Dallas and Autauga County, Alabama African American Research

I am beginning to research my father's families in Dallas & Autuaga counties, AL. The surnames I'm researching are Lanier, Callines/Callins/Callen, Smith and possibly Parker. According to oral family stories, my Callins family has ancestors who originated in Haiti and East Africa. I've enjoyed interesting family stories and memories over the years of unique incidents and professions of family members, my grandmother Lucy and her mother Lucy stand out in my mind. If anyone is researching these Alabama family surnames, please post a message here as I would like to contact all potential family members as possible. Thank you in advance,

Family Griot

Tags: Africa, Autauga, County, Dallas, Haiti, Slave, trade

Replies to This Discussion

Permalink Reply by Lisa A. (Thamm) Spegal on September 16, 2010 at 1:19am

Emiko,
My friend doesn't really have anything on the Lanier's, I've been doing most of the research (she is new to all this and has limited resources), she's been trying to help look up information when and where she can, but her area of interest is her McCray connection. Berrile (sp) Lanier Plantation just happened to be where Mary was living/working?
Lisa

Permalink Reply by Emiko L Lanier on September 16, 2010 at 1:42am

I do not have any information on McCray living in Lanier Plantation. May be some of the slaves were purchaced from McCray family in the past.

Permalink Reply by Lisa A. (Thamm) Spegal on September 16, 2010 at 10:45am

Don't know that she was a slave or what, she just was listed there on the Freedmen's Bank record. Her husband Blunt/Blount worked for the railroad (Memphis), this was late 60's early 70's. This wasn't in Autauga though, so I don't know. The record, I believe, was posted in one of my previous messages.

Permalink Reply by Emiko L Lanier on September 16, 2010 at 12:25pm

Sorry I missed the previous message. I have found that many people use to use same name or simular names of family members in the past. Like John or William, Elizabeth or Mary can be carried on for generations in both white and black races. The name some times can get us to the wrong leads without the family history. I do remember reading somewhere that William, Burwell and Isaac Lanier had purchased the land together in Huntsville, AL. It must have been the Burwell Lanier and Mary S McCrabb Lanier's children, Isaac A Lanier (1816-), William H Lanier (1818-) and Burwell C Lanier (1820-), who first came to set up the Burwell Plantation (Named after father's name) in Madison, AL. Isaac D Lanier was their cousin. We were told that Isaac D Lanier was not plantation owner or registered slave owner. He lived on Uncle's plantation. According to censis record it was the brother of Burwell, Clement G Lanier (1800-1876). Clement G may have also lived at Burwell Plantation since they were family member. Like you say with so many Burwell's in the Lanier family, it is hard to find out which Burwell??
Emiko

Permalink Reply by Lisa A. (Thamm) Spegal on September 16, 2010 at 12:40pm

Yes, I've also found that many generations carry on the same first names as well as middle names at times, it does make genealogy challenging! Sometimes you think you have the right one, only to find out much later that you don't! I guess it's part of being a genealogist and we do the best we can with what's available to us at the time, later available sometimes disprove our research. Oh well, I love the hunt! If I come across the names you seek, I will let you know, so far the only Harry Lanier I've seen in the right area was on afrigeneas and was a root doctor. Interesting to see anyhow. If you come across any names that might connect to the ones we seek, please let me know, as well. Mary may have only been listed by first name or as female slave in earlier records (I'm not even positive of her maiden name), if she was a slave, right now I just don't know! And I don't know that her husband Blount/Blunt was a slave either, although generally speaking most blacks were in those times from what I've heard and read.
Good luck with your research,Lisa

Permalink Reply by Arline on October 5, 2010 at 2:27pm

Hello (Emiko Lanier),I notice that you are doing your Family Tree of the(Lanier's) and I have some information too so, here is what I had?The state of Alabama does not have a comprehensive listing of all the plantation but that were in the state in a certain period in the states history.However in the (1860 )"(Slaves Schedule)for Madison County that the "(Burell Lanier) is listed with (9-Salves ranging in ages, from 30 to 11 Months)In glancing at this it looks like a family:Husband,Wife, Children.In further observation ("Burell Lanier)was still living in (1870) according to the Census,there for jumping to another conclusion that he perhaps (inherited)(?) the slaves,from his mother ("Mary Lanier)she show up on the (Slave Schedule) in (1850)Owning around (49-Slaves)and on the population census that she is head of the household and '(Burell Lanier)is living with her on the (!860 Census)(Burell Lanier),is in his own household and it look at the (Probate Estate)records for "Madison County to see if( Mary Lanier)inherited the (Slaves) from her husband etc.If you no of any of this information could you email me back please??My "Great-GreatGrandaughter Father Blount McCray, and Mary McCray, was on your Lanier Plantation,in Huntsville Madfison Alabama?
Arline

Permalink Reply by Arline on February 5, 2011 at 6:49pm

Hello Emiko Lanier aand how are you doin with your Family Tree I'm just watin on some information regrdin my tree so when you get a chance email me back?

Permalink Reply by Lisa A. (Thamm) Spegal on September 15, 2010 at 2:13am

Those above would be William Henry, Burwell Clinton & Isaac Alexander Lanier. OK, those three are brothers born TN, mother is Mary S. Lanier born TN. All were in Huntsville, Madison co, AL.

Permalink Reply by Emiko L Lanier on September 16, 2010 at 1:32am

William Henry Lanier (1855-1929), my grandfather did say that he was named after his uncle. One of the brothers that came to Madison Co, AL is named William Henry. I think those are the main tree brothers who purchaced the land in Huntsville, William Henry, Burwell Clinton & Isaac Alexander Lanier.

Permalink Reply by Lisa A. (Thamm) Spegal on September 15, 2010 at 1:33pm

I just found and read the above, very interesting! It's about a court case involving Burwell Lanier , here's a part of it:
Russel and Allen v Isaac Lanier and Burwell Lanier Fraudulent Conveyance Executor de son Tort The bill was for an injunction which was granted. The bill stated that Claxton was possessed of certain negroes and being indebted to divers persons conveyed them to Isaac Lanier reserving to himself an estate for life The negroes remained in possession of Claxton for many years after till both removed to this State from North Carolina. Isaac Lanier conveyed the negroes to Burwell Lanier who got possession of them immediately after the death of Claxton and had them before the letters of administration were granted and at the time of the judgment Execution issued upon the judgment The sheriff seized and sold one of the negroes which he found in the possession of Burwell Lanier Burwell Lanier sued him at law and had judgment against him for the value of the negro.......... it talks about proofs of fraud and then Lanier had removed to Alabama Territory.

Permalink Reply by Emiko L Lanier on September 15, 2010 at 8:01pm

Thank you for some history of the Lanier family. It shows that Lanier's felt unsafe to keep their possession that they felt they needed to move to the new land. It is true that Burwell (1741-1812), possessed the slaves to help cultivate the land in Autagua County, AL when they arrived. His son, Isaac Lanier (1767-1827) may have inherited the slave from his father Burwell. Isaac had four sons. Burwell Clinton, and Isaac Hill , mothered by Arabella Clinton (-1799), William Dickson and Clement G Lanier, mothered by Mary Dickson (1776-1866). Isaac Dickson Lanier (1830-1871) was son of William Dickson Lanier (1798-1839) who died early. Isaac D Lanier was raised by and moved in with Clement G Lanier. I was told that William Henry's mother was one of the slave girl that Clement G Lannier owened. She was born in Alabama, possibly a daughter of slave who was from NC. Isaac D Lanier was never a slave owner since all the properties were divided to Isaac Lanier's children. Clement G Lanier lived after civil war which ended on 1865 when the slaves were allowed to be freed.
I do feel that there are many Black Lanier's who were fathered by the Lanier sons. However very few of them ever passed on who the white side of the family was. The reason William Henry Lanier talked much about Dr Isaac Dickson Lanier was because of his possessive character of all of his children. They were all kept in his home and each given orders to do work. Only black children did not receive the education so that William Henry Lanier escaped his home about the time he was 16 years old after 1870. No other children followed him which he as very ashamed of.
Emiko Lanier

Permalink Reply by Lisa A. (Thamm) Spegal on September 16, 2010 at 12:28am

It's strange how the same names seem to pop up over the years:

Southside Virginia Families: Volume 1 - Page 308

John B. Boddie, John Bennett Boddie - 2009 - 392 pages - Preview
Children of Elizabeth (Chamberlin) and Burwell Lanier: I. Sampson, b. 1761 (or 1763) m. Elizabeth (Stokes? ). II. William, b. 1763 (or 1761) m. Elizabeth Hill & 2nd Ann Dickson III. Catherine, b. 1765 m. Thomas Clinton IV. Isaac, b. ...

Another book has this Burwell Lanier as an orphan of Sampson Lanier. I haven't researched any of these, I know there are alot of different Lanier's out there. I'm just checking out names I've found thus far. THAT Lanier family is in DAR lineage books.

The repeating names can get confusing, apparently this Burwell line had a Sr. and Jr.......
The North Carolina historical review: Volume 6
North Carolina Historical Commission, North Carolina. State Dept. of Archives and History, North Carolina. Office of Archives and History - 1929 - Snippet view
In 1790, the largest slaveowner was Burwell Lanier with 28. Only 118 out of 713 heads of families owned slaves: 3 owned 20 or more; 10 from 10 to 20; 30. from S to 10; and 75, lew than 5 each. 5. R., XXVI, 788-802. ...
Wow, that's interesting too.
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Tennessee. Supreme Court - 1818 - Full view
ISAAC LANIER anc} BURWELL LANIER. Per Curiam.— The bill was for an injunction, which was granted. ... Isaac Lanier conveyed the negroes to Burwell Lanier, who got possesion of them immediately after the dea'h of Claxton and had them ...

Southside Virginia Families: Volume 1 - Page 309

here's an interesting book/page abt Isaac & Mary Dickson, couldn't copy & paste the text

:

http://books.google.com/books?id=yruvKfanqvAC&lpg=PA309&dq=...