Education: Mississippi’s Enumeration of Educable Children – James M. Coor’s Children are Listed

There is a wonderful database available at FamilySearch if you have Mississippi ancestors called “Mississippi Enumeration of Educable Children, 1850-1892; 1908-1957.”[1] I have both Coor and Welch families who lived in Copiah County during that first time span and decided to check out this database.

First, before using the search box, I clicked on the “How to this Collection” box, which takes me to the FamilySearch Wiki page about these records.[2] Anytime a new database comes up, it’s a good idea to read up about it. I’ll find out what localities are included, what I would learn from the records, and why the record was created in the first place. This is helpful in case I don’t find my family listed in the return hits.

What I learned
It was suggested that these records could be used as a substitute for birth records. These listed both white and black students and included the names of the parents and children. They were compiled yearly and helped local governments with funding needs for schools.

I also learned that there may be restrictions on viewing some of the images because of contracts. Likely, viewing may be available at a local FamilySearch Center if not viewable at home. The Wiki article also had a nice list of other school records that are hot-linked.

State-wide registration for births didn’t begin until November 1912 and wasn’t generally complied with until 1921, so these records can be another good source for birth year.[3]

Time to Search for Coor
I was successful in locating Coor children for the year 1878 in Copiah County.[4] This year, in this location, the parents’ names were not listed. The seven Coor children were listed in the district called Brown’s Store, the same locality as the 1880 census of the James M. Coor family.[5] They were Dempsey, age 19; Sallie, age 17; Anna, age 15; John, age 13; Mary, age 11; James, age 8; and Martha, age 5. Martha is my 2x-great grandmother.


Another family was found, the children of James’ brother, Rufus K Coor and his wife, Mary J Sones. They also lived in Brown’s Store district. Their children listed (all boys) were Gabe, age 11; Rufus K, age 13; George M, age 11; and James L, age 9.[6] Here I have another conflict with Gabe. In 1870, she was listed as Gabriella, and in 1880, listed as Gabriel E.[7] More research is needed to reconcile that, too.


Another Coor family was in Gallman district. This is the John Coor (b. 1820) and Sarah Ann Hilburn family, who were cousins of James M. Coor. Four children were listed: Fedrick, age 19; Dicy Ann, age 17; Theodore, age 11; and Sallie, age 9.[8] I can account for Frederick, Dicey Ann, and Sally in John and Sarah’s household but who was the boy, Theodore? In the 1880 census, there is a female named Dora who is listed as 13, which makes a good match for Theodore.[9] In 1870, a child who would be about 3 is listed as Mary T.[10] Two census lists the child as female and one school census lists the child as male. More research is needed to resolve this conflict!



Did They Attend School?
These records don’t tell us much about their education, but we know which children in the household were of school age. Did they in fact attend school? Checking the column in the 1880 census, I can verify which were listed as attending school.

For the Mary J. Coor household, Gabriel, Rufus R, George M, and James L, were all listed as attending school.

For the James M. Coor household, Dempsey, Irma A, John E, James R, Mary E, and Martha attended school.

For the John Coor household, only Dora and Sarah attended school. Frederick was now 21 and working on the farm.

Next up, check out the households in the Welch families.

#52Ancestors: Week 4: Education

This is my sixth year working on this year-long prompt, hosted by Amy Johnson Crow (https://www.amyjohnsoncrow.com/) at Generations Cafe. I write each week in one of my two blogs, either Mam-ma’s Southern Family or My Trails into the Past. I have enjoyed writing about my children’s ancestors in new and exciting ways.

[1] “Mississippi Enumeration of Educable Children, 1850-1892; 1908-1957,” FamilySearch (https://www.familysearch.org/search/collection/1856425 : viewed 20 Jan 2023).

[2] “Mississippi Enumeration of Educable Children – Family Search Historical Records,” FamilySearch Wiki (https://www.familysearch.org/en/wiki/Mississippi_Enumeration_of_Educable_Children_-_FamilySearch_Historical_Records : viewed 20 Jan 2023).

[3] “Mississippi Vital Records,” FamilySearch Wiki (https://www.familysearch.org/en/wiki/Mississippi_Vital_Records : viewed 20 Jan 2023).

[4] “Mississippi Enumeration of Educable Children, 1850-1892; 1908-1957,” FamilySearch (https://www.familysearch.org/search/collection/1856425 : viewed 20 Jan 2023) > Copiah > 1878 > image 263 of 344, Dempsey Coor and others.

[5] 1880 U.S. census, Copiah Co, Mississippi, pop sched, Brown’s Store, ED 27, p. 281d (stamped), family 164, James M. Coor; NARA T9, roll 646.

[6] “Mississippi Enumeration of Educable Children, 1850-1892; 1908-1957,” FamilySearch (https://www.familysearch.org/search/collection/1856425 : viewed 20 Jan 2023) > Copiah > 1878 > image 264 of 344, Gabe Coor and others.

[7] For 1870, 1870 U.S. census, Copiah Co, Mississippi, pop. sched, Twp 9 & 10 East of RR, p. 209b (stamped), family 787, Rufus K. Coor household; M593, roll 727. Also, 1880 U.S. census, Copiah Co, Mississippi, pop. sched, Browns Store, ED 27, p. 282b (stamped), family 183, Mary P. Coor household; T9, roll 646.

[8] “Mississippi Enumeration of Educable Children, 1850-1892; 1908-1957,” FamilySearch (https://www.familysearch.org/search/collection/1856425 : viewed 20 Jan 2023) > Copiah > 1878 > image 37 of 344, Fedrick Coor and others.

[9] 1880 U.S. census, Copiah Co, Mississippi, pop. sched, Beat #1, p. 66b, fam. 501, John Coor household; NARA T9, roll 646.

[10] 1870 U.S. census, Copiah Co, Mississippi, pop. sched, Township 9 & 10 East of RR, p. 283 (stamped), fam 670, John Corr household; NARA M593, roll 727.


Copyright © 2023 by Lisa S. Gorrell, Mam-ma's Southern Family, All rights reserved.

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