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Cornelia/Milcah/Milkey/Milky Breeze

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This is a collection of evidence regarding whether Cornelia Breeze (1830-aft.1910) and Milcah/Milkey/Milky Breeze are the same person, the last living daughter of Caroline Breeze (1796-1900).

Contents

The 1870 Census

In 1870, Cornelia Breeze was living with her son, Charles, and his wife, Mary, in Easton, Maryland.

The 1880 Census

In 1880, Caroline Breeze was living with her son, Thomas Breeze, and two younger, adopted children, on Point Street in Easton.

The Shawl Story

In 1881, the Star-Democrat published an article about a case involving a shawl that was claimed by two women, one of whom was named Milkey Breeze. She is described as a "respectable colored woman of Easton." The article says that she claimed she "received the shawl in a bundle of goods sent her from Baltimore by her daughter some six years ago."

Someone named Aaron Lucas testified that he brought the bundle up from the steamboat. Charles Breeze and his wife both testified that they saw the bundle opened. A "highly respectable white lady" named Mrs. Edward H. Anderson testified that "some five or six years ago, when Charles Breeze lived on the New Bridge Road, Madam Breeze brought her a letter from her daughter to read, at the same time bringing with her the same identical shawl..."

The outcome of the case is confusing because it seems neither woman received the shawl. "Madame Breeze was not satisfied at losing the shawl, prizing above it price, as a present from her daughter, who is now living in New Jersey."

Caroline Breeze's Bad Fall

In July of 1893, the Baltimore Sun published an article saying Caroline Breeze had fallen down the stairs and that her doctor said she was likely to die. The article concludes with the following: "She is the oldest person in Easton. Four generations of the Breeze family live in the same house." She actually recovered. In fact...

Caroline Breeze Enjoying Life

Two weeks after her fall, this little item appeared in the Denton, Maryland Journal: "At the age of 105 Caroline Breeze, colored, still enjoys life at Easton. She claims that her mother was caught wild in Africa and could speak no English even at her death."

The 1900 Census

In June 1900, Caroline Breeze and Cornelia Breeze were living in the same household on Dover Street in Easton, Maryland. Caroline was the mother of six children, two of whom were living. Cornelia was the mother of three children, two living. Thomas Breeze was living on Thoroughgood Alley in Easton with his wife, step children, and daughter.

104 Years Old

In December 1900, Caroline Breeze's death notice appeared in the Baltimore Sun: "104 Years Old. [Special Dispatch to the Baltimore Sun] Easton, MD., Dec. 11.-- Caroline Breeze, colored, of Easton, died last night. She was over 104 years old, an ancient and authentic record of her birth showing she was born in March, 1796. Hers is a family of remarkable longevity. Previous to the old woman's death there were six generations of the Breezes living in the same house. Her daughter Milcah is 85."

The 1910 Census

In 1910, Camelia Breeze was living with her son Charles and three younger relatives at 21B Thoroughgood Lane.

Mrs. Milky Breeze's Illness

In February 1914, The Afro-American Ledger of Baltimore published a notice: "Mrs. Milky Breeze, of 42 Thoroughgood Lane, is still sick in bed from a general breakdown and old age."

Conclusions

Because

  1. No census records have turned up for Milcah or Milkey Breeze in Maryland, and
  2. Charles Breeze appears in the census with his mother Cornelia twice and in the article about Milkey Breeze and the shawl, and
  3. in 1900 Caroline Breeze had two children living, which going by the census that year would be her son Thomas and her daughter Cornelia, and
  4. Only one daughter, Milcah Breeze, is mentioned in Caroline's obituary, but we know Cornelia was alive at that time because she appeared later in the 1910 census, and
  5. Mrs. Milky Breeze was living on Thoroughgood Lane in 1914, a street where Cornelia Breeze was living in 1910, and
  6. I have not found any source that mentions both names in the same document,

I believe Cornelia Breeze and Milcah Breeze are the same person.

Sources

  • 1870 Census: "1870 United States Federal Census"
    Year: 1870; Census Place: Easton, Talbot, Maryland; Roll: M593_595; Page: 42B
    Ancestry Sharing Link - Ancestry Record 7163 #23647229 (accessed 22 June 2023)
    Cornelia Breese (41), Domestic, in Easton, Talbot, Maryland. Born in Maryland.
  • 1880 Census: "1880 United States Federal Census"
    Year: 1880; Census Place: Easton, Talbot, Maryland; Roll: 515; Page: 407B; Enumeration District: 075
    Ancestry Sharing Link - Ancestry Record 6742 #27626584 (accessed 22 June 2023)
    Caroline Breeze (80), widowed, Keeps House, head of household in Easton, Talbot, Maryland, USA. Born in Maryland.
  • 1900 Census: "1900 United States Federal Census"
    Year: 1900; Census Place: Easton, Talbot, Maryland; Roll: 628; Page: 23; Enumeration District: 0087
    Ancestry Sharing Link - Ancestry Record 7602 #37825138 (accessed 22 June 2023)
    Cornelia Breeze (70), widowed, Wash Woman, head of household in Easton, Talbot, Maryland. Born in Maryland, USA.
  • 1900 Census: "1900 United States Federal Census"
    Year: 1900; Census Place: Easton, Talbot, Maryland; Roll: 628; Page: 16; Enumeration District: 0087
    Ancestry Sharing Link - Ancestry Record 7602 #37824409 (accessed 22 June 2023)
    Thomas Breeze (60), married, Plasterer, head of household in Easton, Talbot, Maryland. Born in Maryland, USA.
  • 1910 Census: "1910 United States Federal Census"
    Year: 1910; Census Place: Easton, Talbot, Maryland; Roll: T624_568; Page: 21b; Enumeration District: 0093; FHL microfilm: 1374581
    Ancestry Sharing Link - Ancestry Record 7884 #159692113 (accessed 22 June 2023)
    Camelia Breeze (80), widowed mother, in household of Charles Breeze (62) in Easton, Talbot, Maryland, USA. Born in Maryland.




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