Where There's A Will #52Ancestors 52 Weeks

Where there's a will... this was what was on the probate. It's a listing of some of my enslaved ancestors. Isaac was my Great Grandfather. His parents were Andrew and Julia.

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

The 8th Week ~ Heirloom #52ancestors 52 Weeks

What's been handed down from generations to generation? One thing, was our family surname. And the other, the faith in Jesus Christ that our ancestors told us about.

Though my family surname was changed at least two times it's our "heirloom" or what's our inheritage. My Great Grandpa Isaac's family was carried the WHITE surname. Sometime along the journey Isaac choose the BLAKEY surname. And he was the only one of his siblings with that surname.

Isaac had twin sons by his first wife, Martha (Scott) Blakey. Their name were Andrew and John. Andrew passed as an infant.  John later changed his surname to BLAKLEY around 1902. His children carry the BLAKLEY surname.

When I first thought about this blog, I was thinking of what special item that has been passed down in my family. I can't think of any objects from one generation to the next.  There may have been. Perhaps, the family stories, pictures that we need to share more of.

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

Slavery Descendants to Have First Reunion: The Article in 12 Blogs

Article: Slavery Descendants To Have First Reunion

Part 1: Thoughts: Slavery Descendants to Have First Reunion

Part 2: Blakey - White Families: The Year 1843

The Arrival And Names Taken ~ Article Part 3

John and Isaac Blakey: Civil War ~ Part 4

Isaac Blakey Reunites With Family ~ Part 5

Empolyment , Homeland And Surnames ~ Part 6

Dick and Jane WHITE ~ Part 7

Blakey / Blakley Descendants ~ Article Part 8

Isaac and Rachel Blakey ~ Part 9

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

Oldest Blakey Who Lived? ~ Part 11

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

Thanks for reading.
God bless you.
Susan

In The Census: Great Finds ~ #52Ancestors 52 Weeks

Week 5 ~ Prompt In The Census  ~

1880 Census Chariton County Missouri



  In June of 2007, I stumbled across this 1880 census, while I was searching for my Great Grandfather, Isaac Blakey. I typed in Isaac White and this page came up. I was amazed by what I saw. I shouted, "Thank You, Jesus!".

I thought that my 2nd Great Grandmother, Julia White would have passed. Low and behold, there she was listed on the 1880. She was a former slaved and lived at least 15 years after the Civil War ended.

What's so surprising, the children and grandchildren were listed with her. There were some children not listed. Julia the granddaughter had a twin brother. There was an Isaac Jr. Don't know who the Andrew listed as age 6. Wondering who were their parents?

There were other grandchildren of Julia without listing of their parents. Andrew was listed as black. Rebecca was mulatto and her parents were from Virginia.

Also, what's interesting, is the family unit before Julia's. Isaac White ( aged 80) and his family. I believe that Isaac and Julia were in laws. Julia had a son named Andrew. Wondering if this Isaac was Andrew's Grandfather.

There's so much to dig into in the censuses. Following the paper trail of our ancestors. It's a journey in itself. I'm thankful that I came across this census. 

The 1880 in Chariton County Missouri census

Name	Age
Julia White	60      Head, a widow, couldn't read nor write , Born in VA, Parents  VA
Isaac White	30      son, married, couldn't read nor write, born in MO, Parents VA
Rachel White	29      daughter in law, couldn't read nor write, Born in MS, Parents MS
John White	10      grandson, born in MS,  Father MO, Mother MS
Mary White	8      granddaughter, born in MS,  Father MO, Mother MS
Andrew White	6      grandson, born in MS,  Father MO, Mother MS
Julia White	4      granddaughter, born in MS,  Father MO, Mother MS
Henry White	2      grandson, born in MO, Father MO, Mother MS
Spencer White	28      son, single, couldn't read nor write, Parents VA
John White	26      son, single, couldn't read nor write, Parents VA
David White	22      son, single, couldn't read nor write, Parents VA
Josh White	20      son, singe, couldn't read nor write, Parents VA
Rebcca White	10      granddaughter, born in MO, Father VA, Mother VA
Martha White	18      daughter , she was a widow, couldn't read nor write.
Andrew White	2      grandson, born in MO, Parents from MO





1880 Census

There are still mysteries in this family history.

I hope to discover a little  more along the journey.
I believe that there's is more out there.

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

A Family Member: Private Isaac Blaker: Also Known As. Mr. Isaac Blakey

 February: In Memory of The Blakey Blakley WHITE Family Connections

I’m thankful for all my family members. I was thinking about which person I want to write about.  I choose my Great Grandfather, my father’s grandfather. I’ve written about him before.

I’m thankful for my Great Grandfather, Isaac Blakey. There’s so much I’ve discovered about him.  His life has been an inspiration to me as I’m searching for my family connections.

Isaac was born into American slavery sometime between 1845 to 1847.  He and his family were enslaved in Missouri. By the age of 12, Isaac was said to have ran away. About that time Isaac’s family was divided and sold. Isaac later joined the Civil War in 1863 – 1866.

As I’m searching for info on my Great Grandfather, I wonder how he did what he did? He was born a slave and later became a free man as a teenager. He fought during the Civil War and was injured while serving in April of 1864.

I believe Isaac was a smart man. Though, he couldn’t read nor write, he had some knowledge. He was applying for his Civil War pension in 1891. He had to prove who he was. He needed witness to verify who he was and about his health issues.

As I’ve read Isaac’s pension records, he had many people who vouched for him.  Isaac had a bayonet wound from the war. His left leg had been a running with sores since he was wounded.  By the 1890’s, Isaac was unable to do work. And at times he was confined to his bed.

I’ve read a news article about some of Blakey / White family history. After the Civil War, Isaac was able to located his family. He convinced them to move to Forest Green, Missouri. That was were the family was before the Civil War.

I believe that Isaac was a forgiving person. He asked two of his former slaveholders to speak on his behalf. They knew of Isaac as a slave. Yes, they wrote an affidavits stating who Isaac was. Isaac had a good reputation as a slave.

In 1900 Isaac received his pension. It was $6 a month. Also, he received back pay since 1891. At the time of his death, he was receiving $ 24  a month. Isaac passed on Dec 23, 1917.

So far on my search, Isaac is the only family member that has been listed as an Africa. He and his parents and some siblings were listed on a slave ad in 1858. So far, they are the only documented family member that were listed slaves.

Isaac’s Family.
Isaac was the only known member in his family that carried the Blakey surname. All the others including his parents, Andrew and Julia choose the White surname. Isaac was one of 12 children.

Isaac was the father of about 20 children. His first wife, Martha (Scott) Blakey gave birth to twins sons. She later passed with her son, Andrew. The other son was my Grandfather, John Blakey / Blakley.

Isaac’s second wife was Rachel, Jackson / Lephridge Blakey. She was the mother of Isaac’s 18 children. She raised my Grandfather, John. She passed in 1916.

I believe that I’ll have the opportunity to meet my ancestors who fell asleep in the LORD face to face, when the time comes. They paved the way for us. I’m thankful to be on their family lineage.

Thanks for reading.
Happy February!
God bless you.
S. A. Blakley