African American Family History Research: Breaking the 1870 Wall

The Beginning - Ellen Evans Payne/Pain

So, I came across the Slave Narrative...I have been trying to cipher through what was given by her. That is the beauty of it all. I will be breaking down everything that may be of meaning as far as research goes to figure things out. All I know as of now is that she is my maternal Great Grandmother.

“Ellen Payne, 88,” – The narrative was release in 2011, I have not found a death certificate or index for her. Later in the narrative she mentioned that her husband and children were no longer living. Who the informant would have been I am not sure and if they knew anything about her. Informants as we all know give just what they know of the person.

David Payne/Pain's Mother, my Grandfather

Searches are:

Ell*, Ellen Evans, Ellen Pain, Ellen Payne, Ellen Lewis (she mention was her Father’s name, not sure if a slave name and if it changed), Ell* spouse Nelson, Ell* spouse Nelson Pain/Payne, Ell* spouse N Pain/Payne, Ellen spouse Nelson Pain/Payne, Ellen spouse N Pain/Payne, Ellen black child David Pain/Payne, E Pain/Payne, E Evans Pain/Payne slave black spouse Nelson Pain/Payne and all search in Marshall, Texas where she state she was born

“was born a slave of Dr. Evans, pioneer physician of Marshall, Texas, and father-in-law of former Governor Clark.” – I searched slave records using the above searches and was unsuccessful. I also searched for “Dr. Evan’s plantation” and the only thing that came up was a book called “Grass Roots Reconstruction in Texas 1865 – 1880”, by Randolph B. Campbell. I also searched “a list of Marshall, Texas plantations” and was not successful. I suppose that would be a good question to the ask the National Archive center or the Marshall, Texas Public Library.

“She married Nelson Payne when she was twenty-five,” – The 1880 Census shows that she was 28 years of age (1852) and married to Nelson Pain/Payne.

“and they farmed in Marshall for fifty-two years. Since Nelson's death eleven years ago, Ellen has operated the farm herself and has always made a crop. She lives alone on the Port Caddo Road.” – I cannot find a death certificate for either of them.

"My name is Ellen Payne now, but in slave times it was Ellen Evans, and I was born on the old Mauldin place right here at Marshall and belonged to old Dr. Evans. Dr. Evans loans the Bible what had all our ages in it and never got it back, so when he freed us they guessed our ages.” – I tried researching the beginning of the slave narrative project to get kind of get an idea of what age she was. The narrative was released in 2011, she was 88 when they interviewed her. I could take the year minus the 88 years of age, only if I had any idea. This would probably give more clues of her birth. Speaking of birth I emailed the Washington D.C. National Archives Center  requesting assistance for finding her birthdate.

 

“My mistress say I was 'bout sixteen years old when surrender come,” – So, I used the 1880 Census and subtracted 16 years of age and got 1848. I used the above searches and 1848 and was still unsuccessful in finding her birthdate.
“and my daddy and mammy was Isom and Becky Lewis. Mammy come from Tennessee and they was seventeen of us chillen.”  - I did find a “voter’s registration” for "Isom" in Marshall, Texas. Unfortunately, it does not specify the race. Using name variations and dates of birth, I was not successful in finding a census. On a more extended Slave narrative I find that she listed some of her siblings: Caroline, Henry, Calvert, Frances, Alfred, Allen, Lucy, Easter, Mattie, Katie, Adeline and Josephine. I tried searching for sibling and the mother (Becky/Rebecca) to locate and a census and was unsuccessful in doing so. 17 siblings, this makes for a huge family. God knows I would have love to have met each and everyone of them. Because of His Graces and Will, I am able to at research and find as much as possible for my children.

Reminder of the narrative:

"Master Evans lived in a big brick house on the north side of Marshall and run his farm four miles from town, and I stayed on the farm, but come in town some with my mammy to work for Mistress Nancy. The niggers on other farms had to sleep on 'Damn-it-to Hell' beds, but we didn't have that kind. We had good wood beds and hay mattresses with lowell covers. I mostly minded the calves and chickens and turkeys. Master Evans had a overseer but he didn't 'low him to cut and slash his niggers and we didn't have no hard taskmaster. They was 'bout thirty slaves on the farm, but I is the only one livin' now. I loved all my white folks and they was sweet to us. The hands worked from sun to sun and had a task at night. Some spinned or made baskets or chair bottoms or knit socks. Some the young'uns courted and some jest rambled round most all night. On Saturday was the prayer meetin' in one house and a dance in another. On Sunday some went to church and visitin', but not far, 'cause that was in patterroller times.” They was allus plenty to eat and one nigger didn't do nothin' but raise gardens. They hunted coon and possum and rabbits with dogs and the white folks kilt deer and big game like that. My daddy allus had some money, 'cause he made baskets and chair bottoms and sold them, and Master Evans give every slave a patch to work and they could sell it and keep the money. We didn't know nothin' but what went on at the place. Us slaves didn't carry news 'cause they wasn't none to carry and if the white folks want to send news anywhere, they put a boy on a mule to take it. Master Evans had a old woman what tended to us when we was sick, and he give us quinine and calomel and castor oil and boneset tea. That tea was 'nough to kill a mule, but it done us good. Some wore esfidity bags round they necks to keep off sickness. My young mistress married Master Clark and they lived close, and my mammy and me used to spent part the time workin' for her. Master Clark got to be governor 'bout time war started and moved to Austin. I still got the Bible he give me. I 'member the white southern men folks run off to the bottoms to git 'way from war, but I never seed nothin' of the war. When we was freed my old master calls us up and say, 'You is free, and I'm mighty glad, but I'm mighty sad.' We stays on till Christmas, then mammy and me leaves and hires out. I stays workin' with her till I'm twenty-five and then I marries Nelson Payne. My young mistress sends me a blue worsted dress to marry in, and we's married at mammy's house and she give us a nice supper. He was a farmer and we kep' on livin' on the farm fifty-two years, till he died. We loved farm life. I raised four boys but none of them is livin' now. When Nelson died first one then 'nother holps me and I has made a crop every year till now. I'm too old now, but I still raises some corn and peas and garden stuff. They gives me a $15.00 month pension, but I likes to be doin' somethin'. I still shouts at meetin's. I don't have nothin' to do with it. It hits me jes' like a streak of lightning, and there ain't no holdin' it. I goes now to camp meetin's clost to Karnack and tries to 'have, but when I gits the spirit, I jest can't hold that shoutin' back. The young folks makes fun of me, but I don't mind. Style am crowded all the grace out of 'ligion, today."

 

Bernard Wilson - Permer Bernard Payne - Clue#5

 

As I mentioned before, I am waiting on an answer from the Marshall Library regarding when Bernard Wilson changed his name to Permer Bernard Payne (the name he lived and passed away using). I am kind of at a died end until I hear back from either resource (National Dallas Cemetery and Marshall Public Library). It is unfortunate that the U.S. Census listed on ancestry.com does not goes pass 1940. For now I just have to continue researching his un-given name.

 

I did find his military entry and exit on ancestry.com. He entered in as "Bernard Payne". I am curious as to where the name "Permer" came in.

 

Army

 

 

Interesting, he was known to me as my biological Mother's (Brenda/el Lewis) brother. He practically raised me when he was married to Irma Simpson. The two of them never legally adopted me but I have been with Irma since birth. He was in and out of the home until he married Dorothy Robinson Payne. I remember bits and pieces of him taking me to Marshall, Texas and Longview, Texas from time to time in the summer months for very short visits. There was a relative in Marshall, Texas that I remember calling "Aunt Virgie". I can remember being confused about rather to call him "Uncle Blue" as the rest of the children or "Daddy". Kids will be kids, they all teased me in good faith. Those were certainly the good ole'days!

 

 



In search of David Payne/Pain - Clue#2

I was surfing the Internet and came across this site with the core of the "Paynes" and though I had a blast clicking and reading I did not find anything today. I will continue researching and reading this site on my spare time. If you are a "Payne", please click the link below to see what you may discover.

 

Payne

 

 

 

Quick link at the bottom of this Blog



In search of David Payne/Pain - Clue#1

Okay! ...I am kind of excited right about now!! More then you can ever imagine. I love finding pieces of my history. My Mother was born Brendel Lewis the daughter of Carey Lewis and Myrtle Payne, Marshall, Texas. Myrtle Womack (Payne) married David Payne. David Payne is the son of...get this, Nelson Payne and Ellen Evans Payne of Marshall, Texas.

She is mentioned in this book, Slave Narrative:

Freedom of Slavery, purchase on eBook

I learned that their first slave owner was E.B. Clark, a former Governor of Marshall, Texas.

They later were slaves of William F. Evans, and when you read the 'slave narrative' Ellen mentioned that her name was "Ellen Evans during slavery and now it is Ellen Payne".

Is she a doll?!

My Great Grandmother Mrs. Ellen Evans Payne

 

Quick link at the bottom of this Blog