American slavery was preeminently an economic institutiona system of unfree labor used to produce cash crops for profit. Slave labor produced cotton (and sugar on the lower Brazos River) for profit and also cultivated the foodstuffs necessary for self-sufficiency. Jubilee - The end of slavery in America! Farmers. Sugar. This involves an absolute equality of personal rights and rights of property between former masters and slaves, and the connection heretofore existing between them becomes that between employer and hired labor. 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. The whites, however, could hope to improve their lives with their own hard work, while the enslaved people could have no such hope or expectation as, of course, their work belonged by law to their owners and not to them. Sugar. The average price of a slave, regardless of age, sex, or condition, rose from approximately $400 in 1850 to nearly $800 by 1860. Most of the early slaveholders owned only a few enslaved people, but a few brought enough to build plantations immediately. The system of school support was inadequate, and schools for racial minorities were seriously underfunded. 3 Research Strategy. Due to the state laws, he would receive half of the price he had paid. LEVI JORDAN HISTORY Levi Jordan arrived in Texas in 1848. The number There were two questionnaires: one for free inhabitants and one for slaves. The evidence is strong, however, that in Texas slaves were generally profitable as a business investment for individual slaveholders. [citation needed], June 19, the day of the Emancipation announcement, has been celebrated annually in Texas and other states as Juneteenth. University of Texas (San Antonio). [33] Enslaved people were not held between the Nueces River and the Rio Grande. But his response to me opens up a door for families generations of descendants of slaveholders and descendants of slave people to have open dialogue of this institution.. In 1860 there were 3,017 slaves in Marion county 1,406 males, 1,611 females. IMPORTANT PRIVACY NOTICE & DISCLAIMER: YOU HAVE A RESPONSIBILITY TO USE CAUTION WHEN DISTRIBUTING PRIVATE INFORMATION. Although slave marriages and families had no legal protections, the majority of slaves were reared and lived day to day in a family setting. Lambert Clayton 1 15. The list below is compiled from the 1860 United States Slave Census Schedule. There was an auction block next to the Menger Hotel and near the Alamo. When Bradburn arrested Travis on suspicion of plotting an insurrection, settlers rebelled. [12] His nephew, governor of Texas Manuel Mara de Salcedo, interpreted the order as allowing slaveholders from the United States to enter Texas to reclaim runaways. Many of the fires had coincided with a summer drought, and new matches were susceptible to spontaneous combustion. DAR# A105070 1. Shortly before 1858 he moved from Mississippi to Texas with his wife, Mary, and five children. The census for 1840 in Henderson County included 4,662 whites, 466 slaves, 35 free blacks. Favorable conditions for free blacks continued into the 1830s. WebReturn to Slave Manifests main page Click on each Slave name to view information on that voyage. Africans and the descendants of Africans and Indians were excluded from the class of 'persons' having rights. Jerrett Brown of Sumter, Alabama: 540 slaves. 2) THIS PATRIOT HAD TWO DAUGHTERS NAMED MARY, ONE BY EACH WIFE; Daniel French Slaughter (October 15, 1799 October 13, 1882) was Virginia planter and politician from two distinguished families of politicians and soldiers. To Anglo-American slave owners slavery was a practical necessity in Texas the only way to grow cotton profitably on its vast areas of fertile land. WebThe enslavement of African Americans was the curse of early American life, and Texas was no exception. Samuel Edney 1 2008 - 2023 INTERESTING.COM, INC. Thomas Love 7 4. [19] In 1832, the state passed legislation prohibiting worker contracts from lasting more than tenyears. After statehood, in antebellum Texas, slavery grew even more rapidly. 5.1 Biographies. [11] In 1809, the Commandant General of the Interior Provinces, Nemesio Salcedo, ordered the Texas-Louisiana border to be closed to everyone, regardless of ethnic background. 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. One result was the Turtle Bayou Resolutions, which were an explanation of the grievances that had led to the disturbances. In 1836 Texas had approximately 5,000 enslaved persons in a total population estimated at 38,470. Residents of Texas, 1782-1836. In rural areas, counties often set up patrols to enforce restrictions on enslaved people traveling without passes from planter owners. This was 15 percent of the total 2,992 people living in Spanish Texas. WIKITREE PROTECTS MOST SENSITIVE INFORMATION BUT ONLY TO THE EXTENT STATED IN THE TERMS OF SERVICE AND PRIVACY POLICY. Alfred V. Davis, Concordia, Louisiana: 500+ slaves. 4 History. [14][15], In 1821 at the conclusion of the Mexican War of Independence, Texas was included in the new nation. 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. Joseph Henry 8 3. [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. Box 12446 A. Anderson County, Texas, Slave Owners. Slaves adjusted their behavior to the conditions of servitude in a variety of ways. Donald S. Strong, "The Rise of Negro Voting in Texas," American Political Science Review Vol. The Gregory School Historical collections at The Gregory School include: Access to Houston Public Library databases and indexes Books Pamphlets Periodicals Photographs Oral history recordings Manuscripts Newspapers and clippings Personal family archives and Ephemera documenting Houstons African American History and culture. In the fall of 1835, a group of almost 100enslaved people staged an uprising along the Brazos River after they heard rumors of approaching Mexican troops. The following information is included: The records are categorized by county. [45][i][ii][iii], Texas seceded from the United States in 1861 and joined the Confederate States of America on the eve of the American Civil War. The slaves were owned by Julien Devereux and used to work an almost 11,000-acre plantation. A relatively few slaves, perhaps as many as 2,000 between 1835 and 1865, came through the illegal African trade. All ages were represented, however, from 5months to 60years. There were a few slaves in Texas while it was a Spanish province, but slavery did not really become an institution of significance in the region until the arrival of AngloAmerican settlers. Schedule No. [31], By 1850, the enslaved population in Texas had increased to 58,161; in 1860 there were 182,566 enslaved, 30 percent of the total population. [8] A 1777 census of San Antonio showed a total of 2,060people, with 151 of African descent. If I can figure out where an earlier County Coordinator found this I will properly reference it. House servants and craftsmen worked long hours, too, but their labor was not so burdensome physically. FS Library976.4 D2rte Vol 1-3. On the other hand, western parts of Texas were still a frontier during the American Civil War. Most runaways attempted to go to Mexico. 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. A project of the University of Virginia, this database includes a sampling of some of the 2,300+ interviews Many owners wished to appear as benevolent fathers, and yet most knew that there would be times when they would treat members of their families as property pure and simple. [30] As planters increased cotton production, they rapidly increased the purchase and transport of enslaved workers. The Bureau created a wide variety of records extremely valuable to genealogists. Since they politically dominated the state for decades after 1900, the only contest for office was at the primary level. He In cases where African Americans registered, their race is specified as "colored." [54] The drop in proportion of population reflected greatly-increased European immigration to the state in the 19th century, as well as population growth. Cotton. [17] At the same time, however, Mexico offered full citizenship to free blacks, including land ownership and other privileges. In 1865, 95% of the enslaved were illiterate.[39]. Texas 1867 Special Voter's Registration: includes information for 1867 - 1869. White Texans were fearful about revolts, and as in other southern states, rumors of uprisings took hold rapidly, often in times of economic and social tension. In 1860, the biggest slaveholders were Robert and D.G. In 1854, citizens in Austin and other towns drove many poor Mexicans from the area in fear that they might assist in revolts. MP for Horsham in 1808 and Sandwich (18121824). They therefore followed a basic human instinct and sought to survive on the best terms possible. William Mills 20 2. African Americans immediately started raising legal challenges to disfranchisement, but early Supreme Court cases, such as Giles v. Harris (1903), upheld the states. [32] Some enslaved people lived among the cattlemen along the southern Gulf Coast and helped herd sheep and cattle. Slave plantations were concentrated along the low-lying farmlands of East Texas. The emancipated slaves celebrated joyously (if Whites allowed it), but then they had to find out just what freedom meant. In 1900, African Americans comprised 20% of the state's population of 3,048,710. 13, No. The freedmen are advised to remain quietly at their present homes and work for wages. The slaves themselves, however, also insisted on family ties. People of color who had been servants for life under Mexican law would become property. [24] Fifty percent of the enslaved people worked either alone or in groups of fewer than 20 on small farms ranging from the Nueces River to the Red River, and from the Louisiana border to the edge of the western settlements of San Antonio, Austin, Waco, and Fort Worth. Congress shall not have the power to emancipate enslaved people. PARENTAGE OF MARGARET FRENCH SLAUGHTER IN QUESTION. Brazoria County, for example, was 72 percent slave in 1860, while north central Texas, the area from Hunt County west to Jack and Palo Pinto counties and south to McLennan County, had fewer slaves than any other settled part of the state, except for Hispanic areas such as Cameron County. Before being brought to Texas, enslaved persons signed contracts with their masters by which they technically became free but, in return for their "freedom," agreed that they and their children would, in effect, be indentured to the master for life. Sugar. Slave prices inflated rapidly as the institution expanded in Texas. J. Harleston Read of Georgetown, South Carolina: 511 slaves. Although not considered equals in the tribes, they were generally treated well. [50], Slavery was officially abolished by the Thirteenth Amendment which took effect on December 18, 1865. Slavery was thus a constant source of tension in the lives of slaveholders. Americans of European extraction and enslaved people contributed greatly to the population growth in the Republic and State of Texas. By the end of 1845, when Texas joined the United States, the state was home to at least 30,000 enslaved people. On June 25, 2013, the U.S. Supreme Court struck down Section 4(b) of the Voting Rights Act as unconstitutional,[55] a ruling which was shortly followed the implementation of Voter i.d. %%EOF Marie Therese Metoyer was born into slavery but died a rich woman. Economically, slave owners had a disproportionately large share of the state's wealth and produced virtually all of the cash crops. [citation needed], In the 1870s, a system of legalized racial segregation and white supremacy was enforced. [27] Other enslaved people joined the Texan forces, with some killed while fighting Mexican soldiers. [24], In 1845 the state legislature passed legislation further restricting the rights of free blacks. 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. Slavery was a complex institution that varied according to time and place. Slavery formally ended in Texas after June 19, 1865 (Juneteenth), when Gen. Gordon Granger arrived at Galveston with occupying federal forces and announced emancipation. Many former enslaved people fought with the Cherokee against the Texan army that drove the tribe from East Texas in 1838. [48], On some plantations, many enslaved people left immediately after hearing of the emancipation, even if their former owners offered to pay them wages. Cotton. For more information go to: http://www.law.cornell.edu/uscode/17/107.shtml. Many owners encouraged worship, primarily on the grounds that it would teach proper subjection and good behavior. States that had used it adopted other means to keep most African Americans from voting. An excellent source is the Freedmans Savings and Trust Company (visit the African American Freedman's Savings and Trust Company Records page to learn more). [8] There was intermarriage among blacks, Indians and Europeans. WebCategory: Texas, Slave Owners. P.O. 3" on the balcony of Ashton Villa: The people of Texas are informed that, in accordance with a proclamation from the Executive of the United States, all slaves are free. [21] By 1850, an estimated 3,000enslaved people had successfully escaped to Mexico, and an additional 1,000 crossed into Mexico between 1851 and 1855. Many enslaved people ran away. Slaves who did not work satisfactorily or otherwise displeased their owners were commonly punished by whipping. To find Freedmen's Bureau records: Visit the African American Freedmen's Bureau Records page to learn more about utilizing these records. WebLists of Slave owners with names of slaves 781-----Edward, 660 Michael, 735 Adam, Andrew George, 425, 498, 533, 621 Guy, 498 Jack, 729 Lucy, 729 Peter, 533 Sam, 621 535 0 obj <>/Filter/FlateDecode/ID[<511162D97422004CA0FA8843222F25B6>]/Index[509 45]/Info 508 0 R/Length 121/Prev 271316/Root 510 0 R/Size 554/Type/XRef/W[1 3 1]>>stream Sources Taken from Szucs, Loretto Dennis, "Research in Census Records." William Brittain 1 14. Most lived with a certain amount of fear of their supposedly happy servants, for the slightest threat of a slave rebellion could touch off a violent reaction. Settlements grew and developed more land under cultivation in cotton and other commodities. They could be bought and sold, mortgaged, and hired out. They were not, and even the best-treated slaves dreamed of freedom. This page was last modified 06:24, 6 May 2021. We'll send you a couple of emails per month, filled with fascinating history facts that you can share with your friends. Madison (1), 236 slaves. [3] American Indians captured and enslaved the party, putting them to work as laborers. [26], The abolition of slavery created tensions between the Mexican government and slave-holding settlers from the United States. While settled chiefly by Anglo-Southerners after the war; with the history of ranching, some of these parts have been more associated with the Southwest than the South. WebAnd for greater certainty I here give the names of the slaves mentioned and intended to pass to said children by this my 5th bequeath to the best of my resolution, to wit, 1 Scott 2 Web1800 Slave Owners 1. Field hands generally labored "from sun to sun" five days a week and half a day on Saturday. For a time, many enslaved ran away to Texas. Slavery in Texas was not a matter of content, well-cared for servants as idealized in some views of the Old South. The first census in Austin's colony in 1825 showed 443 slaves in a total population of 1,800. Texas was the last frontier of chattel slavery in the United States. They had no legally prescribed way to gain freedom. The history of slavery in Texas began slowly at first during the first few phases in Texas' history. Texas, Special Voter Registration, 1867-1869. WebIn 1845, there were about 30,000 enslaved people in Texas. [52] By the late 19th century, Texas passed other Jim Crow laws. Black Texans: A History of African Americans in Texas, 1528-1995 (Norman: University of Oklahoma Press, 1996, 2nd Edition). The cotton industry flourished in East Texas, where enslaved labor became most widely used. 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. On the other hand, the legislature created political segregation; it classified free residents with at least 1/8 African heritage (the equivalent to one great-grandparent) as a separate category, and abrogated their citizens' rights, prohibiting them from voting, owning property, testifying against whites in court, or intermarrying with whites. [24], Exportation in the slave-owning areas of the state surpassed that of the non-slave-owning areas. [9] When some French and Spanish slaveholders moved to Texas, they were allowed to retain their enslaved people. After the Texas Revolution ended in 1836, the Constitution of the Republic of Texas made slavery legal. In other words, it was an underlying cause of the struggle in 18351836. Most worked as house servants or on farms on the edges of towns, but others served as cooks and waiters in hotels, as teamsters or boatmen, or as coachmen and skilled artisans, such as blacksmiths, carpenters, and barbers. 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. [58][failed verification]. Meals often consisted of bread, molasses, sweet potatoes, hominy, and beef, chicken, and pork. As Texas was much more distant from the Union Army lines for much of the war, enslaved people were unable to reach them. [46] Anyone convicted of providing arms to enslaved people during the war was sentenced to between two and five years of hard labor. WebSouth Carolina's slave population in 1790 was 107,094, around 43 percent of the state population; by 1860 it was 402,406, around 57 percent of the total population. Elijah Williamson 3 10. After that, he could legally transport the enslaved people and sell them in New Orleans or areas further up the Mississippi River. Slavery may have thus hindered economic modernization in Texas. Others simply called their enslaved people indentured servants without legally changing their status. Although Estevanico was still enslaved, after these events the Spaniards treated him more as an equal. [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. 4 Cotton plantations. That year, Mexico made the importation of enslaved people illegal.