Revised 10 August 2022. First posted in 2017.
Although I have ancestry from Colonial New England, Massachusetts, Connecticut, New Hampshire and Maine, as well as New Amsterdam, New Jersey, New Sweden, and Pennsylvania, that ancestry is prior to the Revolutionary War. The bulk of my ancestry is from colonial Maryland, Pennsylvania, Virginia, North Carolina and South Carolina, and after the Revolutionary War, Kentucky and Tennessee. Between 1800 and 1870 my relatives had spread South to Arkansas, Missouri, Georgia, Texas and North and West to Indiana, Illinois, Michigan, Colorado, California, and Oregon.
However, between 1820 and 1870 my families were based in Southeastern Kentucky and Northeastern Tennessee, in Knox, Wayne, Whitley, and Pulaski counties Kentucky, and in Knox, Overton, Campbell, Scott, and Fentress counties in Tennessee.
In 2017, when I first posted this page, The Slave Name Roll Project was attempting to recover the names of slaves from documents, wills, inventories, slave passes, manumission records, censuses, newspaper advertisements, etc., that individuals have discovered in their genealogical research. This is for the area that is now the United States of America.
Since then the Beyond Kin Project has taken over that role and I refer interested people to it.
Below I have listed my known slaveholding ancestors and relatives with the relationship, a citation to the source of the information, and the names of the enslaved where that is given. I will be adding to this page as I now make a definite effort to document this.
There are two lists, Ancestors, and then, Relatives, in reverse chronological order to facilitate the possibility of finding kin in the documents. Although listed by closeness of ancestry to me, they are mainly from most recent to farthest in time. I welcome additions and corrections.
Two new wills are added: My 6th Great Grandfather, Joseph Phipps of Chester county, Pennsylvania, and Botetourt county, Virginia, 1699-1771, naming three enslaved persons, and that of Joshua Phipps, 1801-1861, my 1st cousin 5 times removed of Hawkins county, Tennessee, which lists 42, named and unnamed enslaved persons. There are a number of Phipps enslavers listed in the 1850 and 1860 Slave Censuses for Hawkins county, Tennessee. At this time I am not sure of their relationship to me, but I will be trying to determine if a connection exists and to list any enslaved persons in their wills and estates.
An inventory for Mr Samuel Brashear of Prince Georges county, Maryland, a 7th Great Grandfather, is added with five enslaved individuals and one white servant with ages and values, dated 1739-1740. They are not noted in the will.
These additions are in bold fonts.
At this time over 160 named and unnamed enslaved people are listed on this page. I expect the number to double as I work through the documents I have gathered.
Spelling is as found in the document.
Locations of slaveholders:
- Alabama: Marshall county.
- Arkansas: Ouachita county.
- Kentucky: Knox county; Logan county; Pulaski county; Wayne county, Whitley county.
- Maryland: Prince George's county; Talbot county.
- Missouri: Henry county; Lafayette county; Saline county.
- North Carolina: Ashe county.
- Tennessee: Hawkins County.
- Texas: Grayson county; McClennan county.
- Virginia: Amelia county; Botetourt county; Charlotte county; Chesterfield county; Essex county; Frederick county; Grayson county; Henrico county; Henry county; Norfolk county; Stafford County.
In 1850 there were 201 slaves in Whitley county, Kentucky. In 1860 there were 157 slaves. In 1870 there were between 131 and 137 Black and Mulatto residents in Whitley county.
In 1860 the percentage of free families who owned slaves in the states below were as follows: Alabama 35%, North Carolina 28%, Texas 28%, Virginia 26%, Tennessee 25%, Kentucky 23%, Arkansas 20%, Missouri 13% and Maryland 12% (RATIO OF SLAVEHOLDERS TO FAMILIES, (1860)).
See, Slavery Laws in Olde Kentucky and
David H. Streets, Slave Genealogy: A Research Guide with Case Studies
(mainly on Wayne Co., KY) and East Tennessee Roots: Slavery in East Tennessee and Hell without fire: Blacks in Tennessee before 1865.
I encourage others of pre-U.S. Civil War ancestry to do the same.
Slave holders
Ancestors:
James Campbell, 4th Great Grand Father,
Will, Whitley, Kentucky, 1829.
1 female, Ann.
Daniel Strunk, 4th Great Grand Father,
1820 Census, Whitley, Kentucky, 1 unnamed male, 26-45.
1810 Census, Ashe, North Carolina,1 unnamed male.
Samuel Wiatt, 4th Great Grand Father,
Inventory, Knox County, Circuit Court, Kentucky, Suits, Box #65, 1835.
5 slaves, one man, one woman and two children and one old woman",
names unknown.
Jeremiah Burnett, 5th Great Grand Father,
Sources,
Alexander Campbell, 5th Great Grand Father, Joseph Phipps, 6th Great Grandfather,
Thomas Morgan, 6th Great Grand Father,
Thomas Womack, 7th Great Grand Father,
Mary (Farley) Womack, 7th Great Grand Mother,
Joseph Batchelor, 7th Great Grand Father,
John Burnett, 7th Great Grand Father, Mr Samuel Brashear, 7th Great Grandfather,
Deed of Sale, Wayne County, Kentucky, 1815:
Sold one Negro boy slave Adam, to son Isaac for $400.00.
Deed of Gift (to daughter and son-in-law), Wayne County, Kentucky, 1815.
In 1815 he gave them "one Negro slave woman Hannah and her increase".
In 1812 he gave to James and Ursula Hurt, "one Negro girl slave and her increase".
Tax List, Wayne County, Kentucky, 1805.
6 slaves.
Tax Lists, Henry County, Virginia, 1782-1790:
1782 4 blacks;
1783 2 Negroes, Sipes and Sarah;
1784 4 Negroes, Sipes and Sarah and 2 young ones;
1786 6 Negroes;
1787 3 blacks over 16, 3 blacks under 16;
1788 1 black;
1789 2 blacks;
1790 3 blacks.
June Baldwin Bork, The Burnetts and their connections, 3 vols.
David H. Streets, Slave Genealogy: A Research Guide with Case Studies
(mainly on Wayne Co., KY).
Will, Knox, Kentucky, 1810.
unnamed "Negro boy".
Will, made 1771, Botetourt county, Virginia, proved 12 Feb 1772 (also proved in Chester county, Pennsylvania. Published transcript is incorrrect and the filed wills are followed below).
"ITEM I give and devise to my son Joshua Phipps a negro man Slave named young Caesar to him and his heirs for ever."
"ITEM I give and devise to my Grand Daughter Mary Hubbard one Mullattoe Girl named Pugg, to her and her heirs for ever."
"ITEM I give and bequeath to my Daughter Easter Crosby one negroe Girl named Dinah to her and her heirs for ever."
Deed, Thomas Morgan to Bartholomew Anderson, Arnold's Branch, Frederick,
Virginia Colony, 1749.
"Negro named Jack for sixty some odd pounds" as partial payment to Thomas Morgan.
Will, Henrico, Virginia, 1732/33.
1 unnamed female "Negro Woman".
Will, Chesterfield, Virginia Colony, 1750.
"Negro Woman nam'd Mall".
Will, Norfolk, Virginia Colony, 1733/4.
Negro Boy Cush;
Negro Boy Tony;
Negro Woman Hayes;
Negro Boy Pompy;
Negro Boy Sharper;
Negro Boy Philly.
Will, Essex, Virginia Colony, 1717.
negro Will;
melato girl Cate;
negro boy Sam;
negro girl Sue;
negro woman Moll.
Prince Georges County, Maryland Colony, 1739-1740.
Enslaved named in inventory with ages and values:
Jerry, 75, 5S;
Jacob, 75, 5S;
unnamed negroe woman, about 20, 40L;
negroe boy named Wopping, about 17, 30L;
negroe boy named Sharper, about 15, 30L
One white servant named William Pollard, 2L:10S:00P.
Charles Walker, 7th Great Grand Father,
Deposition of Rebecca Walker (either the widow or daughter) Prince
George's, Maryland Colony, 1767.
slave Priss. She is listed in 1775 Surry, North Carolina, tax roll.
Abraham Womack, 8th Great Grand Father,
Will, Henrico, Virginia Colony, 1732.
3 males, Frank,York, and Matt.
Deed, Henrico, Virginia Colony, Patent Book 8, Page 172, 20 October 1691.
imported 5 slaves, "Eliza,Pain,Tom,Nan,Peter, negroes".
Amy (nee McGraw)(Gatewood) Baker, 8th Great Grand Mother,
Will, Southfarnham Parish, Essex, Virginia Colony, 1744.
negro boy, Bristol;
negro girl, Frank;
negro woman, Jenny;
negro boy, Will;
negro Essex;
negro Guy;
negro Sarah.
John Farley, 8th Great Grand Father,
Will, Amelia, Virginia Colony, 1754. (of Dale Parish, Chesterfield, Virginia
Colony).
Negro Dickboy;
Negro Dick;
Negro Nancy and all her increase;
Negro boy
named Billy;
Negro girl Patt and all her increase;
Negro wench named Sue
and what Children she brings after this Day;
Negro boy named Lewis;
Negro wench named Lucy and all her Increase;
Negro boy named Stephen;
Negro Fellows Frank and Jimboy.
James Akin, 9th Great Grand Father,
Will, Henrico, Virginia Colony, 1712.
"I leave the Indian woman named Rose and her two children".
Sarah Akin, 9th Great Grand Mother,
Will, Henrico, Virginia Colony, 1714,
Leaves "slaves" to son James Akin. Is this "the Indian woman named Rose
and her two children"?
Mary (nee Richeford) Brasseur, widow of Benois Brasseur, J.P. Talbot County, Maryland Colony, 9th Great Grand Mother,
Deed of land at the Cliffs (Talbot County, Maryland Colony) from Richard
Bennett (Gov of both Virginia and Maryland) 1663, included Servants:
Thomas Smyth
Geo: Dauison
William Whitehead
Thomas ffrost
and Sarah a negro Woman.
Will of Mary Brasseur (made before her marriage to Thomas Starling),1663,
mentions delivery of servants, unnamed, to children.
Relatives:
Levi Preston Cox, 1st Cousin 3 times Removed,
Letter to wife, from Sherman, Grayson, Texas, 9 May 1856.
Mentions enslaved, Uncle Timothy and Aunt ELiza in missouri..
Joel Hayden Walker, 1st Cousin 4 times Removed,
1860 Slave Census, Dover, Lafayette, Missouri,
8 slaves; 4 females ages, 5,14,14,30; 4 males, ages 10, 23, 38, 40.
Mary Ellen Walker Vivion, 1st Cousin 4 times Removed (wife of George
William Vivion),
1860 Slave Census, McClennan, Texas,
11 slaves; 8 males, ages 1, 2, 6, 12, 14, 16, 40, 40; 3 females, ages
24, 35;
1 is mulatto, aged 8.
1850 Slave Census, District 46, Lafayette, Missouri,
12 slaves; 9 males; 3 females.
Paris M Walker, 1st Cousin 4 times Removed,
1860 Slave Census, Marshall, Saline, Missouri,
10 male slaves, ages 6 months, 1, 2, 20, 21, 28, 30, 30, 32, 40.
1850 Slave Census, Saline, Missouri,
5 slaves.
Fielden Young, 1st Cousin 4 times Removed,
1860 Slave Census, Grayson, Virginia, USA.
1 Female, age 40;
1 male, age 12;
1 male, age 4.
1850 Slave Census, Dist 19, Grayson, Virginia;
1 Male, age 40;
1 female, age 32;
1 male, age 1.
Joshua Phipps, 1st cousin 5 times removed,
Will made 3 July 1861; Codicil made 4 July 1861; Proved Aug Term 1861, Hawkins county, Tennessee;
I also will and devise to my son Frank L. Phipps the following named slaves which he now has in his possession, including the increase if any born since (to wit)
one negro man named Jim,
one negro boy named Henry,
one negro woman named Lucy and her infant child named Saul or Sal,
one negro girl named Laura,
one negro man named Frank,
one negro girl named Mary, daughter of Lucy,
one negro boy named Dick,
one negro girl named Maria,
also a negro boy named Tom which the said Frank L. Phipps has never had in his possession.
I also will and devise to the said Ida Netherland and her husband the following named negroes which they have now in their possession, and their increase if any (to wit)
One negro woman named Julia Ann:
one negro boy Jack,
one negro girl named Lucy;
one negro girl named Amanda;
one negro girl named Minta:
one negro man named Anthony (sold by R. G. Netherland to Buchanan),
one negro man named Ransom;
one negro girl named Ann,
said negroes are all in their possession except Anthony heretofore sold to Buchanan.
Also, one negro boy named Amos and
one negro boy named Walter which they have not yet had possession of.
I also will and devise to the said Nancy B. Bynum the following named negroes which are now in her possession, and their increase if any, to wit:
One negro girl named Queen;
one negro boy named Ike;
one negro boy named Dave:
one negro girl named Rosetta;
one yellow man named Madison;
one black woman named Peachy
which property I devise to the said Nancy B. Bynum for her own separate use and control.
I also devise to my son Mack Phipps the following named negroes, to wit:
One negro man named Andy;
one negro man named Lewis;
one negro man named Jack;
one negro man named Rufus and his wife Viney and child.
Also one negro woman named Maria and her three children, to wit: Sal, Rufus and Mary.
In a Codicil he states that Andy, is to be given only light tasks as befits his age and faithful service.
Wright Stephen Batchelor, 1st Cousin 5 times Removed,
Will, Nash, North Carolina, USA, 1846.
Negro Woman, Fanny.
Richard Walker, 1st Cousin 7 times Removed,
Will, Prince George's, Maryland, 1807.
one unnamed Negro girl.
Armstead S. Morehead, 4th Cousin 3 times Removed,
Logan, Kentucky, abt 1837.
Union Pension records of sons, Thomas and James W. Morehead.
Dinah, slave (consort of ASM), (Ancestors of Muhammad Ali Haj, aka, Cassius Marcellus Clay, Jr.).
Jabus Perkins, 2nd Great Grand Uncle,
1850 Slave Census, Marshall, Alabama.
Black female 21;
Black male 17;
Mulatto Female 3;
Mulatto male 1.
Joel Moses, 3rd Great Grand Uncle,
Ezekiel Abbot Porch, 3rd Great Grand Uncle,
Samuel Wilcoxon Walker, 3rd Great Grand Uncle,
Pleasant Phillip Walker, 3rd Great Grand Uncle,
Joseph Walker, 6th Great Grand Uncle,
William Womack, 6th Great Grand Uncle,
James Akin, 8th Great Grand Uncle,
Sarah (?????) Whitecotton, wife of 8th Great Grand Uncle,
Possible relative:
George Bagley,
1860 Slave Census, Ouachita, Arkansas.
Black female, age 20;
Black female, age 3.
Both unnamed.
1840 U.S. Population Census, Pulaski, Kentucky.
one female slave, age 36-54.
1820 U.S. Population Census, Knox, Kentucky.
one male slave, age under 14.
1820 Census, Whitley, Kentucky.
6 unnamed slaves.
Assessor's Book, Henry, Missouri, 1845.
10 slaves valued at $2,725, unnamed.
Will, Prince George's, Maryland, USA, 1797.
Negro man Pompey;
Negro girl Phebe;
Negro man Will;
Negro girl Nell;
Negro man Sam;
Negro woman Jinne;
Negro girl Prins;
Negro girl Easter
and Negro boy Ben (all four together);
Negro boy Harry;
Negro man Bob.
Will, Charlotte, Virginia, USA, 1790.
1 female, Betty and her increase.
Will of mother, Sarah Akin, Henrico, Virginia Colony, 1714.
legatee of "slaves".
Will, Stafford, Virginia Colony, 1761.
two Negroes (unnamed, sex not stated);
one negro wench and one white
girl named Marcaret Whitcomb.
Will, Amelia, Virginia Colony, 1768.
Son James Bagley, Negro fellow Morrica.
Son George Bagley, Negro fellow Jack.
Anderson Bagley, Negro boy York
Dau. Elizabeth Bagley, Negro girl Tabb.
Dickerson Jennings, who married my dau. Frances,
Negro girl Ursay.
G'son. William Ligon, son of William Ligon, when he is 21 or married,
90 pounds to be raised from Negro woman Lucy and her increase.
Lend wife (no name) for life or widowhood, Negroes Jeff & Hannah.
Estate Inventory & Appraisment, Amelia, Virginia Colony, 1769.
"Slaves: Jeffery, York
,Hannah,
Lucy & her child Jenny;Tab, girl Ussey".
