Murderous Roots
Where Murder and Family Meet
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Slave Names

AS WE COME ACROSS THE NAMES OF HUMANS HELD IN BONDAGE IN THE UNITED STATES (SLAVERY), WE WILL POST THE NAMES HERE IN HOPES THAT THEY CAN BE RECONNECTED WITH THEIR DESCENDANTS.

Slave Name roll Project

In 2015, a group of genealogy bloggers on Facebook decided to create a web page called the Slave Name Roll Project. Before the Civil War, unless an African-American was freed from the bondage of slavery, their names were largely unknown in public records. Those black Americans held as slaves were treated as property in the census—meaning only listing them by gender and age. So, this group decided to publish all the names they were able to find in records such as wills, bills of sale, court cases, and more.

Sadly, this project came to an end in 2018. So, in an effort to connect African-American genealogists with their ancestors, any time we come across the name of slaves on the show, we will publish them here. They will be listed as follows:

Episode

  • Name and estimated age

  • Slave owner

  • If they were sold, the person who bought them.

  • Date/estimated date

If you have any questions about the information posted, contact us or leave a comment below the related episode.

Family of slaves on the Dr. William F. Gaines plantation in Hanover County, Virginia. Photographed by George Harper Houghton in 1862.
Source: Library of Congress Digital Collection

The Bivens Family: Episodes 16 and 17

The Bivens Family

Ancestors of Gary Ridgway, the Bivens family held several individuals as slaves. We found these on the 1870 U.S. Federal Census as well as probate records:

Rebecca Bivens, b. ca 1858 in Mississippi; possible owner was Andrew Jackson Bivens in 1860; She lived with Thomas Bivens, his son in 1870, listed as adopted.

The following slaves were sold as part of the estate of Joseph German, who died in 1858, in Monroe County, Mississippi:

  • Henry, b. ca 1847, sold to William T. Gordon

  • Orange (unknown what gender or age) sold to J. M. Nolan

  • Lucinda sold to Nancy J. Stafford

  • Children Carter (boy) and Martha as well as adult Nancy sold to James Alexander

  • Nelson (b. ca 1820), Orrah (female), and child Hardy sold to William M. Osburn.

  • Hartwell (male) sold to Samuel Golson/Folson

  • Sandy (man), Aggie (female) and children Jackson and Catherine sold to Susannah Morris, daughter of Joseph German

  • Matilda and child (no name) and Frances (female) sold to Jean/Jane German (wife of Joseph)

Slaves, WillsDenise GeelhartBivens, Mississippi, Monroe CountyComment