Slaves of Marion Banks, Alabama
Location: Tuscaloosa, Alabama, United States
Surnames/tags: Banks Slavery
Marion Banks (1813-1886) as a child inherited enslaved people from his father in Elbert County, Georgia. As an adult in Alabama, he owned slaves at his residence in Tuscaloosa County and at his large plantation in Bibb County. Banks Quarters, Alabama One Place Study
The history of his slave holding is outlined chronologically and by location below.
Elbert County, Georgia: Inherited Slaves
Marion Banks (1813-1886) in 1823 was left an inheritance of "all that tract of land on Little Cold Water Creek and one hundred and fifty three acres adjoining said Land on the South side" as well as 8 slaves by name, through the Will written by his father Ralph Banks (1757-1823).[1] The names of 7 of these 8 slaves match or approximately match some of the 58 named slaves found in Ralph Banks' probate document of the same year.[2]
Ralph left other land and slaves he had owned by name to Marion's mother Rachel Alston (Jones) Banks (1769-1851) and three of his brothers, Henry Banks (1804-1846), Lemuel Banks (1806-bef.1857), and Ralph Banks Jr. (1796-1871). The remainder were left to Ralph's other children.
Born in 1813, Marion was only ten years old when he inherited these 8 slaves. Upon the death of his father. Marion moved along with his mother, Rachel, and a brother, Willis, to Tuscaloosa, Alabama, where other older children of Rachel lived. They may have taken with them the slaves that Ralph had left them, or they may have sold them before or after they left. [3] [4]
Ralph left to his son Marion:
- Bill (bef.1805-) and his wife Patience
- Patience (bef.1805-)
- Kitt (bef.1805-)wife Izzy and boys Larkin, Pleasant, Jessie, Reuben
- (Larkin (bef.1805-))
- Pleasant Banks (bef.1805-)
- (Jess (bef.1805-))
- (Ruben (bef.1823-))
- Izzy (no closely matching name found in probate document)
In parentheses in the list of slaves above are those whose names might match those in the probate document of Marion Banks' father Ralph (written at about the same time as the Will, in 1823), but aren't exact matches. So it is not clear whether or not they are the same person.
Tuscaloosa County, Alabama: 1830 Federal Census
According to the 1830 Federal Census in Tuscaloosa, Alabama, Marion already, at the age of 17, owned 23 slaves.[5] He is listed on this census in residence with his mother Rachel Alston (Jones) Banks (1769-1851), with whom he moved to Tuscaloosa after the death of his father, each of them having inherited a few slaves each from him (see above).
According to a journal article on absentee ownership of slaves in 1830, Marion Banks was among some 2,000 enslavers who lived away from his plantation.[6] Perhaps by then he or his mother had acquired the plantation in Bibb County, where by 1850 he enslaved many people (see below).
The 23 slaves referenced in this journal article and in the 1830 census were listed as follows:
- Slaves - Males - under 10: 5
- Slaves - Male - 10 thru 23: 8
- Slaves - Male - 24 thru 35: 1
- Slaves - Male - 36 thru 54: 1
- Slaves - Female - under 10: 4
- Slaves - Female - 10 thru 23: 3
- Slaves - Female - 55 thru 99: 1
- Total Slaves: 23
Tuscaloosa County, Alabama: 1840 Federal Census
According to the 1840 Federal Census in Tuscaloosa County, Alabama, Marion had two slaves, presumably working at his home residence in Tuscaloosa: [7]
1 M 10-23
1 F 10-23
Bibb County, Alabama: 1850 Slave Schedule
By 1850, as shown by the Slave Schedule in Bibb County for that year, Marion had purchased a plantation in "W C River" there -- standing for the West Side of Cahaba River. [8] In 1850 he owned 57 slaves there, and according to the Census the property was valued at $6,000.
According to descendants' genealogical records, this plantation was about 2,000 acres large, located 15 or 20 miles from Tuscaloosa, [9] In his Will (1885, see below) he described the property as located on the "line" between Tuscaloosa and Bibb Counties, apparently falling into Bibb County for census purposes.
Ages, genders, and "color" for the 57 enslaved are as follows: [10]
| Name | Relation | Sex | Age | Color |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Marion Banks | Owner | |||
| Slave | M | 62 | B | |
| Slave | F | 54 | B | |
| Slave | M | 33 | B | |
| Slave | F | 29 | B | |
| Slave | F | 15 | B | |
| Slave | M | 22 | B | |
| Slave | M | 20 | B | |
| Slave | F | 16 | B | |
| Slave | M | 17 | B | |
| Slave | F | 12 | B | |
| Slave | M | 10 | B | |
| Slave | M | 15 | B | |
| Slave | M | 13 | B | |
| Slave | F | 24 | B | |
| Slave | M | 4 | B | |
| Slave | F | 27 | B | |
| Slave | M | 26 | B | |
| Slave | M | 15 | M | |
| Slave | M | 31 | B | |
| Slave | M | 47 | B | |
| Slave | M | 48 | B | |
| Slave | F | 42 | B | |
| Slave | M | 25 | B | |
| Slave | F | 23 | B | |
| Slave | F | 19 | B | |
| Slave | F | 18 | B | |
| Slave | M | 16 | B | |
| Slave | F | 13 | B | |
| Slave | F | 11 | B | |
| Slave | M | 9 | B | |
| Slave | M | 7 | B | |
| Slave | M | 11 | B | |
| Slave | M | 3 | B | |
| Slave | M | 47 | B | |
| Slave | F | 30 | B | |
| Slave | F | 14 | B | |
| Slave | M | 12 | B | |
| Slave | M | 10 | B | |
| Slave | M | 8 | B | |
| Slave | F | 7 | B | |
| Slave | F | 5 | B | |
| Slave | M | 3 | B | |
| Slave | F | 3 | B | |
| Slave | M | 35 | B | |
| Slave | M | 21 | B | |
| Slave | F | 2 | B | |
| Slave | F | 2 | B | |
| Slave | F | 29 | B | |
| Slave | F | 10 | B | |
| Slave | F | 8 | B | |
| Slave | F | 6 | B | |
| Slave | F | 4 | B | |
| Slave | M | 1 | B | |
| Slave | F | 28 | B | |
| Slave | F | 6 | B | |
| Slave | M | 3 | B | |
| Slave | M | 1 | B |
Tuscaloosa County, Alabama: 1850 Slave Schedule
The same year, according to the 1850 Slave Schedule in Tuscaloosa County, Alabama, Marion apparently kept one slave at what we know was his primary residence in Tuscaloosa: [11]
- 1 M Age 30 Mulatto
Tuscaloosa County, AL 1855 Census
1855 Census, Marion Banks (bottom of page) had 12 slaves listed with him.[12]
Tuscaloosa County, Alabama: 1860 Slave Schedule
According to the 1860 Slave Schedule in Tuscaloosa, Alabama, Marion owned eleven slaves, listed by each person's age, gender, and "color." [13]
| Name | Relation | Sex | Age | Color |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Marion Banks | Owner | |||
| Slave | M | 90 | B | |
| Slave | F | 80 | B | |
| Slave | M | 50 | B | |
| Slave | F | 51 | B | |
| Slave | F | 40 | B | |
| Slave | M | 35 | B | |
| Slave | M | 25 | B | |
| Slave | M | 18 | B | |
| Slave | F | 14 | B | |
| Slave | M | 10 | B | |
| Slave | M | 8 | B |
Bibb County, Alabama: 1866 State Census, "Colored Population"
No 1860 federal "Slave Schedule" was found for Marion Banks. But just after the Emancipation, the 1866 state census of the "colored population" in Bibb County included the names of fifteen people with the last name "Banks." Four of these names match the names of four of the eleven men who received portions of the plantation left to his "former slaves" by Marion Banks in his Will (see below). In other words, these four men were free, but previously enslaved by Banks.[14]
- Pleasant Banks (bef.1823-)
- John Banks (abt.1832-)
- Wiley Banks (bef.1868-)
- Harvey Banks (abt.1835-abt.1905)
Tuscaloosa, Alabama: Probate and Land Records, Bequeath of Plantation to Former Slaves 1886
Marion's Last Will and Testament was written on June 9, 1885 (the year before his death) and recorded in Tuscaloosa County by the Probate Judge on March 20, 1886 (two months after his death). Presumably this probate record was recorded in the county of his residency even though the plantation was located in Bibbs County.
Marion Banks bequeathed his "old plantation lying on the line between Tuscaloosa and Bibb Counties" by name to eleven of his "former slaves" on which (at the time the Will was written) these former slaves were still "residing." It is notable that long after the Civil War ended, they remained on the land.
Marion further wrote in the Will that the plantation was "to be divided by my former slaves Harvey and Sidney in whom I have the utmost confidence of their doing justice to such party" -- referring to the group of people to whom the land was to be distributed, likely including the families of the eleven formerly enslaved men.[15]
Probate records meticulously kept by the Executor of Marion's estate, Frank E. Mood, with the account recorded by the probate judge in August 1893, show that these formerly enslaved people did receive portions of Marion's plantation, and all "were perhaps residents of Bibb County AL, near Vance Station" -- the same location referred to seven years earlier, in Marion Banks' Will.[16]
Later, Banks descendants wrote that Harvey was previously the foreman at the plantation, and that he "discharged his duty with so much equity and fairness that no dispute arose about the matter of the division." The former slaves formed a "flourishing colony" at Vance, on the Alabama & Great Southern Railroad. [17]
The 11 formerly enslaved people who inherited the plantation (along with their unnamed and uncounted family members) were named in the Will as follows:[18]
Harvey Banks (abt.1835-abt.1905)
"Dr" Tom Tom Banks (bef.1868-)
"Maj" Tom Tom Banks (bef.1868-)
Henry Dollar Banks (bef.1868-)
Also in his Last Will and Testament (see above), Marion Banks "in consideration of faithful services" left to Lucy Banks (abt.1830-), his servant at his home in Tuscaloosa who was listed on various census records as "mulatto," significant gifts: money and the use of his house and offices in recognition of her "care of me in my affections I cannot forget." An additional $200 was left to Lucy's nine-year-old grandson Brook Banks.
Personal property, land and money were left to various other family members.
Property Records
Some of the following property valuations have more than one valuation for Marion Banks on the same page.
Property valuation 1831, and 1832, Tuscaloosa County, Alabama[19]
1837 property assessment Tuscaloosa[20]
Land Assessment, 1837[21]
Land assessment in 1837, Tuscaloosa County, AL[22]
Property valuation in 1853 Tuscaloosa County, Alabama[23]
Property valuation in 1854, Tuscaloosa County, AL, purchased in 1837[24]
1854[25]
Research Note
It was said of Marion Banks that he "never married and shunned womankind." [26] But the substantial bequeath to Lucy and description of "affections" in his Will (see above) suggest that Marion may have concealed a relationship with Lucy of at least sixteen years -- the amount of time census records show she lived in his home as a "servant." Alternatively, it's possible that he forced her to stay.
Sources
- ↑ Banks, Elbert Augustine; Young, Georgia Butt; Franklin, Sarah Banks. The Genealogical Records of the Banks Family of Elbert County, Georgia. Second Edition, 1937, pp.192-194
- ↑
Probate:
"Georgia, U.S., Wills and Probate Records, 1742-1992"
Georgia, Elbert County, Estate Records; Author: Georgia. Probate Court (Elbert County); Probate Place: Georgia
Ancestry Sharing Link - Ancestry Record 8635 #1683644 (accessed 25 December 2022)
Ralph Banks probate. - ↑ Probate: "Georgia, U.S., Wills and Probate Records, 1742-1992"
Georgia, Elbert County, Estate Records; Author: Georgia. Probate Court (Elbert County); Probate Place: Georgia
Ancestry Sharing Link - Ancestry Record 8635 #1683644 (accessed 26 December 2022)
Ralph Banks probate. - ↑ Banks, Elbert Augustine; Young, Georgia Butt; Franklin, Sarah Banks, The Genealogical Records of the Banks Family of Elbert County, Georgia. Unknown publication date and location (likely self published). Volume 2, pp. 192-3, p. 199
- ↑
1830 Census:
"1830 United States Federal Census"
Year: 1830; Census Place: Tuscaloosa, Alabama; Series: M19; Roll: 3; Page: 297; Family History Library Film: 0002330
Ancestry Sharing Link - Ancestry Record 8058 #1018236 (accessed 24 January 2023)
Marion Banks in Tuscaloosa, Alabama. - ↑ Absentee Ownership of Slaves in the United States in 1830. from the Department of Research of the Association for the Study of Negro Life and History, The Journal of Negro History, Apr. 1924, Vol. 9, No. 2, p. 199.
- ↑
1840 Census:
"1840 United States Federal Census"
Year: 1840; Census Place: Tuscaloosa, Alabama; Roll: 16; Page: 192; Family History Library Film: 0002335
Ancestry Sharing Link - Ancestry Record 8057 #1373671 (accessed 23 January 2023)
Maison Banks in Tuscaloosa, Alabama. - ↑ Website of the Central Alabama Genealogy: Bibb County, Alabama, 1950, East and West Sides of Cahaba River." http://alagenealogy.com/Census%20Records/Bibb%20County%20Alabama/1850/1850%20Bibb%20Co.%20AL%20East-West%20Side%20Cahaba.htm
- ↑ Banks, Elbert Augustine; Young, Georgia Butt; Franklin, Sarah Banks, The Genealogical Records of the Banks Family of Elbert County, Georgia. Unknown publication date and location (likely self published). Volume 2, p. 180
- ↑
1850 Census:
"1850 U.S. Federal Census - Slave Schedules"
The National Archive in Washington DC; Washington, DC; NARA Microform Publication: M432; Title: Seventh Census Of The United States, 1850; Record Group: Records of the Bureau of the Census; Record Group Number: 29
Ancestry Sharing Link - Ancestry Record 8055 #114959 (accessed 24 January 2023)
Unknown (62) in W C River, Bibb, Alabama, USA. - ↑ "United States Census (Slave Schedule), 1850 ", database with images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:HRWB-99N2 : 23 February 2021), M Banks in entry for MM9.1.1/MV8N-W1G:, 1850.
- ↑
Tuscaloosa County, AL 1855 Census:
Film number: 004808461 > image 17 of 523
FamilySearch Image: 33S7-9GTP-9YGT (accessed 18 November 2023) - ↑
1860 Census:
"United States Census (Slave Schedule), 1860"
citing Page: 32; Line: 25; FHL microfilm: 000803036; Record number: 044093;
FamilySearch Record: WKJ3-ZH2M (accessed 23 January 2023)
FamilySearch Image: 33SQ-GYBT-WQ3 Image number 00152
Marion Banks owner in household of Marion Banks in Tuscaloosa, Tuscaloosa, Alabama, United States. - ↑ Population Census of 1866 for Bibb County, Alabama Alabama Department of Archives and History, State of Alabama. Hard copy from the archives provided, with analysis, by Erica Eaves, Reference Archivist. 15 March 2023. https://archives.alabama.gov/. In Sara Lively's possession.
- ↑ Tuscaloosa Estate Records: Banks, Marion, 1885-1889. Hard copy provided by Erica Eaves, Reference Archivist at the State of Alabama Department of Archives and History. p. 1, transcribed by Molly Ogro on 18 March 2023. In the possession of Sara Lively.
- ↑ Tuscaloosa Estate Records: Banks, Marion, 1885-1889. Hard copy provided by Erica Eaves, Reference Archivist at the State of Alabama Department of Archives and History. p. 4, transcribed by Molly Ogro on 18 March 2023. In the possession of Sara Lively.
- ↑
Marion Banks plantation:
"Alabama, U.S., Surname Files Expanded, 1702–1981"
Alabama Department of Archives and History; Montgomery, AL; Alabama Surname Files; Box or Film Number: M84.0062
Ancestry Sharing Link - Ancestry Record 61266 #87427 (accessed 24 February 2023)
Name: Marion Banks; Death Age: 74; Birth Date: 1810; Death Date: 1884. - ↑ Tuscaloosa Estate Records: Banks, Marion, 1885-1889. Hard copy provided by Erica Eaves, Reference Archivist at the State of Alabama Department of Archives and History. p. 1, transcribed by Molly Ogro on 18 March 2023. In the possession of Sara Lively.
- ↑
Tract books:
"United States Bureau of L...Tract Books, 1800-c. 1955"
Catalog: Tract books Vol. 2C Twp. 16-22S, Range 7W Vol. 2C-3 Twp. 15-22S Range 8-12W
Image path: United States Bureau of Land Management Tract Books, 1800-c. 1955 > Alabama > Vol 3 (Tuscaloosa) > image 58 of 294
FamilySearch Image: 3QSQ-G9WS-C999-G (accessed 18 November 2023)- 1831 property valuation, p.55
- ↑
Tract books:
"United States Bureau of L...Tract Books, 1800-c. 1955"
Catalog: Tract books Vol. 4 Twp. 15-22S, Range 14-17W Vol. 4 Twp. 22S Range 8-16W Vol. 4 Twp. 23-24S Range 1-3W Vol. 4 Twp. 23S Range 4W Vol. 4 Twp. 22S Range 7W Vol. 5 Twp. 23-24S Range 1-16E Vol. 5 Twp. 21-22S Range 17W
Image path: United States Bureau of Land Management Tract Books, 1800-c. 1955 > Alabama > Vol 4 (Tuscaloosa) > image 26 of 292
FamilySearch Image: 3QS7-89WS-CK4R (accessed 18 November 2023)- 1837 Vol 4 p.24
- ↑
Tract books:
"United States Bureau of L...Tract Books, 1800-c. 1955"
Catalog: Tract books Vol. 4 Twp. 15-22S, Range 14-17W Vol. 4 Twp. 22S Range 8-16W Vol. 4 Twp. 23-24S Range 1-3W Vol. 4 Twp. 23S Range 4W Vol. 4 Twp. 22S Range 7W Vol. 5 Twp. 23-24S Range 1-16E Vol. 5 Twp. 21-22S Range 17W
Image path: United States Bureau of Land Management Tract Books, 1800-c. 1955 > Alabama > Vol 4 (Tuscaloosa) > image 29 of 292
FamilySearch Image: 3QS7-89WS-CK4C (accessed 18 November 2023)- 1837 Tuscaloosa County, Alabama land assessment, p.26
- ↑
Tract books:
"United States Bureau of L...Tract Books, 1800-c. 1955"
Catalog: Tract books Vol. 4 Twp. 15-22S, Range 14-17W Vol. 4 Twp. 22S Range 8-16W Vol. 4 Twp. 23-24S Range 1-3W Vol. 4 Twp. 23S Range 4W Vol. 4 Twp. 22S Range 7W Vol. 5 Twp. 23-24S Range 1-16E Vol. 5 Twp. 21-22S Range 17W
Image path: United States Bureau of Land Management Tract Books, 1800-c. 1955 > Alabama > Vol 4 (Tuscaloosa) > image 31 of 292
FamilySearch Image: 3QS7-89WS-CKWV (accessed 18 November 2023)- 1837 land assessment Tuscaloosa County Alabama, p.28
- ↑
Tract books:
"United States Bureau of L...Tract Books, 1800-c. 1955"
Catalog: Tract books Vol. 1C Twp. 21-22S, Range 1W Vol. 1C-2B Twp. 15-22S Range 2-6W Vol. 2B Twp. 15-16S Range 7W
Image path: United States Bureau of Land Management Tract Books, 1800-c. 1955 > Alabama > Vol 2B (Tuscaloosa) > image 208 of 254
FamilySearch Image: 3QSQ-G9WS-ZSY (accessed 18 November 2023)- property assessment Vol 2B p.202, 2 property valuations 1853 and 1854
- ↑
Tract books:
"United States Bureau of L...Tract Books, 1800-c. 1955"
Catalog: Tract books Vol. 1C Twp. 21-22S, Range 1W Vol. 1C-2B Twp. 15-22S Range 2-6W Vol. 2B Twp. 15-16S Range 7W
Image path: United States Bureau of Land Management Tract Books, 1800-c. 1955 > Alabama > Vol 2B (Tuscaloosa) > image 212 of 254
FamilySearch Image: 3QSQ-G9WS-Z9Y (accessed 18 November 2023)- 1854 land valuation, Vol 2b p.206
- ↑
Tract books:
"United States Bureau of L...Tract Books, 1800-c. 1955"
Catalog: Tract books Vol. 2C Twp. 16-22S, Range 7W Vol. 2C-3 Twp. 15-22S Range 8-12W
Image path: United States Bureau of Land Management Tract Books, 1800-c. 1955 > Alabama > Vol 3 (Tuscaloosa) > image 52 of 294
FamilySearch Image: 3QS7-99WS-C9M2-R (accessed 18 November 2023)- land valuation in 1854, Vol 3 p.49
- ↑ Saunders, Col. James Edmonds and Stubbs, Elizabeth Saunders Blair .Early Settlers of Alabama with Notes and Genealogies. Westminster, Maryland: Heritage Books Inc., 2008, facsimile reprint of original publication, 1899, p. 448.
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