Slaves of Louisa America Tait, Mississippi

Date: [unknown] [unknown]
Location: [unknown]
Surnames/tags: slavery Mississippi

This page enumerates the slavery history of Louisa America (Tait) Meriwether (1811-1896)

Lemuel's Will of 1854

Louisa was first married to Lemuel Banks (1806-1854) in 1833. At Lemuel's death, he willed his entire property to Louisa. However, it stated if she were to remarry, the entire estate was to be divided between her and all his children. She was to decide who got what portion as each child came of age. Louisa remarried in 1857. The surviving children at that time were:

• James Ralph Banks
• George Thomas Banks
• Charles Hardy Banks
• Richard Mcpherson Banks
• Henry Banks
• Mary Baker Banks

In 1860, Richard, Henry, and Mary had not yet come of age. Therefore, it is assumed all the slaves listed on the 1860 slave schedule under Louisa's name were a combination of what she and the three children owned. However, in 1860, those three children were living with their older brother George. It is possible trusteeship was passed to him. More research is needed.

1860 Slave Schedule DeSoto County, MS

Age Birthdate Gender Race

1. 60 1800 Male Black
2. 60 1800 Male Black
3. 40 1820 Male Black
4. 38 1822 Male Black
5. 38 1822 Male Black
6. 30 1830 Male Black
7. 30 1830 Male Black
8. 30 1830 Male Black
9. 25 1835 Male Black
10. 18 1842 Male Black
11. 18 1842 Male Black
12. 55 1805 Female Black
13. 45 1815 Female Black
14. 35 1825 Female Black
15. 26 1834 Female Black
16. 23 1837 Female Black
17. 45 1815 Female Black
18. 35 1825 Female Black
19. 18 1842 Female Black
20. 18 1842 Female Black
21. 18 1842 Female Black
22. 18 1842 Female Black
23. 12 1848 Female Black
24. 12 1848 Female Black
25. 10 1850 Female Black
26. 9 1851 Female Black
27. 6 1854 Female Black
28. 5 1855 Female Black
29. 4 1856 Female Black
30. 4 1856 Female Black
31. 4 1856 Female Black
32. 3 1857 Female Black
33. 2 1858 Female Black
34. 1 1859 Female Black

Total 34

Sources

• Probate: "Mississippi, U.S., Wills and Probate Records, 1780-1982"
  Will Record (Desoto County, Mississippi); Index to Wills, 1851-1990; Author: Desoto County (Mississippi). Chancery Clerk; Probate Place: DeSoto, Mississippi
  Ancestry Sharing Link - Ancestry Record 8995 #5068084
  Louise L Banks probate in 1851-1870 in DeSoto, Mississippi, USA.
• 1860 U.S. Federal Census - Slave Schedules:
  The National Archives in Washington, DC; Washington, DC, USA; Eighth Census of the United States 1860; Series Number: M653; Record Group: Records of the Bureau of the Census; Record Group Number: 29
  Ancestry Sharing Link - Ancestry Record 7668 #91992811
  L A Merriwether, slave owner of 34 enslaved people, in 1860 in Desoto, Mississippi, USA.