Browse Items · Last Seen: Finding Family After Slavery

John Hawkins Gibson looking for his brother Israel Carr

Southwestern Christian Advocate (New Orleans, LA)

November 17, 1881

DEAR EDITOR—My brother Israel Carr, deaf and dumb, went off from this place with a man by the name of Northcraft, a jail contractor, at the time of the exodus to Kansas. Northcraft claimed to live in San Marcos and wanted Israel to stay at his house, do the marketing, etc. I have since written to Northcraft without any reply. Israel had lost the…

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John Henry Campbell looking for his mother Elizabeth Campbell

Richmond Planet (Richmond, VA)

October 31, 1891

Do You Know Her?I am desirous of finding my mother. Her name is Elizabeth Campbell. My father's name was John Campbell. My mother had two brothers, Lewis and Wilson Day. Her color is light-brown-skin, height about five feet five inches. She lived at one time near Washington, D.C.Any information will be thankfully received byJOHN HENRY…

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John Horn searching for Hager Moseby

Southwestern Christian Advocate (New Orleans)

November 18, 1880

DEAR EDITOR--I left Choctaw, Alabama in 1862. I want to hear from Hager Moseby, a yellow woman, who had a boy named John. They left Alabama to go to Claiborne parrish, Louisiana, with one of Miss Moseby's sons, Mr. Grigsby. Hager's father, George, is dead. Isaac Moseby is still at Butler, Ala. Address me at Meridian, Miss. JOHN HORN.

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John Snyder searching for his son William Snyder

Harrisburg Telegraph (Harrisburg, PA)

September 9, 1868

INFORMATION is wanted relative to the
whereabouts of William Snyder, a colored
boy, aged twelve years, who left his home in
State street, this city, on Sunday, August
30th, for the purpose of going to Sunday
school, and has not been heard of since. He
had a black roundabout, light pants and light
hat, and has a small sore under one of…

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John Taylor searching for his wife Rachel Taylor

National Republican (Washington, DC)

September 12, 1862

WANTS. NOTICE.––Information wanted of RACHEL TAYLOR, colored, supposed to be employed in the city of Washington, or vicinity, as a servant. She was hired from the Old Capitol in June, by some person residing in or near the city. Any information in regard to her will be thankfully received by her husband, John Taylor, and may be left at this office.…

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Joseph Hamilton seeking his wife Eliza Hamilton

Evening Star (Washington, DC)

May 13, 1865

PERSONAL. - Information in reference to th whereabouts of ELIZA HAMILTON, (colored will be gratefully received by her distressed husband, Joseph Hamilton, who has been seeking after his wife for months past. Information can be left with George E. H. Day, corner 5th st. and Louisiana av., Washington, D.C. my 12-3t*

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Joseph Miller searching for his mother Silva and siblings

Southwestern Christian Advocate (New Orleans, LA)

December 21, 1882

Dear Editor: - I desire to inquire for my brother, Simon Miller, sisters Biddy and Pearlina, mother Silva, in Pittsylvania county, Virginia. I lived with Dr. Edward Wethers, and left there in 1867. My brothers were living with Tom Wooden, near widow Millers' farm. Stepfather was Spencer Coles. I left him on Whitter's farm, near Danville. My young…

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Louisa Gibbs searching for her son Nat Adams

Southwestern Christian Advocate (New Orleans, LA)

July 13, 1882

MR. EDITOR – I am inquiring
of for my son, Nat Adams or Nat
Boykin. I don’t know which name
he goes by. His mother belongs
to Col. Adams, Madison county,
West Tennessee. His father was
named Clinton Boyton ; he
belonged to Eli Boykin. His oldest
brothor [brother] was named William Adams,
his oldest sister, Lucy Adams.
He has a scar on…

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Louise Caw searching for her son Mansfield Crutchfield

The Cincinnati Enquirer (Cincinnati, OH)

August 20, 1882

INFORMATION wanted of Mansfield Crutchfield
mulatto, about 48 years old: was sold by Oscar
Crutchfield to a slave-trader named Ponder about
1845 at Richmond, Va: was supposed to have been
seen during the war on a Mississippi steamboat.
Any information as to his whereabouts will be
thankfully received by his aged mother. Address
LOUISE…

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Lucy Ann Swann seeking information about her parents Lizzie and Joe Swann

The Christian Recorder (Philadelphia, PA)

January 28, 1897

Information wanted of my peo-
ple, whose names were Lizzie and
Joe Swann. My owner's name
was Billy Fliroy, who married
Mary Clay, for whom I nursed two
children--Clarance and Oscar. My
name was Lucy Ann Swann; I
went by the name of father. I had
two aunts whom I remember, Tabie
Clay and Maria Clay, belonging to
John Clay. Bill Fliroy…

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M. A. Heinz looking for information about Martha A. H. Stewart

The Christian Recorder (Philadelphia, PA)

May 27, 1871

INFORMATION WANTED.
Information wanted of Martha A. H.
Stewart, of Louisville. Was sold by
Allen Willits, who lived on Harriet's
Creek in 1856 or '7, to Fred. Heinz, of
Napoleon, Ark Willits afterwards re-
moved to Louisville. He had children
named Richard, James and John Wil-
lits, also a daughter named Cornelia.
The mother of…

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Margaret Rector (formerly Martha Ann Stewart) looking for her mother Kitty Stewart and siblings

The Christian Recorder (Philadelphia, PA)

February 10, 1881

INFORMATION WANTED OF MY
mother, Kitty Stewart. My sisters'
names are Eliza and Matilda Stewart. My
brother's name is John Stewart. We all
belonged to a man in Louisville, Ky., by the
name of Allen Willite There was a large
family of the Willite--James, Richard,
John and Alexander Willite. I was sold
from them when a little girl, about 26…

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Martha Hudgins searching for her son Frederick Hudgins

Alexandria Gazette (Alexandria, VA)

February 12, 1890

INFORMATION WANTED of the whereabouts
of FREDERICK HUDGINS, colored, who left
his home in this city six years ago. He is about
28 years old, of medium size and brown complex-
ion. His father died on January 15th last and
left him a small property.

feb12 1w* MARTHA HUDGINS.

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Martha Taylor searching for her son Charles Taylor

Southwestern Christian Advocate (New Orleans, LA)

August 10, 1882

Charles W. Taylor - his whereabouts
or any information will be
thankfully received by the undersigned.
When last heard from
he was teaching school somewhere
in Southwest Miss. He has been
gone from his parents for five years
Medium hightm [height] dark complexion,
marked by small-pox. Address
Martha Taylor, care of Rev. H.
Wright,…

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Martha Ward searching for her sister Rosetta McQuillin

New National Era (Washington, DC)

September 29, 1870

Information Wanted.
Martha Ward wishes information concerning
her sister, Rosetta McQuillin, who was sold
from Norfolk, Va., about thirty years ago to a
Frenchman in Mobile, Ala. She is about forty-
nine years of age, light complexion, and much
freckled. Her former master was Mr. McQuil-
lin [McQuillin], who resided on Brigg's Point.
Any…

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Mary Joyce searching for John Joyce

The Sun (Baltimore, MD)

September 22, 1865

PERSONAL.
INFORMATION WANTED.--A Yellow Boy,
JOHN JOYCE, twelve years old, left Ellicott's
Mills, Howard county, about five or six weeks ago,
on his way to Baltimore. Any information of his
whereabouts will be thankfully received if left at
No. 190 STIRLING STREET, or at No. 86 PARK
STREET, near Mulberry street.
1t* MARY JOYCE.

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Matthew Thompson seeking his mother Jane Thompson and aunts

Southwestern Christian Advocate (New Orleans, LA)

December 22, 1887

MR. EDITOR—I wish to inquire for my people. My mother's name is Jane Thompson; her two sisters were Jane and Sallie; she was sold at Natchez, Miss., and the others were carried to the country and sold to a farmer; all three sisters were mulatto girls. When we came to this county my mother was sold to Weathersford in Copiah county. Address Mat…

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Melinda Jones searching for her son Johnny Jones

New York Age (New York, NY)

November 30, 1905

INFORMATION WANTED.
Would like to know the whereabouts of
Johnny Jones, also known as John Chap-
man [Chapman]. Born in Manassas, Prince William
county. Virginia. Five feet in height,
large eyes, heavy mustache, scar on side of
face. Absent for more than a year. In-
formation [Information] concerning whereabouts will be
gladly…

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Mrs Byard seeking information about Robert Byard, believed to be her husband (two ads)

St. Albans Daily Messenger (St. Albans, VT)

November 26, 1898

Information Wanted.

Information is wanted of Robert Byard,
a colored man who enlisted in Company
C, Fourth Massachusetts colored
troops, March 25th, 1865, and was mustered
out August 20, 1865.

At the time of his enlistment Byard
gave his residence as St. Albans, Vt.

An aged colored woman residing at
New Rochelle N. Y.,…

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Mrs. Amy West searching for her sister Doll Irving

The Richmond Planet (Richmond, VA)

December 10, 1892

Letter of Inquiry.
CHARLOTTESVILLE VA, Dec. [4?], 1892.
I had a sister by the name of Doll Irving
in Orange Co., Va, belonging to a
man by the name of Elijah Goodwin,
was sold to a Negro Traitor by the
name of Brady. She was a bright mulatto
girl, straight black hair between 10
and 12 years when sold. Her mother
was named Ann, her…

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Mrs. Celia Bankhead searching for her mother Mary Halingworth

Richmond Planet (Richmond, VA)

February 27, 1897

Do You Know Her.

I desire to know the whereabouts of
my mother - Mary Halingworth. When
last heard from she was in Paris, Miss
I have not heard from her for many
years. She is of a light-brown com-
plexion. Any information concerning
her whereabouts will be thankfully re-
ceived by her daughter,
Mrs. CELIA BANKHEAD,
Corinne, Utah

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Mrs. Clara Bashop searching for her daughter Patience (3rd of 4 ads placed)

The New York World (New York, NY)

October 2, 1892

A THIRTY YEARS' SEARCH.
Mrs. Bashop's Pitiful Quest for Her
Daughter, Patience.
THEY WERE SEPARATED AT AN AUC-
TION [AUCTION] SALE OF SLAVES.
The Aged Mother Sought in Many States
for Clues of Her Missing Child, but
Without Avail—Now She Wants "The
World's" Million Readers to Assist
in Finding the Girl for Whom She
Has Slaved So…

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Mrs. Clara Bashop seeking information about her daughter Patience (2nd of 4 ads)

St. Louis Post Dispatch (St. Louis, MO)

October 2, 1892

HUNTING HER CHILD.
A Former Slave Still in Search of Her
Lost Daughter.
New York, Oct. 1. - For thirty three years
Mrs. Clara Bashop of Morristown, N. J., has
been searching for her lost daughter, and she
is searching still. Tears have often flowed
over the woes of Uncle Tom, but her story is
sadder and more pathetic than the one…

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Mrs. E. Wilson searching for her children Buchanan and Martha Childs

The Appeal (Chicago, IL)

January 4, 1891

BUCHANAN AND MARTHA CHILDS--These two
children have not been seen by their mother since
1861. They were sold to some man in North Caro-
lina or South Carolina. They were born in Mason
County, Ky. Their mother belonged to Boss
Shruf. The girl has a little piece chipped out of
her right ear. The children had straight black hair.
Any…

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Mrs. Ella Allison and Mr. Robert Allison searching for family

The Topeka Plaindealer (Topeka, KS)

June 2, 1905

INFORMATION WANTED.
Mrs. Ella Allison, 118 Sycamore
street, Ottawa, Kans., would like to
have any information about her
mother, Mollie Martin, complexion
dark brown, brown eyes, straight
hair; or of her step-father David
Martin, who was born at Smyrna,
Tenn. They were the slaves of
Levi White, and were last heard of
at Kahoka,…

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