Slave Births at Bracketts

Slave Births at Bracketts

The Watson family Bible contains these three pages of slave births.

The institution of slavery system kept family connections obscure and few slaves had last names. Establishing the roots and identity that come from knowing one’s family heritage became important for freedmen in the generations after the war. Although the focus of African-American folklore during the post war period was primarily on the rise out of slavery, some family oral histories also blended ancient memories of life in Africa with stories of plantations they lived on as well as the accomplishments of family members in the decades after the war. One such example is ‘My Father’s Story’ which tells the story of Moses Jackson from the Green Springs district.

Written about 1900, “My Father’s Story” begins with a great-grandparent named Tabitha, a Moroccan princess brought to American from Scotland. Details in the story are verifiable in the public record from 1865 forward. For instance, the writer is clear that his mother, Tabitha’s daughter Melissa, died returning from Hawkwood plantation to her home at Ionia Farm when the ox pulling her cart bolted and crashed the cart into a tree. The Louisa County death records indicate the cause of her death in 1874 as a cart accident. Pieces of African-American genealogy come together slowly, as a rule, but a list of slaves (link)who were "Proclaimed Free" living at Ionia in 1865 was compiled in 1895. Listed is a female named Melissa Jackson and a young boy names Moses, the one about whom the story was written. Similar lists of the slaves at other plantations in Green Springs, give the first clues of family relationships. In several examples the names of slaves born on the plantation were recorded in the family Bible and are treasures for African-American family researchers.

Transcription of Complete Document:

Negroes belonging to David Watson
Hannah, (From Maj. James) & Jack
xLeah..........1804 Hanna and Jack
Robin..........1805 Hanna and Jack
Bina............1807 Hanna and Jack
Leah.....Dec 1824...Bina
John......Nov 1809...Hanna and Jack
xRachel.....June 1811....Hanna and Jack
William.....Mar 1827
Reuben....Feb 1813.....Hanna and Jack
Scilla.......Oct 1814.....Hanna and Jack
Matt......18 Dec 1816....Hanna and Jack
Sally.....Jul 1819.....Hanna and Jack
Louisa....1837.....Sally
Nelly.....1839.....Sally
Lylla (SP?)....1841....Sally
Frank....Dec 1843....Sally
Bob.....Sep 1846.....Sally
Ben.....June 1848....Sally
Patrick....Oct 1821....Hanna and Jack
Matilda....Sep 1823....Hanna and Jack
Hannah....June 1825...Hanna and Jack
Jack....Jan 1843
Billy....Dec 1844
Reuben....Dec 1846
Sally Jane....Mar 1849

Sam, son of Charlotte....1791
Randol,son of Charlotte....1793
Harry, son of Molly and Randol....Sep 1814
Daniel, son of Molly and Randol...Aug 1819
Dabney, son of Molly and Randol...Sep 1821
Albert, son of Molly and Randol...Oct 1823
Wilson, son of Molly and Randol...July 1825
Howard, son of Molly and Randol...Jul 1827
Anny, daughter of Molly and Randol...183?
Sam, son of Molly...Aug 1830
Reuben, son of Molly and Randol...Feb 1833

Ben, son of Jenny and Moses...1795
Mary, daughter of Sarah...Nov 1801
Moses, son of Mary and Ben...Jul 1819
Nelly, son of Mary and Ben...Jul 1821
Abram, son of Mary and Ben...Jan 1824
Peter (inferred).....Jun 1826
Mary Ann (inferred)...Oct 1828

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Watson family Papers

Louisa County Historical Society

1800-1860

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Medium size family Bible original pages

054_LCHSWATSONBIBLE

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