The Alexander and Mary Elizabeth (Hundley) Minkins Family

Alexander Minkins
1860-1934
Courtesy: Lee Family

Alexander Minkins

Alexander Minkins was born circa 1860 to Samuel Minkins and Emily Byrd, the daughter of Adam and Monin Byrd.

As a young woman, Emily had a relationship with Mr. Samuel Minkins, who was known for his strength, size, and strong character. Samuel was enslaved and thus not allowed to legally marry; yet Emily and Samuel still built a family amid this adversity and had one child, Alexander.

Their family, however, was soon torn apart when Samuel Minkins was traded for a grinding organ after beating his taskmaster and was taken further south. Despite this tragedy, the family's ties endured as Alexander carried the Minkins name throughout his life. Emily married James Monroe Lee, and the couple raised Alexander together alongside their five children.

Mary Hundley Minkins
?-1935
Photo Courtesy: Lee Family

Mary (Hundley) Minkins

On December 3, 1883, Alexander married Mary Elizabeth Hundley at the First Baptist Church in Williamsburg. Together, they had nine children.

When he learned about the displacement by the U.S. government, Alexander Minkins signed the Prayer Petition, asking for more time to relocate.

Source: Roberts, John A., Moses Lee, Annie E. Roberts, Cyrus Jones, and L. Redcross. 1918. Petition submitted to Josephus Daniels, Secretary of the Navy, by residents of York County threatened with eviction by Presidential Proclamation #1492 dated November 15, 1918. General Correspondence, Records of the Bureau of Ordinance 1818-1967; Record Group 74; National Archives Building, Washington D.C.

Alexander further provided testimony to the U.S. Government's Board of Valuation on Commandeered property regarding what would be lost through the displacement. Below is an excerpt of his testimony:

Source: Board of Valuation on Commandeered Property. 1920. Abstract of Testimony In Vols. 1 and 2 of Hearings Before Board On Valuation of Commandeered Property at Yorktown, VA. Box 42, Records of the Board on Valuation of Commandeered Property 1918-1922, Records of the Office of the Judge Advocate General (Navy) 1799-1950, Record Group 125; National Archives Building, Washington D.C.

Alexander died on January 9, 1934. Mary passed away the following year on July 7, 1935 at the age of 64.

Alexander Minkins Death Certificate
Courtesy: Bernie Vaughan

Mary Minkins Death Certificate
Courtesy: Bernie Vaughan

In the Words of Their Descendants

Watch the videos below to see how Alexander and Mary Minkins are remembered.

Descendant Lucille Minkins remembers what she was told about Alexander Minkins and his family.

Oral History, April 26, 2022, The Village Initiative Collection

Descendant Lucille Minkins shares family oral history regarding how Emily Byrd and Samuel Minkins' relationship was torn apart by slavery.

Despite experiencing displacement from the Reservation, Alexander Minkins continued the legacy of entrepreneurship and financial autonomy even after leaving the Reservation. According to descendants Lucille Minkins, Everlean Thompson, and Redell King, Alexander Minkins operated a store.

Descendants Lucille Minkins, Everlean Thompson, and Redell King remember that Alexander Minkins had a store and a house.

Oral History, April 26, 2022, The Village Initiative Collection

Their Children

Alexander and Mary had eight children while living in the Reservation community.

Baby Girl Minkins

Alexander and Mary's first child, Baby Girl, was born in 1884 and passed away the same year. The family experienced this tragedy - losing their first born - on Christmas Day.

Alexander and Mary Minkins' firstborn child recorded on the Register of Deaths for York County, 1884
Courtesy: Bernie Vaughan, via FamilySearch

Rose Allie/Ollie Minkins

was born circa 1885 and would have been about 26 years old when her family was displaced.

Rose married Robert F. Banks (1875-1936) on December 31, 1903 in York County, VA. They had a daughter, Emma Cornelia Banks, who was born in 1905. She married James B. Nottingham (1892-) on December 5, 1932 in Hampton, VA. Daughter Emaa passed away in 1990 and is buried at St. John Baptist Church Cemetery.

Rose later was married again to Reubin Watkins (1898-1952) on February 20, 1930 in Newport News, VA.

Rose Minkins passed away on March 6, 1977 in Williamsburg, VA.

Emma Jane Minkins

was born circa 1888. She died from rheumatism of the heart muscle on January 17, 1906 at the age of 18. Based on her death certificate, it appears that she was engaged in housework in Philadelphia at the time. Her remains were returned to York County for burial.

Emma Jane Minkins, Death Certificate

Courtesy: The Lee Family

Samuel Harrison "Hack" Minkins

was born on November 18, 1888. On March 3, 1914, he married Carrie Carlonia Washington in York County. Carrie Washington was born on July 29, 1895 to Willie and Betty (Hundley) Washington.

Samuel Harrison Minkins
Courtesy: Sean Minkins

Carrie (Washington) Minkins
Courtesy: Sean Minkins

Samuel and Carrie began a family on the Reservation. At least three of their children were born there, Roseanna, Mary, and Samuel Jr. Tragically, Roseanna (1915-1918) and Mary (1917-1918) both died as young children and were buried in the Cheesecake Cemetery.

Roseanna Minkins' death certificate
Courtesy: Bernie Vaughan
Source: Findagrave.com

Mary Minkins' death certificate
Courtesy: Bernie Vaughan
Source: Findagrave.com

When the family heard they would be displaced from the Reservation by the U.S. government, Samuel Harrison Minkins signed the Prayer Petition, asking for more time to relocate.

The family was renting a home on Cheesecake Road at the time, and Samuel was working as a laborer at a saw mill, according to 1920 Census Records.

According to 1930 and 1950 Federal Census records, Samuel Harrison and Carrie Minkins had 11 more children after Roseanna, Mary, and Samuel Jr.: Marionette, Robert, Alex, Carrie Colonia, Willie, Walter, Francis Elnora, George E., Betty L., Emma C. and Roberta.

By 1930, the family had moved off the Reservation and owned a home valued at $1500, according to Census records. Samuel was working as a tractor driver at the Navy Yard. He later became a fireman.

Samuel "Harrison" Minkins
Courtesy: Mary Lassiter
Soure: Naval Weapons Station Yorktown, Staff Yearbook 1945

Willie Minkins, son of Samuel Harrison "Hack" Minkins and Carrie Minkins
Courtesy: Sean Minkins

On June 27, 1935, the family experienced a tragedy - Samuel and Carrie's son, Samuel Minkins Jr. died at the age of 22. He was working as a member of Company 247 of the Civilian Conservation Corps in Williamsburg, stationed at the College of William & Mary. According to a June 28, 1935 Daily Press article, his group was "loading gravel into trucks for use at Jamestown Island." Samuel Minkins Jr., as well as William Lassiter of New York City, were smothered to death "when the lower half of a gravel pit in which they were working caved in, burying them alive. Three others, also buried in the cave-in, were saved from serious injury by other Negroes working with them."

News clipping, Daily Press, June 28, 1935.
Courtesy: Joan Christine Lee James

Samuel Minkins Jr., Death Certificate
Courtesy: The Lee Family
Source: Virginia, U.S., Death Records, 1912-2014.

Samuel Harrison Minkins Sr. passed away at age 77 on November 25, 1965 from heart disease. Carrie Minkins passed away five years later in 1970.

Samuel Harrison Minkins, Death Certificate
Courtesy: The Lee Family
Source: Virginia, U.S., Death Records, 1912-2014.

Samuel H. Minkins' Gravestone

Courtesy: Lee Family

Carrie C. Minkins, Death Certificate
Courtesy: The Lee Family
Source: Virginia, U.S., Death Records, 1912-2014.

Zelda Ann Minkins

was born circa 1895. Descendant Lucille Minkins recalls in the oral history below that Zelda died in 1923 in her early 20s in Philadelphia.

Lucille Minkins recalls that Zelda Minkins died in her early 20s in Philadelphia.

Oral History, April 26, 2022, The Village Initiative Collection

Alexander Minkins Jr.

was born circa 1892. He would have been about 27 years old when his family was displaced from the Reservation.

James Arthur Minkins Sr.

was born was born on November 22, 1895 to Alexander and Mary Minkins.

James Arthur Minkins Sr.
Courtesy: Freddie Minkins

James registered for the World War I draft in 1917 at the age of 21. He was working as a hotel waiter at the time for Alfred L. Hawkins at the Idlewild Hotel in Media, Pennsylvania at the time and then later was employed as a waiter by John Coleman at the Bingham Hotel in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.

James A. Minkins, WWI Draft Registration Card
Courtesy: Bernie Vaughan via Ancestry.com

James Arthur Minkins Sr, WWI Veteran's File
Courtesy: Bernie Vaughan
Source: US WWI Veterans File, Pennsylanvia, Ancestry.com

On September 24, 1919, James married Rose Etta McCollier, who was born on October 17, 1898 to Robert and Maud McCollier. Rose Etta gave birth to their first child, James Arthur Jr., on April 28, 1919, while her husband was stationed in France.

Rose Etta (McCollier) Minkins
Courtesy: Freddie Minkins

James Arthur Minkins, Jr. birth certificate
Source: Virginia, U.S., Birth Records, 1912-2015, Delayed Birth Records, 1721-1920, Ancestry.com

James served as a driver for the military in France during World War I from September 15, 1918 to July 13, 1919. It appears he may have supported the Meuse-Argonne offensive, a 47 day offensive ending with the Armitice of November 11, 1918. He was honorably discharged on July 19, 1919 when the military demobilized. He applied for Veteran's Compensation on April 7, 1934.

Private James Arthur Minkins Sr. in military uniform
Courtesy: Freddie Minkins

James Arthur Minkins Sr, WWI Veteran's File
Courtesy: Bernie Vaughan
Source: US WWI Veterans File, Pennsylanvia, Ancestry.com

James Arthur Minkins Sr., Veteran's Compensation Application
Courtesy: Bernie Vaughan
Source: US WWI Veterans File, Pennsylanvia, Ancestry.com

When he returned from service, the family lived with Rose Etta's parents, Robert and Maud McCollier. James worked as a laborer, according to 1920 Federal Census records.

By 1930, the family owned a home valued at $3000 on State Highway #39 in York County, based on 1930 census records. He was a member of St. John Baptist church.

In addition to James Arthur Jr., James and Rose Etta had 5 more children together: Lillian, Rebecca Beatrice, Raymond H., Melvin L., and Frederick Douglass.

Rebecca Beatrice (Minkins) Etter (1921-2018), daughter of James and Rose Etta Minkins
Courtesy: WYDaily

James was later employed as a fireman at the Naval Weapons Station, Yorktown, returning to the land once owned by his ancestors to work for the U.S. Navy. This is where he was working when he registered for the World War II draft in 1942.

James A. Minkins Sr., WWII draft registration
Courtesy: Bernie Vaughan
Source: Ancestry.com

Rose Etta (McCollier) Minkins passed away on September 5, 1968 at the age of 69 in Williamsburg, VA. She was buried at Morning Star Baptist Church Cemetery in Grove, James City County, VA. James Arthur Minkins Sr. passed away the following month on October 6, 1968.

Rose Etta (McCollier) Minkins' gravestone
Courtesy: Bernie Vaughan
Source: Findagrave.com

James A. Minkins Sr.'s gravestone
Courtesy: Royce E. Hostetler
Source: Findagrave.com

James Arthur Minkins Sr., Death Certificate
Courtesy: Bernie Vaughan
Source: Virginia, U.S., Death Records, 1912-2014. Ancestry.com

James Arthur Minkins Sr., obituary
Courtesy: Bernie Vaughan

John T. Minkins

was born August 5, 1902. John would have been about 19 years old when the family was displaced from the Reservation.

Many Reservation families moved to the Grove and East Williamsburg areas, and John T. Minkins would come to offer an important service to the community - the first bus driver.

As descendant Alexander Lee recalled:

Justice John "Tack" Roberts "went and told [James City County] to send [the children] down to the school down in Grove which only had eight white students...They wouldn't send us there. ...The decision was made...to furnish us a bus. The parents would pay $1.25 a month...The first bus we had was John T. Minkins." With his father, "he bought a new bus, new T-Model Ford bus for our children. ....There were so many children coming out of Grove and out of where we lived, at that time we called it East Williamsburg,...he had to make two trips."

John later worked with his father for the Naval Weapons Station, Yorktown on the land where he was born and raised.

Source: Alexander Lee (1984:15)

John Minkins Sr., kneeling on right
Courtesy: The Lee Family

John Minkins Sr.
Courtesy: Mary Lassiter
Soure: Naval Weapons Station Yorktown, Staff Yearbook 1945

John T. Minkins passed away on February 18, 1970.

John T. Minkins gravestone
Courtesy: The Lee Family

Sources:

Ancestry.com. 1920 United States Federal Census [database on-line]. Provo, UT, USA: Ancestry.com Operations, Inc., 2010. Images reproduced by FamilySearch.
Ancestry.com. 1930 United States Federal Census [database on-line]. Provo, UT, USA: Ancestry.com Operations, Inc., 2010. Images reproduced by FamilySearch.
Ancestry.com. 1950 United States Federal Census [database on-line]. Provo, UT, USA: Ancestry.com Operations, Inc., 2010. Images reproduced by FamilySearch.
Lee Family Reunion Booklet, 1998. Souvenir Booklet, Williamsburg, VA, August 7-9.
Lee, Alexander. 1984. Oral History. James City County Oral History Collection, W&M Special Collections Research Center.
Radcliffe, Grace. November 2, 1984. Oral History. James City County Oral History Collection, W&M Special Collections Research Center.

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