I, Margaret Tate, of the county of Baldwin and State of Alabama being sound in mind but not in body and feeling the uncertainty of life do hereby revoking all others make this my last will and testament. . . .
6th
To my beloved daughter JOSEPHINE B. DREISBACK and her heirs. I give and bequeath one negro man named Dick, one negro woman Bella, and her four children named Pheobe, Hardy, Dick and Mary, one negro girl named Rose, one negro woman named Amy and her three children named Tina, Milly, and Fanny, one negro woman named Flora, one old negro man named Jonah, it is my wish the old man named Jonah shall do no hard work. I wish my daughter Josephine to have my watch and all of my household furniture, my Carriage and old Horse to her and her heirs forever.
. . .
Amy Webster first appeared on the same census page as my second great grandmother, Delia Bailey Grant. This was the paramount piece of the puzzle. So, let’s begin.
Samuel Grant m. Delia Webster [Bailey] after the Civil War in Baldwin County, Alabama, on 31 Jul 1869.1
TO BE CONTINUED
1“Alabama
County Marriages, 1809-1950,” database with images,
FamilySearch
(https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:XTWT-LTT : 19 February
2021), Sam Grant and Delia Webster, 31 Jul 1869; citing Baldwin,
Alabama, United States, County Probate Courts, Alabama; FHL
microfilm 1,839,621.
I, Margaret Tate, of the county of Baldwin and State of Alabama being sound in mind but not in body and feeling the uncertainty of life do hereby revoking all others make this my last will and testament.
Imprimis.
I commend my soul to God trusting in the merits of my savior for my salvation in the world to come.
2nd
I commend my body to christian burial.
3rd
To the heirs of my beloved daughter MARY D. SAUNDERS, I give and bequeath one negro man Sam, one negro woman Maria, one negro girl Amy, one negro boy Sam, one negro boy Daniel, one negro girl Perry, one negro boy Harry and all my swamp cattle to her heirs forever and it is hereby understood and intended that the aforesaid MARY D. SAUNDERS shall have the right and privilege of rising and enjoying all the immunities appurtenances, advantages and privileges which are and may arise from said property so long as she may live.
4th
To my beloved daughter MARGARET STAPLES and her heirs, I give and bequeath one negro man named Job, one negro girl named Silva, and child, and it is hereby understood that the aforesaid Margaret Staples is to take the above named negroes at a fair value to satisfy a note that Mr. JASON STAPLES holds against me, after the note is satisfied the balance is to go as part of her share of my estate. I also give and bequeath one negro woman named Betsy and her child named Jonab, one negro boy named Sandy, one negro boy named Twine, one negro boy named Tobe, one negro girl named Malissa, and her two children, one negro man named Ned, one negro boy named Harry, one negro girl named Patience to her and her heirs forever.
5th
To the children of my beloved son WILLIAM T. POWELL, I give and bequeath one negro man named William one negro man named Aaron, one negro man named Cuff, one negro boy named Stephen, one negro woman Elonisa, and her four children Siky, Daphney, Chloe and Tab, one negro woman named Pop~ My plantation situated and described as follows: The South East fraction quarter of section nineteen, in Township four of range three east containing one Hundred & fifty acres and sixty five hundredths of an acre. The west half of the north- west quarter of section nineteen, in township four range three east, containing eighty acres. The east subdivision of the west fraction of the north half, west of the Alabama River of section nineteen in Township four of range three east containing one hundred and fifty two acres one wagon, one ox cart and four oxen, all of my Hogs, all the farming utensils, five of my best mules. Eighty acres of pine land situated and described as follows: Township four range three east the north east quarter of the south west quarter of section thirty four, four large steers suitable for Oxen, all of the corn & fodder now on my Plantation, and it is hereby understood and intended that the aforesaid WILLIAM T. POWELL shall have the right and privilege of using and enjoying all the immunities appurtenances, advantages and privileges which are and may arise from said property so long as he may live but he the said WILLIAM T. POWELL shall not sell, give, grant or convey or dispose of any of said property under any pretence whatever.
6th
To my beloved daughter JOSEPHINE B. DREISBACK and her heirs. I give and bequeath one negro man named Dick, one negro woman Bella, and her four children named Pheobe, Hardy, Dick and Mary, one negro girl named Rose, one negro woman named Amy and her three children named Tina, Milly, and Fanny, one negro woman named Flora, one old negro man named Jonah, it is my wish the old man named Jonah shall do no hard work. I wish my daughter Josephine to have my watch and all of my household furniture, my Carriage and old Horse to her and her heirs forever.
7th
To my beloved Grand daughter MARY STAPLES, I give and bequeath, one negro woman named Clander and three of her children named Alex, Philip and Dilsy to her and her heirs forever.
8th
To my beloved Grand daughter JOSEPHINE STAPLES I give and bequeath one negro boy named Or to her and her heirs forever.
9th
To my beloved Grand Son ROBERT POWELL, I give and bequeath one Roan Mare to him and his heirs forever.
10th
It is my request that Hardy and his wife, Pheobe shall be set at liberty. I do not wish them to be slaves after my death. I wish them moved over to the place I purchased from THOMAS SAUNDERS. I do not wish that place sold under any considera- tion whatever. I wish him to have four cows and calves, and the two steers he is breaking for oxen at this time. I wish my son or Mr. Dreisback to act as his agent during life.
11th
And it hereby understood and intended that my daughter MARY D. SAUNDERS, have the right and privileges of using and cultivating one hundred acres of my plantation land which I have given to my son WILLIAM T. POWELL, the land which I wish her to have to right of using and cultivating lays above the Gin House, after the death of the said MARY D. SAUNDERS, the land shall revert to the children of my son WILLIAM T. POWELL.
12th
And I also give and bequeath to the said MARY D. SAUNDERS thirty head of sheep.
13th
I request that my stock of cattle one wagon and what mules may be left after my son gets his number out to be sold to the highest bidder the proceeds of which I wish applied to the payments of my debts any amount that may be left from the above sale after my debts are paid I wish it to be given to Mrs. ROSAHAH SHOMO.
14th
I do hereby appoint my son in law J. D. DREISBACK my executor and administrator to settle up my estate.
15th
It is my wish that my old negro woman Siky shall remain with my daughter Josephine during her life.
In testimony whereof I this day set my hand and seal this the twenty eighth day of Nov in the year of our Lord, one thousand eight hundred and fifty.
Margaret Tate
Witnesses
J. W. SHOMO
J. D. WEATHERFORD
State of Alabama} Baldwin County}
Personally appeared before me PATRICK BYRNE, Judge of the Probate Court of Baldwin County & State aforesaid J. D. WEATHERFORD one of the subscribing witnesses to the foregoing Instrument of writing and states on oath that he was requested to sign and was present at the signing of the Instrument of writing by J. W. SHOMO a subscribing witness and that Margaret Tate acknowledged the same to be her last Will and Testament and that the said Margaret Tate was in sound mind & memory
Subscribed & sworn to before me this 27th day of March A. D. 1851
Louvenia Morse was enumerated in the 1900 U.S. Federal Census, for Baldwin County, Alabama, as “Melvina.” She was born February 1846, in Alabama, and was widowed before 1900.1 Viney Louvenia Morse died October, 1832; interred at Montrose, Baldwin, Alabama.2 She was of interest to me because her surname was the same as my 2nd great grandmother, Mahala Morris Ficklin, a neighbor, in 1900. They were both buried at Montrose. Louvenia Morris was described as “black,” in this census, and “mulatto,” by 1910.3
Other household members were her daughters, Daisy [Morse] Parker, and granddaughters, Lavenia and Georgia Parker. Daisy Morse married George Parker, June 14, 1894, at Montrose, Baldwin County, Alabama. Russell Dick and D.C. Stapleton were witnesses.4
Returning to the 1900 U.S. Federal Census, for Baldwin County, Alabama, a perusal of the surrounding households elicits further details concerning Louvenia’s family, specifically, the names of five of her six children:
Daisy [Morse Johnson], b. Apr 1879 – 1953,7m. GeorgeParker; and later, m. Percy Johnson.8, 9
Lewis [Louis Morse, Sr.], b. 1866-67(not) m. Georgia Allen10, 11, 12
Jacob H. Morse, b. 1870 – 1932 m. Lucinda Davis, October 1886 at Baldwin County.
Robert Morse, b. Feb 1870-1872 – 1923 m. Caroline Bailey13, 14
Willie Morse, b. 1874 – 1936 m. Violet Tucker, 28 June, 1896, at Montrose.
Unknown married Louisa Valrie Morse, widow.15 No marriage record was found.
Daniel Morse [Dan’l Moss] married Amy Valrie, father of Jasper J. Morse, who died 1970, aged 45 years; and m. Ruby Wiggins. Jasper’s mother, Amy Valrie Morse, widow, married Samuel E. Taylor, at Mobile, in 1905.16 Samuel E. Taylor married Floreta Williams, widow, at Mobile in 1908.17 Amy Valrie was the daughter of Melinda Webster, a granddaughter of Amy Webster former slave of David Tate. Amy Valrie Taylor died at Montrose, in 1917.18
A Samuel Taylor was the widower of Mary Ficklin, Mahala’s daughter, whose uncle, Rev. Ellis officiated at their nuptials. Their son, Mahala’s grandson, Henry T. Taylor wed Louvenia’s granddaughter, Lavinia Parker, in 1912, at Baldwin County.19
George Ficklin and Mahala Morris Ficklin’s children, as enumerated in the 1870 and 1880 U.S. Federal Census were the following persons:
2. Caroline Ficklin, 1861 – 1932, m. Edward [Edmund] Bailey,2 (my great-grandmother, mother of Caroline Elizabeth Bailey Stradford). Caroline Bailey died at Tensaw, in 1932.3
3. Millie Ficklin, 1863 – 1904, m. Frank Reed4; m. Harrison Andersen; m. Charles Vivians, Rev. Ellis officiated;5 daughter Gertrude Reed married Eugene Talley of Bessemer, Jefferson, Alabama, 19116.
4. Elizabeth Ficklin, 1866 – Elizabeth Smith (George) married 16 years in 1900. Her children were George, Mary, Louisa, Caroline, and Eliza.78
5. Amelia Ficklin, 1869 – 1919, m. Augustus Jones9
6. Mary Ficklin, 1871 – 1898, m. Samuel E. Taylor10 in 1889, the year of her father’s death, at Edmund Bailey’s house; Rev. Jeffrey Ellis officiated. Samuel Taylor was the brother of Susan Taylor. Rests near her father at Montrose.
7. Georgia Ficklin, 1874 – 1906, died a widow – husband unnamed.
8. Helena Ficklin, 04 June 1873 – 1956, m. Walter Joyce11 Helena Ficklin Joyce died a widow, in Cook County, Illlinois, 1956.12
9. Lucretia Ficklin, 1877 – 1952, m. Henry Pickett13 Lucretia Pickett died 1952, at Mobile, Alabama.14
1 “Alabama, County Marriages, 1809-1950,” index and images, FamilySearch (familysearch.org/pal:/MM9.1.1/XTWT-PMK : accessed 26 Sep 2013), Percy Morris and Susannah Alexander, 1876
2 “Alabama, County Marriages, 1809-1950,” index and images, FamilySearch (familysearch.org/pal:/MM9.1.1/XTWT-P87 : accessed 17 Feb 2013), Edward Bailey and Caroline Ficklin, 10 Apr 1878; citing Baldwin County; FHL microfilm 1839621.
3“Alabama Deaths, 1908-1974,” database, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:JDGY-MPX : 27 November 2014), Caroline Bailey, 14 Jun 1932; citing reference cn 11224, Department of Health, Montgomery; FHL microfilm 1,908,500.
4 “Alabama, County Marriages, 1809-1950,” index and images, FamilySearch (familysearch.org/pal:/MM9.1.1/XTWT-5Q3 : accessed 25 Sep 2013), Frank Reed and Millie Ficklin, 1881.
5“Alabama County Marriages, 1809-1950,” Charles Vivian and Millie Andersen, 15 Mar 1891; citing Baldwin, Alabama, United States, county courthouses, Alabama; FHL microfilm 1,839,622.
6“Alabama County Marriages, 1809-1950,” Eugene Talley and Gertrude Reed, 07 Aug 1911; citing Jefferson, Alabama, United States, county courthouses, Alabama; FHL microfilm 1,065,260.
7“United States Census, 1900,” database with images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:M9ZL-6WB : accessed 27 October 2017), Elizabeth Smith in household of George Smith, Precincts 2-3 Stockton, Perdido, Baldwin, Alabama, United States; citing enumeration district (ED) 2, sheet 15A, family 242, NARA microfilm publication T623 (Washington, D.C.: National Archives and Records Administration, 1972.); FHL microfilm 1,240,001.
8“United States Census, 1920,” database with images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:MXCL-JPG : accessed 27 October 2017), Lizzie Smith in household of George Smith, Stockton and Deans, Baldwin, Alabama, United States; citing ED 3, sheet 9A, line 21, family 201, NARA microfilm publication T625 (Washington D.C.: National Archives and Records Administration, 1992), roll 2; FHL microfilm 1,820,002.
9 ” Alabama, County Marriages, 1809-1950,” index and images, FamilySearch (familysearch.org/pal:/MM9.1.1/XTW8-M3N : accessed 07 Mar 2013), Augustus Jones and Amelia Fickling, 1896.
10 ” Alabama, County Marriages, 1809-1950,” index and images, FamilySearch (familysearch.org/pal:/MM9.1.1/XTWY-SYD : accessed 07 Mar 2013), Samuel Taylor and Mary Ficklin, 1889.
11 “Mississippi, Marriages, 1800-1911,” index, FamilySearch (familysearch.org/pal:/MM9.1.1/V2ZP-GV9 : accessed 26 Sep 2013), Walter Joice and Helena Fickler, 1904.
12“Illinois, Cook County Deaths, 1878-1994,” database, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:Q2MH-YCG8 : 17 May 2016), Helna [Helena] Joyce, 05 Aug 1956; citing Melrose Park, Cook, Illinois, United States, source reference , record number , Cook County Courthouse, Chicago; FHL microfilm .
13 “Alabama, County Marriages, 1809-1950,” index and images, FamilySearch (familysearch.org/pal:/MM9.1.1/XTW8-9MP : accessed 26 Sep 2013), Henry Pickett and Creacy Fickling, 1900.
14“Alabama Deaths, 1908-1974,” database, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:J64X-BYS : 27 November 2014), Lucretia Pickett, 19 Jul 1952; citing reference 15090, Department of Health, Montgomery; FHL microfilm 1,908,871.
Louvenia’s childrens’ father was “Jake,” or “Jacob,” on the following death records:
Again, nexus has been established for Louvenia’s husband, namely, Jacob Morse. All were buried at Montrose Cemetery, Montrose, Baldwin County, Alabama.
Louvenia’s children never agreed on her actual maiden name, and presumed it was other than Morse. On her childrens’ death records, “mother” was either “Vinie Gayle, or Vinie Owen,” or just plain “Vinie.” Jacob Morse died sometime after the conception of his youngest child, William Morse, b. 1874; and before the 1900 enumeration. Jacob’s burial site was marked “unknown” for both birth and death. Jacob was interred at Montrose Cemetery, Montrose, Baldwin County, Alabama, with his family. Jacob’s cause of death, whether by disease or misadventure, remains a mystery.
Was it pure coincidence that Louvenia Morse lived on the same street as Mahala Morris Ficklin? The case may be made that Mahala Morris Ficklin was related to Louvenia Morris, by marriage. She bore George Ficklin eight children. Percy Walker Morris was born ca. 1855, in [Cleburne County,] Alabama,24 (more likely Claiborne, Monroe County, because Cleburne County didn’t exist prior to 1866).
What do we know?
Louvenia Morse was enumerated in 1900, a neighbor of Mahala Morris Ficklin; and more, we conclude that not only were Louvenia Morse and Mahala Morris Ficklin, neighbors, but family. Mahala Morris lived outside Baldwin County, Alabama, prior to her residence, and subsequent marriage to George Ficklin ca. 1859. Louvenia Morse resided near relatives, during her widowhood; and it was no coincidence that Louvenia Morse and Mahala Morris Ficklin lived on the same street, and are interred in the same cemetery in 1900’s Daphne, Alabama.
May they rest in peace. Amen.
Addendum:
Viny Moss, a mulatto domestic servant with four children, was enumerated in the household of Dr. and Mrs. Owen of Mobile. Mrs. Susan Owen nee Norris was the nexus for the Norris surname. In the 1870 U.S. Census, Jacob Morris, a mulatto and presumably his brother, William Morris, a black, resided with two white children at Mobile, as laborers.
“United States Census, 1900,” index and images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/pal:/MM9.1.1/M9ZL-ZZ3 : accessed 10 Oct 2013), Melvin ? [Luvenia] Morse, ED 5 Precinct 7 Courthouse, Baldwin, Alabama, United States; citing sheet 2A, family 24, NARA microfilm publication T623, FHL microfilm 1240001.
2“Find A Grave Index,” database, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:QVKS-SDMM : 13 December 2015), Viney Louvenia Morse, ; Burial, Montrose, Baldwin, Alabama, United States of America, Montrose Cemetery; citing record ID 37025598, Find a Grave, http://www.findagrave.com.
3“United States Census, 1910,” index and images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/pal:/MM9.1.1/MK3V-PR1 : accessed 10 Oct 2013), Vina Morse, Daphne, Baldwin, Alabama, United States; citing sheet , family 87, NARA microfilm publication T624, FHL microfilm 1374014
4“Alabama, County Marriages, 1809-1950”, database with images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:XTWY-QQD : accessed 10 December 2015), George Parker and Daisy Morse, 1894.
5“Alabama State Census, 1866,” database, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:V6PT-T46 : 3 August 2016), Jacob Morse, Mobile, Alabama; citing certificate 1260, p. 146, Department of Archives and History, Montgomery; FHL microfilm 1,533,835.
6Alabama Department of Archives and History, Alabama 1867 Voter Registration Records Database, http://www.archives.alabama.gov/voterreg/search.cfm for “Jack Morse.”
7 “Find A Grave Index,” database, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:QVKS-S8TT : 11 July 2016), Daisy Morse Johnson, 1953; Burial, Montrose, Baldwin, Alabama, United States of America, Montrose Cemetery; citing record ID 37020186, Find a Grave, http://www.findagrave.com.
8 “United States Census, 1900,” index and images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/pal:/MM9.3.1/TH-267-11095-106671-81?cc=1325221&wc=MMPN-BHQ:544119545 : accessed 09 Nov 2013), Alabama > Baldwin > ED 5 Precinct 7 Courthouse; citing NARA microfilm publication T623.
9 “Alabama, County Marriages, 1809-1950,” index and images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/pal:/MM9.1.1/XTWY-QQD : accessed 10 Oct 2013), George Parker and Daisy Morse, 1894.
10“United States Census, 1910,” Lewis Morse, Daphne, Baldwin, Alabama, United States; citing sheet , family 92, NARA microfilm publication T624, FHL microfilm 1374014.
11 “United States Census, 1900,” Lewis Morse, ED 5 Precinct 7 Courthouse, Baldwin, Alabama, United States; citing sheet 1B, family 22, NARA microfilm publication T623, FHL microfilm 1240001.
12“Alabama, County Marriages, 1809-1950,” Louis Morse and Georgia Allen, 1886.
13 “United States Census, 1900,” index and images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/pal:/MM9.1.1/M9ZL-WWC : accessed 09 Nov 2013)
14“Alabama, County Marriages, 1809-1950,” Robert Morse and Caroline Bailey, 1895.
15 “United States Census, 1880,” index and images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/pal:/MM9.1.1/M4N1-6FG : accessed 09 Nov 2013), Loueser Valree in household of Judie Valree, Lowells, Baldwin, Alabama, United States; citing sheet 217A, family 8, NARA microfilm publication T9-0001
16“Alabama County Marriages, 1809-1950,” Samuel E Taylor and Amy Morse, 10 Jul 1905; citing Mobile, Alabama, United States, county courthouses, Alabama; FHL microfilm 1,550,509.
17“Alabama County Marriages, 1809-1950,” Samuel E Taylor and Floreta Williams, 26 Dec 1908; citing Mobile, Alabama, United States, county courthouses, Alabama; FHL microfilm 1,550,510.
18“Find A Grave Index,” database, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:QVKS-SD7K : 11 July 2016), Amy Valrie Taylor, 1917; Burial, Montrose, Baldwin, Alabama, United States of America, Montrose Cemetery; citing record ID 37026915, Find a Grave, http://www.findagrave.com.
19“Alabama County Marriages, 1809-1950,” database with images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:XTW8-QXL : 28 September 2017), Henry T Taylor and Lavenia Parker, 29 Feb 1912; citing Baldwin, Alabama, United States, county courthouses, Alabama; FHL microfilm 1,839,624.
20“Alabama, Deaths, 1908-1974,” index, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/pal:/MM9.1.1/JDRZ-338 : accessed 10 Oct 2013), Willie Morse, 27 Nov 1936; citing reference cn 25208, Department of Health, Montgomery; FHL microfilm 1908547.
21“Alabama, Deaths, 1908-1974,” Lewis Morse, 29 Jun 1923; citing reference cn 13047, Department of Health, Montgomery; FHL microfilm 1908250.
22“Alabama Deaths and Burials, 1881–1952.” Index. FamilySearch, Salt Lake City, Utah, 2009, 2010.
Phineas Adolphus Sip William Edmund Abe Seth Major
et al.
Figure 3. Possible Reconstruction of Phineas Bailey’s Family Tree.
The presence of William Bailey in Baldwin County from the 1830 Census forward signifies that there was at least one other son of Richard Bailey, banned trader, residing in Mississippi Territory. This William Bailey and his children were probably well known to Origin S. Holmes and his associates, also residents of Baldwin County. As the eldest son, Phineas Bailey would have inherited William Bailey’s estate. Was that the hidden treasure?
1Elizabeth Shown Mills, Editor, Reassembling Female Lives, A Special Issue of the Genealogical Society Quarterly, Volume 88, Number 3, September 2000.
21830 US Census; Census Place:, Baldwin, Alabama; Page: 24; NARA Series: M19; Roll Number: 2; Family History Film: 0002329.
3Year: 1840; Census Place: Baldwin, Alabama; Roll: 1; Page: 86; Image: 178; Family History Library Film: 0002332
4“Alabama, State Census, 1855,” index, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/pal:/MM9.1.1/V6PB-5Q8 : accessed 03 Mar 2014), Willis Bailey, 1855.
5Bailey and Webster are Creek, Chickasaw, Choctaw, and Cherokee surnames, according to the Dawes Rolls, Final Rolls, at accessgenealogy.com. Accessed: November 2013.
6“United States Census, 1880,” index and images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/pal:/MM9.1.1/M4N1-X4G : accessed 03 Mar 2014), Delia Grant in household of Saml. Grant, Court House, Baldwin, Alabama, United States; citing sheet 194D, family 1, NARA microfilm publication T9-0001
7“United States Census, 1900,” index and images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/pal:/MM9.1.1/M9DN-PWY : accessed 03 Mar 2014), Delia Grant in household of Joseph Grant, Mobile city Ward 7, Mobile, Alabama, United States; citing sheet , family 786, NARA microfilm publication T623, FHL microfilm 1240032.
8“Alabama, County Marriages, 1809-1950,” index and images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/pal:/MM9.1.1/XTWT-LTT : accessed 03 Mar 2014), Sam Grant and Delia Webster, 1869.
