Hello, My name is Toni Carrier. I am the founding director of the University of South Florida Africana Heritage Project. Our mission is to rediscover precious records documenting former slaves and to make those records available on a free, public access internet site. Our researchers travel far and wide to transcribe records from archives, libraries and county records, before these are lost to history. Our largest focus, however, is within the genealogical community. We recognize that the majority of the records that mention slaves have actually been discovered by folks researching their own ancestry. So many folks have these records, and wish to share them, and that is where our Africana Heritage Project comes in. Our goal is to be a central home on the internet for any and all records that document slaves. Our website, which will be hosted by Rootsweb (God Love 'Em), is now under construction, and we are accepting submissions from the genealogical community. We cherish our contributors. Please let us hear from you at theadric@helios.acomp.usf.edu. God Bless!

You may have seen my post before regarding my 2nd great grandmother Lucy (Scott) Robinson who was one of the charter members of Pate's Chapel Baptist Church in 1913. Additionally there was a Manuel Robinson listed as a charter member. Lucy was listed as a widow on the 1900, 1910, 1920, & 1930 censuses . . . so who was Manuel? Older members of the church seemed to believe he was her husband . . . according to tradition (no hard facts yet as to when) Lucy's husband, Martin Monroe Robinson, died or disappeared ca 1890 . . I am trying to determine what church Lucy attended before the formation of Pate's Chapel . . . maybe records there will shed some light on these things. One of the members at Pate's Chapel I referred to above, suggested I try Pleasant Grove Baptist Church as it would have been the closest church in the vicinity at the time. I am also interested in Mars Hill as Lucy's son, Joe Frank Robinson is buried there along with his wife, Maude Leon Scott Robinson. (Although I believe they are buried there because Maude's family is there.) Can anyone give me a good contact at these churches who could possibly assist in determining if Lucy, Manuel and Martin were members and if so any other relevant information? Thanks, Melissa

I've offered to post the following information for Autauga Friends of the Library: Friends of the Library is meeting at 2:00 p.m. on Sunday, Sept. 28, at the Marbury Community Center Library. They are asking that anyone with family history or memorabilia concerning the Marbury community attend this meeting to help initiate a recorded history of Marbury. The Community Center is located on Hwy. 20, off Hwy 31 n. of Prattville. This is the only information I have - for questions contact the Prattville Library. Hope many of you can help with this project. Caroline Horton, Pres., Autauga Genealogical Society

The Autauga Genealogical Society will meet this Sunday, September 21, at 2:00 p.m. at the Prattville Library. John Enslen, Attorney from Wetumpka, will speak on the Poarch Creek Indians. Anyone interested in genealogy is invited to attend - membership in the Autauga Genealogical Society is not required. We regret that we are unable to post or mail handouts. The Society has planned a field trip to the new Georgia State Archives at Morrow, Georgia, on Oct. 3-4. Participants may travel alone or may travel with a group which will meet at 7:30 a.m.- 8:00 a.m. in the parking lot behind Herrod's Chevron in Prattville (across from Prattville Baptist Hospital). We will spend Friday and Saturday researching at the Archives, returning late Saturday afternoon. Most of the group will stay at Days Inn - Southlake, 1599 Adamson Pkwy, Morrow, Georgia, ph. 770-961-6044 or 1-888-757-3297. This hotel is located within two miles of the Archives and offers a special "Georgia Archives" rate, $45.00 for the night, for those who request it. Each person is responsible for making hotel reservations. Please email Larry Caver at Lecaverjr@aol.com if you plan to participate. He will have information about the research regulations at the Archives.

if anyone needs a look up I have a Cemeteries of Chilton Co. book Lynda

I have heard that the Chilton-Clanton has a geneology collection and a part-time librarian who maintains it. You might call the library at 205 755-1768 and as for the geneology librarian. She may have a copy of "Cemetaries of Chilton County". Good luck Jim Boockholdt .... But the information provided in my > book is said to have come from "Cemeteries of Chilton County, A Census > by the Chilton County Historical Society and Archives", edited by Robert > D. Benjamin. You may well be able to find someone with a copy who could > search it for you. They probably have one at the Alabama Department of > Archives and History. You can get more information at the ADAH web site > at <http://www.archives.state.al.us/>. And they include links to > various County and historical society resources on their page at > <http://www.archives.state.al.us/referenc/hsglist.html>. > > Let me know if I can be of further assistance. > > = Steve =

>Date: Wed, 3 Sep 2003 09:51:16 -0500 >From: "Calvin Freeman" <cefreeman@bluebon.net> > >Dianne, >No, I do not live in that area...I live in Central Texas. We were in >Chilton County about two years ago, and I had the chance to search for some >of the old cemeteries. I was looking for the Goodgame/Williams Cemetery, >but unfortunately, I did not find it. I guess that is for another trip:)) >I knew that my great grandfather, Thomas H. Williams, was buried there, but >I had no idea where Charles and Nancy were buried. However, considering the >fact that they were in the Chestnut Creek for so many years, I suspect that >they were buried there. Charles was, at one time, a Methodist Episcopal >Preacher....I assume in that area. > >Thank you so much for giving me this lead...I will search it out. >Liz I just came across this thread i the digest lately, so I hope I'm not missing something key here... "Coppers" in your subject is actually Cooper on maps, although it's long been referred to as "Coopers" by many in the area. I have numerous relatives buried at Chestnut Creek Baptist Church Cemetery. There's a listing of the graves at Chestnut Creek maintained online by Bruce Glenn, along with some other Chilton County cemeteries, at <http://www.bruceglenn.com/cemetery.htm>. It doesn't list a Charles Williams. Women are listed by maiden names when he's able to get them. I have a book I bought from the University of Alabama entitled "Historical Atlas of Alabama Volume II: Cemeteries by County", which they sell online for individual counties and put together for you (will provide info and links on request). In Chilton County, it shows the Williams-Goodgame cemetery, which it says has 13 graves. According to this, Thomas H. Williams (1837-1904), the first sheriff of Chilton County, is buried there. The location of the cemetery is clearly marked on the map included, not far off Alabama Highway 145, and a bit northwest of Jumbo. I'm unaware of any location where you might find an enumeration of the graves there. But the information provided in my book is said to have come from "Cemeteries of Chilton County, A Census by the Chilton County Historical Society and Archives", edited by Robert D. Benjamin. You may well be able to find someone with a copy who could search it for you. They probably have one at the Alabama Department of Archives and History. You can get more information at the ADAH web site at <http://www.archives.state.al.us/>. And they include links to various County and historical society resources on their page at <http://www.archives.state.al.us/referenc/hsglist.html>. Let me know if I can be of further assistance. = Steve = -- Steve W. Jackson Montgomery, Alabama Surnames: Jackson, Kincaid, Culver, Wingard, Thornton, Grier, Smith, Gray

Dianne, No, I do not live in that area...I live in Central Texas. We were in Chilton County about two years ago, and I had the chance to search for some of the old cemeteries. I was looking for the Goodgame/Williams Cemetery, but unfortunately, I did not find it. I guess that is for another trip:)) I knew that my great grandfather, Thomas H. Williams, was buried there, but I had no idea where Charles and Nancy were buried. However, considering the fact that they were in the Chestnut Creek for so many years, I suspect that they were buried there. Charles was, at one time, a Methodist Episcopal Preacher....I assume in that area. Thank you so much for giving me this lead...I will search it out. Liz

Thanks everyone for the help with my question concerning Coppers, Chilton, Alabama. I had suspected that it might be Coopers...maybe it was just a typo on the 1880 Census from FamilySearch. I am looking for the following family found on that site:: Charlie WILLIAMS Self M Male W 84 SC Farmer SC VA Nancy WILLIAMS Wife M Female W 71 SC Keeping House SC SC Mary WILLIAMS Dau S Female W 38 AL At Home SC SC Emmer POSTELL SisterL W Female W 67 SC Keeping House SC SC Source Information: Census Place Coppers, Chilton, Alabama Family History Library Film 1254006 NA Film Number T9-0006 Page Number 104A When I saw that Coopers was located near Chestnut Creek...I thought that this might be the same place, but I was not sure. Many times small communities just disappear...so I just did not know. I had found Charles and Nancy Williams on the 1860 Census for Autauga County, Alabama, Chestnut Creek Beat, so it seem likely that this is the case. Charlie and Nancy Williams were my great, great grandparents. Their son, Thomas H. Williams, was my great grandfather. He was the first sheriff of Baker County, AL. Thanks again for your help. Liz

Coopers is on US 31 south of Clanton just before entering Autauga County. Probably your place. Who was your family? Maybe someone here knows about them. My family was from Enterprise, nearby Coopers, but smaller. Jim Boockholdt Jessie Curl wrote: > Could this be Coopers, Chilton, Alabama? If so, it still exists. It is > located three miles south of Clanton. Very small town, but has a great cafe > called "The Hillbilly Cafe". Also has a gas station and a bent and dent > store. > Great neighbors. > Jessie > ----- Original Message ----- > From: "Calvin Freeman" <cefreeman@bluebon.net> > To: <ALCHILTO-L@rootsweb.com> > Sent: Monday, September 01, 2003 9:04 PM > Subject: [ALCHILTO] Coppers, Chilton, Alabama > > > >>I am researching my family, and I have found them on the 1880 Census in >>Coppers, Chilton, Alabama. Could someone please tell me if this place > > still > >>exists and if so, where it is located? >>Thanks, >>Liz >> >> >>==== ALCHILTO Mailing List ==== >>list manager >>alchilto-admin@rootsweb.com >> >>============================== >>To join Ancestry.com and access our 1.2 billion online genealogy records, > > go to: > >>http://www.ancestry.com/rd/redir.asp?targetid=571&sourceid=1237 >> > > > > ==== ALCHILTO Mailing List ==== > list manager > alchilto-admin@rootsweb.com > > ============================== > To join Ancestry.com and access our 1.2 billion online genealogy records, go to: > http://www.ancestry.com/rd/redir.asp?targetid=571&sourceid=1237 > >

Could this be Coopers, Chilton, Alabama? If so, it still exists. It is located three miles south of Clanton. Very small town, but has a great cafe called "The Hillbilly Cafe". Also has a gas station and a bent and dent store. Great neighbors. Jessie ----- Original Message ----- From: "Calvin Freeman" <cefreeman@bluebon.net> To: <ALCHILTO-L@rootsweb.com> Sent: Monday, September 01, 2003 9:04 PM Subject: [ALCHILTO] Coppers, Chilton, Alabama > I am researching my family, and I have found them on the 1880 Census in > Coppers, Chilton, Alabama. Could someone please tell me if this place still > exists and if so, where it is located? > Thanks, > Liz > > > ==== ALCHILTO Mailing List ==== > list manager > alchilto-admin@rootsweb.com > > ============================== > To join Ancestry.com and access our 1.2 billion online genealogy records, go to: > http://www.ancestry.com/rd/redir.asp?targetid=571&sourceid=1237 >

Liz, I used Mapquest.com and found only one existing community in Alabama with "Copper" in the name. That was Copper Springs, Alabama in St. Clair County. Jim Nix ----- Original Message ----- From: "Calvin Freeman" <cefreeman@bluebon.net> To: <ALCHILTO-L@rootsweb.com> Sent: Monday, September 01, 2003 9:04 PM Subject: [ALCHILTO] Coppers, Chilton, Alabama > I am researching my family, and I have found them on the 1880 Census in > Coppers, Chilton, Alabama. Could someone please tell me if this place still > exists and if so, where it is located? > Thanks, > Liz

I am researching my family, and I have found them on the 1880 Census in Coppers, Chilton, Alabama. Could someone please tell me if this place still exists and if so, where it is located? Thanks, Liz

Dear Genealogists: Please join us Labor Day for a special Alabama genealogy chat. If you've tried everything to find your ancestors or climb your brick wall and still have unanswered questions, please join us for a brainstorming session on this Monday night for an Alabama chat: http://huntsville.about.com/mpchat.htm 9 pm Eastern; 8 pm Central Everyone is welcome! Come share your surnames and get them registered in our online chat transcripts: http://huntsville.about.com/library/blalchat.htm If you've never been to a chat and need instructions, or you'd like to receive a weekly reminder, just send me an email. Good luck in your search! Jean Brandau huntsville2@comcast.net

I have a gggrandmother who lived and is buried in the Shiloh community. I've looked on several maps and can't seem to find it. I've heard it is near Kincheon and she attended the Shiloh Baptist Church, which I'm told is west of Thornsby on CR 50. Can anyone give me a general idea where to look on a map (not necessarily driving instructions)? Leslie Hill

I am hoping to contact anyone whose family married with the Poole family. They lived in what was Bibb and became Baker/Chilton. Trying to make various connections from Civil War time on. Thanks for any replies. Leslie Hill

You are invited to a special meeting of the Autauga Genealogical Society on Sunday, August 17th, at 2:00 p.m. at the Probate Office of the Autauga County Courthouse in Prattville, Alabama. Probate Judge Al Booth has been gracious to offer the availability of the records room for us on this date. The program ("hands on") will be led by members of the Society. It will include research methods in Probate offices and use of the microfilmed "Loose Papers", now available in a number of counties in Alabama. The Probate Office is located one block north of the Courthouse on the corner of Court St. and 5th St. in downtown Prattville, across from the offices of DHR and Public Health You do not have to be a member of AGS to attend our meetings. This is a good opportunity for those with Autauga County roots to do some weekend research. Be sure to spread the word to our AGS friends and members who do not have email. Larry E. Caver, Jr. Vice-President, AGS

The Alabama Genealogical Society, Inc., is pleased to announce that J. Mark Lowe will present a seminar on genealogical research on Saturday, October 18, 2003. The Seminar will be held in the Milo Howard Room, Alabama Department of Archives & History, Montgomery. Mark is Vice President for the Federation of Genealogical Societies, Vice President of the Association of Professional Genealogists and Vice President of the Genealogical Speakers Guild. In addition, Mark is Director of The Regional In-depth Genealogical Studies Alliance (RIGS Alliance). The RIGS Alliance is a partnership which has been formed to direct interactive learning sessions and hands-on research focusing on original documents and manuscripts at regional archives. Mark lives in Tennessee and specializes in Kentucky and Tennessee resources. Mark has more than 27 years experience in family history research to share with us. We invite you to join us to learn more about how to solve our research problems. His topics are: 1) Land Barons or Dirt Farmers: Finding Land Transactions. Learn how to trace an individual through property records and how to trace a specific property. 2) Finding Your Landless Ancestors. Learn to use Trust Deed Chattels and Tax Release Books to help locate those individuals without deeds and estates (including African-Americans). 3) Locating the Wanderer. Learn techniques that will be helpful in finding that ancestor who just can't stay put. 4) Smith vs. Jones, etal., A Closer Look at Court Records. Learn how to find court records and use them effectively. For registration information please contact Jyl Hardy, President, jylhardy@bellsouth.net

Dear Genealogists: If you've tried everything to find your ancestors or climb your brick wall and still have unanswered questions, please join us for a brainstorming session on the Monday night Alabama chat: http://huntsville.about.com/mpchat.htm 9 pm Eastern; 8 pm Central Everyone is welcome! Come share your surnames and get them registered in our online chat transcripts: http://huntsville.about.com/library/blalchat.htm If you've never been to a chat and need instructions, or you'd like to receive a weekly reminder, just send me an email. Good luck in your search! Jean Brandau huntsville2@comcast.net

The Autauga Genealogical Society will meet on Sunday, July 20, at 2:00 p.m. at the Prattville Library. The program will be coordinated by Joyce Nicoll of the Montgomery County Genealogical Society. The program topics will include many areas of CEMETERY PRESERVATION. Joyce will be accompanied by Lee Ann Hewitt, Cemetery Coordinator with the Alabama Historical Commission, and Frazine Taylor from the Alabama Dept of Archives and History / Black Heritage Council. A monument repairman may also participate in the program. The August meeting, Sunday, August 17, will be held at 2:00 p.m. in the Autauga County Probate Office. The program will be "hands on" regarding locating records in PROBATE FILES. We invite anyone interested in genealogy and/or cemetery preservation to attend these meetings. Membership in the Society is not required to attend the meetings. We regret that we are unable to post information provided or mail hand-outs. Caroline Horton, President Autauga Genealogical Society