Category: African-American

KOONCE – George & Alice Pension Request

Old slave darkies a Pension and if such is facts why then we hope that we are in time to meet the benefits of such. 
Yours respectfully, 
Geo. Jones junior & Annie Koonce
P.O. Tuckahoe
Jones Co. NC
Received Jan 4, 1898

Source: Correspondence and Case Files of the Bureau of Pensions Pertaining to the Ex-Slave Pension Movement, 1892-1922. Microfilm M2110, 1 roll. Records of the Veterans Administration, Record Group 15. National Archives and Records Administration, Washington, D.C.

Slave Names Mentioned in Jones County Wills

Thanks to the work of a volunteer contributor, we now have on the site a list of slave names mentioned in Jones County wills from 1778-1868.   The wills were abstracted by Zae Hargett Gwynn and published in 1998 in what is now a very important reference work for Jones County researchers.

The list has been added to our African-American Resources page and you can view it directly here.

Slaves of James Harrison

Today the UNC Library announced the launch of a new digital collection from the UNC Southern Historical Collection.  The SHC has digitized 35+ of their collections w/ emphasis on African-American interests.   You can read the announcement online here.

I’ve not had a chance to fully explore everything on the site (I’m sure that will take awhile!), but a collection I quickly located of interest was that of plantation owner James Harrison, of Craven & Jones counties.  According to the collection abstract he died circa 1846.  His 48-page ledger has been digitized and been made available online.   Know what’s on page 5 of that ledger? A list of 24 states belonging to his estate and their value.  I’m not the best at reading handwriting from that era, but it appears as if the list is as follows:

  • Silas – $500
  • Mary – $450
  • Harriett – $175
  • Isaac – $400
  • Sarah – $350
  • Venus – $175
  • Saunders – $400
  • Eliza & child – $500
  • Peny Sr. – $35
  • Hagar & child – $450
  • Eliza Jr. – $425
  • Betty – $275
  • Lewis – $400
  • Grace & child – $350
  • Rachel – $375
  • Leah – $425
  • Ellis – $275
  • Jamina – $275
  • Tim – $160
  • Tener – $450
  • Peny Jr. – $225
  • Nathan – $140
  • Serina – $200
  • Sutton – $100

The ledger page also indicates to whom each slave went to.   The ledger also includes pages describing plantation life and even details on the amount of cotton picked by several named workers.  This is such a valuable resource for anyone working on their African-American history from this area.  I can’t even imagine what it would be like to find one of your ancestors listed here.

I have added a link to this collection from the Families page.

Added Freedman Bank Records

I’ve added a new section for African-American resources.   While there is currently only 1 link on the page, I do hope to be able to add more over time.

The  link that I have added is to a list of blacks who made deposits with the Freedman’s bank between 1865-1874, along with their parents’ names if present.  The entire database of records is available online and hopefully this list will help you know at a glance who has records.

Access the new page here.