In Search of Brittentines

For years I have been trying to connect my ggg-grandfather, Monroe Brittentine with other relatives. He was born a slave in Kentucky according to census records as were his parents whose names I do not know.

That is only part of the problem. The other is that I cannot connect him with any other relatives. The surname Brittentine is virtually non-existent prior to 1870 and it only worn by African american with the exception of 1 white female by the name of Mary Brittentine in Arkansas. The only other Brittentine I find in the country period is a large family of african americans some former slaves in Ohio and West Virginia. Now Ohio and West Virginia are very close in proximity to Kentucky so I have been thinking maybe they relocated there.



My grandfather, Monroe Brittentine was the only Brittentine in Louisiana in 1870 and all the individuals wearing that name presently in that area are his descendents. My guess is that he was brought from Kentucky to Louisiana as a slave. I have found him and his family on this 1870 and 1880 census and have a near complete chart of the lineage beginning with him.

Now, some of the older Ohio Brittentines bear similar or the same name as some of his children which might indicate that they are his relatives. There was one other black man by the name of Clem Brittentine who I found in an old obituary residing in Texas.

There are some closely related names such as, Britten, Brittain and Britton that I have long suspected might have been the actual origin of my family name. In fact, one of my cousins entire line changed their name to Brittine. The name, Britton is of English origin and was originally given to a person who was a Briton (a Celt of England) or a Breton (an inhabitant of Brittany, France which is in close proximity to England). Hence, those spellings are very common all over England and US

It is possible because of the slave dialect the name inadvertenly became Brittentine or was maybe intentionally changed to differentiate the former slaves from the previous white owners. I just don't know. But being the sleuth that I am, I am bound and determined to find out.

One thing is certain, the name is often spelled wrong on almost every census at least in the case of my known Brittentine ancestors.

Here are some of the Brittentines that I found on the census:
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1870 census
Mary Brittentine Hot Springs, Hot Spring, AR abt 1848 Arkansas White Female

John Brittentine Salisbury, Meigs, OH abt 1828 West Virginia Black Male

Susan Brittentine Salisbury, Meigs, OH abt 1825 West Virginia Mulatto Female

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1880 Census
Margera Brittentine Charleston, Kanawha, WV abt 1850 West Virginia Self (Head)

Cornelia Brittentine Margera Charleston, Kanawha, WV abt 1861 West Virginia Daughter

William Brittentine Margera Charleston, Kanawha, WV abt 1866 West Virginia Son

Cuba Brittentine Margera Charleston, Kanawha, WV abt 1874 West Virginia Son

Bettie Brittentine Margera Charleston, Kanawha, WV abt 1876 West Virginia Daughter

Virgie Brittentine Margera Charleston, Kanawha, WV abt 1878 West Virginia Daughter

Lewis Brittentine Margera Charleston, Kanawha, WV abt 1879 West Virginia Son

Adalphry Brittentine Rutland, Meigs, OH abt 1835 Virginia Self (Head)

Silas Brittentine Adalphry Rutland, Meigs, OH abt 1866 Ohio Son

Franklin Brittentine Adalphry Rutland, Meigs, OH abt 1872 Ohio Son

Judson Brittentine Rutland, Meigs, OH abt 1879 Ohio Grandson

Aaron Brittentine Mary Rutland, Meigs, OH abt 1835 West Virginia Self (Head)

Mary Brittentine Aaron Rutland, Meigs, OH abt 1855 Ohio Wife

Ella Brittentine Pittsburgh, Allegheny, PA abt 1856 Minnesota Something other than a direct relationship
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1900 Census

Nancy Brittentine Gallipolis, Gallia, Ohio abt 1802 West Virginia Black Aunt


Charles Brittentine Butler, Mercer, Ohio abt 1881 Ohio Black Servant
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1880 Census (These are all my Lousiana ancestors)

Monroe Brittenten Sophia 5th Ward, Bossier, LA abt 1842 Kentucky Self (Head)

Sophia Brittenten Monroe 5th Ward, Bossier, LA abt 1847 Louisiana Wife

Robert Brittenten Monroe,Sophia 5th Ward, Bossier, LA abt 1865 Louisiana Son

Sidney Brittenten Monroe,Sophia 5th Ward, Bossier, LA abt 1867 Louisiana Son

Esther Brittenten Monroe,Sophia 5th Ward, Bossier, LA abt 1868 Louisiana Daughter

Ella Brittenten Monroe,Sophia 5th Ward, Bossier, LA abt 1870 Louisiana Daughter

Eva Brittenten Monroe,Sophia 5th Ward, Bossier, LA abt 1872 Louisiana Daughter

Lizzie Brittenten Monroe,Sophia 5th Ward, Bossier, LA abt 1874 Louisiana Daughter

Jones Brittenten (Actually James) Monroe,Sophia 5th Ward, Bossier, LA abt 1879 Louisiana Son
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In 1880 the following related names are listed both born in Louisiana:

Sam Britten Bossier, LA abt 1832 Louisiana Self (Head)

Willie Britten Sam Bossier, LA abt 1870 Louisiana Son
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In 1900 the following related names are listed in Bossier
Parish,Louisiana:

Richard Bretten 58 (born in Louisiana but parents born in
Virginia)

Fellis Bretten 60
Savanah Bretten 23
Geneve Collins 13


I would appreciate help from anyone knowing a connection between Monroe and Ohio/West Virginia Brittentines.