All Categories - martinebrennan.com

martinebrennan.com

African people who died in Edgefield County, South Carolina c1850

5/3/2020

Bow was born in Africa c1784 and died suddenly in Edgefield County in Feb. 1850 of unknown causes. Bow was enslaved by Perry Hollinways.
www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:MSR8-FM8

Hector was born in Africa c1772 and died in Edgefield County in May 1850 of a cold. He had been ill for 7 days. Hector was enslaved by Mary Butler.
www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:MSR8-X5H
Mary Butler is recorded as the slaveholder of 17 people in Edgefield County in Nov. 1850.
www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:HRWC-KNW2

Joe was born in Africa c1785 and died in Edgefield County in April 1850 of inflammation of the stomach. He had been ill for 60 days. Joe was enslaved by F W Pickens. Joe was one of 15 people who died on the F W Pickens property between March and Oct. 1850.
www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:MSR8-XBK
F W Pickens is recorded as the slaveholder of 350 people in Sept. 1850.
www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:HRWC-NV6Z

Carter was born in Africa c1795. He died in Edgefield County in July 1849 of an affliction of the heart and had been ill for 10 days. He was enslaved by Michael Griffin.
www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:MSR8-XYM
S M Griffin is recorded as the slaveholder of 6 people in August 1850. It is possible that these six people are Carter's family: a woman aged 50, two men aged 30 and 31, a woman aged 25 and two boys aged 13 and 6.
www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:HRWC-11ZM

Delia was born in Africa c1800. She died in Oct. 1849 in Edgefield County of asthma. Delia had been ill for 35 days. She was enslaved by David Maull.
www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:MSR8-XTS
David Maul is recorded as the slaveholder of 7 people in Nov 1850.
www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:HRWC-716Z

Rose was born in Africa c1790. She died in Feb. 1850 in Edgefield County of a cold. She had been ill for 10 days. Rose was enslaved by the F H Midlaw family.
www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:MSR8-FQL

Julia Bunch 1845-1946

11/8/2019

Julia Bunch was born in Edgefield County, South Carolina about 1845/50.
In 1938, she was living on Beech Island, South Carolina.
She spoke there to Lelia Harris of the Federal Writers Project.
Julia described how she had been given to Jackie Dorn of Edgefield County on the occasion of his marriage. She was 12 when Emancipation came but stayed on for 4 years afterwards. She reared Jackie Dorn's 3 children.
www.loc.gov/resource/mesn.041/?sp=159 (all links accessed 8 Nov. 2019)

In 1870, Julia was living with her husband James Bunch and her son John, aged 1. Philamon Williams, aged 20 as also living in the household.
https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:M8RF-SY9

By 1880, James and Julia's family had grown to include John b1870,
Emily b1872,
Mary b1874,
Abram b1876,
Robert b1877,
unnamed male child b1870.
Pickens Bunch, b1861 was also living in the household. In 1870, Pickens Bunch is recorded as living with Jane Bunch, b1810 and William & Mary Alexander. (www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:S3HY-64JS-RFG?i=54&cc=1438024) Since later, we have reason to believe that Bunch is not Julia's family name, at this point I suspect that Pickens and James Bunch are brothers and Jane is possibly their mother.

https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:M695-KX4

In 1900, Julia and James were still living in Hammond. Their son George was living with them. Melis/Melia, their daughter was married to John Jones and they had a son Willie Cooper Jones, age 3. Pickens Bunch was living nearby with his wife Mary, daughters Lucinda & Sarah, and son James M. Bunch. (see top of page.)

www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:S3HY-XC7D-J5?i=4&cc=1325221&personaUrl=%2Fark%3A%2F61903%2F1%3A1%3AM3RS-PQ6

By 1910, Julia's house had become much more quiet. She was living with her husband James/Jim and her grandson Willie Cooper (Jones). Sadly, James died later that year and is buried in Clark Cemetery, Beech Island, SC.

www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:M56Z-HVN
www.findagrave.com/memorial/92983178/james-bunch

In 1930, Julia was living with her daughter Carrie & Elliot Jones.
www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:SPH6-CTQ

By 1940, Julia is still with her daughter Carrie and Carrie's husband Elliot Jones.

www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:K48W-WFS

Julia Bunch died 17 Nov. 1946 at Beech Island, SC. She is recorded as being aged 103 upon her death. Her father is recorded as George Stephens of Edgefield, South Carolina and her mother as possibly Emily. Julia was buried at Clark Cemetary, Beech Island. The name of the informant is not given (possibly R.S.) but the address of the informant is Augusta, Georgia. Dent's Undertakers of Augusta Georgia laid Julia to rest.

https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:3QS7-89GZ-CSCV-K?i=927&cc=1417492

Benjamin became a Freeman in Philadelphia, 1804

8/8/2019

Benjamin, born c1768, was living in Philadelphia in 1804, enslaved by Pierce Butler (1744-1822). He had lived mostly in Philadelphia since 1793. In 1804, Benjamin appealed for help to the Abolition Society since Pierce Butler had decided to send him to his Georgia plantation. Benjamin did not want to leave his wife in Philadelphia because she was in poor health. Isaac T Hopper, was appointed to serve a Writ of habeas corpus on Pierce Butler at his house on Chestnut Street.
After two adjournments for further investigation, Judge Inskeep, found in favour of Benjamin and set him free. Benjamin, began work for Isaac W Morris (1770-1831) in Cedar Grove about three miles outside Philadelphia. Isaac W Morris was also a Quaker and in 1804 had been appointed to the care of the school for free children of colour.
However, Pierce Butler, did not relinquish his claim easily. While Benjamin was in Philadelphia, on business for his employer, he was arrested by a U.S. marshall on a Writ of De homine replegiando with bail set for $2,000. Isaac T Hopper and Thomas Harrison signed the bond and Benjamin was released once again. Judges Bushrod Washington and Richard Peters heard the Case in October 1806. Benjamin was discharged by the Circuit Court and 'enjoyed his liberty thenceforth without interruption.'
Primary Source
L. Maria Child, Isaac T. Hopper, A True Life, (1853).
(http://www.gutenberg.org) (7 Aug. 2019).
E-text prepared by Curtis Weyant and Project Gutenberg Distributed Proofreaders.
Following is an extract from Child's book, Isaac T. Hopper, A True Life.

PIERCE BUTLER'S BEN.
In August, 1804, a colored man about thirty-six years old waited upon the committee of the Abolition Society, and stated that he was born a slave to Pierce Butler, Esq., of South Carolina, and had always lived in his family. During the last eleven years, he had resided most of the time in Pennsylvania. Mr. Butler now proposed taking him to Georgia; but he was very unwilling to leave his wife, she being in delicate health and needing his support. After mature consideration of the case, the committee, believing Ben was legally entitled to freedom, agreed to apply to Judge Inskeep for a writ of habeas corpus; and Isaac T. Hopper was sent to serve it upon Pierce Butler, Esq., at his house in Chestnut-street.
Being told that Mr. Butler was at dinner, he said he would wait in the hall until it suited his convenience to attend to him. Mr. Butler was a tall, lordly looking man, somewhat imperious in his manners, as slaveholders are wont to be. When he came into the hall after dinner, Friend Hopper gave him a nod of recognition, and said, "How art thou, Pierce Butler? I have here a writ of habeas corpus for thy Ben."
Mr. Butler glanced over the paper, and exclaimed, "Get out of my house, you scoundrel!"
Feigning not to hear him, Friend Hopper looked round at the pictures and rich furniture, and said with a smile, "Why, thou livest like a nabob here!"
"Get out of my house, I say!" repeated Mr. Butler, stamping violently.
"This paper on the walls is the handsomest I ever saw," continued Isaac. "Is it French, or English? It surely cannot have been manufactured in this country." Talking thus, and looking leisurely about him as he went, he moved deliberately toward the door; the slaveholder railing at him furiously all the while.
"I am a citizen of South Carolina," said he. "The laws of Pennsylvania have nothing to do with me. May the devil take all those who come between masters and their slaves; interfering with what is none of their business." Supposing that his troublesome guest was deaf, he put his head close to his ear, and roared out his maledictions in stentorian tones.
Friend Hopper appeared unconscious of all this. When he reached the threshold, he turned round and said, "Farewell. We shall expect to see thee at Judge Inskeep's."
This imperturbable manner irritated the hot-blooded slave-holder beyond endurance. He repeated more vociferously than ever, "Get out of my house, you scoundrel! If you don't, I'll kick you out." The Quaker walked quietly away, as if he didn't hear a word.
At the appointed time, Mr. Butler waited upon the Judge, where he found Friend Hopper in attendance. The sight of him renewed his wrath. He cursed those who interfered with his property; and taking up the Bible, said he was willing to swear upon that book that he would not take fifteen hundred dollars for Ben. Friend Hopper charged him with injustice in wishing to deprive the man of his legal right to freedom. Mr. Butler maintained that he was as benevolent as any other man.
"Thou benevolent!" exclaimed Friend Hopper. "Why, thou art not even just. Thou hast already sent back into bondage two men, who were legally entitled to freedom by staying in Philadelphia during the term prescribed by law. If thou hadst a proper sense of justice, thou wouldst bring those men back, and let them take the liberty that rightfully belongs to them."
"If you were in a different walk of life, I would treat your insult as it deserves," replied the haughty Southerner.
"What dost thou mean by that? asked Isaac. Wouldst thou shoot me, as Burr did Hamilton? I assure thee I should consider it no honor to be killed by a member of Congress; and surely there would be neither honor nor comfort in killing thee; for in thy present state of mind thou art not fit to die."
Mr. Butler told the judge he believed that man was either deaf or crazy when he served the writ of habeas corpus; for he did not take the slightest notice of anything that was said to him. Judge Inskeep smiled as he answered, "You don't know Mr. Hopper as well as we do."
A lawyer was procured for Ben; but Mr. Butler chose to manage his own cause. He maintained that he was only a sojourner in Pennsylvania; that Ben had never resided six months at any one time in that State, except while he was a member of Congress; and in that case, the law allowed him to keep his slave in Pennsylvania as long as he pleased. The case was deemed an important one, and was twice adjourned for further investigation. In the course of the argument, Mr. Butler admitted that he returned from Congress to Philadelphia, with Ben, on the second of January, 1804, and had remained there with him until the writ of habeas corpus was served, on the third of August, the same year. The lawyers gave it as their opinion that Ben's legal right to freedom was too plain to admit of any doubt. They said the law to which Mr. Butler had alluded was made for the convenience of Southern gentlemen, who might need the attendance of their personal slaves, when Congress met in Philadelphia; but since the seat of government was removed, it by no means authorized members to come into Pennsylvania with their slaves, and keep them there as long as they chose. After much debate, the judge gave an order discharging Ben from all restraint, and he walked off rejoicing.
His master was very indignant at the decision, and complained loudly that a Pennsylvania court should presume to discharge a Carolinian slave.
When Ben was set at liberty, he let himself to Isaac W. Morris, then living at his country seat called Cedar Grove, three miles from Philadelphia. Being sent to the city soon after, on some business for his employer, he was attached by the marshall of the United States, on a writ De homine replegiando, at the suit of Mr. Butler, and two thousand dollars were demanded for bail. The idea was probably entertained that so large an amount could not be procured, and thus Ben would again come into his master's possession. But Isaac T. Hopper and Thomas Harrison signed the bail-bond, and Ben was again set at liberty, to await his trial before the Circuit Court of the United States. Bushrod Washington, himself a slaveholder, presided in that court, and Mr. Butler was sanguine that he should succeed in having Judge Inskeep's decision reversed. The case was brought in October, 1806, before Judges Bushrod Washington and Richard Peters. It was ably argued by counsel on both sides. The court discharged Ben, and he enjoyed his liberty thenceforth without interruption

Further Research
We are currently trying to find the surname that Benjamin took after he gained his freedom. Did he remain in Pennsylvania? Did his wife survive her illness? Did the death of his employer, Isaac W. Morris, in 1831, again leave him vulnerable? Did he have a family? Are there living descendants? Can we discover the names of the two men Pierce Butler had already sent from Philadelphia to Georgia? Does Benjamin's statement that he was born enslaved to Pierce Butler and had always lived with the family mean that he was born in South Carolina? Is the family in question the Middleton's, Pierce Butler's wife's family? Did Benjamin himself ever give an account of his own experience? The account written by L. Maria Child implies that he is still alive in 1853 and living as a Freeman. We hope that this was the case.

African People who died in Nova Scotia 1893-1894

7/21/2019

Africans who died in Nova Scotia 1893/4 (Register of Burial Permits in Halifax, Nova Scotia)
Names highlighted were born in the United States.
Also highlighted people born in Hammonds Plains, Bush Hill and Fall River.
Further information is also available, residence at time of death, occupation, religious affiliation etc.

1893
Thomas A Bowen born c1891 Halifax, Single, Buried Camp Hill
Catherine Hilliann born c1859 Bush Hill, Married, Buried Bush Hill Hospital
Anne N Grossley born c1818 Liverpool Nova Scotia, Widow, Buried Holy Cross?
James M Davidson born c1848 Halifax, Married, Buried Camp Hill
Nancy Ann Symm born c1809 Preston, Halifax County, Buried Camp Hill
Mary Smith born 1893 Halifax, Single, Buried Holy Cross
William A Woods born 1893 Halifax, Single, Buried Camp Hill
Louisa J Bowen born 1892 Halifax, Single, Buried Camp Hill
Son of William Johnston born still 1893, Single, Buried Camp Hill
Daughter of Albert Benjamin born still 1893, Single, Buried Camp Hill
Edward Julian born 1892 Halifax, Single, Buried Camp Hill
Elizabeth Ann Ford born c1879 Hammonds Plains, Single, Buried Hammonds Plains
Ellen William born c1828 Fall River, Halifax, Single, Buried Fall River
Annie Nantly (Hantly?) born c1865 Halifax, Married, Buried Camp Hill
Blanche Bowen born c1890 Halifax, Single, Buried Camp Hill
Mary A Davis born c1828 Halifax, Widow, Buried Camp Hill
Lillian A Carter born 1892 Halifax Single, Buried Camp Hill
Charles Roan born c1801 Virginia, US, Married, Buried Preston, Halifax County
Jane A Webb born c1823 Halifax, Married, Buried Camp Hill
Eliza Johnson born c1843 Preston, Halifax County, Single, Buried Camp Hill
Charles A Cooper born c1838 Halifax, Married, Buried Camp Hill
Phoebe Saunders born c1809 US, Widow, Buried Camp Hill
Agnes M Davidson born c1860 Shelburn, NS, Married, Buried Camp Hill
Catherine Percey born c1847 Halifax, Married, Buried Holy Cross
Hilda M Williams born 1893 Halifax, Single, Buried Camp Hill
Mabel Conroy born 1893 Halifax, Single, Buried Camp Hill
Thomas Saunders born c1854 Preston, Single, Buried Camp Hill
Doras Flint born 1893 Halifax, Single, Buried Camp Hill
Mabel I Brown born 1892 Halifax, Single, Buried Camp Hill
Irene Kellman? born 1893 Halifax, Single, Buried Camp Hill
Mary Eliza Wende born 1893 Halifax, Single, Buried Camp Hill
Joseph W B McDonald Born 1893 Halifax, Single, Buried Camp Hill
George Alexander born c1821 Halifax, Married, Buried Camp Hill
Jessie McDonald born 1893 Halifax, Single, Buried Camp Hill
Mary A Byers born c1847 Halifax, Married, Buried Camp Hill
Richard Ford born c1813 ? Pond? Halifax County, Married, Buried Camp Hill
Willie J Duggis born 1893 Halifax, Single, Buried Holy Cross
Violet Johnston born c1824 Hammonds Plains, Married, Buried Camp Hill
Alexander Carvery born 1892 Halifax, Single, Buried Camp Hill
Mary Byers born c1884 Halifax, Single, Buried Camp Hill
Charles Q Russell born c1876 Halifax, Single, Buried Camp Hill
Silas Mentis born 1892 Halifax, Single, Buried Camp Hill
Mary A Symonds born c1851 Halifax, Married, Buried Camp Hill
Ann Hernandez born c1823 Hammonds Plains, Widow, Buried Holy Cross
Harry Tabb Earle born 1892 Halifax, Single, Buried Camp Hill
George Barret Boone born 1893 Halifax, Single, Buried Camp Hill

1894
Richard Munro born c1795 US, Married, Buried Holy Cross
Jane Sawyer born c1832 Halifax, Single, Buried Camp Hill

Primary Source
Register of Burial Permits, Halifax, Nova Scotia, Canada.
(https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:S3HY-69RQ-GDW?cc=2251294) (21 Jul 2019).

Georgia to Nova Scotia 1815 (Part 2)

6/27/2019

Pierce Butler made a number of attempts to have the enslaved peoples of Butler's Island returned to him or to be compensated for the loss of them. Following are copies of the list provided by him to the then Secretary of State listing the enslaved people by first name and monetary value of each person. The list is dated 1827/8.

Georgia to Nova Scotia Part 1
www.martinebrennan.com/african-american-genealogy/georgia-to-nova-scotia-1815-part-1

Primary Source
Definitive List of Slaves and Property, ca. 1827 - ca. 1828. HMS/MLR Entry Number PI 177 192. NAI: 1174162. Records of Boundary and Claims Commissions and Arbitrations, 1716-1994, Record Group 76. The National Archives at Washington, D.C. (https://www.ancestry.com/search/collections/deflisslaveprop/) (27 June 2019)

Georgia to Nova Scotia 1815, Part 1

6/15/2019

In January 1815, Sir George Cockburn, Admiral of the British forces, landed on Cumberland Island, Georgia. One outcome of this expedition was that some enslaved people from the coastal region were given the opportunity to leave Georgia with the British. Many of them ended up in Nova Scotia, Canada. The British listed the enslaved people who boarded their ships by the surnames of their former slaveholders. These are the first set of names transcribed.

This research was undertaken as a contribution to The Beyond Kin Project working with Genealogy Adventures so that families can be reunited. The method used is the Beyond Kin Project method created by Dr. Donna Cox-Baker and Frazine Taylor. The 'parent' is a list of those recorded with the surname Butler and/or the surname Bull 1815-1818. The Bull surname is most likely given by those that had been brought by Pierce Butler from his grandmother in law, Mary Bull Middleton's plantations in South Carolina in the 1790s.

Source: The Halifax List Return of American Refugee Negroes who have been received into the Province of Nova Scotia from the United States of America between 27 April 1815 and 24 October 1818
(novascotia.ca/archives/africanns/1812results.asp) (accessed June 2019)
Georgia to Nova Scotia Part 2 www.martinebrennan.com/african-american-genealogy/georgia-to-nova-scotia-1815-part-2

Patrick Calhoun, Abbeville, South Carolina 1727-1796

5/27/2019

Patrick Calhoun, born in Donegal, Ireland in 1727, died in Abbeville, South Carolina in 1796.
Patrick Calhoun and his wife Martha Caldwell were the parents of politician John Caldwell Calhoun 1782-1850.

Enslaved people named in the Estate Inventory of Patrick Calhoun 1796:
Men & boys
Adam
Jack
Tully
Simon
Peter
Bob
Dick
Charles
Tom
May
Adam
Pompey
Dave
Sawney
Polydore
Simon

Women & girls
Nance
Rose
Sarah
Sal
Dill
Kate
Rinah
Nanny
Jenny
Fanny

South Carolina, Wills and Probate Records 1670-1980 (ancestry.com) (27 May 2019)
John C. Calhoun (www.britannica.com/biography/John-C-Calhoun) (27 May 2019)

Brannan, Abbeville, South Carolina

5/15/2019

In 1790, John Brannan of Abbeville, South Carolina is recorded as living in a household of nine free white people and four enslaved people.
By 1800, his household numbered seven free white people and ten enslaved people.
In 1810, there was still seven free white people in the household but the number of enslaved people had grown to twenty nine.
The 1820 return is difficult to read but seems to be saying that there was then only one enslaved person living in the household.
There is also an Agnes Brannan living nearby in Abbeville.
The 1830 Census records Agnes Brannan, Edward Brannan, Richard and Ricd Brannan all in Abbeville.
By 1840, there are five Brannan (and variant) households:
J J Branyon
Thomas Branyon
J M Branyon
John Branyon
Thomas Branyon.
In 1850, in the US Federal Census Slave Schedule for Abbeville
Reuben Branyan with two enslaved women aged 72 and 60.
Abner Branyan with an enlsaved man aged 25 and a woman aged 20.
Thomas M Branyan with an enslaved girl, aged 10.
Margaret Branyan with an enslaved woman aged 34.

Sources
US Federal Census 1790, 1800, 1810, 1820, 1830, 1840
1850 Slave Schedule https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:MVZ2-MBX (15 May 2019)
Reuben Branyan https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:M8Q8-FZX (15 May 2019)
Abner Branyan 1850 https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:M8Q8-FZV (15 May 2019)
Thomas M Branyan https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:M8Q8-FZK (15 May 2019)

Clarke County, Virginia 1837

1/30/2019

In 1837, Phillip Nilson of Long Branch, Clarke County, Virginia emancipated
Anthony and Susan Anderson and
Thomas and Catherine Cook.
Witnessed by
Ann Revence,
T F Nilson and
R K Mocade

Dr. David McDonogh 1822-1893

12/5/2018

Jersey City News 24 Jan 1893

In 1836, David McDonogh from Louisiana was sent by John McDonogh to Lafayette College. He studied medicine. Information from Lafayette suggests he was enslaved at the time of his arrival but was emancipated shortly afterwards. Imagine my delight to discover David McDonogh achieved his goal and became a Physician!
In 1860, Dr. David was living in Brooklyn, New York with his wife Elizabeth and their children Christiana (b 1853), Alice F, (b 1854) and John W, (b 1858), His Real Estate was valued at $1,000 and his Personal Estate at $1,500. Elizabeth was born in New Jersey and all the children were born in New York.
By 1870, David was still in New York with his wife Elizabeth but only Alice was still living at home.
In 1880, David, Elizabeth and Alice had moved to Newark, New Jersey. David's mother's place of birth is recorded as Virginia and there is no record of his father's place of birth. Elizabeth's parents were recorded as having been born in New Jersey and Elizabeth as Pennsylvania which contradicts the 1860 Census record.

Lafayette College
exhibits.lafayette.edu/mcdonogh/exhibits/show/mcdonogh/mcdonoghletters
1860 Census
www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:33SQ-GBS6-9SRB?i=118&cc=1473181
1870 Census
www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:M8F7-1MW
1880 Census
www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:33SQ-GYBX-ZDD?cc=1417683
1886 New York Freeman, 3 Apr 1886
Marriage of Alice McDonagh to George Brown, Manhattan, New York
1893 Obituary Jersey City News 24 Jan 1893
Elizabeth McDonagh and Alice Brown, Roseline Brown & Grace Brown 1910
www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:S3HY-DZF9-HXY?i=29&cc=1325221
Death of Alice Frances Brown 1917 Manhattan
www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:2WCD-47Y

New York Freeman, 3 Apr 1886