In 1901, Mrs. Pleasant stated her first husband was a Cuban man named, James W Smith (elsewhere James Henry). She indicated he worked in construction and was active of the Underground Railroad and Abolitionist movement. While not seemingly present in the 1840 Federal...
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James W Smith-1st Husband Search (2 of 5)
When looking for James W Smith, it seems most presume his land was in Virginia (eventually West Virginia). It was said his "plantation" was near Harper's Ferry, land given to him by his father's family. However, the location of Harper's Ferry is at the confluence of...
James W Smith Land Holdings -Harper’s Ferry (Virginia and West Virginia) (3 of 5)
Mrs. Pleasant indicated that her first husband had land holdings near Harper's Ferry, now West Virginia. A man similarly named, who died in 1844, is found in West Virginia's Probate Records. However, this man's wife is listed as Elizabeth and their burials are...
James W Smith-1st Husband Land Holdings -Harper’s Ferry (An Intriguing Possibility-Frederick County, MD) (4 of 5)
As noted in Part 1, information about James W Smith has been difficult to find. Some have maintained **he** was the son of a southern land and slave holding governor. The possibility that James was Catholic leads one to consider he may have been from east of Harper’s...
James W Smith-1st Husband-Remains Elusive and Hard to Pinpoint (5 of 5)
In the 1840s in Virginia (and future West Virginia) and Maryland are up to 7 different James Smith (see earlier posts). And as noted in the 3rd posting, one individual in Frederick County, Maryland was a promising lead. In the column of "why" are the following...
Elizabeth Jones Smith Peck (daughter)
Born to James W and M. Ellen Smith in July 1845 was daughter Elizabeth Jones Smith, referred to as "Lizzie". San Francisco articles would cite "Elizabeth J or Lizzie J or sometimes P"..with her differing last names. Some have suggested Lizzie was the daughter of John...
John J Pleasant(s) (2nd husband)
John J Pleasants (the "s" was dropped after arriving in California), second husband to Mary Ellen, stated in the 1850 and 1870 federal census record that he was born in Virginia. William Willmore, son of an employee of MEP's, stated John was born at "Contention" in...
Marriage to John J Pleasant(s) -Location/Date?
Mrs. Pleasant gave a specific year for her marriage to John J. She stated they were married at "Gore Catholic Church in Charlestown" in 1848. There is not now or has there ever been a "Gore Catholic Church" in Charles Town Virginia or Charlestown, Massachusetts, the...
Park Family Tree
The Park family listed North Carolina as their common origin point in census records back to 1850 and in the 1847 Quaker Census of Philadelphia African Americans. Using Census records and newspaper clippings this family tree was created. Names of note are highlighted...
San Francisco Park Family Link to Philly Barley Street? and James W Smith’s family?
Two of Mary's associates in the later part of her life were Rebecca J Howard Boone and Mrs. Jessie Park. There were land transfers of specific properties between them starting in 1880s through 1896. The tainted San Francisco press of the 1890s often noted one of these...