SANKOFA'S PLANTATION DATABASE

Gee Plantation

Location: Claiborne Pa., LA
Constructed: 1836

History: In 1836 the family of Sack Pennington Gee, born 1795 in Virginia, settled in an isolated area of Claiborne Parish in extreme north Louisiana. Sack moved to this area from Livingston in Claiborne County, Mississippi. They eventually established a plantation of almost 3,000 acres and became very well known in the area for their prosperity. Sack, a teacher early in his career, was elected state representative of Claiborne Parish in 1839.

According to the slave narrative of Isaac Adams, Sack Gee left his plantation to fight in the Civil War. Gee returned to his home, worn from battle "before the War was quite over." He announced to the slaves that all were free. Half of the ex-slaves stayed on the Gee Plantation as sharcroppers and some used their earnings to purchase their land and cabins. Isaac Adams himself left to go live with his father on the land of Mr. Sander, Isaac's father's last owner.

In 1863 Sack P. Gee passed away and a short two years later Sack and Mary Gee's only daughter Mary died at the age of 18 years. Mary Gee died in 1873 after much of their fortune and land was gone. The Gees left no descendants and soon the family cemetery was overgrown and virtually forgotten. Today the family cemetery has been restored by the Claiborne Parish Historical Association.

Associated Surnames: Gee

Associated Free White Names

• ( - 1863) Sack Pennington Gee: owner
• Mary Gee: wife of Sack Gee

Associated Black Slave Names

1850-1865: Slave narrative, Isaac Adams
From Yetman, Norman R. "Voices From Slavery: 100 Authentic Slave narratives."

• Isaac Adams: was a young boy during the final years of slavery; finally settled in Tulsa, OK
• Isaac's mother: purchased from Addisson Hilliard; house servant for Sack Gee
• Isaac's father: parents belonged to a Mr. Adams; last owner was Mr. Sander

Agriculture

• Sugar Cane
• Oats
• Wheat
• Corn
• Cotton

Description of Associated Architecture

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Landmarks

• Gee Family Cemetery: Today the family cemetery has been restored by the Claiborne Parish Historical Association. The graves of the members of Sack Gee's family are brick vaults topped with marble slabs. They are located atop a slight knoll and among them grow two huge old oak trees. Between the vaults of Sack Pennington Gee and daughter Mary is a gap where presumably wife Mary lies. When she died there was no money for an impressive brick vault. Nothing marks her grave but a piece of crude native stone.
• Gee Creeks: Nearby, in remebrance of the Sack Gee family, are two small creeks that bear the family name.

RESOURCES

• GEEography: Gee Family Place Names http://www2.arkansas.net/~mgee/articles.html
• Yetman, Norman R. Voices From Slavery: 100 Authentic Slave narratives. General Publishing Company, Ltd. Canada. 1970, 2000.