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.
