Before TillThe Living Evidence Archive
Derived likeness of Laura Tolliver Smith, restored from the photograph in Alma Smith Spearman's family history: an older woman with a light complexion, hair drawn back, in a high-collared patterned dress.Derived likeness

Digitally restored from the photograph printed in Alma Smith Spearman's family history. It is a derived likeness, not an archival image.

BT-PER-00003

Laura Tolliver Smith

Also recorded as: Laura Tolliver · Laura Taliaferro · Laura Smith · Tolliver · Taliaferro · Smith

Under Investigation· 7 sourcesNo verified portrait

Laura Tolliver Smith was born about 1852 in Copiah County, Mississippi. Surviving post-Civil War records identify her as a formerly enslaved member of the family associated with H. G. D. Brown's Lucky Hit plantation. She later married John Smith and raised a large family. Some details preserved in family history — including a claim that she attended an institution called "Vicksburg College" and the family's relationship with Bishop C. H. Mason — remain subjects of ongoing research.

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

Overview

Born
about 1852
Died
Not yet documented
Archive identifier
BT-PER-00003
Claims attached
7

Life Timeline

  • 1880 census: the Smith household at Rose Hill, Union County, Kentucky

    1880 · Census

  • 1870 census: Laura and John Smith in Copiah County, Mississippi

    1870 · Census

  • 1900 census: the Smith household at Mount Hope, Copiah County, Mississippi

    1900 · Census

  • 1910 census: the Smith household at Mayharris, Copiah County, Mississippi

    1910 · Census

  • Birth of Laura Tolliver

    about 1852 · Birth

  • Marriage of John Smith and Laura Tolliver

    about 1869 · Marriage

  • Laura named in an 1865 Freedmen's Bureau register of former slaves

    1865 · Emancipation

Family

  • SpouseFamily TraditionRecorded in family research. Supporting documentation has not yet been published to the archive.
  • Parent ChildUnder InvestigationParentage is carried in family research and has not yet been established here by documentary evidence.
  • Parent ChildUnder InvestigationParentage is carried in family research and has not yet been established here by documentary evidence.

Documents

  • Freedmens BureauDigital ImageBT-SRC-00035

    Register of Formerly Enslaved People — H. G. D. Brown / Lucky Hit Plantation

    FamilySearch / National Archives and Records Administration

    6 observations drawn from this source

    SOURCE CITATION AVAILABLE. The original image has not yet been independently reviewed inside BEFORE TILL.

  • CensusDigital ImageBT-SRC-00036

    1870 U.S. Census — Copiah County, Mississippi

    FamilySearch

    3 observations drawn from this source

    SOURCE CITATION AVAILABLE. ORIGINAL IMAGE VERIFICATION NEEDED — not yet independently reviewed inside BEFORE TILL.

  • CensusDigital ImageBT-SRC-00037

    1880 U.S. Census — Rose Hill, Union County, Kentucky

    FamilySearch

    3 observations drawn from this source

    SOURCE CITATION AVAILABLE. ORIGINAL IMAGE VERIFICATION NEEDED — not yet independently reviewed inside BEFORE TILL.

  • CensusDigital ImageBT-SRC-00038

    1900 U.S. Census — Mount Hope, Copiah County, Mississippi

    FamilySearch

    6 observations drawn from this source

    SOURCE CITATION AVAILABLE. ORIGINAL IMAGE VERIFICATION NEEDED — not yet independently reviewed inside BEFORE TILL.

  • CensusDigital ImageBT-SRC-00039

    1910 U.S. Census — Mayharris, Copiah County, Mississippi

    FamilySearch

    6 observations drawn from this source

    SOURCE CITATION AVAILABLE. ORIGINAL IMAGE VERIFICATION NEEDED — not yet independently reviewed inside BEFORE TILL.

  • BookAuthored NarrativeBT-SRC-00040

    Bibliographic details pending — family history by Alma Smith Spearman

    7 observations drawn from this source

    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.

  • OtherOtherBT-SRC-00041

    Find a Grave memorial for George Smith (1881-1936), Lincoln Cemetery, Blue Island, Illinois

    Find a Grave

    2 observations drawn from this source

    RESEARCH LEAD / DERIVATIVE SOURCE. User-contributed memorial content. Not treated as proof of parentage or birthplace unless supported by a monument photograph, death certificate, obituary, or burial record.

Observations From the Record

  • The register identifies Laura by name.

    Register of Formerly Enslaved People — H. G. D. Brown / Lucky Hit Plantation · pp. 10-11, image 7 of 81

  • The register records Laura as female.

    Register of Formerly Enslaved People — H. G. D. Brown / Lucky Hit Plantation · pp. 10-11, image 7 of 81

  • The register records Laura as age 12.

    Register of Formerly Enslaved People — H. G. D. Brown / Lucky Hit Plantation · pp. 10-11, image 7 of 81

  • The register describes Laura using the historical color/complexion term "yellow". This is language used by the record-keeper to categorise perceived complexion. It is not a statement of parentage or ancestry.

    yellow

    Register of Formerly Enslaved People — H. G. D. Brown / Lucky Hit Plantation · pp. 10-11, image 7 of 81

  • The register identifies Laura as a field laborer.

    Register of Formerly Enslaved People — H. G. D. Brown / Lucky Hit Plantation · pp. 10-11, image 7 of 81

  • The register identifies Laura as formerly enslaved by H. G. D. Brown.

    Register of Formerly Enslaved People — H. G. D. Brown / Lucky Hit Plantation · pp. 10-11, image 7 of 81

  • Laura Smith appears in the household enumerated as the Lawrence Hines/Hinz household in the 1870 census of Copiah County, Mississippi.

    1870 U.S. Census — Copiah County, Mississippi · p. 109 (penned), dwelling 786, family 773

  • Laura Smith is recorded as approximately age 18 in 1870.

    1870 U.S. Census — Copiah County, Mississippi · p. 109 (penned), dwelling 786, family 773

  • Compiled research reports the 1870 census as indicating that Laura could read but could not write. ORIGINAL IMAGE VERIFICATION NEEDED.

    1870 U.S. Census — Copiah County, Mississippi · p. 109 (penned), dwelling 786, family 773

  • Laura Smith appears in the John Smith household at Rose Hill, Union County, Kentucky, in 1880.

    1880 U.S. Census — Rose Hill, Union County, Kentucky · p. 33A (penned), dwelling 288, family 288

  • Laura Smith is recorded as approximately age 27 in 1880.

    1880 U.S. Census — Rose Hill, Union County, Kentucky · p. 33A (penned), dwelling 288, family 288

  • Compiled research reports the 1880 census as indicating that Laura could read but could not write. ORIGINAL IMAGE VERIFICATION NEEDED.

    1880 U.S. Census — Rose Hill, Union County, Kentucky · p. 33A (penned), dwelling 288, family 288

  • Laura Smith appears in the John Smith household at Mount Hope, Copiah County, Mississippi, in 1900.

    1900 U.S. Census — Mount Hope, Copiah County, Mississippi · p. 7B (penned), dwelling 147, family 150

  • Laura Smith is reported born approximately September 1852.

    1900 U.S. Census — Mount Hope, Copiah County, Mississippi · p. 7B (penned), dwelling 147, family 150

  • John and Laura are reported married approximately 31 years.

    1900 U.S. Census — Mount Hope, Copiah County, Mississippi · p. 7B (penned), dwelling 147, family 150

  • Laura is reported as the mother of 11 children.

    1900 U.S. Census — Mount Hope, Copiah County, Mississippi · p. 7B (penned), dwelling 147, family 150

  • Nine of Laura's children are reported living in 1900.

    1900 U.S. Census — Mount Hope, Copiah County, Mississippi · p. 7B (penned), dwelling 147, family 150

  • Compiled research reports the 1900 census as indicating that Laura could neither read nor write. ORIGINAL IMAGE VERIFICATION NEEDED.

    1900 U.S. Census — Mount Hope, Copiah County, Mississippi · p. 7B (penned), dwelling 147, family 150

  • Laura Smith appears in the John Smith household at Mayharris, Copiah County, Mississippi, in 1910.

    1910 U.S. Census — Mayharris, Copiah County, Mississippi · p. 5A (penned), dwelling 77, family 77

  • Laura Smith is recorded as approximately age 57 in 1910.

    1910 U.S. Census — Mayharris, Copiah County, Mississippi · p. 5A (penned), dwelling 77, family 77

  • John and Laura are reported married approximately 41 years.

    1910 U.S. Census — Mayharris, Copiah County, Mississippi · p. 5A (penned), dwelling 77, family 77

  • Laura is reported as the mother of 11 children in 1910.

    1910 U.S. Census — Mayharris, Copiah County, Mississippi · p. 5A (penned), dwelling 77, family 77

  • Nine of Laura's children are reported living in 1910.

    1910 U.S. Census — Mayharris, Copiah County, Mississippi · p. 5A (penned), dwelling 77, family 77

  • Compiled research reports the 1910 census as indicating that Laura could read but could not write. ORIGINAL IMAGE VERIFICATION NEEDED.

    1910 U.S. Census — Mayharris, Copiah County, Mississippi · p. 5A (penned), dwelling 77, family 77

  • Alma Smith Spearman's published family history states that Laura Tolliver was a student at an institution identified as "Vicksburg College" at the time of her marriage to John Smith. This documents that the family account exists; it does not by itself document attendance.

    Laura Tolliver, while yet a student of Vicksburg College, was given in marriage to John Smith, a country farmer.

    Bibliographic details pending — family history by Alma Smith Spearman

  • Alma Smith Spearman's family history describes John and Laura as raising nine biological children and three adopted sons.

    Bibliographic details pending — family history by Alma Smith Spearman

  • 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.

    Bibliographic details pending — family history by Alma Smith Spearman

  • 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.

    Bibliographic details pending — family history by Alma Smith Spearman

  • Alma Smith Spearman's family history reports that the Smiths' son Joe Smith cared for Bishop Mason's horse and buggy.

    Bibliographic details pending — family history by Alma Smith Spearman

  • Alma Smith Spearman's family history reports that the Smiths' oldest grandson, Mason Harrison Smith, was named for Bishop Mason.

    Bibliographic details pending — family history by Alma Smith Spearman

  • 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.

    Bibliographic details pending — family history by Alma Smith Spearman

  • A Find a Grave memorial (ID 92711754) for George Smith, 21 April 1881 - 3 March 1936, Lincoln Cemetery, Blue Island, Cook County, Illinois, reportedly identifies his mother as Laura Taliaferro. Derivative, user-contributed content; treated as a research lead.

    Find a Grave memorial for George Smith (1881-1936), Lincoln Cemetery, Blue Island, Illinois

  • The same Find a Grave memorial reportedly gives Laura's birthplace as Hazlehurst, Copiah County, Mississippi. Not yet corroborated by an original or near-original record inside BEFORE TILL.

    Find a Grave memorial for George Smith (1881-1936), Lincoln Cemetery, Blue Island, Illinois

Enslavement Record

  • Documented

    Enslaved by H. G. D. Brown · Lucky Hit plantation

    Named entry in an 1865-era Freedmen's Bureau register of former slaves.

    Start date unknown. End date not recorded as a specific day; emancipation context is 1865.

    Read the claim and its evidence

Evidence

Unresolved Questions

  • Did Laura Tolliver attend "Vicksburg College"?
  • Did John and Laura Smith own an approximately 80-acre farm?
  • Did Laura and John Smith provide hospitality and support to Bishop C. H. Mason around 1897?
  • How many children did John and Laura Smith raise?
  • What do census records indicate about Laura Tolliver Smith's literacy?

Amberly's Notes

From the research notebook ofAmberly R. Carter-Mills— Founder, Creator & Descendant Archivist