william black
1870-1952
Life Story
Early Life and Identity
William Phillip Black was born on March 22, 1870, in Newton County, Mississippi, during the early years of Reconstruction. In the 1870 Census, he appears as an infant—just three months old—under the name Phillip Black, living in Township 6, Range 10.
He was the son of Mariah Black (born circa 1842) and grew up alongside his siblings Laura and Austin. The census classified the family as “Mulatto,” reflecting the racial categories imposed during that era.
By 1880, ten-year-old William was living in Vicksburg, Warren County, in the household of his mother, Anna Black—likely a variation of Mariah’s name, as the age and family structure align. Also in the home was his younger brother, Victor.
Adulthood and Marriage
As an adult, William returned to Newton County, where he established himself in Beat 4. Around 1904, he married Mabel, who is also recorded as May B. or May C., and who was several years younger than him.
By 1910, William had built a life as a farmer. Census records show that he was renting his farm but was listed as an “Employer,” suggesting that he managed laborers or operated a larger farming enterprise.
A decade later, in 1920, William reached a significant milestone: he owned his farm free of mortgage. For a Black farmer in Newton County during the Jim Crow era, land ownership represented both economic independence and personal achievement.
Later Years and Stability
William remained a central figure in the Beat 4 community throughout the 1930s and 1940s. In 1930, he and his wife Mabel were living on their farm, and their household included an 81-year-old boarder, James Maxey, reflecting a continued pattern of extended household support.
By 1940, William, then 68 years old, was living on Old Lawrence (Lala) Road. Though records suggest he may have been renting again, he remained active and independent, reporting that he worked all 52 weeks of the previous year on his own account.
Despite having only a third-grade education and later being recorded as unable to read or write, William sustained himself through decades of agricultural labor, maintaining control over his work and livelihood.
Death and Burial
William Phillip Black passed away on January 25, 1952, at the age of 81. His life spanned from the immediate aftermath of emancipation through the Jim Crow era and into the early years of the Civil Rights Movement.
He was laid to rest at Union Chapel Methodist Church Cemetery in Lawrence, Newton County, Mississippi—within the same community where he spent the majority of his life working the land.
Summary of Key Details
Full Name: William Phillip Black
Birth: March 22, 1870, Newton County, Mississippi
Death: January 25, 1952
Spouse: Mabel (May B./May C.) Black
Occupation: Farmer (General Farm; worked on own account)
Burial: Union Chapel Methodist Church Cemetery, Newton County, Mississippi
Resting Place
Union Chapel United Methodist Church Graveyard
Photos/Albums
1870-1952
Sources
- 1870 Federal Census
- 1880 Federal Census
- 1910 Federal Census
- 1920 Federal Census
- 1930 Federal Census
- 1940 Federal Census
- U.S., Find A Grave Index, 1600s-Current
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