Women Legally Voted in Revolutionary Era

Writer/Poet Hannah Griffitts 1727-1817, reprint, and image: a3Genealogy

Revolutionary Era Female Ancestors Voted

Suffrage, the right to vote in political elections, is a term people use, but not sure what it means or how it applies to our ancestors. Suffragists” during the woman suffrage movement were"anyone—male or female—who supported extending the right to vote (suffrage) to women." Read: National Archive Pieces of History- What is Suffrage?

We often go straight to the 1865 petition to explain it. But, women voted before 1865.

Petition for an amendment of the Constitution:
Prohibits the states from disfranchising any of citizens on the basis of sex, 1865.
(National Archives Identifier 306684)

Many are unaware that during the Revolutionary Era America women legally voted. One hundred and sixty-three (163) women, four of them free Black women, voted in New Jersey between 1800-1807 following the Revolutionary War. So when I tell you the relationship of suffrage as it applies to women has always been an on again- off-again topic; it really has. 

The Myth: Women couldn’t vote before the 19th Amendment

For a more in-depth exploration of this topic, visit the Museum of the American Revolution's virtual exhibit: When Women Lost the Vote: A Revolutionary Story.

Married and Loss of Freedom: Not This Again!

American Revolutionary Museum 

Abigal Adams, wife of John Adams stated: Do not put such unlimited power into the hands of the husbands. Remember all men would be tyrants if they could.” You must know Abigal, wife of John Adams. She opposed slavery and supported women's education. Read more about the correspondence between this power couple here: National Women's History Museum.

And, she was right. When they tried to remove women's rights due to marital status women rethought marriage as seen earlier in the poetry of Hannah Griffitts. 

 In early United States, the right to vote was a privilege largely reserved for property-owning white men. However, during the Revolutionary era from 1776 to 1807, the NJ state's constitution granted voting rights to "all inhabitants" who met certain property requirements. This phrasing inadvertently enfranchised women and free people of color. This progressive stance made New Jersey the first state to explicitly include women in the electorate. Read more: The American Revolution Museum.

Electoral Fraud: We've Seen This Before!
The concern of electoral fraud is almost always used to disenfranchise women and people of color for political gain.

 In 1807, facing political pressure and claims of electoral fraud, New Jersey's legislature revised the voting laws, restricting suffrage to tax-paying, white male citizens. This change effectively disenfranchised women and free people of color, rescinding the rights they had briefly held.

The loss of voting rights in New Jersey reflected a broader national trend of limiting suffrage. In the early 19th century, as states drafted new constitutions, many explicitly restricted voting to white men, erasing the gains made by women and minorities during the Revolutionary period. It wasn't until the mid-19th century that the movement for women's suffrage began to regain momentum. 

Our Ancestors Left a Roadmap
The Seneca Falls Convention of 1848 marked a pivotal moment, where activists like Elizabeth Cady Stanton and Lucretia Mott formally demanded equal political rights for women, including the right to vote. Read more: American Bar Association

The struggle for women's suffrage continued for decades, facing numerous challenges and opposition. It wasn't until the early 20th century that the movement saw significant progress. The tireless efforts of suffragists culminated in the passage of the 19th Amendment to the U.S. Constitution in 1920, which prohibited states from denying the right to vote on the basis of sex. This monumental achievement restored voting rights to women nationwide, more than a century after they had been rescinded in places like New Jersey. Learn more here: National Archives: Woman Suffrage and the 19th Amendment. 

If we don't learn from history, there will be another opportunity to get it right. No one is surprised, we now get to crawl through the Save Act, bill, H.R. 22, the “Safeguard American Voter Eligibility Act” (SAVE Act). 

As many as 69 million American women lack access to valid birth certificates. Estimated number of female citizens ages 15 and older in each state whose names do not match their birth certificate due to last name change or hyphenation upon marriage I just wonder what outcome is expected for them.

CAP, Image and Article, 69 million American women

Wonder how it will affect married women citizens and name changes due to marital status. We will learn since this trend of suppressing the woman's vote started in 2024. It's no surprise women who have legally changed their names are part of the intended victim package on this bill. It's always intentional.

Kathleen Brandt
a3genealogy@gmail.com

Early Paternity Suits Explain Surname Conflicts?

 

Waiting for Court Date

When the Court Determines the Father, 1800's

Let's take a look at how our ancestors determined paternity using this 1807 Bedford, VA Chancery Court case of  David Thompson and  Hannah Ayers. This kind of case can explain why your y-DNA results failed you. We don't know to which surname a baby may be assigned. The baby could have been later adopted the surname of a step-father. But know that the baby's surname was not the purpose of the paternity suit. It's all about the financial burden that a baby out of wedlock can put on the community. Someone has to pay for its staples.

The Reason for the Paternity Suit
Paternity court records voided the need for romance and mystery novels in the 1800's. Court records told us all of their little secrets, their dalliances, their fights, their finances, and the financial burden that a "bastard" child put on a community? Hold on to your pearls, because the truth can be shocking!

Unmarried mother Hannah Ayers needed the child's biological father to pay for his support or the community to help. That's what they did back in (1807 -1808 Virginia and all of the states and territories!). The community fund from the townsmen or parish had a budget for the poor. The funding had to be approved, usually by a court order.

In this case, Hannah confessed that she could not afford her ill-gotten 'bastard' child." Her assertion was his biological father or the Parish feed and clothe him until he would be old enough to fend for himself (seemingly age seven (7). 

"...she the said Hannah Ayers was delivered of a male bastard child, and the said Bastard child is
likely to become chargeable, to the said County and that David Thompson, of the said County did get
her with of the said Bastard child."

Nothing gets the courts and community to become more proactive than allocating money for a child born out of wedlock. So the practice was to gather testimony, witnesses, circumstances, and character to determine a biological father. (DNA existed, but DNA analysis didn't). David's attorney did try to sway the court, but the court denied such questioning as "who else could be the father?"

"The Defendant's counsel wished to ask the witness Hannah Ayers after she had sworn that David Thompson was the father of the child if no other person had the opportunity of getting the said child, but the court would not permit the question to be asked..."

So in the end, David accepted paternal obligations for the child.

How Did This Happen?

The Paternity Suit, 1800

Well, we know Hannah didn't go dancing at a Taylor Swift concert so where are the details? Oh...let's just keep reading this 9-page court record because Hannah tells it here.

..."that at the time he got the child he lived in her father's house where also she resided, that she did not like him & that he had never cohabited with her but once and then by force and against her consent and threatened to kill her if ever she -- should mention it."

Proof? Witnesses?

So this sounds like she was accusing him of rape. But could it be proven?
Actually yes. There were at least two witnesses -not of the rape - but coming from David's braggadocious mouth. Here's a peek at the detailed testimony of witnesses. Use this link with your free FamilySearch.org account to read the entire case: The Witnesses.

"Another Witness swore that Thompson was heard to say he had cohabited with Hannah Ayers. 
A third witness swore as follows Viz . 26 Aug 1807 - At Joseph Kenneths [?] house at the request of David Thompson I was present at an interview between said Thompson and Hannah Ayers where the following conversation took place. David Thompson proposed to the said Hannah Ayers that provided she would deny his having any communication with her in any respect he would give her his bond for $50 payable on demand which bond she agreed to accept on the above Conditions, but on Joseph Kenneth [?] saying he would not do it for $500 for she would contradict a report that her father and mother had propagated of the said Thompsons having got her with child, on hearing which she refused to accept the bond, saying she has caused enough grey hairs on her fathers head on a former like occasion..."

So Bribery Was Involved, but what was the "former like occasion?"

As we know, once the court is involved it can become a tell-all event. Let's look at the new dirty laundry being shared. David Thompson was 21, and Hannah Ayers was abt 25 -26 years old. The "former-like "occasion" resulted in her having "one child before the present." David and his counsel introduced this fact in the court records as they tried to legitimize his actions.
(Please don't ask me to explain, that!). 

It is here we learn Hannah Ayers had birthed one child before the present. The court did not factor this into their decision, as it was irrelevant to answering who would financially support this "baby boy."

The Final Judgment

"David Thompson should give security for the maintenance of Bastard child charged by Hannah Ayers to have been begotten by him, of her, with all things touching the same as fully and wholly as the same now exist among the Records of the said County Court."

As I said, he only was required to support the child for seven years.

It is the opinion of the court that the said David is the father of the said Bustard child and that the same is likely to become chargeable to the parish . Therefore it is ordered that the said David Thompson find security for the payment of twenty dollars annually for seven years from this date ( being the sum considered sufficient by the court for the said child maintainance , & the time it will be chargeable to the parish )

To read full case: Determined Papers (Chancery Court) 1808. Franklin County, VA, 1808

As mentioned, clients are always distraught when they realize their ancestral surname changed through history. There are various scenarios of how this could have happened. We must also consider such nefarious cases like that of Hannah Ayers' son. Let's not jump to conclusions before finding the truth. 

Kathleen Brandt

Black Ancestors in The Tick Mark Census

Did You Know?
Free Black People Were Noted, by Household, before 1850 Census. 

Free "Coloreds" were noted - by name of the head of household -  in the early census records. Early census records are those from 1790 to 1840. These early black people were most often landowners, but not necessarily. Some bought their freedom, and some earned their freedom through their war efforts:  Revolutionary War, American- Indian Wars, or War of 1812. Others were emancipated by their enslaver. Some of these enslavers, the white biological fathers of enslaved children were the ones who emancipated their mulatto offsprings. Those who were legally claimed in Wills were often transported out of slave states, or sent to integrated schools like Oberlin College. 

Yes, there are many cases where the biological white father, claimed their children and educated them. I'll share that example, from Mississippi, in another blog post this month.

The Tick Mark Censuses
Let's get rid of this myth before we begin. "Free-Coloreds" were enumerated in the early tick-marked Census Records, 1790-1840, even in the South. 

Many of the Hittin' the Brickswall with Kathleen podcast listeners will remember John's meltdown on the tick mark census records. If you want to go directly to the beginning of the Tick Mark conversation check out the episode Off The Wall: Making Sense of the U.S.Census,  and start at the 8 minute mark to about 12:20.

Let's Look At An Example:
Here are my own Free - "Colored" ancestors in the 1830, 1840and 1850 censuses.  I have them earlier but this would then be a book, not a blog. So bear with me.

Louisa Griffin, my 3rd Great-grandmother was born free in 1817. Her freedom was gained through her great-grandfather's Revolutionary War Service. 

Our Rev. War Veteran ancestor, Louisa's great-grandfather, was Ned Griffin. His service promised "him and all of his heirs" their freedom. You can read about Ned here. Revolutionary War Research - Ridiculous Mistakes. 

Kathleen --> gf Cecil -->2nd g-gf Wiley "Tobe"-->3ggp Louisa Griffin Morris --> 6g-gf Ned Griffin
1960                 1904                    1838                                     1817                                     1760's

Note: Basic timeline from Kathleen to Revolutionary War Soldier. All generations are not noted 

Free-born Louisa had a total of five children fathered by my 3rd g-grandfather Wiley J. Morris, the elder. Wiley, born in 1807, was enslaved by his biological father. As a blacksmith he swallowed to work and paid $2000 family for his emancipation in 1855. 

In the meantime, the five (5)  Morris-Griffin children born from 1838 - 1850 were all born free following their mother Louisa.  They were enumerated as Griffins in 1850 census records. In 1860 they were able to use their father's surname of Morris since he had succeeded in purchasing his freedom. 

Yes, it was matrilineal. If Louisa would have given her children the Morris surname, they could have legally been enslaved by their white grandfather, James Morris, Sr. So their early years enumerated them as Griffin's, even though everyone, the white Griffins and the Morris knew Wiley was the father. d

1850 Rutherford, NC
Louisa with her Griffin Children
fathered by enslaved Wiley J. Morris born 1807

In 1855, however, and $2000 later, they were Morris's, the whole family! Wiley J. Morris was finally free, and enumerated as such in 1860 with his family.  

1860 Rutherford, NC

Wiley with Wife and Children

(Previously seen as Griffin)

So, Where Was Louisa in 1830?
Louisa was born free in 1817. She had one brother, Richard, who was named in their father's Will. In 1830 "free-colored" Louisa was enumerated in the household of William L. Griffin (white). His ancestors originally enslaved the Rev War soldier Ned, the mulatto. Wm. Griffin, the enslaver, was also an advocates and key witness to guarantee the freedom of Ned Griffin after the Rev. War.

In 1830 Louisa was in a form of "apprenticeship." We see a "tick mark" for Louisa in the William L. Griffin household. The tick mark designated her between the age of 10-23. Our family bible, scribed by her in 1838-1840 gives her birth year as 1817, so she was about age 13 in 1830. Here is the Tick Mark Census in 1830:

1830 US Census. 

As you saw above, she was noted as Head of Household in the 1840 Federal Census. The tick-mark censuses was enough to place Louisa exactly where I needed her - in Rutherford County, NC. And they held the key to uncovering her parents, Peter and Betsy Griffin, and identifying her brother Richard. 

More on free Colored Griffin in 1817, Rutherford County, NC

Peter Griffin, NC Land Acquisition, 1817

Peter Griffin (A Man of Colour) of the County of Rutherford was the father of Louisa Griffin, and a landowner in 1817. Louisa's mother was Betsy Griffin. In 1817 Peter wrote his will, naming his minor son Richard. This Will was witnessed by James Morris, the (white) father of the enslaved Wiley Morris, born in 1807. James Morris owned Fox Haven Plantation of Rutherford, NC. 

Rutherford Deeds 1816-1822 #007517766

It's through the tick-marked census that you can take note of family sizes, neighbors and communities, and your ancestor's movement if comparing and analyzing the various early census records. 

This is just a slice of American History told through my Revolutionary War Veteran, a "Free Colored" since 1784. Legal documents are plentiful to support, the family folklore, the family bible, and early bibliographies of descendants of Wiley Morris, born free in 1838. Will share later. 

Kathleen Brandt
a3Genealogy

Thanks Listeners for Our Success!

Doug Williams: Black History Spotlight in the NFL

As we celebrate the First day of Black History Month, I'd like to honor Doug Williams, the NFL first Black quarterback to start and to win a Super Bowl (1988). 

Doug Williams was a Grambling State University graduate. In case we must be refreshed on America's history, Grambling, founded in 1901, is one of the many Historically Black Colleges and Universities.  

This truly isn't as much about football or "Black History" so let's call it America's History because that is what it is. So to counter-push the desire to cancel African Americans' historical and present-day fight against racism, segregation, and ugly rhetoric, it is necessary to fill in what America's history books and American politics have canceled. 

If you are thinking that I'm making false assumptions, let's do a quick quiz. 

Now, let's look at 1975: How would you do on the same test for the following three Super Bowl Quarterbacks.?

Terry Bradshaw the Pittsburgh Steelers winning quarterback in Super Bowl X in 1975?    Joe Namath, 1968?                                                                                                              Lenny Dawson, 1969?

In the 60's and 70's we heard about them in nauseum. Deservingly so, but so was Doug Williams. 

Do you remember Doug Williams of the Washington Redskins, who was the winning Super Bowl XXI quarterback? Can you recite any facts on him as a man: born? teams? draft?

I have a feeling you know Joe Gibbs. But do you know how Doug Williams and Joe Gibbs mesh in history?

Joe Gibbs was the only NFL coach who visited Williams. On the recommendation of Gibbs, Tampa Bay drafted Williams in the first round (17th overall) of the 1978 NFL draft. Williams was the only starting African-American quarterback in the NFL at that time, and dealt with racism from the fans, and even his own coaching staff.                                                                                (Rise of the Black QB, author Jason Reid)

Those who do know of Doug Williams usually spout out he was the first...insert race: black...quarterback. 

"In 1987, Williams joined Washington Redskins and made history in Super Bowl XXII. On January 31, 1988, he led the team to a dominant 42-10 victory over the Denver Broncos. Williams threw for a record-breaking 340 yards and became the first quarterback to pass for four touchdowns in a single quarter. His performance earned him Super Bowl MVP honors, making him the first Black quarterback to achieve this feat. 

This is what he had to say about that: 

"tired of the 'black quarterback' talk"

Yes, we are all tired of it. Mostly because given the opportunity to play in the game, any game, all have at least a chance to compete; to succeed. Although this is not about Joe Gibbs doing what should be an American standard, Gibbs was able to face and fight the backlash of supporting and recognizing "black talent." Many don't have that courage even today. 

For this reason alone, I know he is one person I'd like to share for Black History Month (Feb). Plus it's Super Bowl month! (Go Chiefs).

Adversity Was the Norm Then As It Is Now
Know that my job is to record history not soften the blow. This article represents life and adversity not just in the south, but in America. Being five years younger (1960), adversity, especially racial adversity in USA, is my reasoning to share all genealogical and ancestral as well as contemporary stories, in hopes we can use the common ground of the human story, the family story to expand our circle.

The article continues: 

Full Article: Well-Armed Pioneer, 1988

Doug Williams and Ancestors

Born on 9 August 1955, in Zachary, Louisiana, Doug Williams was one of eight children raised by Robert and Laura (Matthews) Williams. 

His father Robert, Sr was a WWII veteran. 

His mother was affectionately known as "Shot." She passed 24 Sep 2019. Robert Sr preceding her in death.

At Grambling, Williams played under the legendary Coach Eddie Robinson. He graduated with a bachelor's degree in education. At the time of his draft with Tampa Bay, Williams was the only starting Black quarterback in the league.

It must be noted that several of his brothers were also excelled in college and professional sports. Doug was one of eight children born to Robert and Laura (Matthews) Williams:

1.  Robert Williams, Jr1], [2], a former baseball player, All-American, Grambling; high school football coach;  and superintendent of middle schools for the East Baton Rouge Parish school system[3] was born about 1946.[4]
   
2.  Jacquelyn (also seen as Jacqueline)
3. Barbara
4. Carolyn
5. Larry Pete, born 1953, died Oct 2015
6.  Doug, our subject, born 1955
7. Manzie, born 29 Aug 1957
   
   
   
   
   
   
8. Michael “Mike,” Born 1958, quarterback at Grambling[5] 
   
   

Williams has been married three times. His first wife, Janice Goss of Gainesville, GA[6,] he married in 1982. She died April 1983. (Daily News, Bogalusa, Louisiana, Apr 10, 1983, Page 16).

He later married Lisa Robinson in 1987 and eventually wed Raunda Ashner Williams. He is noted to have eight children.

For further reading, check out these historic newspaper clips:

• 1978 Draft Coverage

• 1988 Super Bowl Interview

• Family Super Bowl Watch

Join us in Honoring Doug Williams for Black History Spotlight, and Super Bowl Month. 

Notes:

[1] https://www.newspapers.com/image/360182718/?match=2&terms=%22robert%20williams%22%20%22doug%20williams%22

[2] Robert Williams, brother of Doug, baseball player With Cleveland Indians; https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-news-star/164453722/

[3] https://www.newspapers.com/article/southwest-daily-news/164454889/

[4] Shreveport Journal, 1977, https://www.newspapers.com/image/602218010/?terms=%22doug%20williams%22%20%2B%22janice%20goss%22

[5] https://www.newspapers.com/image/602218010/?terms=%22doug%20williams%22%20%2B%22janice%20goss%22

[6] https://www.newspapers.com/image/600427395/?terms=janice&match=1

[7] https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-times/164456249/

[8] https://www.newspapers.com/article/daily-news/164455927/