Spanish moss offers momentary shade from the relentless heat, the red earth is warmed by the blazing arrows of the sun. I am invited into my cousin, Nile's kitchen, we are wild and sassy together causing much embarassment to our children. The kitchen is heavy with the aroma of macaroni baking in the oven, a layer of cheese bubbling on top. Ribs sizzle in rich BBQ sauce. Nile and I playfully argue about the secret to good BBQ (I use vanilla in mine). Having been separated for so long, Nile and I have much to discuss.
Eventually our talks lead us outside to the rugged backroads, overgrown cememtaries and ghostly auction block of Cahaba. We find relatives who are generous with stories, talking until our voices are but a whisper. We search the internet and historical records, the connection to family guides our every step. Too late we realize the food has been left behind, the kids are throwing a house party, and in the middle of nowhere is not the place to be when the needle is on empty. If you have ever felt the connection to family you will understand the pull of blood and spirit is powerful. We moved on currents to find each other, and in our reunion is the greater purpose to honor our kin--to record their lives and stories. There are still unanswered questions, and relatives lost to time and distance. When Nile and I find our way back to the table, I hope to see many faces. I hope the warmth in the room is more than the food baking in the oven but the warmth of pride from our ancestors watching over us.
FORDS IN PERRYVILLE:
There are three main groups of Fords in the area of Perryville and Sprott, this is my line-
Caroline Ford b. 1825, both parents from Georgia. Had 15-18 children, and began a line of Fords living in Perryville. Was widowed.
Her son, Paul Ford m. Laura Radford on Feb. 8, 1878. When Laura died, Paul Ford married a woman named Lucretia.
Children of Paul Ford and Spouses: Johnie D, Allie D, Arthur, Genie, Willie, Bettie, Joe, Columbus, Jesse, Millie.
FORDS IN DALLAS COUNTY:
Several Fords moved to Dallas County (Summerfield, Valley Creek, Selma, Pleasant Hill)including Willie and John Ford. Much later, some of these Fords from Perryville and Dallas county moved to Indiana. Many Ford are buried in College Hill in Summerfield.
Of my Ford relatives in Dallas County are Pettus Ford, a farmer. Pettus Ford married Mary Ella Martin and in Jan. 1910, my grandfather Robert "Bud" Ford was born. Other children of Pettus Ford are Herman and Annie (Jug) and possibly a daughter named Sylvester who worked at Sears. Herman disappeared, and may have moved to the Birmingham area. I have many Ford relatives who live in Birmingham.
THE MYSTERY OF CALLIE MARTIN:
I have found a 1910 Census record for Selma that lists a Callie Martin as living with Mary Ella, Robert, Herman and a Hubbard and Earnest...all her children. The coincedences between these names is strong but who is Callie Martin? The Martin clan is large, is she kin? Mary Ella was orphaned as a child, did Callie take her in? What happened to Hubbard and Earnest? My great-grandmother Mary Ella also worked as cook. She was very young when she gave birth to my grandfather, Robert. Was she taken in with her baby by a relative?:
FORDS, MARTINS AND GREEN(E)S:
An older relative told me that the brother of Pettus Ford married into the Green(e) family. The Greens are also cousins to the Martins. John Ford married a woman named Ola and had several children who lived on a farm in Valley Creek. One of his sons married into the family of Sol and Lucy Green. The children of Sol and Lucy Green are also first cousins to Mary Ella Martin. One of their children, Ms. Hollis helped with this research, and to her I will be forever grateful.
IMPORTANT PLACES
*Slave auctions were held in Cahaba, once the capitol of AL.
*The largest Martin plantation I have found is the estate of AJ Martin, a resident of Orrville. He held 79 slaves. There were an estimated 15 Black families living on the plantation of AJ Martin.
*The Martin family lived in Woodlawn and Summerfield. The grandparents of Mary Ella Martin were Jordan and Jane (Judge) Martin. They had many children including Sarah Jane, Willie, James, Agnes, Bama, Luke and Julia.
*Some of the Martins ground corn, as slaves, in Keenan's Mill.
*Some of the Martins are buried in Wayman's Chapel near Four Mile Branch or in Elmwood Cemetary in Selma.
*Mary Ella Martin worked as a cook for the James Crawford family, living on Rangeline Road in Valley Creek. As a child, Robert was called "Spicey" or "Bud/Buddy".
*Later Mary Ella worked the Stringer Place in Pleasant Hill.
*The Greens worked the land of the John and Vesta Morgan family. They lived on Summerfield Road in Valley Creek.
Lynn Mari, ©2005
DOES THIS SOUND FAMILIAR?Drop me a line! I am still doing research, and look forward to hearing from you. THANKS FOR STOPPING BY!
My Geocities Page: http://www.geocities.com/graceofwynn/ALgenealogy.html
Special Thanks to Tom Blake, your Slaveholder & African-American surname page is a treasure: Slaveholders and African Americans 1860-1870
http://freepages.genealogy.rootsweb.com/~ajac/
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