Winters Family Historic Timeline
1842 -1910
James Winters & Senora Scales | Clara Ashbury
According to US Census, James Winters was born in Mississippi between 1835 and 1843. Since blacks couldn't read or write, it was very common for their birth dates to fluctuate with each US Census.
This time frame places him in the ownership of Arthur Smith Hogan (1777-1849) who owed property in Miss, Ala, and Tenn. At Hogans death in 1849, by his Last Will and Testament, James and his wife Senora (also owned by Hogan) would be passed down to his daughter Amanda Hogan and her then husband William Walker.
Amanda's older sister was Sarah Hogan, who had married Thacker Winter. These seemed to be a power couple making quite the decisions. It was this couple that moved to Washington, Texas with quite a few family members in tow.
Interesting to note is that James and Senora would name their 10th child, born in 1884,Thacker. Well after slavery, and Thacker Winter's death in 1867. Was Thacker James' father?
In the year 1845, in what we believe to be Franklin County, Lowndes, Mississippi, James Winters' wife, Senora Scales was born in slavery to her parents Julius Scales and Charlotte (Letty) Smith.
On Nov 17, 1860, Thacker Winter & his wife Sarah Hogan sell their Franklin County, Alabama property. They had inherited the land per deed from Sarah's father, Arthur Smith Hogan upon his death in 1849 by his Last Will and Testament.They then move to Washington County, Texas and purchase 335 1/2 acres of land at a cost of $10,063.
As revealed in the 1870 census, several of Sarah's family left their homes in the southern states, traveled west, and were shown living with Sarah and Thacker in Washington, Texas. My guess is they had a wagon train to Texas.
The civil war would start soon, 4 months later on April 12, 1861. It was common for slave owners to move to Texas to avoid their slaves being released by the North.
After her death, in 1892, Sarah's family sues to regain the previously sold Franklin County, Alabama property to keep it in the family, and provide for the living heirs. The case goes all the way to the Alabama Supreme Court, "Campbell v Noble" in 1895. This was a crucial point in my research because it heavily refered to Arthur Hogan's 1849 Last Will and Testament as key evidence. This was extremely beneficial this document listed the names of all 85 of Arthur's slaves as well as who would inherit them.
The fight for freedom begins. I found a record for a colored James Winters who fought in the war. However, it lists his unit as being in Ohio. I can't validate that this is our James Winters, so I prefer to error on the side of caution.
Juneteenth (short for “June Nineteenth”) marks the day when federal troops arrived in Galveston, Texas in 1865 to take control of the state and ensure that all enslaved people be freed. The troops’ arrival came a full two and a half years after the signing of the Emancipation Proclamation. Juneteenth honors the end to slavery in the United States and is considered the longest-running African American holiday. On June 17, 2021, it officially became a federal holiday. Galveston is 128 miles away from Washington Texas, and is where James and Senora's youngest son, Nelson Winters would move to in later years.
According to the 1900 US Census, James and Senora state that they were married in 1865. This must have been right after emancipation and Juneteenth. To date, I have been unable to find the marriage document.
The first of 12 children, Mary Winters was Born on Aug 31, 1866.
The second of 12 children, James Alexander Winters, Jr was born on July 20, 1867
The image above shows that on July 27th, 1867, James, who is listed as colored, registered to vote. This was the first time blacks were registered and was due to the March 23, 1867 U.S. Congress passage of “An Act supplementary to an Act entitled.
The first clause of this act required that, by 1 September 1867, each district would register all male citizens of the United States over the age of 21 that were qualified to vote.
In this record, James states that he was in the state of Texas for 6 years and the county of Washington for 6 years. This time frame coincides with Thacker Winter and Sarah Hogan-Winter's arrival to Washington, Texas in 1861.
The third of 12 children, Louise Winters was born in January 1870
According to the 1870 US census, recorded on July 30, 1870, we find James and Senora living in Brenham, Washington county. This record shows him as being 27 years old, placing his birth in 1843. Senora is shown as being 24, placing her birth in 1846. Their ages would change from census to census. Here we see that James’ occupation was a farmer, and Senora was keeping house. We also see that they are listed as black as opposed to Mullatto. Neither can read nor write.
James lists his birthplace as Alabama, which again would change on the 1880 and 1900 Census. Their first 3 children are listed are M.S, 5 year old female, Perry, a 3 year old boy, and M.L, a female who is only 5/12 months. We now know that these were Mary, James and Louise.
In looking at their neighbors on the same page, we discover that they are living between Senora’s family. Her parents, Julius Scales and Letty (Charlotte) are on one side, and her maternal grandparents Louis and Katy Smith are on the other side.
Several names, such as Louis Smith, born in North Carolina in 1799 are listed in Arthur Hogan's 1849 Last Will and Testament as well as the 1828 Hogan vs Bell: Alabama Supreme Court case. This allowed me to trace Senora's family back to the late 1700's.
Also interesting to note is that Arthur Flewallen, is also living next to Louis and Katy. Arthur’s signature is second below James on the voter registration list
The fourth of 12 children, Scott Winters was born in 1872
The fifth of 12 children, Lottie Winters was born in 1874
The sixth of 12 children, Betty Winters was born in January 1876
The seventh of 12 children, Jeff Winters was born in 1878.
In the 1880 census, we see the Winters still living in Washington, but this time the census recorder identifies the area as “Precinct 1”. Other areas are Brenham, Chapel Hill, Independence (where James registered to vote in 1867), Precinct 4 and Precinct 6. The Enumeration District of 140 is described as “Embracing all that territory in Justice Precinct No 1, lying south of the road leading from Brenham to Fayette., Smith Ferry and North of the road leading from Brenham to the Old Rock Island Ferry on the Brazos River”. In theory, this should help us narrow down the geographical location.
James is now shown as being 40 years of age while Senora is 35. If the ages in the 1870 was correct, they should be 37 and 34. However, since this census was taken on June 17, 1880, and the 1870 census was taken on July 30, 1870, then perhaps Senora’s birthday was between those dates.
James and surrounding neighbors’ occupations are now listed as “laborer” as compared to farmers, while Senora is “keeping house”. We also see that Senora’s nickname was “Nora”. In addition to their previously born 3 children, Mary, James (nicknamed Jimmie) and Louise, we see that they have had four more children. Scott, a male of 8 years old, Lottie a female of 6, Bettie a female of 4, and Jeff, a male of 2.
The eight child of 12 children, John Alexander Winters was born on Sept 15, 1881. However, Johns mother is Clara Ashbury. When I look at the deed for land purchase on Dec 29, 1882, Senora's name is inexplicably missing.
James Winters purchases 100 acres of land known as part of the Andrew Miller League for $1700 from a person by the name of Newton Harrison. Noticeably missing from the document is the inclusion of Senora.
The arrangement was $300 down and four promissory notes of $362.50. The payments which were due yearly had interest at the rate of ten cent per annum value received and was as follows:
Jan 1st, 1884 | Jan 1st 1885
Jan 1st 1886 | Jan 1st 1887
*A note of observation is the relatively low cost per acre compared to Sarah Hogan's original purchase of Texas land in 1861, 20 years earlier. She purchased 335 acres for over $10,000. Did the war drive the cost down, or was this Newton Harrison somehow connected to James and was giving him a great deal.
This document was filed for record on Nov 8, 1918
James Winters purchases 9.45/100 acres of a certain parcel of land known as the Andrew Miller League from N.J Thompson for $343.85. The document I found was filed for record on Nov 8, 1918. James Winters passed away in 1907, so perhaps this record is either for the final payment or the transfer of land at Senora's death.
I'm at a loss to explain this record. This is the same land purchased from NJ Thompson the prior month. Except now we can clearly see James AND Senora's signatures as they appear to be arare selling it back to him for $122.85.
The ninth of 12 children, Malasia Winters was born in November 1882
The tenth of 12 children, Thacker Winter was born in April 1884
The eleventh of 12 children, Senora Winters was born in April 18in January 1886
The twelth of 12 children, Nelson Winters was born in June 1888
The 1890 census was burned in a fire and all records were lost. Therefore there is a 20 year gap from 1880 to 1900 where we have no records of what occurred.
However, we aren't totally lost. First off, we notice that there are only 6 children living with James and Senora. Hint: the others are now married.
Its from this record that we discover that James and Senora have been married for 35 years. We also see that 11 children were born and 11 children were still living.
Also, James and Senora are now both stating that they and there parents were from Mississippi.
James has now gained a 9 year difference in age from his previous 5 year gap. While Him and Senora still cant read or write, their children can. James will not be listed in the 1910 census, because unfortunately he passes in 1907.
This very simplistic document states that James passed away at his home on August 17, 1907 at 5pm. It states that he was born in 1842 and that he was 65 when he passed.
Cause of death was Nephritis.
Senora is now shown as being 65 and a widow. (James passed 3 years go in 1907). The record shows 13 children born and only 10 living. The number was reduced from 11 because Scott Winters passed away in 1908, almost exactly one year from his Father James. the extra 2 children are a mystery. Did James and Senora attempt to have more children in after 1900? Its more likely that they passed in earlier decades and Senora is finally recording them.
I do want to point out that her daughter Senora (nicknamed Norah) is living with her at 25 years old and is listed as single. Also living with her is her grandson Carnovia Hayes, 13 years old from her oldest daughter, Mary Winters-Hayes, and her granddaughter Senorah Lathan, 8 years old from her daughter Bettie Winters-Lathan.
**Fun Fact:
That's THREE Senoras' living under the same roof !!
To date, I have been unsuccessful at finding a death record for Senora. Im estimating her death to be about 1918. I know that she remarried on Nov 15, 1915 and her husband was named Rufus. In the 1920 Census, after her death, her grandchildren and Senora are listed as living with him.