I am a descendant of Lewis Barge through his oldest daughter, Mary "Polly" Barge, but have recently been helping some descendants of Jeff Barge of Alabama in their research. I recently found Jeff as an infant in 1870 with Martha Robins, who may be his mother; see census result below. Later censuses list Jeff as mulatto or black.

Family history from Jeff's descendants and a woman who is related to a doctor from that area who knew the family, state that, following the death of Jeff's mother, he was accepted into the family of George Abel Barge, a white man, as his son. Later censuses also indicate that relationship.

I've also been informed that there is a photo of Jeff as an adult and am trying to obtain a copy for distribution to his descendants.

1870 Wilcox County AL census, Snow Hill beat, Camden post office, page 461-A.
House # 424, Family # 425
Simpson, William, 30, black, farmer, AL, no real estate, $100 personal property
Robins, Martha, 22, black, keeping house, AL
Miller, Prince, 15, male, black, farm labor, AL
Barge, Jeff, 3 months, black, born Feb 1870, AL