What This Story Means To Me: My Family Connections

 In the beginning, I didn’t know much about my father David’s ancestors. It wasn’t until someone gave me a copy of this article “Slavery Descendants to Have First Reunion” in the mid 1970’s. And I held on to that article. (The information in the article led me on a journey. I began a 12 part Blog Series to uncover what I could. )

Decades later, I discovered that the article was published on page 5 in The Sioux City Journal Sioux City, Iowa on Saturday, August 28, 1971. This was the day of the Blakey White Family reunion. The crop photo is from that article.

It’s horrible that my ancestors were enslaved and sold as property. Their names were place in a Glasgow, Missouri a 1858 advertisement . (Isaac Blakey went south and joined the Mississippi Union Army in 1863.)

I’m not for when the enslaved family had their first reunion after being separated. Isaac searched for his family. He located in New Orleans. The family moved to Forest Green, Missouri.

Still to this day, I wonder about the mother and her 5 children who came to New Orleans on a ship.  I did find a record of a  Julia White listed on a record in 1843. She came on a ship called Orleans from Petersburg to New Orleans. She was 23 years old, born about 1823.

Why did the article led me on a journey?
There were some things in the article that did match up with documents and records. I wasn’t out to disprove what was in the article. My aim was to verify what oral history stated. My first blog was posted on Tuesday, January 15, 2013 and ended on Friday, February 1, 2013.

I discovered more information by searching each of the names, places and dates..Example: Julia White and her six children, seven grandchildren and one daughter in law were listed in the same house on the 1880 Missouri census in Chariton County. (And Julia had other children.)

Since 2013, I have discovered more on my Blakey WHITE Family Connections, as well on my other family connections. Searching want to connect with their long lost relatives. I have had many searchers contacted me or I them via internet. (DNA is a good tool to use. )

Thank you for reading,
What This Story Means To Me: My Family Connections

My 2nd Great Julia (Finney) White was the wife of Andrew White. Both were from Virginia.
I’m one of their descendants. from the branch of Isaac Blakey and Martha (Scott) Blakey

God bless you,
S.A. .Blakley

Update On Article : Slavery Descendants To Have First Reunion on August 28, 1971

The Blakey Blakley WHITE Family Reunion was held on Saturday, August 28, 1971 at Riverside Park in Sioux City, Iowa. And  The article : "Slavery Descendants To Have First Reunion:" appeared in the Sioux City Journal on  the day of the reunion. On the following day, August 29, 1971, another article entitled Slavery Descendents Gather." appeared in the paper. It included a photo.

Article: Slavery Descendants To Have First Reunion 

I re read this article:
I have made more discoveries since I posted the blog series in 2013.
I have more questions.
When did Julia (Finney) White arrive in Missouri? Was the year 1843?
Did Julia have other children born in the 1830's before she came to Missouri?
When did she leave and return to Forest Green, Missouri?
How long did she (and her children) live in Natchez, Mississippi?
Did she have children born in Mississippi!

Julia had children born in Missouri in during the 1840's and to about 1866.

Part 1: Thoughts: Slavery Descendants to Have First Reunion

Some more thoughts:
With DNA matches, this lineage is connecting with relatives. There are some we don't know wher they connect on the family tree. There is a Blakey Blakley WHITE Family Connections group on facebook. We hope to connected with  more long lost relatives.

Part 2: Blakey - White Families: The Year 1843

Haven' located info on who the mother and her children who were on the ship from Africa. The ship may have came from Africa. It could have shipped slaves to parts of the South in America from the Northern parts of America. 

We can assume that Julia and her children came the route of a slave ship from VA to New Orleans. The year 1843 was the year on the article. The slave owner John BLAKEY. He passed in November of 1844. His wife was Frances (WHITE) BLAKEY.

There was an Isaac White, with a son, Andrew White listed on the 1880 census. They lived next door to Julia White and her children etc. I believe that Isaac White was related. There were others who carried the White surname living near Julia in 1880.

The Arrival And Names Taken ~ Article Part 3

The article states that there was a slave auction was in New Orleans, Louisiana. There was one in  Howard County Missouri.According to a 1858, slave ad, the slaves of John Blakey, deceased were to be sold in Roanoke, Missouri in March of 1858. 

According to Isaac Blakey's pension records,
Isaac and his mother were sold near the breaking out of the Civil War 1861. They went south. Haven't found records on who purchased  the enslaved family members.

The ages of Isaac, 12 and John, 10, don't match with Julia's sons in the article. Isaac Blakey would have been born in 1831 and John Blakey in 1833. Julia's sons, Isaac was born in Missouri about 1845 and John was born in Missouri about 1859.

Question: Could there have been an Isaac White born in 1831 and John Blakey born in 1833?

John  and Isaac Blakey: Civil War ~ Part 4

This John blakey was confused to be the John Blakley who moved to St. Joseph, Missouri.
 John Blakey's nephew was John Blakey Blakley, son of Isaac and Martha (Scott) Blakey who was born in 1871.

The article states that John Blakey was living in Forest Green, Missouri. Did John take the surname Blakey while he was enslaved? John went by John  White on the 1880 census and when he married Kate Estill in 1887. They had about 11 children and lived in Chariton County Missouri.

Can't locate the Blakey WHITE families on the 1870 census in Missouri or in Mississippi.Could they have lived in New Orleans area?

Isaac Blakey Reunites With Family ~ Part 5

 According to oral history, the mother, sons, Spencer, Dick, and a daughter, Matt were shipped to  Natchez, MS from New Orleans. Was Richard "Dick" born in  MS? Or was there another Dick? According to records Richard "Dick" White was born in Missouri? Or was Dick born before the Civil War ended? The other siblings were born in Missouri.

Isaac Blakey was in Mississippi. during the Civil War. as a soldier 1863 - 1866 and early 1870's. Don't know the year when Isaac arrived in MS. He started searching for his family... and had to return to MS, where he found them easily.

Isaac had to have connections to know where his family was. It could be that the family were sold to the slave owners relatives in Missouri and in Mississippi area.

Empolyment , Homeland And Surnames ~ Part 6

The early Blakey WHITE Families decided to live in Forest Green, Missouri area.
They were farmers, farmhands some owned homes and business.
According to Isaac Blakey's pension records.
He moved his family to Chariton County Missouri in March of 1880.
He was listed on the 1880 census dated, June 6, 1880.

On the 1880 MO census, there are Spencer White, John White and Dick White on a tobacco farm.
They were also listed on the 1880 census with their mother, Julia WHITE with son, Isaac White, Isaac's wife Rachel White and their children. Julia's children, John White, Spencer, White, Josh White, David White and Martha White and two of Julia's 2 other grandchildren with the surname WHITE.

There was a Dick / Richard White was listed with Daniel Boone White.
Note: Daniel was the brother of Frances White Blakey.
Daniel White lived near to Julia White.
Was Dick a servant to Daniel White while his family were in Mississippi?

Dick and Jane WHITE ~ Part 7

Where was the cafe that Richard "Dick" and Jane White operated in Forest Green, Missouri?
 Willie (White) Winfrey was the person who made the plans for the 1971 Reunion.
She had the desire to have the family to unite the family in reunions.

Blakey / Blakley Descendants ~ Article Part 8

This John Blakey Blakley was son of Isaac Blakey Sr. and Martha (Scott) Blakey.
John and his wife , Jennie changed their surname to Blakley sometime after they married in 1902.  They had 12 or 13 children. Some of the children surname were Blakey or Blakley on birth / death records to 1910.

Isaac and Rachel Blakey ~ Part 9

Rachel Jackson was Isaac's second wife. They married in Mississippi.
Oral history states that Rachel was the mother of 18 children.
Here' is Rachel Blakey's obituary with the list of her children.

Hope that Isaac Blakey had an obituary.

Isaac Blakey Jr. And Yankton, SD. Blakeys ~ Part 10

 About 13 of Isaac Blakey Sr's children came to Yankton, South Dakota.
They farmed the land and some made their homes there, while others moved onward.

Isaac Blakey Jr, worked as a farmer, dog catcher and a hunter.
He went hunting with Clark Gable.

Oldest Blakey Who Lived? ~ Part 11

The article was in the Sioux City Journal on Saturday, August 28, 1971.
Isaac Blakey was the 3rd oldest of Isaac Sr. and Rachel Blakey.
He passed in April of 1971 at the age of 98.
He would have been born about 1874.
Other records of his birth year was 1877.

On Find A Grave there are some memorials of the Blakey Blakley WHITE Family Connections.
Here is Lawhorn Blakey's grave site. His family connections are included.

Article Reflections: Slavery Descendants To Have First Reunion: Part 12

I believe that there is more information out there. Yes, I believe that it's there. The enslaved family members were separated between 1858 - to the breaking out of the Civil War. It's still a mystery where they were.... They could have been sold to relatives of the owners.

Thanks for those who are searching. One thing for sure, the Blakey / WHITE Families kept in touch through the years. I hope that more clues will come...And that the pieces to the puzzle will fall into place. May there be more family connections come forth in this lineage.

Thanks for reading.
God bless you.
S. A. Blakley

Which Children of Andrew and Julia WHITE Family Had Children?

 I would like to thank all of you on the Blakey / WHITE Family Connections. There are a lot of us.  Thanks for your interest in our family history.

I've been updating some of the family history. There are times I have to make corrections. Please let me know if I need to make corrections on any family branch.

 I have been looking over the Blakey / White descendants.  I've come across members from the following branches on The Andrew White and Julia (Finney) White Family Connections.

An Unknown White sibling who was born in Virginia.
This sibling had a daughter named Rebecca White.
Rebecca was listed on the 1880 census as Julia White's granddaughter.

 Isaac BLAKEY was the father of ? children.
Oral history states that he had 18 children.
 I have come up with 21 or 23 children.
However, some of the names could have been nicknames.

Spencer White was the father of 3 daughters.
John White was the father of about 9 children.

 Josh / Joshua White was the father of about 3 daughters and a son.
The son's name was John BLAKE.

Martha / Mattie White was the mother of 4 daughters and a son.
Her son was killed in 1906.

Richard / Dick White was the father of 13 children.

There is no information of any off spring on the following family members.
Linda White
Mary White
Ben White
Andrew White
Lydia White
David White

I believe that the other siblings could have had children.
The White surname is hard to trace.
I hope that descendants on our family tree will somehow find one another.
I pray that some of the unknown relatives will make that discovery.

I believe that they are out there. I have come across two searches who believe that they are connected with our family. They don't know where the connection is.

Thanks for reading.
Susan Ann Blakley

The Julia White Family Connections: Richard White

Who was Richard "Dick" White?

 

According to Richard "Dick" White's Missouri death record,

Richard was born on September 15, 1866 in Chariton County Missouri.

He passed on July 19, 1946 in Glasgow, Missouri.

Richard's parents were unknown on the death record.

Oral history states he was the youngest child of Julia (Finney) White.

 

Richard married his first wife, Jane Ferguson (1873 - 1919)

Jane was the daughter of Tom / Thomas and Renie/ Rena (Nickels) Ferguson

 

Richard and Jane were married on May 5, 1889.

Jane was under age when she was married.

Her father Thomas gave consent of the marriage.

Richard and Jane White had 13 children

1.) Alberta White Morris ( 1892 -  1944)

Alberta married Alex Morris in 1910.

Alberta had about 8 children

Laura Bell, William, Thomas R., Daisy Mae, Margaret Louise, Samuel M.,

 Robert M, Daniel, Russell / Roscoe  and   Alfred J.

2.) Odell White Craig  (1894 - 1943)

Odell married Oscar Craig.

They had 6 children carried the Craig surname.

Alma, George, Delphine, Lorenzo, Claritha / Clarissa, and Frances.

Odell was married to Henry Rucker.

Odell had a son named Clarence Dave Ewing

3.) Moses White  (1895 - 1989)

Moses was married to Beatrice ?

Moses married Etta Mae Williams (1917 – 2006)

Moses' Children carried the White surname.

Levi Lee, Anna Mae, Moses R., Janie Lee, Joana,

 F. Jonathan, Henry T., and Thomas Alphonso

4.) Tony White  (1896 - 1975)

Tony was married to Clora ? (1908 – 1987)

Tony was married to Georgia Lee (1904 – 1954)

Tony's Children with carried surname White

Christina, Elizabeth Toni, Leanna Pauline, Frances, Sylvester,

Betty Ellen, James Thomas, John, Marshall, Mary Jo,

Melvin, William "Billy" Joe and Theodore E.

5.) Thomas Alphonsy / Tommie White  (1898 - 1989)

Rev. Thomas married Mary Lee Tooley (1898 – 1965)

Rev. Thomas married Cleavie Hill (1922 – 1994)

Rev Thomas' children by Mary.

The children carried the White surname

Mable, Ollie, Lucile Lee, Ruby C., Chester Field, and Radell R./ Raydell

6.) Rena "Rennie" Pearl White    (1900 - 1945)

Rena married Edward/ Ed Houston (1894 – 1963)

Rena and Edward's children carried the Houston surname.

Tony Willard, Mattie A., Edith M., Kenneth and unknown child

7.) Eugene White   (1901 - 1988)

Eugene married  Corean J. Jones (1906 – 1993)

Their children carried the White surname

Acenia, Donald, Edna, Evelyn, Joseph, Levi E., Mary Kathryn,

Matthew Lee, Nickolas Nicholas  , Ella M. and Eugene.

8.) Lonnerll / Leonell White  (1903 - 1937)

 

9.) Willie Margaret White  (1904 - 1994)

Willie married  Ledrew Terrill (1895 - 1946) 

Willie marred Harold Leroy Winfrey  (1900 - 1975)

Willie's Children

Richard Lee Terrill,

Thomas Lionel  Terrill,

William Leslie Terrill

Bernice V.  Terrill

10.) Hattie White  (1906 - 1986)

Hattie was married to James Jackson (1903 – 1960)

Their children William L. Jackson and Arthur Jackson

11.) Jane White  (1909 - 1982) 

Jane married Otis Hayes (1906 – 1982)

Their children, Otis, Keith, Curtiss, and Edna.

12.) Richard R. White   (1911 - 1962)

He married Silas ?

Richard was believed to have had a son

13.) Hester White  (He was born about 1913)

He was married. ? Bernice ? and Ruth ?

 Richard "Dick" married in Mrs. Mary B. Stapleton in 1931.

Mary was born Mary Belle Brooks (1860 - 1951)

Mary's children by her first husband David Stapleton

Scott Brooks, Stella, Hellene / Helen Stapleton.

One Final Note:

Richard wasn't listed with his mother and siblings on the 1880 in Chariton County Census. I did located a Richard White about 12 years old as a hired hand to a Daniel White.

I believe this Richard was the same one. Daniel White was the brother of Frances (White) Blakey. Frances Blakey was the slave owner of Julia White. During slavery Frances may have sold Richard to Daniel. Richard may have stayed on with Daniel White as a hired hand.

Richard was listed on the 1900, 1910, 1920, 1930 and 1940 censuses. 

 I can't locate Richard or his family on the 1870 census.  

Also there is a Molly White who passed in 1930. She was married to a Richard White. I'm not for sure if this was the same Richard White. Molly was listed as black.

Hope descendants of Richard "Dick" White discover this information.

Perhaps someone can add more information.

If the information is incorrect please let me know.

I'll correct it.

Thanks for reading.

The Julia White Family Connections: Richard White

 Susan Ann Blakley

Richard White: Son Of Julia FINNEY WHITE

 Marriage License: Richard and Jane...face sheet

 Marriage License: Richard and Jane

 Marriage License: Richard and Jane... Top and Bottom of record

 Marriage License: Richard and Mary Belle..face sheet

 Marriage License: Richard and Mary Belle..

Marriage License: Richard and Mary Belle.. Bottom and face sheet of record 

I hope you can record the records
Thanks for reading.
Susan Ann Blakley