TENSAS PARISH, LOUISIANA
LARGEST SLAVEHOLDERS FROM 1860 SLAVE CENSUS SCHEDULES
and
SURNAME MATCHES FOR AFRICAN AMERICANS ON 1870 CENSUS
Transcribed by Tom Blake, April 2001
PURPOSE. Published information giving names of slaveholders and numbers of slaves held in Tensas Parish, Louisiana, in 1860, is either non-existent or not readily available. It is possible to locate a free person on the Tensas Parish, Louisiana census for 1860 and not know whether that person was also listed as a slaveholder on the slave census, because published indexes almost always do not include the slave census.
Those who have found a free ancestor on the 1860 Tensas Parish, Louisiana census can check this list to learn if their ancestor was one of the larger slaveholders in the Parish. If the ancestor is not on this list, the 1860 slave census microfilm can be viewed to find out whether the ancestor was a holder of a fewer number of slaves or not a slaveholder at all. Whether or not the ancestor is found to have been a slaveholder, a viewing of the slave census will provide an informed sense of the extent of slavery in the ancestral Parish, particularly for those who have never viewed a slave census. An ancestor not shown to hold slaves on the 1860 slave census could have held slaves on an earlier census, so those films can be checked also. In 1850, the slave census was also separate from the free census, but in earlier years it was a part of the free census.
African American descendants of persons who were enslaved in Tensas Parish, Louisiana in 1860, if they have an idea of the surname of the slaveholder, can check this list for the surname. If the surname is found, they can then view the microfilm for the details listed regarding the sex, age and color of the slaves. If the surname is not on this list, the microfilm can be viewed to see if there were smaller slaveholders with that surname. To check a master surname list for other States and Counties, return to Home and Links Page.
The information on surname matches of 1870 African Americans and 1860 slaveholders is intended merely to provide data for consideration by those seeking to make connections between slaveholders and former slaves. Particularly in the case of these larger slaveholders, the data seems to show in general not many freed slaves in 1870 were using the surname of their 1860 slaveholder. However, the data should be checked for the particular surname to see the extent of the matching.
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 they would have been counted as a separate slaveholder 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 larger slaveholders will enable naming of the holders of the most slaves with the least amount of transcription work.
SOURCES. The 1860 U.S. Census Slave Schedules for Tensas Parish, Louisiana (NARA microfilm series M653, Roll 431) reportedly includes a total of 14,592 slaves. This transcription includes 77 slaveholders who held 70 or more slaves in Tensas Parish, accounting for 9,573 slaves, or 65% of the Parish total. The rest of the slaves in the Parish were held by a total of 263 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, the transcriber was not aware of any relevant changes to Parish boundaries.
FORMAT. This transcription lists the names of those largest slaveholders in the Parish, the names of the plantations included with their name in the enumeration, the number of slaves they held in the Parish 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. 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. Following the surname list is an alphabetical list by plantation names. The term "Parish" 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 included with this census, which is unusual. In fact, the enumerator not only wrote the plantation names in very large writing, but also did so like a graphic designer making corporate logos. 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 Louisiana in 1860 there were 371 farms of 1,000 acres or more, the largest size category enumerated in the census, and another 1,161 farms of 500-999 acres. The census for this Parish included a significant number of plantation names, which are included in this list, with the names of the holders and in a separate alphabetical list of plantations.
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, and the transcriber did not find any such information on the enumeration of the transcribed slaveholders, except for these four, for whom names were given, but no birthplaces: 100 year old female, "Baptiste", held by Hall on page 268; 120 year old male, "Pompey", held by Servier on page 248; 110 year old male, "Bob Hawkins", held by Douglass on page 247; and 100 year old male, "William Buddley", held by Morris on 242B. 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 Parish. 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 Tensas Parish population included 1,479 whites, 7 "free colored" and 14,592 slaves. By the 1870 census, the white population had declined 5% to 1,400, while the "colored" population had dropped almost 25% to 11,018. (As a side note, by 1960, 100 years later, the Parish was listed as having 4,128 whites, almost a three fold increase, but the 1960 total of 7,665 "Negroes"was only about half of what the colored population had been 100 years before.) Where did all these freed slaves go? Orleans Parish saw an increase in colored population of almost double between 1860 and 1870, growing to over 50,000, so likely that is where many went. No other Louisiana Parish showed such a significant increase. Between 1860 and 1870, the Louisiana colored population only increased by 4%, about 13,000. States that saw more significant increases in colored population during that time, and were therefore more likely possible places of relocation for colored persons from Tensas Parish, included the following: Georgia, up 80,000 (17%); Texas, up 70,000 (38%); Alabama, up 37,000 (8%); 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:
BALLANCE & ADAMS, LINWOOD, 113 slaves, page 245B
BASS, A. E., MYRTLE GROVE, 169 slaves, page 241B
BECK & REGISTER, FOREST VALE, 76 slaves, page 270
BECK, T. W. & S. A., OAKWOOD, 75 slaves, page 270
BONDURANT, A. &? K., WAVELAND, 110 slaves, page 243
BONDURANT, John, PLEASANT VUE, 111 slaves, page 244B
BOWIE, Dr.? A. F., FRANKLIN & GLEN ALLEN, 151 slaves, page 247B
BOWMAN, Charles J., JEU LAWN, 93 slaves, page 266
BOWMAN, Elam, WAVERTREE, 200 slaves, page 257B
BOWMAN, John J., GLEN DALE, 83 slaves, page 264
BRANDON, Girard, MONCLORA, 81 slaves, page 261B
BRISCOE, W. J., MOUND PLACE, 169 slaves, page 255B
BUCK, T. J. & Jane M., MORO, 72 slaves, page 241
BUCK, Wm. H., WESTWOOD, 91 slaves, page 250B
BUCKNER, Aylett?, HUBURN?, 124 slaves, page 247
BUELL, K. A., OAKLEY, 70 slaves, page 268
COVINGTON, M.? G. C., AQUASCO, 79 slaves, page 261
DAHLGREEN, Charles D., MARY DALE, 184 slaves, page 264B
DANIELLS, Smith C., LOCUSTWOOD, 164 slaves, page 266B
DANIELS, , S. C., BRIERLAND, 107 slaves, page 256
DORSEY, Sam W., ELK RIDGE, 152 slaves, page 246
DOUGLAS, Jas. A., BLACK RIDGE, 89 slaves, page 246B
DOUGLASS, Geo., SHADY GROVE, 83 slaves, page 247
DUNCAN, Saml. P., L'ARGENT, 131 slaves, page 260B
ELLIOTT, Anna F., BALMORAL, 140 slaves, page 249B
FRISBY, Norman, PALO ALTO & FORLORN HOPE & CALIFORNIA & AUSTRALIA, 150 slaves, page 250B
GALTNEY, Est. James, ERIN, 115 slaves, page 264
GILLESPIE, J. M., PANOLA & HOLLY GROVE, 269 slaves, page 250
GOLDMAN, Mr. E. M. for 6 minors in trust, MELMONT PARK, 75 slaves, page 243
GORDON, Est. J. G., 5 heirs, VERONA, 144 slaves, page 248
HALL, Lucinda, NEWFOUNDLAND, 120 slaves, page 268
HARRISON, David, MAYLAND, 126 slaves, page 256
HARRISON, Isaac F., DELTA, 130 slaves, page 256
HELM, HELENA
HOLLINGSWORTH, J. Y.?, ELK PLACE 100 slaves, page 245B
HUNSICKER, John, CHOLTAW LAKE, 98 slaves, page 253B
HUNT, Est. A., E. G. Wood in trust 4 minors, ARGYLE, 139 slaves, page 269B
JACKSON, D. P., MABRY, 126 slaves, page 255B
JOHNSON, Claudia M., CANTON, 130 slaves, page 246
KIBBE & SHIELDS, PECANO, 105 slaves, page 259
KING, J. & P.?, DURANGO, 122 slaves, page 270B
KING, Robert, MINEHAHA, 101 slaves, page 265B
LLOYD, Edward, 154 slaves, page 246B
MARSCHALL, Geo. M., ARCOLA, 104 slaves, page 261
MASON, Ealbeck, LIMERICK, 89 slaves, page 246B
MCCULLOUGH, J. & H., BOMBAY, 74 slaves, page 266
MCGILL, A. J., YELVERTON, 84 slaves, page 254
MCGILL, J. M., SUNNY SIDE, 110 slaves, page 255
MILLER, E. J. A., WATERPROOF, 90 slaves, page 266B
MONTGOMERY, Hugh, MAY FLOWER & HARD BARGAIN, 128 slaves, page 256B
MORRIS, L. B., RIVER PLACE, 79 slaves, page 242B
MURDOCK, John, DURROSSETT, 126 slaves, page 249B
NEWELL, D. Thos. M., .SHACKLEFORD, 90 slaves, page 252
NUTT, Haller, EVERGREEN PLACE & WINTER QUARTERS, 269 slaves, page 245
OGDEN, John, WYOMING, 89 slaves, page 247B
POINDEXTER, T. B., JUSTINE, 163 slaves, page 256B
PRESTON, Zenas, BURN PLACE, 94 slaves, page 258B
RALSTON, George, AZUCINA, 84 slaves, page 265B
RENFRO?, Tho. B., LEE PLACE, 183 slaves, page 243
ROUTH, Est. S. M.?, 10 minors & widow, ROUTHWOOD, 158 slaves, page 248B
ROUTH, Est. Calvin J. 4 minors, KENNILWORTH & CYPRESS GROVE, 213 slaves, page 248B
ROUTH, John K., HOLLYWOOD & LOCUST LAND, 300 slaves, page 249
ROUTH, John K., BLACKWATER, 161 slaves, page 248
SNODGRASS , Jgeo. R., AMISTAN, 74 slaves, page 257
SNYDER, Hon. Alonzo, VILLACLARA, 102 slaves, page 243B
STACEY, Est. of D. S. in trust for 6 heirs, BOTANY BAY, 72 slaves, page 255
TULLIS, Est. E. J. by John Tullis in trust for 2 heirs, TULLONIA, 76 slaves, page 259B
TULLIS, John, RICHLAND, 143 slaves, page 269B
TURNER, Geo. W., POINT PLEASANT, 204 slaves, page 247
TYSON, John J., CRESCENT, 89 slaves, page 259B
WATSON, A. J., ANTONE & MOUNT AIRY, 229 slaves, page 258
WATSON, Est. Scott in trust for 3 heirs, BUCKHORN & OCEOLA, 222 slaves, page 254B
WATSON, J. M., AVON DALE, 104 slaves, page 255B
WATSON, M. C., LAKEWOOD, 99 slaves, page 255
WATSON, W. W., CROSS KEYS, 99 slaves, page 258
YOUNG, Est. B. F., ST. PETER, 139 slaves, page 257B
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 Parish, born in State, born and living in State, born in State and living in Parish)
ADAMS, 4295, 309, 13, 178, 147, 2
BALLANCE, 17, 2, 0, 2, 2, 0
BASS, 764, 38, 3, 23, 18, 0
BECK, 302, 16, 1, 12, 6, 0
BONDURANT, 35, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0
BOWIE, 262, 16, 1, 17, 13, 1
BOWMAN, 926, 107, 12, 54, 46, 2
BRANDON, 308, 33, 1, 9, 8, 0
BRISCOE, 286, 19, 2, 8, 7, 1
BUCK, 322, 4, 2, 13, 12, 2
BUCKNER, 794, 57, 7, 24, 19, 3
BUELL, 14, 0, 0, 1, 0, 0
COVINGTON, 447, 12, 0, 7, 5, 0
DAHLGREEN, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0
DANIELLS, 5, 1, 0, 0, 0, 0
DANIELS, 853, 67, 7, 38, 27, 4
DORSEY, 1579, 175, 5, 103, 87, 3
DOUGLAS, 906, 121, 3, 74, 69, 0
DOUGLASS, 825, 48, 3, 33, 23, 0
DUNCAN, 1366, 128, 5, 71, 67, 1
ELLIOTT, 807, 22, 4, 11, 10, 4
FRISBY, 155, 4, 0, 4, 2, 0
GALTNEY, 3, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0
GILLESPIE, 248, 4, 0, 3, 2, 0
GOLDMAN, 39, 3, 2, 2, 2, 2
GORDON, 1952, 169, 4, 89, 75, 1
HALL, 5875, 531, 43, 306, 255, 13
HARRISON, 3639, 438, 7, 252, 213, 3
HELM, 160, 4, 0, 1, 1, 0
HOLLINGSWORTH, 120, 5, 0
HUNSICKER, 1, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0
HUNT, 1517, 81, 1, 44, 36, 0
JACKSON, 19100, 1771, 78, 1033, 853, 21
JOHNSON, 33402, 3848, 163, 2306, 1998, 50
KIBBE, 1, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0
KING, 4979, 345, 22, 203, 167, 9
LLOYD, 315, 18, 1, 11, 11, 1
MARSCHALL, 2, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0
MASON, 2858, 198, 10, 98, 85, 2
MCCULLOUGH, 162, 7, 1, 2, 2, 1
MCGILL, 253, 10, 0, 5, 5, 0
MILLER, 6577, 415, 28, 237, 195, 11
MONTGOMERY, 1303, 111, 9, 68, 51, 3
MORRIS, 3112, 302, 9, 184, 160, 5
MURDOCK, 139, 5, 0, 1, 1, 0
NEWELL, 174, 9, 2, 11, 8, 2
NUTT, 60, 2, 1, 1, 1, 1
OGDEN, 90, 8, 0, 7, 6, 0
POINDEXTER, 335, 16, 4, 5, 4, 1
PRESTON, 703, 41, 3
RALSTON, 37, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0
REGISTER, 48, 5, 0, 5, 5, 0
RENFRO?, 66, 1, 0, 1, 0, 0
ROUTH, 8, 1, 1, 1, 0, 0
SHIELDS, 471, 43, 4, 20, 17, 3
SNODGRASS , 39, 1, 0, 1, 1, 0
SNYDER, 117, 5, 0, 3, 2, 0
STACEY, 19, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0
TULLIS, 34, 5, 3, 4, 4, 3
TURNER, 5742, 513, 76, 295, 257, 17
TYSON, 263, 11, 0, 6, 5, 0
WATSON, 3567, 324, 39, 174, 15
YOUNG, 6185, 489, 40, 264, 218, 12
PLANTATION NAME, SURNAME OF ASSOCIATED HOLDER FROM ABOVE SLAVE LIST:
ANTONE, WATSON
AQUASCO, COVINGTON,
ARCOLA, MARSCHALL
ARGYLE, HUNT
AUSTRALIA, FRISBY
AVON DALE, WATSON
AZUCINA, RALSTON,
BALMORAL, ELLIOTT
BLACK RIDGE, DOUGLAS
BLACKWATER, ROUTH
BOMBAY, MCCULLOUGH
BOTANY BAY, STACEY
BRIERLAND, DANIELS
BUCK, WESTWOOD
BUCKHORN, WATSON,
BURN PLACE, PRESTON
CALIFORNIA, FRISBY
CANTON, JOHNSON
CHOLTAW LAKE, HUNSICKER
CRESCENT, TYSON
CROSS KEYS, WATSON,
CYPRESS GROVE, ROUTH
DELTA, HARRISO
DURANGO, KING
DURROSSETT, MURDOCK
ELK RIDGE, DORSEY
ELK PLACE, HOLLINGSWORTH
ERIN, GALTNEY
EVERGREEN PLACE, NUTT
FOREST VALE, BECK & REGISTER
FORLORN HOPE, FRISBY
FRANKLIN, BOWIE
GLEN DALE, BOWMAN
GLEN ALLEN, BOWIE
HARD BARGAIN,MONTGOMERY,
HELENA, HELM
HOLLY GROVE, GILLESPIE
HOLLYWOOD,ROUTH
HUBURN?, BUCKNER
JAMISTAN, SNODGRASS
JEU LAWN, BOWMAN
JUSTINE, POINDEXTER
KENNILWORTH, ROUTH
L'ARGENT, DUNCAN,
LEE PLACE, RENFRO?
LIMERICK, MASON
LINWOOD, BALLANCE & ADAMS
LOCUST LAND, ROUTH
LOCUSTWOOD, DANIELLS
MABRY, JACKSON
MARY DALE, DAHLGREEN
MAY FLOWER, MONTGOMERY,
MAYLAND, HARRISON
MELMONT PARK, GOLDMAN
MINEHAHA, KING
MONCLORA, BRANDON
MORO, BUCK
MOUND PLACE, BRISCOE
MOUNT AIRY, WATSON
MYRTLE GROVE, BASS
NEWELL, SHACKLEFORD
NEWFOUNDLAND, HALL
OAKLEY, BUELL
OAKWOOD, BECK
OCEOLA, WATSON,
PALO ALTO, FRISBY
PANOLA, GILLESPIE
PECANO, KIBBE & SHIELDS
PLEASANT VUE, BONDURANT
POINT PLEASANT, TURNER
RICHLAND, TULLIS
RIVER PLACE, MORRIS
ROUTHWOOD, ROUTH
SHADY GROVE, DOUGLASS
ST. PETER,YOUNG
SUNNY SIDE, MCGILL
TULLONIA, TULLIS,
VERONA, GORDON
VILLACLARA, SNYDER
WATERPROOF, MILLER
WATSON, LAKEWOOD
WAVELAND, BONDURANT
WAVERTREE, BOWMAN
WINTER QUARTERS, NUTT
WYOMING, OGDEN
YELVERTON, MCGILL
You are the visitor to this page.