Remembering Their Names

The ancestors' lives were entangle with those who held them in bondage, therefore, information about the slaveowners will also be included.

Those of my ancestors who were found on the 1870 federal census were found in Copiah and Lincoln Counties, Mississippi. My research extends into Jefferson and Simpson counties of Mississippi.

Byrd, Copeland, Demyers, Durr, Furnace, Hargrave, Harper, Markham, Marshall, Mitchell, Overton, Usher, and Whitney are the direct lines I will be remembering.

Slave Narratives

The Workers Project Administration workers also recorded narratives from white participants as they did the former slaves. The narrative of John Wooley of Caseyville, MS, and the narrative of J. H. Williams of Brookhaven, MS, are insightful on the treatment of slaves in the area.

Remembering Slaves Named in Church Records, Diaries, Letters, Plantation Records

Prentiss Buie's Letter - This letter was written in 1867 by Prentiss to his father David Buie of Caseyville, Copiah County, MS. Prentiss writes his father about seeing Wade, a former slave of his father, near Ole Miss.

Almarinda Kennison Shaw's Letter - This letter was written in 1865 to Almarinda's mother-in-law Mary Shaw. She writes of her frustrations with the Federal troops, freedmen and her loneliness.

Harriet Walker's Letter - This letter was written in 1858 by former slave Harriet to her mistress Mary Shaw. Harriet writes inquiring about her children.

Ned was purchased in Fayetteville, NC, by Duncan McArn of Union Church, Jefferson County, MS, from John McLaurin. McArn felt he had received an "unsound negro." Read the correspondence, dated 1836, between Duncan McArn and John McLaurin concerning Ned's health and sale.

Edwina Burnley Memoirs describe life on Somerset Plantation near Hazlehurst, Mississippi, in Copiah County, including details about activities, relatives, neighbors, and slaves. The 1860 Copiah County Slave Schedule shows Edwina's father, Edwin Burnley, owning 60 slaves.

Union Church Presbyterian Church is located in Union Church, Jefferson County, MS, where a branch of my ancestors'slave owners were charter members, decons, clerks, and elders of this church. The name of servants , acceptance and baptismal date, and the owner's name is also included in the records. The first recorded servant member was in 1827. The last recorded servant member was in 1864. After Emancipation, the servants formed their own church named Hickory Block Church.

Pvt. John Culver of the 58th Regiment, United States Colored Infantry
Read a few of the affidavits written in John Culver's pension case:
Eliza Blue, Lucinda Coleman, Richard Coleman, Hannah Culver, Washington Davenport, Edward Harris, James P. McMillan, Pearlie Scott, and Reason Wooley.

Corporal Robert Culver of the 58th Regiment, United States Colored Infantry
Pvt. Israel Etta of the 58th Regiment, United States Colored Infantry
George Lyons - Nonmilitary Role of the 58th Regiment, United States Colored Infantry
Private Daniel Mack of the 58th Regiment, United States Colored Infantry
Private James Mack of the 58th Regiment, United States Colored Infantry
Private Calvin McCormick of the 6th Regiment, United States Colored Heavy Artillery
Private Anderson Mitchell of the 58th Regiment, United States Colored Infantry
Private Eddy Mitchell of the 6th Regiment, United States Colored Heavy Artillery
Pvt. George Thomas of the 58th Regiment, United States Colored Infantry by James Scott

Maria Catherine McLean Buie's Southern Claims Case - Jefferson County, MS
Depositions of those who Testified in Maria Buie's Case
John D. Blue (Neighbor) ~ John B. Bowen (Neighbor)
Maria C. McLean Buie (Claimant) ~ Robert M. Buie (Claimant's Husband)
Flora E. Cameron (Neighbor) ~ John H. Clark (Neighbor)
Felix Mason (Former Hired Slave of McLean Family) ~ John J. Mclean (Cousin of Claimant)
Milly McLean (Former McLean Family Slave) ~ William A. McLean (Cousin of Claimant)
Summaries of Case
United States' Brief of Loyalty
Maria Buie's Reply to United States' Brief of Loyalty

Mary Lemons Buie's Southern Claims Case - Lincoln County, MS
Depositions of those who Testified in Mary Buie's Case
Benjamin Franklin Anding (Neighbor) ~ Calvin Blue (Neighbor) ~ Luther Blue (Neighbor)
Daniel Buie, Jr. (Mary's Son) ~ John M. Buie (Mary's Son) ~ Pleasant Hemphill (Former Overseer)
James P. McMillan (Neighbor) ~ Alex Roundtree (Former Slave) ~ Charles Roundtree (Former Slave)
Summaries of Mary Buie's Case
United States' Brief of Mary Buie's Loyalty
The Buie's Reply to United States' Brief of Loyalty

1820 Census, Jefferson County, MS, Free People of Color
1830 Census, Jefferson County, MS, Free People of Color
1850 Simpson County Slave Schedule
1850 Census, Jefferson County, MS, Free People of Color
1860 Census, Jefferson County, MS, Free People of Color
1860 Copiah County Slave Schedule
1860 Franklin County Slave Schedule
1860 Jefferson County Slave Schedule
1860 Simpson County Slave Schedule
1869 Freedmen Tax Roll, Jefferson County, MS
1870 Copiah County Census
1870 Simpson County Census
1890 Census of Civil War Soliders, Sailors or Their Widows -- Copiah County, MS
1890 Census of Civil War Soldiers, Sailors or Their Widows -- Lincoln County, MS
1892 Educable Children List, Colored -- Caseyville, Lincoln County, MS
1892 Educable Children List, White -- Caseyville, Lincoln County, MS

Largest Slaveholder from 1860 Slave Census and Schedules Surname Matches for African Americans on 1870 Census -- Copiah and Jefferson County, MS

LAUDERDALE COUNTY -- Emanuel Alexander Durr's Freedman Bureau Labor Contract

OKTIBBEHA COUNTY -- Former slave Peggy Peacock Kelly's letter was written on her behalf inquiring of her former owner, Thomas Peacok, if he knew the whereabouts of any surviving family members whom she had not seen since being sold.

TALLAHATCHIE COUNTY -- The 1843 will of John Buie named seven slaves which he bequeathed to his wife and children.

WARREN COUNTY -- Isaiah Thorton Montgomery and Benjamin Green were former slaves of Joseph E. Davis, brother of Jefferson Davis, on the Hurricane Plantation in Warren County. Montgomery and Green are the founders of Mound Bayou, BOLIVAR COUNTY, Mississippi.

MS DEATH INDEX 1912-1943
Selected Surnames

Funeral March IV

Choose from 763 items in the African American Gallery.

Links with MS Connections

Afrigeneas
MSGen Web Page
MS Department of Archives and History
Pike County MS Magee - Varnado Heritage
Tracing Your Ancestors in Sturgis, Oktibbeha County, MS
Plantations of Jefferson County, Mississippi