KERSEY FAMILY HISTORY
I'm wondering if we have any people in the family that have done any research of our Kersey family? I have and would love to share with everyone. I will not share any personal information on people living. I would really like the younger people to know where they came from. So each newsletter I will add more information. If you have any question please feel free to contact me. And if you see something I have wrong please let me know. I have been able to go back to 1789.
Denniss Kersey was born in 1789 (I believe he was born in Georgia), he married Kissiah who was born in 1797 in South Carolina. Denniss was a farmer. Denniss and Kissiah were full blooded Native American's. They were either Blackfoot or Apache. On the census they are listed as colored. They had 6 children that I found: Ephraim was born in 1820, Denniss Jr. (my great-great-great-grandfather) was born in 1827, Kissiah was born in 1828, John was born in 1830, he died in 1922, Hulbert was born in 1832 and Rachel was born in 1840.
Denniss Jr. married Tempy Acoch, she was born in North Carolina. She was also a full blooded Native American. Denniss was a farmer in North Buxton, Ontario, Canada. I haven't found out how he ended up in Canada yet. But I'm working on that. They had 2 children that I know of, I believe there are more, time will tell. Their children: Thomas George was born in 1856, he died in 1950. James Henry (my great-great-grandfather) was born on March 7, 1859 in North Buxton, Ontario, Canada. He died on January 27, 1920, in Ypsilanti, Michigan.
James married Mary Ann Emanuel in 1880 in Canada. She was born on December 26, 1868 in Erre, Pennsylvania. She died on May 12, 1947 in Ypsilanti, Michigan. She is buried at Stoney Creek Cemetery in Ypsilanti. She is buried at the back of the cemetery with no other Kersey's around her. She must of loved tree's because her head stone faces the tree's. Mary Ann's grandparents were Samuel and Sarah Laura (Peterson) Emanuel. Her father was Joshua who was born in 1835 and died in 1887. Her mother was Lucinda Travis, she died in 1873. The family is dutch. But on the census Mary Ann is listed as black.
James and Mary Ann moved to Ypsilanti, Michigan 1885. There they built their home on First Ave and raised their family. Their granddaughter Rolanda Hudson lives in that house today. My mom remembers seeing Mary Ann sitting by the window looking out watching the kids play. Aunt Cookie (Rosalyn Taylor) remembers comb her long hair. James is credited with making the blue prints and providing the professional supervision of Brown Chapel Church in Ypsilanti. The church is on Adams Street. It is now a historical place. James and Mary Ann's son Herman also help with the church. One of the stain glass windows is dedicated to James and Mary Ann's son Ernest. It makes me really proud to walk into that church and know that my family help build it.
