Tracing the roots of James Smallwood starts in 1870 in Thomasville, Georgia. Where I find his great grand father
Austin Smallwood and his wife Ellen living with their son Henry.
Cenus records indicate that Austin was born in Tennessee in 1825 and Ellen was born in Virginia in 1841. During
this period in history, Blacks were not considered as people, only as property. Most Black's living in the south and
born prior to January 1, 1863 were born into slavery. This made it difficult to locate family through the census bureau,
because enslaved blacks were counted as property of the slave owner.
On September 16, 1876 Henry married Brittie Mitchell, the daughter of Tom and Mandy Mitchell. To this union ten
(10) children were born: Annie, Joe, Eida, Janie, Lula, Ellen Henry, Solomon, Daniel and Maryetta.
Janie, the daughter of Henry and Brittie, conceived James out of wedlock. James was born on February 11,1899.
Janie later married Dan McClain and to this union four (4) children were born: Eva Bulah, Ira and William.
After Dan's death Janie married Emmitt Hammond and to this unionthree (3) children were born Monroe, Irene and
Clifford. After Emmitt's death Janie moved to Jacksonville, Fl where she died on May 30, 1933.
