African Americans at Fort Hill

African American at Fort Hill, Clemson University, Clemson South Carolina

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The piedmont frontier of South Carolina was developed into plantations by African Americans in bondage. Their resilience, determination, and resistance are essential to the full and complete history of the land we know as Clemson University.

The Clergy Hall enslaved community, on the land that became Clemson University, grew steadily, beginning in 1803. By 1810, there were 25 enslaved persons who labored during Rev. James McElhenney’s residency. Fort Hill, from 1830- 1850, showed an increasing enslaved community that grew from 37 to 75 individuals, according to U.S. Census data.

In the 1850 U.S. Census, taken on the 24th day of August, after the death of John C. Calhoun, seventy-five enslaved African Americans lived and worked at Fort Hill.  U.S. Census records provide the ages, gender, and race for the enslaved; there are no individual names listed.  The only names that the 1850 U.S. Census listed are the “Names of Slave Owners,” and, at Fort Hill, that was Floride Calhoun.

1850 Census Page 1
1850 Census Page 2
1850 Census Records
Floride Calhoun

The oldest enslaved person on this census record is listed as an 110-year-old woman; from oral traditions, she is most likely Mennemin, who may have been born in Africa. Her husband, Polydore, had died before the 1850 US Census.  The youngest person listed on this census record is a one-month-old baby girl, along with two six-month-old baby girls.  Almost one year after this census record was taken, Stepheney, a thirteen-year-old boy was sold by Mrs. Calhoun to her son A. P. Calhoun.  In the 1851 bill of sale, Stepheney was described as “bright” and as bi-racial; there are no other written records or information about Stepheney.

The death of John C. Calhoun on March 31, 1850, brought transition. In 1854, his son Andrew Pickens (A.P.) Calhoun initiated the purchase of fifty enslaved persons in 1854 fro Calhoun’s widow. Their first names are recorded below along with their ages.

They were: Sawney, age 59; Tilla, age 50; Ned, age 25; Nicholas, age 18; Jonas, age 16; Jim, age 12; Matilda, age 10; Chapman, age 8; Moses, age 22; Gargar, age 23; Lucinda, age 5; Armstead, age 3; Binah, age 3; Tom, age 1; Cato, age 2; Baby, age 1; Daniel, age 27; Rosanna, age 32; Willis, age 21; Peter, age 12; Dice, age 8; Fanny, age 19; Hannah, age 3; Daniel, age 1; Billy, age 35; Jane, age 30; Mark, age 10; Sawney, age 8; Moses, age 6; Suckey, age 4; Pegg, age 2; John, age 1; Caty, age 0; Mary, age 23; Delphi, age 8; Sally, age 2; Edward, age 4; Peggy, age 8; Isaac, age 23; Cloe, age 37; Amos, age 20; Katy, age 60; Kitty, age 21; Child, age 2; Nancy, age 9; Richmond, age 23; Phebe, age 100; Lucy, age 5; Grandison, age 4; and Jackson, age 2.

By the 1860 U.S. Census, taken on the 20th day of June, fifty-four enslaved African Americans were listed as “owned by” A. P. Calhoun at Fort Hill.  Five years later in 1865, after A. P. Calhoun sold his Canebrake Plantation in Alabama in 1863, there were 139 enslaved African Americans at Fort Hill.  Their names along with ages, spouse, or a specific trade they may have performed were recorded on the appraisal of A. P.’s estate at his death. 

They were: Sawney, age 71; Tiller, age 62; David, age 2; Matilda, age 23; Bella, age 3; Mary Jane, age 1; Jim, age 20; Pheoby, age 25; Laura, age 2; Emelia, age 3 months; Susan, age 22; Binah, age 19; Babe, age 6 months; Armstead, age 14; James, age 11; Liddy, age 4; Thomas, age 1; Jimmy, age 23; Delphy, age 20; Tessie, age 3; Harriot, age 23; Francis, age 17; Christy, age 2; Richard, age 13; Isaac, age 11; Margaret, age 21; Aaron, age 4; Edward, age 32; Fanny, age 7; Allen, age 6; William, age 4; Robert, age 2; Nancy, age 18; Louis, age 6 months; Peter, age 22; Dice, age 18; Babe, age 6 months; Richard, age 10; Amos, age 35; Sarah Ann, age 35; Binah, age 17; Tom, age 16; Cato, age 14; Moses, age 9; Rose, 5; Izzy, age 4; Peggy, age 88; Isaac, age 33; Edward, age 16; Alick, age 12; Katy, age 64; Cloe, 58; Orr, age 33; Wash, age 39; Hammer, age 37; Daphney, age 18; Sam, age 30; Lucy, age 19; Allison, age 15; Jack, age 12; Jonas, age 29; Chapman, age 25; Harry, age 41; Delia, age 48; Harry, age 23; Margaret, age 20; Sarah Ann, age 12; Eliza Anne, age 14; Jack, age 16; Billy, age 45; James, age 38; Moses, age 17; Sue, age 15; Peggy, age 13; Kate, age 11; Alick, age 7; Mary, age 9; Beller, age 64; Sharper, age 33; Richmond, age 33; Caroline, age 30; Solomon, age 11; Tiller, age 8; Simon, age 6; George, age 32;  Martha, age 32; Hammer, age 16; John, age 51; Binah, age 48; Jack, age 9; Frank, age 26; Amy, age 24; David, age 9; Nick, age 7; Betty, age 6; Ben, age 26; Becky, age 22; Lizzie, age 3; Dink, age 26; Susan, age 25; Beck, age 4; Mack, age 23; Ellen, age 22; Amos, age 19; Pheobus, age 34; Kitty, age 34; Robert, age 18; William, age 11; Stepny, age 8; Mary, age 3; Martha, age 6 months; Simon, age 51; Missy, age 42; Jim, age 26; Darcas, age 34; Katy, age 15; Abb, age 32; Joe, age 8; Arthur, age 3; Tom, age 32; Jane, age 28; Moses, age 12; Tom, age 4; Peter, age 50; Ephraim, age 29; Maria, age 20; Nancy, age 3; Stephney, house servant; Alick, house servant; Jane, house servant; Louisa, Billy’s wife, house servant; Ella, age 11, house servant; Louisa, Edward’s wife, house servant; Christy, cook; Isaac, gardener; Priest, coachman; Billy, miller; Nicholas, blacksmith; and Ted, carpenter.   

African Americans at Fort Hill (Primary Documents)