Finding Great Grandmother's Son, Sam Bradford, Jr.

Since Steve Bailey found the 1880 Census with Sam and Lucy Bradford, I happened to notice a Sam Bradford living next door to Henderson and Lucy Nelms in 1910. Lucy was first married to Sam Bradford, so this Sam Bradford who was 28 caught our eye:

Year: 1910; Census Place: Beat 3, DeSoto, Mississippi; Roll: T624_738; Page: 9A; Enumeration District: 0017; FHL microfilm: 1374751

Being born after 1880, he was not on the 1880 Census. Looking at the 1900 Census, Lucy Bradford was now Lucy Nelms married to Henderson Nelms. They did have a son, Sammie Nelms. They were married in 1890.

Year: 1900; Census Place: Civil District 13, Shelby, Tennessee; Page: 18; Enumeration District: 0049; FHL microfilm: 1241597

In 1900, Lucy Nelms had six living children. We know that one of her children, Olean, was fathered by Sam Bradford. This we confirmed from the census and Olean's death certificate. Olean and Viola were on the 1880 Census. If you look closely at Olean's age, the 2 is written over a double-digit age. The children are in birth order.

In order to prove Sammie or Sam was Sam Bradford's child, we decided to look for a death certificate for Sam Bradford the son:

Tennessee State Library and Archives; Nashville, Tennessee; Tennessee Death Records, 1908-1958; Roll Number: 105

This death certificate proves we were right. Sam Bradford and Lucy Nelms were his parents. Lucy Nelms signed this death certificate in Memphis, Tennessee. They shared the same address. He was married. He was moved to Walls, Mississippi for burial. Perhaps other family members are buried there too.

The undertaker can be researched. These are just a few things we can use to learn more about Uncle Sam Bradford. These occurrences are common with me. If you want to know more about them, then read about how I found the formerly enslaved: My Best Genealogy Tips: Finding Formerly Enslaved Ancestors.