{ "person": { "id": "15ab062e-5fa7-462c-b012-222da4cc2cb9", "public_id": "BT-PER-00004", "slug": "john-smith", "preferred_name": "John Smith", "given_names": "John", "middle_names": null, "birth_surname": null, "later_surnames": [], "name_variants": [ "John Smith" ], "sex_recorded": null, "birth_date_display": null, "birth_date_start": null, "birth_date_end": null, "birth_precision": "unknown", "death_date_display": null, "death_date_start": null, "death_date_end": null, "death_precision": "unknown", "birth_place_id": null, "death_place_id": null, "summary": "Person shell created for research. Dates, places, and relationships are pending documentary research.", "portrait_media_id": null, "portrait_verified": false, "featured": true, "public_visibility": "public", "published": true, "created_at": "2026-08-08T14:57:50.891379+00:00", "updated_at": "2026-08-08T14:57:50.891379+00:00" }, "claims": [ { "id": "36d200ba-0b28-4da9-9a7f-a2003f542bd2", "slug": "smith-eighty-acre-farm", "title": "Did John and Laura Smith own an approximately 80-acre farm?", "public_id": "BT-CLM-00089", "published": true, "claim_text": "A published family history describes John and Laura Smith as acquiring approximately 80 acres with a house, barns, livestock, a blacksmith shop, wells, orchards, pastures, streams, gardens, trees, and poultry.", "claim_type": "land", "current_status": "under_investigation", "public_summary": "The 1900 and 1910 censuses reportedly record John and Laura as owning their home. Home ownership supports property ownership generally, but does not by itself establish acreage, boundaries, or any of the described buildings and improvements.", "confidence_level": "low", "last_reviewed_at": "2026-08-08T16:02:40.933018+00:00", "research_question": "What do county deeds, tax rolls, plat maps, agricultural schedules, mortgage records, and probate files show?", "evidence": [ { "id": "98d7fbde-e47f-4223-b58a-ea75e3058498", "claim_id": "36d200ba-0b28-4da9-9a7f-a2003f542bd2", "relationship": "partially_supports", "weight": "moderate", "analysis": null, "evidence_items": { "id": "f6d3fd10-a42d-49db-bd1f-302694ea8c1c", "sources": { "id": "01a5ddc4-aefc-4049-a106-6864486c683a", "url": null, "title": "Bibliographic details pending — family history by Alma Smith Spearman", "creator": "Alma Smith Spearman", "public_id": "BT-SRC-00040", "published": true, "repository": null, "record_form": "authored_narrative", "rights_note": "COMPLETE BIBLIOGRAPHIC CITATION NEEDED. Published family history / descendant-authored narrative. Title, publisher, and publication date have not yet been supplied. A valuable family source; it is not automatically contemporary documentary proof for events predating the author's lifetime.", "source_type": "book", "accessed_date": null, "rights_status": null, "collection_name": null, "date_created_display": null }, "public_id": "BT-EVD-00081", "observation": "Alma Smith Spearman's family history describes John and Laura as acquiring approximately 80 acres including a house, barns, livestock, a blacksmith shop, wells, orchards, pastures, streams, gardens, trees, and poultry. These descriptive elements are recorded as the family account, not as independently proven property details.", "page_locator": null, "verbatim_excerpt": null, "public_visibility": "public" } }, { "id": "41c80130-e551-47ee-873e-4fa54f4664d9", "claim_id": "36d200ba-0b28-4da9-9a7f-a2003f542bd2", "relationship": "partially_supports", "weight": "moderate", "analysis": null, "evidence_items": { "id": "e71565a6-fab6-461b-ad28-22bd0aa2100e", "sources": { "id": "3ad3a8bc-6304-4347-889e-9c04947ca567", "url": null, "title": "1910 U.S. Census — Mayharris, Copiah County, Mississippi", "creator": "United States Bureau of the Census", "public_id": "BT-SRC-00039", "published": true, "repository": "FamilySearch", "record_form": "digital_image", "rights_note": "SOURCE CITATION AVAILABLE. ORIGINAL IMAGE VERIFICATION NEEDED — not yet independently reviewed inside BEFORE TILL.", "source_type": "census", "accessed_date": null, "rights_status": null, "collection_name": "U.S. census, Copiah County, Mississippi, population schedule, Mayharris", "date_created_display": "1910" }, "public_id": "BT-EVD-00073", "observation": "John and Laura are reported as owning their home in 1910.", "page_locator": "p. 5A (penned), dwelling 77, family 77", "verbatim_excerpt": null, "public_visibility": "public" } }, { "id": "80270111-2939-45ae-af55-129bb71c4bb4", "claim_id": "36d200ba-0b28-4da9-9a7f-a2003f542bd2", "relationship": "partially_supports", "weight": "moderate", "analysis": "Home ownership corroborates property ownership generally. It does not establish acreage or any specific improvement.", "evidence_items": { "id": "ded9ea25-ce89-40fd-a6af-3e93064dabcf", "sources": { "id": "acf3a192-edf0-486a-87f4-3d6f5c783295", "url": null, "title": "1900 U.S. Census — Mount Hope, Copiah County, Mississippi", "creator": "United States Bureau of the Census", "public_id": "BT-SRC-00038", "published": true, "repository": "FamilySearch", "record_form": "digital_image", "rights_note": "SOURCE CITATION AVAILABLE. ORIGINAL IMAGE VERIFICATION NEEDED — not yet independently reviewed inside BEFORE TILL.", "source_type": "census", "accessed_date": null, "rights_status": null, "collection_name": "U.S. census, Copiah County, Mississippi, population schedule, Mount Hope", "date_created_display": "1900" }, "public_id": "BT-EVD-00065", "observation": "John and Laura are reported as owning their home in 1900.", "page_locator": "p. 7B (penned), dwelling 147, family 150", "verbatim_excerpt": null, "public_visibility": "public" } } ], "conclusions": [ { "id": "844892a0-0de3-4946-92db-8ac3e9b0d7e7", "public_id": "BT-CON-00095", "claim_id": "36d200ba-0b28-4da9-9a7f-a2003f542bd2", "version_number": 1, "conclusion_text": "Family history describes an approximately 80-acre farm with substantial improvements. Census returns reportedly record John and Laura as homeowners in 1900 and 1910. Home ownership supports property ownership generally but does not by itself establish the acreage or any of the described buildings and features.", "status": "under_investigation", "confidence": "low", "reasoning_summary": "Descriptive elements of the family account are held as a single account rather than entered as separate proven facts.", "what_is_known": "The family account describes the property. Two census entries reportedly report home ownership.", "what_is_not_known": "The acreage, boundaries, date of acquisition, and whether the described blacksmith shop, orchards, and outbuildings existed.", "future_research": "Search county deeds, tax rolls, plat maps, agricultural schedules, mortgage records, and probate files.", "is_current": true, "published_at": "2026-08-08T16:02:40.933018+00:00", "researchers": { "title": "Founder, Creator & Descendant Archivist", "founder": true, "display_name": "Amberly R. Carter-Mills" } } ], "currentConclusion": { "id": "844892a0-0de3-4946-92db-8ac3e9b0d7e7", "public_id": "BT-CON-00095", "claim_id": "36d200ba-0b28-4da9-9a7f-a2003f542bd2", "version_number": 1, "conclusion_text": "Family history describes an approximately 80-acre farm with substantial improvements. Census returns reportedly record John and Laura as homeowners in 1900 and 1910. Home ownership supports property ownership generally but does not by itself establish the acreage or any of the described buildings and features.", "status": "under_investigation", "confidence": "low", "reasoning_summary": "Descriptive elements of the family account are held as a single account rather than entered as separate proven facts.", "what_is_known": "The family account describes the property. Two census entries reportedly report home ownership.", "what_is_not_known": "The acreage, boundaries, date of acquisition, and whether the described blacksmith shop, orchards, and outbuildings existed.", "future_research": "Search county deeds, tax rolls, plat maps, agricultural schedules, mortgage records, and probate files.", "is_current": true, "published_at": "2026-08-08T16:02:40.933018+00:00", "researchers": { "title": "Founder, Creator & Descendant Archivist", "founder": true, "display_name": "Amberly R. Carter-Mills" } }, "hasConflict": false }, { "id": "77e89530-132a-442a-896c-7a27c1b3850d", "slug": "smith-family-bishop-mason-hospitality", "title": "Did Laura and John Smith provide hospitality and support to Bishop C. H. Mason around 1897?", "public_id": "BT-CLM-00088", "published": true, "claim_text": "A published family history reports that around 1897 John and Laura Smith welcomed Bishop C. H. Mason into their home and extended an ongoing invitation for him to stay when in the area.", "claim_type": "historical_association", "current_status": "under_investigation", "public_summary": "BEFORE TILL preserves this as a family account recorded by Alma Smith Spearman. The events themselves have not yet been independently corroborated inside the archive.", "confidence_level": "unresolved", "last_reviewed_at": "2026-08-08T16:02:40.933018+00:00", "research_question": "Can Bishop Mason's movements around 1897 be independently documented? Do COGIC records, Mason biographies, or church records mention John, Laura, or Joe Smith? Can Mason Harrison Smith's name and relationship be documented?", "evidence": [ { "id": "87898978-4336-4e6d-9795-f38752cf55d0", "claim_id": "77e89530-132a-442a-896c-7a27c1b3850d", "relationship": "partially_supports", "weight": "weak", "analysis": "A naming practice recorded in family history. Independent documentation of Mason Harrison Smith's name and relationship is still needed.", "evidence_items": { "id": "7f575902-0e0d-4f66-9ad4-18e9e9f014de", "sources": { "id": "01a5ddc4-aefc-4049-a106-6864486c683a", "url": null, "title": "Bibliographic details pending — family history by Alma Smith Spearman", "creator": "Alma Smith Spearman", "public_id": "BT-SRC-00040", "published": true, "repository": null, "record_form": "authored_narrative", "rights_note": "COMPLETE BIBLIOGRAPHIC CITATION NEEDED. Published family history / descendant-authored narrative. Title, publisher, and publication date have not yet been supplied. A valuable family source; it is not automatically contemporary documentary proof for events predating the author's lifetime.", "source_type": "book", "accessed_date": null, "rights_status": null, "collection_name": null, "date_created_display": null }, "public_id": "BT-EVD-00080", "observation": "Alma Smith Spearman's family history reports that the Smiths' oldest grandson, Mason Harrison Smith, was named for Bishop Mason.", "page_locator": null, "verbatim_excerpt": null, "public_visibility": "public" } }, { "id": "92e0e3ed-c3ac-478a-ad64-ead69ac05bd6", "claim_id": "77e89530-132a-442a-896c-7a27c1b3850d", "relationship": "partially_supports", "weight": "weak", "analysis": null, "evidence_items": { "id": "c3c9126c-7089-4892-a16f-81d892a39c65", "sources": { "id": "01a5ddc4-aefc-4049-a106-6864486c683a", "url": null, "title": "Bibliographic details pending — family history by Alma Smith Spearman", "creator": "Alma Smith Spearman", "public_id": "BT-SRC-00040", "published": true, "repository": null, "record_form": "authored_narrative", "rights_note": "COMPLETE BIBLIOGRAPHIC CITATION NEEDED. Published family history / descendant-authored narrative. Title, publisher, and publication date have not yet been supplied. A valuable family source; it is not automatically contemporary documentary proof for events predating the author's lifetime.", "source_type": "book", "accessed_date": null, "rights_status": null, "collection_name": null, "date_created_display": null }, "public_id": "BT-EVD-00079", "observation": "Alma Smith Spearman's family history reports that the Smiths' son Joe Smith cared for Bishop Mason's horse and buggy.", "page_locator": null, "verbatim_excerpt": null, "public_visibility": "public" } }, { "id": "fda0a2d5-a407-46cd-bee8-4866f7e4b14b", "claim_id": "77e89530-132a-442a-896c-7a27c1b3850d", "relationship": "partially_supports", "weight": "moderate", "analysis": null, "evidence_items": { "id": "27394d5b-586d-4d4a-8041-0fa8bbe646e2", "sources": { "id": "01a5ddc4-aefc-4049-a106-6864486c683a", "url": null, "title": "Bibliographic details pending — family history by Alma Smith Spearman", "creator": "Alma Smith Spearman", "public_id": "BT-SRC-00040", "published": true, "repository": null, "record_form": "authored_narrative", "rights_note": "COMPLETE BIBLIOGRAPHIC CITATION NEEDED. Published family history / descendant-authored narrative. Title, publisher, and publication date have not yet been supplied. A valuable family source; it is not automatically contemporary documentary proof for events predating the author's lifetime.", "source_type": "book", "accessed_date": null, "rights_status": null, "collection_name": null, "date_created_display": null }, "public_id": "BT-EVD-00078", "observation": "Alma Smith Spearman's family history reports that Bishop C. H. Mason was welcomed into the Smith home and that John and Laura extended an ongoing invitation for him to stay when he was in the area.", "page_locator": null, "verbatim_excerpt": null, "public_visibility": "public" } }, { "id": "82810c6f-a2c0-4c4d-8733-64d7a8d2f706", "claim_id": "77e89530-132a-442a-896c-7a27c1b3850d", "relationship": "partially_supports", "weight": "moderate", "analysis": null, "evidence_items": { "id": "b34df37f-4745-4f5c-9ee8-b1aca6683b2a", "sources": { "id": "01a5ddc4-aefc-4049-a106-6864486c683a", "url": null, "title": "Bibliographic details pending — family history by Alma Smith Spearman", "creator": "Alma Smith Spearman", "public_id": "BT-SRC-00040", "published": true, "repository": null, "record_form": "authored_narrative", "rights_note": "COMPLETE BIBLIOGRAPHIC CITATION NEEDED. Published family history / descendant-authored narrative. Title, publisher, and publication date have not yet been supplied. A valuable family source; it is not automatically contemporary documentary proof for events predating the author's lifetime.", "source_type": "book", "accessed_date": null, "rights_status": null, "collection_name": null, "date_created_display": null }, "public_id": "BT-EVD-00077", "observation": "Alma Smith Spearman's family history reports that Laura's Baptist faith and the family's religious life contributed to John and Laura welcoming Bishop C. H. Mason around 1897.", "page_locator": null, "verbatim_excerpt": null, "public_visibility": "public" } } ], "conclusions": [ { "id": "250e2197-c98a-46a7-94af-bb4639d4bb89", "public_id": "BT-CON-00094", "claim_id": "77e89530-132a-442a-896c-7a27c1b3850d", "version_number": 1, "conclusion_text": "A published family history reports that John and Laura Smith welcomed Bishop C. H. Mason into their home around 1897 and supported his travel in the area. BEFORE TILL preserves this as family memory. The events themselves have not yet been independently corroborated inside the archive.", "status": "under_investigation", "confidence": "unresolved", "reasoning_summary": "Alma Smith Spearman documented the story. That documents the account, not the event.", "what_is_known": "The family account exists and is attributed to Alma Smith Spearman.", "what_is_not_known": "Whether Bishop Mason's movements around 1897 included the Smith household, and whether Joe Smith or Mason Harrison Smith can be independently connected to him.", "future_research": "Search COGIC institutional records, Mason biographies and itineraries, church minutes, and local newspapers.", "is_current": true, "published_at": "2026-08-08T16:02:40.933018+00:00", "researchers": { "title": "Founder, Creator & Descendant Archivist", "founder": true, "display_name": "Amberly R. Carter-Mills" } } ], "currentConclusion": { "id": "250e2197-c98a-46a7-94af-bb4639d4bb89", "public_id": "BT-CON-00094", "claim_id": "77e89530-132a-442a-896c-7a27c1b3850d", "version_number": 1, "conclusion_text": "A published family history reports that John and Laura Smith welcomed Bishop C. H. Mason into their home around 1897 and supported his travel in the area. BEFORE TILL preserves this as family memory. The events themselves have not yet been independently corroborated inside the archive.", "status": "under_investigation", "confidence": "unresolved", "reasoning_summary": "Alma Smith Spearman documented the story. That documents the account, not the event.", "what_is_known": "The family account exists and is attributed to Alma Smith Spearman.", "what_is_not_known": "Whether Bishop Mason's movements around 1897 included the Smith household, and whether Joe Smith or Mason Harrison Smith can be independently connected to him.", "future_research": "Search COGIC institutional records, Mason biographies and itineraries, church minutes, and local newspapers.", "is_current": true, "published_at": "2026-08-08T16:02:40.933018+00:00", "researchers": { "title": "Founder, Creator & Descendant Archivist", "founder": true, "display_name": "Amberly R. Carter-Mills" } }, "hasConflict": false }, { "id": "bac0d24f-79f1-461b-a946-e60c44983554", "slug": "smith-children-how-many", "title": "How many children did John and Laura Smith raise?", "public_id": "BT-CLM-00087", "published": true, "claim_text": "Census returns and the family history describe the size of John and Laura Smith's family in different terms.", "claim_type": "other", "current_status": "under_investigation", "public_summary": "The 1900 and 1910 censuses report Laura as the mother of 11 children, nine then living. The family history describes nine biological children and three adopted sons. These statements do not necessarily contradict one another, because adopted children would not be counted among children born to Laura.", "confidence_level": "medium", "last_reviewed_at": "2026-08-08T16:02:40.933018+00:00", "research_question": "Which household, probate, guardianship, church, and family records can identify the children individually?", "evidence": [ { "id": "0e2b8df8-ffd5-4aba-9382-ee19508df16e", "claim_id": "bac0d24f-79f1-461b-a946-e60c44983554", "relationship": "contextualizes", "weight": "moderate", "analysis": "The census reports concern children born to Laura, while the family narrative describes children raised in the household and may include adopted children. The two statements are not necessarily in conflict.", "evidence_items": { "id": "962ed98a-4677-41ee-b28a-fb7b89c3222b", "sources": { "id": "01a5ddc4-aefc-4049-a106-6864486c683a", "url": null, "title": "Bibliographic details pending — family history by Alma Smith Spearman", "creator": "Alma Smith Spearman", "public_id": "BT-SRC-00040", "published": true, "repository": null, "record_form": "authored_narrative", "rights_note": "COMPLETE BIBLIOGRAPHIC CITATION NEEDED. Published family history / descendant-authored narrative. Title, publisher, and publication date have not yet been supplied. A valuable family source; it is not automatically contemporary documentary proof for events predating the author's lifetime.", "source_type": "book", "accessed_date": null, "rights_status": null, "collection_name": null, "date_created_display": null }, "public_id": "BT-EVD-00076", "observation": "Alma Smith Spearman's family history describes John and Laura as raising nine biological children and three adopted sons.", "page_locator": null, "verbatim_excerpt": null, "public_visibility": "public" } }, { "id": "b01354f6-4180-4607-95a7-94f16fd4ffee", "claim_id": "bac0d24f-79f1-461b-a946-e60c44983554", "relationship": "supports", "weight": "moderate", "analysis": null, "evidence_items": { "id": "8e7251d4-a644-4058-992c-904c2e778d6c", "sources": { "id": "3ad3a8bc-6304-4347-889e-9c04947ca567", "url": null, "title": "1910 U.S. Census — Mayharris, Copiah County, Mississippi", "creator": "United States Bureau of the Census", "public_id": "BT-SRC-00039", "published": true, "repository": "FamilySearch", "record_form": "digital_image", "rights_note": "SOURCE CITATION AVAILABLE. ORIGINAL IMAGE VERIFICATION NEEDED — not yet independently reviewed inside BEFORE TILL.", "source_type": "census", "accessed_date": null, "rights_status": null, "collection_name": "U.S. census, Copiah County, Mississippi, population schedule, Mayharris", "date_created_display": "1910" }, "public_id": "BT-EVD-00072", "observation": "Nine of Laura's children are reported living in 1910.", "page_locator": "p. 5A (penned), dwelling 77, family 77", "verbatim_excerpt": null, "public_visibility": "public" } }, { "id": "11af1822-9385-4141-b30d-181251411b04", "claim_id": "bac0d24f-79f1-461b-a946-e60c44983554", "relationship": "supports", "weight": "moderate", "analysis": null, "evidence_items": { "id": "b653675f-2dcc-42bf-b976-259a018bf434", "sources": { "id": "3ad3a8bc-6304-4347-889e-9c04947ca567", "url": null, "title": "1910 U.S. Census — Mayharris, Copiah County, Mississippi", "creator": "United States Bureau of the Census", "public_id": "BT-SRC-00039", "published": true, "repository": "FamilySearch", "record_form": "digital_image", "rights_note": "SOURCE CITATION AVAILABLE. ORIGINAL IMAGE VERIFICATION NEEDED — not yet independently reviewed inside BEFORE TILL.", "source_type": "census", "accessed_date": null, "rights_status": null, "collection_name": "U.S. census, Copiah County, Mississippi, population schedule, Mayharris", "date_created_display": "1910" }, "public_id": "BT-EVD-00071", "observation": "Laura is reported as the mother of 11 children in 1910.", "page_locator": "p. 5A (penned), dwelling 77, family 77", "verbatim_excerpt": null, "public_visibility": "public" } }, { "id": "d1053f22-24bd-439e-9be7-997e992496fd", "claim_id": "bac0d24f-79f1-461b-a946-e60c44983554", "relationship": "supports", "weight": "moderate", "analysis": null, "evidence_items": { "id": "b6cb6547-ad6f-49a0-8ee3-2292be84f930", "sources": { "id": "acf3a192-edf0-486a-87f4-3d6f5c783295", "url": null, "title": "1900 U.S. Census — Mount Hope, Copiah County, Mississippi", "creator": "United States Bureau of the Census", "public_id": "BT-SRC-00038", "published": true, "repository": "FamilySearch", "record_form": "digital_image", "rights_note": "SOURCE CITATION AVAILABLE. ORIGINAL IMAGE VERIFICATION NEEDED — not yet independently reviewed inside BEFORE TILL.", "source_type": "census", "accessed_date": null, "rights_status": null, "collection_name": "U.S. census, Copiah County, Mississippi, population schedule, Mount Hope", "date_created_display": "1900" }, "public_id": "BT-EVD-00064", "observation": "Nine of Laura's children are reported living in 1900.", "page_locator": "p. 7B (penned), dwelling 147, family 150", "verbatim_excerpt": null, "public_visibility": "public" } }, { "id": "1b667494-4225-4177-94dc-dd84d20e5667", "claim_id": "bac0d24f-79f1-461b-a946-e60c44983554", "relationship": "supports", "weight": "moderate", "analysis": null, "evidence_items": { "id": "6e00d047-e0ff-41ad-a751-9f21faf55abd", "sources": { "id": "acf3a192-edf0-486a-87f4-3d6f5c783295", "url": null, "title": "1900 U.S. Census — Mount Hope, Copiah County, Mississippi", "creator": "United States Bureau of the Census", "public_id": "BT-SRC-00038", "published": true, "repository": "FamilySearch", "record_form": "digital_image", "rights_note": "SOURCE CITATION AVAILABLE. ORIGINAL IMAGE VERIFICATION NEEDED — not yet independently reviewed inside BEFORE TILL.", "source_type": "census", "accessed_date": null, "rights_status": null, "collection_name": "U.S. census, Copiah County, Mississippi, population schedule, Mount Hope", "date_created_display": "1900" }, "public_id": "BT-EVD-00063", "observation": "Laura is reported as the mother of 11 children.", "page_locator": "p. 7B (penned), dwelling 147, family 150", "verbatim_excerpt": null, "public_visibility": "public" } } ], "conclusions": [ { "id": "4323c7b1-089b-4516-98b7-cd4da88d5395", "public_id": "BT-CON-00093", "claim_id": "bac0d24f-79f1-461b-a946-e60c44983554", "version_number": 1, "conclusion_text": "The census reports concern children born to Laura, while the family narrative describes children raised in the household and may include adopted children. Additional household, probate, guardianship, church, and family records are needed.", "status": "under_investigation", "confidence": "medium", "reasoning_summary": "These statements do not necessarily contradict one another and the claim is therefore not marked corrected.", "what_is_known": "The 1900 and 1910 censuses report Laura as the mother of 11 children with nine then living. The family history describes nine biological children and three adopted sons.", "what_is_not_known": "The identities of the individual children, which were born to Laura, and which were raised in the household without being born to her.", "future_research": "Reconstruct the household across all available censuses; search probate, guardianship, church, and cemetery records.", "is_current": true, "published_at": "2026-08-08T16:02:40.933018+00:00", "researchers": { "title": "Founder, Creator & Descendant Archivist", "founder": true, "display_name": "Amberly R. Carter-Mills" } } ], "currentConclusion": { "id": "4323c7b1-089b-4516-98b7-cd4da88d5395", "public_id": "BT-CON-00093", "claim_id": "bac0d24f-79f1-461b-a946-e60c44983554", "version_number": 1, "conclusion_text": "The census reports concern children born to Laura, while the family narrative describes children raised in the household and may include adopted children. Additional household, probate, guardianship, church, and family records are needed.", "status": "under_investigation", "confidence": "medium", "reasoning_summary": "These statements do not necessarily contradict one another and the claim is therefore not marked corrected.", "what_is_known": "The 1900 and 1910 censuses report Laura as the mother of 11 children with nine then living. The family history describes nine biological children and three adopted sons.", "what_is_not_known": "The identities of the individual children, which were born to Laura, and which were raised in the household without being born to her.", "future_research": "Reconstruct the household across all available censuses; search probate, guardianship, church, and cemetery records.", "is_current": true, "published_at": "2026-08-08T16:02:40.933018+00:00", "researchers": { "title": "Founder, Creator & Descendant Archivist", "founder": true, "display_name": "Amberly R. Carter-Mills" } }, "hasConflict": false } ], "traditions": [ { "id": "342c2fdc-3884-4ce3-b90a-99f7e365b57e", "public_id": "BT-TRD-00097", "title": "The eighty-acre place", "tradition_text": "John and Laura acquired approximately eighty acres, with a house, barns, livestock, a blacksmith shop, wells, orchards, pastures, streams, gardens, trees, and poultry.", "earliest_known_teller": "Alma Smith Spearman", "family_branch": "Smith", "first_documented_date": null, "sources": { "id": "01a5ddc4-aefc-4049-a106-6864486c683a", "title": "Bibliographic details pending — family history by Alma Smith Spearman", "creator": "Alma Smith Spearman", "public_id": "BT-SRC-00040", "published": true, "repository": null, "record_form": "authored_narrative", "rights_note": "COMPLETE BIBLIOGRAPHIC CITATION NEEDED. Published family history / descendant-authored narrative. Title, publisher, and publication date have not yet been supplied. A valuable family source; it is not automatically contemporary documentary proof for events predating the author's lifetime.", "source_type": "book", "collection_name": null, "date_created_display": null } }, { "id": "ce43b336-7858-4583-a451-f7ca02e000f3", "public_id": "BT-TRD-00098", "title": "Laura attended \"Vicksburg College\"", "tradition_text": "Laura Tolliver, while yet a student of Vicksburg College, was given in marriage to John Smith, a country farmer.", "earliest_known_teller": "Alma Smith Spearman", "family_branch": "Smith", "first_documented_date": null, "sources": { "id": "01a5ddc4-aefc-4049-a106-6864486c683a", "title": "Bibliographic details pending — family history by Alma Smith Spearman", "creator": "Alma Smith Spearman", "public_id": "BT-SRC-00040", "published": true, "repository": null, "record_form": "authored_narrative", "rights_note": "COMPLETE BIBLIOGRAPHIC CITATION NEEDED. Published family history / descendant-authored narrative. Title, publisher, and publication date have not yet been supplied. A valuable family source; it is not automatically contemporary documentary proof for events predating the author's lifetime.", "source_type": "book", "collection_name": null, "date_created_display": null } }, { "id": "0d88cd8d-f09c-4ddb-86ba-122d988edfe6", "public_id": "BT-TRD-00099", "title": "Bishop C. H. Mason in the Smith home", "tradition_text": "Around 1897 John and Laura Smith welcomed Bishop C. H. Mason into their home, extended an ongoing invitation for him to stay when in the area, their son Joe cared for his horse and buggy, and their oldest grandson Mason Harrison Smith was named for him.", "earliest_known_teller": "Alma Smith Spearman", "family_branch": "Smith", "first_documented_date": null, "sources": { "id": "01a5ddc4-aefc-4049-a106-6864486c683a", "title": "Bibliographic details pending — family history by Alma Smith Spearman", "creator": "Alma Smith Spearman", "public_id": "BT-SRC-00040", "published": true, "repository": null, "record_form": "authored_narrative", "rights_note": "COMPLETE BIBLIOGRAPHIC CITATION NEEDED. Published family history / descendant-authored narrative. Title, publisher, and publication date have not yet been supplied. A valuable family source; it is not automatically contemporary documentary proof for events predating the author's lifetime.", "source_type": "book", "collection_name": null, "date_created_display": null } } ], "observations": [ { "id": "2ea129d1-bd5a-4122-860a-cd09c90349c9", "public_id": "BT-EVD-00052", "evidence_type": "census_entry", "observation": "John Smith appears in the same 1870 household.", "verbatim_excerpt": null, "page_locator": "p. 109 (penned), dwelling 786, family 773", "date_observed": null, "sources": { "id": "3016405e-c9fd-492c-9921-f303cb0eafd3", "url": null, "title": "1870 U.S. Census — Copiah County, Mississippi", "creator": "United States Bureau of the Census", "public_id": "BT-SRC-00036", "published": true, "repository": "FamilySearch", "record_form": "digital_image", "rights_note": "SOURCE CITATION AVAILABLE. ORIGINAL IMAGE VERIFICATION NEEDED — not yet independently reviewed inside BEFORE TILL.", "source_type": "census", "accessed_date": null, "rights_status": null, "collection_name": "U.S. census, Copiah County, Mississippi, population schedule, Townships 9 & 10", "date_created_display": "1870" } }, { "id": "dd857bb6-2796-445f-a34b-96223ccc5d58", "public_id": "BT-EVD-00053", "evidence_type": "census_age", "observation": "John Smith is recorded as approximately age 26 in 1870.", "verbatim_excerpt": null, "page_locator": "p. 109 (penned), dwelling 786, family 773", "date_observed": null, "sources": { "id": "3016405e-c9fd-492c-9921-f303cb0eafd3", "url": null, "title": "1870 U.S. Census — Copiah County, Mississippi", "creator": "United States Bureau of the Census", "public_id": "BT-SRC-00036", "published": true, "repository": "FamilySearch", "record_form": "digital_image", "rights_note": "SOURCE CITATION AVAILABLE. ORIGINAL IMAGE VERIFICATION NEEDED — not yet independently reviewed inside BEFORE TILL.", "source_type": "census", "accessed_date": null, "rights_status": null, "collection_name": "U.S. census, Copiah County, Mississippi, population schedule, Townships 9 & 10", "date_created_display": "1870" } }, { "id": "9e7d4799-26a3-4306-90f2-3cdca381d742", "public_id": "BT-EVD-00057", "evidence_type": "census_age", "observation": "John Smith is recorded as approximately age 36 in 1880.", "verbatim_excerpt": null, "page_locator": "p. 33A (penned), dwelling 288, family 288", "date_observed": null, "sources": { "id": "810b8354-f33b-4214-92fc-a7887b5e5ba1", "url": null, "title": "1880 U.S. Census — Rose Hill, Union County, Kentucky", "creator": "United States Bureau of the Census", "public_id": "BT-SRC-00037", "published": true, "repository": "FamilySearch", "record_form": "digital_image", "rights_note": "SOURCE CITATION AVAILABLE. ORIGINAL IMAGE VERIFICATION NEEDED — not yet independently reviewed inside BEFORE TILL.", "source_type": "census", "accessed_date": null, "rights_status": null, "collection_name": "U.S. census, Union County, Kentucky, population schedule, Rose Hill", "date_created_display": "1880" } }, { "id": "42a6b117-001b-406a-9aa2-c7c91116ea8c", "public_id": "BT-EVD-00060", "evidence_type": "census_birth", "observation": "John Smith is reported born July 1844.", "verbatim_excerpt": null, "page_locator": "p. 7B (penned), dwelling 147, family 150", "date_observed": null, "sources": { "id": "acf3a192-edf0-486a-87f4-3d6f5c783295", "url": null, "title": "1900 U.S. Census — Mount Hope, Copiah County, Mississippi", "creator": "United States Bureau of the Census", "public_id": "BT-SRC-00038", "published": true, "repository": "FamilySearch", "record_form": "digital_image", "rights_note": "SOURCE CITATION AVAILABLE. ORIGINAL IMAGE VERIFICATION NEEDED — not yet independently reviewed inside BEFORE TILL.", "source_type": "census", "accessed_date": null, "rights_status": null, "collection_name": "U.S. census, Copiah County, Mississippi, population schedule, Mount Hope", "date_created_display": "1900" } }, { "id": "ded9ea25-ce89-40fd-a6af-3e93064dabcf", "public_id": "BT-EVD-00065", "evidence_type": "census_property", "observation": "John and Laura are reported as owning their home in 1900.", "verbatim_excerpt": null, "page_locator": "p. 7B (penned), dwelling 147, family 150", "date_observed": null, "sources": { "id": "acf3a192-edf0-486a-87f4-3d6f5c783295", "url": null, "title": "1900 U.S. Census — Mount Hope, Copiah County, Mississippi", "creator": "United States Bureau of the Census", "public_id": "BT-SRC-00038", "published": true, "repository": "FamilySearch", "record_form": "digital_image", "rights_note": "SOURCE CITATION AVAILABLE. ORIGINAL IMAGE VERIFICATION NEEDED — not yet independently reviewed inside BEFORE TILL.", "source_type": "census", "accessed_date": null, "rights_status": null, "collection_name": "U.S. census, Copiah County, Mississippi, population schedule, Mount Hope", "date_created_display": "1900" } }, { "id": "6284ba5c-19d8-435f-822a-96ef88fa864a", "public_id": "BT-EVD-00068", "evidence_type": "census_age", "observation": "John Smith is recorded as approximately age 66 in 1910.", "verbatim_excerpt": null, "page_locator": "p. 5A (penned), dwelling 77, family 77", "date_observed": null, "sources": { "id": "3ad3a8bc-6304-4347-889e-9c04947ca567", "url": null, "title": "1910 U.S. Census — Mayharris, Copiah County, Mississippi", "creator": "United States Bureau of the Census", "public_id": "BT-SRC-00039", "published": true, "repository": "FamilySearch", "record_form": "digital_image", "rights_note": "SOURCE CITATION AVAILABLE. ORIGINAL IMAGE VERIFICATION NEEDED — not yet independently reviewed inside BEFORE TILL.", "source_type": "census", "accessed_date": null, "rights_status": null, "collection_name": "U.S. census, Copiah County, Mississippi, population schedule, Mayharris", "date_created_display": "1910" } }, { "id": "e71565a6-fab6-461b-ad28-22bd0aa2100e", "public_id": "BT-EVD-00073", "evidence_type": "census_property", "observation": "John and Laura are reported as owning their home in 1910.", "verbatim_excerpt": null, "page_locator": "p. 5A (penned), dwelling 77, family 77", "date_observed": null, "sources": { "id": "3ad3a8bc-6304-4347-889e-9c04947ca567", "url": null, "title": "1910 U.S. Census — Mayharris, Copiah County, Mississippi", "creator": "United States Bureau of the Census", "public_id": "BT-SRC-00039", "published": true, "repository": "FamilySearch", "record_form": "digital_image", "rights_note": "SOURCE CITATION AVAILABLE. ORIGINAL IMAGE VERIFICATION NEEDED — not yet independently reviewed inside BEFORE TILL.", "source_type": "census", "accessed_date": null, "rights_status": null, "collection_name": "U.S. census, Copiah County, Mississippi, population schedule, Mayharris", "date_created_display": "1910" } } ], "sources": [ { "id": "3016405e-c9fd-492c-9921-f303cb0eafd3", "public_id": "BT-SRC-00036", "title": "1870 U.S. Census — Copiah County, Mississippi", "creator": "United States Bureau of the Census", "source_type": "census", "record_form": "digital_image", "repository": "FamilySearch", "collection_name": "U.S. census, Copiah County, Mississippi, population schedule, Townships 9 & 10", "date_created_display": "1870", "url": null, "accessed_date": null, "rights_status": null, "rights_note": "SOURCE CITATION AVAILABLE. ORIGINAL IMAGE VERIFICATION NEEDED — not yet independently reviewed inside BEFORE TILL.", "observations": 2 }, { "id": "810b8354-f33b-4214-92fc-a7887b5e5ba1", "public_id": "BT-SRC-00037", "title": "1880 U.S. Census — Rose Hill, Union County, Kentucky", "creator": "United States Bureau of the Census", "source_type": "census", "record_form": "digital_image", "repository": "FamilySearch", "collection_name": "U.S. census, Union County, Kentucky, population schedule, Rose Hill", "date_created_display": "1880", "url": null, "accessed_date": null, "rights_status": null, "rights_note": "SOURCE CITATION AVAILABLE. ORIGINAL IMAGE VERIFICATION NEEDED — not yet independently reviewed inside BEFORE TILL.", "observations": 1 }, { "id": "acf3a192-edf0-486a-87f4-3d6f5c783295", "public_id": "BT-SRC-00038", "title": "1900 U.S. Census — Mount Hope, Copiah County, Mississippi", "creator": "United States Bureau of the Census", "source_type": "census", "record_form": "digital_image", "repository": "FamilySearch", "collection_name": "U.S. census, Copiah County, Mississippi, population schedule, Mount Hope", "date_created_display": "1900", "url": null, "accessed_date": null, "rights_status": null, "rights_note": "SOURCE CITATION AVAILABLE. ORIGINAL IMAGE VERIFICATION NEEDED — not yet independently reviewed inside BEFORE TILL.", "observations": 5 }, { "id": "3ad3a8bc-6304-4347-889e-9c04947ca567", "public_id": "BT-SRC-00039", "title": "1910 U.S. Census — Mayharris, Copiah County, Mississippi", "creator": "United States Bureau of the Census", "source_type": "census", "record_form": "digital_image", "repository": "FamilySearch", "collection_name": "U.S. census, Copiah County, Mississippi, population schedule, Mayharris", "date_created_display": "1910", "url": null, "accessed_date": null, "rights_status": null, "rights_note": "SOURCE CITATION AVAILABLE. ORIGINAL IMAGE VERIFICATION NEEDED — not yet independently reviewed inside BEFORE TILL.", "observations": 5 }, { "id": "01a5ddc4-aefc-4049-a106-6864486c683a", "public_id": "BT-SRC-00040", "title": "Bibliographic details pending — family history by Alma Smith Spearman", "creator": "Alma Smith Spearman", "source_type": "book", "record_form": "authored_narrative", "repository": null, "collection_name": null, "date_created_display": null, "url": null, "accessed_date": null, "rights_status": null, "rights_note": "COMPLETE BIBLIOGRAPHIC CITATION NEEDED. Published family history / descendant-authored narrative. Title, publisher, and publication date have not yet been supplied. A valuable family source; it is not automatically contemporary documentary proof for events predating the author's lifetime.", "observations": 9 } ], "enslavement": [], "notes": [], "actions": [], "events": [ { "role": "head of household", "id": "156eb82d-c19e-476c-81c9-5c4bfa95bdf1", "title": "1880 census: the Smith household at Rose Hill, Union County, Kentucky", "status": "documented", "public_id": "BT-EVT-00100", "published": true, "event_type": "census", "date_display": "1880" }, { "role": "household member", "id": "c350b385-0026-48ea-8db1-91f7dd2799e8", "title": "1870 census: Laura and John Smith in Copiah County, Mississippi", "status": "documented", "public_id": "BT-EVT-00101", "published": true, "event_type": "census", "date_display": "1870" }, { "role": "head of household", "id": "88010c74-fb58-4b83-8cf8-397bc5352e32", "title": "1900 census: the Smith household at Mount Hope, Copiah County, Mississippi", "status": "documented", "public_id": "BT-EVT-00102", "published": true, "event_type": "census", "date_display": "1900" }, { "role": "head of household", "id": "bab72b3d-c5e1-4d36-bbac-f4b21c05bf50", "title": "1910 census: the Smith household at Mayharris, Copiah County, Mississippi", "status": "documented", "public_id": "BT-EVT-00103", "published": true, "event_type": "census", "date_display": "1910" }, { "role": "spouse", "id": "30c3ed29-4d55-45c8-87e0-da4f08c6a414", "title": "Marriage of John Smith and Laura Tolliver", "status": "under_investigation", "public_id": "BT-EVT-00105", "published": true, "event_type": "marriage", "date_display": "about 1869" } ], "generated_at": "2026-08-09T02:45:02.607Z" }