Monday, February 4, 2019

Slaveholders of Skullyville & Sugar Loaf, Choctaw Nation



1860 Slave Schedule Skullyville, Choctaw Nation


The 1860 slave schedule of the Skullyville area in the Choctaw Nation is a small one, reflecting about 201 enslaved people. There were 48 slave holders named on the record although in some cases there were additional people who had an "investment" in a group of enslaved people. In those cases, a note was made that others had an interest in that small group of slaves.

In the case of Jos. R. Hall, he was listed as the slave holder of record, but a note on the record indicates that there were 7 others who had an interest in the same slaves.



Slave holders of Skullyville

E. P. Massey
James Boyd
Samuel Allen
Dennis Folsom
F. M. Monks
Armstrong Frohling(?)
Walker Folsom
William Merriman
George Gunter (of Cher. Natio
James Choate
Samuel Bridges
N. B. Breedlove
Mrs. Breedlove
Clem Vann's wife
F. E. Williams
L. B. Dow
I. I. Phillips(?)
Tandy Walker
William Frazier(Frayon?)
Nathaniel Folsom
Bowlin Perry
Edmund Folsom
Peter Folsom
Edmond Riddle
Emeatubbee
Campbell Le Flore
John G. Ainsworth
A. W. Gary
Margaret Gary
Eli Mitchell
Plarcide Krebbs
Simon Hancock
Sina Pickens
Willis Burns
James Frayon(?)
Claudine Kincaid
William Cooper
Jerry Riddle
Eliza Hampton
Mary Jack
Edward Moore
Fort Coffee Academy
Widow C. M. McCurtain
Jos. R. Hall (and 7 others)
Mrs. Thompson McKinney (and 3 others)
Mrs. James M. Coleman
James M. Colman
Henry Keyser



In Sugar Loaf, the number of enslaved people was even smaller, with only 51 people held enslaved. They were held enslaved by 17 slaveholders. (In the case of the McClain heirs one guardian was appointed as the "owner" of record, and is therefore counted as one.)

Slaveholders of Sugar Loaf County

Steven Holson
Kennedy McCurtain
Thomas Lewis
Rhoda McCurtain
Emmaline Folsom
Nail Perry
Sukey Perry
Morris Nail
Widow James
John Page
McKee Folsom
Robert McCarty
Eliza & George McClain minor heirs
Sophia McClain
James McClain
Sophia Eubanks
Matthew Moncrief


It is clear that the two northernmost counties in the Choctaw Nation slavery was not as prevalent as it was in the southern parts of the nation, where slaveholders held dozens and in some cases hundreds of people in bondage. However, the nature of slavery should not be considered as "kinder, or gentler" institution, because "ownership" of another human being, is still a violation of the human spirit and there is no "better" or "nicer" way to live enslaved.

This is the first time that a general study of slavery in Skullyville has been undertaken. Hopefully more will someday be learned as stories are found, and told to preserve the history of this small corner of the Choctaw Nation, of Indian Territory and of Oklahoma's pre-statehood years, when slavery prevailed upon the land.

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