Glasco Norwood of Simpson County, MS





1852 - 1951
Written and Researched by Linda Durr Rudd
rtnlinda@earthlink.net

Glascow Norwood lives near Pinola, Mississippi, on a farm. He was born about 1852, was owned during slavery time by John Norwood. He is tall and slender, his black face is partly covered with gray side whiskers and a goatee, until a few years ago he wore long whiskers. He is in excellent health and active. He hears well, has his natural teeth and can see to thread a needle without the aid of glasses. From the Slave Narrative of Glascow Norwood

Read Glasco's complete slave narrative.

Ancestors of Glasco Norwood were with slave owner John Norwood and his family when they arrived in Mississippi about 1812 from Darlington County, South Carolina. Glasco’s grandmother Hannah traveled in the wagon to care for John Norwood’s children. Hannah had infant son Glasco with her who became the father of of her grandson Glasco.
(The Norwood Family, Compiled by John and Carroll Bolton, 1999, page 42, MS Dept. of Archives and History.)

John Norwood died in 1862. His will was written in 1858. One of his bequests was as follows: 4th I give and bequeath to my wife Catherine Norwood, all remainder of my personal property, my stock of horses, cattle and hogs, kitchen furniture and the following negroes: EASTER, Minerva, Ned, Tuin, OLD HANNAH, Virginia, Moses, Cudge, Rial, OLD GLASCO, YOUNG GLASCO, and Emily.
(Simpson County Will Book A, page 16, microfilm number 5380, Mississippi Department of Archives and History.)

Easter and both Glasco men are found living together on the 1870 census.

1870 Federal Census - Simpson County, Mount Zion, Mississippi, page 306
Norwood, Glasco, 60, B, Farmer, SC
Easter, 50, B, MS
Glasco, 18, B, MS
Serenia, 15, B, MS
Calvin, 13, B, MS
Edwin, 12, B, MS
Edmund, 15, B, MS

Easter/Esther, Glasco’s mother, is living alone in 1880 next door to her son Glasco.

1880 Federal Census - Simpson County, Beat 3, Mississippi, page 220
Norwood, Esther, 65, widow, keeping house, NC, NC, NC

1880 Federal Census - Simpson County, Beat 3, Mississippi
Norwood, Glasco, head, 28, farmer
Rachael, wife, 26, keeping house
Louvincey, daughter, 10
Joseph, son, 8
Emily, daughter, 6
Cyrus, son, 3
Frank, son, 2

1880 Agriculture Schedule - Simpson County, Beat 3, Mississippi, page 24
Glasco Norwood rents 26 acres from Isham Brown for shares of produce.

1900 Federal Census - Simpson County, Beat 3, Mississippi, page 79
Norwod, Glasco, head, 48, March 1852, married 28 years
Rachael, wife, May 1853, 13 births/10 living
Dock, son, October 1881 18
Lou, daughter, July 1872, 27
Calvin, son, May 1883, 15
Willie, son, October 1894, 5
???, daughter, ?, ?

1910 Federal Census - Simpson County, Beat 3, Mississippi, page 105
Norwood, Roscoe, 58
Rachel, 58, married 38 years, 16 births/? living
Ell??, son, 18
???, daughter, 15
???, son, 8

1920 Federal Census - Not Found

1930 Federal Census - Not Found

Glasco died in 1951.

SLAVE OWNER - JOHN NORWOOD

John Norwood of Darlington, South Carolina, moved to Mississippi, about 1812. Around 1815, John settled in what was to become Simpson County. Before leaving South Carolina, John married Catherine Powell where their first children were born. Their move to Mississippi was made by horse and ox-drawn wagons. The Norwood family brought with them the family slaves. (The Norwood Family, Compiled by John and Carroll Bolton, 1999, page 42. MS Dept. of Archives and History.)

John and Catherine were among the prosperous families of Simpson County. On the 1850 Simpson County Slave Schedule Census, John owned 26 slaves. On the 1860 Simpson County federal and slave schedule census, John owned 33 slaves, six slave houses, real estate valued at $8000, and personal property was valued at $36,000.

The Norwood family attended the Mount Zion Baptist Church in Simpson County where John and Catherine were charter members.

Sources

Glasco Norwood's Slave Narrative from Federal Writers Project
John Norwood's Will - Microfilm Number: 5380
"The Norwood Family," Compiled by John and Carroll Bolton
1850 Simpson County Slave Schedule
1860 Simpson County Slave Schedule
1870 Federal Census - Simpson County, MS
1880 Federal Census - Simpson County, MS
1880 Agriculture Census - Simpson County, MS
1900 Federal Census - Simpson County, MS
1910 Federal Census - Simpson County, MS
All records were found at the Mississippi Department of Archives and History.

Remembering Their Names