Auburn Hall, Jefferson County, Mississippi

Date: [unknown] [unknown]
Location: Church Hill, Jefferson, Mississippi, United States
Surnames/tags: Slavery Wood

Contents 1 Introduction 2 Owners 3 Plantations 4 Slaves 5 Sources 6 See Also

Introduction

--Under Construction 30 April 2023--

James Gillam Wood (1770-1843) first purchased 1,000 acres of land on Coles Creek from Henry Hunt for $12,500. This homestead became known as Auburn Hall.

James G. Wood was living in Jefferson County, Mississippi by August 7, 1820, when the family was recorded with 2 White males under 10, 1 while male 16-25, 2 white males 26-44. 2 white females under 10, 2 white females 16-25 and one white females 26-44. Total 10 whites.

It was destroyed by a tornado in 1908.

Owners

• Henry Hunt
• James Gillam Wood (1770-1843)

Plantations

In addition to his Auburn Hall mansion, James Wood owned Ursino Plantation, in Warren County, Mississippi

Slaves

James Gillam Wood's biography states that he and his family moved from their home in Charles County, Maryland to Jefferson County, Mississippi in 1811with "an unknown number of slaves."

The 1810 census for James Wood in Charles County, Maryland shows he had 9 slaves.

The 1820 census would have been the first time any of those slaves had been enumerated on the Mississippi census. Any slaves enumerated on the 1820 census over the age of 9 could have been those brought from Maryland (although given the change from 9 slaves in 1810 to 56 slaves in 1820, it seems apparent that James purchased slaves after his arrival in Mississippi.)

On August 7, 1820, the census shows James G. Wood held 56 enslaved persons in Jefferson, Mississippi, United States.^[1]

Age	Count
Slaves - Males - Under 14	10
Slaves - Males - 14 thru 25	9
Slaves - Males - 26 thru 44	10
Slaves - Males - 45 and over	2
Slaves - Females - Under 14	11
Slaves - Females - 14 thru 25	6
Slaves - Females - 26 thru 44	7
Slaves - Females - 45 and over	1

In the 1830 census James held 61 enslaved persons in Jefferson, Mississippi, United States.^[2]

Age	Count
Slaves - Males - Under 10	7
Slaves - Males - 24 thru 35	12
Slaves - Males - 36 thru 54	12
Slaves - Males - 55 thru 99	2
Slaves - Females - Under 10	11
Slaves - Females - 10 thru 23	9
Slaves - Females - 24 thru 35	7
Slaves - Females - 36 thru 54	1

By the 1840 census James Wood held 79 enslaved in Jefferson, Mississippi, United States. The record also shows one free person of color.^[3]

Age	Count
Slaves - Males - Under 10	10
Slaves - Males - 10 thru 23	13
Slaves - Males - 24 thru 35	6
Slaves - Males - 36 thru 54	15
Slaves - Males - 55 thru 99	2
Slaves - Females - 10 thru 23	10
Slaves - Females - 24 thru 35	12
Slaves - Females - 36 thru 54	8
Slaves - Females - 55 thru 99	2
Slaves - Females - 100 and over	1

The will of James G Wood (1770-1843) recorded the names of slaves he was passing on to his heirs:^[4]

1. Jane Octavia and her son John
   
2. Frank and Susan and their children Edy, Maria, Martha, Aquilla and Lafayette
   
3. George and Mary and their children Tanica, Peter, David, Thomas and Olivia
   
4. Henrietta and her son George Washington
   
5. Spencer and Priscilla and their children Mary Ann and Aaron
   

Sources

1. ↑ 1820 Census: "United States Census, 1820"
   citing p. , NARA microfilm publication , (Washington D.C.: National Archives and Records Administration, n.d.), roll ; FHL microfilm .
   FamilySearch Record: XHG6-T6C (accessed 29 April 2023)
   FamilySearch Image: 33S7-9YY8-S9QP Image number 00090
   James G Wood in Jefferson, Mississippi, United States.
2. ↑ 1830 Census: "United States Census, 1830"
   citing Page: 43; Affiliate Publication Number: M19;
   FamilySearch Record: XHPF-Y1N (accessed 29 April 2023)
   FamilySearch Image: 33SQ-GYTY-SRH
   James G Wood in Jefferson, Mississippi, United States.
3. ↑ 1840 Census: "United States Census, 1840"
   citing p. 295, NARA microfilm publication , (Washington D.C.: National Archives and Records Administration, n.d.), roll ; FHL microfilm .
   FamilySearch Record: XHTS-RYX (accessed 29 April 2023)
   FamilySearch Image: 33SQ-GYBH-DFB Image number 00596
   Jas G Wood in Jefferson, Mississippi, United States.
4. ↑ Last Will and Testament. "Mississippi Probate Records, 1781-1930," Estate of James Gilliam Wood, Case 81-117, images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:3QS7-L9Q6-CWZQ?cc=2036959&wc=M7ML-MMQ%3A344536001%2C344940801 : 21 May 2014), Jefferson > Chancery Court case files 1857-1917 no 81-117 > images 1724-1755 of 1915; county courthouses and public libraries, Mississippi.

See Also

• Sakofagen page, Auburn Plantation - Jefferson MS. http://sankofagen.pbworks.com/w/page/14230349/Auburn%20Plantation%20-%20Jefferson%20MS
• The Forgotten South blog post, Historic Mississippi Crossroad Towns, Church Hill, Jefferson County MS. https://theforgottensouth.com/church-hill-mississippi/
• Wikipedia Entry for Church Hill, Mississippi. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Church_Hill,_Mississippii
• MSGenWeb pages for Jefferson County: http://www.msgw.org/jefferson/index.html
• James G Wood, Jefferson County MSGenWeb: http://www.msgw.org/jefferson/firstfamilies/woodjasg.html