Plantation Records
African Americans Enslaved in Caddo & Bossier parishes
Goldpoint Plantation, Bossier, Parish
The following are listed as prospective members of Red River Baptist Church in 1862 sent for baptism from Gold Point Plantation. This was a very common practice by slaveowners who felt their slaves benefited from religious services in order to help deter "unlawful" behavior such as disobedience or escape. God forbid they would ever want to do that! Gold Point plantation was owned & operated at that time by a young slaveowner, James Belton Pickett Jr. along the Red River in Bossier parish. To see a list of slaves from Goldpoint plantation at Red River Church, click here=> Red River Church
Randle, Jim, Frank, Jerry, Lewis, Edmund, Jim Buck, Tally, Alfred, George, Calvin, Albert Teague, Phillip, Dave, Harry, Jerry, W.L., Peter, John, Ben, Mary Knox, Betsey, Louisa, Amanda, Elizabeth, Charles, Hester, Sen, Mahala, Rosa, Violet, Sally, Mary, Ben, Eliza, Minerva, Hetty, Mary Cupid, Ellen, Eliza Big, Caroline, Jane, Anna, Hester Jr., Mary F., Emiline, Josephine, Elizabeth, Buck, Ester, Sophia, Mahala Jr., Daffney, Leddy, Annie, Sam, Morris, Seborn, Wade, Edie, Charlotte Anne, Gracy, Cissaly, Fanny, Tom, Jim Bebows, Louisiana, Violet.
Source:
*Red River Baptist Church Minute Book , The Bossier Parish Library Historical Center, Accession #: 2001.008.001
The following includes a list of indentured servants from Gold Point plantation. (see map below) This 1857 conveyance record represents James Pickett Jr. receiving this 1,046 acre plantation valued at $112,570 as apart of his inheritance. The slaves at this plantation were actually transferred from the Willow Chute plantation. Fortunately quite a few of the individuals listed were transferred as family units. I will therefore list them as such including the value that was placed by the slaveowner.
Alexander, Sukey, Wade $1,500
Big Eliza, Sicily, Sam $2,400
Ben, Sally, Kato, Big Mary, Albert, Jane, Joel $5750
Braddus, Hester, Calvin $1000
Charly, Lizzy, Tammer, Tally, Levi Noah, Hester, $3,300
Cupid, Henrietta $1,000
Dubbin, Jim Buck, Lizzie $2800
Edmond, Mary, Florris, $2150
Edy, Emeline, Frankey $1750
Harry $1,200
Henry $400
Issac, Amanda, Esther, Channy, $2650
Jim Hickory, Mary Cupie, Sarah, Luky $3,500
John Pearce, Hetty $2,050
John Guthridge $400
Jerry, Jemima, Christina $2,300
Jerry White Hat, Eliza $1,400
Louisa, Pinckney, Myatt $1800
Minerva, Louisiana, Green $1450
Mary Knox, Rose, Morris, Ellen, Belton, $3700
Peter, Letha, Perry, Hanibal, Harry, Francis, Dick, $3950
Reuben, Little Mary, $2900
Seaborn Bradford, Gracy, Charlotte, Melly, Regina $1,400
Tally, Mahala, Ellison, Teague, Blake, Milkey, Thomas, $4250
Will, Violet, Dave, George, Nancy $3000
Sources:
1856 Land Partition of Paulina DeGraffenreid Gilmer versus James B. Gilmer
Lehman, Vivian & Smith, Edith. (2002). "NO LAND...ONLY SLAVES!" Volume 1. Texas: E. Smith & V. Lehman Publishing
Jennings, Dale (2003). WillowChute plantation and the community. GENIE, 31(1)
Note* James Belton Pickett Jr., son of James Belton Pickett Sr. & Paulina deGraffenried Pickett was born 6/14/1840 in Chester District, SC and died 10/30/1880 in Philadelphia, PA. Gold Point plantation was inherited by Paulina from the deaths of her husbands, James Pickett Sr. & James Gilmer. James Gilmer Sr. arrived in Claiborne parish, later named Bossier, with his father George Oglethorpe Gilmer from Georgia and Alabama during the 1830's and purchased thousands of acres and together owned well over 15 plantations. James Gilmer Sr. died in Havana, Cuba around 1856 attempting to purchase plantations.
Hurricane Bluff Plantation, Bossier Parish
This 2,285 acre plantation, valued at $138,045 in 1857 was initially given to John Pickett as a part of his inheritance. (see map below) The slaves on Hurricane Bluff established Hurricane Bluff Baptist Church before the civil war. The church exists today at 1702 Park Avenue in Shreveport, LA. The following list includes indentured servants from the 1857 Hurricane Bluff plantation deed. Fortunately quite a few of the individuals mentioned were transferred as family units. I will therefore list them as such including the value that was placed by the slaveowner.
Abram $850
Billy, Manervia, Wiley, Vitter $2600
Bob Knox & Harriet $1700
Dick, $600
Charlotte, $250
Charles, Amanda & unnamed child $2300
Cyrus $800
Edmond $2000
Gincy $650
Graden, Lucinda, West, Polly, Brown, Berry $2900
Isaac, Sarah, Nathan $2800
Jesse, Jesse Jr., Jubar, Esther $2700
John, Betsey, L. John, $2450
Jordan, Green, Mahala $2400
Little Peter, Charlotte $2200
Lewis, Mary $2200
Morris, Amelia, Salina $2350
Plenti $1200
Patience $700
Peter Pickett, Minta, S. Winney, Dave, Olivia, Chloe, Angres $4500
Peter Mills & Mary $1000
Peter Sharp, Dinah, Sarah, Phil, Luris, Harrison, martin, Jennie, William $6450
Rose $750
Sylvia $850
Simon $1100
Tom $1200
Vincent & Winney $2500
Sources:
-1856 Land Partition of Paulina DeGraffenreid Gilmer versus James B. Gilmer
-Lehman, Vivian & Smith, Edith. (2002). "NO LAND...ONLY SLAVES!" Volume 1. Texas: E. Smith & V. Lehman Publishing
-
Jennings, Dale (2003). WillowChute plantation and the community. GENIE, 31(1)
Note* John Pickett, son of James Belton Pickett Sr. & Paulina deGraffenried Pickett, was born 6/21/1834 in Chester District, SC and died 9/1/1900 in Shreveport. John filed for bankruptcy in 1871 but oddly became the Louisiana State Treasurer from 1892-1896. He married Carrie Doles in 1875 and they had 21 children. He also fathered many slaves including a son name, Charles, in 1852 by Maria, a family house slave.
Buckhall Plantation, Bossier Parish
According to the Volume 4, page 112 of the 1856 Land Partition of Paulina DeGraffenried Gilmer & James Gilmer, Buckhall Plantation was located on the east quadrant of section 19, Township 19, Range 13 & the west quadrant of section 6, Township 19 and Range 13 with a total accumulation of 679 acres and 96 slaves. The plantation crossed both sides of the Red River and in 1859 was valued at $32,242 with a total number of 975 acres. The list below contains slaves designated at Buckhall plantation identified in the partition.
Henry, Harrison, Albert Mitchell, Frank Graham, June, Bob, Richard Payne, Mark Batemon, George William, Sol Reid, John Bogart,George Lijan, Sarah, Elijah, Judy Hitt, Frank, Alexander Roft, Josephine, Charles Pemberton, George Jenkin, Bob Jenkins, Bill Barton, Slate, Quary, Morse, Ned Haywood, Jake Burnham, Titus, Bob Scott, Mary, Thomas, Adaline, Edmand, Sarah, Malinda, Dinah, Old Charles, Ellis, Milly, Julia, Chany, Marcella, Sylvia, Clarissa, Isabella, Sara Ann, Arthur, Ned, Martha, Jane, Nathan, Watson, Milda, Darcus, Sally, Tisly, Rody, Lizzie, Margaret, Henrietta, Patsey, William Green, Hammond, Savina, Phillis Williams, Ankrell, Rose, Charley Allen, Sampson, George (shoe shop), Peter, Reuben Y, Betsy Y, Yellow George, Jim Shumaker, Malinda, Jane, Henry Morse, Bartin, Emory, Lawson, Fanny, Malinda, Wick, Bill, Damps, Dave, Raff, Mary Jane Raff
Sources:
1856 Land Partition of Paulina DeGraffenreid Gilmer versus James B. Gilmer
Lehman, Vivian & Smith, Edith. (2002). "NO LAND...ONLY SLAVES!" Volume 1. Texas: E. Smith & V. Lehman Publishing
Chalk Level Plantation, Bossier Parish
According to Volume 4, page 125 of the 1856 Land Partition of Paulina DeGraffenried Gilmer & James Gilmer, Chalk Level Plantation was located in Section 3, Township 17, Range 13 containing 85 acres. The list below contains slaves designated at Chalk Level plantation identified in the partition.
Andy, Nathan, Allen, Jack, Bill, Sicily, Emily, Charlotte, Little Fanny, Willis, David, Sally, Rina, James, Charmer, Emeline, Tony, Fanny, Jerry, Paulina, Isaac, Arthur, Pamela, Granderson, Nancy, Seaborn, John, Crissy, Little Amy, Little Vitter, Ephraim, Susannah, Jim Crack, Horace, Dock, Martha, Sarah, Jom, Rachael, Easter, Abram, Phillis, Cecelia, Samford, Malinda, John, Alfred, Crecise, Milly, Jim Brown, Milly, Noah, Mary, Big Vitter, Mans, Jack, Louis, Alice, Francis, Nancy, Nelson
Sources:
1856 Land Partition of Paulina DeGraffenreid Gilmer versus James B. Gilmer
Lehman, Vivian & Smith, Edith. (2002). "NO LAND...ONLY SLAVES!" Volume 1. Texas: E. Smith & V. Lehman Publishing
Willow Chute Plantation, Bossier Parish
Originally owned by James Belton Pickett, the plantation was later inherited by his widow Paulina Degraffenried Gilmer, wife of James Gilmer. After the death of James Gilmer, the plantation was soon inherited by Paulina's son, James Belton Pickett Jr. According to pages 116 & 177 of the 1856 Land partition, Willowchute was described as being East Section 1, Township 19, Range 14 containing 136 acres, + Section 35 & 36 of Township 20, Range 14 containing 29 acres, + South of Willow Chute Bayou, Southwest quadrant of Section 8 containing 16 & 70 acres + 10 acres in the north half of the Southwest quadrant. The rest of the description is undecipherable. In 1866, the Willow Chute plantation was described as covering 1,200 acres. The list below contains slaves designated at Willow Chute plantation identified in the partition.
Louisa, Pinckney, Wyatt, Charles, Lizzie, Say, Sens, Noah, Sally, Mahala, Ellison, Tagane, Blake, Milkey, Tom, Morris, Hellen, James, Mary, Sarah, Sukey, Amanda, Easter, Charner, Jerry, Pete, Litha, Perry, Hanibal, Harry, Mary, Frances, Dick, Gracy, Charlotte, Milky, Rynia, Albert, Rose, Ben, Sally, Cate, Mary, Albert, Jane, Fred, Eliza, Edmond, Cupid, Warte, Isaac, Lewis, Eda, Jeremiah, Omeline, Frances, Olly, Old William, Violett, Dave, George, Nancy, Tamer, Henry, Bedford, Eda, Broadus, Mary, Allick, Jim Buck, Ann Dublin
Sources:
1856 Land Partition of Paulina DeGraffenreid Gilmer versus James B. Gilmer
Lehman, Vivian & Smith, Edith. (2002). "NO LAND...ONLY SLAVES!" Volume 3. Texas: E. Smith & V. Lehman Publishing
Jennings, Dale (2003). WillowChute plantation and the community. GENIE, 31(1)
Cash Point Plantation, Caddo & Bossier Parishes
Cash Point plantation served as one of the main docking points for steamers navigating down the Red River in Northwest Louisiana. This mainly cotton plantation, originally owned by George Oglethorpe Gilmer in 1839, consisted of Section 29, Township 19, Range 13. George later expanded the plantation to Section 25, Township 19, Range 14. He then expanded further by purchasing Section 30 and parts of Section 25. George eventually bought 5 acres from his son's, James Blair Gilmer, Buckhall plantation to piece it all together. In 1849, Cash Point expanded to 1,350 acres and George O. Gilmer deeded the land to his 3 children: George Edmond Gilmer, Mary Ann Elizabeth Gilmer Sandidge and Sarah "Sally" Mildred Gilmer Spyker before his death. In 1854, George E. Gilmer sold his interest to his 2 sisters. Sally received the east side of the plantation, 687 acres, situated in Bossier and Mary received 320 acres on the west side in Caddo which later became known as Shady Grove plantation. In 1857, Cash Point was owned by Thomas Degraffenried and he sold the plantation to his sister, Paulina Degraffenried Gilmer Pickett who later sold one half interest of the plantation to her son, James Pickett Jr., in 1866. In 1876, the Pickett's sold the plantation to Nathan Wesley Sentell. For more information on the history of Cash Point plantation, please refer to the source below. The slaves listed below are identified as living on Cash Point Plantation between 1849-1857.
Sources:
Lehman, Vivian & Smith, Edith. (2002). "NO LAND...ONLY SLAVES!" Volume 3. Texas: E. Smith & V. Lehman Publishing
Jennings, Dale (2000). Cashpoint plantation. GENIE, 34(1)
Jennings, Dale (2000). Cashpoint plantation. GENIE, 34(4)
Jennings, Dale (2000). Cashpoint plantation history. GENIE, 34(2)
Jennings, Dale (2000). Cashpoint plantation, 1840's - 1985. GENIE, 34(3)
Sarah Mildred Gilmer Spykes, Cash Point Plantation Interest, March 1850
George Chisholm- 25, wife Nancy- 35 (copper), & their children Doctor- 9 and Wilson- 6 (mulatto)
Frank- 25 (copper)
Tenny or Temny, male, 26 (copper)
Hastings- 21 (copper)
Austin- 25 & wife Caroline- 20 (mulatto)
Granville, 1 (copper)
Little Morgan- 30 (copper) and wife Maria- 23 and their children: Franklin- 10 (copper), Tom- 9 (copper), Becky- 8 (copper), Washington- 4, (copper) and Mily- 2 (copper)
John- 35 (copper) and his children: Winney- 15 (copper), Nick- 12 (copper), Martha- 10 (copper) and Lillis- 10 (copper)
George Edmond Gilmer, Cash Point Plantation Interest, June 1849
Ed- 30 & wife Peggy- 27 and their three children: Beck- 10 (female), Robert- 4, and infant- 3 weeks
Hannah- 16
Big Becky- 38 and her seven children: John- 16, Maria- 14, Fannie- 12, Kit- 9 (male), Nick- 7, Harry or Henry- 5, Mary- 3
Virginia or Mily- 50 and her three children: Monroe- 20, Anderson- 18, Tim or Jim- 9
Big John- 25 & wife Mille Ann- 21 and child, Julia- 1
Mary Ann Elizabeth Gilmer Sandidge, Cash Point Plantation Interest, June 1849
Patience- 8
Mary- 45
Big Bob- 37
Rail Road- 36 (male) & wife, Mary- 40 and children: Sarah- 14, York- 13, Sidney- 13 (female), Elizabeth- 8, Andrew- 3, Francis- 1 (female)
Milly- 23, & her child, Ellen- 2
Tilda- 25, & her two children: Harriat- 7 & Victoria (6 months)
Sarah- 50
Bent- 28
Frederick- 42
Ike- 35 & wife, Malinda- 27, Henry- 6 and sister, Franky- 13
Johnson- 45 & wife, Mary- 45
Dolly- 13
Laura- 8
Paulina Pickett's Cash Point Plantation Interest, Volume 4, Page 241, May 18, 1857
Ralph- 70, Chana- 70, Allen- 24, Susan- 22, Elizabeth- 2, Joe- 38, Harriet- 27, Frank- 10, Parthena- 8, Nancy- 6, Dan/Dave- 3, Ambrose- 65, Andy- 14, Jed- 90, Violet- 65, Daniel- 16, Thom- 15, Cecily- 13, Susan- 55, Paul- 21, Moses- 11, Fina- 24, Joe- 6, Bluet- 1, Ben- 75, Charles- 60, Moses- 50, Collin- 47, Cooper- 46, Edy- 21, Tom- 33, Rachael- 19, Jordan- 1, Sallie- 40, Collins- 10, Nelson- 9, James- 7. Margaret- 1, Sambo- 23, Charity- 22, Nathan- 1, Sam, Randle- 26, Holly- 19, Henderson- 35, Adney- 35, Catherine- 14, Henry- 12, Francis- 10, Leo- 8, Regina- 1, Antney- 10, Addison- 12, Cappoina- 11, Fletcher- 9, Savannah- 6, Doctor- 3, Jubiter- 42, Molinda- 43, John- 25, Eliza- 27, Berry- 5, Milley- 25, Jim- 39, Ruthy- 25, John Flinn- 23, Melia- 17, Chana Mac/Mae- 5, Jack- 18, Abram- 23, Darcus- 20, Peter- 20, Bob- 19, Betsey- 17, Dennis- 12, Ben- 22, Hector- 100, Harriet- 35, Barney- 19, Bill- 16, Melly- 12, Clarasy- 10, Ned- 9, Mary- 1
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