Website: Hatcher Families Resource Center
http://homepages.rootsweb.com/~nhatcher
List Admin: Hatcher email list
Researching: Cook, Hall, Hatcher, Kuhns, Miller, Shepherd, Timberman
HATCHER DNA Project http://homepages.rootsweb.com/~nhatcher/hatDNA.htm
"Genealogy Without Documentation is Nothing" - Paul Drake
Now I would like to expand on my problem in light of Paul's remarks and more
of what I discovered this morning. But first, I made a mistake in giving
1790 as the census year when it was really the 1830, though that does not
lessen the problem.
My James Hatcher was found as follows:
1810 Marlboro, SC - he and wife listed as white
1820 Richmond, NC - he, wife and kids listed as white
1830 Richmond, NC - all family listed Free Negro but with new wife (Black
Jack Dist)
1840 Richmond, NC - all listed as free colored (Rockingham Dist)
1850 Richmond, NC - James and wife listed as mulatto (Wolf Pit Dist)
Since it appears that James was white, his kids born between 1810-1820 (or
later) were likely at least 1/2 white, possibly part Indian thru the
mother. It is only when James remarries to a wife who apparently is not
white that his racial status changes. ALL members of the family are
"colored." But part of the problem, in checking these census images is that
there were only 3 possibilities here. You were either free white, a slave,
or free negro. There was no "All Other" category as I've found on some
censi.
I am in the process of checking deeper into the censi for his oldest
children who were likely white and probably appeared more white than
anything else. The son Peter in the 1840 (Rockingham Dist) is free colored
but white in the 1850 living in another twp. Why? In checking further it
appears that on the censi for Rockingham Dist, you will find groups of
families suddenly listed as free colored. The same is true for the Wolf Pit
Dist. The Wolf Pit district today is still inhabited mostly by Indian
families. And there is no question this family has a long NA history with
many descendants registered on the tribal rolls. Most are probably
tri-racial.
And this goes directly back to what Paul stated. The census taker likely did
not have to ask your race if he knew you, but particularly IF you were
living in an area that was predominantly mixed race. Even tho James may have
been as white as snow, his wife and most of the kids clearly weren't. The
majority rules! And because there was no "all other" category, all of the
family ended up free negro or free colored.
So it appears to me that those with the same problems as I am having should
examine more closely the history of the districts in which your family was
living, and to realize that just because the family is listed a particular
race, it doesn't necessarily mean all members were of that race.
And thanks to all who contributed!
Nel
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