Acknowledgments

A project such as this would not be possible without the valued assistance of others, and I am more deeply appreciative of the efforts of the following than they can possible imagine:

Thanks to all of my Jones, Hobson, and Blowe family members, especially my brothers, John and Theron Jones, and their wives, Joyce Agnew and Margaret Burton Jones. Special thanks go to Dwight Martin for his help.

Encouragement and advice came from Dr. James M. Rose, author of Black Genesis: A Resource Book for African American Genealogy, 2003; Tony Burroughs; Black Roots; the Black Study Group of the Alabama Genealogical Society; and Reginald Washington, archivist in the National Archives.

All of the members and Pastor Clifford Thomas of the Mt. Canaan Baptist Church were supportive, especially Martha J. Piner; Bessie M. Piner; Jacquelyn Lacey; Jessie Williams; Camilla Thrasher; Jerriel, Courtney, and Joshua Crawford; Dennis, Fredia, and Desarae Leonard; Leverne Hollenquest; Daisy Neely; Cecila Grayson; Vesta and Sharon Merkerson; Tylesha and Kailyn Talley; Mary Swindle; Leslie Grays; Francis, Miranda, Corey, Staci, and Stacey Gilbert; Thomas Thrasher; Consuella Jackson; Bernice Edwards; Yvonne Bowman; Solomon Houser; Dieja Cooper; and Latoya Jackson.

Thanks also to the staff of the Alabama Department of Archives and History.