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 Jones Family: Episode 36

Pamela Hupp’s ancestors on her father’s side, the Jones family, held many enslaved people, particularly her 2nd great-granduncle Charles Jones (1823-1876). Here are some of the names we found and how we came by them.

  • Lucy Jones, b ca 1780, Virginia and died after 1880; Believe she was enslaved by Charles Jones and inherited $50 from him at his death. In 1880, she lived with his brother, Levin D. Jones according to the 1880 U.S. Federal Census.

In the Will of Charles Jones, dated 1876, he bequeathed money to several of his former slaves. He made it a top priority that the money be bestowed as soon as all debts had been cleared on his large estate. Below is a list of the names in the will and the amounts given to them at his death.

  • Frank, $50

  • Gillie, $50

  • Neonia, $100

  • Ann, $50

  • Ailey, $50

  • Fanny Ann, child, $50

  • Lizzie (Ann’s child), $50

  • Theodore (Maria’s son), $50

  • Jane, $150 (if she continued to work for Charles until his death).

Denise Geelhart