A couple of months ago, I purchased a book that provides information about the African-American manumissions for Washington County, Maryland. The objective… to see if I had any family members who freed slaves in the 1850s and even as late as the early 1860s, in advance of the Emancipation Proclamation. Now, as I mentioned in another post, almost exactly one year ago (see here), I am aware of my Moore ancestors owning slaves in Maryland. I know that, in 1825, my fourth great grandfather, James Draden Moore, sold slaves into the deep South, but later seemed to change his position on the matter of selling slaves outside the county. As his Will shows, he did not make arrangements for the freedom of slaves upon his death (1840), but he did specify that they could not be sold outside the county. There are a number of reasons why he may have made this decision, some being more compassionate than others. I know nothing about what happened to those slaves after his death, and I need to make time to research the matter more carefully.
So, with the purchase of this book on manumissions, I hoped to find something new. Unfortunately, there was nothing about James or his wife freeing any slaves. That said, however, I did learn that one of his sons, Joseph Saunders Moore*, did execute a deed of manumission on November 27, 1858. The result was the freedom of William Gasper, then “about 40 years of age… 5 feet 4 1/2 inches high, of a brown copper color, [with] a small scar on the right hand and one on his forehead.” I’ll admit, it’s not a lot of information, but worth documenting in the family records.
*I think I’ve mentioned Joseph Saunders Moore in a few places in some posts. In addition to being the brother of my third great grandfather, Cyrus S. Moore, he was also an active advocate for the Constitutional Unionist party in the Clear Spring area.
Terrie Cole Jeschke
February 26, 2010
I stumbled upon your blog while doing some ancestral research. James Draeden Moore was my great X 3 grandfather. Interesting information to include on Family Group Sheets. In your research on Joseph Saunders Moore, did you happen to find out the maiden name of his wife. I’m told it was Elizabeth Elflein (or Elfline). Any info would be appreciated. I’m stuck.
Robert Moore
February 26, 2010
You are a descendant of James Draden Moore (1773-1840)??!! This is great! Please let me know how you are descended from him. Joseph’s (1822-1860) wife’s maiden name was Feidt. Please write back!
Terrie Cole Jeschke
February 26, 2010
Indeed you’re right. I had skipped down to far on my fan chart. Joseph Saunders Moore married Mary Ann Feidt on 20 SEpt 1846 and they had 7 children (James, Sophia, infant unnamed, Mary, Joseph, George and Silas. George Moore b.1857 married Elizabeth Elflein (so my grandmother’s notes say). George died at a young age leaving behind three children, Mary, Edith and George, Jr.). When George, Sr. died, the children were split up but Mary returned to the family farm in Clear Spring to be raised by relatives. She then married Christopher Charles Cole and they had 4 children, one of which was my father – Donald MacFarland Cole. It tooks months to figure out this much, especially since George Moore was a common name and I chaseed the wrong one for a while. All the cross checks work on this lineage. It’s an interesting family….and not always easy to trace!
Robert Moore
February 26, 2010
I almost thought that you might be talking about Joseph Saunders Moore, Jr., but looking now, I see her maiden name was Ward.
Take a look at this site…
http://www.findagrave.com/cgi-bin/fg.cgi?page=gr&GRid=42227656
I’m building a graves database with as much info as I can inserted in here and there. I have the Moore line back to the 1600s and it’s valid. I did DNA testing and I’ve verified connections with other lines of Moores.
Terrie Cole Jeschke
February 26, 2010
I’ll have to take a look at the site. Sounds interesting. I’ve only gotten back to 1624 with a James Moore who married Mary?
Robert Moore
February 26, 2010
Joseph died relatively young as well.
Are you also aware of James Draden Moore’s first wife and children?
Terrie Cole Jeschke
February 26, 2010
I have a date of death on Joseph Saunders Moore of 13 Sept 1860. James Draeden Moore had another wife, Ann Lowe, born in 1778. I am not aware of the children’s names, though.
Robert Moore
February 26, 2010
I show George Moore marrying Mary C. Hoffmaster, 3/25/1878 in Washington County. I wonder where I got that from.
Terrie Cole Jeschke
February 26, 2010
Mary Hoffmaster was his first wife. I don’t know how the marriage ended. He probably did not marry Elizabeth until the late 188o’s or early 1890′s. My grandmother was the oldest of the three children and her birthdate is 29 Sept. 1893. Elizabeth Elfline had also been married before. Therefore she sometimes appears as Elizabeth Futhey (her first husband’s name). He moved to Los Angeles and she followed him out there after George’s death and remarried him producing another child. Grandmom lived with them for a little while.
Terrie Cole Jeschke
February 26, 2010
So, how far back do our lines converge… James Draeden Moore?
Terrie Cole Jeschke
February 26, 2010
Just looked at the website before heading out for the evening. That is really good!! Such a wealth of information.