Wordy Wednesday: John STEWARD’S Family Through The Eyes of Rensler!

Genealogy is MANY things, but for sure — it is rarely boring OR predictable!:-)

Today I received the coolest surprise — a blog comment to my Rensler’s 150 post from John STEWARD, who not only has Rensler images of his Ancestors, but also images of he and his brother captured at the historic Cincinnati photography studio!

The fact that like me, John’s Ancestors made the trek from Alabama (Hope Hull, Lowndes County) to Cincinnati AND that he too has family in Kentucky only adds to my curiosity! You just never know when a new cousin will appear, right?

So with permission, I share John’s Rensler Photography images and the family details he provided earlier.

John’s blog comments…

John Steward & Brother

Here’s praying that John finds family connections and that one day, he and I both have the opportunity to chase more of our Ancestors through the remaining 20K+ Rensler artifacts!:-)

Nothing like a good Ancestor mystery and Rensler inspiration to shake things up! I’ll keep y’all posted!:-)

Luckie.

OGR’s 1st Blogiversary: Where Do We Go From Here?

With Our Georgia Roots {the Blog} celebrating her 1st Blogiversary, it seems only fitting that I return to the start of my family’s Wilkes County history – Rev. James Madison DICKEY & The Smyrna Church.

After a very, VERY emotional week, I am even more convinced in the presence of destiny & its ability to shape our lives.

The WINGFIELD-CARTER descendants are who we are today because of the journey Grandma Catie took at age 10 yrs from a CODY Plantation in Warren Co. to Washington-Wilkes.

Funny, I am usually so focused on validating historical facts & following the next clue, I rarely attach to the emotion of events. But tonight is different…

Though I will never [really] know, I hope that Minister DICKEY was kind to my Catie. I hope he was empathetic to a young girl, who’d just been taken away from all that was familiar.

I’m sure she was afraid. I hope that little Catie had been taught to pray by her Mother, Kate & that she found comfort there.

This all may be far from reality… I just merely hope it is not.

I’ve witnessed some pretty phenomenal events since re-establishing OGRs online presence a year ago – from discovering new Wilkes Co. cousins to being gifted with the DANIELS-COBB Family Bible that in the logical world, I would never have known existed! I’ve even been blessed with a new GeneaTribe of friends who support me through my research & into real-life {thank you!:-}.

My thoughts for the future? I hope the living DICKEY descendants will share any information they have regarding my Catie. I’ve emailed them again tonight – fingers crossed. I want to know more about my mysterious Grandma Annie FAVER & her family. I’d love to sit with Wilsie WINGFIELD CARR & learn about Archibald S. WINGFIELD’s connection to my Ancestors. Wouldn’t it be great to confirm my Grandfather James WINGFIELD had brothers and/or parents close by?

I also pray for an abundance of what Buddhists refer to as patience-acceptance because undoubtedly, there will remain obstacles & black history holes that I will have to learn to live with.

I’m thankful. I know the Ancestors chose me to be their voice & that all roads lead to this one.

So here’s to staying strong on the journey…

Happy Blogiversary Our Georgia Roots, I pray I’m doing you proud!:-)

Luckie.

Redden Barwick DID Own Slaves!

Thanks to my GeneaPals, Michael Hait & Gene J @ GenealogyWise, I am making progress on unraveling the Redden Barwick Mystery! Woo-hoo!:-)

Gene J was gracious enough to create a “Luckie’s Barwick Challenge” Discussion for me, where we can compare our research breadcrumb trail & Michael has been doing alil “root digging” in the Census records!

Turns out in the 1855 Henry Alabama Census Redden BARWICK {scroll down on left > R. Barwick} owned 2 slaves! Now the question remains – who the heck were they?! My GGG Grandfather Cary BARWICK? Or Gus, the only other African-American BARWICK in Henry Co.?

Still no slaves though listed for Redden in 1850 or 1860?

Time to head to the Henry Co. Courthouse and/or engage a local hand for a look-up of Redden Barwick records!

Luckie.

Help Me Understand Slaveowner Redden Barwick?

Alright all my Genea Pro’s {Michael, Thomas, Mavis, Vickie, ALL} out there, help me to understand some “murkiness” surrounding Redden BARWICK of Henry Co. Alabama, the believed owner of my BARWICK Ancestors.

OK… here’s the skinny…

1870 Henry Co. Census – Precinct 9. I find my 4th Grandfather Cary Barwick {b. about 1830} living with his family that includes my 10 yr. old, 3rd Grandfather James.  The Barwick’s are living in between several white families, & are themselves “mulatto”. Also not too far away {Cary’s dwelling number is #117}, is the family of Gus Barwick {b. about 1845} at dwelling #82. Gus is listed as “black” {with the exception of 12 yr. old Rapheus} & is also living between several white families who are, as determined through research, connected to Redden Barwick.

Although I can’t seem to locate Redden in the 1870 Census, I know from this James Lee WEAVER family narrative that he is still living & in 1869 deeded all his property {some 1000 acres} to his Wife Nancy WIGGINS Barwick, & daughters. He also appointed John LISENBY, his son-in-law, as manager of his property. Gus Barwick is actually just three dwelling away from a LISENBY family at dwelling #86.

1860 Henry Co. Census – Freemans. Redden is found living with family at age 52 yrs. He owns about $1500 in personal property & his son, James lives beside him with his family, & owns even less personal property – $378.

The Mystery! According to the 1850 & 1860 Slave Schedules for Henry Co., Redden owns [and/or reports] no slaves. Although Redden’s neighbors own a considerable amount of slaves, I cannot find him owning slaves in all of Alabama, let alone Henry Co?!

The Facts.

1. Although seemingly of question, this BARWICK narrative seems to shed some light on how Redden migrated to Alabama – William Barwick Family.
2. 1827-1828 – Redden Barwick was the ONLY Barwick who migrated to Henry Co. Alabama & did not arrive permanently in the area until after 1827 from Washington Co. Georgia.
3. 1828 – Redden’s in-laws, the WIGGINS, came with him to Henry Co. when he married Nancy.
4. 1850 – Both Redden’s father-in-law, Daniel WIGGINS & neighbor who he boarded with, William Whitten {Whiddon} own slaves in Henry Co.
5. 1870 – Cary & Gus Barwick both live in Precinct 9 – Henry Co., extremely close to where Redden’s relations remain & property exists.

The Questions.

1. How did Cary & Gus come to have the BARWICK surname? Also for fun, was there any relationship between 40 yr. old Cary & 25 yr. old Gus?
2. What is the personal property that Redden owns in 1850?
3. How is it that Redden is a farmer, with land – some 1000 acres by 1869, yet owns [reports] no slaves to work it on either census?
4. Could Redden have drafted a Letter of Indenture early on that would have given the appearance of not owning property?
5. Could someone else, WIGGINS, LISENBY or WHIDDON reported Redden’s slaves?
6. Where do I go from here? Estate, wills, church records certainly! What am I missing?

Scratching her head…

Luckie.