Intersecting Lives in Greenfield's Black Community

In 1860 the census recorded 0.7% of the Massachusetts population as "Black." We can do the math, but I would expect an even smaller number in rural western Massachusetts. While researching Smead family descendants for another project, I found a record of two young girls noted as black in the household of Solomon Smead and Desire Wheeler in Greenfield, Franklin County, one in 1855 and one in 1860. That is the kind of information that can send me down a rabbit hole, wanting to know more. This post can serve as a place-holder to remind me to look a little farther, while I share what is easily accessible regarding these individuals.

State censuses, where available, help us bridge the gap between the decennial federal census. Massachusetts took a census in 1855. Solomon Wheeler's household that year consisted of himself at age 38, giving his occupation as a mechanic, his wife Desire, 40, Anna (elsewhere Louisa), age 9, and Hannah Taylor, 14. The "B" is prominent in the column listing color for Hannah.

Paging through the 41 sheets of names recorded in Greenfield there are other members of Hannah's family listed, but very few other people of color. John Putnam's family includes his wife and seven children. He is listed as a barber, as are John and William Dorsey who are the only individuals marked with an "M" for mulatto. H. Green was a grocer. One more family unit, the family of James White, appears to have one daughter living at home and one with a Caucasian family. This totals 22 individuals of color among the approximately 3,300 residents of Greenfield in 1855.

Birth records of Hannah and her siblings are listed in the Greenfield vital records. Her parents were Charles and Sarah Frances (Wells) Taylor. Hannah was the first born 22 April 1841. Her sister Mary Jinsey was born 21 November 1842, followed by another girl, Sarah Frances named after her mother on 14 July 1844. The next was a boy was named after their father: Charles Henry born 25 January 1846. Joseph Willard was the last born on 18 November 1848. The family lost its mother soon after on 22 February 1849. Charles was left with five children under eight.

In 1850 the Taylor family was enumerated in Deerfield as paupers. Charles said he was a laborer. Neither his wife nor daughter Sarah were listed, so the death record found could be either one of them. Another woman was living with them, possibly helping with the children, Louisa Jackson, age 55.

In 1855, when Hannah was living with the Wheelers, Mary (12) lived with the family of Clarissa Williams, and Charles (10) lived with Elizabeth Alvord. Charles died in a fire at the Alvord house on 10 January 1856. A news article said that he was initially thought to be safe, but may have gone back into the building. He is buried in the Federal Street cemetery.

Charles and Mary Jinsey's graves are worn and hard to read

Hannah died of consumption at 16, as did her sister, Mary, in 1866. Records of the Federal Street cemetery in Greenfield have young Charles and Mary, but not Hannah.

Charles Taylor had remarried by 1860 to Jane who had been born in Virginia. In 1870 Joseph was still living with them at 21. Joseph Willard Taylor married in Halifax, Vermont 17 November 1874 to Julia Wells Church. It was his first marriage at 26, but her second. Joseph's next move is unknown. Charles was still living in Greenfield in 1880. At 65 he said he was a basket maker. A Charles Taylor received $91.59 from the pauper account in Greenfield, as listed in the 1880 Annual Town Report.

Abbie Todd lived with the Wheeler family in 1860. Both she and their daughter, Louisa, were reported to be 14. A year later, Mary Abbie Todd was married to Samuel Sugland, jr. when she stated that she was 18 and had been born in Williamstown. Their race on the Greenfield marriage register was marked "A" for African? Samuel was a cook, born in Westhampton. In 1865 Massachusetts again took a census. At that time, Abbie and Samuel were living in his mother, Lucy's, household with their two daughters, Eliza and Lucy. Abbie was recorded as 20, indicating she may have exaggerated her age at marriage. By 1870, they had two sons, Lorenzo and William. Samuel was a farm laborer, and in both 1865 and 1870 he was listed as a voter. In 1880 they were in Deerfield and had a third son, Lewis.

As I stated above, I'm posting this to get a few facts in sentences and hope to follow up in the future.