Enslaved People

Title

Enslaved People

Subject

Enslaved People; Slavery

Description

This collection seeks to identify some of the people who were enslaved in the Shoals area.

Collection Items

Documents Recording the Enslaved Community of Sweetwater Plantation
A Collection of Primary and Secondary Historical Records Documenting the Enslaved Community at Sweetwater Plantation in Florence.

Sweetwater Mansion is one of the most historically significant sites in Lauderdale County. Construction on the…

Thoughts on Slavery by a former Florence-Lauderdale Slaveholder in 1890 from a letter titled "Florence."
A letter to the editor of the Waukesha Journal, of Waukesha, Wisconsin, of Wednesday, April 12, 1890, written by Mrs. S. B. Bradley, a resident of Waukesha, at the time a visitor in Florence. In her letter Mrs. Bradley gives a brief overview of…

The Slaves of Thomas and Nancy Barnett of Lauderdale County, Alabama
A collection of records documenting the slaves of Thomas and Nancy Barnett of Lauderdale County, Alabama.

Thomas Barnett (1789-1858) was a farmer whose plantation was located a few miles from Florence near the Oakland/Gravelly Springs "Bend of…

Sheriff's Sale of Mary and her four children
This is a newspaper advertisement for a sheriff's sale of five people. Mary, 23 and her four children:
John, 6
Jesse, 4
Jim, 2
Ellen, 2 months
The sale was arranged to satisfy debts belonging to Wilson Phillips.

$50 Dollar Reward
A January 12, 1828 notice placed in the Huntsville, AL Democrat by Madison County Jailor FL White offering a $50 reward for information regarding the escaped criminal, David H. Dyer as well as a "liberal reward" for escaped criminal Charles Watkins,…

The murder of an enslaved man owned by Thomas Kirkman by Mr. Isaac Vanlier
This is a newspaper article detailing the murder of an enslaved man, owned by Thomas Kirkman, by Isaac Vanlier.

Peter, escaped from Florence
This is a newspaper description about an enslaved man named Peter who escaped slavery in Florence, Alabama. Peter was described as about 50 years old, 6 feet in height, and was seen at his brother's house in Nashville, TN. His brother, Isaac…

Lewis, Nicholas, Jim, and Charles--escaped from the Key Plantation near Florence
This is a newspaper advertisement describing four enslaved men that escaped from the Key Plantation near Florence.
Lewis, about 28
Nicholas, about 25
Jim, a "bright, yellow boy" about 18
Charles, about 20

Charlotte, escaped from the Peters Plantation near Florence
This is a newspaper ad claiming that an enslaved woman, Charlotte, had been taken to the Davidson County, TN jail. Charlotte was described as about 30 years old.

Braxton, escaped from James Shelton & Co. near Florence
This is a newspaper advertisement describing Braxton, an enslaved man who escaped from James Shelton and Co near Florence, AL. Braxton was described as 20 years of age, 5'10" in height, with badly frostbitten feet.
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