Maria's maiden name is spelled "Barber" on her death record, and "Barbar" in one obituary. The death date above is from her death record. Her stone said she was born in 1841 and died in 1900. Her death record said she was 61 when she died in 1901.
Maria was the daughter of Aaron Barber. She was born into slavery, and the wife of George Washington Kemp, who she married about 1858. Her husband and 17 other slaves escaped behind Union lines, where he was befriended by Union General O.O. Howard. During Washington's absence, Maria and her two children were sold at auction. One account says this happened when the daughter Mary was a few weeks old, so likely in the summer of 1863.
In January of 1865 General Howard brought Washington to Leeds, and later helped Washington find Maria and the two children, and brought them to Leeds.
In the 1900 census, it was recorded that Maria had had six children, with three then living. That must have been an error, as the Kemps had a son and three daughters still living in 1900. Family records indicate there was a son Paul William born in 1867, and Charles Henry born in 1869. These boys were not in the 1870 census. Presumably, they died very young and are buried on a lost family plot.
Washington formed a Jubilee troupe, called the "Kemp Family Minstrel Show," with Maria and the three daughters. They traveled through New England for years preforming plantation music. Washington played tambourine, daughters Laura and Martha played banjo, daughter Mary played harp, and everyone sang and danced.
Maria died of intestinal cancer in 1901.
Maria was the daughter of Aaron Barber. She was born into slavery, and the wife of George Washington Kemp, who she married about 1858. Her husband and 17 other slaves escaped behind Union lines, where he was befriended by Union General O.O. Howard. During Washington's absence, Maria and her two children were sold at auction. One account says this happened when the daughter Mary was a few weeks old, so likely in the summer of 1863.
In January of 1865 General Howard brought Washington to Leeds, and later helped Washington find Maria and the two children, and brought them to Leeds.
In the 1900 census, it was recorded that Maria had had six children, with three then living. That must have been an error, as the Kemps had a son and three daughters still living in 1900. Family records indicate there was a son Paul William born in 1867, and Charles Henry born in 1869. These boys were not in the 1870 census. Presumably, they died very young and are buried on a lost family plot.
Washington formed a Jubilee troupe, called the "Kemp Family Minstrel Show," with Maria and the three daughters. They traveled through New England for years preforming plantation music. Washington played tambourine, daughters Laura and Martha played banjo, daughter Mary played harp, and everyone sang and danced.
Maria died of intestinal cancer in 1901.
Maria's maiden name is spelled "Barber" on her death record, and "Barbar" in one obituary. The death date above is from her death record. Her stone said she was born in 1841 and died in 1900. Her death record said she was 61 when she died in 1901.
Maria was the daughter of Aaron Barber. She was born into slavery, and the wife of George Washington Kemp, who she married about 1858. Her husband and 17 other slaves escaped behind Union lines, where he was befriended by Union General O.O. Howard. During Washington's absence, Maria and her two children were sold at auction. One account says this happened when the daughter Mary was a few weeks old, so likely in the summer of 1863.
In January of 1865 General Howard brought Washington to Leeds, and later helped Washington find Maria and the two children, and brought them to Leeds.
In the 1900 census, it was recorded that Maria had had six children, with three then living. That must have been an error, as the Kemps had a son and three daughters still living in 1900. Family records indicate there was a son Paul William born in 1867, and Charles Henry born in 1869. These boys were not in the 1870 census. Presumably, they died very young and are buried on a lost family plot.
Washington formed a Jubilee troupe, called the "Kemp Family Minstrel Show," with Maria and the three daughters. They traveled through New England for years preforming plantation music. Washington played tambourine, daughters Laura and Martha played banjo, daughter Mary played harp, and everyone sang and danced.
Maria died of intestinal cancer in 1901.
Maria was the daughter of Aaron Barber. She was born into slavery, and the wife of George Washington Kemp, who she married about 1858. Her husband and 17 other slaves escaped behind Union lines, where he was befriended by Union General O.O. Howard. During Washington's absence, Maria and her two children were sold at auction. One account says this happened when the daughter Mary was a few weeks old, so likely in the summer of 1863.
In January of 1865 General Howard brought Washington to Leeds, and later helped Washington find Maria and the two children, and brought them to Leeds.
In the 1900 census, it was recorded that Maria had had six children, with three then living. That must have been an error, as the Kemps had a son and three daughters still living in 1900. Family records indicate there was a son Paul William born in 1867, and Charles Henry born in 1869. These boys were not in the 1870 census. Presumably, they died very young and are buried on a lost family plot.
Washington formed a Jubilee troupe, called the "Kemp Family Minstrel Show," with Maria and the three daughters. They traveled through New England for years preforming plantation music. Washington played tambourine, daughters Laura and Martha played banjo, daughter Mary played harp, and everyone sang and danced.
Maria died of intestinal cancer in 1901.
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