Slavery in the Family
Feb 25th, 2007 by Dana Huff
Rod Stewart said, “Every picture tells a story, don’t it?” Furthermore, the cliché goes that a picture is worth a thousand words. In this case, the axioms must be true. This picture was taken at a Cunningham Family Reunion in Oglethorpe County, Georgia in 1951. The man on the right is my great-great-grandfather Amos Blakey Cunningham. He was born in Oglethorpe County, Georgia in 1871, but his family moved to Texas in about 1880. He went back to Georgia for the first time on the occasion of this reunion. It was the first time he’d seen his sister Lizzie Burkhalter since the family left for Texas.
The man on the right is Johnson Franklin Cunningham. He was named for Amos’s father, Johnson Franklin Cunningham. He was born in about 1868, also in Oglethorpe County, Georgia, to former slaves named James and Charlotte Cunningham. I believe that James Cunningham had been owned by Amos’s father, and I feel quite certain that Charlotte was. I posted about some of my findings previously, so I won’t duplicate the entire post here. I have always been told by Amos’s grandchildren, including my grandfather and his cousin Mary Elder, that when they were little, the two men in the picture were playmates.
News broke recently that due to research efforts by Megan Smolenyak, Reverend Al Sharpton’s roots may be traced to a slave owned by relatives of Strom Thurmond. I found the story very interesting. I would like to find out what happened to the descendents of slaves owned by my own family, but I’m not sure how to go about it. First of all, the issue is sensitive, and rightly so, and I don’t want to offend anyone. Secondly, records are so sketchy, even after the Civil War.
My husband recently had to go to school to deal with a discipline issue regarding our kindergartner, Maggie. Her principal’s name is Mr. Huff, but he is a tall, distinguished African American. Apparently at one point, Steve and Mr. Huff broached the awkwardnes of the situation, and my husband asked Mr. Huff where his family was from. Mr. Huff told Steve, “Actually, my great-great-grandfather was white.” Steve replied, “Well, knowing my family, who knows?”
I would like to invite anyone who believes they have traced a connection to any of the lines I’m researching to contact me.
Technorati Tags: Al Sharpton, Strom Thurmond, genealogy, slavery
I TOO AM A DESCENDANT OF THE HUFF FAMILY LINEAGE.
MY GRANDMOTHERS FATHER WAS JAMES HENRY HUFF FROM CHATENOOGA TENNESSEE. I DON’T KNOW EXACTLY WHERE HE WAS BORN BUT WAS SAID TO BE IN GEORGIA WHERE THEY HAD THE BATTLE.
THE MOST I COULD FIND WAS A FEW NAMES THATR I PRINTED FROM A WEBSITE. BUT I THINK GOING TO ANCESTRY WILL HELP ME FIND OUT MORE. IF THERE IS SOME WAY YOU COULD TELL ME HOW I COULD SEARCH PLACES I WOULD APPRECIATE THE HELP. MY GRANDMOTHERS FAMILY WERE SLAVE OWNERS AS WELL.
Ellen, the Huffs who married into my family in the early 1800′s were from Oglethorpe Co., and my husband’s family, as far as I know, is not from the Chattanooga area. They lived in Williamson Co, closer to Nashville. Ancestry.com is a really good place to start. There were quite a few battles in Georgia — do you know whereabouts?
I am interested in any further information on the African American connection I the Blackwater, VA and Tennessee area in the early and mid 1800′s. Any one who may have a connection, their information would be very much appreciated.
[...] This picture features Johnson Franklin Cunningham (left) and my gg-grandfather Amos Blakey Cunningham (right). Johnson Franklin Cunningham is named for Amos’s father. The two men played together as boys before Amos and his family moved to Texas around 1880. It was interesting for me to learn more about Johnson Franklin Cunningham and his own family. I’m not sure what this picture says, but I am drawn to it. It was taken at a Cunningham family reunion in the 1950’s. It was featured on my February post “Slavery in the Family.” [...]
I live in SC there are a number of folks searching descedands of slaves owned by their families. Middleton family of Summerville, SC. Wm Gilmore Simms family. Edward Ball of the Ball family, in fact he wrote “Slaves in the Family” “Sweet Hell Inside” about the slave holding Ball family and the current generation of the Ball slaves. A google search should provide contacts, who have experience in this research.
The Huff’s that happen to be African American, may be able to trace their ancestry to Charles Hoff/Huff who is buried in Vesta in Oglethorpe County. He was the brother of My GGGG-grandfather, John Peter Huff, and my GGGGG-Grandfather Robert. He lived with a slave lady before the war and fathered many children with her, after the war they stayed together. He willed his land to his sons, but it was contested. It went before the Ga. Supreme Court and the will was withheld. I live in Athens, and meet many of my ancestors everyday. I love all my brothers and sisters be they of darker hue than myself or not. But I dare not tell them what I know… If you’ve watched the “African American Experience” on PBS, actor organ Freeman had a family linages the same as I have mentioned here above.. It appears “marriages” like these were more common than we think.
I just thought you would like to know that I have seen a slave collar with the name jim Cunningham on it and below was the name ogden, I am assuming that the ogden name is the slaves name.
I am searching for a time and place of this collar.
Maybe we can help each other.
Thank you
Laura
My Gt. Gt. Grandfather William Huff and two generations before him were slave owners in Goose Creek, I dont know the surnames now of there slaves. But in the will of his grandfather Thomas Burbage of Wassamassaw SC, he is given a boy Bill in 1843. My Gt. Grandfather John Justus Huff, Williams son married a Lizzie Driggers of Berkeley SC whose blood line was tri-racial steming from Manuel Driggus a Bantu Angolian set free in Virginia in mid 1600s. the family move south to NC and then SC in mid 1700s and settled as farmers and cattleman. up to 1840s my Driggers family were counted as free people of color and some even held slaves themselves. there were names given to the Driggers and other family kin of the same mix in the 1800s and up to 1900s in parts of Goose Creek and Summerville SC, Summerville Indians and Brass Ankles.
I have taken forever to reply, and I’m sorry about that Barry! It sounds like your Goose Creek Huffs are the ones connected to my own family (not my husband’s, who as far as I know are a different branch). I had indirect ancestor who married into the Oglethorpe Co. Huffs. There is a narrative by a woman named Easter Huff who was a former slave on the Oglethorpe Gen Web site.
I am looking for any infomation on any Huffs. My GG Grandmother was Tiny (Huff) Wells her husband was Loss Wells of Georgia. My GGG Grandmother was Maudy Huff not sure of her maiden name or her husband name. But I’ve manage to trace my family back to 1850 by the date of birth, but I’m still in search.
Thanks, Tara
Well I am the 5th generation descendent of William Huff (a German Plantation overseer) and Jane (a West Indian born slave). William and Jane started their family in Putnam County, Georgia and moved to Baldwin County, Georgia where they continued to raise their 14 children. Their 14 children are Albert, Catherine, Charlie, Polly, Pinkey, Delois, Louis, John, Nancy, Ella, William, Susan, Julia, and Camilla. Catherine Huff-Arnold is my Grt. Grt. Grt. grandmother. Catherine Huff then married and had son named Tom Arnold who married Rosetta Reeves Arnold and had a daughter Fleta Arnold Lewis who was my Grt grandmother who is originally from Mildgeville, Georgia.
For over 20 yrs there has been a Huff-Reeves-Arnold Family reunion that is held bi-annually around the U.S. We are in the process of planning the 2009 Family reunion which will be held in New Jersey. I do not know if these are the Huffs you are looking for but there is a website for the Family reunion.
Hope this helps.
My advice, if you have any records that indicates slaves, post them online. As an African-american, finding these records are difficult. Many white families probably have them in their collections and not sure about what to do with them.
That’s a very good point. I think it’s most likely done out of a sense of some shame or embarrassment over the actions of our ancestors in addition to not knowing what to do with them, but you are very correct in that finding the records, online or elsewhere, is often difficult.
I am also a descendant from a slave (Janny) and a white slave master whose surname was Huff. I would appreciate any information you have regarding the family.
i want to no about my family line im young and wonna no more but im having trouble looking for what i need to no about the slaves in my family i wonna no wat other races were allegged in my familyy
Jamah, the first place to start is to interview the oldest members of your family — your grandparents and great-grandparents (if you have them). They can tell you a great deal. After you have learned as much as you can from them, you might want to check out genealogy sites online or visit your library to see if they are able to help. Good luck!
I am looking to find information about part of my family. I am the descendant of an enslaved woman named Lula Huff, I do know she was from North Carolina and I was wondering if anyone knew off Huffs in that area or where I could find more information.
I’m not sure about North Carolina Huffs, but there is a narrative taken from Easter Huff available via the Oglethorpe County GenWeb. It could be a place to start with your research. These Huffs did marry into my family at some point, but as far as I know, they are no connection to my husband’s family.
As stated above by one of my nieces the Putnam county Baldwin County Huffs are the descendants of Wiliam Huff a German who settled here in Georgia after the Spanish American War sometime about 1848. He came with a friend Charlie Humble and settled on the Humble family plantation. He was an overseer and he developed a relationship with one of the African West Indian slaves named Jane. The customs of the time would not allow for their to be a legalized marriage but Jane became William’s companion. William Huff left the Humble plantation and he an Jane became the parents of fourteen children. William Huff and Jane Huff their first three children were born in Putnam County. Albert, Catherine, ( who is my great great grandmother who was married to a Native Cherokee Edlar Aleck Arnold) Louis were born in Putnam County. William acquired land in Baldwin County and became a farmer, Delois, Ella, Nancy,Susan, Johnny, Charlie, Pinkey, Julia, Polly, Willie, and Camilla were born in Baldwin County near a town that would eventually be the site of our family roots Milledgeville Georgia. thus the Huff Legacy begins. the1870 census in Meriweather County of Georgia clearly shows William Huff living in residence with Jane and their fourteen children. He is listed as White and she is listed as Black and sometimes mulatoo same with the children interestingly Jane is also listed as his wife on this census. Section for this census of 1870 have numerous residences listed with many inhabitants and in all the residences on this section everyone is listed as Black or Mulatoo with the exception of William Huff he is the only white mand listed in this area on this census. there are no white women nor white children either, although in later census Jane and her children are listed as white but they were not. There is an extensive forty two page plus family registery that gives the names of all the children and the descendants of the union of William Huff and Jane Huff. we are in Buffaloo New York New Jersey Atlanta Detroit, Chicago Pittsburgh Philadelphia, Cincinnatti, Arizonia, California, St. Louis, we span the continental USA and abroad since we have ancestors on distanct shores. The grandson of William Huff and Jane that would be the son of Catherine Huff Arnold and Edlar Arnold, Tom Arnold married a woman named Rosetta Reeves, her mother Carolyn Duval Reeves was the daughter of Thom and EMily Duval French Creole from Louisiana. Emily Duvals maiden name was Jones she was the daughter of Sophia Jones and the sister of one Peter Jones. The wife of Tom Arnold Rosetta Reeves Arnold her fathers People were called Reeves her daddy was Spencser Reeves from the Meriwether Baldwin County of Georgia later known as Milledgeville. Spenser Reeves and His brothers who were many raised large families with many male children many of whom were named after their ancestors as Spense ,Singelton or Sidney Reeves. this is only a small view of a family legacy that we have traced back before slavery and we have even been able to identify individuals somewhat on the slave schedules, We are proud to have always been keepers of our family legacy. My grandmother and one of her sisters were true to the African Griot tradition they remembered all matter of things in relation to their family history and being the first born grandchild and very close to my grandmother I knew the stories inside out and the lineage all committed to memory. with the advent of computer access it has made it easy to trace and find the census reports that clearly confirm the oral history. The only problem is when you lood for the 1890 census they are non existant due to a fire which destroyed the archival area where they were stored. good look as you look up your ancestors Ashe Ashe, for me this has been the empowerment to challenge the world who would want to take away the names and language and land and family of a people. Knowing my family and knowing that God has called us by name not in anonymity has made all the difference in my life of holy boldness
the great great great grand daughter of Jane and William Huff, great great grand daughter of Catherine Huff Arnold and Edlar Aleck Arnold and great grand of Rosetta(Duval)Reeves Arnold and Tom Arnold grand of Fleta and Orian, and the first born of their first born and my mother whose legacy is equally illustrious and as lengthy but from the shores of the Gullah Geechie clans of South Carolina the Jones who arrived in St Stephen from Barbados and the Rivers who owned land along the Santee River before the building of the dam, when the Town Trial existed .
I am searching in the Anthony line. My ancestor was Sally Anthony who ended up in Taylor county, G.A. Her daughter was Leathy Lucas who married Jessie and had Laura born 1860. Please help if you can. I have been on this quest for five years.
Thanks!
Tangela
Tangela, I wish I could help, but I don’t know anything about Anthonys in Taylor County. My relatives lived in Oglethorpe, Wilkes, Washington, Madison, and that area in the northeast corner of Georgia. Do you have an Ancestry.com membership?
Dana,
The Anthony family that my family lived with were in Wilkes, Washington areas.
I would imagine then that there is almost certainly a connection. The Anthony family was a very big one, and they all settled right around there. Let me troll through the archives I have: wills and such. I might be able to find something.
Thank You!
Dana,
Have you founded anything yet?
No, I’m afraid I haven’t been lucky yet. I went through all the Anthony files here: http://www.gencircles.com/users/danahuff/5/bysurname?Anthony. Some have wills, but none of the wills mention slaves by name. Very frustrating. Still, that list might be a helpful starting place.
Dana,
Did you come across the names:
Samuel, Joseph, Anselm or
Micajah Anthony? I also found a James Clark. I think these or the people that they were with.
Yes, please look at the link I provided. It lists all the Anthonys in my family tree, and the names Anselm, Joseph, and Micajah crop up several times each. You need to click on each name and read what I have. However, as I said, no slaves were mentioned by name in any of the information I found.
Hi I am writting the history of aerated waters & cordial manufacturers of dunedin & otago. I came across this webb, and saw the name Huff. This man William Giles Huff was in Queenstown Otago new zealand 1865-78, he owned a farm and a cordial factory with many partners, but left for the usa. This is all that i have on him, but would like to now more like were he live, what did he do in the usa, be able to get photos of him and with hope of the farm and cordial factory in queenstown, wakatipu, new zealand. i was told of a photo of a child Frank.R.Huff stamped newark, new jersey usa if this is of any help, hope to here from you cheers paul wadsworth.
Hi, I think my Huff line comes from Va. But my problem is my ggggrandfather which was born in Ga. Daniel Huff in 1802, wifes last name. I believe Daniel ‘s family came from va./south carolina to Ga for the land lottery.A lot of Huff stayed but Daniel father and mother dies in 1806 and 1809. I think the Children was sent back to SC, which was Daniel and Lundy. Lundy is a family name carried down to my fathers generation. Daniel is son of Lundy and his father was Daniel and his father was william married to a Elizabeth Lundy. The Lundys have a web site listing there slaves. But my problem is I am trying to find out Daniel wife”s last name . Her first name was Matilda from SC. They moved to Ark. 1850. Does any one have this line?
Hello,
You have a wonderful blog! I am a descendent of African American Huff’s who are from Augusta Ga but also has ties to Waynesboro and Dearing Ga. I believe thats in Richmond County Georgia. I’ve heard that there are three sets of black Huff lines but they are all suppose to be related somehow. The oldest relative I have been able to gauge out of family members is my G.G.G. Grandfather Reuben Huff. Apparently the Huff’s owned a considerable amount of land in Augusta and sold cattle and timber. Do you know if there may be a connection? Richmond County is considerably close to Wilkes and Oglethorpe.
Thanks! There could be a connection, but I am not sure. My Cunningham/Anthony/Williams families married into the Huff family of Wilkes/Oglethorpe Counties, but the connection to me would be distant. My husband’s Huffs are from Tennessee.
Hi Dana, I am looking for information about my paternal greatgrandmother and was wondering if you could help. Her maiden name was Zilla (or Ziller) Ann Huff b.1868 (Oglethorpe Co) – d. about 1920 (Candler Co) She was married to Charles T Vaughn (of Oglethorpe Co died Metter, Candler Co). Her parents were George Huff & Martha Bridges. The problem I have is, I am not sure of the date of her death or where she is buried. I haven’t been to Oglethorpe Co. cemeteries and haven’t found her death certificate. I found her husband’s Death cert dated 1924 & he had remarried.
Ben, I’m afraid that name sounds unfamiliar. All I could probably do is point you to Ancestry.com, and it looks like you are already working with that. My connection to the Huffs in Oglethorpe is a distant one. Still, there were a few of them at the family reunion I went to back in May, so perhaps I can ask them.
If you want to know more about the huff family come to manchester georgia.31816. My grandmother was sally mae huff which had married james blue if you want to talk to me please feel free to e-mail me at tuck7@windstream.net