>Forwarded From: Louise <cmp13mge@GTE.NET> >To: NC-SC-ROOTS-L@LISTSERV.INDIANA.EDU > >I found this article on the Miami County Ohio Genealogy Website. >I thought it was a very interesting article. I think it appeared in the >Troy Daily News >Louise Vanover Vore >For further information contact : >Connie Porcher, March 1979 >porcher@erinet.com or joe.boss@erinet.com > > >Some Miami County residents can trace their roots to the early Randolph >slave group. The Randolph slaves acquired their name from John Randolph, a >plantation owner in Charlotte County, Virginia. At his death in 1833, >Randolph freed his slaves and provided $8,000 for the purchase of land in a >free state. Judge William Leigh was appointed to carry out the will's >provisions. Following lengthy litigation in the Virginia courts, Leigh >purchased 2,000 of land in Mercer County. Leigh immediately transported >over 300 slaves down the Ohio River to Cincinnati, then northward by canal >boat to Minster in Auglaize County. Unfortunately, a group of armed farmers >refused to allow the slaves to disembark. Turning back the boat, they were >permitted to unload at Piqua. The July 25, 1846 Piqua Register carried the >following account of the "Randolph Negroes". > >"These unfortunate creatures have again been driven from lands selected for >them. As we noted last week, an effort, which it was thought would be >successful, was made to settle them in Shelby county, but like the previous >attempt in Mercer, it has failed. They were driven away by threats of >violence. About one third of them, we understand, remained at Sidney, >intending to scatter, and find homes wherever they can. The rest of them >came down here to-day (Thursday) and are now at the wharf in boats. The >present intention is to leave them wherever places can be obtained for >them. We presume, therefore, they will all remain in the State, as it is >probable they will find situations for the whole of them between this and >Cincinnati. The necessity which now separates and scatters them over the >whole country (connected as they are by ties of kindred, being as it were, >but one family,) is a hard one, but it is probably the best thing that can >be done." > >A sizable group finally settle in the Knowles Addition just east of the >village of Rossville, now annexed to Piqua. The 1850 census of Springcreek >Township cites 74 blacks living in Rossville. Riley Sampson, Shadrack >White, Guy Howell, and Gabriel White, all listed as laborers, owned >property worth a combined total of $950. This figure is all the more >significant when compared to white property ownership in Rossville which >totaled only $1,100. The black population remained about equal, at 71, by >the 1860 census. However, the group was somewhat more prosperous, showing >property and cash valued at $3,530. Of the fourteen black property owners, >Shadrack and Gabriel White were the only two 1850 census property owners >still listed. Gabriel's estate had increased from $300 to $350 while >Shadrack's holdings had climbed from $200 to $350. The largest estate >belonged to Isaac Guy, a day laborer, who claimed property and cash valued >at $700. > >Other groups of Randolph slaves moved throughout Miami County, especially >to the Troy and West Milton areas. In Union Township (West Milton), the >West Branch Quakers sponsored a large colony of the former slaves. The 1850 >census counts 90 blacks living in the township itself with two other young >children living with white families in West Milton. While most of the men >are listed as laborers, the group did claim a combined estate valued at >$1,540. But 1860, the 93 Randolph Slaves were still living as a group >within the township. One member, Isaac Cole, age 67, is listed as a farmer >who owned land valued at $2,000 and had a cash estate of $370. > >A suit, later filed in Mercer County to recover their lost lands, was >decided against the Randolph slave group. >------------------------------------------------------------------------- >- African Ancestored Genealogy Discussion >- To unsubscribe, email: Majordomo@MsState.Edu >- In body of message: unsubscribe afrigeneas >- >- Afrigeneas archives: http://www.msstate.edu/listarchives/afrigeneas/ >------------------------------------------------------------------------- >