SANKOFA'S SLAVERY DATA COLLECTION
(Dr. E.) Agnew Plantation
Location: Tippah Co., MS
History: The diary of Samuel A. Agnew gives us an idea of slave life at the Agnew Plantation. Slaves of the neighboring plantations owned by the Agnew and Brice families (and possibly others) interacted as a community. In the Spring of 1863, S. Agnew described the occurrance of organized parties where "Our [Agnews'] Caroline is the belle." Isham and his partner Ross (Agnew) performed the duty of collecting entrance fees, which in one instance was a hank of thread per person. Perhaps the parties were more than just an opportunity for profit. A wedding shower was definitely in order; the following spring (1864) the local "belle," Caroline married Clay, a slave of Larkin Gambrell. The wedding was apparently entirely organized by the slaves, where George (Agnew) served as the minister and Thompson (Agnew) as the master of ceremonies. The wedding must have been an exciting event amongst the slave community; as S. Agnew wrote, "The negro men and women were all dressed in their best and all seem to be enjoying themselves hugely." - May 28, 1864
Associated Surnames: Agnew
Associated Free White Names
Associated Black Slave Names
1863-1864: Slaves of Dr. E. Agnew
From the Diary of Samuel A. Agnew. For quotations from the diary containing these names, click here.
- Arch
- Becky
- Caroline: married May 28, 1864
- hus. Clay: slave of Larkin Gambrell
- Eliza
- George: served as minister at the wedding of Caroline and Clay
- Haly: left the plantation during the Civil War to join the Union army; Union Army Cook
- Isham: co-organizer of Agnew and Brice slave celebrations
- Jim: left the plantation during the Civil War to join the Union army; Union Army Teamster
- Lucy and children: left the plantation, perhaps during the Civil War to live at a Union army camp; died (plus all children but one) ca. 1863
- Martha: left the plantation during the War to join the Union army
- Ross: co-organizer of Agnew and Brice slave celebrations
- Thompson: served as master of ceremonies at the wedding of Caroline and Clay
- Tom
- Wess: left the plantation, perhaps during the Civil War to live at a Union army camp; died ca. 1863
- Wash: left the plantation during the Civil War to join the Union army; Union Army Teamster
1865: Freedmen under labor contract of E. Agnew
From Freedmans Labor Contract Data Master File, Contract #46-399, 08/14/1865
Name: age; status; remarks
- Anthony: 11; field
- Archibald: 29; field
- Ebenezer: 16; field
- Esther: 6; field
- Franky: 55; field
- George: 29; field; wife Elzira
- Elzira: 25; field, husband George
- George: 43; field; wife Rebecca
- Rebecca: 43; field; husband George
- Griffen: 13; field
- Hugh: 12; field
- John: 15; field
- Louis: 16; field
- Louisa: 6; field
- Marion: 2; field
- Samuel: 14; field; wounded in explosion of shell, 1/27/
- Thomas: 45; field
- Thompson: 23; field; wife Jane, family of 11
- wife Jane: 21; field; husbandThompson, family of 11
- Adaline: 12; field; see Thompson family of 11
- Caroline: 18; field; see Thompson, family of 11, married
- Eliza: 45; field; see Thompson, family of 11
- Harriet: 10; field; see Thompson, family of 11
- Harvey: 16; field; see Thompson, family of 11
- Isaac: 4; field; see Thompson, family of 11
- Marshall: 8; field; see Thompson, family of 11
- Sarah: 14; field; see Thompson, family of 11
- Vashtie: 6; field; see Thompson, family of 11
- Valentine: 10; field
- Wiley: 33; field; wife Elizabeth
- wife Elizabeth: 39; field; husband Wiley, hip stiff since youth
- William: 9; field
- Zackeriah: 3; field
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