This is a Message Board Post that is gatewayed to this mailing list. Surnames: Classification: queries Message Board URL: http://boards.rootsweb.com/localities.northam.usa.states.southcarolina.counties.beaufort/92.2/mb.ashx Message Board Post: Senora: My ancestors took the surname Blake after the Emancipation Proclamation. My family was originally enslaved by the Mary Brandford Bull (Bull family of South Carolina), then when she died the slaves were distributed to her four granddaughters, one of which was married to Daniel Blake, son of Joseph Blake. They lived at Newington plantation in the 1770s and owned more than 700 slaves. I have a list of over 100 slaves that were inherited by Elizabeth Blake. I also have the list of over 300 other slaves that were sent to the other three granddaughters. After the Blakes died Major Pierce Butler (husband of one of the other granddaughters, Mary Middleton Butler) moved some of the South Carolina slaves to Georgia (Butler's Island and St. Simon's Island). Four of the slaves were my ancestors, Captain (b. 1765), his wife, Darcus (b. 1764), and their children, London (b. 1793) and Lizette (b. 1795). In 1821, London and his wife, Judy, had a son Wallace. I was able to find Wallace (listed as Walter in 1870 and Wallace in 1880) on the 1870 census for Georgia under the surname Blake. These slaves were known as Geechees because of the way they talked and the customs they had. I am sure the slaves on these plantations were intermingled and some probably share common ancestors.