Bertha Hankerson Allen Brooks, Rosalie’s Mother

Rosalie Allen Smith’s family came from Augusta, Georgia—from Richmond County. Her mother’s name was Bertha and the earliest record I can find of her is from the Census of 1910.

Bertha was born in 1904—her mother, Lizzie Hankinson, was born in 1879 and her father, Charles Fulcher, was born in 1858 or 1859.

It is interesting to note that (an apparent relative) Lula Hankinson lives nearby, as she is mentioned on the same street—and a Bettie Hankinson and John E. Fulcher are also nearby.  So, Charles Fulcher is the father of Ida and Bertha and he is living with Lizzie (their mother) in 1910 in Augusta, Georgia.  Charles was born in 1858 and Lizzie, in 1879—they were almost than 20 years apart (if not more).  Given the restrictions against Black and White people marrying at that time, this was probably a most difficult position for Lizzie—she had no rights as a Black woman and she was twenty years younger than the father of her two children.  It is said that when Charles died, his family simply put Lizzie out in the street and did not give her anything that Charles Fulcher wanted to leave her and their children.

1900 - Lizzie Hankerson - Richmond County, GA

You can also find Charles and Lizzie in the 1900 Census.

Of note, Bertha is not born yet (as this is 1900), but there is another daughter listed for Lizzie Hankinson—Lilly Belle.  Lizzie Hankinson is also listed as having 2 children at this point, both of whom are alive (Ida and Lilly).

So you see Charles and Lizzie together in both the 1900 and 1910 Censuses and apparently two, or three children, came from their relationship.  Charles Fulcher died on Sept. 29, 1923 and, by 1930, Lizzie is living with her daughter, Lillie Belle, and Lilie Belle’s husband (Sisro Cox) on Highland Road in Richmond County, Georgia.  Lizzie Hankerson (now spelled Hankerson) is listed as widowed, although there is no record of her ever being officially married to Charles Fulcher.

1930 - Lizzie Hankerson - Richmond County, GA

So, Bertha, Rosalie’s mother, was born in 1904 to Lizzie Hankinson and Charles Fulcher.  She met Ben Allen sometime around 1919 and married him—it appears that her older sister, Ida, also married an Allen, Hosie Allen.  I think Hosie and Ben were related.  While in Georgia Bertha, gave birth to Mary and Rosalie. Bertha’s relationship with Ben did not last long (as he moved to New Jersey and married another lady named Bertha).  By 1930 Bertha had moved to Washington, DC and met, and married, James Brooks.

This census gives us important information.  Ida is living with her sister, Bertha, in 1930 at the time of this census.  Ida also lists the age of her first marriage as 16 and Bertha—the age of her first marriage—as 15.  This indicates that they were both young when they married Hosie Allen (Ida) and Ben Allen (Bertha).

1940 Census - Bertha Allen Washington, DC

By 1940, Bertha is still married to James Brooks—with two more children now, Pauline and Cleo.

1940 Census

I remember Aunt Pauline telling me that her father was very smart and, in addition to working at a local electric company training employees, he also use to help businesses in the area with their accounting.  They were mostly Jewish businesses, as not many people had formal educations—including those who owned businesses.  Since he was educated and handled matters on his job, he would be asked by local businesses to help them with their work and books.

Bertha’s Children

Bertha did not live very long after this census was taken, she died on July 17, 1941.  In a remarkable turn of events she is buried in an historic, and protected, place in Washington, DC—Woodlawn Cemetery (in SE, DC - Plot - Section C, Lot 8, Site 4).

This cemetery is the resting place of Blanche K. Bruce, who was the second African American to serve in the U.S. Senate and the first to be elected to a full term.  The cemetery is also the resting place of John Mercer Langston—the uncle of Langston Hughes, a man who helped to shape the law school at Howard University and who was a famous African American member of the U.S. House of Representatives.

Although Bertha died early, she did get to see her older daughters get married and, I believe she was a witness during the marriage of James Lee Smith and Rosalie.