Mama Aggie

Aggie Andrews
1868? - Unknown

My great-great grandmother Ms. Aggie Andrews Burns Farrow has proven to be very mysterious, in the post regarding Aunt Bessie Lewis Butler it was noted that she may well have had at least 18 children. We just recently discovered Arthur Burns and I believe that Mama Aggie was pregnant with Uncle Arthur when she was living with the Rashens (or Rathers) in the 1900 US Census possibly on a plantation in rural Hinds County, Mississippi. It's generally agreed that she in fact hailed from Hinds County even if she did on occasion move around.

The first hit on Mama Aggie was in the 1870 US Census living with Surner (probably Turner), Maria, and Abram in Hinds County, MISS. I can presume that Turner and Maria are the parents of Aggie & Abram, however, in 1870 they didn't exactly specify the relationships this group had.

Aggie was listed as being aged 1 which leads credence that she was born in 1868. Also I tried to look up Turner or Surner (Ancestry.com came up with Surner I think his name is actually Turner), Maria, and Abram and have come up empty. It's interesting that Maria lists herself as being born in North Carolina.

Further up from that listing I see another Andrews group.

Could Rev. Simon, French, Mahala Andrews be some of Aggie's kinfolks? Also note that while French is listed as being from Mississippi. Simon and Mahala are from North Carolina also.

And there here's something contradictory in the 1880 US Census, an Aggie Andrews was living with a different set of folks living in Tunnel Hill, Lauderdale, MISS. So in 1870 she went from being only 1 years old to 16 in 1880?

So listed as her parents William & Lucy with Aggie and sister Roxey. Then two brothers Henry & Everess.

Was she actually born in 1864 as opposed to 1868?

The next time we see Mama Aggie she was back in Hinds County with her three boys Turner, William, and James in the 1900 US Census when she was possibly living on the Rashen (or Rather) plantation. I've already went over this when I discussed the situation of the family when the Tribal Chief was a baby. Aggie's birth month and year is listed as July 1868 in that 1900 US Census.

Wait, was Turner Burns named for his kinfolk or possibly grandfather Turner (Surner) Andrews? Two possible parental relationships for Aggie have been discovered. Is it Tuner (or Surner) & Maria or William & Lucy? Who are her actual parents?

The next time we see Aggie after that in the 1920 US Census this time living with her 14-year-old son Robert and her husband James Fairrow (Farrow) in Hinds County, MISS. They were recorded on two separate pages unfortunately.

What I find interesting here is the origin of the parents for both. Mr. Fairrow lists his parents birthplace in Tennessee. For Aggie her father is from South Carolina and her mother is from Virginia.

I wish there was more on Robert one of James Burns' brothers, however, so far nothing on him yet. And another point of contention we don't really know when Mama Aggie ended her relationship with the Tribal Chief's father Willie Burns so could Robert be Mr. Fairrow's son or is he one of Willie's sons? All we know is that Robert is living with his mother and possibly step-father in 1920.

By 1930 Robert had left home and all that's left is Aggie Ann and James W Fairrow as recorded in that year's US Census out of Forrest County, MISS

This time James Fairrow lists his own birthplace as Tennessse, however, his parents were born in the United States. Aggie still lists her parents, father born in South Carolina and her mother born in Virginia as was seen in the 1920 US Census.

Allow me to make a quick note as I do this research I've learned that there is often a brick wall beyond 1870. This is significant as this is about five years after the end of the American Civil War and the end of slavery with the 13th Amendment. If you're able to find your ancestors on the census at that time, then there is a good chance you might find out who might be the family that once owned your ancestor(s).

What I've also learned is that most of the time the formerly enslaved often took the surname of their former slave masters though sometimes they do change their surnames. That be another thing to keep in mind. Another source of records to look up is the old Freedmen Bureau which was set up by the federal gov't to take care of the needs of the newly freed slaves and I have found some documents with regards to possible ancestors which at a later time I'd be very happy to share with you all.