HARRIS COUNTY, GEORGIA LARGEST SLAVEHOLDERS FROM 1860 SLAVE CENSUS SCHEDULES and SURNAME MATCHES FOR AFRICAN AMERICANS ON 1870 CENSUS Published information giving names of slaveholders and numbers of slaves held in Harris County, Georgia, in 1860, is either non-existent or not readily available. It is possible to locate a free person on the Harris County, Georgia census for 1860 and not know whether that person was also listed as a slaveholder on the slave census, because published indexes almost always do not include the slave census. Those who have found a free ancestor on the 1860 Harris County, Georgia census can check this list to learn if their ancestor was one of the larger slaveholders in the County. If the ancestor is not on this list, the 1860 slave census microfilm can be viewed to find out whether the ancestor was a holder of a fewer number of slaves or not a slaveholder at all. Whether or not the ancestor is found to have been a slaveholder, a viewing of the slave census will provide an informed sense of the extent of slavery in the ancestral County, particularly for those who have never viewed a slave census. An ancestor not shown to hold slaves on the 1860 slave census could have held slaves on an earlier census, so those films can be checked also. In 1850, the slave census was also separate from the free census, but in earlier years it was a part of the free census. African American descendants of persons who were enslaved in Harris County, Georgia in 1860, if they have an idea of the surname of the slaveholder, can check this list for the surname. If the surname is found, they can then view the microfilm for the details listed regarding the sex, age and color of the slaves. If the surname is not on this list, the microfilm can be viewed to see if there were smaller slaveholders with that surname. To check a master surname list for other States and Counties, return to Home and Links Page. The information on surname matches of 1870 African Americans and 1860 slaveholders is intended merely to provide data for consideration by those seeking to make connections between slaveholders and former slaves. Particularly in the case of these larger slaveholders, the data seems to show in general not many freed slaves in 1870 were using the surname of their 1860 slaveholder. However, the data should be checked for the particular surname to see the extent of the matching. The last U.S. census slave schedules were enumerated by County in 1860 and included 393,975 named persons holding 3,950,546 unnamed slaves, or an average of about ten slaves per holder. The actual number of slaveholders may be slightly lower because some large holders held slaves in more than one County and they would have been counted as a separate slaveholder in each County. Excluding slaves, the 1860 U.S. population was 27,167,529, with about 1 in 70 being a slaveholder. It is estimated by this transcriber that in 1860, slaveholders of 200 or more slaves, while constituting less than 1 % of the total number of U.S. slaveholders, or 1 out of 7,000 free persons, held 20-30% of the total number of slaves in the U.S. The process of publication of slaveholder names beginning with larger slaveholders will enable naming of the holders of the most slaves with the least amount of transcription work. The last U.S. census slave schedules were enumerated by County in 1860 and included 393,975 named persons holding 3,950,546 unnamed slaves, or an average of about ten slaves per holder. The actual number of slaveholders may be slightly lower because some large holders held slaves in more than one County and they would have been counted as a separate slaveholder in each County. Excluding slaves, the 1860 U.S. population was 27,167,529, with about 1 in 70 being a slaveholder. It is estimated by this transcriber that in 1860, slaveholders of 200 or more slaves, while constituting less than 1 % of the total number of U.S. slaveholders, or 1 out of 7,000 free persons, held 20-30% of the total number of slaves in the U.S. The process of publication of slaveholder names beginning with larger slaveholders will enable naming of the holders of the most slaves with the least amount of transcription work. SOURCES. The 1860 U.S. Census Slave Schedules for Harris County, Georgia (NARA microfilm series M653, Roll 146) reportedly includes a total of 7,736 slaves. This transcription includes 87 slaveholders who held 23 or more slaves in Harris County, accounting for 3,720 slaves, or 48% of the County total. The rest of the slaves in the County were held by a total of 488 slaveholders, and those slaveholders have not been included here. Due to variable film quality, handwriting interpretation questions and inconsistent counting and page numbering methods used by the census enumerators, interested researchers should view the source film personally to verify or modify the information in this transcription for their own purposes. Census data for 1860 was obtained from the Historical United States Census Data Browser, which is a very detailed, searchable and highly recommended database that can found at http://fisher.lib.virginia.edu/census/ . Census data on African Americans in the 1870 census was obtained using Heritage Quest's CD "African-Americans in the 1870 U.S. Federal Census", available through Heritage Quest at http://www.heritagequest.com/ . FORMAT. This transcription lists the names of those largest slaveholders in the County, the number of slaves they held in the County, the local district where they were counted and the first census page on which they were listed. The page numbers used are the rubber stamped numbers in the upper right corner of every set of two pages, with the previous stamped number and a "B" being used to designate the pages without a stamped number. Some of the pages for Harris County were filmed out of sequence. Following the holder list is a separate list of the surnames of the holders with information on numbers of African Americans on the 1870 census who were enumerated with the same surname. The term "County" is used to describe the main subdivisions of the State by which the census was enumerated. TERMINOLOGY. Though the census schedules speak in terms of "slave owners", the transcriber has chosen to use the term "slaveholder" rather than "slave owner", so that questions of justice and legality of claims of ownership need not be addressed in this transcription. Racially related terms such as African American, black, mulatto and colored are used as in the source or at the time of the source, with African American being used otherwise. PLANTATION NAMES. Plantation names were not shown on the census. Using plantation names to locate ancestors can be difficult because the name of a plantation may have been changed through the years and because the sizeable number of large farms must have resulted in lots of duplication of plantation names. In Georgia in 1860 there were 482 farms of 1,000 acres or more, the largest size category enumerated in the census, and another 1,359 farms of 500-999 acres. Linking names of plantations in this County with the names of the large holders on this list should not be a difficult research task, but it is beyond the scope of this transcription. FORMER SLAVES. The 1860 U.S. Census was the last U.S. census showing slaves and slaveholders. Slaves were enumerated in 1860 without giving their names, only their sex and age and indication of any handicaps, such as deaf or blind Slaves 100 years of age or older were supposed to be named on the 1860 slave schedule, but there were only 1,570 slaves of such age enumerated, and, though not specifically searching for such slaves, the transcriber noticed none in this County for the holders transcribed. Freed slaves, if listed in the next census, in 1870, would have been reported with their full name, including surname. Some of these former slaves may have been using the surname of their 1860 slaveholder at the time of the 1870 census and they may have still been living in the same State or County. Before presuming an African American was a slave on the 1860 census, the free census for 1860 should be checked, as almost 11% of African Americans were enumerated as free in 1860, with about half of those living in the southern States. Estimates of the number of former slaves who used the surname of a former owner in 1870, vary widely and from region to region. If an African American ancestor with one of these surnames is found on the 1870 census, then making the link to finding that ancestor as a slave requires advanced research techniques involving all obtainable records of the holder. MIGRATION OF FORMER SLAVES: According to U.S. Census data, the 1860 Harris County population included 5,979 whites, 21 "free colored" and 7,736 slaves. By the 1870 census, the white population had decreased about 3% to 5,791, while the "colored" population also decreased about 3% to 7,493. (As a side note, by 1960, 100 years later, the County was listed as having 5,059 whites, about 15% less than in 1860, while the 1960 total of 6,107 "Negroes"was about 21% less than what the colored population had been 100 years before.) It should be noted however, that in comparing census data for 1870 and 1960, the transcriber did not take into consideration any relevant changes in county boundaries. Where did the freed slaves go if they did not stay in Harris County? Chatham County saw an increase in colored population of almost two thirds between 1860 and 1870, so obviously that is where many freed slaves went. Other Georgia Counties showing significant increases include Fulton, Houston and Richmond. Between 1860 and 1870, the Georgia colored population increased by 80,000, to 545,000, a 17% increase. Where did freed Georgia slaves go if they did not stay in Georgia? States that saw significant increases in colored population during that time, and were therefore more likely possible places of relocation for colored persons from Harris County, included the following: Texas, up 70,000 (38%); Alabama, up 37,000 (8%); North Carolina, up 31,000 (8%); Florida, up 27,000 (41%); Ohio, up 26,000 (70%); Indiana, up 25,000 (127%); and Kansas up from 265 to 17,000 (6,400%). SLAVEHOLDER LIST: BILLINGSLEA, J., 60 slaves, District 679, page 191B BILLINGSLEA, Misses, Benj. Johnson agent for, 40 slaves, District 679, page 190B BODDIE, Bennett B., 51 slaves, District 934, page 229 BORDERS, Stephen, 31 slaves, District 672, page 188 BRIDGES, Nathaniel, 26 slaves, District 786, page 224B BRYAN, G. W., 46 slaves, District 703, page 205 COOK, Elijah, 165 slaves, District 703, page 209 COPELAND, Wm., 74 slaves, District 786, page 223B CRAWFORD, Bennett H.?, 32 slaves, District 695, page 194 CROOK, Elizabeth, D. P. Hill guardian for, 27 slaves, District 672, page 188B CULPEPPER, Joel, 36 slaves, District 703, page 204B DAVIDSON, J., 87 slaves, District 781, page 214 DEAN, Henry, 43 slaves, District 703, page 211 DENDY, Wm., 37 slaves, District 672, page 185 DENSON, Joseph, 25 slaves, District 782, page 216B DOWDELL, Crawford, Arch Dollar agent for, 56 slaves, District 782, page 217 DOWDELL, Lewis F., Wm. Taylor agent for, 45 slaves, District 782, page 217B DOZIER, Geo. A. B., 28 slaves, District 934, page 232B DOZIER, Jeff, Reuben McLeroy? As agent for, 44 slaves, District 934, page 232 ELY, Osborn, 37 slaves, District 703, page 212B FARLEY, M. B.?, 53 slaves, District 672, page 184 FARLEY, Wm. A., 30 slaves, District 934, page 232B FARLEY, Wm. C., 40 slaves, District 782, page 216 FITZPATRICK, Joseph, 27 slaves, District 782, page 216 GIBBS, C. C., 26 slaves, District 672, page 188 GLAZER, Nancy, 41 slaves, District 695, page 197 GOODMAN, Aaron estate, J. S. and H. A. Goodman admr. on, 49 slaves, District 703, page 202B GRANBERRY, Mary B., 43 slaves, District 696, page 201 GRIGGS, Wm. M., 26 slaves, District 672, page 186B GUNN, Jesse, 29 slaves, District 703, page 210B HINES, Samuel, 32 slaves, District 696, page 199 HIXSON, Thomas, 56 slaves, District 786, page 221 HOOD, E. C., 45 slaves, District 703, page 211B HUDSON, Wm. J., 54 slaves, District 703, page 212 HUNLY, Ambrose, 35 slaves, District 707, page 207 HUTCHINSON, Nat, 23 slaves, District 781, page 228B JENKENS, Sterling, 29 slaves, District 695, page 198 JOHNSEY, R. E., 48 slaves, District 786, page 221B JOHNSON, Benj., 27 slaves, District 679, page 190 JONES, Anderson G., 70 slaves, District 934, page 230B JONES, E. S., Mason Jones guardian for, 27 slaves, District 695, page 195B JONES, Hannah, 32 slaves, District 695, page 195 JONES, Mason, 26 slaves, District 695, page 195 JONES, S. P., Mason Jones guardian for, 26 slaves, District 695, page 195 KENNON, R. E., 40 slaves, District 781, page 2215 KIMBROUGH, Henry, 60 slaves, District 696, page 200 KIMBROUGH, Raiford, 41 slaves, District 696, page 199B LITTLE, Jacob, 30 slaves, District 679, page 189 LOWE?, Henry L., 59 slaves, District 695, page 193B LUE?, Benj., 83 slaves, District 934, page 233 MADDOX, Notley?, 29 slaves, District 786, page 226 MCGEE, John, 28 slaves, District 703, page 205 MCGEEHEE, Wm. ____?, 25 slaves, District 695, page 194B MCKAY, John, 34 slaves, District 696, page 199 MITCHELL, S. W., 28 slaves, District 707, page 206 MOSS?, H. E., 65 slaves, District 703, page 204 MURPHY, John, 26 slaves, District 672, page 185B PACE, Clement, 36 slaves, District 707, page 212B PAPMORE?, Nathan, 32 slaves, District 695, page 193B PETERS, William, 32 slaves, District 695, page 196 PITTS, Samuel, 58 slaves, District 934, page 233B POLLARD, Jas., 28 slaves, District 672, page 187B RAMSEY, J. N., R. Nash agent, 68 slaves, District 672, page 187 REECE, Jerey?, 27 slaves, District 786, page 227B ROBERTS, Hillis, 33 slaves, District 696, page 200B ROBINSON, Joseph, 25 slaves, District 672, page 184B RUTLEDGE, Wm., 33 slaves, District 695, page 193 SPARKS, Wilkinson, 46 slaves, District 786, page 222B SPENCE, M. H., 35 slaves, District 920, page 225 STANFORD, H. R.?, 31 slaves, District 934, page 229 STANLEY, Dr., agent for, 51 slaves, District 786, page 223B STORY, James, 45 slaves, District 786, page 225 STOVALL, Ozias, 25 slaves, District 672, page 185B TERRY, F. T. H., 65 slaves, District 782, page 219 TRAILER, John, 30 slaves, District 786, page 226 WALKER, A. M., 32 slaves, District 703, page 208B WALKER, Ann C., 25 slaves, District 703, page 208B WALKER, Thacker, 32 slaves, District 717, page 208 WHATLEY, S. J., 26 slaves, District 786, page 224 WHITE, W. W., R. E. Kennon admr on estate of, 81 slaves, District 781, page 215B WHITEHEAD, Hilliard, 25 slaves, District 786, page 223 WHITEHEAD, Jane, 31 slaves, District 786, page 222B WHITEHEAD, John T., 63 slaves, District 934, page 231 WHITEHEAD, Thomas, 42 slaves, District 934, page 230 WHITEHEAD, William, 98 slaves, District 934, page 229B WILLIAMS, Benj., 37 slaves, District 672, page 184B WILLIAMS, Britton, 86 slaves, District 703, page 210 SURNAME MATCHES AMONG NEGROS ON 1870 CENSUS: (exact surname spellings only are reported, no spelling variations or soundex) (SURNAME, # in US, in State, in County, born in State, born and living in State, born in State and living in County) BILLINGSLEA, 43, 7, 0, 19, 7, 0 BODDIE, 79, 22, 10, 21, 20, 9 BORDERS, 69, 13, 1, 30, 12, 1 BRIDGES, 3996, 82, 7, 90, 72, 7 BRYAN, 1098, 158, 0, 176, 129, 0 COOK, 3149, 332, 1, 344, 265, 1 COPELAND, 534, 75, 33, 90, 67, 27 CRAWFORD, 1876, 312, 3, 388, 267, 2 CROOK, 155, 13, 5, 17, 11, 4 CULPEPPER, 102, 34, 2, 32, 27, 2 DAVIDSON, 762, 64, 15, 80, 57, 12 DEAN, 901, 122, 5, 127, 104, 4 DENDY, 7, 1, 1, 1, 1, 1 DENSON, 125, 46, 4, 50, 45, 4 DOWDELL, 72, 9, 0, 39, 8, 0 DOZIER, 327, 111, 12, 103, 98, 10 ELY, 146, 15, 0, 19, 13, 0 FARLEY, 249, 57, 27, 55, 46, 22 FITZPATRICK, 212, 39, 3, 49, 36, 2 GIBBS, 1191, 96, 0, 94, 70, 0 GLAZER, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0 GOODMAN, 458, 44, 9, 48, 38, 6 GRANBERRY, 68, 7, 5, 8, 7, 5 GRIGGS, 208, 44, 0, 59, 36, 0 GUNN, 367, 62, 5, 73, 54, 5 HINES, 929, 141, 2, 153, 124, 2 HIXSON, 2, 0, 0, 1, 0, 0 HOOD, 561, 86, 13, 92, 73, 11 HUDSON, 1291, 166, 8, 191, 135, 4 HUNLY, 15, 0, 0, 2, 0, 0 HUTCHINSON, 367, 56, 8, 67, 47, 8 JENKENS, 77, 0, 0, 5, 0, 0 JOHNSEY, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0 JOHNSON, 33402, 2648, 55, 2972, 2089, 43 JONES, 27193, 2842, 28, 3155, 2331, 26 KENNON, 69, 19, 7, 24, 15, 5 KIMBROUGH, 230, 65, 21, 67, 54, 18 LITTLE, 984, 178, 12, 181, 153, 11 LOWE?, 529, 211, 18, 200, 186, 13 LUE?, 5, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0 MADDOX, 267, 114, 8, 116, 104, 7 MCGEE, 854, 85, 6, 100, 64, 5 MCGEEHEE, 13, 3, 0, 3, 3, 0 MCKAY, 411, 30, 3, 33, 22, 2 MITCHELL, 4089, 515, 3, 552, 409, 2 MOSS?, 935, 112, 15, 167, 106, 15 MURPHY, 1343, 94, 2, 108, 75, 2 PACE, 280, 86, 6, 97, 71, 5 PAPMORE?, 0, 0, 0, 0,0, 0 PETERS, 936, 83, 3, 85, 67, 3 PITTS, 649, 159, 21, 183, 138, 18 POLLARD, 631, 48, 2, 74, 39, 2 RAMSEY, 605, 87, 2, 87, 68, 2 REECE, 140, 15, 0, 20, 14, 0 ROBERTS, 3309, 562, 6, 595, 483, 6 ROBINSON, 8046, 637, 20, 685, 478, 17 RUTLEDGE, 252, 25, 1, 27, 18, 1 SPARKS, 375, 92, 10, 97, 78, 9 SPENCE, 306, 37, 4, 36, 29, 4 STANFORD, 212, 43, 0, 48, 36, 0 STANLEY, 434, 66, 6, 61, 51, 3 STORY, 144, 42, 5, 45, 36, 4 STOVALL, 217, 43, 0, 46, 38, 0 TERRY, 855, 67, 7, 82, 54, 4 TRAILER, 22, 0, 0, 1, 0, 0 WALKER, 8492, 1199, 42, 1317, 997, 35 WHATLEY, 66, 24, 5, 33, 23, 4 WHITE, 9567, 710, 13, 818, 574, 12 WHITEHEAD, 614, 211, 43, 194, 177, 42 WILLIAMS, 28865, 3136, 53, 3439, 2520, 34
