mary mosley evans
1860-1923
Life Story
Evans Cemetery, Newton County, Mississippi
Mary Mosley Evans was born about 1860 in Newton County, Mississippi, to William Charley Mosley (1830–?) and Clarisy Mosley (1830–1923). She grew up in a post-Civil War rural community where Black families relied heavily on farming, extended kinship networks, and shared labor to survive.
By 1880, Mary had married Jarred Evans (1858–1934). In that census, she was listed as a housekeeper, though—like most women of her community—she also worked extensively as a farm laborer on the home farm. Her marriage to Jarred produced a large family, and in 1910 she reported having 13 children, with 9 still living at that time.
The census also recorded her as a widow in 1910, but this was not accurate. Instead, Mary and Jarred were separated. Jarred was living with Mary’s younger sister and had begun a new family with her, a circumstance not uncommon in families of the era but often hidden or softened when speaking with census takers.
Children of Mary Mosley and Jarred Evans
- Joe Evans (1877–?)
- Pearley Evans (1878–?)
- William Evans (1879–?)
- Tim Evans (1883–?)
- Molly Evans (1887–1924)
- Pete Evans (1888–1988)
- George Evans (1895–?)
- Arch Evans (1896–?)
- William Evans (1900–?)
- Washington Evans (1901–?)
- Bill Evans (1902–?)
(Note: Some names repeat due to inconsistent census reporting; this is typical in early 20th-century rural records.)
Conflicting Death Records
Mary passed away on April 25, 1923, but two different death certificates were filed—an example of the challenges of early African American death registration:
- Will Evans reported that Mary likely died of heart failure, that no doctor had attended, and that she was buried in the Evans Cemetery.
- Kendry Evans filed a second certificate stating that her death was sudden, again with no medical attendant.
Both certificates reflect how limited medical access, family-led reporting, and clerical inconsistencies often shaped the historical records of rural Black communities.
Mary was laid to rest in the Evans Cemetery, where many of her children and descendants are also buried. Her life reflects the resilience, family devotion, and labor that sustained the Altare and Newton County Black farming community across generations.
SIDEBAR: The Challenges of Early Black Death Registration
Why Records for African American Families Were Often Incomplete, Incorrect, or Conflicting
Before the mid-20th century, accurate death registration for African Americans in rural Mississippi was extremely difficult. Families such as the Evans, Mosley, Chapman, and Walker lines often faced barriers that resulted in missing records, multiple certificates, inconsistent dates, or vague causes of death.
The case of Mary Mosley Evans (c.1860–1923)—whose death appears on two different certificates completed by two different relatives—is a clear example of how complex and uncertain these records could be.
1. Limited Access to Medical Professionals
Most African American families in rural areas:
- Had no regular physician,
- Could not afford medical visits, or
- Were refused service due to segregation and racial hierarchy.
As a result:
- Doctors were rarely present at the time of death.
- Death certificates often stated “no doctor”, “unknown cause”, or “sudden death.”
Family members—rather than medical professionals—were left to guess at causes of death.
2. Home Deaths Were the Norm
Because hospitals did not serve Black patients equally, most deaths occurred at home.
This led to:
- Informal reporting by relatives
- Delays in notifying officials
- Misremembered dates
- Multiple relatives reporting the same death separately
In Mary Mosley Evans’ case, both Will Evans and Kenry Evans filed reports, creating duplicate records with different details.
3. Low Literacy and Documentation Barriers
Death registration required:
- Filling out government forms,
- Knowing exact birth dates,
- Understanding medical terminology, and
- Communicating clearly with county officials.
Many Black families—though rich in knowledge and skill—lacked formal literacy due to generations of discriminatory education policies. Mistakes often occurred in:
- Names
- Ages
- Birthplaces
- Spellings
- Parent identification
4. Racial Bias in County Record-Keeping
County clerks and registrars frequently:
- Misspelled names
- Ignored or omitted details
- Assigned generic causes (e.g., heart failure, dropsy, old age)
- Used inconsistent categories for Black deaths
Some records were poorly preserved—or never filed at all.
5. Multiple Names and Nicknames
Many African American individuals were known by:
- Nicknames
- Middle names
- Anglicized versions of African names
- Slavery-era family names that shifted over time
This leads to multiple entries for:
- The same person,
- Children with repeated names,
- Confusion between stepchildren, foster children, and biological children.
6. Midwives and Community Leaders as Witnesses
Because births and deaths often happened at home, midwives, neighbors, or family elders frequently served as informants.
They sometimes:
- Provided approximate dates
- Reported only what was known or observed
- Had to sign with an “X” due to literacy restrictions
Their presence was invaluable, but records remained incomplete.
7. Duplicate Certificates Were Not Uncommon
When a county clerk returned asking for more information—or when two different relatives attempted to register the death—duplicate certificates could be created with:
- Different dates
- Different causes
- Different informants
- Different spellings
This is exactly what happened in Mary Mosley Evans’ case.
Why These Challenges Matter Today
Understanding these obstacles helps modern researchers:
- Avoid misinterpretation of records
- Recognize incomplete or conflicting information as normal for the era
- Reconstruct family lineage with better cultural and historical awareness
- Acknowledge the burdens placed on Black families during Jim Crow
And, most importantly, this context allows descendants to restore the dignity of ancestors whose lives were reduced to a few lines on paper by a system not designed to honor them.
Resting Place
Photos/Albums
Sources
- 1880 Federal Census
- 1900 Federal Census
- 1910 Federal Census
- 1920 Federal Census
- Mississippi, U.S., Index to Deaths, 1912-1943
- U.S., Find a Grave® Index, 1600s-Current
- U.S., Social Security Applications and Claims Index, 1936-2007
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