John J. Middleton of Beaufort, South Carolina: 530 slaves. The Slave Narratives of Texas. The census of 1850 reported 58,161 slaves, 27.4 percent of the 212,592 people in Texas, and the census of 1860 enumerated 182,566 slaves, 30.2 percent of the total population. People of color who had been servants for life under Mexican law would become property. The payrolls for that slave A project of the University of Virginia, this database includes a sampling of some of the 2,300+ interviews This was in the slave owners' self-interest, for marriage encouraged reproduction under socially acceptable conditions, and slave children were valuable. Texan forces executed one runaway taken prisoner and resold another into slavery. All slaves had to live with the knowledge that their families could be broken up, and yet the basic social unit survived. 1 Introduction. [10], When the United States purchased Louisiana in 1803, Spain declared that any enslaved person who crossed the Sabine River into Texas would be automatically freed. Col. Joshua John Ward of Georgetown, South Carolina: Anderson County, Texas, Slave Owners (0, 1, 0), Austin County, Texas, Slave Owners (0, 0, 1), Bastrop County, Texas, Slave Owners (0, 0, 1), Bell County, Texas, Slave Owners (0, 3, 0), Bexar County, Texas, Slave Owners (0, 1, 0), Bosque County, Texas, Slave Owners (0, 1, 0), Brazos County, Texas, Slave Owners (0, 1, 0), Burleson County, Texas, Slave Owners (0, 2, 0), Caldwell County, Texas, Slave Owners (0, 12, 2), Cass County, Texas, Slave Owners (0, 3, 0), Chambers County, Texas, Slave Owners (0, 1, 0), Cherokee County, Texas, Slave Owners (0, 3, 0), Collin County, Texas, Slave Owners (0, 1, 0), Cooke County, Texas, Slave Owners (0, 1, 0), Dallas County, Texas, Slave Owners (0, 1, 0), DeWitt County, Texas, Slave Owners (0, 1, 0), Ellis County, Texas, Slave Owners (0, 1, 0), Falls County, Texas, Slave Owners (0, 1, 0), Fannin County, Texas, Slave Owners (0, 2, 0), Fayette County, Texas, Slave Owners (0, 0, 1), Fort Bend County, Texas, Slave Owners (0, 1, 0), Freestone County, Texas, Slave Owners (0, 1, 0), Galveston County, Texas, Slave Owners (0, 1, 0), Gonzales County, Texas, Slave Owners (0, 1, 1), Grayson County, Texas, Slave Owners (0, 3, 0), Guadalupe County, Texas, Slave Owners (0, 3, 1), Harris County, Texas, Slave Owners (0, 4, 0), Harrison County, Texas, Slave Owners (0, 6, 1), Hays County, Texas, Slave Owners (0, 0, 1), Hill County, Texas, Slave Owners (0, 2, 0), Hopkins County, Texas, Slave Owners (0, 2, 0), Houston County, Texas, Slave Owners (0, 1, 0), Johnson County, Texas, Slave Owners (0, 1, 1), Kaufman County, Texas, Slave Owners (0, 1, 0), Lavaca County, Texas, Slave Owners (0, 2, 0), Leon County, Texas, Slave Owners (0, 2, 0), Madison County, Texas, Slave Owners (0, 1, 0), Marion County, Texas, Slave Owners (0, 1, 0), Matagorda County, Texas, Slave Owners (0, 2, 0), McLennan County, Texas, Slave Owners (0, 1, 0), Milam County, Texas, Slave Owners (0, 3, 0), Montgomery County, Texas, Slave Owners (0, 5, 0), Nacogdoches County, Texas, Slave Owners (0, 1, 0), Navarro County, Texas, Slave Owners (0, 1, 0), Nueces County, Texas, Slave Owners (0, 1, 0), Panola County, Texas, Slave Owners (0, 12, 2), Polk County, Texas, Slave Owners (0, 1, 0), Red River County, Texas, Slave Owners (0, 4, 0), Rusk County, Texas, Slave Owners (0, 2, 0), Sabine County, Texas, Slave Owners (0, 2, 0), San Augustine County, Texas, Slave Owners (0, 1, 0), Shelby County, Texas, Slave Owners (0, 9, 3), Smith County, Texas, Slave Owners (0, 3, 0), Tarrant County, Texas, Slave Owners (0, 1, 0), Titus County, Texas, Slave Owners (0, 2, 0), Travis County, Texas, Slave Owners (0, 2, 0), Tyler County, Texas, Slave Owners (0, 3, 0), Upshur County, Texas, Slave Owners (0, 1, 0), Walker County, Texas, Slave Owners (0, 2, 0), Washington County, Texas, Slave Owners (0, 1, 1), Wharton County, Texas, Slave Owners (0, 2, 0). Signup today for our free newsletter, Especially Texan. Currently, there are only plantations listed for Chicot County, Jefferson County, Ouachita County, and Phillips County. Sources Taken from Szucs, Loretto Dennis, "Research in Census Records." Slave houses were usually small log cabins with fireplaces for cooking. WebLand Records Names & Surnames Slavery & Servitude Claim Listing Sankofagen Wiki run by Karmella Haynes has a list of Arkansas Plantations and Slave Names listed by county, for counties formed prior to 1865. In comparison, good Texas cotton land could be bought for as little as six dollars an acre. [3] American Indians captured and enslaved the party, putting them to work as laborers. Most field hands received two sets of clothing twice each year, with a hat and coat for winter. 3536 Grand Avenue There were two questionnaires: one for free inhabitants and one for slaves. In 1860, mass hysteria ensued after a series of fires erupted throughout the state. Politically, slaveholders dominated public office holding at all levels. Daina Ramey Berry is a professor of history at the University of Texas at Austin, and says addressing ones lineage of slavery is difficult, but ORourkes response helped bring the issue out into the open. Although slave marriages and families had no legal protections, the majority of slaves were reared and lived day to day in a family setting. Slaves in general did not lash out constantly against all the limits placed on them that would have brought intolerable punishment but they did not surrender totally to the system, either. Sam Houston made illegal importation from Mexico a crime in 1836. Marie Therese Metoyer. Thomas Justice 2 11. By 1865 there were an estimated 250,000enslaved people in Texas. [1] For 1865 and 1866, the section on abandoned and confiscated lands includes the names of the owners of the plantations or homes that were abandoned, confiscated, or leased. The Mexican government was opposed to slavery, but even so, there Both the Baptist and Methodist churches appointed missionaries to the enslaved people and allowed active participation by them. Few battles took place in Texas, which acted as a supply state to the Confederacy. 5.3 Census Records. endstream endobj 510 0 obj <. Basically if we did that then wed have to rewrite American history because most public officers particularly, our first president, George Washington, owned enslaved people, Berry says. Slaveholders in those areas often moved their enslaved to Texas to avoid having them freed. 5.4 Church Records. Many former enslaved people fought with the Cherokee against the Texan army that drove the tribe from East Texas in 1838. Handbook of Texas Online, Slave Owners 1800-1820, 1850-1860 [28], The Section 9 of the General Provisions of the Constitution of the Republic of Texas, ratified in 1836, made slavery legal again in Texas and defined the status of the enslaved and people of color in the Republic of Texas. Slavery was a labor system and although slaves obviously freed their owners from the drudgery of manual labor and daily chores, they were a troublesome property in many ways. In 1865, 95% of the enslaved were illiterate.[39]. They knew that they controlled their own bodies and therefore were free to move about as they chose and not be forced to labor for others. They had no legally prescribed way to gain freedom. The census in And when they declared independence and wrote a constitution for their new republic, they made every effort, in the words of a later Texas Supreme Court justice, to "remove all doubt and uneasiness among the citizens of Texas in regard to the tenure by which they held dominion over their slaves." Slave owners and male Slavery may have thus hindered economic modernization in Texas. WIKITREE HOME | ABOUT | G2G FORUM | HELP | SEARCH. Texas ranked 10th in total enslaved population and 9th in percentage enslaved (30 percent of all residents). Music and song served to set a pace for work and to express sorrow and hope (see AFRICAN-AMERICAN CHURCHES). Lists of Slave owners with names of slaves 781 WebAmerican Slave Narratives - An Online Anthology. The customs officers offered the enslaved people for auction, and Bowie would buy them back. I think [the conversation] happens in a number of spaces, Berry says. Even as Austins colonists began to establish slavery on the lower Brazos and Colorado rivers, the independence of Mexico cast doubt on the future of the institution in Texas. For more information go to: http://www.law.cornell.edu/uscode/17/107.shtml. William Mills 20 2. The Federal Constitution of 1824 did not mention slavery, but the 1827 Constitution of the State of Coahuila and Texas prohibited the further introduction of slaves and declared all children born thereafter to slaves already in the state to be free at birth. They fought bitterly against the disruption of their families by sale or migration and at times virtually forced masters to respect family ties. Some slaveowners did not free their enslaved people until late in 1865. In short, from 1821 to 1836, the national government in Mexico City and the state government of Coahuila and Texas often threatened to restrict or destroy African American servitude, but always allowed settlers in Texas a loophole or an exemption. Samuel King 3 7. "Mike" Campbell, East Texas Research Center. 3 (Sep., 1898) (pp. Find Descendants of My Ancestors Slaves PARENTAGE OF MARGARET FRENCH SLAUGHTER IN QUESTION. Sugar and cotton plantations. [24], Forty percent of Texas enslaved people lived on plantations along the Gulf Coast and in the East Texas river valleys, where they cultivated cotton, corn, and some sugar. After, ORourke shared his reaction on the blog site Medium. Others hated their masters and their situation and rebelled by running away or using violence. We need your support because we are a non-profit organization that relies upon contributions from our community in order to record and preserve the history of our state. [2] Estevanico, Dorantes, and Alonso Castillo Maldonado, the only survivors, spent several months living on a barrier island (now believed to be Galveston Island) before making their way in April 1529 to the mainland. Slavery in Waco. The son of Capt. [51], The long-term effects of slavery can be seen to this day in the state's demographics. The number likely would have been larger but for the attitude of the Mexican federal and state governments. Family ties were a source of strength for people enduring bondage and a mark of their humanity, too. Free persons of African descent were required to petition the. The supposed "poison" found in enslaved quarters was baby powder. [5], Both the civil and religious authorities in Spanish Texas officially encouraged freeing enslaved people, but the laws were often ignored. "[citation needed], As the Texas Revolution began in 1835, some enslaved people sided with Mexico, which provided for freedom. [4] His account, along with those of the others, led to more extensive Spanish exploration of the new territory. When Bradburn arrested Travis on suspicion of plotting an insurrection, settlers rebelled. 25 percent. Madison (1), 236 slaves. WebUnited States Census (Slave Schedule), 1850 Name index and images of slave schedules listing slave owners and only age, gender and color data of the slaves in cesus states or %PDF-1.6 % After that, he could legally transport the enslaved people and sell them in New Orleans or areas further up the Mississippi River. Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell was confronted with similar information about his ancestors this month, but had a different reaction. 2008 - 2023 INTERESTING.COM, INC. "The Texas Slave Insurrection of 1860," by William White. The eastern quarter of the state, where cotton production depended on thousands of slaves, is considered the westernmost extension of the Deep South. In part due to the trade in enslaved people, New Orleans was the fourth largest city in the US in 1840 and one of the wealthiest. A survey of Texas in 1834 found that the department of Bexar, which was mostly made up of Tejanos, had exported no goods. In 1900, African Americans comprised 20% of the state's population of 3,048,710. , and his wife Amy, are descendants of slave owners. WebThe Confederate gov ernment required many slave holders to provide slaves to work at military fortifications and other facilities throughout the South. In August 1831, Juan Davis Bradburn, the military commander of the custom station on Upper Galveston Bay, gave asylum to two men who had escaped from slavery in Louisiana. [40] As early as 1836, Texas slaveholders sent representatives to Matamoros to try to reclaim their runaways, but Mexico refused. [22], By the 1800s, most enslaved people in Texas had been brought by slaveholders from the United States. Since they politically dominated the state for decades after 1900, the only contest for office was at the primary level. [20], Many enslaved people who escaped from slaveholders in Texas or in the United States joined various East Texas Indian tribes. Slavery was also vital socially because it reflected basic racial views. The average price of a slave, regardless of age, sex, or condition, rose from approximately $400 in 1850 to nearly $800 by 1860. Texas had many runaways and thousands escaped to Mexico. Arthur Blake of Charleston, South Carolina: 538 slaves. Freedmans Savings and Trust Company signature cards or registers from 3 March 1865 to 25 July 1874 may list the name of the depositor, date of entry, age, birthplace, residence, complexion, name of employer or occupation, wife or husbands name, death information, childrens names, name of father and mother, brothers and sisters names, remarks, and signature. [52] By the late 19th century, Texas passed other Jim Crow laws. Americans of European extraction and enslaved people contributed greatly to the population growth in the Republic and State of Texas. Like Georgia, the Texas Democratic Party adopted a whites-only primary. The men sold enslaved people to James Bowie and others, who brought them directly to a customhouse and informed on themselves. WebThe slaves who remained on properties in South Carolina are counted on the South Carolina reports. This page was last modified 06:24, 6 May 2021. Slaves freed in America before the 14th Amendment of the Constitution. . Wood was born into slavery in the early 19th century on a Kentucky farm owned by a man named Moses Tousey, McDaniel writes. Other FamilySearch collections not included: More collections are available in the FamilySearch Catalog. Levi Anderson 1 13. Some hid in the bayous for a time, while others lived among the Indians, and a few managed to board ships bound for northern or foreign ports. Slavery in Texas - Texas Institute for the Preservation of History Because of their economic success, these planters represented the social ideal for many other Texans. The practice was common until its abolition in 1865 with the end of the Civil War and the ratification of the Thirteenth Amendment to the Constitution. I think thats what was interesting about his response, is that he didnt acknowledge that there was a history there, and that was brought out, and we know a lot more about his family history and about the enslaved people his family owned, Berry says. At the start of the Civil War, _____ was the commander of Union troops in Texas. Congress shall not have the power to emancipate enslaved people. 0 Democratic presidential candidate Beto O'Rourke holds a rally at Scholz Garten in Austin. Documenting Slavery in East Texas: Transcripts from Monte Verdi There they were raised to be servants. Shortly before 1858 he moved from Mississippi to Texas with his wife, Mary, and five children. Slavery thus linked Texas inextricably with the Old South. Search for "FREEDMEN - TEXAS" in the Subjects search bar to find. We'll send you a couple of emails per month, filled with fascinating history facts that you can share with your friends. 5 Resources. He and his wife Mary moved there themselves and he died Update 12/7/2016(CLM): I have found various references of military rank from Captain to Brigadier General. D. F. Kenner, Ascension, Louisiana: 473 slaves. John Butler of McIntosh, Georgia: 505 slaves. Many owners encouraged worship, primarily on the grounds that it would teach proper subjection and good behavior. Slave labor produced cotton (and sugar on the lower Brazos River) for profit and also cultivated the foodstuffs necessary for self-sufficiency. Legally slaves were categorized as chattel (moveable property), but they were men, women and children who clearly despised their condition of servitude. As a free lady, she was an astute entrepreneur as well as a social climber. Salas. WebIn 1845, there were about 30,000 enslaved people in Texas. R. R. Barrow, Lafourche, Louisiana: 74 slaves; Terrebonne: 399 slaves. In 1860, the biggest slaveholders were Robert and D.G. Slavery Days in Marion County This did not mean that the majority of slaves were content with their status. [17] In 1827, the legislature of Coahuila y Tejas outlawed the introduction of additional enslaved people and granted freedom at birth to all children born to an enslaved person. To circumvent the law, numerous Anglo-American colonists converted their enslaved people to indentured servants, but with life terms. [27] Other enslaved people joined the Texan forces, with some killed while fighting Mexican soldiers. Geni requires JavaScript! Most slaves in Texas worked: On plantations and farms. [46] Anyone convicted of providing arms to enslaved people during the war was sentenced to between two and five years of hard labor. The first census in Austin's colony in 1825 showed 443 slaves in a total population of 1,800. Every penny counts! The Comanche sold any captured enslaved people to the Cherokee and Creek in Indian Territory, as they were both slaveholding tribes. 1836-1864 (10 fiche) FS Library 6118915, Oral Histories Recorded at the Gregory School, African American Freedman's Savings and Trust Company Records, United States, Freedman's Bank Records, 1865-1874, U.S., Freedman's Bank Records, 1865-1871 ($), United States, Freedmen's Bureau Claim Records,1865-1872, United States, Freedmen's Bureau Hospital and Medical Records, 1865-1872, United States, Freedmen's Bureau Labor Contracts, Indenture and Apprenticeship Records, 1865-1872, United States, Freedmen's Bureau Marriages, 1861-1872, United States, Freedmen's Bureau Ration Records,1865-1872, United States, Freedmen's Bureau Records of Persons and Articles Hired, 1865-1872, United States, Freedmen's Bureau, Freedmen's Court Records, 1865-1872, United States, Freedmen's Bureau, Land and Property Records, 1865-1872, United States, Freedmen's Bureau, Records of Freedmen's Complaints, 1865-1872, United States, Freedmen's Bureau, Records of the Superintendent of Education and of the Division of Education, 1865-1872, United States Freedmen's Bureau Miscellaneous Records,1865-1872, United States Freedmen's Bureau, Records of Freedmen, 1865-1872, African American Freedmen's Bureau Records.