SANKOFA'S PLANTATION DATABASE

(Sam) Brodie's Plantation

Location: Wake Co., NC
Constructed:

History: Mary Brodie Anderson was born in 1851 on the plantation of Sam Brodie. In her narrative (Yetman, 2000) Mary recalls that the plantation consisted of 200 acres of cleared land that was farmed each year, a pond from which ice was gathered, and several buildings. Unruly slaves were never whipped, but often sold away. Mary notes that there were two horse wagons used to carry the slaves away, and that she witnessed several loads leave. Mary describes in great detail the day the news of surrender and the coming of the Yankee troops reached Brodie's Plantation. When the Yankees arrived, the Brodie estate was spared heavy damage. The slaves all gathered for a mass exodus and marched off after the lead of the Union soldiers, leaving the plantation was nearly abandoned. Soon after, some of the slave families found life away from the plantation too much to bear, so they returned to farm for Sam and Evaline Brodie.

Associated Surnames: Brodie

Associated Free White Names

• Sam Brodie: owner
• Evaline Brodie: wife of Sam Brodie
• Dallas Brodie: son of Sam and Evaline Brodie
• Bettie Brodie: daughter of Sam and Evaline Brodie
• Carrie Brodie: daughter of Same and Evaline Brodie

Associated Black Slave Names

1850 - 1865: Slaves of Sam Brodie
From Voices From Slavery, Mary Anderson interview, edited by Norman R. Yetman

• Alfred Brodie:
  • wife Bertha Brodie:
  • daugther Mary Brodie Anderson: b. 5/10/1851
• John Brodie: one of the ex-slaves who returned (with family) to Brodie's Plantation after post war slave exodus
• Lorenze Brodie: one of the ex-slaves who returned (with family) to Brodie's Plantation after post war slave exodus
• Note: Sam Brodie owned about 162 slaves at this time
• Note: Mary Anderson recalls one instance when Sam Brodie bought slaves. He purchased two boys and three girls from the slave market.

Agriculture

• Orchards: plums, peaches, cherries, quinces, grapes, and an apple orchard located in the Tar River low grounds

Description of Associated Architecture

• The Great House: twelve room home of the owner and his family
• The Quarters: the slave houses, which had two rooms each
• Note: Mary Anderson mentions in her narrative that both slave and white dwelings were located in a large grove of one square mile covered with oak and hickory nut trees.
• Ice House: storage place for brandy, pickles, preserves, and cider
• Brandy Still
• Grist Mill
• Tannery
• Shoe Shop
• Blacksmith Shop

Landmarks

• Main Louisburg Road: located one mile away from the Great House
• Maple Springs Baptist Church: attended by Sam and Evaline Brodie; also attended by the ex-slaves after they returned to Brodie's Plantation

Other People Researching This Plantation

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RESOURCES

• Voices From Slavery: 100 Authentic Slave Narratives. Edited by Yetman, Norman R. 2000. pp 111-116.