African American (AA) UMs CONNECTED!

 

I've had contact over the years with various A-A UM cousins whose ancestry I've only be able to trace back so far and never to their actual UM connection.

In February, 2019, this changed, at least for one family. I'd had this fellow named Samuel "Poppa Sam" as an "ORPHan" for several years and I was working on seeing if I couldn't connect some of my orphans.

Thanks to Ancestry.com and some very good documenting by one of his family members, I was able to trace back and find the probable connection! Here's how it goes:

1 David (Rev War) (Umstat) Umsted b: June 12, 1755 New Providence, Philadelphia Co, PA d: September 8, 1804 Orange Co, North Carolina
+SLAVE Woman Unknown
2 Frank? (AA) SLAVE Umstead b: 1792 North Carolina per 1870 census MULATTO d: Bet. 1871 - 1880 Hillsborough, Orange Co, North Carolina
+Mary (AA) SLAVE (Whitted?) or Unknown b: 1795 North Carolina per 1870 census MULATTO
3 Harry (Harvy) (AA) SLAVE Umstead b: Bet. 1827 - 1830 North Carolina
+Helen Lucile (AA) SLAVE Cozart b: Abt. 1830 m: July 30, 1866 ORANGE Co, NC MARRIAGE BOND EMANCIPATED SLAVES
4 John Amos (AA) Umstead b: June 1868 Orange Co, North Carolina d: February 9, 1942 Durham, Durham Co, North Carolina
+Lucy E (AA) Hopkins b: 1876 m: August 13, 1890 Granville Co, North Carolina d: July 15, 1929 Goldsboro, Wayne Co, North Carolina
5 Samuel Laurence "Poppa Sam"(AA)(WWII)Umstead b: September 16, 1906 Durham, North Carolina d: November 30, 1998 Hyattaville, Prince Georges, MD Burial: MD Harmony Memorial Park, Landover/Lanham area

This is not ironclad, but it's reasonable. First of all, Frank is shown in the 1870 census as born in North Carolina. His mulatto designation on the census would indicate a white father.

Since Frank's son Harry/Harvy lived with or right next to Jethro David Umstead, again in the 1870 census, I'm guessing that this is Frank's family of origin. Slaves sometimes adopted their former owner's name, as they did not usually have surnames of their own. In this case, however, it's probable that Frank took David's name because David probably was his father.

Tracing back from Jethro then, the only logical father for Frank is Jethro's grandfather David Umstead, b. 1755 in PA, d. 1804 Orange Co, NC.

David's brother Jacob had one slave named Joe when Jacob died in 1816, but no indication of others, and no wife or children. He could still be a second possibility, I suppose, but it would seem that had Frank been his son, he'd have only been 14 years old and still with Jacob, logically requiring some mention in Jacob's will as Joseph was. Joseph was born between 1780 and 1794, so he was too young to be Frank's father. I've seen no indication that Joe was Jacob's son and nothing on what became of Joe when Jacob died.

David's brother Richard b. PA went to and died in Tennessee, so he's unlikely. No others were born early enough to be Frank's father.

Frank and Mary had moved away before the 1870 census. Frank is shown as a citizen in 1870, Hillsboro, Orange Co. Both shown as Mulatto. No other Umsteads found in Hillsboro census in 1870.

Harry/Harvy also moved away before 1880 and is shown as a citizen. Harry's son Luke and his family were living nearby.

Frank had other children and descendants. Here's what I know. If any of these are your known ancestors, please contact me so that I can connect you.

 

Descendants of Frank (AA) SLAVE Umstead

1 Frank? (AA) SLAVE Umstead b: 1792 North Carolina per 1870 census MULATTO ASSUME HARRY'S FATHER d: Bet. 1871 - 1880 Hillsborough, Orange Co, North Carolina
+Mary (AA) SLAVE (Whitted?) or Unknown b: 1795 North Carolina per 1870 census MULATTO
2 Harry (Harvy) (AA) SLAVE Umstead b: Bet. 1827 - 1830 North Carolina
+Amanda Hinton b: 1836 Wake Co, North Carolina d: August 3, 1913 Durham Co, North Carolina
3 Elizabeth (Eliza) (AA) Umstead b: 1855 Granville, North Carolina d: July 24, 1925 North Carolina
+Dave Lyon b: 1848 m: February 17, 1904 d: 1911
+Newton McIntire m: September 8, 1914 Durham, North Carolina
3 Hilman Umstead (AA) b: 1855
*2nd Wife of Harry (Harvy) (AA) SLAVE Umstead
. +Helen Lucile (AA) SLAVE Cozart b: Abt. 1830 m: July 30, 1866 ORANGE Co, NC MARRIAGE BOND EMANCIPATED SLAVES
3 Luke (AA) Umstead b: Abt. 1857
3 Richmond (AA) Umstead b: Abt. 1863
3 George Rowland/Roland (AA) Umstead b: 1863 April 17, 1920 Granville, North Carolina
3 Eldrid (AA) (female) Umstead b: Abt. 1868
3 John Amos (AA) Umstead b: June 1868 Orange Co, North Carolina d: February 9, 1942 Durham, Durham Co, North Carolina
. +Lucy E (AA) Hopkins b: 1876 m: August 13, 1890 Granville Co, North Carolina d: July 15, 1929 Goldsboro, Wayne Co, North Carolina
4 Nora L (AA) Umstead b: October 1894 Lebanon, Durham Co, North Carolina d: November 6, 1921 Durham, Durham Co, North Carolina
4 Willis Edgar (AA) Umstead b: July 11, 1897 Lebanon, Durham Co, North Carolina d: May 31, 1990 Durham, Durham Co, North Carolina
4 John Hubert (AA) Umstead b: 1901 North Carolina d: February 23, 1937 Durham, Durham Co, North Carolina
4 Albert D (AA) Umstead b: August 23, 1903 Durham Co, North Carolina d: June 26, 1990 Durham, Durham Co, North Carolina
4 Samuel Laurence "Poppa Sam"(AA)(WWII)Umstead b: September 16, 1906 Durham, North Carolina d: November 30, 1998 Hyattaville, Prince Georges, MD Burial: MD Harmony Memorial Park, Landover/Lanham area
. +Mary (AA) Poteat b: 1909 m: January 5, 1929 Orange Co, North Carolina
5 Joyce (AA) Umstead b: Abt. 1935
. +Unknown Taggart
5 Michael Belton (AA) Umstead b: Abt. 1937
5 Sandra (AA) Umstead b: Abt. 1939
. +Unknown (AA) Robinson
*2nd Wife of Samuel Laurence "Poppa Sam"(AA)(WWII)Umstead:
. +Ellen (AA) Unknown m: Aft. 1929
4 George R (AA) Umstead b: September 12, 1909 North Carolina
4 Joseph Edward (AA) Umstead b: November 15, 1912 d: August 15, 1955 Roanoke, Roanoke Co, Virginia
4 Elizabeth (AA) Umstead b: Abt. 1917 North Carolina d: March 12, 1950
*2nd Wife of John Amos (AA) Umstead:
. +Cynthia (AA) Poteat m: August 22, 1930 Halifax Co, Virginia
3 Willis Grant (AA) Umstead b: Abt. 1871 North Carolina d: 1950
3 Archie (AA) Umstead b: Abt. 1874
3 Doctor J (AA) Umstead b: Abt. 1875 Doctor first name or title???
2 Werter J (AA) Umstead b: Abt. 1829 North Carolina
2 Luke (AA) Umstead b: Abt. 1830
2 Smith (AA) Umstead b: August 1835 North Carolina MULATTO per 1870 census, black per 1880 census d: May 13, 1919 In Dutchville Twp, GRANVILLE (NOT Gates) Co, North Carolina in 1870
. +Elizabeth "Bettie" (AA) Justice b: 1840 North Carolina MULATTO per 1870 census m: February 3, 1867 Orange Co, NC
3 Feraby (Lesriby?) (AA) Umsted b: 1868 North Carolina d: Cannot make out name - Fearity, Feasity, Fessily
3 Jno Forsythe (AA in household) b: 1868 North Carolina
3 John (AA) Umstead b: 1871
3 Charity (AA) Umstead b: 1876
3 Lee (AA) Umstead b: 1877
3 Fannie (AA) b: 1879
2 Cynthia (AA) Umstead b: Abt. 1825 Hillsborough, Orange Co, North Carolina
*2nd Wife of Frank? (AA) SLAVE Umstead:
. +Rose? Unknown
2 One Child? (AA) Umstead

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Last updated 24 February 2019