Dorcas Durham (1813 - 1892)

Born 4 Jul 1813 in Spartanburg, South Carolina, United States [uncertain]

Descendants

Died 1 Jan 1892 at age 78 in Spartanburg, South Carolina, United States [uncertain]

Biography

Dorcas Durham is a part of US Black heritage.

Dorcas was born about 1813, and was an enslaved woman in the household of James W Durham in Spartanburg, South Carolina. She passed away in 1892.

Dorcas and her children likely appear as tic marks in the 1850 and 1860 slave schedules of James W. Durham.^[1]

In the 1870 census Darcus Durham (age 52) was in Reidville, Spartanburg, South Carolina, with seven of her children, and their father, James W. Durham (age 63).^[2]

In the 1875 will of James W. Durham, Darcus and her eight surviving children were bequeathed the home property of James W. Durham in Spartanburg, South Carolina, on the condition that they pay the two daughters of his marriage $5,000 within 26 years.^[3]

In the 1880 census Darkas Durham (age 63), Keeping House, was the widowed head of household in Reidsville, Spartanburg, South Carolina, with four of her children, a son-in-law, and two grandchildren.^[4]

Dorcas died 1 Jan 1892, probably in Spartanburg County, South Carolina, and was buried in Old Pilgrim Missionary Baptist Church Cemetery, Simpsonville, South Carolina.^[5]

Slave Owners

• James W. Durham

Research Notes

• Evidence that James W Durham is both father and enslaver of the children of Dorcas Durham: According to an 1887 book, Men of Mark: Eminent, Progressive and Rising, one son, Rev. J. J. [Jacob J.] Durham, was born on 13 Apr 1849 near Woodruff, Spartanburg, South Carolina to a wealthy White farmer, James W. Durham, and Dorcas Durham, an enslaved person in his household. Jacob was held as a slave by his father.^[6] Presumably , Jacob's siblings were also enslaved, as none of the children, nor Dorcas, appears in the 1850 or 1860 census, and all were expected to pay his daughters for the privilege of owning the home property after James Durham's death.

Sources

1. ↑ Slaves of James W Durham, South Carolina
2. ↑ 1870 Census: "1870 United States Federal Census"
   Year: 1870; Census Place: Reidville, Spartanburg, South Carolina; Roll: M593_1508; Page: 555A
   Ancestry Record 7163 #11861940 (accessed 22 October 2023)
3. ↑ Will of James W Durham, South Carolina
4. ↑ 1880 Census: "1880 United States Federal Census"
   Year: 1880; Census Place: Reidsville, Spartanburg, South Carolina; Roll: 1240; Page: 305C; Enumeration District: 146
   Ancestry Record 6742 #42546008 (accessed 22 October 2023)
5. ↑ Memorial: Find a Grave (has image)
   Find A Grave: Memorial #98690018 (accessed 22 October 2023)
   Memorial page for Darcas Durham (4 Jul 1813-1 Jan 1892), citing Old Pilgrim Missionary Baptist Church Cemetery, Simpsonville, Greenville County, South Carolina, USA; Maintained by John Kinsworthy (contributor 47663196).
6. ↑ Men of Mark: Eminent, Progressive and Rising, William J. Simmons, 1887, pp. 878-882; https://archive.org/details/menmarkeminentp00turngoog/page/n1000/mode/2up