upload image

Slaves of Sydney Smith, Marengo County, Alabama

Privacy Level: Open (White)

Location: Marengo, Alabama, United Statesmap
Surnames/tags: Slavery Black_Heritage Smith
Profile manager: Naomi Van Tol private message [send private message]
This page has been accessed 124 times.


This page's purpose is to record the people enslaved by Sydney Smith and attempt to connect them to their families.

Contents

Biography

Sydney Smith (also spelled Sidney) was born on 21 July 1806 in Granville County, North Carolina, the son of Mary Waugh Downey and James Webb Smith. He went to medical school at Transylvania College in Kentucky then worked as a physician in Nashville. At some point before 1839 he moved to Marengo County, Alabama, and established a large plantation there. Sydney married Julia Louise Prince in 1838 in Marengo County.


1840 Census

In 1840 Sydney was enslaving 36 people in Marengo County, Alabama.[1]


1850 Census

In 1850 Sydney was enslaving 133 people in Marengo County, Alabama.[2]


Enslaved People Inherited in 1856

On 22 May 1856, his father James Webb Smith died and Sydney inherited ten enslaved people from the family's Beech Hill plantation in Jackson County, Tennessee.[3]

Name Enslaver who Inherited in 1856 Family Connections
Harriet & two childrenSydney Smith, son
MandySydney Smith, sonMother of Beaverly, Tom, Webb, Helen
TomSydney Smith, sonChild of Mandy
WebbSydney Smith, sonChild of Mandy
HelenSydney Smith, sonChild of Mandy
TempySydney Smith, sonDaughter of Old Amy. Mother of Gloster, Sydney, Lawson, and Webb
SydneySydney Smith, sonChild of Tempy
LawsonSydney Smith, sonChild of Tempy


Enslaved People Named in 1859 Will

When Sydney died in 1859, he named 25 enslaved people in his will.[4]

Name Enslaver who Inherited in 1859 Family Connections Notes
Big GeorgeJulia Louise (Prince) Smith, wifeHusband of Mariah
Mariah (Mari)Julia Louise (Prince) Smith, wifeWife of Big George
PollyJulia Louise (Prince) Smith, wifeChild of George & Mariah
WestleyJulia Louise (Prince) Smith, wifeChild of George & Mariah
JohnJulia Louise (Prince) Smith, wifeChild of George & Mariah
NapoleonJulia Louise (Prince) Smith, wifeChild of George & MariahDied between 5 Mar 1858 and 14 Jan 1859
Little GeorgeJulia Louise (Prince) Smith, wifeHusband of JudyGive to Sidney Smith Jr after Julia’s death
Judy (Judd)Julia Louise (Prince) Smith, wifeWife of Little GeorgeDied between 5 Mar 1858 and 14 Jan 1859
GabrielJulia Louise (Prince) Smith, wifeHusband of Hannah
HannahJulia Louise (Prince) Smith, wifeWife of Gabriel
SusanJulia Louise (Prince) Smith, wifeChild of Gabriel & Hannah
Ann (Nancy)Julia Louise (Prince) Smith, wifeChild of Gabriel & Hannah
BetsyJulia Louise (Prince) Smith, wifeChild of Gabriel & Hannah
Francis (Fanny)Julia Louise (Prince) Smith, wife
EllickJulia Louise (Prince) Smith, wife
Charles PrinceJulia Louise (Prince) Smith, wife
NatchesJulia Louise (Prince) Smith, wifeChild of Gabriel & Hannah
DouglasSydney Smith Jr
Elinor (Ellenor)Mary P Smith, daughter
JerryMary P Smith, daughter
CaledoniaFannie Ray Smith, daughterChild of Francis
BobJames Webb Smith, sonSon of George
LizaMargaret Ellin Smith, daughterChild of Nancy
RamseyJohn Alexander Smith, son
WillisSydney Smith Jr, son


Research Notes

In the 1860 census, Sydney's wife Julia was the head of household in Tallahatchie County, Mississippi.[5] She was enslaving 81 people.[6]

In the 1870 census, Sydney Smith Jr was living in Tallahatchie County, Mississippi, adjacent to a large number of Black people. Many of them share names with the people formerly enslaved by his family.[7]

Sources

  1. 1840 Census: "United States Census, 1840", database with images, FamilySearch (https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:XHB4-WNK : Tue Oct 03 22:36:21 UTC 2023), Entry for Sydney Smith, 1840.
  2. 1850 Census - Slave Schedule: "United States Census (Slave Schedule), 1850 ", database with images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:HRWT-NCN2 : 23 February 2021), Syd Smith in entry for MM9.1.1/MV88-JWD:, 1850.
  3. Will of James Webb Smith - U.S. Wills and Probate Records, 1779-2008. Tennessee, Court Transcripts of the County, Chancery and Circuit Courts, 1839-1915; Tennessee Courts (Jackson County). Court Transcripts, Sircy, D-Smith, M. Image 636 of 1543. Ancestry Sharing Link
  4. Will of Sid Smith - Mississippi Probate Records, 1781-1930, Tallahatchie County, Wills 1830-1867 Vol A, Page 214. Online database: Image 121 of 175. Written 5 Mar 1858. Filed 14 Feb 1859. Recorded 3 Feb 1860. FamilySearch Link
  5. 1860 Census: "United States Census, 1860", database with images, FamilySearch (https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:M6GV-SLJ : Wed Oct 04 09:41:58 UTC 2023), Entry for Julia S Smith and Sydney Smith, 1860.
  6. 1860 Census - Slave Schedule: "United States Census (Slave Schedule), 1860", database with images, FamilySearch (https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:WKPH-G4W2 : Thu Oct 05 17:23:52 UTC 2023), Entry for Julie L Smith and , 1860.
  7. 1870 Census: "United States Census, 1870", database with images, FamilySearch (https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:MFST-MTG : 29 May 2021), Sydney Smith, 1870.




Collaboration
  • Login to edit this profile and add images.
  • Private Messages: Send a private message to the Profile Manager. (Best when privacy is an issue.)
  • Public Comments: Login to post. (Best for messages specifically directed to those editing this profile. Limit 20 per day.)


Comments

Leave a message for others who see this profile.
There are no comments yet.
Login to post a comment.