Early Anti-Slavery Activists with connections to Jennings County.
In Bigger township the Merrells, Johnsons, Spauldings, Andersons, Stephensons, Hicklins and many other families came here from North Carolina and Kentucky, primarily to get away from Slavery. The Aegan Cave, located on Big Graham Creek near the border of Bigger and Vernon Townships was one of the Stations on the Underground Railroad. Probably the best-known in Jennings County was Thomas Hicklin's large two story brick house east of San Jacinto. On Hicklin's tombstone are these words. "An ardent Preacher of the Gospel and able Advocate of human rights-died December 26, 1845 Aged 57 yrear 7 monhts 5 days."
Many families who lived in Montgomery Township were also involved in the Anti-Slavery cause the son of Edward Zener who was raised on Neils Creek, states of his father when he died in 1899 "Father Zener was with the North on the question of slavery, and long before the war was recognized as an "Abolitionist." When the stars and stripes was fired upon in 1861 he was among the first to enlist under the call for three months service, but it was found that he was overage, and he was rejected. However, before the war closed he enlisted again and had the honor of defending his country's flag. He remained loyal to the party of liberty and union until his death." Melinda Zenor married Francis M. Landon and they are buried in College Hill Cemetery, which is named because it is near the Eleutherian College in Lancaster, Jefferson County which was established to educate everyone regardless of color of skin or gender.
The Wells family were also very involved in the Neil's Creek Anti-slavery society where Lemuel Wells and his wife Mary's parents Abraham Walton and Mary Hutchinson Walton were original members.Lemuel's brothers are also mentioned in the minutes of the Society as being members.
Historic Black American Sites and Structures in Jennings County
Published by The Jennings County Preservation Society in 1998
There were a significant number of African Americans who were early settlers in Jennings County. One of the first families to settle in the area was named Kersey, they came from Georgia sometime before 1830. A settlement called Richland or "Africa" settled mainly by fugitive slaves. They still have descendents living in Jennings County.
In 1847 Achilles Vawter and Martha his wife conveyed a plot of land to Spencer King, Ephraim Kersey and Thomas Bradley as Trustees of the Episcopal Church of the Africans so long as they may occupy the same as such. The church was disbanded in about 1900. Some of the foundation stones of the church building still remain. John Vawter originally purchased the land that became Richland and he divided the land and sold 2 1/2 acre parcels to each person. The land where Richland was is now part of the Crosley State Fish Wildlife Area. There were at least 323 African Americans living in Jennings County prior to 1850 after the Fugitive Slave Act of 1850 (that allowed owners of slaves to take them back into slavery) the number declined to about 150. Hopefully many of the residents of Richland made it on to Canada and freedom. The families that stayed in Richland made their homes and raised their families there.
The school at Richland was known as the Richland Colored School, it is thought to have closed about 1904.
It is thought that there were 2 cemeteries at Richland on what is now the east side of Hwy 3 south. This highway was formerly called the Paris Road as it leads from Vernon to Paris. The road today does not follow the same route as it did then so exact locations are not known. Gravestones have been found in the area surrounding the cemeteries. The most prominent resident of Richland was Bluford (also spelled Blueford and Blewford) Hill, son of Lewis Hill. Bluford Hill dabbled in real estate, was a chairman on a survey team, farmed and worked as a handyman. Lewis Hill's estate was sold February 9th 1865 by Bluford and was advertised as follows "ADMINISTRATOR'S SALE notice is hereby given that I will sell at Public auction on the 9th day of February 1865 at the late residence of Lewis Hill, late of Jennings County, deceased, all his personal property, consisting of horse, cattle, hogs, wagons, etc. A credit of six months will be given on all sums over three dollars, the purchaser given a note with approved security, waiving valuation and appraisement laws. Sums of three dollars and under cash in hand. Bluford A. Hill"
There was a meeting by the colored people of the County to during which Lemuel Bradon was chosen as the County representative who was being sent to a convention in Indianapolis to petition to the Legislature for their wrights. They proposed to pay the sum of one dollar a piece to pay expenses to and from Indianapolis. The names of those who attended the meeting and are delinquent are Bluford Hill, Agrippa Hill, Hiram Mitchell, Jesse Phillips, William Hood, Sanford Carsey, Riley Harper and Marshall McCoppin. It was stated as follows-We wish to inform our people that if they want their wrights they must do the fair thing themselves. Lemuel Bradon, Nov. 4th, 1865.
December 17, 1841 there was a Richland Methodist Episcopal Church cemetery deeded from Stephen and Sally Carsey to the trustees of the African Methodist Church. Achilles Vawter and his wife Martha deeded land to Spencer King and Ephraim Kersey and Thomas Bradley, trustees of the Episcopal Church of the Africans on August 26, 1847.
In 1835 a mulatto named William Lee and his wife Ellen Hood purchased acerage in what was then Spencer Township in Jennings County, The property was in section 6 northwest, the house was located high on a hill and there was a cemetery that is still there but there are no tombstones. At the base of the hill runs Indian Creek that goes under what is now US 50. His wifes mother Catherine, and her brother William, all owned land next to William Lee's. Their homes were used on the Underground Railroad to house, feed and hide African Americans who were looking for freedom from slavery.
In 1873 The Second United Methodist Church was founded it was located on Lot 15 on Stockwell Street, The tornado of 1917 badly damaged the original building. The committee to help rebuild the Second Methodist include Lottie Taylor, Mildred Good, Lucille Bolden, Pearl & Clara Good, Mary Brown, ALice Litzy, Gail Smith, Millie Brown, Elizabeth Litzy and Melva Goins. Early families of the church were the Goods, Lyles, Eastons, Colberts, Statens, Boldens, Litzy's and others.
In the early 1920's a group of persons began meeting to form a Baptist Church. In October of 1922, they purchased land in the Paybody division of North Vernon from Edmond Overturf where they built a church. The Church was first known as the Second Baptist Church but the members voted to change the name to Corinthian Baptist Church. Trustees at the time of the land purchase were Levi Colbert, Grant Goins and Gloss Taylor. The Reverand L.C. Montgomery served as pastor of the Corinthian Baptist Church for 58 years, retiring due to poor health Rev. Montgomery his wife Berniece and children were leaders in the church.
There was what was known as the colored school located on South State Street which closed on Friday May 9, 1884, this school was taught by W. T. Anderson. The school was moved to Laurel Street and called the Laurel Street School. The following are excerpts from the Banner Plain Dealer dated January 27, 1897, and March 24, 1897. State Street School Honor Roll-Frances Davis, George Staten, Harry Staten, seventh grade, Clarence Good, fifth grade; Minnie Mitchell, Fidelia Burton and Isabella Burton, third grade; Lulu Peck, Clyde Hood, second grade; Carry Johnson, Carl Mitchell, Ralph Malone, first grade A Johnnie Johnson, Ethel Mitchell, first grade B. School notes for the year ending March 12, 1897; State Street School; George Staten, seventh grade; Clarence Good, fifth; Debbie Good, fourth; Walter Johnson, third; Lulu Peck, second. It unknown when the Laurel Street School actually closed. Some students of the Laurel Street School were Otto Easton, George Gentry, Sam Finn, Helen Mae Colbert, Margia and Frances Peck, Eugene O'Neal, Marg Downing, Emma Staten, Gertrude Hawkins, Bert Peck, Bud Johnson, Margaret Colbert, James Colbert, teacher Dorothy Handley, Loretta Colbert, Bud Colbert, Pauline Bolden, Sallie Colbert, Merrill Good, Hazel Good, Carlos Good, Roxie Rickman, Clara Good, Cecil Good, Alford Colbert, Raymond Mason, Elmer Easton, Mildred Litzy, Willard Easton, Frank Lyle, Glen Easton, Lennie King-teacher Mr. Dameron.
The Black School which is now a residence in Vernon was built in 1898.
Benville in Bigger Township along the Jennings Ripley County line and located on Graham Creek also had a African American history but in 1940 the land was purchased by the US Government for Jefferson Proving Ground and little is known about the area except that large Emancipation Day celebrations were held which included people from as far away as Cincinnati.
The North Vernon Stars, an all Black baseball team managed by Mr. Dixon, played a lot of games at the North Vernon Ball Park. Some of the players were Carl Mitchell, William Barton, Ernest Downing, Roy Smith, Clarence Good, Walter Johnson, John Goins, Emmitt Downing, Dixon, Ernest Bolden and George Rollins. Jess Phillips was one of the African Americans who played on the Vernon baseball team around the turn of the Century.
A few of the African American business owners in Jennings County were Paul O'Neal, Don Good, Dudley Dixon, Garfield "Doc" Easton, Gilbert Peck, Emmitt Downing, Edward Staten, Delmar "Ham" Downing, Gloss and Othella Taylor, George H. White, Phillip "Beaky" Good, Josephine "Josie" Colbert, William Harmon and Family.
CIVIL WAR
At first it was not legal for Blacks to serve during the Civil War because of a 1795 law. Although they had fought with valor in the Revolutionary War and the War of 1812. This law was followed during the Civil War but by 1862 fewer white men were joining the northern Army. On July 17, 1862, Congress passed an act which allowed the president to use as many people of color as he felt necessary to end the war. In May of 1863, the first Black regiment was formed in Boston, the 54th Massachusetts. In the fall of 1863, the 28th Indiana was formed and Black men from all over Indiana volunteered their services. Answering the call from Jennings County were approximately 45 brave Black men. Families represented were Bolding (also Bolden), Bell, Bullen, O'Neal, Easton, Litzy, Green, Smith, Lee and King. Most of the Black men served with the 28th, however most units after 1863 contained some Black soldiers. In the Vernon and Hillcrest cemeteries, Black soldiers are honored with U.S. Government issued tombstones designated by rank, unit and USCI (United States Colored Infantry) and USCT (United States Colored Troops).
FAMILIES
Smith Family Tree--George Washington Smith was born in Henry County, Kentucky on 12 December 1815, and he was owned by a Gabriel May. At the age of 18, he was sold to Thomas Smith, whom he served for 10 years and then he was sold to Jessee Corrico for $1.000.00, who owned him for 22 years. Upon obtaining his freedom in 1863 (Emancipation Proclamation) and assistance from his master, he and the children were hid on a train leaving New Albany. When they arrived in North Vernon (Jennings County), they were met by Joshua Milhous, a Quaker and also a great abolitionist, Joshua Milhous assisted the Smith family in finding a place to live. George Smith married again and settled in San Jachito. He was the proud father of 28 children, 16 sons and 12 daughters. His wife, Francis Demint Smith, better known as Grandma Frankie, worked for the Milhous family all her life and was buried in the Hopewell Friends Cemetery along with two of her daughters, Elenore and Barbara. Joshua Vickers Milhous Nixon. President Nixon came to Columbus, Indiana to see his friend, Grant Smith, who was a son of George Smith.
James William Smith, another son of Geroge Smith, born in 1866, also settled in Jennings County and married a Nancy Virginia Dixon. To this union was born Kathaline, William, Rissell, Dauphin, and Inez.
Eulalee (Smith) White, a daughter of James William Smith born in Indiana, grew up and moved to Louisville, Kentucky, where she met and married George Howard White. To them were born two sons, William H. White and Jack Dixon White. We are very proud that our great-grand-mother is buried in the Hopewell Cemetery. Many people in this county are not aware that a Black American, or should I say Black Americans, were cared for and buried in the Quaker Cemetery.
Dixon Family Tree--My grandfather told me that Grandpa Samuel Dixon came from Africa and when the master wanted to change his name, Grandpa Smith did not want an American name, so he told them to call him "Grandpa Smartellic" and this name followed him to his grave. Samuel Dixon was brought to Jennings County from the east coast by Grandma Shannon O'Malley, an Irish lady born in Court County Ireland, and she married him. From these two was born a son, Samuel Nelson Dixon Jr., who married Grandma Annie O'Neal. From this couple came Virginia America (Dixon) Smith, my grandmother and the wife of Jems William Smith. Born to them was Eulaee (Smith) White who married my father George Howard White in Louisville, Kentucky. In 1939, we moved back to beautiful Jennings County (Land of Winding Waters) and by the way, it is said that we have the best drinking water in the United States.
Let us go back to Grandma Annie O'Neal. Her mother America Welsh, along with her sister, Cherity Welsh, were brought here and given their freedom by their master, Steven Welsh (a white gentleman). He will marry Cherity. She will die at an early age 18 and will be the first person buried in the Mitchell Cemetery. Mr. Welsh will also bring Til Farraday, who is the grandmother of the late James Anderson of Jennings County. Great great Grandfather Stephen O'Neal will marry America Welsh who also had a daughter before marriage by the name of Jenny (she was not an O'Neal). This is the mother of Pansey (Mitchell) Lyle. Great great Grandma America will have a son by the name of Samuel O'Neal who will marry into the Hill family.
Just about every black family in Jennings County is related some way or the other. I Jack D. White, am related to: Sadler, Anderson, Mitchellls, O'Neals, Dixons, Goods, Boldens, Downings, Richey, Lyles, Sheltons, Merrifields, Browns, Cooks, Eastons, Johnsons and probably many others I don't know about. Written by Jack Dixon White
Allen Butler was killed when a cannon of which he was in charge exploded during a firing to let people know about a nomination in Chicago. Allen Butler was born a slave, but desired to be a free man and was willing to fight the battles of his country in order that he and his might be free. As soon as possible after the breaking out of the war he secretly made his way from the plantation where he had been held as a chattel, a piece of property, to a recruiting post and immediately enlisted, serving faithfully as a gunner in the Union Army for several years. Afterwards he came to this county and for the past twelve or fifteen years had been a resident of North Vernon. As a citizen he was held in high esteem. Idleness could never be charged against him. He looked after the support and comfort of his family as well as any man could. He was in the prime of his life, strong, energetic and faithful to any trust that may have been given to him, honest and careful. Unable to read or write , yet he fully understood the value of an education and his growing family had all the advantages in this direction that he could afford to give them. He was proud of his family and they of him. Their loss is indeed a great one. Among colored men he looked up to a far man, and he was an equal with whites in many things, far superior to some in loyalty to his country, love and care of family, and conduct with his fellow men. On Sunday evening the burial took place in the city cemetery, preceding which funeral services were conducted in the Methodist Church by the Fev. J. H. Reed, and were attended bu an immense crowd who had love and respect for the man and sympathy for the bereaved family. At the grave Chaplain Robinson on behalf of the McKeen Post G.A.R. pledged a memory of his grave on each recurring Memorial Day, recognizing in him a brave man and soldier, worthy of all the honors conferred on that day on all soldiers who have served their time and got a lasting furlough.
We had genuine respect for Allen Butler
and his many good qualities. We knew him for many years and never knew him to
act unfairly or with uncristian spirit toward anyone (exerpted from the Plain
Dealer, June 11, 1884).
WELSH/WELCH CEMETERY
The Welsh-Mitchell-O'Neal Cemetery is located between North
Vernon and Vernon on the Rock Rest Road behind Eula Lee White's house. The
following known people are buried there-the first being Charity Welsh, Fannie
Smith, Charlie Mitchell, Clyde Mitchell, Minnie O'Neal, Lanora O'Neal, Stanly
O'Neal, Mary Magdelene, Cecil Good, Arthur Lyle, Rillie O'Neal, Walter O'Neal,
Harold Mitchell, America Welsh O'Neal, Steven Welsh, Jennie Mitchell, Hallie
Mitchell, Johnny O'Neal, Stanley O'Neal, Armildred Marie, Pack A. Good, Frank
Good, Samuel O'Neal, Mamie O'Neal, Billie O'Neal, Emma Mitchell, and Pansy Lyle.
This is an all black cemetery with the last person to be buried there Pansy Lyle
in 1969. The cemetery was started by Steven Welsh in the early 1860's, There are
also 22 infants buried there, and it is sometimes referred to as the
O'Neal-Mitchell Cemetery. There is an obliesk monument in this cemetery with
some of the names inscribed on it.
WILLIAM
LEE
William Lee and his family were well known in Jennings County. He lived near Indian Creek , in what was then Spencer Township. The following is an account of his death in the Plain Dealer, July 15, 1896.
Uncle Billy Lee, colored, of Indian Creek, died at his home on the 8th inst., aged 101 years. Mr. Lee was born in Woodstock, Shenandoah County, Virginia, April 15, 1795, while the first administration of our government was yet unfinished. At the age of one year he was taken to Rockingham, Virginia, where he ramained to manhood. After marriage he moved to Madison, and worked at the tinner's trade until his removal to Vernon in 1837. He was a drummer boy in the War of 1812 and served his country in the came capacity in the great civil struggle. Three of his children, Mrs. Samantha Easton, Mrs. Julia Hood and Mrs. Sarah Pettiford are yet living.
In June of 1901: Ellen Marcus Lee born in
Jennings County about 2 miles south of Vernon, on Sept. 14, 1814 and died at the
age of 87 years 9 mo. 6 da. Married at Madison, Indiana to William Lee. He died
about 4 years ago. 12 children-3 are living.
ELIJAH ANTHONY (supplied by Edward Downing)
Elijah Anthony, my great-great-grandfather, went from Canada to Georgia and met Grandma whose name was Hannah. She was employed as a nurse-girl over master's children in Georgia. She was sold to Elijah by her slave master for $500.00. He (Elijah) went South to free some good girl and bring her home as his wife. Fortunately he found Hannah and paid $250.00 down on her and went back to Canada for the other $250. Evidently he didn't think wives would be so high.
They were married and settled in Georgia. He was a Canadian and was in the Cotton Business for himself--(Shipping and Bailing). To them were born 9 children before leaving Georgia: Noah, Klijah, Elisa, Jane, Catherine, Sarah, Nancy, Hannah, and Nellie.
About the year of 18? they decided to come North. They traveled in the usual way, then by oxen and covered wagons and some on mules. This being a long and tiresome journey, they walked a while and rode a while.
After traveling for hundreds of miles they settled in Jackson County, Indiana, and there built a log cabin. They were the only residents of that place. There is now a hotel where the log cablin was first at. The town is now known as Seymour, Indiana.
Later three more children were born to them, namely Ophelia, Jeptha, and Darcus. Vernon, Indiana being the nearest town, they moved there and bought property. They lived there many years and in August 1886, Elijah Sr. died of dropsey at the age of ? and was buried in the River Bend Cemetery at Vernon, Indiana.
After his death, Grandma went to live with Aunt Nancy who had married Zachariah Ratcliffe and lived in Frankfort, Indiana. She died in April 1894 and was buried in the Vernon Cemetery.
Nellie Anthony was the fifth child of this union. She was about 5'4" tall, of some what blocky build weighing between 137 and 140 lbs. She was very light in color and had medium good hair and good features and a splendid soprano voice. She was also a noted nurse to the community, being an herb doctor and midwife, and she had the praise of curing skills that used to be a common sickness at that time.
In about the year of 1856 or 1857, Nellie became the wife of Jesse Phillips (a stone cutter by trade), a full-blooded Cherokee Indian.
Jesse Phillips` father's name was Sylvester and his mother's Nancy. They were both full blooded Indians, living south of Vernon on what is now (i.e. 1920) the Johnny Wenzel farm. This marriage was a odd one as Indians didn't want their son to marry a Negro and the Negro family didn't want their daughter to marry an Indian. But it was to be, evidently, for they lived happily. Between 1858 and 59, a daughter, Jane was born to them and later 12 more children were added to the happy union, namely; Charles, Arnetta, Allison, Hannah, Martha, Emma (My grandmother), Bertha, Nora, Baby, Nancy, Willie Jesse--9 girls and 4 boys.
Nellie died at the age of 37, December 21, 1877, at the birth of Jesse. This left her husband with 10 children the oldest 21, and the youngest two hours old. This caused hardship on the family and a few months later Jesse Sr., her husband, fell seriously ill with pneumonia, but he recovered and continued his work although his lungs weren't quite healed.
He, at the time, was an industrious farmer who owned 80 acres. He worked 40 and rented 40 to Nehemiah Richardson. In October, he was sowing bonedust broadcast preparing for a wheat crop and by inhaling this, it settled in his lungs. He became dangerously ill again and about 5 or 6 weeks later on November 8, 1878 he passed quietly away.
When he passed the children were left alone, but in good circumstance as far as food was concerned. They had an abundance of hogs, horses, fruits and vegetables, wheat, corn, oats and molasses and good food in general. As they grew, they were able to make their own way, but being motherless and fatherless their way was rough and rugged.
Emma Maria was the sixth one of this family. She was born April 30, 1866 and at the age of 21 she became the wife of John Thomas Baulding, who was raised by my great-great-grandmother, who was his grandmother. Although his mother, Sarah Ellen Baulding and father John Thomas Baulding were still living. Unto John Thomas Baulding and Ema Marie Phillips were born 7 children, namely Gertrude, Myrtle,______, Eva,______, Lucille and Pauline. John Baulding changed his name from Baulding to Bolden.
Eva, the third oldest living child of the Bolden family was born on 15 September 1890. In 1915, she married to Emmett William Downing fro Eureka, Illinois. They were married in the city of North Vernon, Indiana. He was a blacksmith by trade and during this time owned his own shop. From this union six children were born. Norbert Bolden, Emma Margaret, Delmar Gerth, Joseph Gregory, Nathalee Audrey, and Edward Allen. Emmett died in May 1948, and Eva passed away November 1970. Both were buried in Vernon Cemetery.
Spencer Easten, was born in July 1848, was mustered into the
28th U.S.C. Invantry in 1863 and honorably discharged in 1865. He married
Samantha Lee, daughter of William and Ellen Hood Lee. Miss Lee's father was a
native of Virginia and her mother was a North Carolina native. His tombstone is
located in Hillcrest Cemetery at North Vernon, Indiana.
The 1850 Indiana Constitution, Article XIII main purpose was that "No negro or mulatto shall come into the State, after the adoption of this Constitution." After the adoption of the Constitution the legislature passed a statute to enforce this Article. Approved on June 18, 1852 the statute outlawed "Negroes" from coming into the state, instructed the county clerks to notify all "Negroes" who were residents before November 1, 1851 to register, and ordered the creation of a register of "negroes and mulattoes". It also gave power to clerks to subpoena witnesses and to issue certificates attesting to the registration of legal residents.
Although law, it was for the most part ignored with very
little compliance.
This the point the late Coy ROBBINS and others have been trying to make for a long time. Not just county but state.
"... people of African descent ... were among the early American settlers in southern Indiana. Although their story has never been included in our history books, these brave, courageous souls were among the the pioneers -- both free and enslaved persons."
~ Coy D. ROBBINS
in Forgotten
Hoosiers
THE NEGRO REGISTRY-entries according to the date the
individiuals registered at the Courthouse-included are the group registering and
the witnesses -by registering they proved that they were residents of
Indiana prior to November 1, 1851. Originally transcribed by Maurice Holmes in
1976.
Carsey,
Dennis Age
64 Registration
date.--Apr. 25, 1853
Birthplace Georgia
Comments A negro of yellow complexion, black eyes
and hair and of medium height and
size
Witnesses Robert D. McCammon
and James
H. Biggs
Carsey, Ephrain Age
60
Apr. 30, 1853
Birthplace
Georgia
Comments A negro of yellow complexion, black
eyes and hair and of medium height and
size.
Witnesses Achilles
Vawter and David G.
Vawter
Carsey, Alexander
Age 19
Apr. 30, 1853
Birthplace Jennings Co.,
Indiana
Comments A negro of yellow
complexion, black hair and black eyes and of medium size and
height.
Witnesses Achilles Vawter and David G. Vawter
Carsey,
Stephen Age
70
May 2, 1853
Birthplace North
Carolina
Comments A negro man of yellow complexion,
black eyes and white hair or nearly so. Nearly six feet high and well
proportioned in size.
Witnesses Robert D.
McCammon and Asa
Haney
Carsey,
Sally Age
60
May 3, 1853
Birthplace
Georgia
Comments A negro woman of
yellow complexion with dark eyes and hair. Above the medium
size.
Witnesses
Joseph Cowell and
Thomas J. Story
Dennis,
Peter Age
41
May 5, 1853
Birthplace South
Carolina
Comments A mulatto man with dark eyes and
hair. Medium
size.
Witnesses Achilles Vawter
and Robert D. McCammon
Dennis, John William Age
15
May 5, 1853
Birthplace South
Carolina
Comments A mullato boy with dark eyes
and hair
Witnesses Achilles
Vawter and Robert D.
McCammon
Dennis, Sarah
Elizabeth Age
13
May 5, 1853
Birthplace South
Carolina
Comments A mulatto girl with dark eyes and
hair and light complexion
Witnesses Achilles Vawter and
Robert D. McCammon
Dennis, Mary
Eliza Age
11
May 5, 1853
Birthplace South
Carolina
Comments A mulatto boy with dark eyes and
hair
Witnesses
Achilles Vawter and
Robert D. McCammon
Dennis,
James Walter Age
9
May 5, 1853
Birthplace South
Carolina
Comments A mulatto boy
with dark eyes and
hair
Witnesses Achilles Vawter
and Robert D.
McCammon
Dennis, Enoch Wagner Age
7 May
5, 1853
Birthplace Kentucky
Comments A
mulatto boy with dark eyes and hair.
Witnesses
Achilles Vawter and Robert D. McCammon
Dennis,
Margaret Ann Age
4
May 5, 1853
Birthplace Jennings County,
Indiana
Comments A mulatto girl with dark eyes and
hair
Witnesses Achilles Vawter and Robert D.
McCammon
Dennis,
Robert Mazewell Jackson Age
2
May 5, 1853
Birthplace Jennings County,
Indiana
Comments A mulatto boy with dark eyes and
hair
Witnesses Achilles Vawter and Robert D.
McCammon
Dye,
Daniel Age
45
June 11, 1853
Birthplace Warren County,
Georgia
Comments A mulatto man of light yellow
complexion, with light or blue eyes. Medium
size
Witnesses Achilles Vawter and Robert D.
McCammon
Dye, Nancy Jane Age
13
June 11, 1853
Birthplace Jennings County,
Indiana
Comments A mulatto girl of yellow complexion
and pleasant countenance.
Witnesses Achilles Vawter
and Robert D. McCammon
Dye,
Acquilla Ann Age
9 June 11,
1853
Birthplace Jennings County,
Indiana
Comments A mulatto girl of yellow
complexion
Witnesses Achilles Vawter and Robert D.
McCammon
Dye, James William Age
8 June
11, 1853
Birthplace Jennings County,
Indiana
Comments A mulatto boy of yellow complexion
and cross eyed.
Witnesses Achilles Vawter and Robert
D. McCammon
Valentine,
Andrew Age
23
July 9, 1953
Birthplace South
Carolina
Comments A negro man of medium size, rather
good looking with a yellowish complexion.
Witnesses
Commodore C. Root and Wm. B. Hagins
Harper,
Thomas Age
29
July 11, 1853
Birthplace Elbert County,
Georgia
Comment A negro man about five feet, eleven
inches high and weighing about one hundred seventy five pounds. Of a
brown-black complexion.
Witnesses Arad Parks and John
Skinner
Harper,
Riley Age
28 July
11, 1853
Birthplace Elbert County,
Georgia
Comments A negro man of medium size and
height and of light brown complexion
Witnesses Arad
Parks and John Skinner
Norman,
Nancy Age
47
July 18, 1853
Birthplace Elbert Co.
Georgia
Comments A negro woman of black complexion,
with some face warts or moles on her face and somewhat
corpulant.
Witnesses Wm. B. Hagins and David
Merrick
Norman,
Augustus Age
15
July 18, 1853
Birthplace Elbert Co.
Georgia
Comments A negro boy of black complexion-well
grown for his age.
Witnesses Wm. B. Hagins and David
Merrick
Norman,
Willis Age
13 July
18, 1853
Birthplace Elbert Co.
Georgia
Comments A negro boy of black or dark
brown complexion
Witnesses Wm. B. Hagins and David
Merrick
Lee, Ellen age not
given July
18, 1853
Birthplace Jennings County,
Indiana
Comments A negro woman of light yellow
complexion and of medium size.
Witnesses Wm. B.
Hagins and David Merrick
McCoppin,
Marshall Age
38
July 18, 1853
Birthplace South
Carolina
Comments A negro man of black or dark brown
complexion and of tall stature
Witnesses Wm. B.
Hagina and David Merrick
McCoppin,
Sarah
Age 35
July 18, 1853
Birthplace Elbert Co.
Georgia
Comments A negro woman of black or dark brown
complexion and wife of the above named Marshall McCoppin
Vickery,
James Age
49
July 22, 1853
Birthplace Abbeville Dist., South
Carolina
Comments A negro man of black complexion and
of medium size.
Witnesses Thompson Grissom and Wm. B.
Hagins
Vickery,
Rhoda Age
49
July 22, 1853
Birthplace Elbert County,
Georgia
Comments A negro woman of black or dark
complexion, of medium build and the wife of the above named James
Vickery
Witnesses Thomson Grissom and Wm. B.
Hagins
Anthony, David Age
53
July 22, 1853
Birthplace Elbert County,
Georgia
Comments A negro man of black or very dark
brown complexion, of medium size and gray
hair.
Witnesses Thomson Grissom and Wm. B.
Hagins
Anthony,
Charlotte Age
38
July 22, 1853
Birthplace Elbert County,
Georgia
Comments A mulatto woman of medium size, of
bright yellow complexion, of intelligent countenance and hair nearly straight
and smooth.
Witnesses Thomson Grissom and Wm. B.
Hagins
Anthony,
William Age
22
July 22, 1853
Birthplace Elbert County,
Georgia
Comments A mulatto man of yellow complexion
and medium size.
Witnesses Thomson Grissom and Wm. B.
Hagins
Hullam,
Jasper
Age 10 July
22, 1853
Birthplace Elbert County,
Georgia
Comments A mulatto boy of bright yellow
complexion and medium size
Witnesses Thomson Grissom
and Wm. B. Hagins
Harper,
Grigg Age
82
July 22, 1853
Birthplace Prince Edward, County
Virginua
Comments A negro man of dark brown
complexion who walks lame. Somewhat bald and
gray.
Witnesses Asa Skinner and John
Skinner
Pettiford,
Drury Age
41
July 28, 1853
Birthplace Stokes Co., North
Carolina
Comments A mulatto man of brown complexion
and of medium size
Witnesses Levi W. Todd and David
Merrick
White,
William Age
50 July
30, 1853
Birthplace
Virginia
Comments A negro man of black complexion and
medium size
Witnesses Thomson Grissom and Wm. B.
Hagins
Phillips,
Henry Age
31 Aug.
1, 1853
Birthplace Warren Co.,
Georgia
Comments A negro man of dark brown complexion
and of medium size
Witnesses Ebenexer Baldwin and
Joseph Fellenger
Hill,
Ananis Age
51
Aug. 5, 1853
Birthplace
Maryland
Comments A negro man of black complexion, of
medium size and with gray hair.
Witnesses George M.
Payne and Avery Fellenger
Anthony,
Nancy Age 22 Aug.
6, 1853
Birthplace Jennings County,
Indiana
Comments A negro woman
of brown complexion, of medium
size.
Witnesses Joseph Fellenger and Harvey M.
Cowell
Phillips,
Rosa Age
23
Aug. 6, 1853
Birthplace Jennings County,
Indiana
Comments A negro woman of dark brown
complexion and of medium size, wife of Henry
Phillips
Witnesses Joseph Fellenger and Harvey
M. Cowell
Phillips, Elzora Age
5 Aug.
6, 1853
Birthplace Jennings County,
Indiana
Comments A negro girl of dark
brown complexion and small for her age. The daughter of Henry
Phillips.
Witnesses Joseph Fellenger and Harvey
M Cowell
Phillips,
Cynthia Age
3
Aug .
6, 1853
Birthplace Jennings
County, Indiana
Comments A negro girl of dark brown
complexion and daughter of Henry
Phillips
Witnesses Joseph Fellenger and Harvey
M. Cowell
Phillips,
Emily Age 1
Aug. 6, 1853
Birthplace Jennings County,
Indiana
Comments A negro girl of dark brown
complexion. Cross eyed. Daughter of Henry
Phillips
Witnesses Joseph Fellenger and Harvey M.
Cowell
Hood,
John Age
20
Aug. 12, 1853
Birthplace Jennings County,
Indiana
Comments A negro man of dark brown complexion
and of below medium size
Witnesses Achilles
Vawter and Monrow McMindes
Harper, Jane Age
56
Aug. 12, 1853
Birthplace Elbert County,
Georgia
Comments A negro woman of dark brown or black
complexion with short hair-a little gray.
Witnesses
Milton Boner and Harvey Boner
Hill, Bluford
A. Age
28
Aug, 15, 1853
Birthplace Elbert Co.
Georgia
Comments A negro man of dark brown complexion,
of medium size and intelligent countenance.
Witnesses
Ebenezer Balwin and Smith Vawter
Newsom, Emily Age
19 Aug.
15, 1853
Birthplace Jennings County,
Indiana
Comments A negro woman of dark brown
complexion and of medium size.
Witnesses Achilles
Vawter and Harvey M. Cowell
Carsey, Eliza
Jane Age
18 Aug.
15, 1853
Birthplace Jennings County,
Indiana
Comments A negro woman of brown complexion,
rather tall and good looking
Witnesses Achilles
Vawter and Harvey M. Cowell
Evans,
Zebidee Age
19
Aug. 16, 1853
Birthplace Halifax County, North
Carolina
Comments A negro man of yellow complexion,
of medium size and quick and lively turn.
Witnesses
Achilles Vawter and James M. Baldwin
Carsey,
Willis Age
17
Aug 16, 1853
Birthplace Jennings County,
Indiana
Comments A negro man of brown complexion and
of medium size. Of intelligent
countenance.
Witnesses Achilles Vawter and James
M. Baldwin
Wallace,
Elias Age
19
Aug 19, 1853
Birthplace Jennings County,
Indiana
Comments A negro man of black complexion and
a little below medium height. Of intelligent
countenance
Witnesses Joseph Cowell and Era
Rosa
Henderson,
Harrison Age
42 Aug.
20, 1853
Birthplace Garrett County,
Kentucky
Comments A negro man of black complexion, of
medium size. He has a stoppage in his
speach.
Wittnesses Achilles Vawter and Harvey M.
Cowell
Dunlap,
Peter Age
63
Aug. 20, 1853
Birthplace Abbeville District, South
Carolina
Comments A mulatto man of light complexion
and very tall.
Witnesses Harvery Boner and Smith
Vawter
Dunlap,
Jane Age
51
Aug. 20, 1853
Birthplace Abbeville District, South
Carolina
Comments A negro woman of light brown
complexion and tall.
Witnesses Harvey Boner and Smith
Vawter
Dunlap,
Martha
Age 30
Aug. 20, 1853
Birthplace Abbeville District, South
Carolina
Comments A mulatto woman of light yellow
complexion and very tall.
Witnesses Harvey Boner and
Smith Vawter
Dunlap,
Nancy Age
20
Aug. 20, 1853
Birthplace Abbeville
District, South Carolina
Comments A
mulatto woman of light yellow complexion and very
tall
Witnesses Harvey Boner and Smith
Vawter
Dunlap,
William Age
5
Aug. 20, 1853
Birthplace Jennings County,
Indiana
Comments A mulatto boy of brown
complexion
Witnesses Harvey Boner and Smith
Vawter
Valentine,
Samuel Age
28
Aug. 20, 1853
Birthplace Abbeville District, South
Carolina
Comments A negro man of dark brown
complexion, of medium size.
Witnesses Harvey
Boner and Smith Vawter
Valentine,
Caroline Age
34 Aug.
20, 1853
Birthplace Abbeville District, South
Carolina
Comments A mulatto woman of yellowish
complexion-rather tall
Witnesses Harvey Boner and
Smith Vawter
Valentine,
Martha Age
5 Aug.
20, 1853
Birthplace Jennings County,
Indiana
Comments A negro girl of brown
complexion
Witnesses Harvey Boner and Smith
Vawter
Valentine, James Age
3
Aug 20, 1853
Birthplace Jennings County,
Indiana
Comments A negro boy of brown
complexion
Witnesses Harvey Boner and Smith
Vawter
Valentine,
Jesse Age 4
months
Aug. 20, 1853
Birthplace Jennings County,
Indiana
Witnesses Harvey Boner and Smith
Vawter
Carsey,
Hulbert Age
21 Aug.
20, 1853
Birthplace Jennings County,
Indiana
Comments A negro man of dark brown
complexion and of medium
size.
Witnesses Harvey Boner and Charles
Rust
Carsey, Mariah
Jane Age
19
Aug. 20, 1853
Birthplace Elbert County,
Georgia
Comments A mulatto woman of brown complexion,
of medium size, wife of the previously named Hulbert
Carsey.
Witnesses Harvey Boner and Charles
Hunt
Carsey,
George
Age
54 Aug.
24, 1853
Birthplace Wilkes County,
Georgia
Comments A negro man of dark brown
complexion, a little bald on the crown and of medium
size.
Witnesses Levi W. Todd and John S.
Basnett
Brandon,
Lemuel Age
17
Aug. 24, 1853
Birthplace Jackson County,
Indiana
Comments A mulatto man of dark brown
complexion, of medium size and intelligent
countenance.
Witnesses Levi W. Todd and Henry
House
Phillips, Wesley Age
25
Aug. 26, 1853
Birthplace Warren County,
Georgia
Comments A negro man of
brown complexion, of medium size and intelligent
countenance.
Witnesses Ebenezer Baldwin
and Solon Cowell
Phillips,
Joseph Age 2
& 1/2
Aug. 26, 1853
Birthplace Jennings
County, Indiana
Comments A negro boy of yellowish brown
complexion and son of Wesley Phillips
Witnesses
Ebenezer Baldwin and Solon Cowell
Phillips,
Jessee Age
21 Aug.
26, 1853
Birthplace Warren County,
Georgia
Comments A negro man of brown complexion and
of medium size
Witnesses Solon Cowell and
Ebenezer Baldwin
Phillips,
Silvester Age
19
Aug. 26, 1853
Birthplace Warren County,
Georgia
Comments A negro man of dark brown complexion
and of medium size.
Witnesses Solon Cowell and
Ebenezer Baldwin
Phillips,
Stephen Age
15
Aug. 26, 1853
Birthplace Jennings County,
Indiana
Comments A negro boy of dark brown
complexion and of medium size.
Witnesses Solon
Cowell and Ebenezer Baldwin
Hill,
Lewis
Age 69 Aug.
26, 1853
Birthplace Culpeper
County, Virginia
Comments A negro man of
dark brown complexion and of medium
size
Witnesses Achilles Vawter and Levi
W. Todd
Hill,
Agrippa Age
15
Aug. 26, 1853
Birthplace Jennings County,
Indiana
Comments A negro boy of dark brown
complexion and a son of Lewis
Hill.
Witnesses Achilles Vawter and Levi
W. Todd
King,
Spencer Beverly Age
19
Aug. 26, 1853
Birthplace Jennings County,
Indiana
Comments A negro man of black complexion and
medium size.
Witnesses Achilles Vawter and George M.
Payne
Henry, Thomas J. Age
33
Aug. 29, 1853
Birthplace Bourbon County,
Kentucky
Comments A mulatto man of yellow
complexion, with gray eyes and of medium
size.
Witnesses Achilles Vawter and George M.
Payne
King,
Spencer Age
68 Aug.
30, 1853
Birthplace Culpepper County,
Virginia
Comments A negro man of black complexion, of
medium size with gray or white hair.
Witnesses Levi
W. Todd and Thomas Walker
Carsey,
Ephraim Age
32
Aug. 30, 1853
Birthplace Jennings
County, Indiana
Comments A negro man of dark
brown complexion, under medium size and walks quite
lame
Witnesses Solon Cowell and Achilles
Vawter
Hill,
Jefferson Age
20 Sept.
1, 1853
Birthplace Jennings County,
Indiana
Comments A negro man of dark brown
complexion and of medium size.
Witnesses James
M. Baldwin and Elisha Bonor
King,
Emeline Age
24
Sept. 5, 1853
Birthplace
Jefferson County, Indiana
Comments A negro
woman of black complezion, a little above medium
height.
Wittnesses Harvery M. Cowell and
Achilles Vawter
Johnson,
Thomas L. Age
29 Sept.
14, 1853
Birthplace Jennings County,
Indiana
Comments A negro man of black or
dark brown complexion, of medium height, stout and heavy set with a scar
on his chin.
Witnesses Achilles
Vawter and Robert D. McCammon
Dennis,
Margaret Age
37 Sept.
16, 1853
Birthplace South
Carolina
Comments A mulatto woman of
light yellow complexion, of intelligent countenance and of medium
size.
Witnesses Achilles Vawter and Joseph
Cowell
Johnson,
Judah Age
72
Sept. 16, 1853
Birthplace
Tennessee
Comments A negro woman of dark bown
or black complexion and below the medium
height
Witnesses Achilles Vawter and Joseph
Cowell
Johnson,
Mary Age
30
Sept. 17, 1853
Birthplace Fauquier
County, Virginia
Comments A negro woman of black or
dark brown complexion, of medium size
Witnesses
Achilles Vawter and Joseph Cowell
Johnson, Sarah
Ester Age
4
Sept. 17, 1853
Birthplace Jennings County,
Indiana
Comments A negro girl of dark brown or
black complexion and the daughter of Thomas Johnson and Mary
Johnson
Witnesses Achilles Vawter and
Robert D. McCammon
Stafford, Richard
Age
30
Sept. 19, 1853
Birthplace Farquier County,
Virginia
Comments A negro man of dark brown
complexion, a little below medium size.
Witnesses
Manlove Butler and Robert D. McCammon
Wallace,
Isaiah Age
19
Sept. 19, 1853
Birthplace Jennings County,
Indiana
Comments A negro man of black or dark
brown complexion and of medium
size
Witnesses John S. Basnett and Levi
W. Todd
Vickery, Allen
Age
39
Sept. 20, 1853
Birthplace Abbeville
District, South Carolina
Comments A negro
man of black complexion about six feet
high.
Witnesses Achilles Vawter and
Thomas McCannon
Vickery, Addis
Age
18
Sept 20, 1853
Birthplace Abbeville District, South
Carolina
Comments A negro man of black
complexion and of
middle height.
Witnesses Achilles
Vawter and Thomas McCannon
Vickery, Oliver
Age
17
Sept. 20, 1853
Birthplace Abbeville
District, South Carolina
Comments A negro
man of black complexion, well grown for his
age.
Witnesses Achilles Vawter and Thomas
McCannon
King,
Jane Age
26
Sept.
20, 1853
Birthplace Jefferson
County, Indiana
Comments A negro woman of black
complexion and of medium size.
Witnesses Achilles
Vawter and Thomas McCannon
Stafford,
Martha E. Age
20
Sept. 20, 1853
Birthplace Abbeville
District, South Carolina
Comments A negro woman
of black complexion
Witnesses Achilles
Vawter and Thomas McCannon
Hood, James H.
Age
11
Sept. 20, 1853
Birthplace Jennings County,
Indiana
Comments A negro boy of black or dark
brown complexion.
Witnesses Achilles
Vawter and Thomas McCannon
Hill, Mary
Ann Age
23
Sept. 20, 1853
Birthplace
Elbert County,
Georgia
Comments A mulatto
woman of yellowish brown complexion, of middle
size.
Witnesses Achilles Vawter and
Thomas McCannon
Hood,
William Age
55
Dec. 26, 1853
Birthplace Rockingham
County, North Carolina
Comments A negro man of medium
size, rather stout, of yellowish brown
complexion
Witnesses Achilles Vawter and Elisha
Boner
Hood,
Ephraim Age
50
Dec. 26, 1853
Birthplace Rockingham
County, North Carolina
Comments A
negro man of medium size, stout built, of brown
complexion
Witnesses Achilles Vawter and
Elisha Boner
Hood,
Mary
Age 16
Dec. 27, 1853
Birthplace Jennings County,
Indiana
Comments A negro girl
of brown comlexion and intelligent countenance, a little below medium
size.
Wittnesses Achilles Vawter and
Henry J. Vawter
Lee,
William Age
54
Feb. 1,
1854
Birthplace
Rockingham County, Virginia
Comments A
mulatto man of yellowish brown complexion with light or gray eyes, and of middle
size.
Witnesses Robert D. McCammon and Avery W.
Bullock
Newby,
James Age
16 Feb.
13,
1854
Birthplace Jackson
County, Indiana
Comments A negro boy of dark
brown or black complexion. Is tall and well grown for his
age.
Witnesses William B. Hagins and Henry L.
Arnold
Edwards,
Grace Age
18
Aug. 18, 1854
Birthplace Elbert County,
Georgia
Comments A negro woman of dark brown or
black complexion, rather below middle
size.
Witnesses Joshua Palmer and
Margaret Palmer
Hood,
Hannibal Age
41
June 19, 1855
Birthplace Jefferson
County, Indiana
Comments A mulatto man rather
above medium height and of dark yellow
complexion.
Witnesses Achilles Vawter and
Robert D. McCammon
Hood,
Fanny
Age
46
Jan. 28,
1856
Birthplace Virginia
Comments
A negro woman very tall and of dark brown complexion.
(large)
Witnesses Harvey
M. Cowell and Elisha Boner.
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