Brief Family History

We have a rich history.  Since slavery, our family history has included doctors, nurses, entertainers, teachers, chemist, business executives, preachers, NFL football players, and a host of other professions.  We boast at least four generations of college graduates.

It is our task, and our responsibility to make sure that our history gets recorded.  This is not one person’s task, this is all of our task, and we MUST take this task very seriously.  Since our last reunion, we have lost all of the brothers, and now, only two of the sisters remain.

We have lost other family members that we will never get to know, see or share our love, knowledge or caring.  Those leaving us behind were old and young, and with their passing, we lost a lot of history.

Mary Magdaline Washington Brown - was born in Wilmington Delaware.  She was the daughter of Aaron William Washington and Louise Harrington (sp?).  Mary was the oldest of  ten sisters.   Louise Harrington was born in Cheraw (sp), South Carolina.  Aaron was born in slavery but ran away when his bother was sold.

These are/were the sisters of Mary Magdeline:

1. Rebecca Drucilla Wilson

2. Rosetta Smoke

3. Verda Maceline Woods

4. Sula Booker T Medina

5. Monrovia Liberia Calhoun     

6. Ella Louise Blackwell

7. Beatrice Kelly

8. Henrietta Estella Moore

9. Thelma Florine Stallings

The sisters are presented in birth order.  Their names are spelled as I think they are spelled.  

Louise Harrington Washington’s mother was Anna Harrington.  Anna had three children, Louise, Mattie, and a son who’s last known where about were was some where in Kentucky.

Dizzy Gillespie, the great American musician, was related to this side of the family.

Georgianna Richardson, daughter of Verda Maceline Woods worked with me before her death to put this side of the family tree together.  

James Anderson Brown - was born in Gardi, Georgia.  He was the son of Herbert Brown and Fannie Brown of Douglass Georgia.  James was the youngest of  six sisters and brothers.   His sister, Janie was one of the slaves freed following the American Civil War.

1.   Jeannette Brown Barnes

 2.   John Brown

 3.   Mary Lou Brown

 4.   William Brown

 5.   Solomon Brown

 6.   Louisa Washington

 The brothers and sisters are not presented in birth order, but in my best guess from what I know (and I don’t know much).

Just as Grandmother Mary, Aunt Jeannette (Janie) was a Mid-wife in Wayne County Georgia.  

Going through some of the old stuff before the old house in Screven, GA was burned down and totally destroyed, I found Grandma Mary’s midwife bag and two of her licenses.  

From stories I’ve heard, John Brown, a porter was murdered and left on the railroad tracks.  Aunt Louisa lived in Savannah and had two children. 

Solomon’s (Saul) children included Gertrude Harris (Jerome Harris Jesup GA).

Doris Murdock Nelson, daughter of Ida Murdock, daughter of Solomon Brown helped me to fill in this side of the story.  More on this great story later.

From the Brown/Washington union came twelve children.  Only TWO of whom are still living.  Aunt Vernelle is the oldest living sibling and she is 83, and will be 84 November 17, 2013!  Aunt Marcia is the baby of the family, and she is 81, and will be 82 October 24, 2013.

The twelve children in birth order:

*Only two living siblings of James and Mary Brown.