Slaves Names - Alabama
(Referred to @African American Genealogy Research by admin)
When Joshua Marcus died in 1854, in his will, he left his estate to his son Alvin to take care of his other son Ellis Marcus who was marked as an “idiot” on census records... with this estate there were 2 slaves, one man age 50 named Tom, one woman age 40 named Carolyn. I see them here on the census record, does anyone know how we can get their names added here instead of “unknown”? Also, I tried to read the Will info and it’s close to 100 pages of stuff. It looks like there was a decision made to sell the slaves along with the rest of the estate to take care of Ellis and to divide the estate between the heirs - it gets confusing - then it looks like they didn’t want to sell the slaves... then I saw Ellis in the hh of his brother James in census records. I also see that the admin John Davenport wound up buying Tom and Caroline for $700 .... I found a later newspaper article that stated a John Davenport was accused of beating a slave to death (not sure if same John D or not). Either way I’d like to be able to give Tom and Caroline their identities in some way in the family tree... I’d also like to try to find out what happened to them after they were sold to John Davenport. Anyone have any idea how or where I can find this info? This was in Autauga County and Shelby County Alabama in the 1850s - 1860s thank you!
Name: Joshua Marcus
Event Type: Census
Event Date: 1850
Event Place: Autauga, Autauga, Alabama, United States
Event Place (Original): Autauga county, Autauga, Alabama, United States
Schedule Type: 1850 Slave Schedule
Relationship to Owner: Owner
Household ID: 561
HouseholdRoleSexAgeBirthplaceUNKNOWNM53Joshua MarcusUNKNOWNF40
Best Answer
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Our knowledge article states: Descendants of slaveholders should not submit temple ordinances for the people enslaved by the slaveholders.
The last name or family name of the slaveholder should not be added to the name of the enslaved person unless the slaveholder was the father of the enslaved person. This policy applies to all cases of slavery worldwide.
Also, we are asked not to do ordinances for people who are not in our blood line.
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Answers
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This looks like an interesting (and kind of complicated) find. Is there any mention in the will that Tom and Carolyn were a couple? I took the liberty of looking up census records from 1830 & 1840 for Joshua Marcus. It looks like Tom and Carolyn could have been with him on both those censuses. It's hard to tell for sure, but the ages fit. It also looks like they might have had a child. Joshua didn't appear to have any other slaves. The ages stayed consistent and there wasn't any change in the number of slaves in the household. I wonder if Joshua's father had a will and if that might give more information about Tom & Carolyn before they came to Joshua's household. Also, maybe a look at John Davenport's will, if it's available. Good luck with this endeavor. I hope you find what you are looking for! I don't know if any of this will be helpful.
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Ty @KarenRicks8 KarenRicks8 😃 Joshua Marcus’s father was Ellis Marcus (Markes, Marquis, Demarcus - I’ve found it spelled many ways) of Granville, NC. When Ellis died he was living in SC, he left his estate to his wife which included an 82 acre plantation - and at her death it was to go to his son Joshua Marcus - no mention of slaves but I’m assuming he had some based on the 82 acre Plantation - and like you, I think this is prob where Tom and Caroline came from, there was a child mentioned on the census, I seem to remember a mention of a child in some of the court papers with Joshua Marcus’s will.... interesting side note: Ellis Marcus is also the father of Daniel Marcus, who was the grandfather of President Jimmy Carter... I am Including a transcript of Ellis Marcus’s will here ...
WILL OF ELLES MARCUS
State of South Carolina Edgefield County
In the Name of God Amen
I Ellis Marcus of the State & County Afore said Being Sick and weak in
Body But having Reason & understanding and caling to mind that it was
ordained by God for all Men once to Die. Do make Constitute and Ordain
this to be my Last Will and Testament, making all other voyed.
First I Recommend my Soul to God
Secondly I Desire to be Decently buried by myExecutors.
Thirdly I Lend To Mybeloved wife Mary Marcus During her natural Life
the Land and Plantation wheron I now Live Containing Eighty two Acres
together with all myhouse hold furniture and Stock of all Kinds, and
at Her Dec. I give unto my Son Joshua Marcus, one feather Bed &furniture One Cowand Calf together with the Land to him and his heirs for
Ever.
And unto my Daughter Nancy Marcus I Give & bequeath unto her and her
Heirs for Ever. One feather Bed and Furniture and One Cowand calf
after the Death of my Beloved wife. and Then I Desire all the Remaining part of mymovable and Personal Estate to be Ecqually Devidedbetween my Sons and Daughters or there LeaGal Representatives Namely:
William Marcus, Mary walker, John Marcus, Phetise Whatley, Daniel Marcus,
Elizabeth Bechum, Nancy Marcus, Joshua Marcus —
And lastly I appoint by Beloved wife with Daniel MarcusExecutix and
Executor of this myLast will and Testament
In witness Wher of I have heare unto Set myhand & afficd mySeal this
Nineteenth of September 1788
In Presents of us
his
Elis x Marcus (Seal)
mark
Jno Martin
Sarah Kimbiel
Bark. Martin
Recorded in will Book "A", pp. 7 & 8
October 13th 1788
R. Tutt C.E.C.
Box b2 Pkg. 1757
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