VICKERS/MERRIWETHER/WASHINGTON/TURNER FAMILY HISTORY
Vickers / Merriwether / Washington / Turner
Family Tree
Welcome to the Vickers / Merriwether / Washington / Turner Family Tree! This website is dedicated to celebrating the rich history and heritage of our family, tracing our roots back through generations. Whether you're a direct descendant, a distant relative, or a genealogy enthusiast, we invite you to explore our collective story, filled with fascinating tales, cherished memories, and significant milestones. Dive into the family tree to uncover the lives and legacies of our ancestors. Discover how their journeys and experiences have shaped who we are today. Our interactive family tree and detailed records are designed to bring our history to life, offering insights into the past and connections to the present. We encourage you to contribute your knowledge and updates to help keep our family tree vibrant and accurate. Share your stories, photos, and documents to ensure our history continues to grow and thrive. Join us in preserving our legacy for future generations.
Welcome to the Vickers / Merriwether / Washington / Turner Family Tree — our shared heritage awaits!
Parris Adams (1816-1902)
3rd Great-Grandfather of Dr. Selwyn Vickers
Parris Adams, the third paternal great-grandfather of Dr. Selwyn Vickers, was a remarkable individual whose life unfolded against the backdrop of the tumultuous social and cultural landscape of 19th-century South Carolina. Born March 1816 in South Carolina, Parris Adams was considered a Mulatto, a term indicative of his mixed racial heritage, which was not uncommon in the region during that era.
At the time of his birth, South Carolina was deeply entrenched in the institution of slavery, with a society structured around rigid racial hierarchies and stark divisions between enslaved Africans, free people of color, and white landowners. Despite the oppressive conditions of the time, Parris Adams navigated the complexities of his identity and forged his path with resilience and determination.
In 1870, Parris Adams married Adaline Collins, also considered a Mulatto, who was born around 1834 in Alabama. Their union marked the beginning of a family legacy characterized by strength, perseverance, and love. Over the course of 18 years, Parris and Adaline welcomed 11 children into the world, with their family growing amidst the challenges and uncertainties of post-Civil War Reconstruction.
Their eldest son, Monroe Adams, entered the world in 1862, amidst the turmoil of the Civil War. Following the war's conclusion, Parris and Adaline welcomed another son, Green Adams, in October of 1865, symbolizing hope and new beginnings in the aftermath of conflict. In September 1867, they celebrated the birth of their first daughter, Safronia Alabama Adams, alongside another son, Newton Adams. Safronia Adams is Dr. Selwyn Vickers’ second paternal great-grandmother who married Lewis Glover and gave birth to his great-grandmother Maggie Glover who married Charlie “AJ” Freeman and gave birth to his grandmother Ruth Mae Freeman who married John Oscar Vickers and gave birth to his father Dr. John Vickers.
Notably, in the same year of Safronia Alabama Adams’ birth, Parris Adams made history as one of the first African American men registered to vote in the state of Alabama, marking a significant milestone in the family's journey towards political empowerment and civic engagement.
In a pivotal moment of opportunity, on January 24, 1895, U.S. President Grover Cleveland granted Parris Adams and his heirs a tract of land in Cherokee, Etowah County, Alabama, as part of the Homestead Act. This legislation, enacted in 1862, aimed to promote westward expansion and settlement by offering land grants to individuals willing to cultivate and develop undeveloped land. For African Americans in the South, the Homestead Act represented a rare opportunity for economic independence and land ownership in a region marked by systemic inequality and land dispossession.
Parris Adams lived a long and impactful life, passing away on June 7, 1902, at the age of 86. His legacy endures through his descendants and the indelible mark he left on his community and the broader struggle for equality and justice. He rests in peace at New Bethel United Methodist Church Cemetery in Ball Play, Etowah County, Alabama, a testament to the resilience and determination of one man in the face of adversity.
Mary Ann Portes (1835-1917)
3rd Great-Grandmother of Janice Washington Vickers
Mary Ann Portes, the third maternal great-grandmother of Janice Washington Vickers, was born around 1835 in Sumter County, Alabama, during a time of significant cultural and social upheaval in the region. Sumter County, like much of the South, was deeply entrenched in the institution of slavery, with a plantation-based economy reliant on the labor of enslaved people. However, the area was also influenced by the presence of Native American tribes, particularly the Choctaw, who had been forcibly removed from their ancestral lands and resettled in Mississippi and Alabama following the Treaty of Dancing Rabbit Creek in 1830.
As a mulatto woman born in Sumter County, Mary Ann Portes likely belonged to a mixed-race community that straddled the racial and social divides of the time. Her heritage may have included both Choctaw Indian and white ancestry, reflecting the complex racial dynamics of the region. The Treaty of Dancing Rabbit Creek, which led to the removal of Native American tribes from the Southeast, resulted in intermingling between Native American, African American, and European American populations.
In 1882, Mary Ann married John W. Pollard, a local barber who shared her mixed-race heritage. Together, they had five children: Mittie, John, Caroline, Adelle, and David. The oldest three children were born into slavery, while the youngest two, Adelle and David, were born during the Civil War. Despite the challenges of slavery and war, Mary Ann and John managed to build a life for themselves and their family. Adelle Pollard is Janice Washington Vickers’ second maternal great-grandmother who married Primus Lemon, Jr. and gave birth to her great-grandmother Mary Lemon who married Ed Moss and gave birth to her grandmother Bertha Moss who married Isaac "Creek" Turner and gave birth to her mother Leona Turner who married Julius Caesar Washington.
After the Civil War, Mary Ann's husband, John W. Pollard, became one of the first African American men in Alabama to register to vote, marking a significant milestone in the family's history. By 1880, according to the Census of Agriculture Productions, the family owned 16 acres of land, valued at $400, along with livestock and equipment to work the land. This ownership represented a remarkable achievement for a formerly enslaved family in the post-war South.
Mary Ann outlived her husband, who passed away in 1901. She lived to the age of 82, passing away on August 14, 1917, in Gainesville, Sumter County, Alabama. Her life story is a testament to resilience, perseverance, and the enduring spirit of those who sought to build a better future for themselves and their descendants despite the challenges of their time. Today, she is remembered as a pioneering figure in her family's history, whose legacy continues to inspire future generations.
