Cecelia Loucile Poole Barnett

Black female, born about 1868 in Florida, probably Pensacola. Father was Morton Poole, mother was Mary Clericks[?] Poole. Sometimes called Celia.

She first came into my research as the wife of John Barnett, who was died in 1898 and was buried in the Escambia County Poor Farm cemetery.

Celia was enumerated in the 1870 U.S. Census for Escambia County, FL. She lived in the household of Morton (spelled Martin in this census) Poole, 38 years old. He was born in Tennessee was worked as a laborer. He was unable to read and write. Mary Poole was 26 years old, born in Florida. She was also unable to read or write. Celia was 2 years old, born in Florida, and her younger sister, Lizzie, was 4 months old.

In the 1880 Census, the Pooles lived on Zaragossa Street in Pensacola. Morton was 50 years old, working as a laborer. He and his parents were all born in Tennessee. Mary was  45; she and her parents were all born in Florida. Cecelia was 12; Lizzie was 10; there were three new siblings: Marie, 7; Atata, 5; and Willie, 10 months. Also in the house were two cousins of Cecelia’s: Virgis Sheapord [?], 5; and Ignacio Quigles, 11.

The 1885 Florida State Census found Cecelia 17 years old. The family make-up was the same as in 1880, except the two cousins were no longer living in the household. Marie and “Atata” were identified only as “M” and “A” respectively.

On 5 May 1897, Celia married John Barnett. Father R. Fullerton, priest, officiated at St. Joseph’s Church.

Celia appeared in the 1898 Pensacola City Directory under her own entry, as a laundress residing at 212 S. De Villiers St. John Barnett appeared as a restaurateur living and working at 404 S. Baylen St. It is possible that John Barnett’s residence being the same as his business was a mistake, but there may have been other forces at work.

John Barnett died of heart failure in April of 1898.

Celia continued to appear in the Pensacola City Directory under various spellings of her name – Barnett, Burnette, Barney – as a laundress until her death in 1947 (with the exception of 1934, when she was identified as a maid). She mostly lived with her mother, Mary Pool, who was identified as a widow beginning in 1907 (but who was likely widowed several years before then).  Celia also appears sometimes as Cecelia/Cecilia, and sometimes as Lucille.

In the 1900 U.S. Census, Celia was 30 years old. She lived on De Villers St. with her sister and brother-in-law, Marie and Joseph Collins, and their two young children, Lizzie and Willie. Her occupation was washwoman.

In the 1910 U.S. Census, Mary Pool and Celia Barnett were living at 522 Innerarity’s Alley, along with the three children of Marie Pool Collins: Lizzie (12), William (11), and Joseph (8). Why the children were living with their grandmother and aunt has not yet been determined.

In 1914, Mary Pool appears in The Pensacola Journal as owing back taxes on her property at 522 Innerarity’s Alley; after that, she and Celia began living at 404 W. Main St., the residence of George and Mamie Logan. (Mamie Logan was the individual identified as “A” or “Atata” Pool – her name appears to have been Artense.) This continued to be the residence of both Mary Pool and Celia Barnett until their deaths.

I have not yet located Mary or Celia in the 1920 Census.  Mary died in 1925 of acute enterocolitis. Mary’s daughter, Lizzie Pool Robinson, gave Mary’s parents’ names as Ignatius or Ignacio and Celia Clericks, which I cannot confirm in any other record.

Other than in the City Directories, Celia next appeared in the 1930 U.S. Census in the household of her brother-in-law, George Logan at 404 W. Main St. She was 60 years old, and still working as a laundress.

In 1944, Celia appeared for the first time in the City Directory without an occupation, though this does not conclusively prove she was not working. She died in 1947 – I have no other information about the date or where she was buried.

FAMILY:

Mother: Mary Clericks[?] Pool

Father: Morton Pool

Husband: John Barnett

Siblings: Lizzie Pool Robinson, Marie Pool Collins, Artense (“Mamie”) Pool Logan, Willie Pool, and Sarah Pool (died age 7).

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SOURCES:

Pensacola births and deaths, 1891-1910, Escambia County (Florida) Health Department. Salt Lake City, Utah : Filmed by the Genealogical Society of Utah, 1973.

Ancestry.com. U.S., City Directories, 1822-1995 [database on-line]. Lehi, UT, USA: Ancestry.com Operations, Inc., 2011.