Enslavement to
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  An African American woman in circa 1930s attire sits at a desk typing a letter on an old mechanical typewriter.

 

 

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2006 Mail

Possible Native American Heritage

From David Burnette, April 8, 2006

A lot of American Indians were documented as mulattos and even black throughout Franklin County.  My family has a very strong mixed heritage.  Most of the blacks in my family either have very fair skin and long straight hair, or they simply do not look black at all.  Fortunately for my family, we have many old photographs dating from the 1870's to the early 1900's.  It is very apparent that there were many American Indians in our family.  Unfortunately the Native American history of Franklin County is all but lost, and the remnants of tribes in the area have not been traceable. Most married into black or white families. It is not understood why census takers in that part of the state did not recognize Native Americans, often marking them as black or mulatto.  I also have a lot of proof that many of these people were not counted at all.

My great-great-grandfather, Jack Himes ( born 1841), is not listed in many census records.  He married a woman of Irish descent:  Margaret ( born 1844).  All of their children--Amanda Himes-Cuff, 1887-1969, Mary Himes-Bailey, 1889-1983, Annie Himes, Ida Himes-Barber,  Lizzie Himes-McCullough, and Lewis Himes, 1894-1918--were all listed as mulattos. Most of them went on to marry into black families because of their racial status, although they didn't appear to be black at all. The Afro-American American Legion in Mercersburg (Lewis Himes Post) is named after my great-great uncle, who, even if you were to look at a picture of him, is definitely of mixed heritage (Anglo/ Native American). But the Post that is named after him is the "colored" American Legion.

The surname Himes has been somewhat of a mystery to people doing research on families in the Mercersburg area. There were blacks who's surname was spelled "Imes," and others spelled as "Hymes."  These were different families. The Hime surname was not a common one in that area, but we were were able to trace Jack Himes to a woman named Catherine Himes ( b1790-death unknown). She was listed [in the census] as the head of household for many years. There was another Catherine in the same household who was born around 1830. It is not altogether clear if this date is accurate, nor is it clear if the elder Catherine was jack's mother or grandmother. Jack had another brother, David Himes, but we have found no trace of any other information regarding him. Jack is supposedly buried with his wife in Zion Union Cemetery in an unmarked plot with four corner stones with the letter "H."

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