Recently, I turned some of the research I've collected on my family's history into an article. The article, "Tracing My Black Roots In Old Whitehaven" appears in the August 11, 2023 issue of StoryBoard Memphis.
The following are a few key points of "Tracing My Black Roots in Old Whitehaven."
--In 1989, I recorded my conversations with my 76-year old-grandmother about our family's history. Among other things she shared with me--her family once lived and worked on "The McCorkle Place" which was then located in Whitehaven.
--Whitehaven is a community/residential aread located in the south-west section of Memphis, TN. The McCorkles were one of Whitehaven's founding families. The community's history wad documented in --TALES OF OLD WHITEHAVEN--a book written by Anna L. McCorkle in 1967.
Tales of Old Whitehaven
by Anna L. McCorkle
--One of the churches that served the Whitehaven community during the early days of its existence wad Edmondson Presbyterian Church. In 1847, the congregation moved into a new building. According to Anna L. McCorkle, "This building consisted of one room with a slave gallery in back. There were twenty-five members, five of whom were colored."
--Turns out, my grandmother's great grandmother (my 3rd great grandmother), an enslaved woman named Celia Plunkett (later Celia Plunkett Morgan) was one of the original five "colored" members of Edmondson Presbyterian Church.
--According to records compliled by David Ragland Davis in his publication EDMONDSON PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH, 1844-1931, Celia, described as a servant of Dr. Plunkett (John Desire Plunkett), was baptized in the church in 1854.
Edmondson Presbyterian Church 1844-1931
by David Ragland Davis
--So many odd coincidences and baffling events occured during the course of my "discovery" of Celia, I'm almost convinced SHE WANTED ME TO FIND HER . . .
--For additional details, checkout the article--"Tracing My Black Roots In Old Whitehaven"
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