This was interesting to me as I didn't know that is how this was done. This could explain why people have been telling me that there were quite a few pockets of "free" blacks in Missouri. I always wondered what my family's circumstances were that they were free blacks. This offers a possible explanation. I hope this information proves helpful to all. Read on....... -----Original Message----- From: Desoto Joe [mailto:joey@jcn1.com] Sent: Saturday, August 18, 2001 9:44 PM To: MO-CW-L@rootsweb.com Subject: [MO-CW] Sick PC Well, in the process of dealing with my PC. It decided to delete my e-mails that were in my in box. If anyone has not heard from me in response to a certain question. Please resubmit it through the list. Sorry, I'm still occasionally having problems. My virus checker says that there is no virus, but perhaps some registry files have been changed. This is a good possibility. Just a little info to pass on here - While searching for your family member, this has come to light & was passed on to me. If your father was white & your mother was black, during this time frame, the child was considered a slave. If the mother was white & the father was black, the child was considered free. A gentleman who has researched his family line came across an individual who couldn't be placed, further research determined that he was a mulatto, whose father was black & mother was white. He was free & married a white woman. This was in the state of Missouri & was probably the common throughout the slave holding states in such cases. Desoto Joe/The Record Man

Perhaps someone can use this info from the David W. Standifer Probate records and also Thomas D. Merideth probates as they contain a numer of names in Franklin Co. Have copy of receipts concerning David Standifer: March the 5th 1896 Received of Thomas D. Merideth $15 dollars on the D.W. Standifer Estate . T. J. Standifer X his mark Paralee Philip, witness ### December the 11th 1896 received of Thoas D. Merideth $4 dollars on the D.W. Standifer Estate. Melvina Thornhill. ### $5.95 Union Mo March 2nd 1896 Received of T. Merideth Admin of D. Standifer the sum of five .95/1.. Dollaring my fees in full to date in said case. Ch Gallencamp (Charles) Jurge of Probate ### March the 24 1895 received of T.D.Merideth on the D.W. Standifer estate fifteen 15 dollars Nancy G Halley ## Now for connections of Thomas D. Merideth: Inventory, Certificate and Affidavit. in the matter of the esate of T.D. Merideth filed, recorded Dec 26 1912 book one.552 O.E.Meyersieck Judge Probate Geo.J.S. Keller, Clerk. Inventory,, Certificate and Affidavit Inventory of all Real and Personal Estate of T.D.Merideth deceased, late of Franklin County, Missouri, describing the quantity, situation and title of the Real Estate, the books and papers, the debts due to said deceased, the names of the debtors, the dates of the contracts, the amount of interest due, the rate of interest thereon, and all personal property of whatsoever character. Made by Jasper Merideth Admr of the Estate of said deceased, and J.E. Frossard and A.J. Nappier, witness appointed to aid in making the same. Dated at St Clair Mo. this 23rd day of Dec 1912. The following property to wit. 110 acres of the East 1/2 S.E.and N.W.- S.E.(ex10ac S.E.cor 3 acres N.E. cor N.E. S.W. all in Sec 15 Twp 41-RIE. valued at $1130.00 Eleven Hundred and thirty dollars. Also 74.72 acres N 1/2 N.E. frl sec 21 Twp 41-RIE. ued at $770.00 Seven Hundred and Sevety Doll. Notes 1 1 note of Ed Nappier for $50.00 dated Dec 22 1911 bearing seven percent int and int due $3.50 2 also note on Peer McGlenn dated Aug 15th 1912 with seven Per cent int and int Due of .35 cts amt of note Fifteen Dollars. 3 S.S.Duncan note for $14.00 dated October 14th 1912 bearing seven per cent int with int due at present .18cts. 4 Note on J.E. C. Nevils for one hundred dollars dated April 10th 1908 bearing seven per cent int witwh int due at present Four Dollars and Sixty Sx Cts. 5 Note on A. Ritchy for Fifty Dollars Dated May 23. 1911. int at Five per cent int Due 1.50 6 Note of Roy Nappier for Forty Dollars dated May 23rd 1910 int at six per cent int Due $1.40 7 Note on St. Clair Bank eighty Dollars Nov 3rd 1912 bearing int at 4 per cent int Due .44cts Note on St. Clair Bank of one hundred Dollars Dated nov 3rd 1912 int at 4 perct, int Due .56 cts Note on St. Clair Bank for Eighty Dollars Dated August 8th 1912 int 4 Per cent it Due $1.18 1 two horse Plow 1 one " " 1 Double Shovel POlow 1 wagon 1 mower 1 Scoop Shovel 1 Set of harness 1 hand corn planter 1 fork and pick 1 pair of stretchers 1 Bay mare 16 yrs old 1 Black mare 7 yrs " 1 Red Male calf 1 white cow 1 Harrow 1 grain cradle 3 hogs. ``` Certificate of Witnesses was signed on December 23 1912 by J.E. Froissard and A.J. Nappier as witnesses. Affidavit of Executor or Administrator was made by J.W. Short Justice of the Peace, December 23, 1912 in the Prairie TWP. Application for Letters of Administration shows that Thomas died on the 1st day of December 1912 leaving a widow, Elizabeth Merideth of St Clair R.F. #1 a list of his heirs: Elizabeth Merideth (widow) wife of St Clair Mo Jasper " son " Mary F. Standifer daughter Oklahoma Laura Halley " St Clair MO Tilda Pierce (dead) " " children of Tillie: Berta Pierce Mana married Essie May Lewis Ellie Lewis Verta Pierce the relatioship show these children are neices but if Tillie (Matilda) is daughter, then these are his grandchildren. I do show her as daughter accordimg to 1880 census. ### Application for distribution of Personal Assets of Deceased dated February term of 1914 shows Manna surname as Magee of St Louis, Essie as McMullen of St Louis, May as Lewis of St Clair, Ellie as a Lewis of St Clair, and Verta as a Pierce of St Clair. -- Leona [Lee] lee@gower.net Genealogy, Native American, wild flowers, gardening,insects, Herbs, etc.. Non Commercial site http://www.gower.net/lee Non Commercial site http://www.geocities.com/tvksi/index.htm