This is a Message Board Post that is gatewayed to this mailing list. Author: kerryjones Surnames: Classification: queries Message Board URL: http://boards.rootsweb.com/surnames.fitzgerald/1579.1.1/mb.ashx Message Board Post: Hello, I am a great grandson of Francis Fitzgerald and have done quite a bit of research on this family. I Hartwell Fitzgerald's Civil War pension file there is documentation showing that the government challenged Amanda's claim to the pension when Hartwell died because she was black and he married her in Missouri when interracial marriages were illegal. In trying to prove the legality of there marriage there is a letter from "Uncle Wood" Easley that says that Hartwell bought Amanda from Ahab Bowen and married her. I would be happy to share more information with you on this family. Kerry Jones Important Note: The author of this message may not be subscribed to this list. If you would like to reply to them, please click on the Message Board URL link above and respond on the board. <br>