James Gadsden (b. 15 May 1788) died 26 Dec 1858 [1]. His estate inventory, referenced in the story above, contained the names of more than 200 enslaved people at Gadsden’s Pimlico Plantation on the Cooper River in Berkeley County, SC (near Moncks Corner). The estate inventory listed the names and ages of enslaved ancestors on Pimlico Plantation.

On 9 Jan 1860, 235 enslaved people in the estate of James Gadsden were sold in Charleston by Shingler Brothers Auctioneers. On this day, what had likely been a stable community of extended families, was broken up and a diaspora created in its place. Enslaved families were sold to more than 30 purchasers, some of them (such as Z B Oakes, B Mordecai, Thomas Ryan, F Nipson and A J Salinas) slave traders [2]. Clearly these families were in danger of being caught up in the domestic slave trade.

The sale was advertised in New Orleans, Mobile, Memphis and Galveston; all major hubs of the domestic slave trade. The Charleston Mercury posted the advertisement on 6 Dec 1859:

A Very Prime Gang of 235 Negros [sic] belonging to the Estate of the Late General James Gadsden.
BY SHINGLER BROTHERS, 7 BROAD-STREET
 
At Private Sale, a remarkably prime gang of two hundred and thirty-five (235) NEGROS, belonging to the Estate of the late General James Gadsden. They are accustomed to the culture of Rice and Provisions.

Terms – one-half (1/2) cash; balance in one year, with approved security.
New Orleans Picayune and Delta, Eagle and Enquirer of Memphis; Register, Mobile; News of Galveston – each will insert three times, and send bills to Shingler Brothers.

November 15

The account of the sale lists the names of enslaved families sold, and the names of those who purchased them. 

Together, the inventory and the account of the sale reveal much biographical information about the ancestors in the Pimlico Plantation community. From these two documents we learn names and ages of the enslaved, the names of purchasers (possibly final slaveholders) and the name of the prior slaveholder, James Gadsden.

This document was indexed and made searchable by Penny.  

Below are the names of purchasers, and those who were sold that day.

S L Tomkins:
· Isaiah
· Bess
· Priscilla
· Isaiah
· Abram
· Jackey

C H Bernard:
· Lydia
· Jacob

· J H Millen:
· Frank
· Nanny
· Sukey
· Chloe
· Chloe
· January
· Hagar
· Ned
· Dolly
· Joseph
· Hero

S E Habersham:
· Ephraim
· Sibby
· Shadmell
· Nornick
· Crissy
· Paul
· Billy
· Gazy
· Mitchell
· Ephraim
· William
· Fortune
· Blakely
· Judy
· Taetan
· Bena
· Amos
· Norris
· Caesar
· Cain
· Belinda
· Hester
· Lucy
· Charlotte
· Handy
· Lucy
· Amy

J C Gist:
· George
· Caty
· Sylvia

T C Weatherly:
· Caroline
· Willy
· Ben
· Charlotte
· Cupid
· Robert
· Peter
· Aesop
· James
· Rose
· Clarissa
· Jane
· Caroline
· Rachel
· Aesop
· Bess
· Daniel
· Susey
· Christmas
· Hope
· Jerry

B M Call:
· Clarissa

G W Rhame:
· Bram

· G W Shingler:
· Frank
· Dick

J P Cole:
· Toney
· Mary
· Nancy
· Jim

G W Graham:
· Charlotte
· Violet

Paul Sanders:
· Die
· Monday
· Phoebe
· Catharin
· Infant

C M Desel:
· Joseph
· Lucy
· Margaret

A M Marten:
· Hannah
· Tom
· Lucy
· Tom
· Sam
· Israel

R Dulin:
· Dick

B Riley:
· David
· Charlotte
· Frank

S R Hart:
· Juliet
· Bob
· Caty

H Lee:
· Rose

R M Owens:
· Nelly
· Mind
· Job
· Patty
· Binky

F Nipson:
· Morris

D W Jordan:
· Tom
· Rachel
· Ned
· Jonas
· Ned
· Minda

Z B Oakes:
· Ama
· Ama
· Cully
· Susannah
· Billy
· Lizette
· Will
· Harriett

T D Wagner:
· Robin
· Sukey
· Cuffy
· George

Thomas Ryan:
· Rhina
· Bina
· Hannah
· Rocky
· Morris
· John
· John
· Jane
· Milly

W P Shingler:
· Edmund
· Charlotte

A J Salinas:
· Sally
· Venus

C H Stevens:
· Cupid
· Ned
· Miriam

A J Salinas:
· Dorsey
· Peggy
· October
· Joshua
· Crissy
· Jacob
· Rose
· Jenny
· Sam 
· Sarah
· Frank
· Jack
· Clarissy
· Silla
· Charity
· Elsy

B Mordecai:
· Cudjo
· Bina
· Sibby
· Anny
· Hester
· Phebe
· Ma hasa
· Zekiel
· Molsey
· Nelly
· Aleck
· Frank
· Betty
· Aron
· Caty
· John
· Prince
· Sally

N H Guyton:
· Monday
· Hester
· Jara

S D Doar:
· Robert
· Eve
· Sophia
· Marcus
· Hannah
· Harry
· Abby
· Sarah
· Josephine
· Saml
· Chloe
· George
· Daphney
· Mary
· Bella
· Silvia
· Adam
· Margaret
· George

W A Carr:
· Luck
· Henny
· Leah
· Brass
· Nancy
· Peter
· Jim
· Ben
· Venus
· Lizzy
· Mary
· Dinah
· Will
· Jacob
· Sarah
· Caty

Robt Austin:
· Ishmael
· Mary Ann
· Sarah
· Bella
· July
· Isaac
· Mingo
· Sarah
· Frank
· Dick
· Polly
· Jane
· Tom

St Julien Ravenel:
· Catherine
· Toney
· Gabriel
· Paul

J R Lachicotte:
· Ammon
· Susey
· Sarah
· William
· Martha

References Cited:

[1] Headstone Inscription, St. Phillips Episcopal Church Cemetery, Charleston, SC.

[2] For a list of slave traders active in South Carolina in the 1850s and 1860s, please see Tadman, Michael 1996 Speculators and Slaves: Masters, Traders, and Slaves in the Old South, University of Wisconsin Press. Appendix 4 lists active traders and a summary of evidence of their involvement in the domestic slave trade.

Together, the inventory and the account of the sale reveal much biographical information about the ancestors in the Pimlico Plantation community. From the estate inventory we learn the names and ages of the enslaved. From the account of the sale, we learn the names of purchasers (possibly final slaveholders).

If we compare the two documents by layering the account of the sale onto the list of names and ages, a tentative interpretation begins to emerge. The groups the enslaved people were sold in may well prove to be family groups with further research. Below is a synthesis of the information contained in both documents.

What we do not learn from these documents is the fate of the 235 enslaved men, women and children sold on that day. It is clear from the account of the sale that some children as young as 10 years old were sold without parents, some of them to known slave traders. Charlotte was 13, Cupid was 10, Robert was 5 and Peter was 2 when they were sold to J. C. Gist. Lucy was 12, Margaret was 10 when sold to C. M. Desel. Ben was 12 when sold to T. C. Weatherly.

What happened to these children? Where were they taken? Were they resold? Who were they sold to? Were they ever reunited with family? Who is accountable for these children’s hopes, their lives?

The answer awaits further research, but you can bet this will stay on our minds until we find some answers.

Until then, we can create a memorial here for the families torn asunder on that day. If you would like to leave a comment, please do so. You can scroll to the bottom of the page to comment. 

Names of enslaved, and purchasers:

· Josiah age 40 [sold to S L Tomkins]
· Bess age 30 [sold to S L Tomkins]
· Priscilla age 15 [sold to S L Tomkins]
· Josiah Jr age 10 [sold to S L Tomkins]
· Dorsy age 60 [sold to A J Salinas]
· Peggy age 60 [sold to A J Salinas]
· October age 22 [sold to A J Salinas]
· Ishmeal age 40 [sold to Robt Austin]
· Mary Ann age 30 [sold to Robt Austin]
· Luck age 15 [sold to W A Carr]
· Sary age 10 [sold to Robt Austin]
· Bella age 8 [sold to Robt Austin]
· Dolly no age listed
· Toney age 45 [sold to St Julien Ravenel]
· Catharine age 40 [sold to St Julien Ravenel]
· Gabriel age 12 [sold to St Julien Ravenel]
· Paul age 4 [sold to St Julien Ravenel]
· Frank age 22 [sold to J H Millen]
· Nanny age 20 [sold to J H Millen]
· Suckey age 1 [sold to J H Millen]
· Carolina age 35 [sold to T C Weatherly]
· Willy age 30 [sold to T C Weatherly]
· Charlotte age 13 [sold to J C Gist]
· Cupid age 10 [sold to J C Gist]
· Robert age 5 [sold to J C Gist]
· Peter age 2 [sold to J C Gist]
· Ephriam age 50 [sold to S E Habersham]
· Sibby age 45 [sold to S E Habersham]
· Shadwell age 16 [sold to S E Habersham]
· Norwich age 12 [sold to S E Habersham]
· Ephram age 10 [sold to S E Habersham]
· Mitchell age 8 [sold to S E Habersham]
· Billy age 4 [sold to S E Habersham]
· Gazy age 6 [sold to S E Habersham]
· Isaac age 15 [sold to Robt Austin]
· Alex age 70 [sold to B Mordecai]
· Henry age 35 [sold to W A Carr]
· Leah age 30 [sold to W A Carr]
· Marcus age 40 [sold to S D Doar]
· Hannah age 40 [sold to S D Doar]
· Harry age 18 [sold to S D Doar]
· Jacky age 15 [sold to S L Tomkins]
· Abey age 12 [sold to S D Doar]
· Sarah age 2 [sold to S D Doar]
· Brass age 30 [sold to W A Carr]
· Nancy age 30 [sold to W A Carr]
· Peter age 10 [sold to W A Carr]
· Infant Boy
· Robin age 40 [sold to T D Wagner]
· Suzey age 40 [sold to T D Wagner]
· Cuffee age 18 [sold to T D Wagner]
· Morris age 60 [sold to F Nipson]
· Edward age 60 [sold to G W Shingler]
· Charlotte age 60 [sold to G W Shingler]
· Jacob age 60
· Liddy age 65
· Monday age 40 [sold to M H Guyton]
· John age 25 [sold to Thomas Ryan]
· Jane age 20 [sold to Thomas Ryan]
· Milsey age 52 [sold to Thomas Ryan]
· Tom age 25 [sold to D W Jordan]
· Rachel age 23 [sold to D W Jordan]
· Ned age 6 months [sold to D W Jordan]
· Jonas age 2 [sold to D W Jordan]
· James age 40 [sold to T C Weatherly]
· Rose age 38 [sold to T C Weatherly]
· Clarissa age 15 [sold to T C Weatherly]
· Jane age 13 [sold to T C Weatherly]
· Caroline age 11 [sold to T C Weatherly]
· Rachel age 9 [sold to T C Weatherly]
· Esop age 5 [sold to T C Weatherly]
· Henry age 45 [sold to B Mordecai]
· Hester age 36 [sold to B Mordecai]
· Phoebe age 10 [sold to B Mordecai]
· Mannassee age 3 [sold to B Mordecai]
· Amos age 46
· David age 26 [sold to B Riley]
· Charlotte age 22 [sold to B Riley]
· Frank age 2 [sold to B Riley]
· Ned age 50 [sold to D W Jordan]
· Minda age 65 [sold to D W Jordan]
· George age 28 [sold to J C Gist]
· Katy age 22 [sold to J C Gist]
· Sylvy age 1 [sold to J C Gist]
· Ammon age 30 [sold to J R Lachicotte]
· Suzey age 28 [sold to J R Lachicotte]
· Sarah age 4 [sold to J R Lachicotte]
· William age 2 [sold to J R Lachicotte]
· Cupid age 70
· Blakely age 45 [sold to S E Habersham]
· Judy age 40 [sold to S E Habersham]
· Tartar age [sold to S E Habersham]
· Benny age 15 [sold to S E Habersham]
· Amos age 12 [sold to S E Habersham]
· Norris age 10 [sold to S E Habersham]
· Ceasar age 6 [sold to S E Habersham]
· Cain age 4 [sold to S E Habersham]
· Hester age 18 [sold to S E Habersham]
· Lucy age 10 [sold to S E Habersham]
· Charlotte age 6 [sold to S E Habersham]
· Cugo age 23 [sold to B Mordecai]
· Binah age 22 [sold to B Mordecai]
· Sibby age 2 [sold to B Mordecai]
· Paul age 25 [sold to S E Habersham]
· Chissy age 22 [sold to S E Habersham]
· William age 3 [sold to S E Habersham]
· Fortune age 1 [sold to S E Habersham]
· Ned age 70
· Handy age 21 [sold to S E Habersham]
· Lucy age 20 [sold to S E Habersham]
· Amey age 1 [sold to S E Habersham]
· Bess age 50 [sold to T C Weatherly]
· Daniel age 14 [sold to T C Weatherly]
· Cloe age 50 [sold to J H Millen]
· Katie age 24 [sold to W A Carr]
· January age 16 [sold to J H Millen]
· Hagar age 15 [sold to J H Millen]
· Susey age 40 [sold to T C Weatherly]
· Christmas age 20 [sold to T C Weatherly]
· Hope age 13 [sold to T C Weatherly]
· Jerry age 4 [sold to T C Weatherly]
· Rhina age 45 [sold to Thomas Ryan]
· Binah age 23 [sold to Thomas Ryan]
· Hannah age 15 [sold to Thomas Ryan]
· Rockey age 13 [sold to Thomas Ryan]
· Norris age 8 [sold to Thomas Ryan]
· John age 4 [sold to Thomas Ryan]
· Nelly age 40 [sold to R M Owens]
· Minda age 16 [sold to R M Owens]
· Rosey age 14 [sold to H Lee]
· Job age 12 [sold to R M Owens]
· Patty age 10 [sold to R M Owens]
· Binkey age 8 [sold to R M Owens]
· Daphney age 45 [sold to S D Doar]
· Mary age 15 [sold to S D Doar]
· Bellinda age 60 [sold to S E Habersham]
· Chisy age 25 [sold to A J Salinas]
· Jacob age 4 [sold to A J Salinas]
· Rose age 1 [sold to A J Salinas]
· Sally age 60
· Joshua age 22 [sold to A J Salinas]
· Dick age 50
· Jenny age 25 [sold to A J Salinas]
· Sam age 22 [sold to A J Salinas]
· Mariam age 60 [sold to C H Stevens]
· Sally age 50 [sold to A J Salinas]
· Venus age 16 [sold to A J Salinas]
· Lucy age 12 [sold to C M Desel]
· Margaret age 10 [sold to C M Desel]
· Ben age 12 [sold to T C Weatherly]
· Ben age 25 [sold to W A Carr]
· Venus age 25 [sold to W A Carr]
· Mary age 12 [sold to W A Carr]
· Clarissa age 50 [sold to B M Call]
· Joseph age 10 [sold to C M Desel]
· Die age 50 [sold to Paul Sanders]
· Juliet age 24 [sold to S R Hart]
· Bob age 2 [sold to S R Hart]
· Katy age 1 [sold to S R Hart]
· Ezekiel age 38 [sold to B Mordecai]
· Molsey age 30 [sold to B Mordecai]
· Nelly age 10 [sold to B Mordecai]
· Frank age 50 [sold to A J Salinas]
· Sary age 45 [sold to A J Salinas]
· Frank Jr age 18 [sold to G W Shingler]
· Dick age 14 [sold to G W Shingler]
· Ned age 12 [sold to J H Millen]
· Monday age 22 [sold to Paul Sanders]
· Phoebe age 20 [sold to Paul Sanders]
· Catharine age 2 [sold to Paul Sanders]
· Jack age 21 [sold to A J Salinas]
· Chissey age 20 [sold to A J Salinas]
· Silla age 3 [sold to A J Salinas]
· Dianah no age listed
· Hester age 50 [sold to M H Guyton]
· Juzy age 60
· Sam age 25 [sold to S D Doar]
· Cloe age 21 [sold to S D Doar]
· George age 2 [sold to S D Doar]
· Toney age 20 [sold to J P Cole]
· Marry age 20 [sold to J P Cole]
· Nanny age 2 [sold to J P Cole]
· Jane age 3 months [sold to J P Cole]
· Abram age 22 [sold to S L Tomkins]
· Robert age 22 [sold to S D Doar]
· Eve age 20 [sold to S D Doar]
· Saphney age 3 months
· Dick age 70 [sold to R Duly]
· Hannah age 60 [sold to A M Marten]
· Tom age 22 [sold to A M Marten]
· Lucy age 22 [sold to A M Marten]
· Thomas age 3 [sold to A M Marten]
· Samuel age 2 [sold to A M Marten]
· Isreal age 2 months [sold to A M Marten]
· Mingo age 40 [sold to Robt Austin]
· Sarah age 30 [sold to Robt Austin]
· Frank age 30 [sold to B Mordecai]
· Betty age 30 [sold to B Mordecai]
· Aaron age 13 [sold to B Mordecai]
· Katie age 12 [sold to B Mordecai]
· John age 9 [sold to B Mordecai]
· Cully age 34 [sold to Z B Oakes]
· Susannah age 30 [sold to Z B Oakes]
· Billy age 10 [sold to Z B Oakes]
· Lizette age 8 [sold to Z B Oakes]
· Will age 6 [sold to Z B Oakes]
· Infant
· Dolly age 50 [sold to J H Millen]
· Joseph age 16 [sold to J H Millen]
· Hero age 15 [sold to J H Millen]
· Dick age 30 [sold to Robt Austin]
· Polly age 20 [sold to Robt Austin]
· Jane age 18 [sold to Robt Austin]
· Thomas age 12 [sold to Robt Austin]
· Bella age 50 [sold to S D Doar]
· Silvy age 20 [sold to S D Doar]
· Adam age 1 [sold to S D Doar]
· Margaret age 22 [sold to S D Doar]
· George age 13 [sold to S D Doar]
· Dinah age 40 [sold to W A Carr]
· Will age 22 [sold to W A Carr]
· Jacob age 20 [sold to W A Carr]
· Peter age 18 [sold to T C Weatherly]
· Sarah age 20 [sold to W A Carr]
· Prince age 49 [sold to B Mordecai]
· Sally age 40 [sold to B Mordecai]
· Bram age 50 [sold to G W Rhame]