Genealogical & Family History Facts Abstracted from The Work Projects Administration's Texas (TX) Slave Interviews (Narratives)

Genealogical & Family History Facts
Abstracted from Texas Slave Narratives
Originally Compiled 1936-1938 by the Works Project Administration

From 1836 to 1838, thousands of former slaves were interviewed by members of the Works Project Administration as part of Franklin Delano Roosevelt's "New Deal" to provide jobs during the depression and help spur America's economy.

The following are genealogical and family history facts abstracted from these interviews, mostly pertaining to the state of Texas. To avoid violating copyright, I did not transcribe descriptive stories, embellishments, and the like. For this reason, I suggest that you find and read the entire narratives. If you have any interest in these individuals, the time, or the culture, you will gain so much from reading the narratives in whole. They can be read online at the Library of Congress and Ancestry. Furthermore, you can purchase the book format (it includes a lot of pictures of the individuals interviewed), The American Slave: A Composite Autobiography. These narratives are also available via the Slave Narratives CD-ROM.

I, myself, have become mildly obsessed with learning more about these people. Therefore, some of these entries have notes attached to them. If you have any information regarding an individual, and are willing to share with the genealogical community, please email Stephanie.

I have compiled a short index of the surnames found in each entry:

Interviewee	Surnames
S. B. Adams	Adams, Arnold, Clark, Erath, Garret, Lee, Lewis, McAdoo, McLennan, Roberts, Stewards
Julia Blanks	Adams, Blanks, Donaldson, Hall, King, Miller, Wilcox
William Branch	Andrew, Branch, Woodson
Madison Bruin	Bruin, Curtis, Gross, Paris
Anthony Christopher	Christopher, Patton
Betty Coleman	Coleman, Milam, Robertson
Adeline Cunningham	Cunningham, Foley, Woods
James Green	Green, Hardy, Huff, Pinchback, Williams
Owen W. Green	Green, Marks, Mobley
William Green	Green, Montgomery
Felix Haywood	Brockenridge, Flanigan, Gudlow, Haywood, Thompson
Martin Jackson	Buchell, Ferguson, Fitzpatrick, Jackson, Long
Hagar Lewis	Lewis, Martin, McFarland
Millie Manuel	Childers, Manuel
James Martin	Dodge, Martin
Tom Mills	Coston, Lebruo, Mills, Patterson, Riley

Interviewee: S. B. ADAMS
S. B. was interviewed about 3 June 1937. He was born in Gatesville, Texas on 5 June 1858. Parents were William and Easter Adams of Hodgesville, South Carolina. They were owned by George F. Adams of South Carolina. They all came to Texas shortly before S. B. was born.

George Adams's home was soldiers headquarters during the Civil War. Major D. Arnold, Captain McLennan, Captain Bob Roberts, General McAdoo, Major Erath, and General Lee all came through at some time or other.

S. B. had at least 2 aunts: Dianna Lewis and Melvina Stewards. S. B. was the second of 8 children. The oldest sister, Sarah, died at Gatesville of a snake bite when she was very young. S. B. had at least one brother, Press. They were the only 2 alive at the time of interview.

George Adams had 5 children. Three of them were alive at the time of interview: Mrs. B. B. Garret of Gatesville, Mrs. J. A. Clark of Whitney, and Mr. Alex Adams of San Antonio.

Interviewee: Julia BLANKS
Julia was born to a part-French slave mother and 3/4 Cherokee Indian father in San Antonio, Bexar County, Texas the second year of the Civil War (1862). Her mother was owned by Mrs. John G. Wilcox, formerly Miss Mary Donaldson, who gave Julia to her daughter. After freedom, Julia lived with her mother in San Antonio until she married Henry Hall at age 15 in San Antonio. Five years later, her second marriage took place at Leon Springs, Texas, where she lived until moving to the Adams ranch on the Frio River. She stayed 15 years. After leaving the Adams ranch, Julia and Henry moved to Uvalde, Texas.

Julia's mother was Rachael Miller. Rachael was born in Tennessee or Mississippi. Julia's husband's family came from Savannah, Georgia. Julia had 2 sisters and one brother. At the time of interview, her sisters were dead. The brother lived somewhere in Arizona.

Julia's husband's owner was King. King was from Savannah. Julia's husband's father was killed in the Civil War.

During war-time, Julia lived behind St. Mary's Church in San Antonio. Where the post office was, a blacksmith shop used to be. Julia's father had worked there.

Julia's husband used to carry mail from San Antonio to Dog Town on horseback. That town used to be called Lodi/Lodo.

At the time of interview, Julia's husband had been dead 19 years. Four of her children (2 girls, 2 boys) were alive. Carrie in California. George in Arizona. Lavinia in Arizona. One son with her (Julia). Julia, at the time of interview, had 10 grandchildren and 5 great-grandchildren.

At the time of interview, Julia belonged to the Methodist Church and had been a member for about 25 years. He husband joined with her. She was baptized.

Interviewee: William BRANCH
William was born 13 May 1850. At the time of interview, he was living at 322 Utah Street, San Antonio, Bexar County, Texas.

William was born on Lawyer Woodson's place in Lunenburg County, Virginia (about 75 miles southwest of Richmond).

William joined the United States Army in 1870 and was sent to Texas to fight the Indians.

At Fort Davis, William joined Captain George L. Andrew's Company K Indian Scouts.

William came to San Antonio after he mustered out and went to work for Bell Jewelry Company.

Interviewee: Madison BRUIN
At the time of interview (about 1 December 1937), Madison was 82 years old. He spent his early days as a slave on the Jack and Addie Curtis farm in Kentucky.

Madison was born in Fayette County, Kentucky (about 5 miles from Lexington). His mother's name was Mary.

Madison had 2 sisters, Jeanette and Fanny, and a brother, Henry. After his father died, his mother married a Paris. Madsion had a half-brother named Alfred Paris.

Jack Curtis was in the Yankee Army along with his sons, John and Joe.

Madison left the Curtis farm in 1872.

Madison left Kentucky when he was 17 and went to Indiana and joined the army. That was in 1876, and he was sent to Arizona to fight Indians with the 8th Cavalry.

When Madison was discharged from the army, he came to Texas and worked on the Southern Pacific Railroad.

Madison married Dolly Gross 14 December 1882 in San Antonio, Bexar County, Texas. They had one daughter who was dead at the time of interview.

Madison cam to Beaumont in 1903 and he worked around Spindletop for the gas and waterworks.

Dolly was born in 1865. At the time of interview, she and Madison had been married 55 years.

Madison's mother, Mary, died in 1863.

Interviewee: Anthony CHRISTOPHER
Anthony (Tony) was born a slave of Charles Patton at West Columbia, Brazoria County, Texas in 1851.

The Patton place was on Varney's Creek, which ran into the Brazos River.

Tony's parents were born in Virginia. Charles Patton brought them to Texas.

Tony had a sister named Deenie.

Tony had a grandmother named Judy.

When Tony grew up, he went to San Antonio, Bexar County, Texas and got a jub hauling wood.

Tony later married and began farming in Chapel Hill.

At the time of interview (4 August 1938), Tony was living on York Street, between Lamar and Dallas Avenue, in Houston, Texas.

Interviewee: Betty COLEMAN
Betty was born Betty Robertson about 85 years prior to time of interview in Arkansas.

Betty's mother was Violet Robertson, who died a Milam. Betty's father was John Robertson, and he died 2 years after emancipation.

Betty's mother died about 10 years prior to time of interview.

Betty and her family lived on the Will and Dellie Robertson plantation in Arkansas until about 5 years before emancipation, when they were brought to Texas.

Once in Texas, Betty lived on a plantation on San Antonio Post Road, about 7 miles south of Austin.

Will and Dellie Robertson had at least one daughter, Victoria.

Betty had an olders sister named Mary who had asthma.

Betty married, after slavery, Joe Coleman, a preacher. Their first home was in Decker, Texas.

Betty and Joe had 12 children, 6 boys and 6 girls, including 2 sets of twins. At the time of interview, 6 were still living: Andrew was living in Dallas, Texas. Hattie was in San Antonio, Bexar County, Texas. Eliza, George, Melinda, and Lonnie were in Austin with Betty.

Betty's husband, Joe, was dead at the time of interview (6 January 1938).

Here is Betty and Joe and family in the 1880 Travis County, Texas Federal Census:

Name	Relation	Marital Status	Gender	Race	Age	Birthplace	Occupation	Father's Birthplace	Mother's Birthplace
Jo COLEMAN	Self	M	Male	B	35	VA	Farmer	-	-
Betty COLEMAN	Wife	M	Female	B	26	AR	Keeps House	-	-
Eliza COLEMAN	Dau	S	Female	B	8	TX	-	VA	AR
Violet COLEMAN	Dau	S	Female	B	7	TX	-	VA	AR
Richard COLEMAN	Son	S	Male	B	4	TX	-	VA	AR
Melinda COLEMAN	Dau	S	Female	B	3	TX	-	VA	AR
George COLEMAN	Son	S	Male	B	1	TX	-	VA	AR

Interviewee: Adeline CUNNINGHAM
Adeline had at least one child.

Adeline, at the time of interview, was living at 1210 Florida Street with her granddaughter. She was born 1852 a slave in Lavaca County, Texas. She was owned by Washington Greenlee Foley and his grandson, John Woods.

Adeline married after freedom. At the time of interview, she'd been living in San Antonio, Bexar County, Texas 20 years.

Here is Adeline and her family in the 1880 Lavaca County, Texas Federal Census (Precint 1):

Name	Relation	Marital Status	Gender	Race	Age	Birthplace	Occupation	Father's Birthplace	Mother's Birthplace
Andres CUNNINGHAM	Self	M	Male	B	20	TX	Farmer	TX	TX
Adalin CUNNINGHAM	Wife	M	Female	B	21	TX	Keeping House	TX	TX
Henriette CUNNINGHAM	Dau	S	Female	B	3	TX	-	TX	TX

Interviewee: James GREEN
James (Jim) was 1/2 American Indian and 1/2 African American. He was born a slave to his mother, Delia, who was owned by John Williams of Petersburg, Virginia. He was later sold to a Columbus, Texas ranchman, John Pinchback. At the time of interview (19 September 1937), he was living at 323 North Olive Street, San Antonio, Bexar County, Texas.

After the war, Jim married Lizzie, his second wife.

After the war, Jim was told he was 25 years old.

At the time of interview, Jim was 97 years old. Lizzie was 86. She was also a slave on a plantation in Columbus, Texas.

Lizzie was owned by John Pinchback's brother, William.

Jim's first wife was Mary Hardy. She died of pneumonia 2 years after they were married. They had no children.

Jim and Lizzie had at least one daughter, Mollie Huff.

Interviewee: Owen W. GREEN
Owen, son of Frank and Mary Ann Marks, was born into slavery in Bradley County, Arkansas, 26 June 1859. His owners were the Jack Mobley family. Jack was killed in the Civil War, and Owen became an "orphan." At the time of interview, Owen was living in Del Rio, Texas.

Owen's mother, Mary Ann, was born on the Mobley plantation. Owen had 2 brothers.

All of Owen's family belonged to Mobley. Owen's grandfather was a millman.

Owen's grandmother worked as a nurse for 37 years.

Owen married in 1919. He had 2 step-daughters and one step-son, who lived in San Antonio, Bexar County, Texas. Owen had 6 grandchildren. He was a member of the Baptist church.

Interviewee: William GREEN
William (Bill) was brought to Lavernia, Texas from Mississippi in 1862. His owner was Major John Montgomery of Brook Haven, Mississippi. At the time of interview, Bill was 87 years old and lived in San Antonio, Bexar County, Texas. He had been living there for 50 years.

At the time of interview, Bill was alone with no children.

John Montgomery was killed in the Civil War.

About 5 years after freedom, Bill became a preacher.

Bill was married twice, but had no children.

Bill was born in Brook Haven, Mississippi.

Bill was 14 years of age when the war ended.

Interviewee: Felix HAYWOOD
Felix was interviewed twice: June and 28 October 1937. He was 92 years old and living in San Antonio, Bexar County, Texas. He was born a slave in St. Hedwig, Bexar County, the son of slave parents bought in Mississippi by William Gudlow.

Felix was living on Arabella Alley with his youngest sister, Mrs. Ella Thompson, at the time of interview. She had known 7 years of slavery.

One member of William Gudlow's family, Colmin Gudlow, had gone to fight in the Civil War. He was shot in the big toe.

Felix went to Mexico after the war, but came back to San Antonio. He then got a job through Colonel Brockenridge with the waterworks. His foreman was Tom Flanigan, a full-blooded Frenchman.

The following is Felix and his family in the 1880 Bexar County, Texas Federal Census:

Name	Relation	Marital Status	Gender	Race	Age	Birthplace	Occupation	Father's Birthplace	Mother's Birthplace
Crumsy HAYWOOD	Self	D	Male	B	60	NC	Farmer	NC	NC
Felix HAYWOOD	Son	M	Male	B	22	TX	Farmer	NC	NC
Sidney HAYWOOD	Son	S	Male	B	16	TX	Farmer	NC	NC
Ella HAYWOOD	Dau	S	Female	B	15	TX	-	NC	NC
Grant HAYWOOD	Son	S	Male	B	14	TX	At School	NC	NC
Lizie HAYWOOD	Dau	S	Female	B	11	TX	At School	NC	NC

Interviewee: Martin JACKSON
Martin served in the Civil War and World War I. He was born in Victoria County, Texas in 1847. His owner was Alvy Fitzpatrick.

At the time of interview (2 August 1937), Martin lived at 419 Center Street, San Antonio, Bexar County, Texas.

At the time of interview, Martin was 90 years old.

Martin served with the 1st Texas Cavalry in the Civil War. The second week after the United States declared war on Germany, he enlisted as a cook at Camp Leon Springs, Texas.

The 1st Texas Cavalry in which Martin served was commanded by the German Colonel Buchell, who was killed at the Battle of Marshall, Louisiana. Alvy Fitzpatrick was the grandfather of Governor Jim Ferguson.

After Alvy Fitzpatrick's wife died, he married a widow Long. She had three sons and was from New York. She was Alvy's third wife.

Alvy Fitzpatrick's daughter, Fanny was Governor Ferguson's mother.

Martin married once and for 45 years. He had 13 children.

Alvy Fitzpatrick's son, Joe, became owner of Martin when Martin was 5 years old and Joe was 2.

Colonel Buchell had also fought in the Indian Wars.

The Fitzpatrick ranch was close to the Jackson County line in Victoria County; about 125 miles from San Antonio.

Martin's mother was drowned when he was a little boy. She supposedly drowned herself.

Martin's father also served as head cook in the Civil War.

Martin had a daughter-in-law named Maggie.

One of Martin's grandfathers in Africa was called Jeaceo.

Interviewee: Hagar LEWIS
Hagar, at the time of interview, was 82 years old and lived at 4313 Rosa Street, El Paso, Texas. She was born a slave to the Martin family. She and her mother, Mammy Lize, were given to Mary Martin when Mary married John H. McFarland. They lived near Tyler, Smith County, Texas. Hagar married A. Lewis after freedom and moved to San Antonio, Bexar County, Texas. She was widowed early and raised 2 sons. One was a chief electrical engineer with the United States government and lived in New York.

Hagar was born 12 January 1855. Hermother lived to be 112 years old and had 16 children. Hagar was the youngest.

Hagar was 12 years old when freed.

Hagar's father was a slave from another farm.

Hagar had a sister named Belle.

John McFarland's oldest son was Oscar.

Oscar owned a store in Tyler, Texas.

John McFarland had 2 slaves, Ambrose and Lu, who were married.

Interviewee: Millie MANUEL
Millie was born a slave on a ranch bordering the Salado Creek, about 6 miles out of San Antonio, Bexar County, Texas. Her parents were slaves and the property of the Childers family.

Millie married James Manuel.

Here are Millie and James and family in the 1880 San Antonio, Bexar County, Texas Federal Census (3rd and 4th Ward):

Name	Relation	Marital Status	Gender	Race	Age	Birthplace	Occupation	Father's Birthplace	Mother's Birthplace
James MANUEL	Self	M	Male	B	50	MD	Laborer	KY	KY
Millie MANUEL	Wife	M	Female	B	26	TX	Laborer	GA	GA
Tom MANUEL	Son	S	Male	B	16	TX	At School	MD	TX
Florence MANUEL	Dau	S	Female	B	15	TX	At School	MD	TX
Claude MANUEL	Son	S	Male	B	1	TX	-	MD	TX

Interviewee: James MARTIN
At the time of interview (16 September 1937), James lived at 311 Dawson Street, San Antonio, Bexar County, Texas, and was 90 years old. He was born in Alexandria, Virginia to Preston and Lisa (Lissie) Martin.

James was born in 1847. His mother was a slave, and his grandfather was one of the early settlers in Virginia. James's grandfather was born in Jamaica and taken to England, then to Virginia.

James enlisted in the army when he was 17 or 18 years old.

He served in the 9th US Cavalry under Captain Francis F. Dodge. James was discharged in 1872 and came to San Antonio.

James worked with the Southern Pacific Railroad in 1873-1874.

James was married twice.

The road in front of his house (at the time of interview) used to be the old Gonzales Road.

Interviewee: Tom MILLS
Tom was born in Fayette County, Alabama in 1858, a slave of George Patterson, who owned Tom's parents. In 1862, George Patterson moved to Texas, bringing Tom and his mother. In 1892, Tom began stock farming. He settled in Uvalde, Texas in 1919.

Tom's mother was Elsaline Riley and his father was Thad Mills. His siters were Ella, Ann, Lou, Maggie, Matildy, and Easter. His brothers were Richard and Ben. Bob Lebruo was his uncle, who was killed by Indians in Frio County, Texas.

Tom was 22 years old when he first married Ada Coston in Medine County, Texas.

The Patterson place was opposite Knowlton Creek.

Tom's mother joined the Hardshell Baptist Church.

In 1886, Tom went to Kerr County, Texas and ranched on the head of the Guadalupe River.

Tom's first wife died in 1892. Tom married again. They came to Uvalde, Texas in 1906. They went to Zavala County, Texas in 1907 and stayed until 1919.

Tom had 11 children: Alfred was, at the time of interview, in Louisiana. Alfred was married about 5 times. Mack was in San Antonio and worked at the post office. The rest are Sarah, Riley, Frank, James, Banetta, John, Theodore, Tommy, Annie, and Laurie.