caroline wesley
1859-1919
Life Story
Early Life
Caroline Wesley was born around 1859, likely in the Garlandsville community of Jasper County, Mississippi. Little is known about her early childhood, but her death certificate identifies her mother simply as “a Gibson,” with the first name unreadable. This suggests her maternal line may have belonged to the Gibson families living in the region during Reconstruction and the late 19th century.
Caroline lived through the aftermath of the Civil War, the reshaping of Black family networks, and the long struggle for stability in rural Mississippi. Her life reflects the resilience of the first generation born into freedom.
Marriage & Family
Records do not clearly identify Caroline’s husband, but she raised at least two daughters, who appear with her in the 1900 U.S. Census:
- Rosie Ella Wesley (1871–1950)
- Annie Wesley (1882–?)
Caroline supported her daughters into adulthood, and her lineage is directly connected to the Evans Cemetery through Rosie Ella’s burial there. This strengthens the likelihood that Caroline also rests in or near the same grounds.
Occupation
Caroline worked as a farmer, a demanding and essential occupation for African American women in the rural South during the late 19th and early 20th centuries. Her work would have included field labor, tending livestock, and maintaining a household—responsibilities often carried largely by women after Emancipation.
Death
Caroline Wesley passed away on July 13, 1919. The informant on her death certificate was William Wesley, suggesting a close family member or possibly a son, stepson, or nephew. No physician was listed, which was common in rural areas where medical care was limited.
Her burial place was not recorded on the death certificate. However, because her daughter Rosie Ella Wesley is buried in the Evans Cemetery, and Caroline lived within the same community, it is likely that she, too, was laid to rest there.
Burial
Although not officially documented, Caroline Wesley is believed to be buried in the Evans Cemetery, joining the family line she helped establish in the Garlandsville–Newton County region.
Resting Place
Photos/Albums
Sources
- 1880 Federal Census
- 1900 Federal Census
- Mississippi, U.S., Index to Deaths, 1912-1943
- U.S., Find a Grave® Index, 1600s-Current
Leave a Reply