Georgia Smith (abt. 1850 - 1941)

Born about 1850 in Oglethorpe, Georgia, United States

Died 1 Jan 1941 at about age 91 in Athens, Clarke, Georgia, United States

Biography

Georgia Smith is a part of US Black heritage.

Georgia was born enslaved about 1850 on a plantation in Oglethorpe County, GA where her mother was enslaved before her. Georgia's mother died when she was about six years old and she went to stay with her father. That did not last more than a few months before she was sent back to the Chappell plantation. After Slavery ending in 1865^[1] Georgia stated that she stayed on with her mistress until she died before moving into Athens, GA.^[2]

Georgia passed away in 1941 and was laid to rest in^[3] Gospel Pilgrim Cemetery, Athens, GA.^[4]

Family

• Father - Blackstone Smith
• Mother - Nancy Chappell

Slave Owner

Peggie Chappell - Oglethorpe County, Georgia^[5]

Jeb Smith - Oglethorpe County, Georgia ^[6]

Interview

Georgia was interviewed by Grace McCune sometime during 1937 in Athens, Georgia as part of the Federal Writer's Project of the Works Progress Administration (WPA). The results are presented in narrative form, most, allegedly, in the first person, and made available by the Library of Congress. ^[2]

Georgia recalls - Mos' of de slaves stayed with Mistus atter freedom come, 'cause dey all loved her, an' dey diden' have no place to go. Mistus fed 'em Jes' lak' she had allus done and paid 'em a little money too.

The total interview can be read here page 281.

Research Notes

My pappy was Blackstone Smith, and he b' longed to Marstr Jeb Smith. My mammy was Nancy Chappell, owned by Mistus Peggie Chappell.

It appears that Georgia never married, nor did she have any children.

Sources

1. ↑ The 13th Amendment, adopted on December 18, 1865, officially abolished slavery, but freed Black peoples' status in the post-war South remained precarious, and significant challenges awaited during the Reconstruction period.
2. ↑ ^{2.0 2.1} [1] Library of Congress - TYPEWRITTEN RECORDS PREPARED BY THE FEDERAL WRITERS' PROJECT. 1936-1938 ASSEMBLED BY THE LIBRARY OF CONGRESS PROJECT WORK PROJECTS ADMINISTRATION FOR THE DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA - SLAVE NARRATIVES - Georgia Smith - Page 281
3. ↑ "Georgia Deaths, 1928-1943," database with images, FamilySearch ([2] : 2 March 2021), Georgia Smith, 1 Jan 1941; citing Athens, Clarke, Georgia, United States, Georgia State Archives, Morrow.
4. ↑ Find a Grave, database and images (https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/116780995/georgia-smith : accessed 11 April 2022), memorial page for Georgia Smith (unknown–1 Jan 1941), Find A Grave: Memorial #116780995, citing Gospel Pilgrim Cemetery, Athens, Clarke County, Georgia, USA ; Maintained by Lulu Lowry (contributor 47636173) .
5. ↑ "United States Census (Slave Schedule), 1860", database with images, FamilySearch ([3] : 16 October 2019), Margaret Chapell, 1860.
6. ↑ "United States Census (Slave Schedule), 1850 ", database with images, FamilySearch ([4] : 23 February 2021), J B Smith in entry for MM9.1.1/MVHB-K1H:, 1850.