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Gallia County African American Census Records

Extracted from US census records from 1820, 1830 & 1840

     Slavery was abolished in Ohio at the time it entered the Union in 1803. The entries for African Americans listed below would therefore represent free blacks. The term, free blacks, however, is in many ways a misnomer. Almost immediately after statehood, Ohio passed laws that had the intention of erecting barriers to former slaves migrating here. Black laws passed in 1804 and 1807 required immigrating blacks to post a $500 bond guaranteeing good behavior and requiring legal proof that they were indeed free. These laws were generally not strictly enforced for most of the early 19th century. However, the increasing numbers of fugitive slaves escaping across the Ohio River could not settle here because they were not legally free, and they would head north through the underground railroad system attempting to reach Canada. The passage of the fugitive slave law in 1850 would make it more difficult for all blacks, even those who had attained free status. The law required the federal government to actively pursue and return fugitive slaves to their owners in the South. Ohio citizens who aided in transporting or hiding fugitive slaves were subject to heavy fines. African Americans did not have the right to present evidence as to their status in court and when they were captured or accused their fate was decided by federal comissioners. Between 1850 and 1860 only eleven out of 343 blacks brought before these commissioners were allowed to remain in Ohio. The rest were transported to the South into slavery.
     In spite of these hardships and obstacles, as can be seen in the census results, there was a slow but steady increase in the black population in Gallia County. The African American entries from the 1820, 1830 and 1840 United States census are shown below. In these censuses only the head of household is named. The second column records the total number of people in that household and the third column gives the township in which they lived.
     This information is being provided as a project honoring Black History Month. With the history of their ancestors forcibly being captured and brought to America and sold as slaves and then living under unspeakable hardships, it is very difficult for most African Americans to trace their ancestry. It is hoped that this project will make it just a little less difficult.

Anderson, Isaac
2
Gallipolis Twp.
Badgley, Aaron
8
Green Twp.
Black, Jeremiah
10
Gallipolis Twp.
Ceasar, Augustus
7
Springfield Twp.
Collins,  Samuel
6
Springfield Twp.
Dutton, Jesse
11
Gallipolis Twp.
Lewis, Leonard
3
Raccoon Twp.
Liverpool, Daniel
7
Springfield Twp.
Newman, Fred
6
Harrison Twp.
Newman, Randel
2
Harrison Twp.
Newman, Richard
3
Harrison Twp.
Permit, Richard
7
Gallipolis Twp.
Robison, Samuel
13
Springfield Twp.
Scott, Jane
4
Gallipolis Twp.
Steward, Stephen
1
Gallipolis Twp.
Stuart, James B.
11
Gallipolis Twp.
Williams, Jonathan
7
Raccoon Twp.
Young, Thomas
2
Huntington Twp.
   

 


1820

There were a total of 110 African American residents living in 18 different households on this census. About 40% lived in Gallipolis, with the rest scattered in the rural areas. Gallipolis, Springfield and Harrison were the townships with the most black families. The large number of people living in some dwellings might indicate that there were shared residences by some families. Statistically this represents about 1.5 % of Gallia County residents.

 

 

The 1830 census below lists 428 people living in 91 households. Gallipolis, Springfield and Harrison townships continue to be represented, but now there are 15 families in Green township, 7 in Greenfield township and 6 in Ohio township. The total of 428 represents 4.4% of the county's 9733 people.
Allen, Cesar
1
Town of Gallipolis
Anderson, Abrm
10
Morgan
Augustus, Ceaser
6
Green Twp.
Banks, Susan
5
Green Twp.
Bell, Nancy
4
Town of Gallipolis
Berry, Moses
5
Green Twp.
Black, James
1
Town of Gallipolis
Black, Terry
6
Gallipolis Twp.
Blanchard, Samuel
1
Town of Gallipolis
Bowen, James
6
Ohio Twp.
Brock, John
6
Green Twp.
Brown, George M.
6
Raccoon Twp.
Browner, Isaac
4
Town of Gallipolis
Campbell, Phillis
3
Green Twp.
Carter, Braxon
4
Green Twp.
Carter, Sally
3
Gallipolis Twp.
Casey, John
3
Town of Gallipolis
Chavis, John
9
Town of Gallipolis
Childers, Nancy
1
Town of Gallipolis
Collins, William
7
Gallipolis Twp.
Coon,Thorngton
7
Raccoon Twp.
Dickerson, Moses
4
Springfield Twp.
Douglas, Adam
1
Town of Gallipolis
Dungee, Elizabeth
2
Greenfield Twp
Dungee, Pilchard
8
Greenfield Twp
Flemming, Robert 
1
Town of Gallipolis
Freeman, John I.
5
Gallipolis Twp.
Fry, Henry
1
Town of Gallipolis
Gee, John
6
Town of Gallipolis
Gibbons, John
7
Town of Gallipolis
Hargs, Elisha
2
Harrison Twp.
Henderson, London
3
Town of Gallipolis
Hill, Terry
9
Gallipolis Twp.
Hopkins, Benjamin
1
Gallipolis Twp.
Hopkins, Daniel
10
Gallipolis Twp.
Humphrey, Nathan
6
Gallipolis Twp.
James, Thomas
6
Green Twp.
Jones, Basil W.
5
Green Twp.
Jones, Benjamin
5
Addison Twp.
King, Forrester
4
Ohio Twp.
Lawson, Solomon
2
Town of Gallipolis
Lee, Jacob
11
Green Twp.
Lewis, Isaac
4
Green Twp.
Lewis, Shadrack
4
Gallipolis City
Liverpool, Daniel
5
Springfield Twp.
Long, Joseph
1
Gallipolis, Twp.
     
Lucas, Richard
3
Town of Gallipolis
Luceius, Leonard
8
Raccoon Twp.
Mason, Madison
1
Gallipolis Twp.
Mathews, Pleasant
4
Greenfield Twp
Mattews, Sally
6
Harrison Twp.
Maxley, John
9
Ohio Twp.
Morris, Guy T.
2
Ohio Twp.
Moxley, Joshua
7
Ohio Twp.
Munday, Joseph
11
Green Twp.
Napper, Charles 
2
Addison Twp.
Newman, Randel
7
Harrison Twp.
Newman, Richard
8
Harrison Twp.
Patterson, Daniel
3
Town of Gallipolis
Permit, Richard
7
Gallipolis, Twp.
Pleasant, Maria
1
Green Twp.
Rader, Lewis
1
Town of Gallipolis
Randel, Jacob
2
Town of Gallipolis
Rickman, John
6
Harrison Twp.
Rickman, John
10
Raccoon Twp.
Rickman, Peter
3
Raccoon Twp.
Ruckman, Thomas Jr.
3
Ohio Twp.
Robinson, Samuel
12
Springfield Twp.
Runnels, Caleb
1
Town of Gallipolis
Shields, Samuel
2
Town of Gallipolis
Stewart, James B. 
8
Greenfield Twp
Stewart, Littleberry
5
Greenfield Twp
Stewart, Lucy
9
Greenfield Twp
Stewart, Maria
1
Gallipolis Twp.
Stewart, Richard
8
Greenfield Twp
Stewart, William
5
Greenfield Twp
Stowers, Lewis
1
Gallipolis Twp.
Thompson, David
5
Town of Gallipolis
Tobias, Anthony
1
Town of Gallipolis
Toner, Thomas
1
Gallipolis Twp.
Underwood, John 
4
Perry Twp.
Viers, Benjamin
5
Green Twp.
Viers, William
5
Green Twp.
Ward, Elizabeth
2
Town of Gallipolis
Ward, Kitt Tolbert C.
1
Town of Gallipolis
Ward, Matilda
4
Town of Gallipolis
Ward, Pollas
8
Town of Gallipolis
West, Robin
7
Springfield Twp.
Wilson, Henry
4
Green Twp.
Wilson, Lunda
13
Gallipolis Twp.
Young, Thomas
1
Gallipolis Twp.
The 1840 census below lists 720 people living in 134 households. This represents about 5.4% of the county's total population of 13,444. This was the last census taken before the Lambert Land Settlement in Morgan township in the 1840's. However, there were already 8 families living in Morgan township in 1840.
Allen, Ceazar
8
Gallipolis City
Anderson, Abraham
7
Morgan Twp.
Anderson, Thomas P.
3
Morgan Twp.
Baker, Thomas
9
Raccoon Twp
Beaty, Abraham
11
Springfield Twp.
Bell, Henry
5
Gallipolis City
Berry, Moses
10
Springfield Twp.
Beverly, Cornelius
4
Walnut Twp.
Bowen, James
9
Clay Twp.
Briggs, Milly
1
Gallipolis City
Browner, Henry
3
Gallipolis Twp
Browner, Jane
6
Gallipolis Twp.
Bunch, John 
6
Raccoon Twp
Butler, Frank
2
Gallipolis Twp.
Carter, Sally
4
Gallilpolis City
Casey, John
7
Gallipolis
Casey, Tempe
4
Green Twp.
Clark, Brat
4
Gallipolis Twp.
Clark, John
Gallipolis Twp.
Coleman, Arthur
3
Gallipolis Twp.
Collins, George
5
Gallipolis Twp.
Cozen, Henry 
7
Raccoon Twp
Cozens, Joseph
7
Raccoon Twp
Cradoph, James
4
Greenfield Twp.
Cruzar, Andrew
4
Green Twp.
Dana,Thompson
2
Gallipolis City
Dorton, Malachi
7
Wilksville
Dungey, Richard
11
Greenfield Twp.
Dungey, William
3
Greenfield Twp.
Edwards, Jane
5
Green Twp.
Elison, Elisha
6
Morgan Twp.
Elison, Jesse
5
Morgan Twp.
Evans, Amelia
6
Morgan Twp.
Falls, Anthony W.
2
Perry Twp.
Falls, John H.
6
Perry Twp.
Field, William
2
Raccoon Twp
Ford, Daniel
2
Raccoon Twp
Ford, Jeffie
2
Raccoon Twp
Ford, Shadrack
9
Raccoon Twp
Ford, Tony
7
Raccoon Twp
Gardner, James
4
Gallipolis
Gee, John
10
GallipolisTwp.
Gibbons, John 
7
Gallipolis City
Goen, William
2
Green Twp.
Hally, Benjamin (Holly)
4
Gallipolis Twp.
Hamana, Theophilus
9
Raccoon Twp
Hargo, Gabrial
9
Ohio Twp.
Harris, Jane
4
Gallipolis Twp.
Heamon, Elza
3
Ohio Twp.
Henderson, London
2
Gallipolis City
Hickman, Benjamin
1
Gallipolis City
Hill, Lemuel
6
Gallipolis Twp.
Holmes, Lemuel
4
Gallipolis City
Hopkins, Milly
3
Gallipolis Twp.
Howell, Isaac
7
Morgan Twp.
Hughs, Armstead
5
Greenfield Twp.
Humphrey, Saml
3
Gallipolis Twp.
Humphrey, Sarah
3
Gallipolis Twp.
Hunmphrey, Nathen
9
Gallipolis Twp.
Jackson, James
6
Gallipolis Twp.
James, Frank
8
Morgan Twp.
James,. Howell
8
Morgan Twp.
Johnson, Betsy
3
Gallipolis City
Johnson, Simion 
7
Addison Twp.
Jones, Reuben
7
Raccoon Twp
King, Forrester
7
Ohio Twp.
Lewis, Abigale
3
Gallipolis City
Lewis, Nancy
1
Gallipolis City
Lewis, Shadrack
4
Gallipolis City
Liverpool, Oliver
5
Gallipolis Twp.
Locust, Joseph
3
Gallipolis City
Lucas, Leonard
8
Adamsville
Manley, Wiley
4
Greenfield Twp.
Manley, William
6
Walnut Twp.
Mathews, John
4
Clay Twp.
Mathews, Pleasant
4
Greenfield Twp.
McFarland, Bazel
4
Greenfield Twp.
Melton, Mitchell
6
Raccoon Twp
Mills, Jack
1
Green Twp.
Morely, Joshua
6
Perry Twp.
Morris, Anslem
3
Gallipolis
Moxley, John
9
Ohio Twp.
Moxley, Mashae
4
Ohio Twp.
Murray, Jack
1
Gallipolis City
Napper, Netheifula
4
Wilksville
Napper, William 
7
Gallipolis City
Newman, Randall
11
Clay Twp.
Norman, Richard
8
Clay Twp.
Para, Gabrial
5
Springfield Twp.
Paxton, George
6
Gallipolis
Permit, Howard
4
Gallipolis Twp.
Pettiford, Benjamin
8
Ohio Twp.
Pope, Cupid
2
Perry Twp.
Quall, Stephen
6
Gallipolis City
Richardson, John
7
Clay Twp.
Richardson, Joseph
4
Clay Twp.
Robinson, Lucy
4
Springfield Twp.
Robinson, Samuel
4
Springfield Twp.
Saunders, Alexander
4
Perry Twp.
Scott, Clarkson
5
Springfield Twp.
Scott, Ransom
5
Ohio Twp.
Scott, Wormly
7
Clay Twp.
Sean, Thomas
5
Gallipolis City
Shaver, Anna 
2
Greenfield Twp.
Shaver, Stephen
5
Greenfield Twp.
Smedley, James
4
Gallipolis Twp.
Steward, Frances
6
Greenfield Twp.
Steward, James B.
5
Greenfield Twp.
Steward, Littleberry
1
Gallipolis Twp.
Steward, Rachel
11
Greenfield Twp.
Steward, Stephen
6
Gallipolis Twp.
Steward, William
5
Greenfield Twp.
Stewart, Cain
7
Fair Haven
Teller, Samuel
8
Greenfield Twp.
Thacker, Edwell
13
Wilksville
Thacker, Thomas
9
Wilksville
Thomas, Sean
5
Gallipolis City
Thompson, Dana
2
Gallipolis
Thompson, David
8
Galllipolis City
Thornton, Nancy
5
Clay Twp.
Townsend, William
8
Springfield Twp.
Varney, David
5
Springfield Twp.
Varney, Madison
2
Springfield Twp.
Varney, Samuel
7
Springfield Twp.
Viars, Samuel
1
Gallipolis City
Viars, William
5
Gallipolis City
Viney, William
6
Gallipolis City
Ward, John
4
Galliplois  City
Ward, Spolas
9
Gallipolis City
West, Rowland
10
Springfield Twp.
Wilson, Henry
8
Green Twp.
Wilson, Lucinda
8
Springfield Twp.
Wilson, Sally
8
Springfield Twp.
Woolridge, Spencer
5
Perry Twp.