Sarah Nicholson Kidnapped and Sold Into Slavery in St. Helena, Louisiana

Edna Jordan Smith

Many people watched the movie "Twelve Years a Slave," or read the book. Over a decade ago I came across an article that was published in the Time Picyaune Newspaper. The article was written by Joan Treadway. Treadway has intereviewed Edna Jordan-Smith about her research discovery concerning a woman named Sarah Nicholson who was kidnapped and sold into slavery in St. Helena Parish, Louisiana in 1826. 

Smith reseach didn't reveal who kidnapped Sarah, her research revealed that white people and free people of color was involved. It was through a lawsuit that was filed on August 20, 1826 in St. Helena Parish Courthouse that Smith learned of the case. While looking through a summary of abstracts of cases during her employee at the Bluebonnett Library genealogy department in Baton Rouge, Louisiana. 

An attorney named Thomas S. Lloyd, whom Smith believed to have been based in New Orleans. The document stated that Sarah had been kidnapped from the Pine Stree Wharf in Philadelphia and taken on board a hermaphrodite rig, they then transferred her to a oyster boat. "A storm rose in which the boat sprung a leak," Sarah said in the lawsuit. Sarah and nine other African descent people was but back on the rig. A total of fifty-people was enslaved there. She was put in irons, around her right foots, and a rope was fastened around her neck to the neck of another.

The ship made several stop while  enroute to Louisiana, where Sarah was transported to land, in St. Helena Parish. "A slaveholder by the name of Presley Stephenson a cotton farmer possibly used her for a field hand," said Smith. I research his name in Ancestry, I found him in St. Helena in the 1830 United States Census. His name was spelled Stevenson. Stephenson later sold her to a "Captain Thompson," who was a slave dealer on the corner of Canal and Camp

Sarah talked about how Thomspon beat her and was very mean and cruel. He beat her at the police station in the New Orleans for saying she was a free person. In her suit she wanted to be paid for unspecfied amount of damges she recieved from Thompson. 

I went to the St. Helena Parish Courthouse searching for the lawsuit. I will make a visit to the library in Baton Rouge to look at the abstract and have it transcribed.  Preserving Our History in Tangiphaoa and St, Helena would like to thank Edna Jordan Smith for this ground-breaking researh and bring it to the forefront.

Edna Jordan Smith holds a Masters of Education Degree with emphasis in Historical Research. She taught Genealogy Research at the Bluebonnet Genealogy Library in Baton Rouge, Louisiana. 

Major Bibligraphical Sources: 

Time Picayune Newspaper " Woman Fought for Her Freedom in La.

http://www.alhgs.com/tours.html

http://www.theadvocate.com/baton_rouge/news/communities/east_feliciana/article_77b04384-84a5-5042-8153-50ea8255946e.html

https://www.gofundme.com/2h4p9szg

Utilizing Ancestry DNA to Locate Missing Relatives

Karran Royal Harper and Henry Harrell DNA Testing

My great-grandfather, Alexander Harrell died in 1914, his youngest son Jasper was only two years old when his father Alexander passed away. Alexander was born to the union of Robert and Dinah Harrell. He had several siblings; John, Anow, Marrietta, Millie, and Margaretta. 

My mother Isabell is one of the daughters of Jasper. She said she recalled her father talking about family members in Clinton, Louisiana. Her family didn't visit Clinton, Louisiana because they didn't know their great uncles and aunts. But she and her brothers knew that we had relatives in Clinton. A lot of the family members want to know who are the other family members. Thanks to my Uncle Henry Harrell, who agreed to take the Ancestry DNA and 23 & Me with his newly found cousin Karran Harper Royal a couple of weeks ago. I asked my uncle did his father Jasper ever talk about the family members in Clinton. He told me that he didn't remember his father talking about the Harrell family in Clinton. 

Uncle Henry is first cousins to Karran's grandmother Marion Harrell Harper. Marion,  father Shelton Harrell, Sr and uncle Henry's father Jasper were brothers. Karran and uncle Henry met for the first time at the Jackson, Gordon, Harrell, Richardson and Temple family reunion. 

Jasper Harrell, Sr 

Since I started tracing our family history this had been one of those unsolved mysteries. Who are they?  What is the genetic resemblance,  what did they do as an occupation? Where are they now? Karran and I want to know. 

Stephen Harrell, Sr.  is a police officer in New Orleans, Louisiana and his roots are connected to Clinton. He is the offspring of Beauguard Harrell and we want to know if we are related. I met another young man by the name of Darius Harrell fifteen years ago, who's family lineage connects to Amite and Pike Counties, Mississippi. Because of social media, I meet a woman named Carolyn August-Robinson, who had Harrell family roots tied to Clinton, Louisiana as well.Are related, only the DNA can tell us at this point. After hitting a brick wall, utilizing DNA may help get the answers we are looking for. 

Alexander and his family lived in Amite, Louisiana. After his death,  no one in my immediate family went to Clinton to find out anything about his brothers and sisters. Finding our long lost relatives is what Karran and I want to do.  Hezekiah Harrell, the son of Levi Harrell, migrated down south with his family, livestock and slaves to East Feliciana and Amite, County, Mississippi. The mostly settled in the 7th Ward in East Feliciana.

"We want to know what happened to Alexander's brothers and sisters, did they stay in Clinton, or did they move to Tangipahoa Parish with their mother and father?"  Using DNA to locate them will help us to build family ties, find other photographs, gather new oral history and extend our family trees. 

Alexander Harrell

Karran, Stephen, Elton and I searched the Clinton Courthouse for marriage records and other records that could be helpful to our Harrell research. While in Clinton we stop by an auto mechanic repair shop to talk to a man named James Harrell who was the descendant of Beaguard Harrell.  Stephen's brother Albert kept looking at James." He looks just like one of my uncles," said Alton.  James got on the phone and call some of his cousins and they came over and confirmed that they were the descendants of Beauguard as well. Everyone was overjoyed to meet each other and make a new family connection.

We can't wait to get the results back to see if there are any family trees and connections in Clinton, Louisiana that will help us locate our long lost family member. The Harrell family would like to thank my uncle Henry Harrell for volunteering to help us solve this mystery. 

Harrell Inspired Other Genealogist to Donate Their Research Materials

Harrell donating her 2017 collection

My family roots run deep in the Florida Parishes. When I first started researching my family history in the local libraries and university, I couldn't find any records, photographs, and any other genealogy resources outside of the parish courthouse and ancestry.  I know my family has been in the parishes since the founding of the parishes and contributed to the society they lived in. 

They owned their land, they built their one-room schools. African American people in the Florida parishes worked hard to own and maintain their own farms and some owned their own business. They served in the military and not one monument with their names listed can be found throughout the Florida Parishes.  "Why wasn't their contributions documented?" As I moved forward to pursue my own genealogy research as planned. I started collecting photographs, documents, artifacts and genealogical records from other African American families in the Florida Parishes, I had to find a repository to deposit the items collected. 

Bennett donating her family files

In 2012, I called the office of Samuel Hyde, Jr. Ph.D., Professor of History and Director, Center for Southeast La. Studies/Archives to set up an appointment with him to talk with him about the rich collections. After talking with Dr. Hyde, he informed me that he would be happy to archive the collections, and how   important it is to the history of the Florida Parishes. The collection  help fill in the missing pieces of history in the Florida Parishes as it relates to African American people. 

I asked my colleague Bernice Alexander Bennett a Maryland resident, who is the host of "Research at the National Archives and Beyond," author, genealogist, family historian to consider donating her family papers and research to the Center for Southeast La. Studies/Archives. She agreed to donate her collection to the center.  Bennett spends countless of hours researching civil war records for Louisiana color troops at the National Archives in Washington, D.C.

Martin & Royal looking at Harrell's
collection

Another genealogy researcher named Stephanie Quiette-Addison Martin, spent twenty-five years  researching and documenting the history of African Americans in the Florida Parishes, Martin has submitted work to Afrigeneas and to Christine's Genealogy website. She is also published in the "Louisiana Genealogical Register." Martin offered to donate her extensive collection to the Center for Southeast La Studies/Archives. She has collected over 10,000 names. Martin is the Manager of the African American Archives for  Louisiana.

Karran Harper Royal, co-host of "Nurturing Our Roots Television Talk Show," and Executive Director of the Georgetown University 272. Royal is a native of New Orleans and talks about the impact of Georgetown. 272 slaves were sold to benefit Georgetown University.

Words can't explain how delighted and happy I am to hear that these noted and reowned genealogists  and family historians will follow the lead and donate their collections to the center.  

In Remembrance of Enslaved Africans of St. Helena, Louisiana

As January 1, 2014 approaches, I couldn't help but think about what my ancestors and all the enslaved Africans and prisoners of war thoughtout Tangipahoa and St. Helena parishes went through on January 1, 1863. They were held as slaves for four hundred years under the brutal evil acts of slavery at the hands of their white masters. It was on Thursday, January 1, 1863, that President Abraham Lincoln signed the Emancipation Proclamation. The 2015 News Years Day falls on Thursday.

There were a different type of fireworks that sparked the air. The sparks of freedom filled the air for hundreds of thousands of newly freed Africans who were held as slaves in both parishes. My ancestors being some of the enslaved Africans who cried tears of joy because the freedom bell rung. The Richardson, Vining and Harrell's were slaves in St. Helena and East Feliciana Parishes, Louisiana.

I'll be forever grateful to Stephanie K. Martin-Quiatte slavery database records for St. Helena Parish. Her extensive slave database can help many African Americans find their enslaved ancestors.

I found a man named "Wash" in a sheriff's sale in St. Helena Parish, Bailey Chaney vs. William Whitten on August 4, 1860 in the database she published.

State of Louisiana
Parish of St. Helena
Eigth Judicial District court  #2,40(?)
Bailey Chaney vs William Whitten

By virtue of a writ of Fieri Facina (?) issued from the honorable court aforesaid, in the above entitled suit, and directed to the Sheriff of St. Helena Parish, and State aforesaid, I have seized on and will offer for sale to the highest bidder at the courthouse door in the town of Greensburg on Saturday, the 4th day of August 1860, between the hours of 10:00 am and 4:00 pm of said day.  It being the first Saturday in said month all the rights title, interest  and claim of the defendant R.P. Lee in and to the following named property to wit:

A certain Negro named Wash, age of about 25 years and black in color.

Property pointed out by the plaintiff to satisfy the above writ and all cost.
Terms of sale, cash with the benefit of appraisment

J.J. Wheat, Sheriff
Greensburg
June 30, 1860

For more information please visit her databases at

http://www.usgwarchives.net/la/african/afamer-slaves.htm

Black History Month " Civil Rights in Tangipahoa & St.Helena Parishes"

Jo-Ann Lewis Frazier
Pioneer for change in Amite, La.

Before I can actually think about "Civil Rights in America" I must first think about "Civil Rights in Tangipahoa Parish." Chronicling the important milestones by African Americans in Tangipahoa Parish, Louisiana. This past August, we commemorated the 50th anniversary March on Washington, D.C., It was pioneers like Jo-Ann Lewis Frazier,  Adam Gordon, Deloris Harrell-Washington, Dr. Willard Vernon, and Kingsley Garrison who stood up against the forces of hatred and racism. 

They protest for change in Tangipahoa Parish, Louisiana. But somehow I think we have forgot about that part of our history. I am a child from the 60s and can remember segregation and the conversation about the lynchings, KKK, and other racism acts against people of color. 

On, 23 August 1967, After the march, A.Z Young president of the Bogalusa Civic and Voters League announced plans for a second march. The first march, a 10 day trek from Bogalusa to Baton Rouge to present a petition of grievances to Governor John McKeithen supposedly drew over 500 participants.
source: 23 August 1967 p. 10-A, no byline

The 1953 bus boycott in Baton Rouge, Louisiana. Baton Rouge was the site of the first successful bus boycott of the 1950s. This event became a blueprint for the more publicized boycott to take place two years later in Montgomery, Alabama, and it set the stage for desegregation in the Deep South.

This month everyone should reflected on a family member, neighbor, community leader who fought and stood up for change. This month I chose to celebrate family members who had the courage to make a difference and change the course of history.

Jim Crow Segregated Water Fountains

Just how many people in Tangipahoa and St. Helena Parishes know that in 1963, what was suppose be a summer project to register blacks voters in Iberville, Pointe Coupee, St. Helena, Tangipahoa and East and West Feliciana parishes turned into something that would change the voting history for African Americans. More than 300 people was jailed, most of them were teenagers. 20 Children was injured during this demonstration. 

Yet, we forgot about the moments and time in our history, we soon forget about the struggles of our ancestors and family members who experience the Jim Crow south. We forgot about the strange fruit hanging for the trees that whispered during the night. We forgot about the times that we couldn't walk on the sidewalks in town. These are history lessons that can help us better shape our presence and future, if we only take a moment to remember. 

http://crdl.usg.edu/collections/batonrougeboycott/?Welcome

http://www.examiner.com/article/louisiana-civil-rights-legends-bogalusa-s-deacons-of-defense

http://theadvocate.com/home/6834219-125/plaquemine-civil-rights-drive-remembered-50

Tangipahoa African-American News

http://tangipahoaafrican-americannews.com

The Civil Rights Movement in the East Florida Parishes

When addressing the matters of Civil Rights, is it paramount that certain assumptions are inherent. "That assumption is that all men be created equal." With is this in mind, one must measure how important it was to leaders such as Dr. Martin Luther King, Sr., to advocate for people who were denied human and civil rights. Local civil right leaders such A.Z Young, Pat Morris, Rev. Willard Vernon, Kingsley Garrison, etc. 

Today we are still struggling with some high levels of poverty in many communities across the United States. According to The Washington Post, the long term unemployment rate has not been as high as it is now since World War II. 4 million Americans have been out of work for 27 weeks are longer.

In Tangiphaoa Parish there are few black owned businesses in the entire parish.  According to the Tangipahoa Parish QuickFacts from the US Census Bureau. African-American alone, 2013 (a) make up 32.4% population. The total number of firms in 2007,  African-American owned firms in 2007 15.9. The Median Household Income is $14.969.

On seven occasions, the American Civil Liberties Union has sued the Tangipahoa Parish School Board along with other defendants, for having allegedly sponsored and promoted religion in teacher-led school activities.

Reflecting back on the civil rights movement in Tangipahoa Parish, my three brothers and I were retained in the first year of integration in Tangiphaoa Parish in 1969. My childhood best friend Doris Lloyd who was an A and B student was retained with many of our other classmates. Her father went to talked with the white principal at Natalbany Elementary School in 1969 to see why his daughter was retained. After her father talked with the principal concerning Doris being retained, she was placed in her right grade.

Smith Robertson Musuem
Jackson, Mississippi

I remember being screamed at, talked too in a degrading way by my first white teacher named Mrs. Dedrick at Amite Elementary. All of the black students was scared to death in her class. We were the "Ruby Bridges" in Amite, Louisiana. We did not get the protection of the U.S. Marshals, as kids, we had to learn how to cope with the mistreatment. 

 In 1967 black's march from Bogalusa throughout the Florida Parishes to the steps of the state capitol in Baton Rouge organized by A.Z. Young, leader of the Bogalusa Negro Voters League. The 106-mile  trek was twice the distance of the famed Selma to Montgomery, Ala., march of the same period. 

A group of 90 marchers began a 105 mile march from Bogalusa to Baton Rouge to complain to Gov. John McKeithen of continued discrimination against African-Americans within the state. McKeithen's initial statement to the media regarding A.Z. Young's march was one of arrogant indifference: "Most of the stuff out of Bogalusa is hot air," said the Governor. At that point H. Rap Brown, new leader of the Student Nonviolent Committee Congress was slated to be the keynote speaker. Attempts to interview Brown were fruitless, on account of his standing policy not to speak with or acknowledge white reporters. When asked about the expected influence of Brown on the rally, McKeithen replied that "When I see chaos in our urban, Northern areas, it makes me prouder and prouder to be a farmer way down here in Louisiana.

Tangipahoa African-American Newspaper

http://tangipahoaafrican-americannews.com