Ella Pridgett

From Persephone Magazine

Born somewhere between 1882 and 1886, one of several children born to an extremely poor family in Columbus, Georgia, “Ma” Rainey was groomed from a very early age to sing and perform for her dinner. Just like her Mother and Grandmother before her, Rainey was an experienced performer by the time she was a pre-teen. At just 12 years old, she had already started singing at minstrel shows and appearing in Vaudeville acts, which were popular at the time. Her hometown of Columbus, Georgia, was a well known river port that often had many musical acts, and the Pridgett family were one of the families that earned a living performing in the area.

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• Year: 1880; Census Place: Hatchachubbee, Russell, Alabama; Roll: 30; Family History Film: 1254030; Page: 553B; Enumeration District: 157; Image: 0510
• "Mother of the Blues: A Study of Ma Rainey" By Sandra R. Lieb.  [Ma Rainey's] mother worked for the Central Railway of Georgia.
• Find A Grave Memorial# 70090886
  • Georgia Death Certificate, Register # 456. "This is the mother of the famous blues singer: Ma Rainey(born:Gertrude Pridgett). Ella's death certificate states she was born 1873...earlier census reports(1910 & 1920-census-birth around 1864+/- & (1900-census-birth: April 1862) Alabama.
    • Ella's son: Thomas Pridgett is listed as the informant.
    • Ella's children: Gertrude (Ma Rainey), Melissa/Malissie/Lizie Nix, Essie & Thomas/Tommy. Ella's husband:Thomas Pridgett/Prigget.".
    • Ella's parents: John & Lettie (?) Allen, Russell, Alabama.

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• Residence: 1880 - Hatchachubbee, Russell, Alabama, USA
• Race: Black
• Ethnicity: American
  • Updated from 1880 United States Federal Census via father Edmund Allen by SmartCopy: May 13 2015, 20:47:41 UTC