AFRICAN AMERICAN GENEALOGY: A CASE STUDY

Marcy Bachelor
May 9, 2023
4 min read

An African American Genealogy Case

*Alias names used for privacy

The thing about black history is that the truth is so much more complex than anything you could make up. ~ Henry Louis Gates

In March "Eve" reached out to me with a problem. "Eve", who was searching for her biological father, had believed for years that she had found him. She even moved out of state to be closer to him, only to learn recently that her father wasn't actually her father. DNA results revealed another name, a different man. As you can imagine the news shocked the family. "Eve" had bonded with her believed father, but now knowing the truth, she set out on a mission to learn all she could about her paternal ancestry. And an African American genealogy case begins!

The case's starting point was the "Eve's" biological father, “Roy CLOVES.” His parents were “Sallie” CALVIN and his father, as told to him, was named “George” SIMMONS. They were from Memphis, Tennessee, USA.

"Roy" like "Eve" did not know his father and about his family history. "Roy" had been given one name and nothing more. He took the DNA test to find answers about his unknown parentage. Like "Eve", surprised to learn the results.

The objective of this case was to research biological ancestry and learn specifically about "Eve's" paternal grandfather and his family as well as all other possible traceable lines.

Genealogy research can be particularly challenging when the biological paternal ancestry is uncertain. In such cases, I look for all available sources of information, such as birth, marriage and death records, census records, directory and public records, and other documents that may provide clues to the identities of the ancestors in question and their family. DNA testing also proves to be helpful in providing information, as well as connecting with other family members who may have knowledge. With careful research and using these tools I was able to successfully uncover and confirm the identity of the "Eve's" ancestors, particularly paternal ancestry.

The research plan was to use the her starter tree on ancestry.com and build from what had been created accessing all available records in continuing the research and verifying information. One of the main focuses was on locating and learning about grandfather “George” SIMMONS.

I was successful in finding “George” SIMMONS and was able to make connections with others who share the same ancestry. “George” was the son of Romay SIMMONS (Rommie, Roma) who was brother to Charles, both sons of Benjamin (Ben) SIMMONS (1852-1937). I found Charles’s grandchildren using their online public tree and DNA matching on ancestry.com. After corresponding we learned that Charles’s daughter tested and her DNA results are under Charles’s grandchild’s name. His daughter’s relationship to the "Eve" is estimated to be 2nd-3rd cousins. The sister of the grandchild I learned is the owner of the online Family Tree on Ancestry. *note name of tree left out for privacy

The SIMMONS were traced from Shelby, Tennessee, USA to Pontotoc, Mississippi, USA. The most distant ancestor reached and confirmed was Benjamin SIMMONS (1852-1937). His possible father, unverified as of yet, was named as John SIMMONS also of Mississippi. As I began to research John I was only able to find records of a Caucasian John who was owner of slaves in Pontotoc, Mississippi and surrounding areas. It is not impossible that he can very well be "Eve's" ancestor but further in depth study is recommended to confirm or dismiss him as a candidate.

IMAGE: 1880 CENSUS PONTOTOC, MISSISSIPPI; www.ancestry.com

CROPPED 1880 CENSUS, BENJAMIN SIMMONS HOUSEHOLD

Now for the case of “Sallie” CALVIN. “Roy” and his siblings were uncertain of how the surname “Cloves” made their way to the family. Upon investigation I learned that in “Sallie’s” earliest census records, the 1940 and 1950 census, she was already using “Cloves” and listed as married. At this time she was living with her father “Zeke” CALVIN and in 1950 had her firstborn son. After digging I learned the name of the mysterious Mr. “Cloves,” his name was “Lamar.” In fact I found that he was also living on the same street as “Sallie” a few houses down on Chelsea Ave. In his census record “Lamar” also was listed as married but neither were living in the same household. His name was later confirmed by firstborn son’s social security application at the time of his death in 2001.

As for “Zeke” CALVIN, “Salle’s” father, I traced him to Banola, Mississippi, USA. His parents Roger CALVIN (1858-?) and Nancy WILLIAMS (1860-1900) are the most distant ancestors I was able to locate. They were from Mississippi. The main occupation listed for "Eve's" ancestors were general farming on rented land. But further research and later records may prove property ownership.

I was also successful in finding a cousin in this side of "Eve's" family; like Charles's daughter relationship range is estimated 2nd-3rd cousins. His name is “Matthew” H. “Matthew” also has an online public tree on ancestry.com. I made the connection using his and the "Eve's" tree. Their common ancestors are Roger CALVIN and Nancy WILLIAMS through a line I needed to verify. This line comes from “Laura,” who appeared in an earlier census, the 1940 census, with the CALVIN household. Locating this cousin does confirm the relationship with “Laura.” I did send a message to “Matthew” but no response was received.

"Eve's" Case was completed in five weeks, earlier than the estimated goal which was six to eight weeks. An incomplete ancestry binder was prepared with the collection of all the records found and lines researched. The Ancestry Binder is incomplete; for the sake of time investigation was focused on very specific family lines. There is were much more to still discover and expand on.

Here are sample pages from "Eve's" Ancestry Binder.

JAMES CALVIN DEATH CERTIFICATE (LEFT) BENNIE SIMMONS ANCESTRY PAGE (RIGHT)