I was going through my Great Grandfather Isaac Blakey’s Civil War pension records. I came across the names of George Harris and Joseph Harries. I started searching for them. I found out that they were brothers.
The photo is a copy of general affidavit from Isaac Blakey’s pension claim records. It was dated on May 30, 1892. Isaac was 46 and he needed two witnesses to verify that his name was Isaac Blakey. .
I discovered that George’s and Joseph’s father was Abram / Abraham Harris. Then I began a search for Abram Harris. I discovered that Abram Harriss married a Mary White on November 20, 1870 in Chariton County, Missouri.
I search the 1880 Missouri census records for Mary Harris and located her with her husband Abram.. She was born in Missouri around 1850. I couldn’t find anything else about her..
.I discovered that Joseph Harris was listed on the 1920 and 1930 Missouri censuses living in the household of a Mrs. Mattie White. Wondering, if there was a connection between Joseph and Mattie? Mattie’s daughter Miss Oressia Herefore was the informant on Joseph / Joe Harris’ 1949 death certificate. And Mattie White was the sister of Isaac Blakey. Isaac’s name was Isaac White. However, he choose the surname BLAKEY.
Oh, the wonder of how they could have been related. Joseph married a Irene Hayes. She had a daughter name Laura Belle Boone. Laura’s father was William Spencer White. And William’s father was Andrew Jackson White. Andrew was said to have been the brother of Isaac and Mattie. Hmm!
Thanks for reading. Mrs. Mary White Harris: Any Family Connections?
God bless S.A. Blakley
Posted onMarch 19, 2025bySusan Ann Blakley on another website.
According to one of William Will Whites’ granddaughter and what I discovered about him…. William White married Carrie Hayes in 1903 in Chariton County Missouri. And to this union there were three children. Russell White who was born in 1906, William Roy White (1907 – 1988) and Mary (Welthia) White Spencer (1913 – 1964).
William Will White was listed on the 1920 and 1930 Chariton County Missouri censuses as married but, without his wife, Carrie. He was listed on the 1900 Chariton County Missouri census as single. Where was William Will White on the 1880, and 1910 censuses?
According to the U.S., World War I Draft Registration Cards, 1917-1918, William didn’t know his date of birth. According to the censuses, he was born between 1872 – 1875. His death certificate states his birth was on October 15 or October 13, 1872. His parents were unknown. He passed on Oct 13, 1931 in Chariton County Missouri.
Rebecca “Becky” White # 1
This Rebecca White married a Randolph Jackson on November 19, 1887 in Fayette, Missouri. She wasn’t listed on the 1870 or 1880 Missouri censuses. Nor was she on the 1920 and 1930 censuses. She was listed with her husband Randolph on the 1900 and 1910 censuses in Howard County, Missouri
Rebecca “Becky” (White) Jackson had five children. Delia Jackson ,Minnie Jackson, Birdie (Jackson) Wilhite, Gussie (Jackson) Broadus and Florence Jackson Graves .
This Rebecca was born between 1868 – 1871. Her parents were from Virginia on the 1900 census and from Missouri on the 1910 census. She was listed as mulatto on the 1900 census. Don’t know when Rebecca passed.
Rebecca “Becky” White # 2
This Rebecca White marred a James Sheppard ./ Shepherd on April 29, 1911, They were living in Fayette, Howard County Missouri. They had two children; William Sheppard / Shepherd. and Louise Sheppard / Shepherd.
Rebecca was counted on the 1880 with her parents. Her father was Peter White who was mulatto from Virginia. Her mother was Francis Ann Vivion / Vivan from Missouri. Rebecca had a brother named William White. According to her death certificate her father was Pete White and her mother was not listed. According to the censuses records, Rebecca was born between 1868 – 1874.
Crop photo of the 1876 Howard County Missouri census.
Rebeca was listed on the 1930 Missouri census with her husband James in Richmond, Howard, Missouri. According to the 1940 censuses, she was living with her husband in Fayette, Howard, Missouri since 1935. She passed on April 17, 1945 in Fayette, Howard, Missouri
Wondering if Rebecca was married twice? There are missing years and gaps from the census. Comparing the Rebecca Jackson and Rebecca Shepherd on the censuses that they weren’t listed on. They could have been the same person.
Rebecca White Jackson was listed on the 1900 in Richmond Missouri and 1910 in Fayette, Missouri. Rebecca White Sheppard was listed on the 1880, 1930 in Richmond, and 1940 in Fayette, Missouri. Both lived in Richmond, Howard County, Missouri and Fayette, Howard County Missouri. .
What’s the connections between the surnames of Wilhite with Sheppard? There was a John Wilhite in the Shepard household on the 1940 Missouri census. He was listed as the head of house’s stepson. But, he was 13 years old. Rebecca , his mother was born ca 1870? John was more likely a the grandson of Rebecca.
As for the Rebecca “Becky” White
In conclusion, The two Rebecca’s had either children, grandchildren or relatives with the same names. Gussie Jackson and Gussie Shepherd. Both had a connection with the Wilhite surname. This is so confusing to figure out. I have to let this one rest for a while and come back to it.
But still again,, there was a William L. Sheppard who was the informant of Gussie Broadus’ 1960 Missouri death certificate. Could he have been Gussie’s uncle? This William lived in Moberly, Missouri. I believe that he was.
This blog was posted onNovember 2, 2024bySusan Ann Blakley on another website.
Thanks for reading. Who Were William Will White And The Miss Rebecca Whites?
I don’t think that William Will White and Rebecca White Shepherd were sibling because her brother William passed in 1949.. How I wish that they were related.
There was a Rebeca White listed on the 1880 Chariton County Missouri census in her Grandmother Julia White’s household. Rebecca was a mulatto, age 10 and born about 1870 in Missouri. Her parents were from Virginia.
Rebecca’s parents weren’t listed with her on that census. However she was listed after her Uncle Josh White and before her Aunt Martha White. I wonder. Who gave the census taker the information? Someone knew that Rebeca’s parents were not born in Missouri because it was marked out and replaced with Virginia.
The crop photo is of the1880 United States Federal Census for Howard Chariton County. It was taken on June 6, 1880 by census taker J. B Hariston in the Chariton Township.
On Another Note: A lady from Forest Green , Missouri shared with me that Theodore “Ted” Blakey of Yankton South Dakota traveled to Forest Green, Missouri on occasions to visited relatives. Ted visited are father William Roy White. She said that her father told her that they were related to “Ted” Blakey. She didn’t know how.
She added that her grandfather was William Will White. She said her father told her that he had an aunt named Rebecca White. She looked white but was black. Her father didn’t speak much about his Aunt Rebecca.
I’ve been searching for William Will White and Rebecca White. I believe that Rebecca was married. I have come across two Rebecca with the maiden name of White. Both were married.
I’ve been wondering: What happened to Rebeca White who lived with her Grandmother Julia in 1880? I’ve been on the hunt and, hoping to come across clues that will lead to discover more about her.
This was Posted onOctober 23, 2024bySusan Ann Blakley on another website.
Thanks for reading. Lost Contact: What Happened To Rebeca White? I’m still wondering. (I believe that her maiden name was White and I could be wrong.)
This Rebeca was the niece of my Great Grandfather Isaac White Blakey. and the first cousin of my Grandfather John Blakey Blakley
God bless S.A. Blakley
Week 43 ~ Amy Johnson Crow’s #52Ancestors in 52 Weeks Challenge in 2024 The theme for Week 43 is “Lost Contact.” Many families have someone with whom they’ve lost contact, either by choice or by chance. Who is that person in your family tree?
I can't recall when I read the article Slavery Descendants to Have First Reunion. It wasn't to far after my maternal Grandmother Mary (Allen) Lankford / Lankfard. passed on Friday November 7, 1975. The family name was spelled BLAKEY in the article. I ask my father about it. He said that he was taught to spell his surname BLAKLEY.
As I look back on my quest, I wouldn't have imagine that this article being one of the stepping stone in my journey. And those names I asked:.Who were these people? I searched to discover more about them.
As I pondered about my genealogy journey: I was wondering. What really sparked my interest? I believe that it happened well before I began my six grade class assignment at Mark Twain Elementary School. Each student had an oral presentation to present to the class about our family history.
It was a special thing. I even remember wearing red. I told my audience that I was one of nineteen children; we have the same mother and father. And that we had Indian blood in us. (I recall that the principle came to listen in.)
In 1976, I was watching TV and I heard about the book “Roots” written by Alex Haley was going to be made into a mini series in 1977. I was excited and wanted to see that. And so I did.
I started asking my mother Lula and my father David questions about their ancestors. I started looking at old family photos. I started reading books about how to search our roots. I didn’t know what I was getting myself into.
In my beginning years, I didn’t know what I was searching for. I didn’t about the facts nor dates of my ancestors. As I continue to keep searching and compiling what I could, I obtained information . This data was showing me who my relatives were. And since the beginning, I’ve been uncovering more about my ancestors as I go along the way…
Thanks for reading. When And Where Did My Journey Begin? In The Beginning a seed was planted and it began to grow and grow and grow into something amazing.
God bless S.A. Blakley . Week 1 ~ Amy Johnson Crow’s #52Ancestors in 52 Weeks Challenge for 2025
This week’s theme is “In the Beginning.” (According to “The Sound of Music,” the beginning is a very good place to start.) Who was the first person you wanted to find when you started your genealogy journey? Was there a family member who sparked your interest, maybe by giving you a bunch of genealogy “stuff”? This would be a great week to write about them!
Who was the first person you wanted to find when you started your genealogy journey?
Isaac Blakey, because he was in the Civil War. I received his pension records in the early 1980’s. What a treasure this is.
Was there a family member who sparked your interest, maybe by giving you a bunch of genealogy “stuff”?
I wrote about this in my last blog for December of 2024. I believe it was what my parents told me and that I wanted to know more about what they knew.
I compiled the list of names from the1858 enslaved advertisement published in the Glasgow news paper, the 1858 Howard County Missouri probate records and the 1880 Missouri County census for the house hold of Julia White. .
I haven’t found confirmation if Linda White, Mary White, Ben White or Lydia White were the children of Julia (Finney) White. I continue to search. I believe that this is a list of Julia (Finney) White’s children.
Mary White She could have been living in the Howard / Chariton County area around 1870’s and 1880’s. I have come across a Mary Harris. She was living not to far from Richard White on the 1880 Missouri census. .
Ben White, He could have been Willis White or Willis B. White. He was living near the FERGUSONs and CASON families on the 1880 Missouri census. There are DNA matches with a Willis White descendants.
Andrew Jackson White He was said to have been Julia’s son. This was according to oral history. Andrew was married to Laura Paige White. People called her Aunt Laura. According to the 1880 Missouri census, Andrew and Laura were living near Julia and her family in Chariton .County.
Spencer White (1852 -1929) He is confirmed by his 1929 Missouri death certificate: His parents were listed as Andre White and Julia Finney. His obituary listed two siblings; Mrs. Mattie White and Richard White.
David White He is confirmed by the 1880 Missouri census. There’s no other information about him.
John White (1859 – 1918) He is confirmed by his 1918 Missouri death certificate and his parent were listed as Andrew White and his mother Julia.
Josh White He is confirmed by the 1880 Missouri census and there are DNA matches from his descendants. Martha “Mattie” White (1862 – 1947) She is confirmed by the 1880 Missouri census and was named in Spencer White’s 1929 obituary . There isn’t a death certificate in Missouri on Martha / Mattie White. Oral history states that she passed in Forest Green, Missouri in 1947.
Richard White (1866 – 1946) He is confirmed by DNA matches from his descendants and was named in his brother Spencer’s 1929 obituary. Richard’s death certificate doesn’t list his parents.
Isaac White BLAKEY ( 1845 – 1917) He is confirmed by the 1880 Missouri census, and his 1917 Missouri death certificate listed his father as Andrew White. There are DNA matches with descendants. There are many DNA matches with descendants of Josh WHITE, Richard WHITE Sr. and Isaac White BLAKEY Sr.
Thanks for reading Who Were The Children of Julia (Finney) White?
God bless you S.A. Blakley
I posted this on October 17, 2024 on another website
I continue to explore old newspapers online. I have come across this article that was published on page 9 in The Call ~ Kansas City, Missouri on Friday, September 15, 1933. It was located in the Forest Green, Missouri section, written by Lady White. I haven’t discovered who Lady White was.
I did do more search on Mrs. Grace Hayes and located her 1933 obituary. However, Mrs. Mattie White nor her daughter Oressia were not mentioned in the obituary. Grace was the wife of Ezra Hayes Sr. And he was the brother of Dudley Hayes and Lettie (Hayes) Hall.
I searched for the Hayes’ children. Their son Ezra Hayes Jr. had another name which was Edward Butner Hayes. Their daughter’s name was Willa Pearl Hayes. Willa had an aunt named Mrs. W D Taylor, a.k.a. Mrs. Minnie (Blake) Gaines Taylor. I’ve been searching for Minnie Blake. She had a son named Remus Gaines.
As I searched for Edward Butttner Hayes, his mother was listed as Grace (White ) Hayes. While Willa had her mother has Grace (Casen) Hayes. So was Grace a WHITE or a CASEN? Perhaps both.
I was wondering if Grace’s middle name was Allice or vice versa. Mattie had a daughter named Allice listed on the 1900 census in Chariton County Missouri.. Mattie’s daughter Jane had other names; Jane A. Jane Louise, Janie or Anna Herfard. I’m wondering if this is the case with Grace.
On the 1900 Missouri census for Chariton County, Mrs. Mattie White was listed with her daughters. The next head of house listed after Mattie’s was a Gracie Cason. How ironic!! This Gracie was the mother of Margaret (Cason) Blakey. This Gracie Cason’s maiden name was Cason.
I don’t think that Lady White, the writer of this article made a misprint. It’s clear that Mattie and Oressia were related to Mrs. Grace Hayes. I have been finding more on Mrs. Mattie White as I’m searching for others. Also I’m wondering if Mattie did marry. She was always listed as Mrs. Mattie White. So who was Mr. White?
Thanks for reading. Mrs. Mattie White and Daughter, Miss Oressia Connections With Mrs. Grace Hayes I posted this blog on another website on May 4, 2024
As I grew in years, I became curious about where my ancestors originated from. I asked some relatives. And they said, Africa, But still, I wondered even more.
Where did my ancestors come from? It’s not known were my early ancestors they came from or traveled in their days in America.. Some ancestors on my 2nd great grandparents; on his father’s father’s side came from Virginia. They were the enslaved in the United States of America. They were later brought to Missouri. There were some ancestors were taken to Mississippi during the late 1858 to 1860’s .
Eventually, the family moved back to Chariton and Howard Counties in Missouri circa 1880’s where some family members were living. Some of the ancestors choose to remain in the Forest Green, Missouri area. While some of their descendants began to move northward and westward near and after the 1900’s. And some descendants moved throughout the United States as years and decades past.
I posted a blog series about the article: Slavery Descendants to Have First Reunion. This one I wrote January 23, 2013. It was part 6 in a series of 12 blogs. I have updated some of what I have discovered through the years.
They found worked on farms. And lived in Forest Green, Missouri area. They kept their own surnames. White and Blakey. They were employed and made their homes in Forest Green, MO.
Where did they work? As farmer or as farm hands? Some owned their land. Some worked on a tobacco farm.
What names did each family member take? The mother in this article was unknown but was found in 1989. Her name was Julia. What names did each family member take?
Andrew WHITE, the father wasn’t mentioned the the article. He was born around 1818 in VA. His name was mentioned on three of son’s death certificates. And a enslaved Ad in 1858.
Julia (Finney) WHITE, the mother .She was born around 1820 in Virginia. She was the mother of 11 or 12. She was said to have passed in Forest Green, Missouri. Isaac BLAKEY, (1845 – 1917) He passed in Shannondale, Missouri. He was married twice. He was the father of 20.
Spencer WHITE ( 1852 – 1929) He moved to Moberly, Randolph Missouri and passed there. He was the father of 3.
John WHITE (1858 – 1918) The article stated that John carried the Blakey surname. He passed in Salisbury, Missouri. His surname was WHITE. He was the father of 11.
Josh WHITE He was born in 1860. It’s not known when he passed. He had daughters and a son John BLAKE.
Martha “Matt” or “Mattie” WHITE (1862 – 1947) She was said to have passed in Forest Green, Missouri. There is no death certificate of her in Missouri with the name Mattie / Martha White. She was the mother of 5.
Richard “Dick” WHITE (1866 – 1946) He passed in Glasgow, Missouri,. He was the father of 13.
It appears that Isaac was the only one in this family that choose the BLAKEY surname. Why? Not for sure. Perhaps that was the name he used when he enlisted into the Civil War in 1863. Isaac kept the surname. However, Isaac did use the WHITE surname at some time.
Perhaps Isaac was with the BLAKEYs for a time; they may have helped him to his freedom. Two of the former slave owners gave affidavit of who Isaac was. Isaac applied for his pension records in 1890’s.
Also for the mother Julia, Did she have other children? Yes. She had about 11 or 12 children. Some of the children may have passed away before the turn of the century. Some of the family members may not have know about them.
The article states that “Matt” Martha WHITE never married. As I searched for Mattie White, I came up with her as a widow at 18 year old. She was the mother of 5 children. (It’s sad that this information was lost through the years.)
The big mystery to this part of the article: Who was the great grandmother?Was the writer in this article speaking of Ted Blakey’s great grandmother? The mother of the enslaved or the mother’s husband, Andrew’s mother?
The mother, Julia was believe to have passed and was buried in Forest Green, MO. Most those who passed this family were buried in Forest Green, MO and area. There are some descendants who still live in the Forest Green and Glasgow areas in Missouri.
It’s good if we have the opportunity to visit some of the places where our ancestors once lived. Perhaps, we should do some research to find where our family history began. We as their descendants are the story teller of our ancestors.
We are living out the family history. My family connections journey began during the mid 1970’s . And I continue to search as long as I can.
May we continue on the journey to know who our ancestors were. May we leave a legacy for the next generations to come May we see that what we do will impact our future.
Thanks for reading. Homestead: On My Blakey WHITE Family Connections
I posted a blog like this on April 24, 2020. I edited this one and made updates during August and September of 2024. I did take the DNA test. It was interesting: Nigeria!.
Week 39 ~ Amy Johnson Crow’s #52Ancestors in 52 Weeks Challenge in 2024
The theme for Week 39 is “Homestead.” Is there a home you think of when you think of your ancestors? For me, it’s my Grandma’s tiny post-WWII era house that somehow fit all of the extended family on Christmas. What does “homestead” make you think of?
