In one of the many depositions by Mary Susan HARMAN, I find out the names of her parents and that Appie (MAPP) was an alias for Happy.  There are over 200 records in this file, so I am just getting started.

Below is what I have pieced together by going through this one deposition dated April 11, 1917. 

• Mary Susan HARMAN was the daughter of Sarah HARMAN and Thomas DAVIS.  This information was provided in the USCT Widow’s Pension Fund.

• With this information, in the 1870 census, I found a Thomas M Davis (white) age 60 and his son (speculation) George Davis (mulatto) living next to Appie and Mary Susan Mapp. Appie and Mary Susan were living with the MEARS (white) family in St Georges Parish, Accomack, Virginia (Locus Mount Post Office) during this time.

• Further research shows that Thomas Davis was a slave owner and according to the Accomack County, Virginia Births, 1853-65 records, father at least 3 Black children between 1853 and 1860. In the 1860 slave schedule, Thomas had 9 slaves’ ages ranging from 2 to 58. The 58 year old person was a female mulatto.

• The 1850 census has Thomas, about 41, living with a 23 year white female by the name Elizabeth HUTCHERSON.  The value of his real estate is $5,000. The 1850 Slave schedule has 10 slaves owned by Thomas.

• In the 1840 census, I find Thomas with 11 slave. Thomas would have been about 30 years of age.  I do not find a white female close to his age.  In fact there is only one adult white female in his household and she would be in her 60’s.  My guess is that his mother.

There are some other facts found in this April 11, 1917 deposition that show the different places Mary Susan lived in the county and the families (KILLAM, WARD).  She also stated that she had one sister living by the name of Lizzie Davis.  I haven’t found much information concerning Lizzie as of this writing. 

In conclusion, I would like to say that I would have never imagined that I would have access to 200 records to research.  For a genealogy buff like me, it is equal to winning the sweepstakes.  

Greetings,

This past weekend I had the opportunity to attend my first National Genealogy Conference hosted by the Afro-American Historical and Genealogical Society, Inc. (http://www.aahgs.org/).  It was a great conference filled with people from across the country.  There was great knowledge shared by experts who have been working in this field for many years.  There were keynote speakers such as former Governor L. Douglas Wilder, PBS’s “Genealogy Roadshow” host Kenyatta Berry and many others.  I only attend on day, but it was packed with information.

I attended the following workshops and will be sharing more at later time.

United States Color Troops (USCT) Widows Pension Applications by Bernice Bennett (http://www.blogtalkradio.com/bernicebennett).  Turns out Bernice, through DNA testing, is a relative to my wife.  We got to know her better between sessions.

DNA – by Shannon Christmas (http://www.yourgeneticgenealogist.com/2013/06/please-join-me-and-shannon-christmas.html).  Shannon also presented Governor Wilder’s DNA results before his keynote address.

Finding White Fathers of Enslaved Children by Kenyatta Berry (http://www.kenyattaberry.com/).

My investment in this conference has already paid off.  I now have a better understanding of how to use DNA along with paper trails to build a better story about my ancestors.  Next year the conference is in Atlanta and I hope to attend.  More to come……