A story for descendants of slaves and slave-holders:

Question

Found: a story from the Dec. 18, 2016 NY Times:  When a dead slave became a valuable slave.

http://www.nytimes.com/2016/12/18/us/insurance-policies-on-slaves-new-york-lifes-complicated-past.html?WT.nav=top-news&action=click&clickSource=story-heading&emc=edit_nn_20161219&hp=&module=second-column-region&nl=morning-briefing&nlid=69828198&pgtype=Homepage&region=top-news&te=1

Comments

I ran into a list of given (first) names and dates in a family bible I thumbed through and was told that those were the names of slaves who had died. Slaves weren't given last names before emancipation. My family settled in Princess Anne County VA before the Revolution and were slave holders. This was years ago and I haven't any idea what happened to the bible, but I understand it's possible to trace freed slaves families back a few generations.

Finding that family were slaveholders (or murderers or river pirates or prostitutes or shot Yankee POWs at Andersonville) goes with an interest in genealogy. Take it back far enough and we'll all find plenty to be shocked about.

Answer 1

Wow. Stunning.

Great find!

Comments

Humankind's greed and incomprehensible cruelty is boundless. I have slaveholders in my tree.

Answer 2

Thank you for posting this, Roberta.  

Has anyone here on Wikitree been in contact with  Crista Cowan or other folks on Ancestry or the NY Times or with New York Life Ins. Co. to follow up on the names in the archives?
I do not have time, but am happy to help making the connections.
Best,
Shira

Comments

Shira, there's a Tag for Requests for Volunteers here. Would you be able to post the idea snd an ad in that queue? It shouldn't take much time. I am involved in starting a different Wikitree project right now. Plenty to do.

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Will do, thanks Roberta (my apologies for the delay...).
Shira

Answer 3

It is abhorrent, but the records may also be a treasure trove of information about ancestors.

Answer 4

I am reposting and tagging this per request.  Thank youf for posting this information.
Shira

Answer 5

I just did a little searching and found this info from the California Department of Insurance, that includes data from New York Life.  I haven't dug into the details to see if this is different info from what is mentioned in the article, but sharing it in case its useful to someone:

Slave names from New York Life Insurance submitted as part of Slavery Era Insurance Registry .

http://www.insurance.ca.gov/01-consumers/150-other-prog/10-seir/slave-names.cfm

Comments

Good Work, M. Cole,and Thanks!