Slaves

Although her name is not listed, evidence from Dale County AL. SLAVE SCHEDULES as well as the CENSUS suggests the following:

In 1840, Daniel Johnson and his wife Rebecca (Carroll) owned one female slave, age 20.

In 1850, that woman appears to have remained with the family in that a female slave, age 30 is listed on the rolls (although this is not conclusive it is indeed the same woman). In addition there are 3 other slaves listed, all female, ages 12, 7 and 4 (Recorded Nov. 6th, 1850).

In 1860, just prior to the Civil War, the female slave is again listed, age 30, suggesting this woman probably remained with this family for at least 20 years. Her daughters are listed again, this time they are listed as ages 20, 18, and 16. It is also possible these are not the slaves at all, although indications are that it is the same family (Recorded Aug. 6th, 1860).

The woman owned by the Johnsons may have been bought by Daniel himself or given to the family as a wedding present, possibly from Rebecca's affluent family The CARROLLS. The slave woman would have worked promarily in the kitchen, which at that time would have been in a seperate structure from the house. Field hands, if needed, were probably borrowed from another site, again possibly from Rebecca's family.

The question of whether or not Daniel Johnson himself was the father of the slave's children, a common practice at that time in history, has not been answered.

It was common practice for slaves, whenever they gained their freedom (most in 1865)to assume the last name of their owners since they had no official surnames. We do not know for certain. We do know however that by the 1870 Census, she was gone.


SLAVES In early America, slavery was a part of everyday life, especially in the Southern states, until the end of the Civil War in 1865. DANIEL JOHNSON, by no means a rich man, might have been considered middle class by the standards of his day.

The Records Although her name is not listed, evidence from Dale County AL. SLAVE SCHEDULES as well as the CENSUS suggests the following: In 1840, Daniel Johnson and his wife Rebecca (Carroll) owned one female slave, age 20. In 1850, that woman appears to have remained with the family in that a female slave, age 30 is listed on the rolls (although this is not conclusive it is indeed the same woman). In addition there are 3 other slaves listed, all female, ages 12, 7 and 4 (Recorded Nov. 6th, 1850). In 1860, just prior to the Civil War, the female slave is again listed, age 30, suggesting this woman probably remained with this family for at least 20 years. Her daughters are listed again, this time they are listed as ages 20, 18, and 16. It is also possible these are not the slaves at all, although indications are that it is the same family (Recorded Aug. 6th, 1860). The woman owned by the Johnsons may have been bought by Daniel himself or given to the family as a wedding present, possibly from Rebecca's affluent family The CARROLLS. The slave woman would have worked promarily in the kitchen, which at that time would have been in a seperate structure from the house. Field hands, if needed, were probably borrowed from another site, again possibly from Rebecca's family. The question of whether or not Daniel Johnson himself was the father of the slave's children, a common practice at that time in history, has not been answered. It was common practice for slaves, whenever they gained their freedom (most in 1865)to assume the last name of their owners since they had no official surnames. We do not know for certain. We do know however that by the 1870 Census, she was gone.