Robert LumpkinMary F. Lumpkin

“The Enslaved and Freed Lumpkin Family”

Lumpkin’s Jail site, before the archaeological dig

What’s the point?

Findings

1835 Bates map (enhanced)

Rasterized boundaries imposed on 21st century aerial photo.

Robert Lumpkin, Slave Trader

• Lumpkin’s Jail• Born, ca. 1806; died, October 1866.• No photo found—yet.• Lumpkin imported Africans?

Slave Trade—Virginia • Importation from Africa

– Ca. 114,000 imported into Virginia, 1690s and later.

WMQ, Jan. 2009, 125-72

Who owned and operated the slave ships that came to Virginia?

The British

Who imported Africans to Virginia after the American Revolution?

• The British? No.• Then who?

• No one (legally)• What??!!

• Virginia law, 1778• Why?

Who decided to end legal importation of Africans?

• The Virginia legislature, 1778• Why?

– Who owned large numbers of enslaved people?• Major planters—and sellers.

– By 1778, the tidewater planters said they had a surplus; they controlled the Virginia legislature and supported the 1778 non-importation law.

– Why?» Expanding demand in Southside and western Virginia, the

Carolinas, Georgia, and Spanish territory.» “The Second Middle Passage”

Richmond became the center of intrastate and interstate slave

trading

• Hiring out was a secondary enterprise.

“Market-driven” cynicism, 1787

• “One Hundred Negroes, from 20 to 30 years old, for which a good price will be given. They are to be sent out of the state, therefore we shall not be particular respecting the character of any of them—Hearty and well made is all that is necessary.”

– Virginia Gazette and Independent Chronicle, December 22, 1787—almost a year before the U.S. Constitution was ratified.

Richmond slave traders, 1840s-1860s

By 1860, about 70 Richmond business-men bought and sold enslaved people.

Slave Trading “professionalization”

• Slave sales took place almost anywhere in Virginia and Richmond until the 1840s.– Lewis Collier bought and developed a slave

trading business in Shockoe Bottom in the 1830s.

– Collier sold the business to Robert Lumpkin in 1844.

• Lumpkin thereafter expanded the business.

In the early nineteenth century, there was “a basic reality of chattel slavery—that slaveholding required slave trading.”

-- Adam Rothman, “The Domestication of the Slave Trade in the United States,” in The Chattel Principle: Internal Slave Trades in the Americas, ed. Walter Johnson (New Haven, 2004), 33.

Robert Lumpkin and “the business”• ----------------- U.S. Customs Service, Port of New Orleans, Inward Slave Manifests, 1807-1860. LVA Misc. Reel, 2513, 1840-1843:

Thurston Lumpkin.• Feb. 27, 1840, Brig Orleans, to New Orleans•

93 people• Owner/shipper• Newton Boley• George Kephart• James H. Birch• Bacon Tait• ---?• Thos. B. Jackson• William H. Betts• Tomlinson and Dickinson• Ro: Lumpkin to Tho B. Small. Consignee• Robert Sanders to Thos. Freeman, Consignee• Stephen D. Cau---• David Anderson• Wm H. Goodwin to Thos. Freeman• Same to John B. Diggs• Christopal(?) Toeldano, N. Orleans• Wm. H. Goodwin to ?• Henry Erskine, Consigned by Dobbin & Co.•

• --------------- 1840 Census, Jefferson Ward, Richmond, p.149 : Robert Lumpkin, 2 males 20 and under 30; Free Colored persons: 4 females, 10 and under 20

• --------------- Mutual Assurance Society Policy, no. 8,753, vol. 95, reel 14, May 11. 1840 MAS policy 8753, May 11, 1840, vo. 95, reel 14• House owned by Jones Allen and occupied by Robert Lumpkin• House on NW corner of H and “Valley or Seventeenth Street”• Eastern boundary is 17th St.• Southern boundary is J Street

The ship Creole: Original List

Creole, 1841

Madison Washington and the Creole Revolt, 1841.

Creole “cargo,” 1844

Lumpkin’s Jail

Lumpkin’s “productivity”• Only two or three pages of his accounts still

exist.• But it’s clear from ads, ship “cargo” manifests,

and other sources that he was one of the most successful antebellum Richmond traders of human beings.

• Lumpkin housed, hired out, auctioned off, pun-ished, and sold away many hundreds of men and women from the “Devil’s half-acre,” 1840s into the 1860s—including Anthony Burns.

Lumpkin account remnant, 1849-1850

Valentine Museum

Robert Lumpkin balance sheet, miscellaneous, 1849 and 1850"Negroes sent south by Robt. Lumpkin to S. B. Jones"Date Person Consignee Number of Cost Sale price Gain Percent1/18/1849 Lucy + 2 children S. B. Jones people 660.00$ 1,050.00$ 390.00$ 59%

Martha 1 510.00$ 700.00$ 190.00$ 37%Eliza 1 525.00$ 725.00$ 200.00$ 38%Henrietta 1 475.00$ 600.00$ 125.00$ 26%Eliza + Mary 2 475.00$ 700.00$ 225.00$ 47%Frances + daughter 2 600.00$ 850.00$ 250.00$ 42%John Johnston 1 575.00$ 775.00$ 200.00$ 35%Susan Dillard 1 445.00$ 600.00$ 155.00$ 35%Shelby + 1 1,100.00$ 1,700.00$ 600.00$ 55%Jenny + 2 children 3 400.00$ 575.00$ 175.00$ 44%Frances + child 2 560.00$ 700.00$ 140.00$ 25%Jacob 1 570.00$ 725.00$ 155.00$ 27%Fountain 1 500.00$ 650.00$ 150.00$ 30%Spencer 1 450.00$ 550.00$ 100.00$ 22%Frank or Logan? 1 400.00$ 550.00$ 150.00$ 38%James 1 535.00$ 675.00$ 140.00$ 26%Sally 1 475.00$ 550.00$ 75.00$ 16%Susan 1 625.00$ 625.00$ -$ 0% "taken from Durham"Martha of Florida 1 600.00$ 700.00$ 100.00$ 17%Laura of Florida 1 700.00$ 850.00$ 150.00$ 21%William of Florida 1 725.00$ 650.00$ (75.00)$ -10%Total 25 11,905.00$ 15,500.00$ 3,595.00$ 30%

11/1/1849 Serena + 4 children S. B. Jones 5 1,285.00$ 1,600.00$ 315.00$ 25%Henrietta + 2 children 3 875.00$ 1,175.00$ 300.00$ 34%Roseanna 1 475.00$ 550.00$ 75.00$ 16%Caroline 1 450.00$ 595.00$ 145.00$ 32%Solomon 1 520.00$ 700.00$ 180.00$ 35%Washington 1 600.00$ 700.00$ 100.00$ 17%Ephraim 1 412.00$ 540.00$ 128.00$ 31%Total 13 4,617.00$ 5,860.00$ 1,243.00$ 27%

1/19/1850 Winney + 3 children S. B. Jones 4 825.00$ 1,200.00$ 375.00$ 45%Ann + child 2 975.00$ 800.00$ (175.00)$ -18%J + child 2 575.00$ 750.00$ 175.00$ 30%Malinda + children (not sold) 3 500.00$ (500.00)$ -100%Mary 1 800.00$ 680.00$ (120.00)$ -15%Lucy 1 555.00$ 630.00$ 75.00$ 14%Eliza 1 500.00$ 580.00$ 80.00$ 16%Prince 1 690.00$ 820.00$ 130.00$ 19%John 1 700.00$ 800.00$ 100.00$ 14%Henry 1 460.00$ 750.00$ 290.00$ 63%David 1 630.00$ 700.00$ 70.00$ 11%Aron 1 535.00$ 700.00$ 165.00$ 31%Sam 1 500.00$ 600.00$ 100.00$ 20%Total 20 8,245.00$ 9,010.00$ 765.00$ 9%

2/9/1850 Frances + 2 children 3 700.00$ 950.00$ 250.00$ 36%Mary + child 2 650.00$ 775.00$ 125.00$ 19%Henry (not sold) 1 650.00$ (650.00)$ -100%Total 6 2,000.00$ 1,725.00$ (275.00)$ -14%

3/1/1850 James 1 735.00$ 850.00$ 115.00$ 16%Warner 1 525.00$ 600.00$ 75.00$ 14%George 1 450.00$ 600.00$ 150.00$ 33%Robert (not sold) 1 450.00$ (450.00)$ -100%Sally 1 450.00$ (450.00)$ -100%Mary Ellen (not sold) 1 560.00$ (560.00)$ -100%Cast---- 1 575.00$ 700.00$ 125.00$ 22%Priscilla + 3 children 4 1,050.00$ 1,350.00$ 300.00$ 29%Susan + 2 3 700.00$ 1,000.00$ 300.00$ 43%Henry Grigsby 1 400.00$ 400.00$ -$ 0%Total 15 5,895.00$ 5,500.00$ (395.00)$ -7%

TOTAL 1'18'49 to 3'1'1850 79 32,662.00$ 37,595.00$ 4,933.00$ 15%

Lewis Miller, 1853

1859. Lefevre J. Cranstone or Eyre Crowe?

1850 Census, Richmond, Jefferson Ward, stamped p. 685

• Robert Lumpkin, Virginia born, age 44; enumerated with George W. Apperson, Ga. born, 47, and John A. Starke, Va. born, 23

Anthony Burns and the Lumpkins

• Charles Emery Stevens, Anthony Burns: A History (Boston, 1856), 185-97. – Mary F. Lumpkin: a Bible for Burns.– Burns referred to Mary as the “yellow woman.”– Burns described Robert Lumpkin’s “black concubine”

and.• (Use http://books.google.com/ to access the Stevens text.)

– Richard Henry Dana, The Journal, ed. Robert F Lucid. 3 vols. (Cambridge, 1968), III, 639-41. Former Lumpkin slave Robinson described how Lumpkin and an employee “used to sleep with the girls.”

1854. Richard Henry Dana, The Journal, ed. Robert F. Lucid. 3 vols. (Cambridge, Mass,

1968), III, 639.

1854. Richard Henry Dana, The Journal, ed. Robert F. Lucid. 3 vols. (Cambridge, Mass,

1968), III, 640.

1854. Richard Henry Dana, The Journal, ed. Robert F. Lucid. 3 vols. (Cambridge, Mass,

1968), III, 640.

1854. Richard Henry Dana, The Journal, ed. Robert F. Lucid. 3 vols. (Cambridge, Mass,

1968), III, 641.

Lumpkin advertisements

• “For sale, a young Negro Woman and her Child, two years old. The Woman is a most excellent Seamstress — can cut and make almost any garment, and, besides, a very accomplished House Servant. For terms, &c., apply at Robert Lumpkin's Jail, on Wall street, before Tuesday next.” (Richmond Daily Dispatch, 8/10/61)

Lumpkin advertisements• “One hundred dollars reward.• --Ranaway from my son, J. T. Walker, on or

about the 1st of June last, at Brandy Station, Va. Si, dark copper color, round head, full face, rather bad countenance, about 5 feet 6 or 8 inches high, 18 or 19 years of age. He may try to pass himself off as a free boy. It is very probable that he is in the neighborhood of Gordonsville. The above reward will be paid for his apprehension and delivery to Robert Lumpkin, Richmond, Va. Adam Y Walker.”

(Richmond Daily Dispatch, 8/10/61)

Lumpkin advertisement—one of the last.

• “Five hundred dollars Reward. --Ran away from Greensboro, North Carolina, on

the 15th of this month, a negro man, named Lewis. Said negro is about twenty-four years old, five feet ten or eleven inches high, black complexion, and weighs one hundred and ninety-two pounds. He was bought on the 3d of February from Dr. R. H. Christian. I will pay the above reward for his delivery to me.”

• Robert Lumpkin. Richmond, Virginia. • (Richmond Daily Dispatch, 2/16/65).

Lumpkin’s buildings, 1865

Benefits for Robert and Mary Lumpkin’s children?

• Robert Lumpkin sent them to live in Philadelphia.

• Why?

But note: McElroy’s Philadelphia City Directory for 1860 (Phila., 1860), p. 48: “Harriet Barber, (colored), widow of William Barber, 911 South.” (531, not 911).

Robert and Mary Lumpkin’s family, 1860

• Census, 1860, Philadelphia, 7th ward, June 11, 1860: Dwelling 331, family 428: only family in dwelling:

• Name Age Birth In School• Harriet Barber 40 VA No• Martha Lumpkins 15 VA Yes• Louisa Matthews 15 VA Yes• Anna Lumpkin 13 VA Yes• Ella Jones 12 VA Yes• Robert Lumpkin12 VA Yes• Richard Lumpkin 7 VA Yes• Ann Smith 20 VA No Servant• Dorothy Smith 18 VA No Servant• Susan Thompson 22 VA No Servant

– Where's John?

House in Philadelphia? 531 S. 11th Street

Benefits? (cont.)

• Protection.– If Robert Lumpkin lost any major debt suits in

Virginia and could not raise the money to pay the creditor, his property could be seized and sold away, including his “human property.”

• Education.– “Martha D. Lumpkin, Philadelphia, Pa., and

Anna E. Lumpkin, Philadelphia, Pa.” • Catalogue of the Officers and Members of the Ipswich Female

Seminary for the Two Years Ending July 20. 1858.

July 1857 July 1858 July 1858

Some other women who attended (earlier): Lavinia Dickinson, Emily Dickinson’s sister, and Helen Hunt Jackson, an advocate of Native American rights.

Census, 1860, Richmond, 1st ward:

• Robert Lumpkin, age 54, "Private Goal.“– Real estate: $20,000– Personal estate: $6,845

• 2007 equivalence—(maybe)– $20,000 worth approximately $514,500– $6,845 worth approximately $176,000– Total: $690,500

http://www.measuringworth.com/ppowerus/ -- NOT exact

Bowing to necessity.• Office of Provost Marshal, Richmond, VA., July 16, 1865,

No. 1245. “I Robert Lumpkin of Richmond, Va., do solemnly swear, or affirm, in the presence of Almighty God, that I will henceforth faithfully support and defend the Constitution of the United States, and the Union of the States thereunder; and that I will, in like manner, abide by and faithfully support all laws and proclamations which have been made during the existing rebellion with reference to the emancipation of slaves, so HELP ME GOD. Sworn and subscribed to before me [the Provost Marshal], this 16 day of July 1865.” Signed by Robert Lumpkin.

Robert Lumpkin died, October 1866. Mary F. Lumpkin now led their family.• Robert’s will (excerpt): "Item 1st. I give and bequeath to

Mary F. Lumpkin, who resides with me, my real estate in the city of Richmond.” 2nd. “I give . . . Mary F. Lumpkin my house on South 11th street, in the city of Philadelphia” . . . 5th. If Mary Lumpkin marries, I give all property “to her children, Martha Dabney K[elsey], who was Martha Dabney Lumpkin, Annie E. Lumpkin, Robert Lumpkin, Richard C. Lumpkin, John L. Lumpkin, and any other child she may hereafter have by me.”

• (Robert Lumpkin died in October 1866. Will signed 2/4/66; proved 11/6/66.)

Lumpkin’s Jail “Conversion Experience,” 1

Lumpkin’s Jail “Conversion Experience,” 2

Mary F. Lumpkin

• In 1872 she referred to herself as “the wife and now the widow of R. F. Lumpkin.”

• March 1869: “I am so worried about money affairs that I hardly know what to do.” 1872: She “has to keep a restaurant [in New Orleans] to make a living."

• Why did Mary Lumpkin have such severe financial troubles when Robert Lumpkin was a very successful slave trader?

Mary Lumpkin’s last years

• 1870-1880: New Orleans.– Mary F. Lumpkin lived there for a few years

and Martha (and her children) and Annie Lumpkin, longer. Perhaps their linguistic skills were useful in New Orleans?

• 1880-11/11/1905: New Richmond, Clermont County, Ohio.– Mary F. Lumpkin left no will or estate papers.

1900 Census, New Richmond, OH

Did Robert Lumpkin destroy Mary F. Lumpkin’s future?

• Mary Lumpkin was a very resourceful person.– When a white northern minister came to Richmond in

late 1866 and searched for a building in which to create a school for African-American young men, Mary Lumpkin rented the former Lumpkin’s Jail and other buildings to him. The students decided that what had been the “Devil’s Half Acre” was now “God’s Half Acre.”

– There were other beneficiaries: i.e., the school created in 1866 is the grandparent of Virginia Union University.

• Mary F. Lumpkin correspondence, Wilder Library, V.U.U.

The unknown

• We know far too little about the Lumpkin family.– Clearly Mary F. Lumpkin stands out as a fascinating

member of the nuclear family. – Finding descendants can be a long, hard job.– Robert Lumpkin’s descendants may not know their

ancestry.• Two of the daughters lived in New Orleans in the 1870s, and

in 1880. But, later . . . ?• Mary F. Lumpkin stated in 1900 that only three of her seven

children were still alive. – The 1890 Census might have been helpful—but it burned.

I’m not finished!U.S. Census, 1880