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Research in Other Countries => United States of America => Topic started by: ocian_c on Thursday 26 March 20 18:43 GMT (UK)
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Hey people I just wanted some advice about how much I can find online like birth, marriage and death records for black people?
Thank you
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Shouldn't be a problem. Familysearch has lots of records available. Its free once you register/
https://www.familysearch.org/en/
Always someone available to help if you reach a brick wall.
Sandra
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Aw thanks for your offer! I am trying to help a cousin of mine, whose paternal family are black. Her father married a white lady and was estranged from his family because of this.
John Bush b. Virginia 1890 married to Priscilla b. Maryland 1891
Found them both in 1930 & 1940 Census in Baltimore but can't seem to find anything else. In 1930 two kids Robert and Liza seem to be step-children but in 1940 are using the step-fathers surname.
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Could you post a link to the 1940 information, if you have it? If not, who was still in the household, did the ages match the 1930 census, etc. They must have been at or near the same location
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here is 1930 to make it easier for the others on this thread:
1930 Baltimore, Ward 15, renting at 1421 Mount Street
John, married 1st at 30, born in Virginia, parents also, laborer, coal yard, not a veteran
Priscilla, married 1st at 29, born in MD, parents also, laundress, private home
Claudie Bush, 4
John Bush, 9
Loretta Bush, 7
Liza Dorsey, 13, stepdaughter
Robert Dorsey, 11, stepson
all children born in Maryland
https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:X3WG-4SY
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1922 Baltimore City Directory
not listed, but there were people with *
1923 Baltimore City Directory
John* (Pricilla) Bush, driver, householder at 1421 n Mount
1924 Baltimore City Directory
John (Priscilla) Bush, laborer, householder at 1421 n Mount
[I am presuming that the asterisk (*) meant they were black, but I couldn't find it in the abbreviations in the front of the City Directory]
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birth date for son and Priscilla is still alive and on N Mount
WWII young man's draft registration
John Dennis Bush, born 23 July 1921, Baltimore MD
living at 1133 N Mount St
contact: Priscilla Bush, same address
race: Negro, brown eyes, black hair, 5'10", 150 lbs, mark on right side of body from operation
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Social Security Applications and Claims Index
Priscilla Bush
female, black, born 19 July 1895, Annapolis, MD
father: Clem Dorsey
mother: Betty Owen
Signature on SSN Card: M Kenchick
Relationship of Signature: Signature name differs from NH’s name.
Notes: Jan 1942: Name listed as PRISCILLA BUSH
[I don't know what the information about the signature means, I have never seen it before. Maybe she couldn't write and had someone sign it for her? I have no idea.]
Did she die in Jan 1942, or was that the date that she was applying for a Social Security card?
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1900 Census, Election District 6, Annapolis MD
18 Market Street
Clem Dorsey, 38, born Nov 1861, married 21 years, coachman
Lizzie B Dorsey, 37, born May 1863, married 21 years, 10 children, 8 alive, cook
Lizzie, 17, May 1883, waiting
Pricilla, 14, July 1885, attended school
James, 13, ? 1886, driver
Clem, 8, July 1891, farm hand
Lilia, 7, May 1893, attended school
Phillip, 4, July 1895
Else, 2, July 1897,
Nancy, 9 months, ? 1899
Margaret Jillin, 17, boarder, born Jun 1882, servant,
all black, all born in Maryland with parents also born in Maryland
https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:M3KM-8T1
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If this is her brother Clem's WWI Draft Reg., then in 1917/1918 he was the sole support of his father, mother, and a 9 yr old sister
https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:KZFP-GF9
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someone has done the Dorsey family on ancestry.com. It would be well worth your while to sign up for a few months.
Tree for Clem Dorsey
https://www.ancestry.com/family-tree/person/tree/83510687/person/332157497753/facts
The owner is a Dorsey who is way into genealogy, from what I can tell. Signed in today, and likely to be helpful.
It would take me weeks to copy all of it over to here for you.
PS - someone told me if your library has a subscription for library use only, then you can access ancestry.com from home until Apr 1930, coronavirus situation. Might be US only, I don't know.
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I take back some of the praise for the tree on ancestry. Clem's parents were William and Elizabeth, but it looks like the tree has 2 possibilities for William Dorsey in 1860.
Anyway, if you get a chance you should really take a look at it.
Maybe tomorrow or over the weekend I will sort it out for myself.
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also, research references you can look at:
Tony Burroughs' book, Black Roots
this lady's website:
https://www.reclaimingkin.com/
edited to add:
The first step is to interview any older family members and see what they were told about the family history. You said the parent was estranged from his family, but maybe there are a few who would be willing to talk to the next generation, since some time has past.
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[I don't know what the information about the signature means, I have never seen it before. Maybe she couldn't write and had someone sign it for her? I have no idea.]
Did she die in Jan 1942, or was that the date that she was applying for a Social Security card?
I think the signature could be a number of things, including not being able to write or just having written the name differently than the name on the card, such as adding a middle name.
The January 1942 date could be connected to when she applied for the Social Security number or applied for other benefits or another date. Her number fits with ones that were issued in Maryland between 1936-1950, so it's probably the original application date.
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John D Bush - The Philadelphia Inquirer Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
06 Feb 1972, Sun Page 42
https://www.newspapers.com/clip/47433114/obituary-for-john-d-bush/
SSDI - John Bush - Birth Date 23 Jul 1920 - February 1972
Issue Year Before 1951 - Issue State Maryland
Sandra
Added :- Have seen a School Yearbook 1977 - photo of a son of the same name born 1861 -
Cardinal Dougherty High School -
also a daughter "B L" mentioned in the obituary of mother Elizabeth - born 1956
Cardinal Dougherty High School - 1972
also a daughter ""E A" mentioned in the obit of mother Elizabeth - born 1954
Cardinal Dougherty High School - 1970
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This could be John Bush, living with a cousin, John T Garnett, at 1526 Mount Street, Baltimore, in 1920. It is the same street he lived on with Priscilla in the 1923 City Directory. That might not prove much, since it was probably a black neighborhood, but who knows. Likewise, there were Dorsey families on the street, but that might be a common name in the area.
Note no (Priscilla) listed with John in 1921, so they got together soon afterward. The city directories sometimes run 6 months to a year behind the actual state of affairs, probably because of time needed to gather info and publish.
1917 Baltimore City Directory
John T Garnett* laborer, householder at 1716 N Mount
no good match for John Bush
1918 Baltimore City Directory
no John T Garnett
no good match for John Bush
no 1919 Directory at the site I was on
1920 Baltimore City Directory
John T Garnett* laborer 1526 Mount St (image 443)
no good match for John Bush, he could the be laborer at 213 Jasper or 855 Ostend. I didn't look to see where those streets were in relation to North Mount.
1921 Baltimore City Directory
John T Garnett* laborer 1526 Mount St (image 443)
John Bush* driver, householder 1421 Mount
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1920 Census, Baltimore
at 1526 Mount Street
John T Garnett, 55, black, born in Virginia, parents also, fireman, steamboat
Annie Garnett, 29, black, born in Maryland, parents also, housework, out
John Bush, 25, cousin, black, born in Virginia, parents also, teamster, coal wagon
George Roebuck, 29, black, widowed, boarder, born in Georgia, parents also, laborer, railroad
Freeman Roebuck, 23, black, single, boarder, born in Virginia, parents also, laborer, railroad
https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:M6Q9-GYF
If that is him, it looks like he arrived in Baltimore about 1920 and married Priscilla soon after arriving. Their 1st son, John was born in 1921 or 1922, as we have found already.
Edited, see below.
To help determine if that is him, you need to trace back John T Garnett to his Virginia home and look for a John Bush in the area.
Working John T Garnett forward might also help. His obituary, if printed, might name family which could help find his home in Virginia.
edit to add:
Finding the Roebucks might help also, one of them was born in VA, but it is odd that the other one was not. Are they related?
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Could this be the wife of John D Bush ???
U.S., Social Security Applications and Claims Index, 1936-2007 - Elizabeth Margaret Keenan
Elizabeth Mar Bush - Elizabeth Bush - Elizabeth Margaret K
Birth Date 1 Jan 1922 - Birth Place Phila, Pennsylvania
Death Date 20 May 2003
Father Thomas F K - Mother Louise Hayes.
1940 census Marshall Street Philadelphia, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.
Thomas Keanan 45
Louise Keanan 47
Elizabeth Keanan 18
Sandra
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Obit/Death Notice - Elizabeth Keenan Bush - The Philadelphia Inquirer Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
21 May 2003, Wed Page B10
https://www.newspapers.com/clip/47439474/obituary-for-elizabeth-m-bush-aged-81/
https://www.legacy.com/obituaries/inquirer/obituary.aspx?n=elizabeth-m-bush&pid=1027376
Sandra
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U..S., Social Security Applications and Claims Index, 1936-2007 - Claudia Bush
Claudia Stith - Gender Female - Race Black
Birth Date 29 Dec 1924 - Birth Place Balto, Maryland - Baltimore, Maryland
Death Date Jun 1990 - Father Dennis Bush - Mother Priscilla Bush
Notes - Jan 1941 - Name listed as Claudia Bush - Apr 1964 Name listed as Claudia Stith
Sandra
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Obit/Death Notice - Claudia Stith
The Evening Sun Baltimore, Maryland 6 Jun 1990, Wed Page 15
https://www.newspapers.com/clip/47439852/obituary-for-claudia-stith/
Sandra
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Claudia Stith - Birth Date 29 Dec 1924 - June 1990
Issue Year Before 1951 - Issue State Maryland
Last Residence 21207, Baltimore, Baltimore, Maryland.
Sandra
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Could you post a link to the 1940 information, if you have it? If not, who was still in the household, did the ages match the 1930 census, etc. They must have been at or near the same location
1940 census Ward 16, Baltimore City, Baltimore City, Baltimore City, Maryland. (under Burk on ancestry)
Still on Mount Street
https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:K7XX-D19
https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:3QSQ-G9M1-Z8H5?i=10&personaUrl=%2Fark%3A%2F61903%2F1%3A1%3AK7XX-D19
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Could this be the death of Priscilla Bush - age would be off :-\ Not sure.
Priscilla Bush - Birth Date 10 Mar 1884 - July 1974
Issue Year 1951 Issue State Maryland
Last Residence 21217, Baltimore, Baltimore City, Maryland.
Sandra
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To help determine if that is him, you need to trace back John T Garnett to his Virginia home and look for a John Bush in the area.
That really wouldn't prove anything, but it might help find the John Bush who was living with the Garnetts.
I didn't get far with that. Here are a few more listings for John T Garnett in the Baltimore City Directory:
1912
no Louis* or John T*
1913
Louis Garnett*, laborer, 117 N Vincent
no John T*
1914
John T Garnett* laborer, householder at 1018 Whatcoat
Louis Garnett*, laborer, 1018 Whatcoat
1915
John T Garnett* laborer, householder at 1700 Woodyear image 619
(despite what ancestry's links say, John T Garnett is not the same man as John E Garnett. John E was white:
1913 Baltimore City Directory
John E Garnett, laborer, 1343 Hull < no asterisk)
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so I looked for a John T Garnett with a brother Louis, but didn't find one.
There is a John T Garnett in Saluda, Middlesex County VA, in 1880, married to Sallie Anderson/Tobb or Carter.
And there is a William J Bush family in Saluda, born 3 March 1870 to Charles Bush and Hannah Foreman. William didn't marry until 16 Mar 1897, to Pelle Morris, and they had 2 young children on the 1900 census, neither named John or Dennis.
so, Saluda might be a place to look further, but I didn't find your John Bush there.
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And - do you know, or can you find out, if John had any brothers or sisters, when did he die, etc? Please post everything you know about the man, even if it is just a family story (if it is, say so). Anything might be helpful, you never know.
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1940 census Ward 16, Baltimore City, Baltimore City, Baltimore City, Maryland. (under Burk on ancestry)
Still on Mount Street
https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:K7XX-D19
https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:3QSQ-G9M1-Z8H5?i=10&personaUrl=%2Fark%3A%2F61903%2F1%3A1%3AK7XX-D19
Priscilla's supplemental information
father born in Maryland
mother born in Delaware
age at first marriage: 17
number of children: 5
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possible deaths for John Bush
died 1961 according to findagrave.com
is buried in Mt Auburn Cemetery, an African American cemetery
https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/130903002
I couldn't find any further information on this man
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probably not this one, but just in case
Social Security Death Index
John Bush, born 22 Jun 1896
last check: November 1968
last zip code: 20822
Railroad Board
no evidence he worked for the railroad
the zip code doesn't show up, but nearby zips are Bethesda and Chevy Chase, not Baltimore
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Could this be the wife of John D Bush ???
1940 census Marshall Street Philadelphia, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.
Thomas Keanan 45
Louise Keanan 47
Elizabeth Keanan 18
Sandra
https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:KQJ8-Z8F
John and Elizabeth might be the couple the parents of ocian_c's cousin. Elizabeth is white.
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John Bush in later city directories
1942 Baltimore City Directory, listings by street
1133 N Mount St: John Bush, Walter Gumphrey
1956 Baltimore City Directory
John (Priscilla) Bush, no occupation, home at 1133 N Mount
1957 not listed
1958 Baltimore City Directory
John (Priscilla) Bush, no occupation, home at 1133 N Mount
1959, not listed
So they both were alive when the 1958 Directory was being compiled.
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Obit/Death Notice - Claudia Stith
The Evening Sun Baltimore, Maryland 6 Jun 1990, Wed Page 15
https://www.newspapers.com/clip/47439852/obituary-for-claudia-stith/
Sandra
Claudia (Bush) Stith was buried in King Memorial Park, from March Funeral Home-West. Either one might know where and when her parents, John and Priscilla Bush, died.
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Could this be the death of Priscilla Bush - age would be off :-\ Not sure.
Priscilla Bush - Birth Date 10 Mar 1884 - July 1974
Issue Year 1951 Issue State Maryland
Last Residence 21217, Baltimore, Baltimore City, Maryland.
Sandra
This is probably the correct record for Priscilla - there is an obituary for William B Dorsey who was probably her brother who died 1973 and Priscilla the following year.
The Capital Annapolis, Maryland
10 Sep 1973, Mon Page 8 - Part 8
https://www.newspapers.com/clip/47474498/william-b-dorsey-part-1/
https://www.newspapers.com/clip/47474610/william-b-dorsey-part-2/
Sandra
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William and Priscilla on the 1900 census Annapolis Ward 2, Anne Arundel, Maryland.
Clem Dorsey 38 Lizzie B Dorsey 37
Lizzie Dorsey 17
Pricilla Dorsey 14 James Dorsey 13
Clem Dorsey 8 Lilia Dorsey 7
Phillip Dorsey 4 Else Dorsey 2
Nancy Dorsey 9 months
Margaret Jillin 17
Sandra
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Another mention of Priscilla Bush and Mr William of Annapolis 10 February 1970 - obituary for James E Pinkney
The Capital Annapolis, Maryland 10 Feb 1970, Tue Page 6
https://www.newspapers.com/clip/47475133/james-e-pinkney-10-feb-1970/
Sandra
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Could this be the wife of John D Bush ???
1940 census Marshall Street Philadelphia, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.
Thomas Keanan 45
Louise Keanan 47
Elizabeth Keanan 18
Sandra
https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:KQJ8-Z8F
John and Elizabeth might be the couple the parents of ocian_c's cousin. Elizabeth is white.
Looking at the photographs of the children in reply 9, they could very well be mixed race.
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Thank you all so much for your help sorry I haven’t replied sooner I’m going to look at all the info you have provided and I’ll add any further info I get ;)
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John D Bush - The Philadelphia Inquirer Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
06 Feb 1972, Sun Page 42
https://www.newspapers.com/clip/47433114/obituary-for-john-d-bush/
Yes this is my cousins family
SSDI - John Bush - Birth Date 23 Jul 1920 - February 1972
Issue Year Before 1951 - Issue State Maryland
Sandra
Added :- Have seen a School Yearbook 1977 - photo of a son of the same name born 1861 -
Cardinal Dougherty High School -
also a daughter "B L" mentioned in the obituary of mother Elizabeth - born 1956
Cardinal Dougherty High School - 1972
also a daughter ""E A" mentioned in the obit of mother Elizabeth - born 1954
Cardinal Dougherty High School - 1970
[/quot
YES THIS IS MY COUSINS FSMILY ;)
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someone has done the Dorsey family on ancestry.com. It would be well worth your while to sign up for a few months.
Tree for Clem Dorsey
https://www.ancestry.com/family-tree/person/tree/83510687/person/332157497753/facts
The owner is a Dorsey who is way into genealogy, from what I can tell. Signed in today, and likely to be helpful.
It would take me weeks to copy all of it over to here for you.
PS - someone told me if your library has a subscription for library use only, then you can access ancestry.com from home until Apr 1930, coronavirus situation. Might be US only, I don't know.
THIS TREE IS INTERESTING BUT I THINK HE HAS MUDDLED UP TWO DORSEY FAMILIES!
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Thank you all so much for your help sorry I haven’t replied sooner I’m going to look at all the info you have provided and I’ll add any further info I get ;)
You are welcome. I have enjoyed working on this family very much.
Tree for Clem Dorsey
https://www.ancestry.com/family-tree/person/tree/83510687/person/332157497753/facts
THIS TREE IS INTERESTING BUT I THINK HE HAS MUDDLED UP TWO DORSEY FAMILIES!
I think so too. He has 2 fathers for Clem Dorsey, if I remember right. But the links to the documents might save you some time looking for the right line. I didn't have time to comb through it.
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U..S., Social Security Applications and Claims Index, 1936-2007 - Claudia Bush
Claudia Stith - Gender Female - Race Black
Birth Date 29 Dec 1924 - Birth Place Balto, Maryland - Baltimore, Maryland
Death Date Jun 1990 - Father Dennis Bush - Mother Priscilla Bush
Notes - Jan 1941 - Name listed as Claudia Bush - Apr 1964 Name listed as Claudia Stith
Sandra
Is this him? There is only your John Bush at that address in 1942.
The collection says "WWII Draft Cards, young men" but the registration card says "Men born on or after February 17, 1897 and on or before December 31, 1921"
Dennis Bush
1133 N Mount St, Baltimore, Md
age 41, born Washington, DC, October 22, 1901
contact: Ella Bush, 1133 N Mount St
unemployed
description: Negro, 5'6", 145 lbs, light brown complexion, brown eyes, black and gray hair
short link to the image at ancestry.com:
http://www.rootschat.com/links/01p8l/
then scroll back two images to get here to the full card here:
http://www.rootschat.com/links/01p8m/
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Hi ocian_c - It was nice to see you return to the thread. I came across your ancestry tree yesterday and saw you had added the information so that should help it fill out now. Not the easiest of families to try and piece together.
Hopefully we can have another go.
Sandra
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Thanks so much for your help I do appreciate it for sure.