Our History. . .how it all began!

Wesley-JAM Family Connection

This family tree starts out with Alfred Wesley, born 1826 in Virginia, his wife Hannah born 1830 in Mississippi. They sired 8 children; Burrell born 1848, Benjamin born 1856, Clerry (Corrinda) born 1858, Mack born 1861, Moses born 1865, Joseph born 1867, Alexandra born 1870, John born 1872. They were all born in Franklin County Mississippi.

The first connection to the JAM family was Clerry (Corrinda) Wesley bore a child with Joe Anderson in 1858, her name was Cam Wesley 1885. Joe Anderson also sired a daughter Doma Anderson in 1860 with Nice Mcknight Anderson who married John Wesley (Clerry Wesley brother). He also sired a son Hezekiah Anderson who went on to marry Joseph Wesley's daughter Bertha Wesley Anderson.

Joseph Anderson had a total of 13 children with Nice and one child with Clerry Wesley. His parents are Squire Anderson born 1829 and Viney Anderson born 1830, they bore 8 children. This is how the Anderson family made connection to the JAM.

Cama Wesley married Rev. Samuell V Johnson, Sr 1880 in Mississippi.  They moved to Gilbert Franklin, Louisiana, together they had 9 children:

Leonie, Sammie, Isaac, Joseph, Moses, Cama Mae, Rosetta, Ruth and Herman. This is how the Johnson family made connection to the JAM.

Cama Wesley Anderson Johnson (mother Clerry Corrinda Wesley) married Cicero McheGee in 1861. Information from the 1900 census they bore 5 children, Eugene, Johney, Estella, Isabel and Lee. Cicero was a farmer who could read and write, he owned his own farm, and he did not have a mortgage. This was a great accomplishment for a black man in the 1800^’s. There is a copy of his deed for the farm.

Clerry Corrinda Wesley died during childbirth but gave birth to Lee McheGee. The Wall family raised Clerry^’s son Lee from birth and gave him their last name. Cicero McheGee went to get his son back, but the Lee family hid him. After many years his sister Estella McheGee found him (Lee Wall) and her sister Cama Wesley (who was raised by her grandparents Alfred and Hannah Wesley).

One of Cicero McGehee's sons Eugene James invented the turn signal (car) and obtained a Paten for it which he took to Washington, DC but was never heard from again, the information regarding his disappearance is still being researched. This is how McheGee made connection to the JAM (Johnson Anderson McheGee).

As per an early Census there was another child Emma Andrews born 1878, and later on she appeared as Emma Wesley, not sure which Wesley was her father. The story was told that her Indian family left her on Alfred and Hannah Wesley door step to raise, we know Emma raised two of Alexander Wesley's grandchildren Barnell and Lucille Lightner, their mother was Eva Wesley Lightner who died giving birth to Coretta. Emma Andrew Wesley married Charley Ridley and they bore three children; Eugene, Prent and Viney Mae.

(Prepared by Agnes Nelson, July 2015)