PHILLIPS COUNTY, ARKANSAS
LARGEST SLAVEHOLDERS FROM 1860 SLAVE CENSUS SCHEDULES
and
SURNAME MATCHES FOR AFRICAN AMERICANS ON 1870 CENSUS
Transcribed by Tom Blake, March 2003
PURPOSE. Published information giving names of slaveholders and numbers of slaves held is almost non-existent. It is possible to locate an ancestor on a U.S. census for 1860 or earlier and not realize that ancestor was also listed as a slaveholder on the slave schedules, because published indexes almost always do not include the slave census. The last U.S. census slave schedules were enumerated by County in 1860 and included 393,975 named persons holding 3,950,546 unnamed slaves, or an average of about ten slaves per holder. The actual number of slaveholders may be slightly lower because some large holders held slaves in more than one County and would have been counted in each County. Excluding slaves, the 1860 U.S. population was 27,167,529, with about 1 in 70 being a slaveholder. It is estimated by this transcriber that in 1860, slaveholders of 200 or more slaves, while constituting less than 1 % of the total number of U.S. slaveholders, or 1 out of 7,000 free persons, held 20-30% of the total number of slaves in the U.S. The process of publication of slaveholder names beginning with these largest holders will enable naming of the holders of the most slaves with the least amount of transcription work. Surname matching of slaveholders with 1870 African Americans is intended merely as suggesting another possibility for further research by those seeking to make connections between slaves and holders.
SOURCES. The 1860 U.S. Census Slave Schedules for Phillips County, Arkansas (NARA microfilm series M653, Roll 54) reportedly includes a total of 8,941 slaves. This transcription includes 99 slaveholders who held 29 or more slaves in Phillips County, accounting for 5,536 slaves, or about 62% of the County total. The rest of the slaves in the County were held by a total of 450 slaveholders, and those slaveholders have not been included here. Due to variable film quality, handwriting interpretation questions and inconsistent counting and page numbering methods used by the census enumerators, interested researchers should view the source film personally to verify or modify the information in this transcription for their own purposes. Census data for 1860 was obtained from the Historical United States Census Data Browser, which is a very detailed, searchable and highly recommended database that can found at http://fisher.lib.virginia.edu/census/ . Census data on African Americans in the 1870 census was obtained using Heritage Quest’s CD “African-Americans in the 1870 U.S. Federal Census”, available through Heritage Quest at http://www.heritagequest.com/ . In comparing census data for different years, changes in County boundaries, such as the taking of part of Phillips County in 1871 to form part of Lincoln County and Phillips acquiring part of Chicot County in 1879, have not been considered, on the presumption that the changes would have affected the comparison groups equally. For more precise comparison, the affect of the boundary changes should be fully calculated.
FORMAT. This transcription lists the names of those largest slaveholders in the County, the number of slaves they held in the township where the slaves were enumerated, the name of the township and the first census page on which they were listed. The page numbers used are the rubber stamped numbers in the upper right corner of every set of two pages, with the previous stamped number and a “B” being used to designate the pages without a stamped number. Some of the pages were filmed out of sequence. Following the holder list is a separate list of the surnames of the holders with information on numbers of African Americans on the 1870 census who were enumerated with the same surname. The term “County” is used to describe the main subdivisions of the State by which the census was enumerated.
TERMINOLOGY. Though the census schedules speak in terms of “slave owners”, the transcriber has chosen to use the term “slaveholder” rather than “slave owner”, so that questions of justice and legality of claims of ownership need not be addressed in this transcription. Racially related terms such as African American, black, mulatto and colored are used as in the source or at the time of the source, with African American being used otherwise.
PLANTATION NAMES. Plantation names were not shown on the census. Using plantation names to locate ancestors can be difficult because the name of a plantation may have been changed through the years and because the sizeable number of large farms must have resulted in lots of duplication of plantation names. In Arkansas in 1860 there were 69 farms of 1,000 acres or more, the largest size category enumerated in the census, and another 307 farms of 500-999 acres. Linking names of plantations in this County with the names of the large holders on this list should not be a difficult research task, but it is beyond the scope of this transcription.
FORMER SLAVES. The 1860 U.S. Census was the last U.S. census showing slaves and slaveholders. Slaves were enumerated in 1860 without giving their names, only their sex and age and indication of any handicaps, such as deaf or blind Slaves 100 years of age or older were supposed to be named on the 1860 slave schedule, but there were only 1,570 slaves of such age enumerated, out of a total of 3,950,546 slaves nationwide. The transcriber noticed no such slave on this enumeration, except for 100 year old female mulatto Nancy held by Thos. P. Johnson on page 154. Freed slaves, if listed in the next census, in 1870, would have been reported with their full name, including surname. Some of these former slaves may have been using the surname of their 1860 slaveholder at the time of the 1870 census and they may have still been living in the same State or County. Before presuming an African American was a slave on the 1860 census, the free census for 1860 should be checked, as almost 11% of African Americans were enumerated as free in 1860, with about half of those living in the southern States. Estimates of the number of former slaves who used the surname of a former owner in 1870, vary widely and from region to region. If an African American ancestor with one of these surnames is found on the 1870 census, then making the link to finding that ancestor as a slave requires advanced research techniques involving all obtainable records of the holder.
MIGRATION OF FORMER SLAVES: According to U.S. Census data, the 1860 Phillips County population included 5,931 whites, 4 “free colored” and 8,941 slaves. By the 1870 census, the white population of Phillips County had decreased about 18% to 4,871, while the “colored” population increased about17% to 10,501. (As a side note, by 1960, 100 years later, the County was listed as having 25,303 whites, about four times more than 100 years earlier, while the 1960 total of 18,552 “Negroes”was twice what the colored population had been 100 years before.) [These figures do not take into account changes in County boundaries if any.] Where did the freed slaves go if they did not stay in the County? Pulaski County saw an increase of 10,000 in the colored population in those ten years, but no other County in the State showed a significant increase. Between 1860 and 1870, the Arkansas colored population increased by 11,000, to 122,000, about a 10% increase. Where did freed slaves go if they did not stay in Arkansas? States that saw significant increases in colored population during that time, and were therefore more likely possible places of relocation for colored persons from Phillips County, included the following: Georgia, up 80,000 to 545,000 (17%); Texas, up 70,000 (38%); North Carolina, up 31,000 (8%); Florida, up 27,000 (41%); Ohio, up 26,000 (70%); Indiana, up 25,000 (127%); and Kansas up from 265 to 17,000 (6,400%).
SLAVEHOLDER LIST in order as filmed:
SCAIF, Ford, 73 slaves, Big Creek, page 113B
KEESEE, T. W., Jessee? Comer manager, 39 slaves, Big Creek, page 114B
SIMS, Mrs. A., B. T. Gregory manager for, 36 slaves, Big Creek, page 114B
FARMER, McB.? & SCAIF, Jas. H., M. H. Kitchen as manager for, 81 slaves, Big Creek, page 115
WOOD, G. & Wm., 49 slaves, Independence, page 116
JONES, Leroy, 48 slaves, Independence, page 116B
JONES, Hamilton, 47 slaves, Independence, page 116B
OTEY, Walter, 43 slaves, Independence, page 117
FOREMAN, John, 74 slaves, Independence, page 117B
OTEY, Paul, 36 slaves, Independence, page 118
TAYLOR, Joseph, 30 slaves, Marion, page 120
MCANULTY, John, 42 slaves, Spring Creek?, page 120B
HENRY, E. T., 68 slaves, Mooney, page 121
CARSON, James & MCDONALD?, J. T., J. M. Cullpepper manager for, 74 slaves, Mooney, page 121B
SIMMS?, J. T., Raleigh Moody as manager for, 92 slaves, Mooney, page 122B
WARD, Matt F., 43 slaves, Searcy, page 123
YERBY, John H. For himself and two minors, 32 slaves, Searcy, page 1 23B
JOHNSON, Welles? V., Robt. M. Barren as manager for, 33 slaves, Searcy, page 123B
NELSON, William for himself and two minors, 32 slaves, Planters, page 124
RICE, Jamison W., 35 slaves, Planters, page 124B
SWISER, James, 46 slaves, Planters, page 125
SWISER, Alfred & John, 83 slaves, Planters, page 125
BOOKER, Ellen M.?, 49 slaves, Planters, page 126
RICE, F. H., 33 slaves, Planters, page 126
BOGAN, Hannah?, 39 slaves, Planters, page 126B
HICKS, John H., 37 slaves, Planters, page 127
SALE, ___? F., 32 slaves, Planters, page 127B
TAPPAN, James C., 55 slaves, Planters, page 128
BURK, Elisha, 33 slaves, Richland, page 129
NEWSON?, Ella K., 43 slaves, Richland, page 129B
MCQUEEN?, J. S., 60 slaves, Richland, page 129B
CARPENTER, John, 37 slaves, Richland, page 130B
DOUGHERTY?, John, 51 slaves, Richland, page 131
KELLEY, Joseph, 34 slaves, Richland, page 131B
JONES, Marah?, 37 slaves, Richland, page 132
ADAMS, Charles, 34 slaves, Richland, page 132
RUSSELL, Robt., 40 slaves, Richland, page 132B
ANDERSON, Richard, 87 slaves, Richland, page 134
GIST, Thomas, 108 slaves, Richland, page 134B
KEYS, James, 61 slaves, Richland, page 135
BIDWELL, Geml.?, 104 slaves, St. Francis, page 136B
PILLOW, Gideon J., 41 slaves, St. Francis, page 137B
PESTON?, John & Walter, 104 slaves, St. Francis, page 137B
BROWN, Cynthia & 1 minor heir, 59 slaves, St. Francis, page 138B
ROBERTSON, Flavins, 58 slaves, St. Francis, page 138B
ROBARDS, Jno.?, 42 slaves, St. Francis, page 139
ROBB, Harriet, 87 slaves, St. Francis, page 139
DARTCH, Wiley & BROWN, Walter, 87 slaves, St. Francis, page 140
CRAIG, John A., 125 slaves, St. Francis, page 140B
HUBARD, John M., 78 slaves, St. Francis, page 141
PILLOW, Gideon J., 139 slaves, St. Francis, page 141B
WILLIAMSON, James M., 66 slaves, St. Francis, page 142B
GOVAN?, Pugh, 63 slaves, St. Francis, page 143
POLK, William J., 88 slaves, St. Francis, page 143B
POLK, Allen J., 79 slaves, St. Francis, page 144
CUNNINGHAM, J., 38 slaves, St. Francis, page 144b
LAMB, Jno., 41 slaves, St. Francis, page 145
BARROW, Thos., 29 slaves, St. Francis, page 146
DEPUTY, J. L.?, 88 slaves, St. Francis, page 146B
HANKS, John F., 33 slaves, St. Francis, page 147
PASCHAL?, John, 32 slaves, St. Francis, page 150B
HIGGINS, Richd., Salem? Dawing as manager for, 46 slaves, Searcy, page 152
BOWDEN?, Jephsta? C., 135 slaves, Searcy, page 152B
JOHNSON, Thos. P., 102 slaves, Searcy, page 153B
LEWIS, Hector, 34 slaves, Searcy, page 154
LEWIS, S.? D., 32 slaves, Searcy, page 154B
JOHNSON, A. W., 51 slaves, Searcy, page 154B
JOHNSON, L.? L.?, 52 slaves, Searcy, page 155
HIGGINS, Joel Decd., Wm. Porter as manager for estate, 96 slaves, Searcy, page 155
ROBERTS, Lucretia, 42 slaves, Searcy, page 156
WILLIAMS, John R., 47 slaves, Searcy, page 156
GREY, Peyton R. For himself and 4 minor heirs, 33 slaves, Searcy, page 156B
WHITE, WM. Y. C. & T., James L. Lynch manager for, 64 slaves, Searcy, page 157
APPERSON, E. M., 86 slaves, Searcy, page 157B
MANEY?, Thomas, 37 slaves, Searcy, page 158
JONES, John T., 74 slaves, Planters, page 158B, ends on page 124
HORNER, John S. & sons, 49 slaves, Stanlyville?, page 159
SEBASTIAN, Wm. K.?, 33 slaves, Stanlyville?, page 159
BROWN, Thomas, 30 slaves, Stanlyville?, page 159B
PILLOW, Gid? J?, 41 slaves, Stanlyville?, page 160
BADGER, J. M., 29 slaves, Stanlyville?, page 160
POLK, Thomas M., 50 slaves, Stanlyville?, page 160B
HARDING, B. G., 51 slaves, Stanlyville?, page 161
NEVILLE?, Joseph W., 32 slaves, Spring Creek, page 163B
MCANULTY, John, 50 slaves, Spring Creek, page 120B, ends on page 162
FORD, Richd.?, 29 slaves, Spring Creek, page 164
THRELKILD, David H., 60 slaves, Spring Creek, page 164
GREEN, Joseph T., 33 slaves, Spring Creek, page 165
JOHNSON, Geo. R., 119 slaves, Spring Creek, page 165
GILLEN?, John, 46 slaves, Mooney, page 166B
HILLIARD?, J. J. B., 33 slaves, Mooney, page 122, ends on page 166B
BERRY, D. D., 47 slaves, Walnut, page 161B, ends on page 167
HURT?, J., 51 slaves, Walnut, page 167
BALDWIN, C.? G.?, 35 slaves, Walnut, page 167B
PETERS, G. B., 60 slaves, Walnut, page 168
MCALEXANDER, J. P., 42 slaves, Walnut, page 168B
TAYLOR, A. H.?, 37 slaves, Bear Creek, page 169
RANKINS, Robt. P., 77 slaves, Searcy, page 123B, ends on page 152
PILLOW, Jennie?, 89 slaves, St. Francis, page 119B, ends on page 136
SURNAME MATCHES AMONG AFRICAN AMERICANS ON 1870 CENSUS:
(exact surname spellings only are reported, no spelling variations or soundex)
(SURNAME, # in US, in State, in County, born in State, born and living in State, born in State and living in County)
ADAMS4295, 99, 5, 51, 25, 0
ANDERSON, 8173, 178, 23, 76, 39, 3
APPERSON, 30, 8, 5, 2, 2, 0
BADGER, 81, 1, 1, 1, 0, 0
BALDWIN, 634, 21, 0, 7, 5, 0
BARROW, 216, 4, 1, 1, 1, 0
BERRY, 1958, 44, 11, 19, 7, 1
BIDWELL, 5, 1, 0, 0, 0, 0
BOGAN, 96, 8, 8, 0, 0, 0
BOOKER, 1338, 41, 20, 14, 9, 4
BOWDEN?, 232, 8, 0, 2, 2, 0
BROWN, 27013, 592, 97, 204, 141, 15
BURK, 306, 15, 0, 6, 4, 0
CARPENTER, 763, 17, 0, 4, 4, 0
CARSON, 617, 18, 2, 6, 6, 1
CRAIG, 877, 26, 1, 12, 10, 0
CUNNINGHAM, 1016, 21, 2, 9, 6, 0
DARTCH, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0
DEPUTY, 15, 3, 3, 0, 0, 0
DOUGHERTY?, 109, 3, 1, 0, 0, 0
FARMER, 569, 13, 1, 3, 3, 0
FORD, 2562, 67, 7, 20, 12, 1
FOREMAN, 358, 8, 5, 5, 2, 1
GILLEN?, 40, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0
GIST, 174, 9, 9, 0, 0, 0
GOVAN?, 56, 5, 1, 1, 1, 0
GREEN, 11070, 314, 30, 109, 80, 8
GREY, 466, 4, 0, 2, 0, 0
HANKS, 84, 3, 0, 2, 2, 0
HARDING, 286, 6, 0, 3, 1, 0
HENRY, 2782, 83, 4, 22, 15, 0
HICKS, 1800, 65, 8, 30, 23, 3
HIGGINS, 434, 12, 4, 1, 1, 0
HILLIARD?, 260, 9, 3, 0, 0, 0
HORNER, 65, 7, 0, 3, 3, 0
HUBARD, 43, 3, 0, 0, 0, 0
HURT?, 398, 10, 0, 3, 2, 0
JOHNSON, 33402, 823, 103, 307, 196, 19
JONES, 27193, 735, 84, 254, 180, 15
KEESEE, 22, 1, 0, 2, 1, 0
KELLEY, 499, 16, 3, 6, 2, 0
KEYS, 265, 13, 9, 0, 0, 0
LAMB, 285, 15, 4, 2, 1, 0
LEWIS, 8707, 211, 14, 78, 52, 2
MANEY?, 43, 2, 2, 0, 0, 0
MCALEXANDER, 8, 1, 0, 0, 0, 0
MCANULTY, 2, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0
MCDONALD, 899, 26, 0, 7, 7, 0
MCQUEEN?, 231, 1, 1, 1, 0, 0
NELSON, 3371, 127, 8, 32, 23, 1
NEVILLE?, 55, 3, 1, 0, 0, 0
NEWSON, 280, 3, 0, 2, 1, 0
OTEY, 73, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0
PASCHAL?, 99, 1, 0, 0, 0, 0
PESTON, 2, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0
PETERS, 936, 26, 6, 8, 7, 1
PILLOW, 98, 6, 3, 4, 2, 1
POLK, 654, 31, 9, 7, 1, 0
RANKINS, 89, 1, 0, 1, 1, 0
RICE, 1528, 38, 18, 10, 7, 1
ROBARDS, 44, 1, 1, 0, 0, 0
ROBB, 110, 3, 1, 1, 1, 0
ROBERTS, 3309, 69, 10, 20, 15, 2
ROBERTSON, 2878, 36, 0, 9, 5, 0
RUSSELL, 1487, 40, 5
SALE, 78, 0, 0, 2, 0, 0
SCAIF, 3, 3, 3, 1, 1, 1
SEBASTIAN, 24, 1, 0, 0, 0, 0
SIMMS, 1101, 30, 14, 9, 6, 4
SIMS, 1411, 40, 4, 11, 8, 1
SWISER, 1, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0
TAPPAN, 10, 2, 2, 1, 0, 0
TAYLOR, 11696, 274, 39, 104, 64. 6
THRELKILD, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0
WARD, 2525, 71, 6, 31, 17, 1
WHITE, 9567, 231, 26, 69, 42, 3
WILLIAMS, 28865, 787, 84, 301, 188, 16
WILLIAMSON, 1289, 82, 15, 24, 20, 2
WOOD, 2672, 74, 6, 23, 19, 2
YERBY, 41, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0
Phillips County, AR Gen Web site
You are the visitor to this page.