Slave Records in Arkansas

collected by P. A. Miller

These are the slave records from my research on Arkansas families.
I've generally cleaned these records out to only include names (whether they receive named slaves in will or not).
There are tax lists and other records indicating numbers of slaves only - they still represent people and can help determine ages of known slaves.
I've left in auxiliary references that might include slave names, even though I didn't take them down in my notes.
These family names are not always all the same branch, I've noted where certain ones went to, etc.
The records are not in date order.
I haven't cleaned up source name abbreviations, etc., but I think they are obvious. Some sources start with the LDS film number.
My comments about the records are in [brackets]
Contact me if you have any questions at:

(Sorry, have to copy by hand, the harvester-spammers have gotten to be too much.)

Montgomery
Ouachita

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Montgomery

The Carrolls came from Rutherford NC through Forsythe and Murray Counties GA. The Cockburns traveled with them through Georgia and onto Arkansas.
1011078 AR Montgomery Probate Records
A107-111 will of Dennis Carroll wr 26 Apr 1858, pr Oct 1859
[revokes two previous wills]
to wf Nancy [everything, then at her decease to the children...]
to dau Celia, wife of Russell Cockburn...female slave named Lina [could be Lind?], [already gifted to Celia]
to dau Sarah, widow of Clark T. Cockburn...female slave named Kiz [already gifted]...and which said gift including the children borne by said slave...
to grand dau Drury Ann Carroll...
to sons Jacob C. Carroll and William H. Carroll...my three male slaves named Jake, Daniel and Frank...
to dau Martha, wife of James L. Miller...female slave Eliza...
to dau Mary, wife of William Voyles...female slave named Manda...
exrx wf Nancy, wits: David A. Woolard, John M. Simpson

Montgomey Co Ar Loose Probate Records 1842-1930 by M. S. Craig 1990
Estate of Clark T. Cockburn [done at Montgomery courthouse, originals and from the originals on film at Mt. Ida library]
[Sarah Carroll Cockburn md.2 Fredk Salus]
Estate of Clark T. Cockburn Bundle 115 Roll 28. Dennis Carroll had given her slaves. Cockburn heirs: Nancy Wm M., Dennis L., James K. Poe, George M. Dallas, John Franklin, Andrew Jackson, Jasper Newton. (Wm M. over 14. d. 1861)
I looked at these on film at Mt. Ida library, slaves listed as: one negro woman, one negro boy called Joseph, one negro girl called Jane, [These are Sarah's from will of Dennis Carroll.]
On an 1861 page, the slaves are listed as Kiz, age about 28, Jane about 16, boy Jo about 14...
Report of Hiring of Slaves, by Dennis Carroll administrator, wr 20 Feb 1858, recorded Apr 1858 [with estate of Clarke T. Cockburn]
"...they did Hire out the said slaves Kiz and her two children Jane and Joseph for the term of twelve monthes from the 20th day of February 1858, to Sarah Cockburn for the sum of Fifty dollars...

It may be possible to date the gifting of one of the slaves referred to in Dennis Carroll's will from the tax lists of Montgomery. From 1849-1853 he has four slaves (over five and under 60 years). In 1854 he has three. In 1856 he has two [but I have a ? by that number]. However, I think Kiz, Jane and Joseph are perhaps already with daughter Sarah Cockburn in the 1850 slave schedules below.

1850 Slave Schedules
AR Montgomery co, Gap Twp:
Dennis Carroll: 1fb-50, 1mb-50, 1mb-22, 1fm-17
C. T. Cockburn: 1fb-20, 1fm-6, 1mm-4 [these fit well for Kiz, Jane and Joseph]
Russell Cockburn: 1fb-21, 1fb-2/12

1860 Slave Schedules
AR Montgomery co, South Fork Twp (none in Gap Twp)
Nancy Carroll: 1mb-32, 1fm-26, 1fm-6, 1mm-1
Sarah Cockburn: 1fb-29, 1fm-15, 1mm-12 [this is Kiz, Jane and Joseph, perfect age fit to above info]
Russell Cockburn: 1fb-30, 1fm-4

N.B. I think "Kiz" [and son Joseph] may be listed in the 1870 Hot Spring AR census:
Keziah Cogburn, age 44 NC Black.
With her is Mary Parker 21 GA Mulatto.
Also in the household is Joseph Cogburn 2-? AR Mulatto,
his wife Dolla 23 MS Black,
children James 8 AR Black,
William 1 AR Mulatto,
Louisa 5 AR Mulatto.
Also living here is George Hydon 23 VA Black.

N.B. I think "Lina", given to Celia Cockburn in Dennis Carroll's will is in 1870 in Montgomery County p. 141:
Linda Cockburn age 30, b. TN, Black, keeping house, $60 personal property);
she's with daughter Polly age 14 b. AR, Mulatto.
They are just a page away from Celia Cockburn (p. 140).

Montgomery County Our Heritage
p. 286 Caddo Cove Twp 1845 - Lewis Carroll had 15 slaves [most of the others had 1]
p. 296 there were slaves named Dave Carroll, Jacob Carroll

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Ouachita

Ouachita County Historical Quarterly, v. 6 #4, June 1975
article on Hezekiah Dews (b. 1807 VA, came to AR about 1840, d. Jul 1873
excerpts from Hezekiah Dews' diary:
22 Nov 1869 Went with Jordan [ed's note: one of his Negro freedmen] to make bond for maintenance of bastard child, sworn to hom by on of Esq. Howard's Negro women

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7 Feb 05