Slave Documents - Family, Legal & Historical

Replies to This Discussion

Permalink Reply by Luckie Daniels on July 21, 2009 at 12:39pm

STATE: District of Columbia
DOCUMENT TYPE: Database - Emancipation of Slaves in the District of Columbia, 1862-1863
ABSTRACT: An Act of April 16, 1862 (12 Stat. 376) abolished slavery in the District of Columbia. Under Section 3 of the Act, the President was authorized to appoint a board of three commissioners, who were residents of the District, to examine petitions for compensation from former owners of freed slaves in the District.

An Act of July 12, 1862 (12 Stat. 538), provided that petitions could be received from slaves whose owners had not presented petition for compensation.

Here is a list of the record of petitions filed under the Act of April 16, 1862, dated April 29 - July 15, 1862 showing the date the petition was filed, the number of the petition, name of petitioner, names of slaves, and value of slaves as claimed in the petition.

*3,101 records

Emancipation of Slaves in the District of Columbia, 1862-1863 - http://ccharity.com/dcslaves/

{thanks Christine's Genealogy!}

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Permalink Reply by GeneJ on October 7, 2009 at 11:30am

While I haven't worked with it, noted this date the digital images for this item, "Emancipation of Slaves in the District of Columbia, 1862-1863," appear to be part of Footnote.com

See Footnote collection, "Board of Commissioners - Emancipation of Slaves in DC"; cites NARA M420, "Records of the Board of Commissioners for the Emancipation of Slaves in the District of Columbia, 1862-63." --GJ

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Permalink Reply by Luckie Daniels on July 21, 2009 at 1:02pm

STATE: Georgia
COUNTY: Baldwin
CITY: Milledgeville
DOCUMENT TYPE: Database - Milledgeville Historic Newspapers Archive 1808-1922
ABSTRACT: The Milledgeville Historic Newspaper database is a project of the Digital Library of Georgia as part of Georgia HomePLACE. The project is supported with federal LSTA funds administered by the Institute of Museum and Library Services through the Georgia Public Library Service, a unit of the Board of Regents of the University System of Georgia.

Milledgeville Historic Newspapers Archive - http://milledgeville.galileo.usg.edu/milledgeville/search

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Permalink Reply by msualumni on July 21, 2009 at 2:26pm

STATE: Various
DOCUMENT TYPE: Digital

Guide to African American Documentary Sources
http://www.people.cornell.edu/pages/elw25/browse/browse_affiliation...

STATE: Various Southern State
DOCUMENT TYPE: Digital Database of Pictures

Jackson-Davis Collection of African-American Photographs (great pictures of old schools)
http://www.lib.virginia.edu/small/collections/jdavis

STATE: Virginia
DOCUMENT TYPE: Index to cases, and in several counties, actual images

Virginia Chancery Court Index
http://virginiamemory.com/collections/chancery/

STATE: Alabama
DOCUMENT TYPE: Digitized transcription

Alabama 1867 Voter Records
http://www.archives.alabama.gov/voterreg/index.cfm

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Permalink Reply by Sally Nelson on October 9, 2009 at 10:01am

I was asked an interesting question the other day. Since I don't do African American genealogy, I thought this might be a good place to post the question. The person asked how he could find his ancestor's original names--the ones they had in Africa before they were captured and sold into slavery. Any thoughts where that type of information might be found?

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Permalink Reply by Luckie Daniels on October 12, 2009 at 7:11pm

Hi Sally!

Unfortunately, outside of inherited Oral History and/or the oft chance of documented lineage, there is no place where information, like an enslaved African's original name, lives.

Enslavers gave slaves the names of their own choosing. The traditional name given to an imported African would have held great meaning and strength -- obviously not a trait a slave owner would want to nurture.

There are times when you can find traces of an Ancestors lineage through family names that repeat and unique names, but for the most part, Genealogists researching slave ancestry reach only as far back as the 3-4 generation; identifying a 5th generation Ancestor is considered sheer luck. We'd have to go back at least 1-2 more generations to identify an Ancestor born in Africa.

I would tell the person asking that though we often don't know the names of the original Ancestors of our bloodlines, there is still much of their stories to be found in the descendants that came after them -- so be encouraged.

Thanks again for bringing such a relevant question to this forum.

Cheers,

Luckie.

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Permalink Reply by Lisa Landrum on April 6, 2010 at 10:24am

Slave Inventory of the Estate of John Smith of Rutherford Co. TN (Springfield Plantation)

Males
Sam age 50
Will age 55
Coper age 45
Barnett/ Barrett age 43
Dick age 30
Moses age 20
Anthony age 35
George age 40
Reuben age 40
Edwind age 30
Reuben (II) age 20
Nathaniel age 19
Beverly age 16
Faillon age 18
Lawrence age 17
Milton age 14
Will age 13
Coper (II) age 17
David age 45
Joseph age 11
Simeon age 11
Wilson age 7
Edwind (II) age 4
Christopher age 2
Jefferson age 2
Henry age 18
Jerry age 2
Eli age 2

Females
Betty age 50
Rose age 65
Polly age 35
Julia age 36
Hannah age 32
Kisiah age 26
Patience age 24
Eliza age 19
Louisa age 14
Jinny age 18
Matilda age 12
Moriah age 8
Martha age 6
Margaret age 3
Narcissa age 9
Amanda age 4
Sarah age 3
Martha Anne age 2
Eleanor age 1

John Smith lived on Springfield Plantation in Rutherford County TN. He died March 11, 1825. His will was recorded in September of 1825 and the Inventory
of his estate was recorded in July 1825.

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Permalink Reply by Luckie Daniels on April 6, 2010 at 10:33am

Thanks so much Lisa! I will post an alert on www.AFriendofFriends.com let researchers know where to find this information.

Luckie.

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Permalink Reply by Lisa Landrum on April 6, 2010 at 10:49am

You're welcome! If you have any other suggestions of where I could post this info, I'd welcome them. Also thanks for the info on A Friend of Friends--I'd never heard of that site before!

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Permalink Reply by Luckie Daniels on April 6, 2010 at 11:20am

A Friend of Friends is a project I launched on Mar. 19th. It's a repository for slave data and information.

I'm preparing and AFoF Alert for the information you've shared today.

Thanks,

Luckie.

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Permalink Reply by Lisa Landrum on April 6, 2010 at 10:33am

Slaves belonging to John Smith of Rutherford Co. TN (Springfield Plantation)
that were given to his Daughters when they got married.

Slaves to America Smith (married name same):
Cinda and her child, Edmund; Moriah and her child, Sanders; Buck

Slaves to Evelina Crockett:
Flora and her child, Will; James & Cate

Slave to Caroline Johnson: Eliza

Slaves to Julia Crockett:
Caesar, Lucy and her child (no name given) & Mary

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Permalink Reply by Lisa Landrum on April 6, 2010 at 10:34am

William H. Smith's division of Estate to his former slaves

I believe I have given all my Estate away except the Seventh Share which I wish to give
to those Colored tenants who were once my Slaves & who continued with me all the time & Served me faithful therefore I wish the remaining Share to be divided into Eight
equal Shares & paid to the following named persons as I shall designate|to Wit|

one half Share I give to ELY; one half Share to JOHN; one half Share to JINNY; one half Share to TOM LUZETER (?); one half Share to SAM HOUSTON; one half Share to OLD LUCY; one half Share to LITTLE LUCY; one quarter Share to FANNIE; one quarter Share to MICK; one half Share to ALSA; one quarter Share to PETER; one half Share to CREASY; one quarter Share to SALLY; one quarter Share to SILLES; one quarter share to ALBERT; one quarter Share to SARAH OLIVIA; one quarter Share to LAWGAN (?); one quarter share to JANE, one quarter Share to JOSEPHINE; one eighth of a Share to OLD MARIAH SR..; to CALVAN JENKINS quarter share; to ELIZA one quarter Share; one eighth of Share to DENNIS and one eighth of a Share to be equally divided between JOSIAH | our house boys & PROFFET & LITTLE TOM the remaining Eighth I give to Same (?)| MANDA, LIZY& JIMMINA to them and their heirs forever.

I have only mentioned the given names of the Negros, my Executors can make no mistake for I owned them all once Except Calvan and I want him to ____ his share and I hereby Nominate and appoint Geo W. Smith Eqr., Frank W. Washington , & Theadore Smith my Extos to this my last will and testament.

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