Maryland/Virginia Records

[ocian_c]

Hey people I just wanted some advice about how much I can find online like birth, marriage and death records for black people?

Thank you

[*Sandra*]

Shouldn't be a problem.  Familysearch has lots of records available.  Its free once you register/

https://www.familysearch.org/en/

Always someone available to help if you reach a brick wall.

Sandra

[ocian_c]

Aw thanks for your offer!  I am trying to help a cousin of mine, whose paternal family are black.  Her father married a white lady and was estranged from his family because of this.

John Bush b. Virginia 1890 married to Priscilla b. Maryland 1891

Found them both in 1930 & 1940 Census in Baltimore but can't seem to find anything else.  In 1930 two kids Robert and Liza seem to be step-children but in 1940 are using the step-fathers surname.

[oldohiohome]

Could you post a link to the 1940 information, if you have it? If not, who was still in the household, did the ages match the 1930 census, etc. They must have been at or near the same location

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here is 1930 to make it easier for the others on this thread:
1930 Baltimore, Ward 15, renting at 1421 Mount Street
John, married 1st at 30, born in Virginia, parents also, laborer, coal yard, not a veteran
Priscilla, married 1st at 29, born in MD, parents also, laundress, private home
Claudie Bush, 4
John Bush, 9
Loretta Bush, 7
Liza Dorsey, 13, stepdaughter
Robert Dorsey, 11, stepson

all children born in Maryland

https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:X3WG-4SY

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1922 Baltimore City Directory
not listed, but there were people with *

1923 Baltimore City Directory
John* (Pricilla) Bush, driver, householder at 1421 n Mount

1924 Baltimore City Directory
John (Priscilla) Bush, laborer, householder at 1421 n Mount

[I am presuming that the asterisk (*) meant they were black, but I couldn't find it in the abbreviations in the front of the City Directory]

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birth date for son and Priscilla is still alive and on N Mount
WWII young man's draft registration
John Dennis Bush, born 23 July 1921, Baltimore MD
living at 1133 N Mount St
contact: Priscilla Bush, same address
race: Negro, brown eyes, black hair, 5'10", 150 lbs, mark on right side of body from operation

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Social Security Applications and Claims Index
Priscilla Bush
female, black, born 19 July 1895, Annapolis, MD
father: Clem Dorsey
mother: Betty Owen
Signature on SSN Card: M Kenchick
Relationship of Signature: Signature name differs from NH’s name.
Notes: Jan 1942: Name listed as PRISCILLA BUSH

[I don't know what the information about the signature means, I have never seen it before. Maybe she couldn't write and had someone sign it for her? I have no idea.]

Did she die in Jan 1942, or was that the date that  she was applying for a Social Security card?

[oldohiohome]

1900 Census, Election District 6, Annapolis MD
18 Market Street
Clem Dorsey, 38, born Nov 1861, married 21 years, coachman
Lizzie B Dorsey, 37, born May 1863, married 21 years, 10 children, 8 alive, cook
Lizzie, 17, May 1883, waiting
Pricilla, 14, July 1885, attended school
James, 13, ? 1886, driver
Clem, 8, July 1891, farm hand
Lilia, 7, May 1893, attended school
Phillip, 4, July 1895
Else, 2, July 1897,
Nancy, 9 months, ? 1899
Margaret Jillin, 17, boarder, born Jun 1882, servant,

all black, all born in Maryland with parents also born in Maryland

https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:M3KM-8T1

[oldohiohome]

If this is her brother Clem's WWI Draft Reg., then in 1917/1918 he was the sole support of his father, mother, and a 9 yr old sister

https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:KZFP-GF9

[oldohiohome]

someone has done the Dorsey family on ancestry.com. It would be well worth your while to sign up for a few months.

Tree for Clem Dorsey
https://www.ancestry.com/family-tree/person/tree/83510687/person/332157497753/facts

The owner is a Dorsey who is way into genealogy, from what I can tell. Signed in today, and likely to be helpful.

It would take me weeks to copy all of it over to here for you.

PS  - someone told me if your library has a subscription for library use only, then you can access ancestry.com from home until Apr 1930, coronavirus situation. Might be US only, I don't know.

[oldohiohome]

I take back some of the praise for the tree on ancestry. Clem's parents were William and Elizabeth, but it looks like the tree has 2 possibilities for William Dorsey in 1860.
Anyway, if you get a chance you should really take a look at it.
Maybe tomorrow or over the weekend I will sort it out for myself.

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also, research references you can look at:
Tony Burroughs' book, Black Roots

this lady's website:
https://www.reclaimingkin.com/

edited to add:
The first step is to interview any older family members and see what they were told about the family history. You said the parent was estranged from his family, but maybe there are a few who would be willing to talk to the next generation, since some time has past.

[shellyesq]

[I don't know what the information about the signature means, I have never seen it before. Maybe she couldn't write and had someone sign it for her? I have no idea.]

Did she die in Jan 1942, or was that the date that  she was applying for a Social Security card?

I think the signature could be a number of things, including not being able to write or just having written the name differently than the name on the card, such as adding a middle name. 

The January 1942 date could be connected to when she applied for the Social Security number or applied for other benefits or another date.  Her number fits with ones that were issued in Maryland between 1936-1950, so it's probably the original application date.