Person:Bessie Williams (23)

Mitochondrial DNT test (mtDNA) shows Haplogroup D (American Indian on maternal line). Direct maternal link forward to Leslie Ross Tate, who provided the DNA sample for analysis.

Married Joseph Alexander (Edward?) Dickinson on 11 Feb 1906 at Oakman, AL. Died at West End Baptist Hospital in Birmingham AL, but had been living in a garage apartment at her son Travis' home im McCalla for several years prior to that.

Buried in Adger, AL, community cemetery alongside her husband.

Bessie's parents were living in Graysville, AL, in Fall 1898, when her father Joseph, brother Wesley, and Bessie had their picture made together.

Family history indicates she had considerable American Indian ancestry. See biography of her mother Odella GRANTHAM for additional notes.

Daughter Mabel said there was a silversmith in the family and Bessie had once had a silver container (creamer or sugar bowl?) that was used to hold silverware for the dining table. Her granddaughter Carole Dickinson said the silversmith was from the family of Joseph Alexander Dickinson and that his father and mother had moved there home furnishings between PA and AL (when jobs moved). During one of these moves, the a case of silver heirlooms was lost or stolen.

Bessie made delicious pound cakes. Her daughter Annie Laura (my mother) said Bessie made a very white soap when they were growing up. Granddaughter Carole Dickinson said Bessie was an excellent cook and made Beef Wellington and some English dishes; these possibly were learned from her mother-in-law Dorothy Marshall Dickinson.

About two years before her death gave a handmade quilt to me and my two brothers.

1. ↑ ^{1.0 1.1 1.2} United States. 1900 U.S. Census Population Schedule. (National Archives Microfilm Publication T623)
   Year: 1900; Census Place: Precinct 39, Jefferson, Alabama; Roll: T623_21; Page: 7A; Enumeration District: 116.

   Birth date: Jun 1890 Birth place: Alabama Residence date: 1900 Residence place: Precinct 30, 39, Jefferson, Alabama _APID: 1,7602::79813167

   http://trees.ancestry.com/rd?f=sse&db=1900usfedcen&h=79813167&ti=0&indiv=try&gss=pt

2. ↑ ^{2.0 2.1 2.2} Alabama, Deaths and Burials Index, 1881-1974.

   Birth date: abt 1890 Birth place: Death date: 30 Sep 1970 Death place: Birmingham, Jefferson, Alabama _APID: 1,2543::1620685

   http://trees.ancestry.com/rd?f=sse&db=fsalabamadeath&h=1620685&ti=0&indiv=try&gss=pt

3. ↑ ^{3.0 3.1 3.2} United States. 1920 U.S. Census Population Schedule. (National Archives Microfilm Publication T625)
   Year: 1920; Census Place: Clarks, Marion, Alabama; Roll: T625_33; Page: 6B; Enumeration District: 66; Image: .

   Birth date: abt 1890 Birth place: Alabama Residence date: 1920 Residence place: Clarks, Marion, Alabama _APID: 1,6061::106327945

   http://trees.ancestry.com/rd?f=sse&db=1920usfedcen&h=106327945&ti=0&indiv=try&gss=pt

4. ↑ ^{4.0 4.1 4.2} United States. 1930 U.S. Census Population Schedule. (National Archives Microfilm Publication T626)
   Year: 1930; Census Place: Precinct 12, Walker, Alabama; Roll: 52; Page: 12B; Enumeration District: 18; Image: 801.0.

   Birth date: abt 1891 Birth place: Residence date: 1930 Residence place: Precinct 12, Walker, Alabama _APID: 1,6224::118211349

   http://trees.ancestry.com/rd?f=sse&db=1930usfedcen&h=118211349&ti=0&indiv=try&gss=pt

5.   Ancestry Family Trees. (Online publication - Provo, UT, USA: Ancestry.com. Original data: Family Tree files submitted by Ancestry members.)
   Ancestry Family Trees.

   http://trees.ancestry.com/pt/AMTCitationRedir.aspx?tid=31266413&pid=884