Will of William Mitchell of Mobile, Alabama 1820 Part IV – Coda

  In this final installment of the Will of William Mitchell, I will give some family connections and context. 

1815 Map of Mobile

First, here is a chart of my direct connection to William Mitchell:

Chart from RootsMagic software

   William is my paternal fifth great-grandfather. My grandfather only knew his grandmother, Clara (Ford) Hawthorne, and first mentioned her name during an interview I conducted with him around 1978. To uncover our family's earlier connections, I had to reconstruct the lineage through genealogical research.

   In the FamilySearch family tree, William is recorded as Guillermo Mitchell. This is because when he first arrived in Mobile about 1793, it was under Spanish rule, and the Spanish equivalent of William is Guillermo.

FamilySearch tree

   According to an article by Lynne S. April and Eugenia W. Parker titled "Laurendine," published in the Deep South Genealogical Quarterly (Vol. 34, No. 4, November 1997, p. 168), Marie Anne Dufais (also spelled Dufay or Dufelli) did not marry William Mitchell. Instead, she married Francisco David, whose surname their daughter, Marie Theresa, adopted.

   This revelation leads to many unanswered questions. The search for these answers may never be known.

   William Mitchell is most likely buried in Church Street Cemetery in Mobile, as the city's oldest cemetery, Campo Santo, ceased burials in 1813. Documents I have uncovered indicate that the Executor of his Will paid for services and the construction of his raised grave, which included bricks and a metal cross. However, I have not yet been able to determine its exact location.

 

Church Street Grave Yard, Mobile, Alabama

   On a trip to Mobile in October 2010, I visited the grave of William Mitchell's daughter, Marie (Mary) Theresa (Mitchell) Laurendine. She is also listed on Find a Grave HERE. 

Mary Theresa (Mitchell) Laurendine

 

  Conclusion

   Much more research is needed on this branch of my family tree and to learn about this time period of French, Spanish, and American history. As for the descendants of William Mitchell, there must be thousands throughout the Gulf Coast and elsewhere. 

Will of William Mitchell of Mobile, Alabama 1820 Part III - Analysis

  In my previous two posts I showed the Will of William Mitchell and my transcription of it. Today, I will analyze this information because it is quiet the quandary to read and make since of all the relationships. 

   I started to do this and make charts to help me, but after hearing Nicole Dyer's webinar "From Research to Writing: AI Tools for Genealogists" via Legacy Family Tree Webinars, I decided to take a chance and uploaded the entire written transcription into ChatGPT. I kid you not, within two seconds I got back an analysis that blew me away! So, instead of my lack of professional writing, I am going to post it below.

Portrait of a free woman of color

   This will, written by William Mitchell in 1820 with a codicil added in 1822, provides a detailed and complex distribution of his property, with an emphasis on his relationships with several people he identifies as his children, as well as others he cared for. Below is an analysis of the relationships and provisions in the will:

Key Individuals and Relationships:

1. Margueritte (sometimes called Rosette):
• A free Black woman living in Mitchell's household in Mobile.
• Described as a key beneficiary of Mitchell's will.
• Given significant property, including slaves and real estate, for her lifetime.
2. Children of Margueritte:
• Margueritte (younger):
• Acknowledged by Mitchell as his biological daughter with the elder Margueritte.
• Inherits property, slaves, and shares other assets.
• Auguste (commonly called Jim):
• Acknowledged by Mitchell as his biological son with the elder Margueritte.
• Inherits property, slaves, and shares other assets.
3. Other Acknowledged Children of William Mitchell:
• Zeno:
• A mulatto man and shoemaker in Mobile.
• Acknowledged as Mitchell's son with the free mulattress Margueritte Lucien (now deceased).
• Margueritte (living in New Orleans):
• Another daughter by Margueritte Lucien, distinct from the younger Margueritte.
• Therese Lorandine:
• A daughter by Marie Defily (also deceased), now married to Edward Lorandine.
• Described as being treated equally with Zeno and the other legatees.
4. Other Notable Figures:
• Louis Dolive and Joseph Krebs:
• Named executors of the will.
• Slaves Mentioned:
• Henriette, Charlotte, Phillis, Nannette, Rosalie, Jeane, and Joe are all distributed among the beneficiaries with specific terms of ownership and inheritance.

Main Provisions:

1. Property to Margueritte (Elder):
• A house and lot in Mobile with household furniture for her lifetime.
• Slaves Henriette, Charlotte, and Jeane.
• Recognized as the guardian for her children (younger Margueritte and Auguste) until they reach adulthood or marry.
2. Slaves and Property to Younger Margueritte and Auguste:
• Slaves Nannette and Rosalie, respectively.
• Equal shares of the house and lot after their mother’s death, provided they leave descendants.
• In case of their deaths without issue, provisions are made for redistribution of their shares to other heirs or their mother.
3. Provisions for Zeno, New Orleans Margueritte, and Therese Lorandine:
• The remainder of Mitchell's property (land, slaves, and livestock) is divided equally among these three individuals.
4. Freedom for the Slave Philip:
• Philip is to be freed upon Mitchell's death if legally possible; otherwise, he is given to the elder Margueritte.
5. Codicil Additions:
• Additional provisions for Margueritte (elder), including a slave (Joe) and half of any crops at the time of Mitchell's death.
• Ensures the hogs at the plantation are recognized as Margueritte’s property.

Legal and Social Context:

• The will reflects the complex dynamics of race, slavery, and inheritance in antebellum Alabama. Mitchell acknowledges multiple children born out of relationships with women of African descent and provides them with property and rights unusual for the period.
• By naming free and enslaved individuals as significant beneficiaries, the will challenges the typical norms of the time regarding the treatment of enslaved people and mixed-race descendants.

This document not only distributes William Mitchell's property but also reveals intricate familial relationships and societal tensions, providing a glimpse into the lived experiences of both free and enslaved individuals in the antebellum South.

 

Analyzed by ChatGPT 04/09/2025

Prompt: “You’re an expert genealogist. Describe this will and the relationships in it”.

Plaçage

   This is a new term that I just learned from reading my friend, Kathleen Brandt's blog post "Researching The American Black Irish, by Blood". This made even more since now! 

    "Plaçage" refers to a historical social practice in French and Spanish slave colonies, particularly in New Orleans, where white men entered into extralegal relationships with women of African, Native American, or mixed-race descent, known as "placées," often providing them with a home and income. "

"Plaçage allowed white men to have relationships with women of color while circumventing legal restrictions and providing a degree of social status and economic support for the women. "

Source: Google Search Labs | AI

Wikipedia has a great article about it HERE.

The conclusion of this four part series on the Will of William Mitchell is next. Stay tuned...

Will of William Mitchell of Mobile, Alabama 1820 Part II - Original

 ...Continuation from my previous post here.

   After finding the clerk’s handwritten transcription of William Mitchell’s Will on Ancestry, I did some extra digging and discovered the original Will—a rare find! This provided clearer details on names, certain words, and, most importantly, punctuation. My transcription in the previous post reflects this.

ORIGINAL WILL IMAGES

SOURCE

"Alabama, Wills and Probate Records, 1753-1999," indexed database with record images, Ancestry.com (https://www.ancestry.com: accessed 6 March 2025), "Mitchel > Original Will Records, Pigeon Hole No 400, Files 1-263, 1813-1957," images 412-416 of 1311, will of William Mitchell, 1820, of Mobile, written 6 March 1820, with codicil written 13 March 1822.

In my next post I will analyze the document. Stay tuned...

Will of William Mitchell of Mobile, Alabama 1820 Part I

   This is the will of my paternal 5th great-grandfather, William Mitchell. Though I know little about his life, this document and a few other records provide glimpses into his story. Born around 1765, he moved to the city during the Spanish occupation, around 1795, when the region was known as "Spanish West Florida."

“Sunset, Evening, Dusk image” Image by Michael Gravois from Pixabay

WILL TRANSCRIPTION

In the name of God; Amen; I William Mitchel of the County of Mobile, and State of Alabama, being in sound, and perfect mind, and memory, (blessed be God) do on this sixth day of March in the year of our Lord, one thousand eight hundred, and twenty, make, and publish this my last Will and Testament, in the manner following: that is to say

   First, I give, and bequethe unto the free negroe-woman Margarette sometimes called Rosette, now living at my house in the City of Mobile, a female-slave named Henriette now about twenty two years of age, to be her absolute property for and during her natural life; I also give and bequeathe to the said Margueritte, another female slave named Charlotte, in like manner during it’s natural life, but after her death, to become, with their increase, the property of the daughter of the said Margueritte called also Margueritte, and whom I acknowledge to be my daughter; But should the said last mentioned Margueritte die before her mother leaving no children, then the said negroe woman Henriette and Charlotte shall belong to her brother the mulattoe boy named Auguste, though he is commonly called Jim, a son of the said negroe woman Margueritte, and whom I also acknowledge to be my son. But should both my said children Margueritte, and Auguste die before their mother, leaving no issue; then and in that case, the above mentioned negroe-woman Margueritte shall possess the said slaves Henriette, and Charlotte absolutely, and may dispose of them by Will, or otherwise; and if she should not dispose of them as above-mentioned, then, they shall be divided like other property herein-after mentioned.

   Item, I give, and bequeath unto Auguste the son of my before-mentioned daughter Margueritte, a negroe girl named Phillis. It is, moreover, my will, and desire that should my before-mentioned daughter Margueritte die before her mother, and leave children, they, or such child, or children as she may leave, shall stand in her place, and if she die before her mother without children, and her brother Auguste die before his mother, and leave children, they, or such child, or children as he may leave, shall stand in his place.

   Item, I give, and bequeath unto the said free negroe woman Margueritte the house, and lot where I now reside situate at the cooner of Conseption and _[blank]_ streets opposite the lot whereon Honoré Colin now resides and adjoining a lot formerly belonging to Mr. John Trouillet, together with all the house hold furniture belonging to said house to be held and enjoyed by her during her natural life; and, after her death, the said lot, house, and house hold furniture shall be the property of her children above-named Margueritte, and Auguste (commonly called Jim as before mentioned) And should both of them die without issue before their mother; then it is my will, and desire that the said property shall be disposed of as directed in the former article with relation to the slaves Heriette and Charlotte.

   Item, I give, and bequeath to my said daughter Marguerette, a negroe-girl named Nannette, and to my son Auguste (commonly called Jim) I give a negroe-girl named Rosalie with their respective increase, the said slaves are to remain in the possesion of the negroe-woman Margueritte mother of the said Margueritte, and Auguste until they become of age, or be married, and I hereby declare her their guardian. And should either of my before-mentioned children die without issue, then the property hereby bequeathed to them, shall go to the survivor, and should both of them, die; before they are of age and without issue; then it shall be disposed of as directed in the first article.

     Item, I give, and bequeath to the said negroe-woman Margueritte, a negroe girl named Jeane the child of Charlotte herein before given to said Margueritte, to be held by her in like manner as her mother.

   Item, It is my will and desire that my negroe slave named Philip, be free at the time of my decease, if permitted by law, but if not, then I give and bequeath him to his mother the free negroe-woman Margueritte herein before mentioned.

   Item, the rest and residue of my property both real and personal; that is to say my land, slaves, horses, cattle, not including the cattle owned by the before-mentioned free negroe Margueritte, and which have her brand, or such as she may own at the time of my death. I give, and bequeath to a mulattoe man named Zeno whom I acknowledge to be my son, a shoe maker by trade, and now living in Mobile, to a mulattoe woman named Margueritte who I acknowledge to be my daughter, now, lives in New Orleans, and who is not the same Margueritte herein before mentioned; and to Therese Lorandine who passes for my daughter the two first being children I had by the free mulattres named Margueritte Lucien, now deceased, and the last, to wit, a child Therese Lorendine a child I had by Marie Defily[?] afterwards, Madam Cadet[?], (also now deceased) and which said Therese is now the wife of Edward Lorendine, but who as I hereby declare is to have no preference, of pre-emienence, or advantage whatever, over the other legatees although a white woman. And the said Zeno, and Margueritte children of mine by Margueritte Lucien the free mulattress and Therese (daughter of Marie Defihy) shall severally hold forever the property hereby bequeathed equally to be divided share, and share alike, respectively between, and amongst them. And the property herein before bequeathed jointly to my children Margueritte, and Auguste, (commonly called Jim) the children of the negroe-woman Margueritte) shall, also, in like manner, be held severally between them; that is to say the real property shall be equally divided between them the said Margueritte and Auguste, share, and share alike when ever they shall agreably to the here intent and meaning of this will, become entitled thereto.

   And I, hereby, make, and ordain my worthy friends Louis Dolive and Joseph Krebs executors of this my last Will and Testament, and I pray them to cause the same to be duly executed, and I invest them with full power to prevent any distribution, sale, or waste, of the property bequeathed to the negroe-woman Margueritte during her life, and reserved for her children afterwards; And should she die before they are of age, I request my said executors to take care of the said property for the benefit of the said Margueritte and August her children. I hereby revoke all other wills by me hereto made, and declare the same to be null, and void. I moreover,  declare that I have no money whatever laid up, as seems to be commonly believed, and that I have no more than is sufficient for ordinary purposes.

Signed, sealed, published and declared

by the said William Mitchel, as his last Will                             William Mitchell (seal)   

and Testament, in the presence of us, who were

present at the time of the signing, and sealing

thereof.

Saml Acre

Francis Girard

Francis Girard Juner

--------------------------------------------------------------------------

[Codicil – 13 March 1822]   

Whereas I have made, and duly the above writing, my last Will and Testament, bearing date the sixth day of March in the year of our Lord one thousand eight hundred and twenty; Now I do hereby declare this present writing to be a Codicil to this my last Will, and direct the same to be taken as a part thereof; And I do hereby, give, and bequeath to Margueritte the same negroe-woman who is mentioned in my Will to which this is a Codicil, a negroe-man named Joe also all the house-hold-furniture of every description of which I may die possesed whether the same be in the house in Mobile, or at the plantation, or elsewhere. And if there should at my decease a crop either growing, or gathered, I give and bequeath one half thereof to the said Margueritte, and to her two children mentioned my will above written, and the other half thereof I desire to be equally divided between and among the other Legatees above named in my said Will. I declare that all the hogs of every description which are at the plantation, are, now, the rightful property of the free-negroe woman Margueritte sometimes called Rosette above mentioned, that having no claim whatever thereto, it is my Will, and desire that she the said Margueritte, be not disturbed or, in any wise, molested in the possesion or enjoyment of the said hogs.

   In testimony whereof I have hereunto subscribed my name and affixed my seal in presence of the witnesses whose names are under written, at the City of Mobile, this thirteenth day of March, in the year of our Lord one thousand eight hundred, and twenty two.

                   Samuel Acre                                    William Mitchell (seal)

Witnesses    Francis Girard

                   Francis Girard Jun 

                                              1822

                                               Will

                                                of                                                400/125

                                       William Mitchell (decd)

                               Filed 14th May A.D. 1824

                               Hugh H. Rolston Clk

                               Recorded Book A page

                               96. to 102 -

WILL IMAGES

SOURCE

"Alabama, Wills and Probate Records, 1753-1999," indexed database with record images, Ancestry.com (https://www.ancestry.com: accessed 6 March 2025), "Mitchel > Court Records Will Book, Vol 1-2, 1813-1857," images 65-68 of 431, will of William Mitchell, 1820, of Mobile, written 6 March 1820, with codicil written 13 March 1822.

   The next post will will reveal what I also found on Ancestry.com... 

Maggie Lucille (Gowens) Galloway Friendship Quilt

    My grandmother, Maggie “Lucille” (Gowens) Galloway (1913-2008), referred to this as a "Friendship Quilt." Lucille created and assembled the quilt in Texas between 1932 and 1934. She was just out of High School when she started and finished just after she was married. My grandmother would send each square to family members, who would then hand-embroider their name, date, and location onto the fabric before sending it back to her. After she had all the pieces back, she stitched them together.

My grandmother's "Friendship Quilt"

Provenance:

   After the death of my grandmother in 2008 in Klamath Falls, Oregon, it was handed down to her daughter, Juanita (Galloway) Fallon. Last year (2024) Aunt Juanita gave it to my mother, Faye (Galloway) Hawthorne, during a family reunion.

My mom with the quilt 

The Squares

There are twenty squares: Four across and five down.

In the following descriptions I will number each square left to right, top to bottom.

1.     This is most likely Mary (Jones) Bass, the mother of her sister-in-law, Minnie Bell (Bass) Gowens. Minnie married Lucille’s older brother, Slyvester Bernard Gowens.

2.     Debra Shaw could be a friend. I have found no family connections yet.

3.      Rosa Evelyn Ray is her niece, the daughter of her older ½ sister, Charity Evelyn (Gowens) Ray. But, Rosa would have been 5 years old, so maybe it was completed by her mother?

4.     Mrs. Charlie G. Ray is her older sister, Charity Evelyn (Gowens) Ray. Note: She is also the same person in square #15.

5.     Nadine is her niece. Daughter of her older sister, Stella Vera (Gowens) Perry.

6.     Lena Georgia (Gowens) Perry is her older sister.

7.     Frances Delilah McCallister is her niece. Daughter of her older sister Lena (Gowens) McCallister and Henry Matt McCallister.

8.     Nota Mae (Phariss) is her maternal 1^st. cousin. Daughter of her maternal uncle Joseph William Phariss and Maude Mae Close.

9.     Crystal Elizabeth (Gowens) Reedy is her older sister.

10. Mother is her mother Frances Emily (Phariss) Gowens. I am not sure why it says “Lubbock.” They lived in Crosbyton, which is almost 40 miles east.

11. Cordie Loraine Gowens is her older sister.

12. Lora Eva (Atchison) Gowens is her sister-in-law. The wife of her older brother Clarene Preston Gowens.

13. Maude Mae (Close) Phariss is her aunt-in-law. The wife of her maternal uncle Joseph William Phariss.

14. Minnie Belle (Bass) Gowens is her sister-in-law. The wife of her older brother Sylvester Bernard Gowens.

15. Charity Evelyn (Gowens) Ray is her older sister. The same person as in square #4.

16. Tishe [?] Bass. I have not identified this person yet. There is Theresa (Davis) Bass, wife of Henry Bass, who was living in Crosby County at the time.

17. Virginia Lea Reedy is her niece. Daughter of her older sister Crystal Elizabeth (Gowens) Reedy and Charles Leslie Reedy.

18. Lila Mae Reedy is her niece. Daughter of her older sister Crystal Elizabeth (Gowens) Reedy and Charles Leslie Reedy.

19. Sarah S. (Millican) Perry is the step-mother-in-law of her older sister Stella Vera (Gowens) Perry. Clyde Perry’s step-mother.

20. Juanita Linsly[?] I have not identified. Could be a friend. But, my grandmother’s maternal great-grandmother was Emily (Linsley) Phariss who died in Coleman County, Texas. There may be a connection there.

TOP ROW (L-R)

NEXT ROW (L-R)

NEXT ROW (L-R)

NEXT ROW (L-R)

BOTTOM ROW (L-R)

 

   My grandmother learned how to sew from her mother. She became a seamstress for the rest of her life. She made all the clothes for her children when they were young. After they moved to California in 1942, she worked for several companies, including one in Costa Mesa that only made men's suits. She learned to use the big industrial sewing machines that they had. My mom said she made her a skirt to wear the next day at school all in one night! 

Lucille Gowens and Sammie Galloway - Wedding Day 1933 Scurry Co., Texas

My Colorful Ancestry 9-Year Anniversary

 It was 9 years ago today that I came up with an idea to color-code a 5-generational chart of my ancestors birth places. A viral social media movement ensued and the rest is history. Since then, several genealogy companies now include a form of that idea.

Here is a link to the original blog post that I wrote about it: BLOG POST

I was also recognized by the Federation of Genealogical Societies (FGS) for this concept.

I made a t-shirt too! I wore it to several genealogy conferences over the years.

Since that time period, I thought I could come up with a ‘new’ tool to use, but I am not a coder and my ideas of somehow incorporating maps, time-periods, and people are too complex for me. Better leave that to the experts.

RootsTech 2025 ~ Virtual

This is a quick post to document the classes I attended during the RootsTech 2025 genealogy conference. I attended the conference virtually again this year, which makes this my 10th. time in a row. My only in-person was in 2012, 2013, and 2015.

Each year RootsTech calculates how many relatives you are related to through their FamilySearch Family Tree. This year I have 36,109! I can usually confirm whether they are related to me up to the 4th. cousin range. 

 Classes I attended each day.

 

I am hoping to attend next year’s conference in-person. It would be nice to drive up this time from San Diego and visit some canyon country wilderness areas. We’ll see!