Key Facts

Snapshot:	farm laborer
Parents:	360Robert Black 361Viny Bruton
Born:	circa 1798 Georgia
Last known record:	1870 census Glascock County, Georgia
Buried:	unknown

180William Black was born in Georgia circa 1798.1-3

Problem: Resolved Who is 180William's father? 180William Black was born in Georgia circa 17981-3 and married in Jefferson County, Georgia in 1822,4 so he was probably in Georgia in 1820. In the 1820 census I find only two heads of household in Georgia who were named William Black: William Black in Habersham County, oldest white male is age 26-44;5 and William Black in Screven County, oldest white male is age 45+.6 Since these entries don't align with what we know about our 180William Black, he must have been living in someone else's household, but whose? Since 180William married in Jefferson County in 1822,4 let's check Jefferson County and all of the counties that surrounded it as of 1820 (i.e., Burke, Emanuel, Richmond, Warren, and Washington) for any Black-surname households that include a white male of age 16-25 who is not the apparent head of household. With these parameters, I find only one such relevant household: that of 360Robert Black in Jefferson County, whose household included two young white men of age 16-25.7 Since we have reason to suspect that 360Robert Black is 180William's father, let's look for other evidence to support or refute this hypothesis. Fortunately, Jefferson County tax digests provide such evidence: In 1819 360Robert Black was the only Black taxpayer in Jefferson County.8 In 1820, however, there were two: 360Robert Black9 and 180William Black,10 both in Captain Lampp's militia district 76 (map). Since the poll tax was levied when a man reached age 21, 180William's absence from the 1819 digest then sudden appearance in 1820 is expected, since he was born circa 1798.1-3 Since we know that (1) 360Robert Black had a young man of 180William's age in his household in 1820;7 since 360Robert and 180William lived close to each other (i.e., in the same militia district);9,10 and since 180William owed no property tax10 and therefore must have resided in someone else's house (i.e., in 360Robert's); it is therefore overwhelmingly probable that 180William was living with 360Robert, and therefore overwhelmingly probable that 180William is 360Robert's son. At first glance it may seem slightly odd that 360Robert and 180William aren't listed sequentially on the same page, as fathers and their newly of-age sons often are in tax digests, but this is because 180William defaulted on his taxes in 182010 and 1821,11 so he had to be listed separately among the defaulters. His defaulting on the poll tax and owing no property tax are further markers of youth, albeit loose and circumstantial. In 1821 360Robert, 180William, and a certain John Black (relation unknown) all lived in the same militia district 76,11 but afterward they vanish: No Black-surname men are included in Jefferson County tax digests for 1822 through 1828.12 Perhaps they moved together to Warren County, where 180William turns up in 1830;13 sadly, Warren County tax digests from this period are no longer extant. In any case, their apparently simultaneous move loosely suggests a familial relationship. 360Robert eventually re-appears alone (i.e., as the only Black taxpayer in the county) in Jefferson County in 182914 and 1830.15 180William was in Warren County (adjacent to Jefferson County) in 1830.13

Problem: Resolved Who is 180William's mother? 180William's father 360Robert married 361Viny Bruton in 1795,16 and they were still married in 1850.17 180William was born circa 1798.1-3 Therefore, 180William's mother must be 361Viny Bruton.

He married 181Judah Thompson on 16 October 1822 in Jefferson County, Georgia.4

1822: 180William's and 181Judah's marriage record. Full page.4

The 1830,13 1840,18 and 18501 censuses all show their family in Warren County, Georgia. Like some later records, the 1850 census indicates that 180William was illiterate.1

1830: 180William's family in Warren County, Georgia. Full page.13

1840: 180William's family still in Warren County. Full page.18

1850: 180William's family still in Warren County. Full page.1

An 1849 tax digest shows that he lived in militia district 151 (which no longer exists) in Warren County, and that he owned no taxable property.19

By 1860 they had relocated to Glascock County, Georgia.2

1860: 180William's family in militia district 1167 (map), Glascock County, Georgia. Full page.2

After the Civil War, in 1867 the U.S. Congress passed several Reconstruction Acts. These Acts divided the former Confederacy into several military occupation zones, which were ruled by Union military commanders. The Acts also directed the commanding officers to register Southerners who wanted to vote in upcoming elections. One registration requirement was to swear an oath of loyalty to the United States; the obvious intent was to disfranchise any lingering Confederate resistance. 180William signed his oath on 1 August 1867. His oath indicates that he was a resident of militia district 1169 (map).20

1867: 180William's Reconstruction-era voter registration oath.20

By 1870, all their children had moved out. The old couple lived alone in Glascock County.3

1870: 180William and his wife in Glascock County, Georgia. Full page.3

The 1870 census is the last record I've found that mentions 180William. I don't know where he's buried and have found no estate records. His wife 181Juda is listed alone in the 1880 census,21 so he undoubtedly died sometime in the 1870's.

Sources Cited:

1: 1850 U.S. Federal Census (Population Schedule). Warren County, Georgia. Page 130B, dwelling 62, family 62, William Black household. NARA microfilm publication M432, roll 86. FamilySearch, <https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:S3HT-XCML-2N?cc=1401638&personaUrl=%2Fark%3A%2F61903%2F1%3A1%3AMZY6-7VC>.

2: 1860 U.S. Federal Census (Population Schedule). Militia district 1167, Glascock County, Georgia. Page 10, dwelling 76, family 77, William Black household. NARA microfilm publication M653, roll 124. FamilySearch, <https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:33S7-9YBT-48B?cc=1473181&personaUrl=%2Fark%3A%2F61903%2F1%3A1%3AMZMD-8BT>.

3: 1870 U.S. Federal Census (Population Schedule). Glascock County, Georgia. Page 47, dwelling 381, family 381, William Black household. NARA microfilm publication M593, roll 152. FamilySearch, <https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:S3HT-XCZQ-DR1?i=46&cc=1438024&personaUrl=%2Fark%3A%2F61903%2F1%3A1%3AMC33-C2Z>.

4: Jefferson County, Georgia. Marriage book A white (1803-1880), page 133, marriage of William Black and Judah Thompson. FamilySearch, <https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:33SQ-GPPX-99BZ?cc=1927197&personaUrl=%2Fark%3A%2F61903%2F1%3A1%3AFWHK-HQX>, accessed 26 January 2020.

5: 1820 U.S. Federal Census. Habersham County, Georgia. Page 10 (handwritten) or 122 (stamped), William Black household. NARA microfilm publication M33, roll 6. FamilySearch, <https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:33SQ-GYB3-989K?view=explore&action=view&cc=1803955&lang=en&groupId=TH-1942-25143-30475-65>. Since the 1820 census often lacks column headers, you may find this template helpful.

6: 1820 U.S. Federal Census. Screven County, Georgia. Page 253, William Black household. NARA microfilm publication M33, roll 7. FamilySearch, <https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:33SQ-GYBC-4NT?lang=en&i=8&cc=1803955>. Since the 1820 census often lacks column headers, you may find this template helpful.

7: 1820 U.S. Federal Census. Jefferson County, Georgia. Page 12, Robert Black household. NARA microfilm publication M33, roll 10. FamilySearch, <https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:33S7-9YB8-6Y1?view=index&personArk=%2Fark%3A%2F61903%2F1%3A1%3AXHG6-L6Z&action=view&cc=1803955&lang=en&groupId=>. Since the 1820 census often lacks column headers, you may find this template helpful. The numbers represent, respectively: 2 boys age 0-9; 3 boys age 10-15; 2 young men age 16-25; 1 man age 45+; 2 girls age 0-9; 4 girls age 10-15; 3 young women age 16-25; one woman age 45+; 3 people engaged in agriculture; 1 person engaged in manufactures.

8: Jefferson County, Georgia. Tax digest book for the year 1819, page 25, line 1, Robert Black. FamilySearch, <https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:3Q9M-CS4K-VZZV-6>, accessed 24 May 2025. The index at the beginning of the book back lists no other Blacks.

9: Jefferson County, Georgia. Tax digest book for the year 1820, page 25, entry 7, Robert Black. FamilySearch, <https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:3Q9M-CS4K-VZH1-W>, accessed 24 May 2025. The index at the beginning of the book back lists no other Blacks but Robert and William.

10: ibid., page 28, entry 143, William Black. FamilySearch, <https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:3Q9M-CS4K-VZCT-M>, accessed 24 May 2025.

11: Jefferson County, Georgia. Tax digest book for the year 1821, page 33, entries #180 for Robert Black, #181 for John Black, and #192 for William Black. FamilySearch, <https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:3Q9M-CS4K-VZDX-Z>, accessed 24 May 2025.

12: Jefferson County, Georgia. Tax digest books for the years 1822-1828, indices at the front of each back, sections for surnames beginning with B. These links will guide you to each: 1822, 1823, 1824, 1825, 1826, 1827, 1828.

13: 1830 U.S. Federal Census. Warren County, Georgia. Page 229, Wm Black household. NARA microfilm publication M19, roll 21. FamilySearch, <https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:33SQ-GYY1-FC1?cc=1803958&personaUrl=%2Fark%3A%2F61903%2F1%3A1%3AXHGB-LFJ>.

14: Jefferson County, Georgia. Tax digest book for the year 1829, page 2 (which pertains to Captain Woods' militia district 83), entry 79, Robert Black. FamilySearch, <https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:3Q9M-CSLZ-K2G3>, accessed 25 May 2025.

15: Jefferson County, Georgia. Tax digest book for the year 1830, page 1 (which pertains to Captain Woods' militia district 83), entry 28, Robert Black. FamilySearch, <https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:3Q9M-CSLZ-K2JH>, accessed 25 May 2025.

16: 1850 U.S. Federal Census (Population Schedule). Warren County, Georgia. Page 130B, dwelling 62, family 62, William Black household. NARA microfilm publication M432, roll 86. FamilySearch, <https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:S3HT-XCML-2N?cc=1401638&personaUrl=%2Fark%3A%2F61903%2F1%3A1%3AMZY6-7VC>.

17: Warren County, Georgia. Marriages book A (1794-1814), page 2, an entry dated 18 March 1795 for Robert Black and Viny Bruton. FamilySearch, <https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:33S7-8BZ3-YX?view=index&lang=en&groupId=>, accessed 25 May 2025.

18: 1840 U.S. Federal Census. Warren County, Georgia. Page 22, line 51, William Black household. NARA microfilm publication M704, roll 53. FamilySearch, <https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:33S7-9YTB-9SY2?i=2&cc=1786457&personaUrl=%2Fark%3A%2F61903%2F1%3A1%3AXHBN-YFK>

19: Warren County, Georgia. Tax digest for 1849, section for Land's district 151, page 9, entry for William Black Rabun. Ancestry.com ("Georgia, U.S., Property Tax Digests, 1793-1892" / Warren / 1849 / images 19 and 20 of 122), accessed 7 May 2023.

20: Georgia's 1867-1868 Voter Registration Oath Books. Volume 107 (Glascock County Book 5), page 170, entry 122, William Black. Ancestry.com ("Georgia, Returns of Qualified Voters and Reconstruction Oath Books, 1867-1869" / Oath Book / Glascock / 18 / image 159 of 261), accessed 28 October 2021. The corresponding microfilm at the Georgia Archives is microfilm 296/49.

21: 1880 U.S. Federal Census (Population Schedule). Militia district 1234, Glascock County, Georgia. Enumeration district 32, page 30, dwelling 272, family 272, Julie Black household. NARA microfilm publication T9, roll 148. FamilySearch, <https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:33S7-9YYT-99Y9?i=7&cc=1417683&personaUrl=%2Fark%3A%2F61903%2F1%3A1%3AM8G9-9Y2>.