged 6 years
Noah                     
aged 4 years
Jacob                     
aged 1 year
Amelia                   
aged 15 years
Marinda                 
aged 12 years
Willis                      
aged 8 years
Lily                          
aged 6 years
Doctor                    
aged 24 years
Chaney
aged 20 years
Delphine
aged 2 years
Charles
aged 45 years
Clarice
aged 45 years
Muse
aged 1 year
Dick
aged 40 years
Ned
aged 23 years
Susan
aged 17 years
Lindy
Infant
Big Nelson
aged 45 years
Lizzy
aged 35 years
Mary Ann
aged 17 years
Mira
aged 12 years
Nelson
aged 10 years
Isaac
aged 6 years
Rachael
aged 2 years
Horace
aged 40 years
Laura
aged 8 years
Horace
aged 4 years
Israel
aged 1 year
John
aged 25 years
Isaac
aged 35 years
Old Billy
aged 60 years
[Tower?]
aged 22 years
L. George
aged 31 years
Judy
aged 40 years
Olivia
aged 16 years
Robert
aged 8 years
Kate
aged 4 years
Temple
aged 1 year
Old George
aged 75 years
Wilson
aged 30 years
Nelly
aged 45 years
Julia
aged 35 years
Mary
aged 15 years
Jim
aged 12 years
Tom
aged 8 years
Corean
aged 6 years
William
aged 4 years
William
aged 4 years
Jack
aged 40 years
Patty
aged 40 years
Tempy
aged 13 years
Minty
aged 10 years
Eleven
aged 31 years
Margaret
aged 35 years
Dennis
aged 16 years
Jenny
aged 55 years
Willis
aged 35 years
Comfort
aged 45 years
Mary Pete
aged 20 years
Julia
aged 23 years 
Anthony
aged 30 years
Henry
 aged 35 year
Property now in possession of Benjamin Franklin Haile (Son)
Name
Approximate Age
Martha
aged 24 years
Amelia
aged 21 years
Catharine
aged 2 years
Paris
aged 1 year
George
aged 35 years
Caroline
aged 40 years
Louisa
aged 27 years
George
aged 22 years
Ann
aged 24 years
Maria
aged 50 years
Spencer
aged 54 years
Ersy
aged 20 years
Harriet
aged 12 years
Rachael
aged 24 years
Sam
aged 25 years
Leah
aged 2 years
Eliz
aged 22 years & Infant aged 6 months [?]
Rose
aged 17 years
[Illegible]
aged 28 years
Property previously given to Benjamin Franklin Haile (no real title made to him)
Name
Approximate Age
Edmund
aged 27 year
Henry
aged 27 years
Amy
aged 40 years
Emily
aged 20 years
Gabriel
aged 25 years
Harriet
aged 30 years
Betsy
aged 40 years
Ned
aged 13 years
Levy
aged 8 years
Mahala
aged 22 years & two children
[Illegible]
aged 22 years
Property previously given to Ann Haile Stewart (Daughter) & W.M. Stewart (no real title made to them)
Name
Approximate Age
Catharine
aged 35 years
Betsy
aged 5 years
Fanny
aged 3 years
Bell
aged 16 years
Infant
Jeff
aged 30 years
Harry
aged 35 years
Dick
aged 16 years
Jule
aged 8 years
Old Jane
aged 60 years
Ellen
aged 14 years
Property previously given to Mary Eliza Haile Harbour & PleasantJ. Harbour (no real title made to them)
Name
Approximate Age
Nelson
aged 38 years
Able
aged 30 years 
Alphonse
aged 18 years
Mary
 aged 45 years
Amelia
aged 22 years
Kitty
aged 20 years
Nancy
aged 30 years
Hannah
aged 5 years
Will
aged 4 years
Martin
aged 1 year
Property previously given to Laura Haile Wilson & Alexander Wilson (no real title made to him)
Name
Approximate Age
Sally
aged 20 years
Cornelius
aged  4 years
Mary Jane
aged 40 years
Cyrus
aged 4 years
Lizzy
aged 35 years
Demps
aged 28 years
Sara Jane
aged 7 years
Catharine
aged 5 years
Dorcas
aged 3 years
Eliza
aged 2 years
Julia
aged 40 years
Delia
aged 15 years
Arm[?]n
aged 17 years
Manuel
aged 35 years
Mariah
aged 27 years

Source: West Feliciana Parish Probate Records, Inventory Book G, pp. 384-389 (WFP Courthouse)

Finding your Ancestors in Probate Records – The Slaves of Richard Haile & Sarah (Rucker) Haile

4 Comments / Father's side / /
In July of 2013, I went to the Louisiana State Archives for genealogical research.  Fortunately, I happened to run into Judy Riffel, notable Professional Genealogist, Author, Researcher and Lecturer who I met a year or so prior through my cousin, Patricia Bayonne-Johnson.
 
While looking for information about my ancestors who were slaves on Laurel Hill Plantation, owned by Richard Haile & his wife, Sarah Rucker Haile, Judy helped me discover an incredible five-page document that not only linked me to ancestors I found in the 1870 Census, but also confirmed my relationship with one of my DNA cousins on 23andme.  
 
Judy explained when researching ancestors born during slavery, if you know the name of the slave owner, a great source of information could be a succession, or probate record for the deceased slave owner and/or his/her family members.  Prior to the Civil War, slaves were listed as inventory in these records when estimating the value of a person’s estate.  Naturally, the only way these records are beneficial to researchers looking for slave names is if the slave owner, or his family members died prior to the end of the Civil War.  First, Judy and I checked the 1870 & 1880 Census for the Haile Family, Sarah was not listed in 1870 and in 1880, but Richard was listed as a widower.  We found her in 1850, but not 1860 so it was plausible that she died within that decade.  We searched the microfilm and found an 1859 West Feliciana Parish Succession Record for Sarah Rucker Haile.  

These first 6 images posted are copies from the original microfilm:

Page1
Page 2
Page 3
Page 4
Page 5
Page 6

 

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

These next 6 images are my transcriptions of each page for easier reading:

Page 1
 
 
Page 2
Page 2
 

 

Page 3
 

 

Page 4
 

 

Page 5
 

 

Page 6
Near the bottom of page 3, my ancestors are listed starting with my 4th great-grandmother, Julia Lee, and her children: Mary, Jim Tom, Corean & William.  One of my 23andme DNA Relatives told me her 2nd great grandfather was named Thomas Lee from West Feliciana Parish.  This document confirmed our relationship. Her DNA matched me and several of my known cousins.  We are all descendants of Mary Lee.
 
1880 Census with Julia Lee and Richard Haile

This 1880 Census now makes more sense to me.  At the top, my 4x GGM Julia Lee is listed as head of household (the surname “Lee” is still a mystery to our family).  Next is her son Jefferson, a child not listed in the probate, but looking at his age (20 yrs old), she may have been pregnant with him when the probate was recorded.  Jefferson is listed as being born in Louisiana by the notation “La,” his father born in South Carolina by the notation “S.C.” and his mother born in Maryland by the notation “Md.”  I highlight this fact because it is my strong belief that Richard Haile is Jefferson’s father.  On line 25, 5 rows down from Jefferson, is “R. H. Haile,” which is Richard at 83 years old.  The census shows he was also born in South Carolina.  

 
In 1992, my great-grandmother told me that her mother, Lizzie, was the daughter of “Colonel Haile.”  Studying the Haile family, I know that Richard and his son Richard, Jr. both carried the title of “Colonel” so I can’t say for sure which is her father. There is a possibility that it could be another male Haile child.  On Lizzie’s death record, her mother’s (Mary Lee) maiden name is listed as “Hail.”  Sadly, this was an unfortunate, yet common occurrence on slave plantations where generations of slave owning males reproduced children with their female slaves.  Apparently, Richard fathered all of Julia’s children because all of them list their father as being born in South Carolina.
 
Thanks to the probate record, I now know that Haile’s daughter who is listed below him, “M.E. Harbour” is Mary Eliza Harbour.  Also, the next head of household listed, “M.W. Stewart” and his wife, “A.C.,” are Richard’s daughter (Ann Haile Stewart), son-in-law and their children.
 
Click here for an internet searchable list of all the slaves’ names in Sarah Rucker Haile’s Succession record for those looking for ancestors in West Feliciana Parish.
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