Our Southern Heritage
Descendents of Mary Black
There is much confusion about this family. Any help in sorting out whose children belong to who would be appreciated. Family legend says that a Mary Black and her husband of Edgefield Dist., SC were passing through Butler County, AL. about 1835 enroute to Baldwin County, AL when Mary Ann's husband became sick. He died from his illness and was buried in what came to be known as the West Ebenezer Missionary Baptist Church Cemetery. Today is known simply as Ebenezer West Cemetery. Not wanting to move away from the place where her husband was buried, Mary Black and children remained in Butler County. It has been said that her middle name was Ann, though this has not been positively confirmed.
Mary Ann Black b. 1810, Edgefield District, S.C. m. husband yet to be confirmed d. after 1900, Butler County, AL.
Mary Ann Black is listed among the widowers of Butler County in 1840. In 1850, five children were living at home. [ref 1; 2] She was listed as a farmer in 1870 who lived in Township No. 8 Georgiana. Her real estate property was valued at $500 and her personal property was worth $200 at that time. Living with her in 1870, were three females with the surname of Black: Sarah, age 48; Julia, age 36 and Annie, age 30. Sarah was listed as keeping house. The others were daughters listed as being at home. All were born in South Carolina. [ref 3] Mary Ann Black died ca. 1900-1910. She was said to be buried in the Ebenezer Missionary Baptist Church Cemetery, now known as Ebenezer West Cemetery. Children of Mary Ann Black: 1. James M. Black b. ca. 1820, SC; m. Mary Polly Burkett 2. Sarah Eleanor (Ellen) Black b. 1825, SC; d. 1905, Butler Co., AL 3. Susan Julia Black b. 1827, SC; d. 1903, Butler Co., AL 4, Hugh L. Black b. 1828, SC; m. Elizabeth Riley, d. 11-9-1888, Butler Co., AL 5. Elizabeth Bethana Black b. 1830, SC; d. 1906, Butler Co., AL 6. Lytle S. Black 7. Julia Black b. ca. 1834 8. Annie Black b. ca. 1840
Lytle S. Black b. ca. 1833, South Carolina m. 16 October 1858, Mary Ann Sims, Butler Co., AL. d. 27 March 1910, Ebenezer West Cemetery, Butler Co., AL
Lytle S. Black was the son of Mary Ann Black. He moved to Butler County, Alabama from Edgefield District, South Carolina with his mother and father about 1835. His marriage certificate lists his middle initial as "S". It has always been thought that his middle name was Sherod, but not likely as that was his father- in-laws name. It was more likely Shirl as that was his son's middle name. In the 1870 Butler County census, Lytle was listed as Liler Black. At that time his occupation was listed as a farmer. He lived in Georgiana. Lytle Black died from a stroke. His tombstone indicates that his name was spelled Lytle. [ref 4] Mary Ann Sims was the daughter of Sherod and Margaret Sims. Children of Lytle S. Black and Mary Ann Sims: 1. George Washington (Wash) Black b. 1861; d. 11 Mar 1934, Ebenezer West Cemetery 2. William Shirl Black 3. Frank Black 4. Jackson William Black 5. Lytle L. Cain Black 6. Evie Black 7. Mary Ann Elizabeth Queen Victoria Black b. 12 June 1872; m. John Oxford Gandy; d. 11 March 1953, Escambia County, FL 8. Sallie Black
William Shirl Black b. 12 December 1866 m. 11 March 1891, Minnie Orpha Morrow, Butler Co., AL d. 20 Jul 1939, Morrow Cemetery
William Shirl Black was the son of Lytle S. Black and Mary Ann Sims. He was a farmer. He married Minnie Orpha Morrow. They were married in the home of Miss Morrow's parents. The wedding ceremony was performed by Rev. James L. Stinson. The marriage license list his name as W. S. J. Black. No one knows what the letter J. was in his name. It is possible that it is really a T. as his nickname was Tunnie. William Shirl died at his home from an aneuyism on the brain. Minnie Orpha Morrow was the daughter of Joseph Calvin Morrow and Eliza Ann Theodocia Lee. Children of William Shirl Black and Minnie Orpha Morrow: 1. Lunie Lee Esther Black 2. Ether Mae Black b. 12 May 1898; m. 10 June 1919, John Blackburn; d. 21 October 1921, Providence Cemetery 3. Edith Carmen Black b. 5 Feb 1902; 8 Jan 1920, Chosmer Lowe; d. 23 Jul 1982, Oakwood Cemetery 4. Eria Iona Black b. 4 Sep 1904; m. 4 Jan 1922, Buford Erastus Burkette; d. 6 Oct 1989, Morrow Cemetery 5. Watson Hilburn Black b. 2 Jul 1909; m. 14 Nov 1932, Jane Bell Goodwin; d. 19 Jun 1999, Morrow Cemetery 6. Helen Avis Black b. 28 Oct 1911; m. Sampson Stinson; d. 1996 7. unnamed boy b./d. 10-28-1911, twin to Helen 8. William Theo Black b. 3 May 1914; m Fayth Booker; d. 2001
Lunie Lee Esther Black b. 23 July 1894, Butler Co., AL m. 20 June 1920, John Jason Stinson, Butler Co., AL d. 24 February 1971, Providence Cemetery
Lunie Lee Esther Black was the daughter of William Shirl Black and Minnie Orpha Morrow. She was 5 ft. tall, weight 140 lbs., and had blue eyes and black hair. Esther married John Jason Stinson in the home of her parents. They were married by D. L. Harrison, J.P. Their witness was J. L. Blackburn. Widowed in 1926, she lived alone after her children were grown. Her health began to deteriorate in 1960 after having a stroke at her Georgiana home. After an extensive hospital stay, during which she suffered another stroke, it was determined that she would require constant care. Esther spent the last years of her life in the home of Mr. and Mrs. J. D. Ward. She continued to have strokes until one took her life in 1971. John Jason Stinson was the son of George Leander Stinson and Texanna Smith. Children of Esther and John Stinson: 1. William Forest Stinson 2. Charlie Watson Stinson
Reference: 1. 1840 Federal Census for Butler County, AL 2. 1850 Federal Census for Butler County, AL 3. 1870 Federal Census for Butler County, AL 4. 1870 Federal Census for Butler County, AL
Last updated Aug. 16. 2003
©1997, Mildred Stinson Brown