Slavery In Eastern Kentucky

By Marlitta H. Perkins

On the surface, slavery never seemed to play a large role in Eastern Kentucky, which has led to the impression over the years that it was almost non-existent. A closer look at numerous surviving records however revealed that the number of slaves was not as small as previously assumed. Slavery In Eastern Kentucky is a treasure trove of documents and records, covering the counties of Boyd, Carter, Floyd, Greenup, Johnson, Lawrence, Magoffin, Morgan and Pike. A great tool for family genealogists as well as for those who want to discover and explore this almost forgotten part of Eastern Kentucky history.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Lulu.com
• Release date: Oct 21, 2014
• ISBN: 9781312404052

Book preview

Slavery In Eastern Kentucky

Slavery in Eastern Kentucky

By Marlitta H. Perkins

Copyright © 2014 Marlitta H. Perkins

All rights reserved. This book or any portions thereof may not be reproduced, transmitted, downloaded, decompiled, reverse engineered, or stored in or introduced into any information storage and retrieval system, in any form or any means, whether electronic or mechanical, now known or hereinafter invented, without the express written permission of author, except for the use of brief quotations in a book review or scholarly journal.

First published 2013

e-book edition 2014

ISBN: 978-1-312-40405-2

Eastern Kentucky Research & Publishing

Post Office Box 281

Staffordsville, Kentucky 41256-0281

Cover Design by Marlitta H. Perkins

Introduction

This work covers the Eastern Kentucky counties of Boyd, Carter, Floyd, Greenup, Johnson, Lawrence, Magoffin, Morgan and Pike. The author compiled the information from various sources such as court documents, vital records, census and tax records, etc., focusing predominantly on pre-1865 records. This project is ongoing and will expand as additional information becomes available. I am indebted to Teresa Klaiber for making her Boyd County research available to me.

Foreword

I expose slavery in this country, because to expose it is to kill it. Slavery is one of those monsters of darkness to whom the light of truth is death. The Narrative Life of Frederick Douglass

Slavery in Eastern Kentucky - this project grew from curiosity about a part of our local history that has not received much attention in the past. On the surface, slavery never seemed to play a large role in Eastern Kentucky. Unlike on the plantations in the Deep South that depended extensively on slave labor, the number of slaves as well as the farms on which most of them lived tended to be by comparison much smaller in Eastern Kentucky. The majority of slave holders owned one or two slaves, some of which were domestic servants. Only a handful of individuals were known to have a larger number of slaves. Over the years the impression has prevailed that slavery in the Eastern part of the state was almost non-existent. However, once I began examining and compiling records of every African-American who had been held as a slave in Eastern Kentucky, it became clear that their number was not small by any means. Realizing that this part of our history was doomed to be overlooked or worse, forgotten, the idea of collecting and preserving it led to the creation of Slavery in Eastern Kentucky. I strongly believe that it is important for us to remember and appreciate the contributions and sacrifices of ALL who came before us and helped shape our future - including the men, women and children who once were held in bondage and to whom I respectfully dedicate this work.

Marlitta H. Perkins

August 2014

Boyd County Database

Parent County/Counties: Carter, Greenup, Lawrence

Date Approved: 2/16/1860

Date Effective: 5/1/1860

Present County Seat: Catlettsburg

Formation #: 107

Named for Linn Boyd of Paducah, former U.S. congressman, who died in 1859 soon after being elected Lt. Gov. of Ky.

Reference: Acts of the Kentucky General Assembly, Vol. I, 1860, pages 32-35.

Source: Kentucky County Formations Database, Kentucky Secretary of State website.

Andrews

Francis - b. abt. 1850 (*1)

Owner: G. W. Andrews - 1860 (*1)

Note: G. W. Andrews, 32, b. OH, merchant, $4200 real estate, $2000 personal property. Lived in Catlettsburg [1860 Boyd Co. KY Census]

Ballon

Albert - b. abt. 1830 (*1) / b. abt. 1838, VA. black

Owner: Asa Ballon - 1860 (*1)

Note: Asa Ballon, 51, b. KY, farmer, $4000 real estate, $3000 personal property

[1860 Boyd Co. KY Census]

1870 Boyd Co. KY Census, Cannonsburg P. O., HH # 61/57

Albert Ballon, black, 32,laborer, b. VA, can't read & write

Daffy Ballon, black, 70, keeping house, b. VA, can't read & write

Charles - b. abt. 1846(*1)

Owner: Asa Ballon - 1860 (*1)

Dicey - b. abt. 1848(*1)

Owner: Asa Ballon - 1860 (*1)

William - b. abt. 1854(*1)

Owner: Asa Ballon - 1860 (*1)

Bellamy/Bellomy

Judy - b. abt. 1828 (*1)

Owner: M. Bellomy - 1860 (*1)

Note: Matthew Bellamy, 60, farmer, b. VA, $3000 real estate, $8000 personal property

[1860 Boyd Co. KY Census]

Chany - b. abt. 1842 (*1)

Owner: M. Bellomy - 1860 (*1)

Edward - b. abt. 1849 (*1)

Owner: M. Bellomy - 1860 (*1)

John - b. abt. 1856 (*1)

Owner: M. Bellomy - 1860 (*1)

Andrew - b. abt. 1856 (*1)

Owner: M. Bellomy - 1860 (*1)

Biggs

Deliah - b. abt. 1815(*1), MD (*5) d. Nov. 2, 1885 (*11)

Parents both born in MD. (*5)

Mother of Mary(2) Biggs. (*10) Wife of Aaron. (*11)

Owner: Ann Biggs - 1860 (*1)

Note: The only Biggs enumerated in 1860 Boyd Co. KY Census was R. M. Biggs, 55, Iron Master, b. KY, wife Ann E.

1870 Boyd Co. KY Census, District No. 6, Catlettsburg P.O., HH# 205/196

Delilah Biggs, 40, mulatto, wash woman, b. MD

1880 Boyd Co. KY Census, Lower Catlettsburg, Pct. No. 7, HH # 150/154

Delilah Biggs, black, 64, mother, widowed, MD MD MD, can't read & write

Lived in HH of daughter Harriet Campbell, b, 38, widowed, keeping house, KY KY KY, can't read & write, plus 6 children born between 1865 & 1878.

Jane/Jake - b. abt. 1825(*1)

Owner: Ann Biggs - 1860 (*1)

Dick - b. abt. 1822(*1)

Owner: Ann Biggs - 1860 (*1)

George - b. abt. 1844(*1)

Owner: Ann Biggs - 1860 (*1)

Miranda - b. abt. 1844(*1)

Owner: Ann Biggs - 1860 (*1)

Martha - b. abt. 1848(*1)

Owner: Ann Biggs - 1860 (*1)

George - b. abt. 1850(*1)

Owner: Ann Biggs - 1860 (*1)

Edward/Edmund - b. abt. 1845(*1)

Owner: Ann Biggs - 1860 (*1)

Harriette - b. abt. 1846(*1)

Daughter of Delilah Biggs (*5). Married a Campbell.

Widowed between 1877-1880 (*5)

Owner: Ann Biggs - 1860 (*1)

1880 Boyd Co. KY Census, Lower Catlettsburg, Pct. No. 7, HH # 150/154

Harriet Campbell, b, 38, widowed, keeping house, KY KY KY, can't read & write, plus 6 children born between 1865 & 1878.

Drisella - b. abt. 1846(*1)

Owner: Ann Biggs - 1860 (*1)

Mary(1) - b. abt. 1849(*1)

Owner: Ann Biggs - 1860 (*1)

Diana - b. abt. 1857(*1)

Owner: Ann Biggs - 1860 (*1)

Lucy - b. abt. 1858(*1)

Owner: Ann Biggs - 1860 (*1)

Sarah - b. abt. 1855(*1)

Owner: Ann Biggs - 1860 (*1)

Henry - b. abt. 1854(*1)

Owner: Ann Biggs - 1860 (*1)

Hensley - b. abt. 1835(*1)

Owner: Ann Biggs - 1860 (*1)

Jasper - b. abt. 1816; d. Oct. 10, 1859, Boyd Co. KY (*3)

Owner: R. M. Biggs

Mary(2) Biggs - b. abt. 1838, KY; d. Feb. 6, 1909, Ironton, Lawrence Co. OH

Daughter of Delilah Biggs.(*10)

1870 Boyd Co. KY Census, Catlettsburg, Catlettsburg P.O., HH# 31/34

Mary Biggs, 32, mulatto, domestic servant, b. KY

Maggie, 4, mulatto, b. KY

Rosa, 1, mulatto, 1, b. KY

[Lived in Laban T. Moore's HH]

1880 Boyd Co. KY Census, District No. 6, Catlettsburg P.O., HH# 150/158

Mary Biggs, 45, black, servant, KY KY VA

Anna, 8, black, KY KY KY

Rosa, 6, mulatto, KY KY KY

[Lived in Laban T. Moore's HH]

1900 Boyd Co. KY Census, 2. Ward, Catlettsburg, HH# 431/454

Mary Biggs, 70, black, single, KY KY KY

[Lived in the James Patton HH]

Possible former slaves in the 1870 Boyd Co. KY Census

BIGGS CHARITY 9 F B KY CATLETTSBURG P O

Was hired as a nurse for Joseph Mitchell HH. Mitchell was a contractor in river improvements. Lived in Catlettsburg.

1870 Boyd Co. KY Census, District No. 6, Upper Catlettsburg, HH# 45/44

Francess Biggs, 14, mulatto, Domestic Servant; in HH of Charlotte Culver

BIGGS RICHARD 7 M M KY KY BOYD CATLETTSBURG P O

Boal [?]

Caroline - b. abt. 1841 (*1)

Owner: W. S. Boal

Elaine - b. abt. 1851 (*1)

Owner: W. S. Boal

Bolt

Zachariah - b. abt. 1848, KY. Black (*1)

Owner: Isaac Bolt - 1860 (*1)

1870 Boyd Co. KY Census

BOLT ZACARIAH 22 M B KY CATLETTSBURG P O.

Lived in the HH of William Hampton, laborer.

Clark - b. abt. 1849 (*1)

Owner: Isaac Bolt - 1860 (*1)

Reuben -

Owner: Isaac Bolt

1870 Boyd Co. KY Census

BOLT RUEBEN 16 M B KY ASHLAND P O

Note: The 1870 Federal Census for Boyd County lists two freedmen, Zachariah and Rueben Bolt, as residents of Ashland and Catlettsburg, respectively. The 1860 Slave Census for Boyd, one of the few counties that provides the names of both owners and slaves, revealed that both men were once the property of Major Isaac Bolt, a prominent local official. Even if their names had not been given in this record, the Major's will served as another clue to ownership, and revealed that they were inherited by one of his children on the eve of the Civil War. [KDLA]

Note: See Greenup Co. KY for 1820-1830 Bolt records

See Lawrence Co. KY for 1830-1850 Bolt records

Brown

Matilda - b. abt. 1822 (*1)

Owner: G. N. Brown - 1860 (*1)

Note: G. N. Brown, attorney, 38, b. VA, $7000 real estate, $2800 personal property, [1860 Boyd Co. KY Census]

Annie - b. abt. 1840 (*1)

Owner: G. N. Brown - 1860 (*1)

Elizabeth - b. abt. 1844 (*1)

Owner: G. N. Brown - 1860 (*1)

James - b. abt. 1848 (*1)

Owner: G. N. Brown - 1860 (*1)

Mary - b. abt. 1856 (*1)

Owner: G. N. Brown - 1860 (*1)

Shedora? - female, b. abt. 1858 (*1)

Owner: G. N. Brown - 1860 (*1)

Martha - b. abt. 1859 (*1)

Owner: G. N. Brown - 1860 (*1)

Possible former slaves in the 1870 Boyd Co. KY Census

BROWN CHARLES 22 M M VA KY BOYD CATLETTSBURG P O 1870

BROWN MARTHA 31 F M KY KY BOYD CATLETTSBURG P O 1870

Burk

Linn - b. abt. 1836 (*1)

Owner: Benjamin Burk - 1860 (*1)

Note: B. Burk, 52, merchant, b. KY, $4000 real estate, $2000 personal property. Lived in Catlettsburg. [1860 Boyd Co. KY Census]

Asa - b. abt. 1856 (*1)

Owner: Benjamin Burk - 1860 (*1)

Burgraf

Caroline - b. at. 1831 (*1)

Owner: Geo Burgraf - 1860 (*1)

Note: George Burgraf dealt in retail goods in Ashland in 1870. Came from OH to KY by 1854. Born in Bavaria abt.1827.(*2) Was not enmumerated in the 1860 Boyd Co. KY Census.

Frances - b. at. 1849 (*1)

Owner: Geo Burgraf - 1860 (*1)

Thomas - b. abt. 1850 (*1)

Owner: Geo Burgraf - 1860 (*1)

Nancy - b. abt. 1853 (*1)

Owner: Geo Brgraf - 1860 (*1)

Anna - b. abt. 1853 (*1)

Owner: Geo Burgraf - 1860 (*1)

Elizabeth - b. abt. 1855 (*1)

Owner: Geo Burgraf - 1860 (*1)

Callihan

Piety - b. abt. 1815 (*1)

Owner: A. D. Callihan - 1860 (*1)

Note: A. D. Callihan, 53, merchant, b. VA, $4000 real estate, $40,000 personal property. Lived in Ashland, KY. [1860 Boyd Co. KY Census]

Chinn

Catherine - b. abt. 1820 (*1)

Owner: D. Chinn - 1860 (*1)

Note: Dudley Chin, 77, b. KY [1860 Boyd Co. KY Census]

Collins

Mary Ann - b. abt. 1834 (*1)

Owner: J. D. Collins - 1860 (*1)

Note: J. D. Collins, 58, b. KY, book keeper, $800 real estate, $ 200 personal property [1860 Boyd Co. KY Census]

Colvin

Emma - b. abt. 1807(*1)

Owner: Vincent Colvin - 1860 (*1)

Note: Vincent Colvin, 39, b. KY, farmer, $6000 real estate, $2000 personal property [1860 Boyd Co. Ky Census]

Elizabeth - b. abt. 1846(*1)

Owner: Vincent Colvin ? - 1860 (*1)

Culver

Elias - b. abt. 1804 (*1)

Owner: John Culver (*4)

Owner: Charlotte C. Culver - 1860 (*1)

Note: John Culver, Charlotte C. Culver's husband, died abt. 1858, Greenup Co. KY. (*4)

Sam - b. abt. 1837 (*1)

Owner: John Culver (*4)

Owner: Charlotte C. Culver - 1860 (*1)

Jenny/Fanny - b. abt. 1793 (*1) / b. abt. 1788, MD. Black. (*2)

Owner: Charlotte C. Culver - 1860 (*1)

Note: Mother of Deborah.

1870 Boyd Co. KY Census, Catlettsburg P.O.

CULVER FANNY 82 F B MD CATLETTSBURG P O. Owned real estate worth $200.

Lived next door to Charlotte C. Culver by herself in District 6, Boyd Co. KY. (*2)

Debby/Deborah - b. abt. 1810 (*1) / b. abt. 1803, MD. Black (*2)

Owner: Charlotte C. Culver - 1860 (*1)

1870 Boyd Co. KY Census, District 6, Catlettsburg P.O.,

Deborah Diggs, 67, black, b. MD. In HH of Elias Diggs, 64, mulatto, matress maker, $400 real estate, b. MD [husband?]. Lived next door to her mother Fanny.

Hannah - b. abt. 1842 (*1)

Owner: John Culver (*4)

Owner: Charlotte C. Culver - 1860 (*1)

Martha/Marsha - b. abt. 1840 (*1)

Owner: John Culver (*4)

Owner: Charlotte C. Culver - 1860 (*1)

Jeremiah - b. abt. 1840 (*1)

Owner: Charlotte C. Culver

Prichard - b. abt. 1844 (*1)

Owner: Charlotte C. Culver

See Greenup Co. KY for pre-1860 Culver records.

Debard[s]/De Bord

John - b. abt. 1805 (*1)

Owner: J. Debards

Mahala - b. abt. 1812 (*1)

Owner: J. Debards

Sally - b. abt. 1830 (*1)

Owner: J. Debards

Jane - b. abt. 1845 (*1)

Owner: J. Debards

Charles - b. abt. 1849 (*1)

Owner: J. Debards

Belle - b. abt. 1857 (*1)

Owner: J. Debards

George W. - b. abt. 1859 (*1)

Owner: J. Debards

George - b. abt. 1838 (*1)

Owner: J. Debards

See Carter Co. KY for pre-1860 Debards/De Bord records.

Eastham

Margaret - b. abt. 1838 (*1)

Owner: J. H. Eastham - 1860 (*1)

George - b. abt. 1848 (*1)

Owner: J. H. Eastham - 1860 (*1)

James - b. abt. 1858 (*1)

Owner: J. H. Eastham - 1860 (*1)

Thomas - b. abt. 1837 (*1)

Owner: Robert Eastham (2) - 1860 (*1)

Charles - b. abt. 1839 (*1)

Owner: Robert Eastham (2) - 1860 (*1)

Judy - b. abt. 1800 (*1)

Owner: Robert Eastham (1) - 1860 (*1)

Nathan - b. at. 1837 (*1)

Owner: Robert Eastham (1) - 1860 (*1)

1870 Boyd Co. KY Census

EASTHAM CHANA 8 F B KY KY BOYD CANNONSBURG P O 1870

Note: Eastham-Field Cemetery, on Rt. 180, past I-64 exchange, across from a truck stop. The oldest graves are contained in a plot of high ground with a stone wall in the back of the cemetery, with several unmarked graves surrounding it. These unmarked graves are, according to family lore, those of slaves who lived on the Eastham plantation. The plot of high ground is badly overgrown, and a rushed search turned up pieces of Headstones belonging to Hartwell Eastham, b. 9-11-1796 d. 1-8-1842, Elizabeth Eastham, James W. Eastham, Christiana Eastham.

[http://www.rootsweb.com/~kyboyd/Cemeteries/ecem/]

Ferguson

Caroline - b. abt. 1827 (*1)

Owner: C. Ferguson

Sophia - b. abt. 1847 (*1)

Owner: C. Ferguson

Willie - b. abt. 1849 (*1)

Owner: C. Ferguson

Jack - b. abt. 1853

Owner: C. Ferguson

Ibba - b. abt. 1851 (*1)

Owner: C. Ferguson

West - b. abt. 1853 (*1)

Owner: C. Ferguson

George - b. abt. 1856 (*1)

Owner: C. Ferguson

Martha - b. abt. 1859 (*1)

Owner: C. Ferguson

Ibba - b. abt. 1799 (*1)

Owner: C. Ferguson

Fletcher

Sally - b. abt. 1844(*1)

Owner: E. S. Fletcher - 1860 (*1)

Note: E. S. Fletcher, 30, b. Massachussetts, druggist, $6000 real estate, $4500 personal property. Lived in Ashland. [1860 Boyd Co. KY Census]

Ford

Synthia Ann - b. 1849, KY. Black. /1859 (*1)

Owner: J. R.. Ford - 1860 (*1)

Note: James R. Ford, 34, b. VA, $1000 real estate, $600 personal property. Lived in Catlettsburg [1860 Boyd Co. KY Census].

1870 Boyd Co. KY Census

FORD SYNTHIA A 21 F B KY CATLETTSBURG P O

Lived in James R. Ford's HH as a domestic servant. (*2)

Gartrell

Arthur - b. abt. 1806(*1)

Owner: H. C. Gartrell - 1860 (*1)

Note: For a detailed history on this family, see http://www.starbase21.com/kybiog/boyd/gartrell.hc.txt

Wiley - b. abt. 1825(*1)

Owner: H. C. Gartrell - 1860 (*1)

Mary - b. abt. 1820(*1)

Owner: H. C. Gartrell - 1860 (*1)

Sarah - b. abt. 1853 (*1); b. abt. 1848, KY. Black (*2)

Owner: H. C. Gartrell - 1860 (*1)

1870 Boyd Co. KY Census

GARTREL SARAH 22 F B KY CATLETTSBURG P O

Lived in Catlettsburg in George Kibbie's HH [mulatto].

Jim - b. abt. 1855(*1)

Owner: H. C. Gartrell - 1860 (*1)

1870 Boyd Co. KY Census

GARTRELL ANNA 50 F B KY KY BOYD CATLETTSBURG P O

Lived in HH of timber merchant H. H. Kilner [?] as domestic servant, District No. 6.

Geiger

Jack - b. abt.1810 (*1)

Owner: W. L. Geiger - 1860 (*1)

Note: W. L. Geiger, 40, merchant & farmer, b. KY, $27,000 real estate, $34,000 personal property [1860 Boyd Co. KY Census]

Savannah - b. abt. 1815 (*1)

Owner: W. L. Geiger - 1860 (*1)

Dennis - b. abt. 1846 (*1)

Owner: W. L. Geiger - 1860 (*1)

Charlie/Charles - b. abt. 1850 (*1)

Owner: W. L. Geiger - 1860 (*1)

Mahala - b. abt. 1852

Owner: W. L. Geiger - 1860 (*1)

Mary Ellen - b. abt. 1858 (*1)

Owner: W. L. Geiger - 1860 (*1)

Hampton

Isabella - b. abt. 1809 (*1)

Owner: William Hampton - 1860 (*1)

Note: William Hampton, 51, b. VA, minister, M. E. Church South, $40,000 real estate, $2000 personal property. Lived in Catlettsburg. [1860 Boyd Co. KY Census]

Lucy - b. at. 1835 (*1)

Owner: William Hampton - 1860 (*1)

Ransin - b. abt. Oct. 1859 (*1)

Owner: William Hampton - 1860 (*1)

Harris

Violet - b. abt. 1795 (*1)

Owner: K. N. Harris - 1860 (*1)

Note: K. N. Harris, 51, b. KY, $7000 real estate, $500 personal property; wife Louisa. Lived in Catlettsburg. [Boyd Co. KY census]

[also see Johnson Co. KY Harris records]

Haskell

Chany - b. abt. 1840 (*1)

Owner: J. A. Haskell

Higgins

Amanda - b. abt. 1844(*1)

Owner: Daniel Higgins, Heirs - 1860 (*1)

Note: In 1860 Boyd Co. KY census, James Higgins, 19, was the only person with this last name.

See Carter Co. KY for further Higgins records. See Greenup Co. KY for early Higgins records.

Kinner

Emily - b. abt. 1830(*1)

Owner: H.H. Kinner - 1860 (*1)

Note: Harvey Kinner, 29, b. KY, farmer, $2000 real estate, $1000 personal property. [1860 Boyd Co. KY Census]

Lina/Linn - b. abt. 1859

Owner: H.H. Kenner - 1860 (*1)

Kincaide

Isom/Tom/Sam? - b. abt. 1855 (*1)

Owner: J. D. Kincaide - 1860 (*1)

Note: J. D. Kincaid, 38, physician, b. VA, $2400 real estate, $2400 personal property. Lived in Catlettsburg. [1860 Boyd Co. KY Census]

Dorcas - b. abt. 1815 (*1)

Owner: J. D. Kincaide - 1860 (*1)

Kouns

Alexander - b. abt. 1820 (*1)

Owner: G. W. Kouns - 1860 (*1)

Note: G. W. Kouns, 56, b. KY, farmer, $3500 real estate, $2755 personal property.

[1860 Boyd Co. KY Census]

David - b. abt. 1820 (*1)

Owner: G. W. Kouns - 1860 (*1)

See Carter Co. KY for pre-1860 Kouns records.

Krana

Sophia - b. abt. 1846 (*1)

Owner: John Krana

McConnell

James - b. abt. 1830 (*1)

Owner: C. L. McConnell - 1860 (*1)

Note: C. L. McConnel, 35, b. KY, attorney at law, $9000 personal property. Lived in Catlettsburg. [1860 Boyd Co. KY census]

Milley - b. abt. 1832 (*1)

Owner: C. L. McConnell - 1860 (*1)

Mary - b. abt. 1854 (*1)

Owner: C. L. McConnell - 1860 (*1)

Anna - b. abt. 1857 (*1)

Owner: C. L. McConnell - 1860 (*1)

Also see Greenup Co. KY for pre-1860 McConnell records.

Mims

Lucy –

Owner: J. D. Mims - 1860 (*1)

Albert -

Owner: J. D. Mims - 1860 (*1)

Ella -

Owner: J. D. Mims - 1860 (*1)

?

Owner: D. Mims [David?]

Nichols/Nicholes

George - b. abt. 1839 (*1)

Owner: W. T. Nicholes - 1860 (*1)

Eliza - b. abt 1838 (*1)

Owner: W. T. Nicholes - 1860 (*1)

Note: W. T. Nichols, 51, b. Maryland, manufacturer, $6300 real estate, $150,000 personal property. Lived in Ashland. [1860 Boyd Co. KY Census]

Norris

Miranda - b. abt. 1835 (*1)

Owner: H. W. Norris

Charlotte - b. abt. 1858 (*1)

Owner: H. W. Norris

Possible former slaves in the 1870 Boyd Co. Census

NORRIS SUSAN 22 F M KY KY BOYD CANNONSBURG P O 1870

Poage

Emily - b. abt. 1847(*1)

Owner: R. C. Poage - 1860 (*1)

Note: R. C. Poage, 44, b. KY, farmer, $6000 real estate, $4000 personal property. Lived in Ashland. [Boyd Co. KY Census]

George McVodie

Unnamed male slave -

Note: Belonged to the Poage family, of Boyd Co., escaped and went to Canada, no [TR: missing word?] as to whether he ever came back later. Slave Narratives, Vol. VII, Kentucky Narratives, [Carl F. Hall]

See Greenup Co. KY for pre-1860 records.

Prichard

Elizabeth - b. abt. 1831 (*1)

Owner: J. Prichard[s] - 1860 (*1)

Jane - b. abt. 1851 (*1)

Owner: J. Prichard[s] - 1860 (*1)

Sally - b. abt. 1858 (*1)

Owner: J. Prichard[s] - 1860 (*1)

Note: Owner James Prichard, 60, farmer, b. VA, $4000 real estate, $1000 personal property OR

Jack Prichard, 30, farmer, b. KY, $3000 real estate, $1000 personal property

[1860 Boyd Co. KY Census]

Richards/Prichard?

Caroline - b. abt. 1846 (*1)

Owner: L. Richards - 1860 (*1)

Note: No Richards listed in 1860 Boyd Co. KY Census.

Shope

Adam - b. abt. 1800 (*1)

Owner: Wm. Shope

Triplett

Linna - b. abt. 1770 (*1)

Owner: L. Triplett

Turman

Adaline - b. abt. 1835 (*1)

Owner: J. L. Turman - 1860 (*1)

George- b. abt. 1854 (*1)

Owner: J. L. Turman - 1860 (*1)

Francis - b. abt. 1857 (*1)

Owner: I. L. Turman - 1860 (*1)

Note: James L. Turman, 50, b. KY, $6000 real estate, $1000 personal property

[1860 Boyd Co. KY census]

Ulen/Ulin

George W. - b. abt. 1815, (*1); abt. 1814, KY. (*2)

Owner: B. Ulen - 1860 (*1)

Husband of Lydia and father of Riley, Lawson, Charles, Ellen and Thomas. (*2)

1870 Boyd Co. KY Census, Dist. No. 4, Cannonsburg P. O. HH # 161/148

George W. Ulen, black, 56, farmer, $329 personal property, b. KY, can read but not write

Wife Lydia Ulen, black, 50, keeping house, b. KY, can't read & write

Riley Ulen, black, 17, laborer, b. KY, can't read & write

T. Lawson Ulen, black, 12, laborer, b. KY, can't read & write

Charles Ulen, black, 10, at home, b. KY, can't read & write

Ellen Ulen, black, 8, at home, b. KY

Thomas Ulen, black, 6, at home, b. KY

Lydia - b. abt. 1820, KY. Black. (*2)

Owner: B. Ulen - 1860 (*1)

Wife of George and mother of Riley, Lawson, Charles, Ellen and Thomas. (*2)

Green - b. abt. 1838(*1)

Owner: B. Ulen - 1860 (*1)

Mariah - b. abt. 1844(*1)

Owner: B. Ulen - 1860 (*1)

Merritt -

Owner: B. Ulen - 1860 (*1)

Richard - b. abt. 1846(*1)

Owner: B. Ulen - 1860 (*1)

Buckner - b. abt. b. abt. 1847(*1)

Owner: B. Ulen - 1860 (*1)

William - b. abt. 1849(*1)

Owner: B. Ulen - 1860 (*1)

Jacob - b. abt. 1850(*1)

Owner: B. Ulen - 1860 (*1)

Riley - b. abt. 1853, KY. Black (*2)

Owner: B. Ulen - 1860 (*1)

Parents: George and Lydia Ulen. (*2)

Christina - b. abt. 1854(*1)

Owner: B. Ulen - 1860 (*1)

Lawson - b. abt. 1858, KY. Black. (*1)(*2)

Owner: B. Ulen - 1860 (*1)

Parents: George and Lydia Ulen. (*2)

Charles - b. abt. 1860, KY, Black (*1)(*2)

Owner: B. Ulen - 1860 (*1)

Parents: George and Lydia Ulen. (*2)

Phoebe - b. at. 1796 (*1)

Owner: C. S. Ulin - 1860 (*1)

Ellen - b. abt. 1862, KY. Black (*2)

Owner: B. Ulen

Parents: George and Lydia Ulen. (*2)

Thomas - b. abt. 1864, KY. Black. (*2)

Owner: B. Ulen

Parents: George and Lydia Ulen. (*2)

Note: Not listed in 1860 Boyd Co. KY Census.

See Greenup Co. KY for pre-1860 Ulen/Ulin records.

Weis

Jane - b. abt. 1845 (*1)

Owner: D. K. Weis

See Carter Co. KY for pre-1860 Weis records.

Welch

Permetha? - b. abt. 1841 (*1)

Owner: W. Welch - 1860 (*1)

Note: Walter Welch, 60, b. Ireland, farmer, $1070 real estate, $150 personal property

[Boyd Co. KY Census]

Sarah - b. abt. 1855 (*1)

Owner: W. Welch - 1860 (*1)

Robert - b. abt. 1859 (*1)

Owner: W. Welch - 1860 (*1)

Williams

Minerva - b. abt. 1828(*1)

Owner: W. Williams - 1860 (*1)

Note: William Williams, 52, b. KY, farmer, $10,000 real estate, $10,000 personal property [Boyd Co. KY Census]

Elijah - b. abt. 1840(*1)

Owner: W. Williams - 1860 (*1)

1880 Boyd Co. KY Census, Upper Ashland Dist. No. 8, HH # 452

Elijah Williams, black, 37, laborer, KY KY KY, can't read & write, blind

Wife Amanda, black, 40, washerwoman, KY KY KY, can't read & write

Son William, black, 18, at home, KY KY KY, can't read & write

Plus 2 children born after 1867.

George - b. abt. 1854 (*1)

Owner: W. Williams - 1860 (*1)

Possible former slaves in the 1870 Boyd Co. KY Census

WILLIAMS ELIJAH 28 M M KY KY BOYD CANNONSBURG P O 1870

See Greenup Co. Ky for early Williams records.

Wise

Amy - b. abt. 1847 (*1)

Owner: James Wise - 1860 (*1)

Note: James Wise, 45, b. District of Columbia, dentist, $1000 real estate, $1300 personal property. Lived in Catlettsburg [1860 Boyd Co. KY Census]

Tom/Thomas - b. abt. 1849, VA. Mulatto.(*2)/ 1850 (*1)

Owner: James Wise - 1860 (*1)

1870 Boyd Co. KY Census, Catlettsburg, Catlettsburg P.O.

Lived in Mary H. Wise's HH [w/o James Wise] as laborer.

Wood

Pricy -

Owner: W. A. Wood - 1860 (*1)

Note: Not in 1860 Boyd Co. KY Census

Miscellaneous

Jasper - b. abt. 1810, KY; d. Aug. 1860, Boyd Co. KY, of consumption (*13)

Note: Black

Owner: ??

Grandison - b. abt. 1835, KY; d. June 1860, Boyd Co. KY, of consumption (*13)

Note: Black

Owner: ??

Nancy - b. abt. 1848, KY; d. Sept. 1860, Boyd Co. KY, of typhoid (*13)

Note: Black

Owner: ??

Willi Anna - b. abt. Sept. 1859, KY; d. May 1860, Boyd Co. KY, of measles (*13)

Note: Black

Owner: ??

Asbury Parker - b. Cabell Co. VA [later WV] abt. 1830/1840 (*14)/(*9)

His parents were both born in Virginia. (*7)

Owner: Richard Brown [Cabell Co. WV; d. abt. 1843] (*14)

Owner: Jim Rowe ?? [Lawrence Co. KY](*14)

Owner: ? Williams (*8)

Note: Was a team driver about Wm. Patterson's iron works - the Clinton Furnace in Greenup County, Kentucky. (*14) Escaped slavery and fled from Greenup County, Kentucky, in 1857, clad in a suit of broadcloth, alone befitting, as he thought, the dignity of a free man. (*15)

Note: In 1900, Asbury Parker and his wife Hannah lived at 234 Adams Street, Ironton, OH. (*7)

Listed in the 1870 and 1900 Lawrence Co. OH Censuses.

On-line image of Asbury Parker: Ohio Pix. Picturing Ohio's History: Selections from the Ohio Historical Society's Collection

Boyd County Sources

(*1) 1860 Boyd Co. KY Slave Schedule

http://www.rootsweb.com/~kyboyd/Census/boydcountycensusindex/slave/index.html

Accessed on Nov. 19, 2006.

(*2) 1870 Boyd Co. KY Census

(*3) Boyd Co. KY Death Records

(*4) John Culver Inventory filed in Greenup County KY Will Book 5 page 118, dated Oct 2, 1858.

Slaves: Elias, Sam, Nelby, Hannah and Marsha

(*5) 1880 Boyd Co. KY Census

(*7) 1900 Lawrence Co. OH Census

(*8) WPA Slave Narrative Project, Kentucky Narratives, Volume 7, pp. 68-74; the informant Carl F. Hall stated that Asbury Parker belonged to a Williams family in Carter Co. KY when he ran away. Parker stated that he ran away from Greenup Co. KY. There were two Williams slave holders [Marcum/Maren and William] in Greenup Co. KY in 1850 and none in 1860. In 1860, William Williams lived in what became Boyd Co. KY. There were no Williams slave holders in Carter Co. KY in either 1850 or 1860.

(*9) 1870 Lawrence Co. OH Census

(*10) Mary Biggs Death Certificate; states her mother's name was Lilah Biggs.

[Source: April, a direct descendant of Mary Biggs]

(*11) Delilah Biggs tombstone, Ashland Cemetery, Ashland, Boyd Co. KY

(*12)Mary Biggs died on her birthday on a visit to her daughter Maggie in Ironton, Lawrence Co. OH.

[Source: April, a direct descendant of Mary Biggs]

(*13) Boyd Co. KY Mortality Schedules

(*14) Wilbur Henry Siebert, Interview with Asbury Parker of Ironton, Ohio, Sept. 30, 1894. I was born in Cabell County, West Virginia, in 1830 (I think that was the date). I belonged to Richard Brown. I was with him till I was 13 years old and then was sold at his death and came to Lawrence County, Ky., on Sandy River and was there till I was about 21 years old when I left in 1857. I was a team-driver about Wm. Patterson's iron-works - the Clinton Furnace in Greenup County (now Boyd Co.), Kentucky. Jim Rowe was my purchaser.

(*15) The Underground Railroad from Slavery to Freedom, by Wilbur Henry Siebert, Albert Bushnell Hart, 1898; Conversation with Asbury Parker, Ironton, OH, Sept. 30, 1894; p. 76

Boyd County Miscellaneous

Informant: Carl F. Hall

WPA Slave Narrative Project, Kentucky Narratives, Volume 7, pp. 68-74

The Commonwealth of Kentucky, having for a northern boundary the Ohio River--the dividing line between the northern free states and the southern slave states has always been regarded as a southern state. As in the other states of the old south, slavery was an institution until the Thirteenth Amendment to the Constitution of the United States gave the negro freedom in 1865.

Kentucky did not, as other southern states, secede from the Union, but attempted to be neutral during the Civil War. The people, however, were divided in their allegiance, furnishing recruits for both the Federal and Confederate armies. The president of the Union, Abraham Lincoln, and the president of the Confederacy, Jefferson Davis, both were born in this state.

Boyd County was formed in 1860 from parts of Lawrence, Greenup and Carter Counties, and we are unable to find any records, in Boyd County, as to slave holders and their slaves, though it is known that many well to do families the Catletts, Davis, Poages, Williams and others were slave holders.

Slaves were not regarded as persons, had no civil rights and were owned just as any other chattel property, were bought and sold like horses and cattle, and knew no law but the will of their white masters and like other domestic animals could be, and were, acquired and disposed of without regard to family ties or other consideration.

Usually, as each slave represented a large investment of money, they were well cared for, being adequately fed, clothed and sheltered, having medical attention when sick.

As, along the border in Kentucky, there were no large plantations where field workers could be used, most of the slaves in this region were house servants, who were housed in wings of the master's house, where the plantations were large enough to need many slaves, they were furnished one, or two, rooms cabins close by the mansion on the master's estate.

As educated people are apt to be able to figure out ways to improve their lot, learning among the negroes was not encouraged, in fact it was illegal to teach them. In some instances an enlighted and humane master would teach a servant, and often they could find some one who would teach them secretly. As a race, however, they were, at the time they were set free, without any education at all.

Tales are told of cruel masters who overworked, flogged and otherwise mistreated their helpers and slaves; these masters, however, seem to have been an exception to the rule and considering that they were generally well provided for, many slaves were better off economically than the laborer of today who is a victim of misfortunes such as sickness, disability and old age.

One reason why slaves were better treated here than further south, was that Kentucky was a border state, and throughout Ohio and other northern states, was an organization known as the Underground Railroad. This was a sort of secret society whose members were sworn to assist escaped slaves to run away to Canada where they would be free. When a run-away slave crossed the Ohio River he would be met by some one of this organization and taken where he could remain in hiding by day, then by traveling by night, could reach another place of concealment by morning, where he would be fed and hidden until darkness permitted him to reach the next haven. By this means many were successful in reaching freedom, though they were hunted by officers, armed with guns, and assisted by fierce dogs especially trained for this work.

Negroes who were unruly, or were caught attempting to escape, were usually sold to planters in the far south where they could not hope to escape, and were forced to end their days in unremitting toil in the cotton and cane fields, forever separated from relatives and friends.

It was the barbarism practiced by cruel masters, so vividly portrayed in such books as Uncle Tom's Cabin and songs like Nellie Gray, that awakened the nation's conscience and brought about the bloody Civil War which resulted in the race being set free.

Just before the war, George Davis, a mulatto, son of his master and a black servant girl, was in Cincinnati and was accosted by two white men who offered to use the good offices of the Underground Railroad to help him to get away to Canada. Being well treated, as a trusted servant of his white father and master, he did not avail himself of this opportunity to escape and stayed on as a slave until Freed by the war, after which he went to Ohio and settled and prospered until his death.

Another slave, Asberry Parker, did escape, and traveling by night hiding by day, reached safety in Canada where he worked and saved until he became wealthy. After the war, when he could safely return to the United States, he moved to Ironton, Ohio, where he made his home for the rest of his life. He belonged in his days of slavery, to a Williams family, in Carter County, Kentucky.

Another slave, George McVodie, belonging to the Poage family, of Boyd Co., escaped and went to Canada, no [TR: missing word?] as to whether he ever came back later.

A sister of George Davis was sold to a planter in Louisiana where she lived until 1877, when she returned to Boyd County as a free woman.

As negroes, in slavery days, were regarded as beasts of burden not much interest was taken in the welfare of their souls. Some kind hearted masters would allow them the privilege of meeting in religious service, where some one of their race in spite of the conditions of the times, could read and explain the Bible, would preach. Other masters would not allow this to be done. A negro would become, in character much like the family who owned him, i.e., an honest, moral and kindly master would have slaves of like qualities, while a cruel, dishonest master would usually affect his slaves so that they would be tricky and unreliable.

Where the master did not personally supervise his slaves and left them to the mercies of a hired over-seer, their lot was usually much worse, as these task-masters were almost always tyrannical and were not restrained by a sense of ownership from abusing the helpless creatures under their authority as were the master's, whose money was invested in them.

On one occasion, a young negro saw his own sister stripped naked and unmercifully whipped by one of these over-seers. He gathered up all of his small belongings and tied them in a bundle and securing a club of wood, laid in wait for the cruel 'boss' until dark, when he killed him with the club. He then escaped, via the Underground Railroad.

One thing he was careful to do, was to avoid all telegraph poles, as that he thought the wires could detect and betray him, the telegraph was a mystery to his ignorant mind. He succeeded in making his way to Canada and freedom where he stayed until after the war, when it was safe to return.

The slave trade of importing slaves into the United States, being forbidden after about 1820, cut off the supply to such an extent that strong, healthy negroes became very high in price. Many Kentucky slave owners raised slaves for this market just as we today raise live stock on our farms.

Only the strong healthy slave women were allowed to have children, and often were not allowed to mate with their own husbands, but were bred like live stock to some male negro who was kept for that purpose because of his strong physique, which the master wished to reproduce, in order to get a good price for his progeny, just like horses, cattle, dogs and other animals are managed today in order to improve the stock. Often the father of a comely black woman's child, would be the master himself, who would heartlessly sell his own offspring to some other master, without regard for his welfare.

Many of the aristocratic women of the master class, to keep from the burdensome task of caring for their own children, and to assure themselves a life of leisure would delegate to one of the negro slave women the care of their own children.

Many of the upper class white children were cared for by these faithful black Mammies fed by the milk from their breasts. Countless stories are told of the love and devotion of the black Mammy for the white child who was brought to their 'grown up' years by her care.

A marriage between negroes, before freedom, had no legal standing; a negro couple, wishing to marry, had to get a permit from each master and were united in marriage by a ceremony with a preacher of their own race officiating. After the war, when they were made citizens with civil rights, many former slaves who had been married in this way, hastened to legalize their union by obtaining licenses and having a legal ceremony performed.

While the four years of Civil War, between the North and South resulted in the freedom of the slaves, the negro is yet restricted in many ways in the south. In many states, separate schools are maintained, the negro churches are separate, social equality is not recognized.

In Kentucky, intermarriages between the races are not allowed. Separate coaches are provided on railway trains, hotels, restaurants, theaters and other places of amusement, which cater to white customers, do not permit negro patrons. Many towns and cities have zoning ordinances forbidding negroes to live in white localities. In many southern states the negroes is prevented from voting by local regulations, in Boyd County colored people go to the polls and vote just like anyone else.

Negroes make good house servants, and are extensively used for that purpose today. White families employ them as chauffeurs, butlers, house boys, child nurses, maids and cooks, preferring them to white servants who are not so adaptable to such subordinate positions in life.

Colored men work in barber shops, in restaurants as waiters, and are largely employed as porters in hotels and on railway coaches. Colored women work in hotels as cooks, chamber maids, and are commonly employed as elevator operator in hotels and office buildings.

Not many negroes are in business locally, as race prejudice prevents white folks from trading at colored stores, and the local colored population is too small to provide many customers of their own race. Many ambitious colored folks have left here and gone to the large cities of the north, and made conspicuous successes in business. Some have succeeded in the professions as doctors, lawyers, actors, and writers and other vocations.

All in all, the race has progressed to an astonishing degree since being set free a generation ago.

Politics: Formerly, the negro, attributing his freedom to the efforts of Abraham Lincoln in his behalf, voted almost solidly for the Republican Party. Now, however, the Democrats have, by remembering the race when passing out jobs, gained recruits among the colored people, and some negro Democrats are found here. The negro has been accused