Freedmen’s Bureau Ration Book #3188, May – September 1866

Darlington, South Carolina

 

Transcribed by Scott Wilds

 

While most of the persons mentioned here lived in old Darlington District, a significant number also lived in Chesterfield District, a burned county, making these records of particular interest.

 

In the following transcript, racial classifications of some persons which are in the margin have been inserted in the text in parentheses.  Material in {braces} was interlined or inserted later.

 

Source:

Freedmen’s Bureau Records, Record Group 105, National Archives, Washington, DC.  Darlington, SC, #3188 (vol. 183)

 

This transcription first appeared in The Carolina Herald and Newsletter, the official publication of the South Carolina Genealogical Society, vol. 31 (2003), no. 2 (spring issue), 33-40, and no. 3 (summer issue), 17-36.

 

                                                                                         [Part 1]

 

Rations issued to Poor & infirm persons etc.

 

May 21, 1866

 

1.  Mary Martin (white), widow, near Mr. Wm. King beyond Hartsville.  living on place belonging to Mr. Coker, 21 miles distance.  Rents it from Mr. Uriah Blackwell. has one son 12 yrs. & 1 daughter 16 yrs. and one orphan child left with her.  10 days.  {Issued for 3 days June 4th. Issued for 8 days July 3rd, for herself and 2 children.  Issued for 8 days July 18th. to herself & orphan child.} {Is represented by Sarah Brown to own her land and the story is generally contradicted.  no more issues to be made.}

 

2.  Jonathan Jones (white), about 40.  lives at same place.  Has Epilepsy.  Has a wife & one child of five years.  10 days. {Issued for 6 days from June 4th.  Issued for 6 days July 5th.  Issued for 6 days July 18th.}

 

3.  David Shirley (white), 71 years of age.  Has a wife.  Has a daughter of 11, two sons of six & four respectively.  Lives near Lynches Creek about 18 miles west from Darlington.  10 days.  {Issued for 3 days June 4th.  Shows recommendation from O. D. Lee magistrate not satisfactory because of not stating facts within his personal knowledge.  Sept. 11th -- brings certificate from O. D. Lee -- satisfactory.}

 

4.  Sarah Nichols (white).  40 yrs. of age, has 6 children and a sister.  Has a daughter of 20 years named Disey.  One son of 16.  Lives about two miles beyond above mentioned Shirley on a place owned by Mr. Jacob Kelly.  10 days.  {Issued for 3 days June 4th.  Shows recommendation from O. D. Lee magistrate not satisfactory because of not stating facts within his personal knowledge.  Sept. 11th. brings certificate from O. D. Lee -- satisfactory.}

 

May 22

 

5.  Angus McDonald (white).  62 yrs. of age.  Has a wife.  A daughter of 20.  Has 13 children. Lives near Tiller’s Bridge on Lynch’s Creek.  10 days.

 

6.  Lucy (colored, freedwoman) living on Mr. Bland’s place 4 miles from Darlington on Cashaway Ferry Road.  10 days.  {issued for five days from June 1st.  Issued for 4 days June 27th.}

 

7.  Elizabeth Odom (colored), lives about 3 miles from Darlington on Timmonsville Road.  Is 84 years of age. Has one cow, 2 chickens.  Lives on Mr. Dew’s place.  Has one grand-daughter about 15.  Issue rations for her until end of month.  {Is recommended by E. W. Charles & H. L. Charles of Darlington.}  10 days.  {Issued for 3 days June 1st.}

 

May 23

 

8.  Mrs. Amelia Anderson (white), 40 years of age.  lives about 8 miles South West from Darlington on a plantation belonging to Mr. Warley.  Husband dead.  Has five small children and Three daughters nearly grown. Rations for herself & children to end of month.  9 days, in July.  {5 days from June 1st.  Reported to have had {given birth to} a colored child last Fall.  [illegible words] Case 147.}

 

9.  William Jeffords (white), 79 years of age. Has an insane wife. and one child.  Lives on Middle Swamp about 10 miles distant from Darlington.  Issued rations for himself wife & child to end month.  Recommendation by A. N. Stuckey, chairman, board of poor.  9 days.  {Issued for 5 days June 7th.  Issued for 4 days June 27th.  Issued for 10 days July 2nd.  See case 160.}

 

10.  Elizabeth Sturgeon (white), 30 years of age.  Has a husband disabled, lost right arm.  Has five children.  Lives about 5 miles from Darlington on Estate of Benjamin James.  Has one cow, 3 hogs, 2 acres of Land.  Is certified by R. K. Charles.  9 days. {Issued for 3 days June 1st.  Issued for 3 days July 17th.  Issued for 3 days July 26th.}

 

11.  Jack Garland (colored, freedman), 80 years of age.  Has a wife Tina and one boy.  Lives about eleven miles distant on Camden Road on Mr. Asa Garland’s plantation near Lydia.  Used to belong to him.  Issued to end of month.  9 days.  {Issued for 10 days, June 25th. Issued for 5 days, July 5th.  Issued for 10 days July 27th.}

 

12.  Hampton Jordan (colored, freedman), Blind. 54 years of age.  Has a wife named Darkis and four children.  Lives about 7 miles from Darlington on Mr. James Jordan’s plantation on High Hill Creek.  Was turned off by his former Master Issam Jordan in June 1866.  Issued for himself & 4 children to end of month. 9 days.  {Issued for five days from June 1.  Issued for Hampton & 4 children 5 days July 1.  Issued for 5 days July 10th.  Issued for 10 days. July 27th.}

 

13.  Nisa Gee (colored, freedwoman), 65 yrs. old.  Lives on Mr. Peter Jordan’s place about 7 miles from Darlington on Jeffries Creek Road.  Issued to end of month. 9 days.  {Issued for 5 days from June 6.  Issued 5 days July 6th.  Issued for 4 days July 13th.  Issued for 10 days July 27th.}

 

14.  James A. Thomas (white).  48 yrs. of age. {cripple}  Has a wife & 4 children. Lives about 14 miles distant on Lake Swamp.  Issued rations for himself & wife & 4 children to end of month.  9 days.  {Issued for 10 days from June 1.  Issued for 7 days from June 23 66.  Issued for 8 days July 3rd.  Issued for 6 days July 13th.}

 

15.  Joseph Register (white).  Blind.  85 yrs. of age.  Has a wife named Nancy and a nephew about 10 yrs. of age.  Lives about 12 miles distant on Fields Bridge Road.  Issued for himself, wife & nephew to end of month. 9 days.  {Issued for 10 days from June 1st.  Issued for 7 days from June 25th.  Issued for 8 days July 3rd.  Issued for 6 days July 13th.}

 

16.  Hester Wilson (white).  27 years of age.  Has three children. Lives near Lake Swamp.  Husband dead four years.  Issued for herself & three children to end of month.  {Lives on Thos. Grantham’s place.  Has no land no garden and no stock of any kind.  Lives with her mother Ann Eliza Simms, father Sam, sister Helen lives there too & has 2 cows, 4 hogs, 20 chickens.}  9 days.  {Issued for 3 days June 4th.  Issued for 5 days July 9th.}

 

17.  Hepsy & George.  Colored orphan children about 6 miles distant of Jeffries Creek Road, living on Mr. Cole’s place.  Issued to end of month.  9 days.  {Issued for 6 days July 6th.  Issued for 5 days July 14th.}

 

18.  Rachel Wilde (colored).  Is sixty years of age.  Has a mother of 80 named Nellie.  Lives about 6 miles distant on Cashua Ferry Road on Mrs. Wilde’s plantation.  Issued to end of month for herself & mother. 9 days.  {Issued for 7 days June 23d.  Issued for 6 days July 7th.  Issued for 4 days July 14th.  Issued for 4 days July 25th.  Issued for 4 days Aug. 3d.}

 

19.  Lucy Wildes (colored).  {Nearly blind.}  75 years of age. has a husband 80 years old named March.  Lives at same place.  Issued for both to end of month.  These people are very old, feeble and deserving.  9 days.  {Issued for 10 days July 11th.  Issued for Lucy & March for three (3) days July 19th.}

 

May 20

 

20.  {Charlotte} Sally Wildes (colored) 75 years.  Lives at same place.  Issued to end of month.  9 days.  {Issued for five days July 19th.}

 

May 24

 

21.  Mary Ann (colored).  65 years old, living at Darlington.  Has a daughter named Candus (insane) with 5 little children.  Issued to end of month for the family. 8 days.  {Issued to Candice & 5 children for 10 days from June 10/66.  Issued to all for 10 days June 25.  Issued for 10 days July 5th.  Issued for 10 days July 16th.  Issued for 10 days July 26th.}

 

22.  Lucretia Maples (white) 65 years old living 3 miles distant on Camden Road on Mr. Jas. Hunters plantation.  Issued to end of month.  8 days in May. {5 days from June 1st.  5 days June 25th.  8 days July 3rd.  2 days July 16th.  2 days July 24th.  2 days Aug. 1st.}

 

23.  Betsy Flowers (white).  45 yrs. of age.  Has a husband crippled and bedridden. Has a son grown. Has a crop growing.  Issued to all to end of month.  Lives 5 miles distance on Camden Road on Mr. Benjamin James place. Has two children {under 10}.  Is recommended by A. C. Spain.  8 days in May.  {3 days from June 1st.  3 days from July 14th.  3 days from July 24th.  3 days from August 2d.}

 

24.  Patty Folt (colored).  Lives in Darlington. Is 38 years of age.  Has six children.  Issued to herself & 5 children to end of month. One boy of 14 is able to support himself.  Is recommended by Genl. Gile.  8 days.  {Issued 3 days June 1st.  Issued for 4 days June 26th. Issued for 4 days July 7th.  Issued for 4 days July 24th.  Issued for 4 days July 27th.}

 

25.  Lena {Brockington} (Color’d) is 70 yrs. of age.  Has a husband named Daniel 73 years old and blind.  Has a son 50 years old.  Named Philip. Cripple.  Lives on Mr. Millin’s place two miles from Darlington.  Issued to all to end of month.  8 days.  {Issued for 7 days June 23/66.  Issued for 6 days July 26th.  Philip & his son & Mittchell rent 85 acres and have a crop of corn, cotton, potatoes & peas & rice.}

 

May 25

 

26.  Mrs. M. E. Gardner (white), living on Mr. Nettles plantation. Is 36 years of age.  Husband dead.  Has five children.  Issued for herself & five children to end of month. 7 days.  {Issued for 6 days June 4th.  Issued for 4 days July 24/66.  Issued for 4 days July 25th.}

 

27. Darkis Dargan (colored, freedwoman), 65 yrs. of age.  Lives 12 miles distant on Timmonsville Road on Mrs. Sarah Bryants plantation. Issued to end of month.  7 days.  {Issued for 10 days July 27th.}

 

May 26

 

28.  Harriet Moore (white), Phoebe Johnson, Sarah Hall, America Hull, F. E. Hull, Lulah Moore, Louisa Johnson, Mary Hull, living in Chesterfield about 22 miles from Cheraw on Camden Road leading from Cheraw.  These women were refugees and accompanied Sherman’s Army on its way North. Have certified copies of orders giving them transportation back from Indiana.  Are now destitute.  Issued rations to end of mo. for all.  6 days.  {Issued for 6 days from June 4th.  Issued for 10 days June 25th.  Issued for 10 days July 10th.  Issued for 10 days July 23d.  Issued for 10 days Aug. 2d.}

 

29.  Louis Bess (colored, freedman). 40 years of age.  Disabled by a gun shot wound.  Lives about 11 miles distant on Mr. Benj. Clements place Timmonsville Road. Has a wife & 5 children.  Issued to himself & 5 children to end of month.  6 days.  {Did not draw on the order. Issued for 6 days from June 1st.} 

 

30.  Jerry Gardner.  Living at Widow Hames [?].  80 years of age Camden Road about 9 miles distant.  Issued to end of month.  6 days.  {Issued for 6 days June 4th.}

 

31. Isaac Benjamin (Col’d).  Has a mother named Disey, 85 years of age & an orphan child.  Live on Mr. Hoyt’s place 10 miles distant on Timmonsville Road.  Issued to end of month for his mother and the child.  6 days.  {Issued for 7 days for his mother & child June 23/66.}

 

32.  Pompey (colored, freedman), is 80 years of age.  Has a wife bedridden. Lives about 10 miles distant on Mr. Brandt Pettigew’s place on Timmonsville Road.  Issued to himself & wife to end of month. 6 days.

 

33.  Clarinda Flynn (colored, freedwoman), is 70 years of age.  afflicted with rheumatism.  Lives on Mr. Blainey Parnells place about 5 miles distant on Camden Road.  Issued to end of mo.  6 days.

 

34.  Miley McIver (colored, freedwoman), 80 yrs. of age. blind.  lives about 2 miles distant on Florence Road near Mrs. McIver’s mill.  Issued to end of month.  6 days.  {Issued for 5 days June 1st.  Issued for 10 days July 12th.  Issued for 6 days July 23d.  Issued for 10 days Aug. 3d.}

 

May 28

 

35.  Peter Neptune (colored, freedman), about 75 years of age, living on Black Creek 10 miles distant on Mrs. Frazer’s place, Society Hill Road.  Has a mother named Sukie Frazer 90 years of age. Issued rations for both to end of month.  4 days.  {Issued for 10 days July 5th.  Issued for 10 days July 30th.}

 

36. Anthony Kelly (colored, freedman), is 60 yrs. of age.  Has two orphan grandchildren, lives at Mr. Jacob Kelly’s place 18 miles distant on Camden Road.  Issued to end of month for all.  4 days.

 

37.  Betsy Law (colored, freedwoman), 93 years of age.  Lives at same place.  Issued to end of month.  4 days.

 

38.  Lilie {Dargan} (colored, freedwoman), 74 years of age, lives on Mr. Washington Dargan’s place 2 miles distant.  Amnetha, freedwoman, 60 yrs of age, lives on same place. Issued to both to end of month.  4 days.  {Issued for both for 5 days from June 1st.  5 days from June 25th. 5 days from July 16th.  5 days from July 30th.}

 

39.  Peter Fountain (colored, freedman), 75 years of age, lives on Mr. Thomas Fountain’s place about 10 miles distant on Mechanicsville road.  Issued to end of month.  4 days.  {Issued for 6 days June 4th.  Issued for 5 days July 14th.}

 

40.  Jacob {Frazer} (colored, freedman), 75 years old, {Blind} living on Mrs. Frazer’s place 10 miles distant on Society Hill Road, issued to end mo.  {Issued 10 days from June 1st. Issued for 10 days July 2nd.66.  Issued for 10 days July 11th.  Issued for 2 days July 23d.  Issued for 10 days July 25th.}

 

41.  Elizabeth Bostick (white), lives on Lake Swamp Road near the church, 12 miles distant near Timmonsville on Lake Swamp Road.  45 years old, has a married daughter & son 15 years old.  Issued to end of month. 7 or 8 acres of corn, 1 cow, 4 hogs, 8 chickens, 1 horse. {Issued for 8 days July 2nd for herself only.  Issued for 8 days July 10th.  Issued for 4 days July 25th.}

 

42.  Becky Flynn (colored, freedwoman), 80 years of age, lives on Jeffer Creek on Mr. Flynne’s place, 7 miles distant on Jeffers Creek Road.  Issued to end of month.  {Issued for 10 days July 21st.}

 

43.  Gilbert Skepper (white), 73 yrs. old.  Has a wife 69 years old, lives on road from Society Hill to Camden, 15 miles distant from Society Hill.  Issued to end of month for both.  4 days in May.  {5 days from June 1st.}

 

44. Tilla (colored, freedwoman), is 37 years old, has 4 children, lives on Mr. Harry Ham’s place 10 miles distant on Wilmington & Manchester R. R.  Issued to end of month for self and 4 children.

 

45.  Hannah Booth (colored, freedwoman), is 80 yrs. old, lives 10 miles distant at Ebenezer Church on same road.  Issd. to end mo.

 

46.  John Taylor (white), has a wife & 7 children, lives on East side Black Creek 20 miles distant.  Is 53 years old.  Cannot procure corn by credit. Issd. to end of month for himself & family.  {Issued for 3 days from June 1st.}

 

47.  Lidia {Fraser} (colored, freedwoman), 75 years old, lives on Mr. Frazers place 10 miles distant, Society Hill Road.  Issued to end of month.  {Issued for 10 days July 30th.}

 

48. Darkas {Fraser} (colored, freedwoman), 90 years of age, lives at same place, issued to end of month.  {Issued 5 days fr June 1st.  Issued 10 days from July 30th.}

 

49.  Nelly Dargan (colored, freedwoman), 75 years old, lives on Mr. Z. Payne’s place about 13 miles distant on Cashaway Ferry Road.  Issued to end of month.  {Issued for 6 days June 4th.  Issued for 4 days June 26th.  Issued for 5 days July 6th.  Issued for 4 days July 14th.  Issued for 4 days July 21st.}

 

50. Peter (colored, freedman), 75 years of age, living in Darlington, blind, issued to end of month.  4 days.  {10 days from June 1st.}

 

51.  Toby {Cannon} (colored, freedman), 35 years of age, living on Mr. W. Jame’s place 4 miles distant on Timmonsville Road.  Has a mother called Minda, 80 years of age, living with Mr. Brunson.  Issued for himself to end of month.  His mother is to send for her own.  3 days.  {Issued to Toby for 10 days from June 1st.  Issued for 7 days June 23d 66. Issued to Minda for 5 days June 25.  Issued to Toby for 6 days July 5th.  Issued to Toby for 6 days July 16th.  Issued to Toby for 6 days July 23d.}

 

52.  John R. Sparrow (white), 78 years of age, blind, lives about a mile from Darlington on the road leading to Mr. McCoats mill.  Has no family left.  Issued to end of month.  3 days in May.  {Issued for 10 days from June 1st. 1866.  Issued for 10 days from June 15/66.  Issued for 10 days from July 5th.  Issued for 10 days from July 19th.  Issued for 10 days from Aug. 2.}

 

53.  Judy (colored, freedwoman), 80 years of age, lives on Mr. Wm. Law’s place, three miles distant on Cheraw road.  Issued to end of month.  3 days.

 

54.  Lewis (colored, freedman), 30 years of age, has Epilepsy.  Unable to work lives on Mr. Brandt Pedigrew’s place about 10 miles distant on Timmonsville road. Used to belong to Mr. William James. 3 days.

 

55.  Elizabeth Gainey (white), 30 yrs. of age.  Has a husband named John, an invalid, and six children, oldest 12 yrs. of age, lives about 12 miles from Society Hill on Camden Road.  Issued for herself husband & 6 children to end of month.  3 days in May.  {5 days from June 1st.  Issued for 10 days July 7th.}

 

 

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