William Green (abt. 1850 - aft. 1936)

Born about 1850 in Mississippi, United States

Died after 1936 after about age 86 in San Antonio, Bexar, Texas, United States

Biography

Bill Green is a part of US Black heritage.

William was a Freedman living in San Antonio, Bexar, Texas, when interviewed at around the age of 87 in 1937 by the Federal Writers' Project for their Slave Narrative Project. The narratives are in the Library of Congress, and are considered in the Public Domain.^[1][2]

William was born about 1850 in Mississippi on the plantation of John Montgomery, his slave owner. Montgomery brought him to Texas from Mississippi in 1862 . At the time of his interview, William was living in San Antonio, Bexar County, Texas, where he had lived for 50 years.

William relayed that about five years after emancipation he began preaching and preached for many years. He also worked on a farm "half and half" with the owner.

William stated he was alone in the world with no children.

Research Notes

No records could be found for William Green in Family Search, Ancestry or Find A Grave.

Given the narrative above regarding his entry into the ministry, it would seem that he had no formal education or training to make the endeavor "official" -- which was the case with many ministers, then and now. I'm proposing that the prefix, Reverend be removed, but the nickname "Reverend Bill" remain as that is likely how he was known by many, affectionately as well as respectfully. The issue is not one of qualification or licensure; only about too many "reverends" in his WikiTree name. We are collaborators, so any WikiTreer can change this if he or she sees fit.

Sources

1. ↑ Federal Writers' Project: Slave Narrative Project, Vol. 1, Alabama, Aarons-Young. to 1937, 1936. Manuscript/Mixed Material. https://www.loc.gov/item/mesn010/.
2. ↑ Federal Writers' Project: Slave Narrative Project, Vol. 16, Texas, Part 2, Easter-King(https://www.loc.gov/resource/mesn.162/?sp=101&st=text)

See also:

• A site that claims the Slave Narratives were sometimes altered by the interviewer, and/or government reviewers, and did not represent the true words of the enslaved person. [1]