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 Watson Family: Summersode 3

Edgar Watson’s family had a long history of slave-holding and trading. Unfortunately, we were unable to find all of them.

All of the slaves listed come from the will of Artemus Watson (1801-1841), of Edgefield County, South Carolina, and were sold as part of the estate on December 7, 1841. None of the ages are known. I’m listing them in alphabetical order, unless they were listed as a unit.

  • Amelia

  • Bert sold to Stanmore Watson

  • Bob, Betty, Ally & Epsey sold to John Louns

  • Caroline and Cilla sold Allison DeLoach

  • Celia sold to John Louns

  • Clarissa sold to Benjamin Etheridge

  • Crook and 2 unnamed (more information below) sold to Elijah Watson.  Sold by Tully Sullivan to Artemus in February 1837;  

  • Dave sold to Colonel Mike Watson

  • Delilah sold to John P. Cullan

  • Dick sold to J.J. Seabols

  • Elbert sold to Jesse Fox

  • Elbert sold to Joel Inabinet

  • Emaline sold to Darling Williams

  • Felia*

  • Frank sold to Elijah Watson

  • Franky sold to Stanmore Watson

  • George sold to John Jennings

  • George sold to John W. Summers

  • Grace sold to Colonel Mike Watson

  • Hanner sold to Absolom Watson

  • Harry and Harriet sold to Jon I. Wimberly

  • Henderson sold to Jacob Long

  • Hetty and Jane sold to Adam Minick

  • Hulda sold to John Louns

  • Isaiah

  • Israel sold to William Watkins

  • Jeff sold to John S. Wimberly

  • Jeff, Dilea*, and Phelia sold to Colonel Mike Watson

  • Jerry sold to Stanmore Watson

  • Jim kept by Mrs. Mary Watson, widow

  • Jinny

  • John kept by Mrs. Mary Watson, widow

  • Julia sold to Elijah Watson

  • Julia and Charlotte sold to Joel Inabinet

  • Kelly and Jane

  • Kiz/Riz sold to William Watkins

  • Levis (or Leris) sold to Benjamin Etheridge

  • Linda sold to Allison DeLoach

  • Linda and Patse sold to Jacob Long

  • Lotte sold to L.D. Grisham

  • Lucky, Dina, and John

  • Lytle/Lithe, Tom, and Adaline sold to Tillman Watson

  • Maria sold to William Padgett

  • Mason sold to John S. Wimberly

  • Pip (or Gip) sold to Tillman Watson

  • Rachel and Louisa

  • Rafe sold to John Louns

  • Ralph

  • Red sold to J.J. Seabols

  • Richard sold to J.S. Seabols

  • Robin sold to John Louns

  • Selah

  • Suky and children kept by Mrs. Mary Watson, widow

  • Thornton sold to John W. Summers

  • Thornton sold to Stanmore Watson

  • Tom sold to Henry Spann

  • Willis sold to Tillman Watson

  • Young Bob sold to Stanmore Watson

*I’m uncertain if this name is correct as the handwriting was difficult to decipher.

In the 1870 U.S. Federal Census, I found a Crook Sullivan, a wood workman, who was born ca 1795 in Virginia, living in Edgefield County, South Carolina. The following people resided with him. All have the last name Sullivan, unless otherwise specified, age and state of birth in parentheses: 

Susan (44, NC)--In the 1880 Census, she lived with the John Ryan family in Edgefield and was listed as mulatto.
Amy (15, SC)
Anderson (14, SC)
Crook, Jr. (9, SC)
Allice (7, SC)
Alexander Myers (19, SC)
Abram (16, SC)


Slaves, WillsDenise GeelhartWatson, Sullivan, South Carolina, Edgefield County1 Comment