BEFORE TILL archival sealBefore TillThe Living Evidence Archive

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The Living Lineage

A map of evidence for family relationships only. Every relationship shown here carries the status of the proof behind it, and every gap in the record is drawn rather than hidden. Enslavers, estate holders and other historical figures are never placed in this lineage — they are documented separately in the Historical Network.

Research & Interpretation byAmberly R. Carter-Mills— Founder, Creator & Descendant Archivist

Looking for enslavers, estate holders or associated households? View the Historical Network.

spouse — Family Tradition: Recorded in family research. Supporting documentation has not yet been published to the archive.parent child — Under Investigation: Parentage is carried in family research and has not yet been established here by documentary evidence.parent child — Under Investigation: Parentage is carried in family research and has not yet been established here by documentary evidence.parent child — Documented: Recorded as a son, age 8, in the John Smith household in the 1880 federal census — Rose Hill Precinct, Copiah County, Mississippi, dwelling 288, family 288.parent child — Under Investigation: This relationship is stated in widely published accounts. BEFORE TILL has not yet examined an original record for it, so it is held as under verification rather than documented.parent child — Under Investigation: This relationship is stated in widely published accounts. It is entered here as a derivative statement pending an original record examined by this archive.parent child — Family Tradition: The family history names Amanda Smith among the children of John and Laura Smith. No census line, birth record or death record naming both parents has yet been transcribed into this archive.parent child — Family Tradition: The family history names Amanda Smith among the children of John and Laura Smith. No census line, birth record or death record naming both parents has yet been transcribed into this archive.parent child — Under Investigation: Family knowledge places Kermit Gordon as a child of Amanda Smith. No contemporary record has been entered, so the generation is carried as under verification.parent child — Under Investigation: Family knowledge places a private living descendant as a child of Kermit Gordon. No contemporary record has been entered into the archive.parent child — Family Tradition: Direct family knowledge of a living descendant. Any vital record supporting this link is held in restricted storage; only a redacted public derivative may ever be displayed.spouse — Family Tradition: Married in 1986 according to founder testimony; the marriage later ended in divorce. No marriage or divorce record has been obtained.adoptive parent child — Family Tradition: Michael Carter adopted Amberly R. Carter-Mills at the age of one, according to founder testimony. The adoption decree has not been entered; any original vital or court record for a living person is held in restricted storage.parent child — Documented: Recorded from the 1870 census household: Monroe is entered on the line beneath John and Laura, within the same family number, as an infant born within the year.parent child — Documented: Recorded from the 1870 census household: Monroe is entered on the line beneath John and Laura, within the same family number, as an infant born within the year.spouse — Corroborated: Married June 1870, recorded on both of their lines in the 1870 census of Copiah County as married within the year. The household is then carried forward in the censuses of 1880, 1900 and 1910 and in the Alma Smith Spearman family history.parent child — Documented: Recorded as a son in the same household in the 1880 federal census, Rose Hill Precinct, Copiah County, Mississippi.parent child — Documented: Recorded as a son in the same household in the 1880 federal census, Rose Hill Precinct, Copiah County, Mississippi.parent child — Documented: Recorded as a son in the same household in the 1880 federal census, Rose Hill Precinct, Copiah County, Mississippi.parent child — Documented: Recorded as a son in the same household in the 1880 federal census, Rose Hill Precinct, Copiah County, Mississippi.parent child — Documented: Recorded as a son, age 8, in the John Smith household in the 1880 federal census — Rose Hill Precinct, Copiah County, Mississippi, dwelling 288, family 288.parent child — Documented: Recorded in the 1880 U.S. census of Copiah County, Mississippi, Rose Hill Precinct, p. 24, dwelling 213: the child is entered as son or daughter of the head of household.parent child — Documented: Recorded in the 1880 U.S. census of Copiah County, Mississippi, Rose Hill Precinct, p. 24, dwelling 213: the child is entered as son or daughter of the head of household.parent child — Documented: Recorded in the 1880 U.S. census of Copiah County, Mississippi, Rose Hill Precinct, p. 24, dwelling 213: the child is entered as son or daughter of the head of household.parent child — Documented: Recorded in the 1880 U.S. census of Copiah County, Mississippi, Rose Hill Precinct, p. 24, dwelling 213: the child is entered as son or daughter of the head of household.parent child — Documented: Recorded in the 1880 U.S. census of Copiah County, Mississippi, Rose Hill Precinct, p. 24, dwelling 213: the child is entered as son or daughter of the head of household.parent child — Documented: Recorded in the 1880 U.S. census of Copiah County, Mississippi, Rose Hill Precinct, p. 24, dwelling 213: the child is entered as son or daughter of the head of household.parent child — Documented: Recorded in the 1880 U.S. census of Copiah County, Mississippi, Rose Hill Precinct, p. 24, dwelling 213: the child is entered as son or daughter of the head of household.parent child — Documented: Recorded in the 1880 U.S. census of Copiah County, Mississippi, Rose Hill Precinct, p. 24, dwelling 213: the child is entered as son or daughter of the head of household.parent child — Documented: Recorded in the 1880 U.S. census of Copiah County, Mississippi, Rose Hill Precinct, p. 24, dwelling 213: the child is entered as son or daughter of the head of household.parent child — Documented: Recorded in the 1880 U.S. census of Copiah County, Mississippi, Rose Hill Precinct, p. 24, dwelling 213: the child is entered as son or daughter of the head of household.other — Documented: Recorded in the 1880 U.S. census of Copiah County, Mississippi, Rose Hill Precinct, p. 24, dwelling 213: entered as grandson of the head of household. The page does not name the child's parent, so no intervening parent-child link is asserted.other — Documented: Recorded in the 1880 U.S. census of Copiah County, Mississippi, Rose Hill Precinct, p. 24, dwelling 213: entered as grandson of the head of household. The page does not name the child's parent, so no intervening parent-child link is asserted.other — Documented: Recorded in the 1880 U.S. census of Copiah County, Mississippi, Rose Hill Precinct, p. 24, dwelling 213: entered as grandson of the head of household. The page does not name the child's parent, so no intervening parent-child link is asserted.other — Documented: Recorded in the 1880 U.S. census of Copiah County, Mississippi, Rose Hill Precinct, p. 24, dwelling 213: entered as grandson of the head of household. The page does not name the child's parent, so no intervening parent-child link is asserted.parent child — Documented: Entered as a daughter of the head of household in the 1910 U.S. census, Mayharris, Copiah County, Mississippi, ED 53, sheet 5A, dwelling 77.parent child — Documented: Entered as a daughter in the household headed by John Smith with Laura as wife, 1910 census, dwelling 77.adoptive parent child — Documented: Entered as "adopted son" of the head of household in the 1910 census, dwelling 77. The page states the adoptive relationship only; no birth parent is named.adoptive parent child — Documented: Entered as "adopted son" in the household headed by John Smith with Laura as wife, 1910 census, dwelling 77.other — Documented: Entered as grandson of the head of household in the 1910 census, dwelling 77. The page does not name the child's parent, so no intervening parent-child link is asserted.other — Documented: Entered as grandson in the household headed by John Smith with Laura as wife, 1910 census, dwelling 77. No intervening parent is named.spouse — Documented: Entered as head and wife at dwelling 78 in the 1910 census, both reported married within the year.parent child — Under Investigation: John H. Smith heads the next dwelling on the same page, with the same surname and a plausible age. The page states no relationship between the two households, and none is asserted here.other — Documented: Entered as "nephew" of the head of household in the 1910 census, dwelling 77. Which sibling of John or Laura was his parent is not stated on the page and is not asserted here.spouse — Documented: Recorded as George Smith's spouse on his 1936 Illinois death record. No marriage record has been examined.parent child — Under Investigation: Listed as a child of George Smith on Find a Grave memorial 92711754, maintained by contributor AR Jackson, accessed 14 October 2021. A contributor-maintained memorial is not a record of birth; no independent source has yet been examined for this link.parent child — Under Investigation: Listed as a child of George Smith on Find a Grave memorial 92711754, maintained by contributor AR Jackson, accessed 14 October 2021. A contributor-maintained memorial is not a record of birth; no independent source has yet been examined for this link.parent child — Under Investigation: Listed as a child of George Smith on Find a Grave memorial 92711754, maintained by contributor AR Jackson, accessed 14 October 2021. A contributor-maintained memorial is not a record of birth; no independent source has yet been examined for this link.parent child — Under Investigation: Listed as a child of George Smith on Find a Grave memorial 92711754, maintained by contributor AR Jackson, accessed 14 October 2021. A contributor-maintained memorial is not a record of birth; no independent source has yet been examined for this link.parent child — Under Investigation: Listed as a child of George Smith on Find a Grave memorial 92711754, maintained by contributor AR Jackson, accessed 14 October 2021. A contributor-maintained memorial is not a record of birth; no independent source has yet been examined for this link.parent child — Under Investigation: Listed as a child of George Smith on Find a Grave memorial 92711754, maintained by contributor AR Jackson, accessed 14 October 2021. A contributor-maintained memorial is not a record of birth; no independent source has yet been examined for this link.parent child — Under Investigation: Listed as a child of George Smith on Find a Grave memorial 92711754, maintained by contributor AR Jackson, accessed 14 October 2021. A contributor-maintained memorial is not a record of birth; no independent source has yet been examined for this link.parent child — Under Investigation: Family knowledge places Alma Carthan as a daughter of George Smith, and Find a Grave memorial 92711754 lists Alma Smith Spearman (1902-1981) among his children. A contributor-maintained memorial is not an independent record, so this generation link remains under verification.UNKNOWNUNKNOWNAlmaabout 1902 (memorial) – about 1981 (memorial)AmandaDATES NOT YET DOCUMENTEDAmberlyMay 23, 1985 – ?Bettieabout 1837 – ?Caryabout 1911 – about 1982Claraabout 1878 – about 1949Crosbyabout 1908 – ?Elizabethabout 1900 – about 1970Ellaabout 1895 – ?Elsieabout 1894 – ?Emmaabout 1877 – ?Emmett25 July 1941 – 28 August 1955Frankabout 1900 – ?Georgeabout 1907 – about 1968George21 April 1881 (death record) or about 1872 (1880 census) - conflicting – 3 March 1936Greenabout 1876 – ?Henryabout 1865 – ?Hilliardabout 1823 – about 1900Hilliardabout 1872 – ?Hiramabout 1872 – ?Hoseaabout 1906 – about 1966Joeabout 1894 – ?Joeabout 1879 – ?Johnabout 1886 – ?JohnDATES NOT YET DOCUMENTEDJosephabout 1868 – ?KermitDATES NOT YET DOCUMENTEDLauraabout 1852 – ?Leonabout 1874 – ?MagnoliaApril 25, 1956 – ?Mamie23 November 1921 – 6 January 2003Mamieabout 1900 – about 1967PrivateDATES NOT YET DOCUMENTEDMonroeabout May 1870 – ?Rubinabout 1918 – about 1996Sallieabout 1874 – ?Studgeabout 1913 – about 1989

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  • Documented relationship
  • Not yet established
  • Identity under investigation
Read the lineage as a list

People

Relationships

  • Hilliard Taliaferro / Tolliver — spouse — Bettie Alexander Taliaferro / Tolliver — Family Tradition
  • Hilliard Taliaferro / Tolliver — parent child — Laura Tolliver Smith — Under Investigation
  • Bettie Alexander Taliaferro / Tolliver — parent child — Laura Tolliver Smith — Under Investigation
  • John Smith — parent child — George Smith — Documented
  • Alma Smith Carthan Spearman — parent child — Mamie Elizabeth Carthan Till-Mobley — Under Investigation
  • Mamie Elizabeth Carthan Till-Mobley — parent child — Emmett Louis Till — Under Investigation
  • John Smith — parent child — Amanda Smith — Family Tradition
  • Laura Tolliver Smith — parent child — Amanda Smith — Family Tradition
  • Amanda Smith — parent child — Kermit Gordon — Under Investigation
  • Kermit Gordon — parent child — Magnolia "Maggie" Carter — Under Investigation
  • Magnolia "Maggie" Carter — parent child — Amberly R. Carter-Mills — Family Tradition
  • Magnolia "Maggie" Carter — spouse — Private descendant — Family Tradition
  • Private descendant — adoptive parent child — Amberly R. Carter-Mills — Family Tradition
  • John Smith — parent child — Monroe Smith — Documented
  • Laura Tolliver Smith — parent child — Monroe Smith — Documented
  • Laura Tolliver Smith — spouse — John Smith — Corroborated
  • Laura Tolliver Smith — parent child — Green Smith — Documented
  • Laura Tolliver Smith — parent child — Joe Smith — Documented
  • John Smith — parent child — Green Smith — Documented
  • John Smith — parent child — Joe Smith — Documented
  • Laura Tolliver Smith — parent child — George Smith — Documented
  • Hilliard Taliaferro / Tolliver — parent child — Henry Taliaferro / Tolliver — Documented
  • Bettie Alexander Taliaferro / Tolliver — parent child — Henry Taliaferro / Tolliver — Documented
  • Hilliard Taliaferro / Tolliver — parent child — Joseph E. Taliaferro / Tolliver — Documented
  • Bettie Alexander Taliaferro / Tolliver — parent child — Joseph E. Taliaferro / Tolliver — Documented
  • Hilliard Taliaferro / Tolliver — parent child — Hiram Taliaferro / Tolliver — Documented
  • Bettie Alexander Taliaferro / Tolliver — parent child — Hiram Taliaferro / Tolliver — Documented
  • Hilliard Taliaferro / Tolliver — parent child — Sallie Taliaferro / Tolliver — Documented
  • Bettie Alexander Taliaferro / Tolliver — parent child — Sallie Taliaferro / Tolliver — Documented
  • Hilliard Taliaferro / Tolliver — parent child — Emma Taliaferro / Tolliver — Documented
  • Bettie Alexander Taliaferro / Tolliver — parent child — Emma Taliaferro / Tolliver — Documented
  • Hilliard Taliaferro / Tolliver — other — Hilliard Taliaferro Jr. — Documented
  • Bettie Alexander Taliaferro / Tolliver — other — Hilliard Taliaferro Jr. — Documented
  • Hilliard Taliaferro / Tolliver — other — Leon M. Taliaferro — Documented
  • Bettie Alexander Taliaferro / Tolliver — other — Leon M. Taliaferro — Documented
  • John Smith — parent child — Ella Smith — Documented
  • Laura Tolliver Smith — parent child — Ella Smith — Documented
  • John Smith — adoptive parent child — Frank Smith — Documented
  • Laura Tolliver Smith — adoptive parent child — Frank Smith — Documented
  • John Smith — other — Crosby Smith — Documented
  • Laura Tolliver Smith — other — Crosby Smith — Documented
  • John H. Smith — spouse — Elsie Smith — Documented
  • John Smith — parent child — John H. Smith — Under Investigation
  • John Smith — other — Joe E. Taliaferro — Documented
  • George Smith — spouse — Clara Chess Smith — Documented
  • George Smith — parent child — Elizabeth Smith Wright — Under Investigation
  • George Smith — parent child — Mamie J. Smith Hall — Under Investigation
  • George Smith — parent child — Hosea Smith — Under Investigation
  • George Smith — parent child — George P. Smith — Under Investigation
  • George Smith — parent child — Cary P. Smith — Under Investigation
  • George Smith — parent child — Studge G. Smith — Under Investigation
  • George Smith — parent child — Rubin Smith — Under Investigation
  • George Smith — parent child — Alma Smith Carthan Spearman — Under Investigation

Background

The world these families lived in

Historical context

Context explains why a record reads the way it does. It is never evidence about this family, and it can never change the status of a claim.

Reconstruction and its collapse

Copiah County, Mississippi, 1865-1890

For a few years after the war Black men in Mississippi voted, held office and served on juries, and Black families bought land, built churches and opened schools. Copiah County was part of that. It was also part of what followed: the campaign of violence and fraud that ended Reconstruction in Mississippi in 1875, and the 1890 state constitution that stripped Black voters from the rolls for the next three generations.

The records thin out in exactly this period, and that thinning is itself historical. Fewer named entries does not mean fewer lives.

General background — not cited

Widely accepted historical background, recorded here without a single citation. It explains the record. It proves nothing about this family.

BT-CTX-00586

The Great Migration to Chicago

1916-1970

Roughly six million Black Americans left the South between 1916 and 1970. Mississippi sent its people north along the Illinois Central line, and Chicago was the end of that track. Families moved in chains: one person went, found work and a room, and sent for the next.

That is why a family documented in Copiah County in one census can appear on the South Side of Chicago in the next, and why an Illinois death certificate can be the record that finally names a Mississippi-born parent.

General background — not cited

Widely accepted historical background, recorded here without a single citation. It explains the record. It proves nothing about this family.

BT-CTX-00587

How researchers read this

Reasoning, not proof. Each note gives the usual reading of the evidence and then the reading that would overturn it.

Why a family vanishes from one county and reappears in another

Is a gap in the record a gap in the family?

The usual reading

People fall out of the paper for ordinary reasons: a census taker missed a household, a courthouse burned, a name was indexed under a spelling no one has searched, a family moved between enumerations, or the record that would have named them was never made for Black families in that county at that time.

The 1890 federal census was almost entirely destroyed by fire and water damage, which alone removes a whole decade of household detail for every family in this study.

What would overturn it

A gap can also be a real break: a death, a separation, a household that dissolved. Silence must not be filled in with the story that is easiest to tell.

Where this archive cannot follow a person, it says so and leaves the years marked as silent rather than bridging them with a guess.

Would settle it: City directories, church and cemetery records, land and tax rolls, state censuses, and death certificates from the destination state that name a birthplace and parents.

General background — not cited

Widely accepted historical background, recorded here without a single citation. It explains the record. It proves nothing about this family.

BT-RSN-00594