Anderson (b. 1824) and Elizabeth Carey (b. 1842) had eleven children: Ella (b. 1860), Mary (b. 1862), Pattie (b. 1864), Wash (b. 1865), Lee (b. 1867), Willie (b. 1869), Lucy (b. 1870), Mittie (b. 1872), James (b. 1874), Bettie (b. 1876), and Andy (b. 1882). Anderson Carey worked odd jobs at the college, as Robert Brock described in his Record article, “Some Colored Celebrities of the By-Gone Days:”
I suppose that every student of Hampden-Sydney from the period of 1875-1915 will recall Anderson Carey…a familiar figure on the campus and about the store and post office…He would do odd jobs, carrying messages for the students and waiting on them. He will be well remembered as one who had about five birthdays a year, at which time he would solicit birthday gifts from the College boys. His broad grin and high cackling laugh will be recalled by many who spent their days here.
Carey’s daughter Lee married George Venable (b. 1863), likely another descendant of Venable slaves. George and Lee had fifteen children, several of whom are buried in the Mercy Seat cemetery today.
These are my ancestors. Thanks for this valuable link to my history.
First let me thank you for this wonderful piece of family history. I just ran across it yesterday because I made a connection to a DNA cousin through Ancestry, who told me about this link.
My name is Martha Evans Montgomery. I am a descendant of the Carey family. My great grandfather was Ralph Carey, the brother of Anderson Carey, who you wrote about. I am so appreciative of the photos because I had never seen any of the early Carey brothers.
I begun my family’s research in the early eighties with limited information from two relatives. It was not until 2005 that I realized that I had accumulated enough to think about writing a book to document and share the history with family members. In 2011, I finished writing and published “From These Roots,” available on Amazon.
When I wrote about my great uncle, Anderson, the information on him was basically from the census records of 1870/80. I was able to include information on his daughter, Mary, who married into the Baker family. I knew that there was a family relationship to the Venable’s, but did not know it was through his daughter Lee. I will now be able to share the Venable connection and their history. Thanks for the connection.
Once again thank you for this information made possible through their connection to Hampden-Sydney College. I have passed that college many times visiting family in Farmville but never knew we had a connection. I will look at the college with new eyes now and will walk those grounds to feel the family connections of days gone by. I shared this information on my Facebook page and I listed you as the researcher/owner. I hope you don’t mind because it has gotten rave reviews from my family.
Best wishes to you and your family and thank you for telling the Untold Story of people who made a difference. By the way my grandmother, Susie Carey and aunt Amanda Carter are in the Midwives Exhibit in the National Museum of African American History and Culture. They were part of four generations of Midwives who delivered babies in Prince Edward County from the 1800’s to 1980’s.
Look forward to hearing from you when you have the time.
Sent from my iPad
Hello,
I would love to speak with you. I believe we may be related.
My grandmother was from Hamden-Sydney and from my limited research, I believe, her mother was named Ella. Just looking at the names listed above, my mother had sisters named: Mary Ella and Lucy Jane.
I also believe I had a cousin (deceased) whose middle name was Cary.
I want to get your book! I am excited. I just signed on to Ancestry DNA and trying to build our family tree.
Will be off tomorrow – Hurricane Florence…
Hope to be in touch!
Cheryl, I am so glad we had a chance to meet each other. Looking forward to making more connections. I am sure our ancestors are smiling down upon us as they see their descendants reconnecting in the flesh as they have reconnected in the spirit.