Family Bible recording births, deaths, and marriages, ca. 1830 to 1865, of enslaved African American families working on properties in South Carolina, Georgia, and Mississippi owned by Thomas Jones Davies. Vital statistics document eighty-two births, thirty-six deaths, and eleven marriages of enslaved individuals identified by name. Locations in South Carolina mentioned include Malvern and Gardner's Swamp Plantation (in Beech Island) and Swamp Place (near Hamburg). Locations outside of South Carolina noted include Cherry Hill and Waldburg (in Burke County, Georgia), and Edgefield and Barnwell (in Bolivar County, Mississippi). Notations of births include: "Chloe, daughter of Judy and Simon (owned by Samuel Clarke, Esq.) was born February 14th, St. Valentine's Day at my Swamp Place, 1857," and "Eliza, daughter of Robert & Martha, born at Barnwell June 10th 1860. The first child born on the plantation." Some of the records of deaths provide details and describe not only the slave's death, but also give a brief history of the person's life: "On the night of January 23rd 1856 at the late residence of W.W. Starke, Esq., Dinah, mother of Peter. Her age was remarkable. She was owned by M.C. Hammond, Esq., and sold with others to W.H. Baldy, Esq., and by him, allowed to live with me in 1850. Since then she has had her freedom, having been a child of my grandmother's and hence my attention to her in the decline of her life. She was probably ninety years of age. Was buried at Malvern. Died of pneumonia and old age." File includes includes cover letter, 28 Jan. 2010, with transcription of the Bible records completed by Alane Rountree; Bible published 1841.
