Bath County KYGenWeb

African American Resources

1810 Montgomery County, KY Slave Owners

Since Bath County was part of Montgomery County until it was formed 1811, the 1810 census for Montgomery is a good resource for Bath County slave owners just prior to 1811. Only the total number of slaves by household is shown in this census.

The census shows 407 slave owners with 1,724 slaves. The majority of these owners and slaves were likely located in or near Mt. Sterling and Owingsville. Lexington and Mt. Sterling were the two main slave auction blocks in Kentucky at that time.

The largest slave owner was Thomas Owings, with 43 slaves. He operated the Bourbon Iron Furnace just south of Owningsville. John Jouett owned 25 slaves. He was a Bath County cattle breeder. Another large Owningsville slave holder was Richard Menefee with 19 slaves. He operated a pottery.

1860 Bath County Free Blacks

There were 176 free blacks and mulattos in Bath County according to the 1860 census. Most free blacks had their own farms. A few free blacks lived and worked in white households.

1864-1865 Union Colored Troops Muster Rolls

Colored Troops Regiments were raised during the last two years of the Civil War by the Union Army. They were comprised of 178,000 free blacks and freed slaves. Kentucky mustered in over 23,000 black soldiers. Each soldier had a first and last name, whereas slaves were generally not permitted to have a last name.

Bath County African Americans in the Navy During the Civil War

414 Kentucky African Americans served in the Navy during the war. 3 sailors were from Bath County. They served in the fleet, as well as on the inland rivers across the nation.

Riley Burns, 37, Fieldhand/Carpenter, 11 Jul 1863/FTW/USS Judge Torrence, Vicksburg, 1st Class Boy, Judge Torrence.
Samuel Higgins, 30, 06 Aug 1863/2years/Natchez, MS, 1st Class Boy, Benton
Mack Young, 58, OxDriver/Fieldhand, 12 Aug 1863/1year/Helena, AR, 1st Class Boy, Pinkney/Southfield/Sovereign/Black Hawk

1811 - 1847 Bath County Tax Lists

The tax lists show numbers of blacks above 16 years of age, as well as total blacks, by taxable person. Microfilms of these tax lists are available at several locations; the Kentucky History Center Library in Frankfort, KY; the Allen County Public Library in Ft. Wayne, IN; the Church of Latter Day Saints Research Library in Salt Lake City, UT, which can be loaned to a local LDS Family Center for your research.

Notes

Sometimes freed slaves took the surname of their owner. However, my research has shown freed slaves often took a surname for reasons known only to them. This may have been someone who befriended them, perhaps a preacher, or someone sympathetic to their plight.

There are at least two situations in Bath County where former slaves did take the names of their owners, Botts and Rall. Actually, these slaves were freed by their owners decades before emancipation in 1865.

John Botts' will dated December 7, 1840 is as follows.

Before God, I John Botts of Bath County, Kentucky make this my last Will & Testament. First it is my will and desire that all my just debts be first paid. Secondly it is my will and desire that my Servant Daphney and her nine Children ----- (?) Peter, Henry, Lucy Cardin, Alexander, Milly, Robert, ----- (Landen?), and Jacksen be free and set at liberty at my death and I give and bequeath to my said servant Daphney and her nine Children for and during their natual lives the Houses and land and app--(?) Whereon I now live supposed to control about sixty acres of land with line of Division to be run commencing at a marked White Oak at the mouth of my land and running in a North Eastern direction Saps to include the Sugar Camp Spring to Walker Kelsves line, I further give and bequeath to my said Servant Daphney and her nine Children afore said my brown mare one yoke of Oxen Three ----------, four head of young Cattle (?). -------- my flock of sheep (?) Containing twenty or thirty head together with all of my stock of hogs and corn,meat and ------ Sufficient for one years Subsistence. Thirdly I give and bequeath to my Brother Benjamin Botts and his heirs forever the house and App------ (?) whereon he now lives together with residence of my land Supposed to contain one hundred and thirty or forty acres. Fourthly it is my will and desire that my sister Eliza Oakley have a negro girl and to carry out that desire I direct that my executors appropiate five hundred dollars of my Estate to the purchase for -------(?) Negro girl immediately after my death which I give and bequeath to my Said Sister Eliza Oakley and her heirs forever. Fifthly I give and bequeath to my nephew Jefferson Dawson my ----- (?) bay Colt. Sixithly It is my will and desire after the payment of all my just debts that the residue of my Estate be Equally divided between my brothers and Sisters to wit William Botts, Archibald Botts, Benjamin Botts and Eliza Oakley and their heirs. Lastly I Constitute and appoint my brothers Archibald Botts and Benjamin Botts exucutors of this my last will testament. In testament whereas I have here unto Set my hand and seal this 7th day of Dec in the year of our Lord 1840 Signed and acknowledged in presents of John Botts (SEAL) P.A. Turner Wm H. Dawson John Dawson

In this case, it is difficult to reconcile John Botts' fourth desire with his second desire.

The 1830 census shows Elizabeth Ralls, age 60, living alone on a large farm with 6 free blacks and 7 slaves. I suspect she is a descendant of Nathaniel Ralls, who died about 1827. The free blacks may have been using Ralls as their last name, but the census taker chose not to record it.

In 1840, the census shows Elizabeth with 8 free blacks and 1 slave, all with no last names recorded. We have to wonder if some of the slaves were freed and moved to their own places.

The 1850 census is the first census required to separately enumerate slaves held by each owner. Curiously, Elizabeth is listed with 14 slaves that year and no free blacks. Was this an error on the part of the census taker or did a new Kentucky law forbid freeing slaves?

That year a Nancy Ralls, age 50, white, is listed with Elizabeth. Perhaps a niece? Elizabeth was 80 that year.

By 1860, Elizabeth is gone, and there are 3 black Ralls families living in their own homes. Other black Ralls are living with 5 other white families. This is the first census listing Ralls as their last name.

By comparing the number of slave owners to the number of households, it appears that 23% of the households in 1860 Bath County owned at least one slave. This seems to have been typical. Some southern areas were much higher, other areas less.

It is also worth noting that 126 of the 411 slave owners in Bath County in 1860 only owned 1 slave.

On another note, the first slaves were brought to the area that became Bath County by 1791. Real family settlement in this area didn't take place until 1791-1792 due to Indian uprisings.

It was about that time, 1791, that the Bourbon Iron Furnace went into operation. A militia was assigned to the furnace to protect it from attacks. John Owings used slave labor to cut wood, make charcoal, and move materials from its beginning.