Sarah Elizabeth Brown Swarthout, enumerated in line 11, was my second great-grandmother; that is, my grandmother's grandmother. My great-grandfather, her son Richard Brown Swarthout, was not born until 1862, so he is not included in this census.
She is physically real to me because I actually own a few beautiful coin silver spoons engraved with her maiden name. They were wedding gifts. And I have some of her wedding silver flatware, with her monogram on it.
All this to say:
The census form is titled "Free Inhabitants" and I am not being able to get over that today. It covers me like a mantle of bricks.
About time, I guess.
This good reflection by my friend Rosa about the National Memorial for Peace and Justice is on my heart today too.
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