Melissa (Lowe) Barden (abt. 1844 - aft. 1937)

Born about 1844 in Summerville, Chattooga, Georgia, United States

Descendants

Biography

Melissa (Lowe) Barden is a part of US Black heritage.

Melissa Lowe was interviewed by Frank M. Smith as part of the Federal Writer's Project of the Works Progress Administration (WPA) Slave Narratives sometime between 1936-1938.^[1] At that time she thought she was 80-90 years of age. She was "bred and born" on the plantation of David Lowe near Summer[s]ville, Chattooga County, Georgia.

Her mother and sister were initially with Melissa on the Lowe plantation. "Only once did she feel ill towards him [her master David Lowe] and that was when he sold her mother." Melissa's sister was later given to Lowe's daughter as a wedding present.

"When the slaves were given their freedom her mother came to claim her children, but Melissa was the only one of the four she could find. Her mother took her to a plantation in Newton County, where they worked until coming north." The interview can be read here,

At the time of the interview, Melissa was living in Youngstown, Ohio with her daughter Nany Hardie. Her health was good with the exception of cataracts in her eyes causing her to be blind.

Her son Bloomer put her as his contact on his World War I draft registration in September 1918. Melissa was still in Youngstown, Ohio at that time.

Melissa was living in Youngstown with her daughter Nannie Hardy in the 1930 U.S. Census, she gave her age as 86.^[2]

Research notes

There exists a marriage record between Reuben Barden and "Malissa" Lowe in Georgia in 1880, but it is not known if this is the correct person. ^[3] Further research is necessary.

Possible Melissa and her mother, Nancy living in Georgia in the 1870 Census, Nancy was born in North Carolina and Melissa states on the 1930 census that her mother was born in North Carolina. Research needed.^[4]

A Melissa (Malissa) "Burden" in the 1900 U.S. Census living in Georgia with her mother Nancy Low, age 90. She's listed as being a widow, 47 years old. Living with them are Melissa's 6 children, including "Blumes"-probably Bloomer and "Nanie". Also her sister-in-law and child were living with her.^[5]

Slave Owners

• David Lowe of Summerville, Chattooga County, Georgia. Profile needs to be created. Seems to be the person in the following records:
  • 1860 slave schedule, D C R Lowe in Chattooga Valley, Chattooga County, Georgia: https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:WKVW-W2T2
  • 1860 census, D C R Lowe in Chattooga Valley, Chattooga County, Georgia: https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:MZMF-CFH
  • Find A Grave: Memorial #160135797

Sources

1. ↑ The Federal Writers' Project, Slave Narratives; A Folk History of Slavery in the United States From Interviews with Former Slaves, Vol. 12, Ohio, page 6, image 10 of 120, Melissa (Lowe) Barden interview, Washington, District of Columbia : The Library of Congress, 1941; image copy, Library of Congress (https://www.loc.gov/resource/mesn.120/?sp=10 : accessed 23 Feb 2022).
2. ↑ "United States Census, 1930," database with images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:X44T-5T8 : accessed 28 February 2021), Nannie L Hardy, Youngstown, Mahoning, Ohio, United States; citing enumeration district (ED) ED 37, sheet 54A, line 13, family 384, NARA microfilm publication T626 (Washington D.C.: National Archives and Records Administration, 2002), roll 1843; FHL microfilm 2,341,577.
3. ↑ "Georgia Marriages, 1808-1967", database, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:FW6Y-HLZ : 11 January 2020), Reuben Barden, 1880.
4. ↑ "United States Census, 1870", database with images, FamilySearch https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:MC34-66R : 28 May 2021, Malessa Lowe in entry for Nancy Lowe, 1870.
5. ↑ "United States Census, 1900," database with images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:M3VF-9RH : accessed 14 December 2021), Malissa Burden, Militia District 701 West Point city, Troup, Georgia, United States; citing enumeration district (ED) 69, sheet 21B, family 483, NARA microfilm publication T623 (Washington, D.C.: National Archives and Records Administration, 1972.); FHL microfilm 1,240,225.

• "United States Census, 1920", database with images, FamilySearch (https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:MDGV-92B : 3 February 2021), Nannie L Hardy in entry for Bloomer Barton, 1920.