Families Lost
Washington Stewart searching for his brother Abraham Stewart
Southwestern Christian Advocate (New Orleans, LA)
July 28, 1881
DEAR EDITOR— I wish to inquire for my brother Abraham Stewart. He went off with the Yankees in 1863 from Louisiana. He is a son of Ned and Rutha Stewart. We belonged to Robert Malloy in Louisiana and Abraham was the oldest of eight children. He is about forty years old. I heard he went to Missouri. I will pay ten dollars to the finder of him. Address me at Williamsburg, Lavaca county, Texas. WASHINGTON STEWART.
Thomas Grover searching for a man he called Uncle Moody
The Elevator (San Francisco, CA)
April 25, 1874
INFORMATION WANTED
Of a colored man called Uncle Moody.
He came to California from Lafayette county,
Missouri, with his master, Henry Cole, and
resided for some time in this city. He returned
to Missouri about the year 1857, and
purchased his wife named Sylvia and young
child. He went to Missouri again before the
war, and purchased his two daughters and
returned to California. Also information
wanted of Edward and Hamilton Grover,
cattle dealers, formerly of St. Louis, Mo.
Any person knowing either of the above
parties will please send word to Thomas
Grover, care of P.A. Bell, ELEVATOR office,
616 Battery St., San Francisco.
The Elevator (San Francisco, CA)
April 25, 1874
INFORMATION WANTED
Of a colored man called Uncle Moody.
He came to California from Lafayette county,
Missouri, with his master, Henry Cole, and
resided for some time in this city. He returned
to Missouri about the year 1857, and
purchased his wife named Sylvia and young
child. He went to Missouri again before the
war, and purchased his two daughters and
returned to California. Also information
wanted of Edward and Hamilton Grover,
cattle dealers, formerly of St. Louis, Mo.
Any person knowing either of the above
parties will please send word to Thomas
Grover, care of P.A. Bell, ELEVATOR office,
616 Battery St., San Francisco.
Emily Wills searching for her father William Golder, mother Clarissa, and siblings
The Southwestern Christian Advocate (New Orleans, LA)
July 10, 1884
MR. EDITOR––I desire to inquire
for my relatives: father, mother,
sisters and brothers. I was quite
young, about 8 years of age. I
think we lived in Maryland. Fath-
er's [Father’s] name was Wm. Golder, and
mother's Clarissa. We lived near a
town called Marion. Father was
born free, his occupation was run-
ning [running] on a boat. Mother and child-
ren [children] belonged to a widow lady by
the name of Kate Words or Woods,
who sold us to a Negro trader who
took us to Washington City and
and sold us to a man by the name
of Harrison Davis; father was not
at home at the time; however, when
he heard we were sold he pursued
and bought mother and four child-
ren [children], James, Calvin, Marcellus,
Eliza Ann and Mary the baby; the
rest of us were brought to Rich-
mond [Richmond], Va., and sold, William,
Peter, Daro, Wesley, Sam and sis-
ter [sister] Diana. My name was Emily
Golder; I now go by the name of
Emily Wills. If any one knows
the whereabouts of the above
named, please address me at
Aquilla, Hill county, Texas
The Southwestern Christian Advocate (New Orleans, LA)
July 10, 1884
MR. EDITOR––I desire to inquire
for my relatives: father, mother,
sisters and brothers. I was quite
young, about 8 years of age. I
think we lived in Maryland. Fath-
er's [Father’s] name was Wm. Golder, and
mother's Clarissa. We lived near a
town called Marion. Father was
born free, his occupation was run-
ning [running] on a boat. Mother and child-
ren [children] belonged to a widow lady by
the name of Kate Words or Woods,
who sold us to a Negro trader who
took us to Washington City and
and sold us to a man by the name
of Harrison Davis; father was not
at home at the time; however, when
he heard we were sold he pursued
and bought mother and four child-
ren [children], James, Calvin, Marcellus,
Eliza Ann and Mary the baby; the
rest of us were brought to Rich-
mond [Richmond], Va., and sold, William,
Peter, Daro, Wesley, Sam and sis-
ter [sister] Diana. My name was Emily
Golder; I now go by the name of
Emily Wills. If any one knows
the whereabouts of the above
named, please address me at
Aquilla, Hill county, Texas
Behind the Curation
Washington Stewart, Thomas Grover, and Emily Willis were all chosen because they demonstrated the lengths that these families would go through to reconnect with their loved ones. Washington Stewart was offered a $10 reward for information regarding his brother, a high amount to recover information about his sibling. Thomas Grover's search for his family shows the many locations that would be searched to find a loved one as a result of the communities and kinship groups built. Emily Willis's ad shows the devastating impact of family separation. Ms. Wills and her mother and siblings were stolen from their home when her father was away; her father then had to make the impossible choice of whom to buy back. Each advertisement chosen exemplifies the perseverance of these communities' search for their loved ones.
Families Found
Henderson Clemmons searching for his father Ned Stephenson, mother Charlotte, and relatives
Southwestern Christian Advocate (New Orleans, LA)
June 17, 1880
MR. EDITOR—I desire to inquire of the whereabouts of my kin people, whom I left in Wake county, North Carolina. Father's name was Ned Stephenson; mother's, Charlotte; four brothers, John, Deork, Jarrett and Henderson. We all belonged to Bob Young, of Rollia, a little town in Wake Co, N.C. I fell to John Young, of the same family. John sold me to a negro trader below Rollia. My mother belonged to Muddy Springs Baptist Church when I left there. The preacher's name was George Nance. I had two cousins, Jerry Snerling and Wilson Sams, Jarret and Deork were not of the same father as John and I. Their father's name was Henry Leech. Brother Jarret fell to Miss C. Young, as well as I can remember; it was about the year 1835 when I was sold. If found will confer a favor that cannot be repaid by addressing me at San Felipe, Texas, in care of Mr. W. H. Jackson.
HENDERSON CLEMONS
Southwestern Christian Advocate (New Orleans, LA)
June 17, 1880
MR. EDITOR—I desire to inquire of the whereabouts of my kin people, whom I left in Wake county, North Carolina. Father's name was Ned Stephenson; mother's, Charlotte; four brothers, John, Deork, Jarrett and Henderson. We all belonged to Bob Young, of Rollia, a little town in Wake Co, N.C. I fell to John Young, of the same family. John sold me to a negro trader below Rollia. My mother belonged to Muddy Springs Baptist Church when I left there. The preacher's name was George Nance. I had two cousins, Jerry Snerling and Wilson Sams, Jarret and Deork were not of the same father as John and I. Their father's name was Henry Leech. Brother Jarret fell to Miss C. Young, as well as I can remember; it was about the year 1835 when I was sold. If found will confer a favor that cannot be repaid by addressing me at San Felipe, Texas, in care of Mr. W. H. Jackson.
HENDERSON CLEMONS
Naro Gillespie seeking information about his father Charles and several siblings (1st of 3 ads)
Southwestern Christian Advocate (New Orleans, LA)
April 15, 1880
DEAR EDITOR ------ I desire to learn
the whereabouts of my father,
mother, sisters and brothers. My
mother married the second time.
Her first husband was Wm. Price,
by whom she had four children ----
Sarah, Harriet, Mary and William.
I was the first by the latter husband,
named Charles. The others
were Monroe, Charley, Isaiah,
Charlotte, John, Simpson and Adeline.
Mother was named Hannah.
We were all sold in 1856, in Wayne
Co. We did belong to James Elliot.
My sister Sarah belonged to Jack
Madecue. My sister Harriet
belonged to Bifel. Mary Ann, Monroe
and Charley were sold to Kittie
Robinson, and went to Maryland.
Mother, Adeline, William and I
were brought to Mississippi. Mother
and Adeline are both dead. I
received several letters from Mary
Ann. The last was in 1873. She
was living in Little Rock, Ark.
Please address me at Egypt Station,
Miss. NARO GILLESPIE.
Southwestern Christian Advocate (New Orleans, LA)
April 15, 1880
DEAR EDITOR ------ I desire to learn
the whereabouts of my father,
mother, sisters and brothers. My
mother married the second time.
Her first husband was Wm. Price,
by whom she had four children ----
Sarah, Harriet, Mary and William.
I was the first by the latter husband,
named Charles. The others
were Monroe, Charley, Isaiah,
Charlotte, John, Simpson and Adeline.
Mother was named Hannah.
We were all sold in 1856, in Wayne
Co. We did belong to James Elliot.
My sister Sarah belonged to Jack
Madecue. My sister Harriet
belonged to Bifel. Mary Ann, Monroe
and Charley were sold to Kittie
Robinson, and went to Maryland.
Mother, Adeline, William and I
were brought to Mississippi. Mother
and Adeline are both dead. I
received several letters from Mary
Ann. The last was in 1873. She
was living in Little Rock, Ark.
Please address me at Egypt Station,
Miss. NARO GILLESPIE.
Naro Gillespie searching for their siblings, including their sister Mary Ann and father Charles Walker
Southwestern Christian Advocate (New Orleans, LA)
October 20, 1881
DEAR EDITOR— I wish to enquire for my people, mother. father, sisters and brothers. Mother was married twice. By her first husband William Price she had four children. Her name is Hannah Price. The name of the four children are Sarah, Mary Ann, William and Harriet. Harriet is dead and left seven children. I knew three of them, Levi, Bifle, Jerry and Pink. I got several letters from my sister Mary Ann. The last letter I received from her she was living in Arkansas. She said she had brought sister Harriet's children to live with her from Wayne county, Tennessee Mother's last husband was Charles Walker. Children by him Naro, Monroe, Charley, Charlotte, John and Simpson. Address me at Egypt Station, Miss., Chickasaw county. NARO GILLESPIE.
Southwestern Christian Advocate (New Orleans, LA)
October 20, 1881
DEAR EDITOR— I wish to enquire for my people, mother. father, sisters and brothers. Mother was married twice. By her first husband William Price she had four children. Her name is Hannah Price. The name of the four children are Sarah, Mary Ann, William and Harriet. Harriet is dead and left seven children. I knew three of them, Levi, Bifle, Jerry and Pink. I got several letters from my sister Mary Ann. The last letter I received from her she was living in Arkansas. She said she had brought sister Harriet's children to live with her from Wayne county, Tennessee Mother's last husband was Charles Walker. Children by him Naro, Monroe, Charley, Charlotte, John and Simpson. Address me at Egypt Station, Miss., Chickasaw county. NARO GILLESPIE.
Naro Gillespie found his relatives (3rd of 3 ads)
Southwestern Christian Recorder (New Orleans, LA)
December 1, 1881
SIR ----- I feel very thankful for
your paper which was the cause of
my finding my relatives that I
thought were dead. I found them
in Sweet Home, Arkansas.
Yours respectfully,
NARO GILLESPIE
Egypt, Miss.
Southwestern Christian Recorder (New Orleans, LA)
December 1, 1881
SIR ----- I feel very thankful for
your paper which was the cause of
my finding my relatives that I
thought were dead. I found them
in Sweet Home, Arkansas.
Yours respectfully,
NARO GILLESPIE
Egypt, Miss.
Mrs. Josephine Bass found her relatives
Richmond Planet (Richmond, VA)
February 4, 1893
Relatives Found.
Mrs. Josephine Bass of Memphis, Tenn.
in the Planet of the 21st, advertised for
relatives whom she had not seen for
thirty-one years.
She has found them. They called at this
office this week and proceeded at once to
correspond to her. Only two are now
alive.
A gentleman in Washington found his
long lost sister in the same manner. He
had not seen her for nearly forty years.
Richmond Planet (Richmond, VA)
February 4, 1893
Relatives Found.
Mrs. Josephine Bass of Memphis, Tenn.
in the Planet of the 21st, advertised for
relatives whom she had not seen for
thirty-one years.
She has found them. They called at this
office this week and proceeded at once to
correspond to her. Only two are now
alive.
A gentleman in Washington found his
long lost sister in the same manner. He
had not seen her for nearly forty years.
Behind the Curation