Phil Towns (1824 - 1937)

Born 25 Jun 1824 in Richmond, Henrico, Virginia, United States [uncertain]

Died 4 Feb 1937 at age 112 in Macon, Bibb, Georgia, United States

Biography

Phil Towns is a part of US Black heritage.

Phil Towns was a centenarian, living to age 112.

Phil was a Freedman when interviewed at the age of about 113 in 1937 by the Federal Writers' Project for their Slave Narrative Project. The narratives are in the Library of Congress, and considered to be in the Public Domain. ^[1][2][3] In his interview, he recalls life growing up as a slave.

Phil stated he was born in 1824 in Richmond, Virginia, to Washington and Clara Towns. His grandparents came from Africa. His grandmother, Hannah, lived to 129.

The family was enslaved by George Towns in Richmond, Virginia. His slaves and friends called him Governor. George later moved his family and slaves to Taylor County, Georgia, where he purchased 1350 acres on the Flint River. The "Big House" held a family of 18. His 88 slaves were housed in quarters that ranged in size depending on the size of their family. (George also had a home in Macon, Bibb County, Georgia.)

Phil stated: "Governor" was so exceptionally kind to his slaves that they were known as "Gov, Towns' free negroes" to those on neighboring farms.

Phil was the coach driver for Gov, Towns, and sometimes was hired out to other people which gave him an opportunity to make some cash.

During the civil war, Phil was dispatched to accompany the governor's son, John, while he served in the Confederate Army. Phil acted as his cook, valet and caretaker. They were only gone a short while before John was deemed too important and sent home.

Phil describes in his interview that his most memorable experience was the night the stars fell out of the sky.^[4]

Census Records

In the 1920 census Phillipp [sic] (age 97), Peddler, was the widowed head of household in Macon Ward 1, Bibb, Georgia.^[5]

No other records have been found.

Death

Phil, son of Clara Towns, died (age 112) on 4 February 1937 in Macon, Bibb, Georgia, United States.^[6] Phil was mentioned on a memorial in Bethel Cemetery, Cordele, Crisp County, Georgia, United States with a death date of 4 February 1937. His memorial page has a post of a newspaper article on him right before his death. It stated he was 112 years old.^[7]

Slave Owner

• George Towns, of Richmond, Virginia, then later, Taylor County, Georgia and Bibb County, Georgia (this according to Phil) - This may actually be George Washington Bonaparte Towns (1801-1854), a governor of Georgia.

Sources

1. ↑ The Federal Writers' Project. Slave Narratives; A Folk History of Slavery in the United States From Interviews with Former Slaves, Washington, District of Columbia : The Library of Congress, 1941 (https://www.loc.gov/collections/slave-narratives-from-the-federal-writers-project-1936-to-1938/?fa=original-format:manuscript/mixed+material)
2. ↑ Phil Towns, Old Slave Story
3. ↑ Freedman Narratives: "U.S., Interviews with Formerly Enslaved People, 1936-1938"
   Library of Congress; Library of Congress, Washington D.C.; A Folk History of Slavery in the United States From Interviews with Former Slaves, 1936–1938; Volume: Vol. 1-17; Page: 37
   Ancestry Sharing Link - Ancestry Record 1944 #6500 (accessed 5 August 2023)
   Name: Phil Towns; Birth Date: 25 Jun 1824; Birth Place: Richmond, Virginia; Place of Origin: Reynolds; Taylor County; Georgia; Residence Place: Georgia; Interview Place: Reynolds, Taylor County, Georgia; Spouse: Adline; Father: Washington Towns; Mother: Clara Towns; Total Pages in Narrative File: 11; Roll number: SCM 000 322; Name of Slave Owner(s) (Name): George Towns
   Phil Towns
   Adline
   Washington Towns
   Clara Towns.
4. ↑ The Night the Stars Fell - 1833, USA
5. ↑ 1920 Census: "1920 United States Federal Census"
   Year: 1920; Census Place: Macon Ward 1, Bibb, Georgia; Roll: T625_235; Page: 17A; Enumeration District: 21
   Ancestry Sharing Link - Ancestry Record 6061 #19968899 (accessed 5 August 2023)
   Phillipp Town (97), widowed, Peddler, head of household in Macon Ward 1, Bibb, Georgia. Born in Virginia.
6. ↑ Death: "Georgia, U.S., Death Records, 1914-1940"
   Georgia Department of Health and Vital Statistics; Atlanta, Georgia
   Ancestry Sharing Link - Ancestry Record 2562 #890994 (accessed 5 August 2023)
   Phil Towns death 4 Feb 1937 (age 112), son of Clara Towns, in Macon, Bibb, Georgia, USA.
7. ↑ Memorial: Find a Grave (has image)
   Find A Grave: Memorial #253439354 (accessed 5 August 2023)
   Memorial page for Phil Towns (25 Jun 1824-4 Feb 1937), citing Bethel Cemetery, Cordele, Crisp County, Georgia, USA; Maintained by Mark Krause (contributor 47419517).

• A site that claims the Slave Narratives were sometimes altered by the interviewer, and/or government reviewers, and did not represent the true words of the enslaved person. [1]