Blog -Just letting the Ancestors Speak

March 2 Let the Ancestor Speak: Female Enslavers in Hancock County – Spotlight on Emmeline E. Bell (Posted MAR 2, 2026) As I continue highlighting female enslavers from the 1850 Hancock County records (always from my own line-by-line transcription of the originals—indexing is unreliable), one woman stands out as a classic example of how widows often became property holders in their own right: Emmeline E. Bell (also spelled Emiline/Emeline in some transcriptions), age 43 in

Post 1 MAR As I continue digging into Hancock County's 1850 records (from my line-by-line transcription of the originals—because, as always, the indexing is often inaccurate), one group stands out: the female enslavers. While men dominated ownership, women made up a notable minority, often through inheritance or widowhood. Here's what the data reveals, based on the Federal Population Census (for names, genders, occupations, real estate) and Slave Schedule (for holdings).

Grave Robbing Yesterday’s post on the 50 doctors in 1850–1860 Washington County sent me down a very dark rabbit hole—one that ties directly to Georgia’s medical history and the grim reality behind how doctors were trained. Grandison Harris’s story is one of the most disturbing yet revealing examples of slavery intersecting with medical education. Born around 1815 as a Gullah man from coastal South Carolina/Georgia, he was purchased at a Charleston slave auction in 1852 for

(Posted February 27, 2026) On another trip to Sandersville, Brenda and I stopped by the Old Jail Museum and Genealogy Research Center, housed in the historic Washington County Jail—built in 1868 and used until 1974 (https://wacohistorical.org/the-genealogy-research-center-and-old-jail-museum/). The staff there are always kind and helpful. I actually found a relative of mine in their files! A small thrill—proof my family had ties to the area—but it was on my mom’s side, so it

(Posted February 26, 2026) Two women talking Sadly, she passed during COVID. Those five words still get to me every time I think about that Sandersville story. The mother-in-law who held my hand, spoke in her rich drawl about Willy Turner’s melons and “mah-noo-ah,” laughed at my confusion, and gently sidestepped the question of who I favored—she’s gone now. I never got a second visit. I never got to sit with her again, notebook in hand, and ask the follow-ups I didn’t know I

AI generated. But didn't it capture the moment? smh But the day wasn’t over. One of the women in the funeral home turned out to be Brenda’s cousin—on her mom’s side, not her dad’s, so no relation to me. She leaned in and said, “Try the barbershop—the barber’s mother-in-law is a Turner.” Little did I know this detour would open a whole new chapter of comedy, culture, and cuisine. As we walked toward the shop, I couldn’t stop thinking: I wonder how many people in this small t

(Posted February 24, 2026) Hi fellow travelers, Some of the research stories behind Brenda and my 4x DNA connection are too good (and too human) not to share. I smile about them now, but at the time they felt like plot twists in a family mystery novel. Here are the highlights from our journey to figure out how two cousins—one in Kansas, one in Georgia—could possibly share an ancestor from Civil War days. It started with a simple Ancestry message from Brenda: “Want to fi

Diving into genealogy can feel like piecing together a giant, complex puzzle. When it comes to African American ancestry, especially pre-1870, the challenge grows even bigger. Records are often scarce or incomplete, and traditional research methods sometimes hit dead ends. That’s where DNA matching strategies come in, offering a fresh, powerful way to connect with your roots. Today, I want to share how mastering an online dna matching consultation can open doors you never th

Welcome back! Today, I’m diving into the free people of color (free Black and mulatto residents) in Hancock County from the 1850 Federal Population Census. Like before, these insights come from my own line-by-line review of the originals, not published indexes or summaries. So, numbers may vary slightly from what you see elsewhere. The Free People of Color in Hancock County In 1850 Hancock County, I identified 65 free people of color living in households across several dist

"New deep dive into Hancock County, GA's 1850 Slave Schedule: rare named enslaved individuals, Seaborn Lawrence owning 173 people, 484 unique enslavers (421 male / 63 female), and more—all from my line-by-line review of original records, not published indexes. Stay tuned tomorrow for free people of color details! #Genealogy #HancockCountyGA"

"New deep dive into Hancock County, GA's 1850 Slave Schedule: rare named enslaved individuals, Seaborn Lawrence owning 173 people, 484 unique enslavers (421 male / 63 female), and more—all from my line-by-line review of original records, not published indexes. Stay tuned tomorrow for free people of color details! #Genealogy #HancockCountyGA"

African American genealogy presents unique challenges and opportunities due to the historical context and specific records available....

For those interested in the handout and presentation. Here you go. Also join us for a Census Chat this Friday 16 JUN 2023 https://us06web.zoom.us/meeting/register/tZcvce-rrTkrHNdMg3ftQD7FbSyvZYNmDa5U If you would like to see more of the data from Bibb County subscribe and I will add you to a list of people that I'm inviting 16 JUN 2023 7:30 Eastern, 8:30 Central

https://shop.old-maps.com/georgia/towns/washington-co-1897/district-95-downs-georgia-1897-old-town-map-custom-print-washington-co/

Total Personal Wealth 1860 all districts in Macon $584,620 East Macon $420,469 Godfrey $313,435 Hazard $742,905 Howard...

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eDY_YBT2kLk&feature=youtu.be

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I wanted to give my darling husband a very special gift for our wedding. It was my second marriage after being single for over twenty...

It Paid to be a Doctor in 1860!