According to the Flowers' Chronicle, our Flowers line came from England in the 1500. The first Flowers was Christopher, Christopher Flower: b. circa 1542, married in 1565 and died prior to 1622. He was born in Ratcliff, England. He was married to Elizabeth Lancaster. Christopher was a Shipwright. Their children were: John, Henry (our ancestor), and Edward Flower. Henry Flowers (born circa 1670, died after 1745) married Jane Underwood in Virginia. Henry was a tobacco planter. He was also the first to add the S to Flowers. He was born in Surry, Virginia. Their children are John, Jacob, Henry Jr., Benjamin, and Edward (our ancestor). In the 1700's Kentucky was a part of Virginia. Edward Flowers was granted land in Cumberland County, Kentucky. Edward Flowers married Rebecca. Their children are William G., Elisha, Charles, Berryman, Jane, Millie, and Thomas (our ancestor). Thomas married Elizabeth Ward. Thomas and his wife Elizabeth Flowers came to Claiborne County, Mississippi in May of 1826 with their seven children, John, Wellington, Mary, Martha, Charles, Charles, and Omery. Charles the brother of Thomas had come to Mississippi a few years earlier. Thomas purchased 166 acres. It is believed that the Flowers brought their slaves with them from Kentucky. Thomas died in August of 1826. The land was divided seven ways and at that time there were 207 acres. In 1830, John petitioned the court for his guardianship to be transferred to his uncle, Charles. In 1837, John was named an administrator of his father's estate. Elizabeth died in 1837; John got custody of the minor children. John died in 1868 and his wife, Frances became the administrator, they had no children. Wellington and Omery (our ancestor) sailed around the Horn and panned for gold in California in 1849-1850, during the Gold Rush. The 1850 census shows them in California panning for gold. It is said that they found gold and used the money to purchase more acres of land in Mississippi. The Flowers also built larger houses and grew more cotton and purchased more slaves. The 1820-1850 United States Census of Claiborne County, Mississippi recorded only the names of the Free White Persons. The slaves were counted not by their names, but by the numbers of slaves in a household of a Free White Person. The surname's Flowers were listed in these Censuses. When searching the records of Claiborne County, Mississippi the 1860 census disclosed the brothers, Omery, Armstrong, and Wellington Flowers, were farmers with extensive acres of land property. This census also revealed that the three brothers owned countless slaves, one of which was Adeline Portera (our ancestor). The Mississippi Slave Schedules of 1860 from Claiborne County indicated that there were 141 Slaves on the Flowers' Plantation, forty-nine males, thirty-one females, and sixty-one children. The Flowers' Plantation was one of the largest plantations around with one of the largest slave population. Considering the history of Omery and his brothers, it is not exactly known, how many female slaves either one of them actually impregnated. Were all the slaves’ last names, Flowers? After examining the 1870 and 1880 Census, records revealed that several black females gave birth to white or mixed children. No fathers were noted. Further studies show that there were three black females that gave birth to white-mixed children with the given surname "Flowers." Omery and Armstrong joined the Confederate Army (Company B of the 38th Regiment) in 1862. This company consisted mainly of middle-aged men of family. They were a sturdy set, well ordered, brave, and obeyed orders as soldiers enrolled for a principle. But at the same time Omery and Armstrong Flowers still had black female mistresses. Wellington was also a Confederate soldier but he was killed on a special mission. Omery Flowers, our ancestor, was married twice. He had ten children with his two wives. Then there is Adeline Portera - one of his slaves. He fathered seven children with Adeline and gave each of this name. The 1870 census of Claiborne County, Mississippi showed that Adeline Porter was head of household. Adeline was listed with her seven children, all with the surname's Flowers. Their names were Mary, Henry, Samuel, Franklin, Albert, Elijah, and Dennis. Under race in 1870 Census, Adeline was listed as black but here children were recorded as white. Omera Flowers, his wife, Genoa and children were also listed in the 1870 Census. Excerpts from the 1870 census revealed that there were other black females with white children. The history of Omera Flowers disclosed that he had black children before and after the Civil War. Adeline Portera was listed in the 1880 Censuses of Claiborne County as head of household. Living with Adeline was her two teenage sons, Albert and Dennis. Mary (Flowers) Wilson, the daughter of Adeline, was residing there with her four boys. The children of Adeline Porter and Mary were enumerated by the letter 'M' (Mixed/Mulatto) under race. The 1900 Census indicated that Sam flowers was head of household. He was married to Anna and they had six children. The Census confirmed that Henry Flowers was head of household. He was married to Laura and they had seven children. The 1880 Census indicated that Omera (Omery) Flowers was head of household. He was married to Genoa Strong and they had five children. The 1920 Census of Claiborne County, Mississippi, indicated that Omery's sons: Jesse, Robert, and Clarence were living on the plantation with their family. The census also showed that Henry and Albert Flowers were still residing in Claiborne County. Adeline, Sam, Mary, and Dennis Flowers were not listed in the 1920 Census of Claiborne County. As of today, some of the descendants of Omery Flowers and Adeline Porter are still living in Claiborne County. Today, Flowers are living in every state of the Union. We the Flowers are a proud family, which continue to expand and bloom. We are like the flowers that continued to grow and grow and flourish every day. The Flowers name is one of the largest surnames in the world. We stand tall because we stand on the shoulders of our ancestors. From birth every African American child carries the LEGACY of our history and it is our responsibility to its preservation. We proudly acknowledge and give recognition to our ANCESTORS who courageously paved the path before us so that we may have the freedom we enjoy today. In their memory we encourage the pursuit of higher education, exercising your right to vote, love for all mankind, and GENUINE family unity. Let us go forth this day with exceptional OPTIMISM and CHARACTER as we lead by example in celebrating our rich INHERITANCE and pass this torch of excellence to all succeeding generations. - Current Historians (Sydney Flowers - Paducah, KY; Aisha Bell - Dallas, TX; Joyce Johnson - Houston, TX; and Jenisha Turner - Memphis, TN)