Hello,
I mentioned in my previous post (16 December 2023) there are missing "pieces to the puzzle," in regard to William Montford/Munford's genealogy research project. Mistakes are often made while interpreting official and unofficial records. Oral histories are another challenge to genealogists. They often contain "false memories" and not actual facts. Research projects dealing with Pre-20th century African American genealogy are not immune from errors.
Building the family tree of William Montford, African American WW I soldier, can be used as an example to help identify various challenges of genealogy research. Even when done with respect and good intentions, a genealogist can make mistakes which will develop into incorrect assumptions and results . . . . and a false family tree.
Identified names:
2) Berry Giles {Possible given name--BENJAMIN}
3) John Mumford {MUNFORD}
For example: There are two official spellings of William's surname (Munford/Montford). And a possible third surname--Mumford. Which surname will you follow when conducting research?
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When to stop a research project or, should you?
A genealogist, if conducting research project on the Montford family, may stop when they locate where William Montford is buried within Onslow County, North Carolina. This may be the only aspect of his life the genealogist wanted to discover.
We established William Munford died in France, during WW I, and his body returned to Richlands, Onslow County, North Carolina. What else can be discovered to extend the research on William's family tree?
A military report of his death has been found, however, there would not be a death certificate on file within the county of burial. If a person lives within a given county but, dies in another county or state, the county or state where the death occurred, will maintain the official death certificate.
Question #1:
Since William's current burial site ("Diggs Cemetery") was not established until the late 1950s early 1960s . . . We know he died in 1918 so . . . where was William buried before Diggs Cemetery?
Possible locations --
1) France, in a National Cemetery?
2) Marine Corps Base, Camp LeJeune?
By the 1940s, African American families owned a vast amount of land throughout Onslow County that was "purchased" by the U.S. Government, to develop the largest U.S. Marine Corps Base on the east coast. Private homes, farms and crop fields disappeared overnight.
3) On an abandoned private homestead?
Over the past five decades, land developers systematically purchased farms and other individual properties to make way for "urban sprawl." What was once large and fertile crop fields and acres of untouched woodlands, are now thousands of individual homes. Before the private lands were purchased, many maintained their own private graveyards.
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I became interested in Handy Montford's headstone while researching William's life. Handy, father of William Montford, has a modest, handmade headstone covered with river rocks, a sign of respect by family and friends. Another headstone, within the all African American "Old Georgetown" cemetery located in Jacksonville, (N. C.) has a similar design. That individual, Henry Ward, died as a Centurian and was a confirmed African American Civil War Veteran. He served with honor within the 14th U.S. Colored Heavy Artillery.
I felt, at a first, based on the two headstones being similar, the two men had someone or, something in common. I could not find any evidence they were acquaintances but, with extended research it is possible they did know each other.
Although there was no known African American Civil War Veteran from Onslow County with a Montford or Munford surnames . . . there were three with the surname "Mumford."
It is common knowledge handwritten letters, reports and official documents are often scribed in poor penmanship. A genealogist can, at times, mis-interpret letters within a name. Mumford is a possible third spelling of the surname of William Montford/Munford.
Here are three confirmed African American Civil War Veterans from Onslow County, North Carolina with the Mumford surname:
Charles 2nd U.S. Colored Calvary
Hezekiah 14th U.S. Colored Heavy Artillery
Napoleon 37th U.S. Colored Troops
Their military unit exploits can be reviewed through:
Civil War (U.S.A.) African American Troops
There are more interesting topics to discuss on the life of Handy Montford, father of William Montford/Munford which allows, if desired, a genealogist to expand their research for more clues on William's short life.
Handy Montford died 22 August 1925. He is buried (keep in mind Diggs cemetery was developed after his death) directly in front of Willliam's grave. There is no record as to where Handy was first buried. His official North Carolina death certificate does not provide a clue to his 1925 original burial site, which is not an uncommon practice with early death certificates.
Question #2: Why was Handy buried alongside of his first wife and not his second?
Dilcey Montford passed away on 23 April 1925. Nearly four months prior to Handy's death. He married Rena Limus [sic] on 12 July 1925. Handy and Dilcey's names and death dates are hand sketched onto their joint headstone, along with their date of deaths.
Handy died (Due to Apoplexy) less than two months after his marriage to Rena. Official marriage license indicate Handy was sixty-five years old and Rena was fifty-three, she was a daughter of Ned and Mariah Dove.
A side note on the Dove family:
Pre-1865 there were numerous emancipated African American Dove family members living within Onslow County. Jacksonville had dozens of Dove families living within the city boundaries; the majority of the Dove family lived in the "Rich Lands" communities.
Prior to the 20th Century Richlands, North Carolina (N.C.) was referred to as, "Upper and Lower Rich Lands." State Census of the time period indicate large Dove households were made up of sons, daughter, brothers, sisters, cousins, mothers, fathers and laborers. Another title often listed within a dwelling was "farmer or farm hired hand." Some households having ten, or more, family members. In many cases, Dove families shared connecting farmlands and neighboring property.
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Research can be quick or conducted at a slow pace. The proverbial "Brick Wall" will stop genealogy research. The question is: Do you stop; give up? When you find a confirmed answer to your primary question but, find new question? Do you continue, or stop?
Even with William Montford/Munford/Mumford, there are questions left unanswered. To be explored in my next post in January 2024.
What do you do when you feel you have reached the end of your genealogy research project? . . . pen down . . . coffee (in my case; your choice may be a different beverage) cup empty . . . book closed . . . all papers ready to be placed into -- the cabinet -- . . . BUT . . .
. . . THEN . . . With a last instinctive glance, you notice a small entry, on an official document you have examined a hundred times. You just discovered or, may have discovered a fifth-generation family member . . . Unknown to your research.
Does search continue? . . .
Here is a link to books that I have written in regard to genealogy research:
Happy New Years!
Have fun with your 2024, various genealogy research projects and sharing what you have found with family and friends.
