While looking through the 1894 very fragile copy of The Freeman, I came across a column called Lost Relatives. There were many columns like this after the Civil War where people wrote hoping to find family members – mothers, brothers, sisters, children – that were sold away to other plantations. This column was written 29 years after the war and people were still hoping to find their loved ones. It must have been amazing to find your mother looking for you when you never expected to see her again. When you didn’t know if she was dead or alive. The emotions I feel finding my long dead ancestors in wills and census charts, pales by comparison. Click to enlarge.
I have been working on the freedom stories of my list of formerly enslaved men and women from the Cleage plantations and it’s amazing. I start to write about 1 person and find some information that takes me deeper into the life of their community that time and life during slave times. I found several who fought with 1st United States Colored Heavy Artillery. The widows and orphans petitions for pensions are especially helpful as names I know appear as witnesses and testify to living on down the row on the plantation or being present at births.
As I continue to work, I wanted to share this recording made in the 1940s of people who lived during slavery talking about their lives. Their voices are so clear and present, not at all like the garbled transcriptions I come across where the people sound like they barely know the English language and there is nothing of the beauty of their voices.
While googling for information, I came across a book on that mentioned how slaves came to Athens and McMinn County in a section called “The Black Community.” I quote below.
“When Nash arrived, there were black persons in their 80s and 90s who had been among the first to come to the county. Blacks had originally come into the county either with the settlers, or as a result of being purchased at “slave sales” up until the time of the Civil War. By the 1800s, few—if any—slaves came to this immediate area directly from Africa. Virginia had come to be known as the “slave breeding ground,” and most major cities in that state had periodic sales in which the slaves were sold at auction. The slave owners usually attended the auctions together, and marched the slaves back to their new homes in groups. East Tennessee was a major route south toward Atlanta. If someone became ill or could not make the full trip, he would be sold, traded,or given away along the route. In this way, less affluent people might acquire one or two slaves across several years. “Slaves” in this situation simply meant an additional hand to work beside the slave owners in their fields and mills. The huge sprawl of cotton fields, with hundreds of field hands and their overseers spread out across a vast acreage, was unknown in McMinn County. At the height of slavery, there were only a small number of persons in the county owning more than half a dozen slaves.” McMinn County by C. Stephen Byrum pages 78 & 79
This is a brief summary of Samuel, Alexander and David Cleage from 1810 to 1870 as the family went from enslaving no one, to collectively owning over 120 people. These are the plantations on which the people in this series lived during slavery.
Samuel Cleage
Samuel Cleage
Samuel Cleage was born in 1781 in Pennsylvania. The family later moved to Botecourt, VA. His father, Alexander Cleage, had no enslaved persons according to the Federal Censuses he appeared in.
Samuel worked as a building contractor in Virginia. In 1810 he was 29, had a household consisting of 7 white people and 1 enslaved person. After his parents died in 1823 he moved his whole household to McMinn County, Tennessee. He was about 42 years old. Read about the move at C is for Cleage Bricks.
The trip took several years because he stopped to build brick houses at farms along the way, collecting pay in gold and enslaved people. Although some sources say that he arrived with hundreds of enslaved and barrels of gold, the 1830 Census lists a household of 4 free whites and 15 enslaved blacks. After arriving, Samuel picked out a parcel of about 1,125 acres and using enslaved labor, built a fine brick house. The land that Samuel Cleage bought was part of the land opened for white settlement when some Cherokee, hoping to profit from the already occurring influx of whites, signed the Calhoun Treaty. It was called the Hiwassiee Purchase.
In a 1834 agreement between Samuel Cleage and his overseer, 7 enslaved persons were named and 2 little boys were unnamed. Some of the tasks mentioned in the agreement are clearing land, distilling and planting. Article of Agreement Between Samuel Cleage and Overseer – 1834.
By 1840 the household consisted of himself and his wife and 23 enslaved people. Eleven are involved in agriculture. In the 1850 census Samuel and his wife shared their home with his son David, his wife and 2 small sons. They now owned 31 slaves, 1,200 improved acres and 20 unimproved with a value of $20,500. That translates to about $560.000 in today’s dollars. Samuel Cleage died in 1850 at age 69.
Alexander Cleage
Alexander Cleage
Alexander Cleage, born in 1801, was the oldest son of Samuel and Mary Cleage. He married Jemima Hurst in 1832 when he was 31. She brought 4 enslaved women to the marriage. One was my 2X great grandmother. They were named in her father Elijah Hurst’s Will. The first census I found him was for 1840. There were 6 white family members and 4 slaves – 3 women and a boy. That is 1 less woman than the 4 that came to the marriage.
By 1850, Alexander was a bank officer. There were 9 white family members and 31 slaves, 24 women and 7 males. His real estate was worth $5,750. In 1852 there was some moving around of slaves from Samuel Cleage’s estate and Alexander came into possession of 12 named slaves. In 1857 there was a bill of sale for an unnamed slave.
In 1860, Alexander was a farmer with estate was worth $43,500 and a personal estate worth $55,000. There were 7 family members, 52 slaves and 8 slave dwellings. He wrote his Will that year and gave the names of the 12 slaves his wife received at her marriage and “their increase”, plus two men. I only recognize 2 of the names as being the same as those in Elijah Hurst’s Will.
In 1870, Alexander was a 69 year old farmer. He owned land worth $40,000 and his personal estate was worth $20,000. Two of his 2 children, a young man 23 and a girl 13, at home and both attended school during the past year. Everyone in the family was literate. There are no slaves in the household, but the 16 year old live in black servant is illiterate and she has not attended school during the past year.
David Cleage
David Cleage
David Cleage was born in 1806 in Virginia. I have 2 bills of sale for 3 named slave boys, ages 10, 11 and 13 for 1841 and 1842. In 1846 David married Martha Bridgman. She brought at least 1 enslaved girl with her, Charlotte who was about 10.
In 1850, David Cleage was 44. He was a cashier at the bank in Athens, TN. His real estate is valued at $1,000. He and his family are sharing a home with his parents. He owns 32 slaves.
By 1860, the number has risen to 75 slaves living in 8 slave dwellings. He is still a cashier at the bank, real estate worth $2,000 and personal estate worth $90,000. The household includes 5 family members and an overseer.
In 1870 David was 64,a retired banker with real estate worth $18,700 and a personal estate worth $41,995. All 7 people in the household are literate. The children between ages 21 and 8 attended school within the last year.
I pulled this list together using documents from the plantations of Samuel, Alexander and David Cleage and Elijah Hurst. All four were located in McMinn County, Tennessee. During 2015, I am going to go through the list and write about each person that I can find after Freedom in 1865. I completed 4 earlier. You can read their story by clicking on the linked names. I will start tomorrow with a general description of each plantation.
I have looked for the original article about the death of Samuel Cleage in 1850 with no results, other than this short item. After reading the obituary, I noticed the following items along with ads for ink, land, “newest goods” and the Forest Hill Academy. There was an article about the new President Filmore and the ads below, which jumped out at me.
“By virtue of a decree of the chancery court at Cleveland, Tennessee made at __ February term, 1850 in the case of John D. Traynor and his wife Mary Ann Traynor and others against William B. Cozby, William McDonald and David Ragsdale Administrators of John Cozby deceased and others. I will on Tuesday, the 20th day of August next, expose to public sale at Smith’s cross Roads, in Rhea County, Tennesseem twenty two Negroes belonging to the estate of said John Cozby, deceased.
The above Negroes will be sold on a credit of six months the purchaser giving bond with two or more suffcient securities for the price of the slave or slaves purchased. James Berry C. & M. July 12, 1850 – 4 Pr’s fee $3.50 94.”
A Likely Negro Girl for Sale!
The subscriber has a likely NEGRO GIRL which he will sell on reasonable terms. Said girl is in her 15th year, likely, o good size, healthy and stout. His residence is in McMinn county, 12 1/2 miles South of Athens on the road leading to the mouth of Ocoee. Any person wishing to purchase can call and see for themselves Thos. Trew McMinn co., July 26, 1850 – 3 96
Run Away
“From the subscriber living in Monroe county, head-waters of Estanallee creek, a black woman named EASTER, very black, about 38 years old, pleasant countenance, and quick spoken. She left on the 15th last; had a good lot of clothes, and took with her two quilts, two counterpanes and many other bed clothes. Said woman was formerly owned by Capt. Thos. Pagmore. She may be in that section or making her way off.
Any person who may arrest said girl and return her to me, or confine her so that I can get her will be liberally rewarded for their trouble. ELIZABETH CARTER, July 30, 1850- 96″
Samuel Cleage was the owner of my 2 X great grandfather, Frank Cleage. In July of 1850, Samuel Cleage was killed by Ambrose Griffith. Unfortunately the only information that I have is a very splochy xerox copy of an article from (I think) a 1850 Athenian Post. I do not have the previous article that talks about the reason for the argument that led to the murder. I looked for Ambrose Griffith in the 1840 and 1850 and 1860 census. The only person by that name was a young man born in 1842 (too young to have been the murderer.) In 1860 he was overseer for Samuel Cleage’s son, David.
“In the last issue of our paper appeared an account of a difficulty between Samuel Cleage and Ambrose Griffith in which the former was cut and stabbed by the latter. This occurred on the morning of the 17th June. Sam Cleage died of his wounds the following Saturday night. The funeral sermon was preached on the succeeding Monday by the Rev. J.H. Martin at Mars Hill Presbyterian Church, Athens of which the deceased was a member. His friends who were with him in his last hours state that he was conscious of his dying condition and full of hope – even forgiving(?) the miserable man who’s fatal act was depriving a stricken wife and _____ children of their natural protector. We are __________ with him ___ and_____ was regarded him as ________ Since his connection with the church which occurred seven years ago, his walk had been consistent with _____ actions. The widow and the ______ children ___ the ___ this afternoon that was___upon them.
It is said that Griffith remained secreted in the neighborhood until he learned that Cleage was dying and then fled the country. We are not advised whether any steps are being taken to have him captured and brought to ______ for his crime. This is the fourth murder committed within the last two or three years – two in this town and two in the immediate vicinity- and in neither case has any vigorous or well directed effort been made to bring the murderer to the seat (?) of justice. Here as elsewhere the community is horrified at such things for a day or two and then drops into stolid indifference until startled(?) by the announcement of another bloody tragedy. It is so all over the United States. Punishment for crime of the higher grade is the exception and immunity the rule and the fault rests not with the officers of the law, but a demoralized and degenerate public sentiment which hunts down and sends a petty thief to the penitentiary and lets the red handed murderer escape without an effort.”
This is a copy of a companion Bill of Sale to the one that conveyed my 2 X great grandfather Frank Cleage from David Cleage, Walter Nutter and Elizabeth H. Nutter to Alexander Cleage. After the death of Samuel Cleage, father of David, Elizabeth and Alexander, died there was some shuffling around of enslaved people, livestock and household property between the sibling. In each document 12 slaves and the same amount of money are exchanged. This is one of three Bills of Sale that I have of those transactions. It is transcribed below. As always, click on them to enlarge. There was no punctuation in the document and I added none.
Know all men by these presents that we Alexander Cleage and Walter Nutter and his wife Elizabeth H Nutter have this day bargained and sold to David Cleage and his heirs and assigns forever Charity fourteen, Caroline sixteen Jim thirty Joe eight Sally near ten Arch sixteen Margth fourteen Bill forty five Charles twenty four Mary thirty one Henry four Lydia one year of age
For five thousand two hundred and fifty dollars being his distribution share out of the proceeds of the slaves of Samuel Cleage deceased We warrant said negroes (sic) to be slaves for life and that we as the heirs at law of Samuel Cleage have a right to convey them
Given under our hands and seals this 20th day of March 1852
Witness
Sam H Jordon Alex Cleage
Geo W Mayo Walter Nutter
Elizabeth H Nutter
State of Tennessee
County of McMinn
Personally appeared before me Geo W Mayo clerk of the county court of said county Alexander Cleage Walter Nutter and Elizabeth H Nutter wife of said Nutter the bargainers to the above bill of sale with whom I am personally acquainted each of whom acknowledge the due execution of the same on the day and year it bears date and for the purpose therein expressed and that the said Elizabeth Nutter wife of the aforementioned Walter Nutter was by me examined privately and apart from her said husband Walter Nutter who declared that she executed same knowingly & free from any compulsion or restraint on the part of her said husband Walter Nutter
Given under my hand at office in Athens the 20th day of March 1852
This is a copy of the Bill of Sale that conveyed my 2 X great grandfather Frank Cleage from David Cleage, Walter Nutter and Elizabeth H. Nutter to Alexander Cleage. After the death of Samuel Cleage, father of David, Elizabeth and Alexander, died there was some shuffling around of enslaved people, livestock and household property between the siblings. This is one of three Bills of Sale that I have of those transactions. The documents are transcribed below. As always, click on them to enlarge. There was no punctuation in the document and I added none.
Know all men by these presents that we David Cleage and Walter Nutter and his wife Elizabeth H Nutter have this day bargained and sold to Alexander Cleage and his heirs and assigns forever Joe forty four years of age Jane eighteen Lynd eleven Frank thirty nine Phillip forty Lewis twenty six Sam ten Jeff five Martha twenty one Lea thirty four Julian forty three Patsy five
For five thousand two hundred and fifty dollars being his distribution share out of the proceeds of the slaves of Samuel Cleage deceased We warrant said negroes (sic) to be slaves for life and that we as the heirs at law of Samuel Cleage have a right to convey them
Given under our hands and seals this 20th day of March 1852
Witness
Sam H Jordon David Cleage
Geo W Mayo Walter Nutter
Elizabeth H Nutter
State of Tennessee
County of McMinn
Personally appeared before me Geo W Mayo clerk of the county court of said county David Cleage Walter Nutter and Elizabeth H Nutter wife of said Nutter the bargainers to the above bill of sale with whom I am personally acquainted each of whom acknowledge the due execution of the same on the day and year it bears date and for the purpose therein expressed and that the said Elizabeth Nutter wife of the aforementioned Walter Nutter was by me examined privately and apart from her said husband Walter Nutter who declared that she executed same knowingly & free from any compulsion or restraint on the part of her said husband Walter Nutter
Given under my hand at office in Athens the 20th day of March 1852
I have decided to go through my grandparent’s photographs and see how many of their friends I can trace. Yesterday I was looking at my grandfather, Mershell C. Graham’s friends from home when I came across “Hands up. Just a little desperato. You know why.”
I turned it over and saw there was a bit written there in pencil. Holding it up to the sunshine coming in the window, I was able to read: “From my friend Charlie Watkins. 10/22/07. Mershell Graham. Chas’ wife Emma Dee died 1949.”
In 1907 my grandfather was still living in Montgomery, Alabama. When looking for information about people who aren’t relatives, I’ve found it very helpful to start a tree for them on Ancestry. I’m able to put all of the information I find in context. I made Charles Watkins with wife Emma Dee (maiden name unknown at that point) the starting couple.
I was zipping along finding information when I decided to check out some photographs that were suggested. Imagine my surprise when I realized that Charles Watkins was the brother of William Watkins that I wrote about earlier here He Hid Beneath the Floor. It tells the story of Victor Tulane, my 2X great uncle by marriage, hiding a family friend, Montgomery dentist, William Watkins, under their floor to save him from white vigilantes. When I wrote that post I researched the Watkins family. I recognized the photograph of their father, William Watkins Sr.
Charles married Emma Thompson, a seamstress, in 1910 in Montgomery. By 1917 the family was living in Chicago, IL. They had two children, William born in 1912 and Sarah born in 1916. Emma was no longer working. Charles was a carpenter, as his father had been. By 1920 they were living in Los Angeles, California. He was the first member of the family to move west. Others followed later as most members of the family left Montgomery after brother William was smuggled out to escape the mob.
Charles Watkins died in Los Angeles at the age of 74. I still don’t know why he was a little desperado.
Several days ago, I found the will of Alexander Cleage, which mentioned my Cleage Ancestors: Frank, Juda and Lewis Cleage by name, as he willed them to his wife. After finding the will, I did two things. First, I went back through the other documents I have concerning the white Cleages and slavery. I found a bill of sale wherein David Cleage and his sister Elizabeth sold some of their inherited slaves (including my great-great grandfather, Frank) to Alexander. I had believed that my family went from Samuel Cleage to son David, and remained with him, after Samuel’s death. This cleared that up.
Next, I set up a tree for the white Cleages on Ancestry.com. Through the shakey leaves I found another will. This one for Elijah Hurst, father of Alexander’s wife Jemima Hurst Cleage. In the will, Elijah deeds Jemima my great-great grandmother, Juda, who (along with several other slaves) he had already given her when she married. There was a wealth of information and documentation available on Ancestry which I am going through now.
After going through those documents, I will modify the timelines I have for Frank and Juda Cleage. I am also going to be looking for traditions surrounding giving ones daughter a couple of slaves to take with her when she married. This is the second case of that I have found in my family. My great great grandmother Eliza was given to Edmund Harrison’s daughter Martha Harrison, when she married Milton Saffold.
This is the year that I plan to devote some real time to writing up my family history. More about that later.
While looking through the 1894 very fragile copy of The Freeman, I came across a column called Lost Relatives. There were many columns like this after the Civil War where people wrote hoping to find family members – mothers, brothers, sisters, children – that were sold away to other plantations. This column was written 29 years after the war and people were still hoping to find their loved ones. It must have been amazing to find your mother looking for you when you never expected to see her again. When you didn’t know if she was dead or alive. The emotions I feel finding my long dead ancestors in wills and census charts, pales by comparison. Click to enlarge.
For more information about the Lost! newspaper items, go to this link Lost! African American Search Notices After Slavery.
