African Roots Podcast Episode #422 November 1, 2017

Question for Terrassa: Terrassa–you are beginning have you had success?
Terrassa: Yes I have had a lot of success?

Question: Does Anyone stand out:

Terrassa: Yes, my mother’s grandfather, Bruce Carter who lived from 1899 to 1972.
Question: What do you want to know about him?
Terressa: I have somewhat of a brick wall but I have several records about him.  He was born about 1899 and died in December 1972.
Question: Did your mom know him?  Because these things might lead to something that you find later.  And What  do you know about him?
Terressa:  He was drafted for WWII.
Question: Ok—what records can we find and what would you suggest Angela that she look for?
Angela: Well—-he was 17 when WWI unfolded—and he was drafted for WWII after the bombing of the bombing of Pearl Harbor. I would look for his draft card.
Question:  Have you looked?
Terrassa: Yes, I did! And it was on that card that I found his exact birth date.
Question:  October 5th 1899 is his year of birth?
Terrassa: Yes, 1899
Question: Did actually serve?
Terrassa: I am not sure
Question: You need to look for resources that  have military lists? Does your mother know if he served?
Terrassa: I don’t know.
Recommendation: Have you spoken with family members about him? If not, start with the people who are closest to you. If your mother was 12—the memory of a 12 year old child can be vivid. So, you want to start writing these things down. Draw up questions, let them talk and you just take note. If you can get them all together, then you can start jotting down the things that you are hearing. Get their memories. Where did they go to school? Gather that information to start building those stories for your children.

Suggestion—If he was born in 1899, then he should show up in the 1900 census, and you also need to see if the state had any substitute census or state census records, or voter registration records. Everywhere you find him you also have his parents. If he was raised with them, then you have another generation.

Question: Do you have his death certificate?
Terrassa: I do have some information.
Suggestion:  There are sites like Ancestry and if you use their databases, also look at Family Search as well as Ancestry.
And build your tree, and both sites allow you to build a tree and attach documents to your tree.
Question: At the time of his death–was he on social security when he died? The answer might be on the Social Security Death Index, check to see if he is on the Social Security claims index. This compiles data from their original application, including the names of the  parents, and the date of birth.
Terrassa: I did find parents names on his marriage certificate.
Question: Do you know where he is buried.
Terrassa: Greater Shiloh Baptist Church cemetery in Chatham, Virginia
Question:  Have you seen the headstone?
Terrassa: There is a picture of it on Find a Grave. And a relative visits his grave.
Question: What kind of marker does he have?  Is it military, ornate or fancy?
Terrassa: Not fancy
Question: One of the gray colored stones with two names on it?
Terrassa: Yes, my grandmother is buried right next to him.
Question: What in particular do you want to know about him?
Terrassa: I want to know more about his parents,
Question: Do you have him in the census?
Terrassa: I only have him in the 1930 and 1940 census.
Suggestion: So the next 3 census years are next on your list to find, and remember, if he was born in 1899, then the 1900, 1910, and 1920 should have him. And also check the WWI Draft registrations, as he would have been 18 by the year 1917 the year of the draft. You can check a site like Fold3.com, and he may have actually served. You have many more records to look at.
Question: About the marriage–did it happen also in Chatham Virginia?
Terrassa: Yes.
Question: Do you have the certificate? A. I don’t have the certificate, but a list that mentions the date.
Remark: Well we have given you a lot, and you have a lot to work on the next few weeks.
Terrassa: Yes you have.
Question: Did you hear that he had siblings?
Terrassa: Yes, I think….
Suggestion: A 5 generation pedigree chart and a time line on Bruce Carter will be a good idea.  Every document you will record how old he is, the date and if anything conflicts you will want to resolve that. You will organize just him and his story.  You will recognize his birth, marriages, deaths of children or anyone, and also study the community where he lived as there were many interesting things that happened in that area.  Think about what he saw, what he witnessed.

Question: Was he a mason, was he in the Odd Fellows or another benevolent society? Was he possibly in the order of St. Luke started by Maggie Walker in Virginia?  And if he worked on a farm–what kind of farm was it? Did he grow tobacco? That is the cash crop of this region. Lots of things to think about.
Closing remark: I hope we have given you ideas. Any questions for us?
Terrassa: Not really I have my homework laid out for me.
Question: One last question—what got you interested in this?
Terrasa: Well, I have never known a lot about my family beyond my mom and my aunt. And then shows like Who Do You Think You Are  and Finding Your Roots came on and I saw shows that even had African Americans, I want to know how far back I can go.
Suggestion:  A word of advice—find out who the person is in the family (and every family has one) who goes to everybody’s funeral. That person comes back with a funeral program. They don’t throw it away. That stack of obituaries that they have, holds a wealth of data. Get your hands on those copies. Ask to see them, and pull out your phone and take  photos of them. That becomes a great launching pad for you.Closing note—We will check back in a few months…to hear about your progress. Thank you for joining us Teresa!
Terrassa: Thank you both for having me!

Join Shelley Murphy and me next time as we are Digging the Roots!