In this continuing case study, we have explored the use of online resources to research the family of a former slave, Jefferson Clark, of Leon County, Texas. Having learned quite a bit of information about this family using vital and census records, and the 1867 Texas voter registration lists, we then outlined a plan of action for identifying his final slaveowner before being freed, the most important part of researching former slaves. In the third part of this series, we were able to identify several men living in Leon County, in the vicinity of Jefferson Clark, who were also born in either Alabama or Virginia. We were able to obtain additional information about these men from the 1870 federal census, and the 1867 Texas voter registration lists. In the fourth part of the series, we explored which of these men from Alabama were slaveowners, using information from the 1860 federal census population and slave schedules. In the next part, we identified the final two potential slaveowners in the 1850 federal census, living in Noxubee County, Mississippi, where they apparently lived after moving from Alabama. The most recent part of this case study reviewed what we have discovered about Jefferson Clark.
In this part, we will review what we know about George W. Tubb, to identify any evidence that he was the former slaveowner of Jefferson Clark.
Having located several different sources concerning George W. Tubb that are available online, we can conclude the following:
- In the 1870 federal census for Precinct 3 in Leon County, Texas, G. W. TUBBS is 52 years old, reportedly born in Alabama. His real property value is $3000. His personal property value is $600.[1]
- In the 1867 voter registration list for Leon County, Texas, G. W. TUBB resides in Precinct 4. He has reportedly resided in the state for nine years, in the county for nineteen [sic] years, and in the precinct for nine years. He is reportedly a native of Alabama.[2]
- In the 1860 federal census for Leon Division, Centerville post office, Leon County, Texas, G. W. TUBBS is 41 years old, reportedly born in Alabama. His real property value is $4,070. His personal property value is $11,635.[3] This high personal property value is indicative of slave ownership, and indeed G. W. TUBBS owns nineteen slaves in this year.[4]
- In the 1850 federal census for Noxubee County, Mississippi, GEORGE W. TUBB is 32 years old, reportedly born in Alabama.[5] He also owns sixteen slaves in that year.[6]
In the 1860 and 1870 federal census enumerations, the children living with George W. Tubb and his wife Martha are shown to have been born in Mississippi prior to 1858 and Texas after that date. This fact serves to corroborate the fact that he had moved into Texas in that year.
This is the same year that Jefferson Clark reportedly moved into Texas, according to the 1867 voter registration list. Jefferson was also reportedly a native of Alabama.[7]
As further circumstantial evidence, G. W. TUBB appears a mere five lines above JEFFERSON CLARK on this 1867 voter registration list.
In addition to all of the above circumstantial evidence, the 1860 federal census slave schedule also lists the ages and genders (though not the names) of the slaves owned by G. W. TUBBS. As shown in the previous part of this study, four of these slaves are of ages close to what would be expected for Jefferson Clark and his family.[8]
Though all of this evidence may seem convincing, we have still not obtained a single piece of direct evidence that Jefferson Clark was indeed the slave of George W. Tubb. We are beginning to complete a case based on indirect evidence, but proof based on indirect evidence bears a larger burden to meet the Genealogical Proof Standard. As previously discussed in this column, the first requirement of the Genealogical Proof Standard is to complete a “reasonably exhaustive search.” Meeting this requirement means that more information must be obtained. The next part of this case study will work toward this goal.
[1] 1870 U. S. Census, Leon Co., Texas, population schedule, Precinct No. 3, Centerville post office, page 12, dwelling 95, family 95, G. W. Tubbs; digital image, Ancestry.com (http://www.ancestry.com : accessed Feb 2010); NARA microfilm publication M593, roll 1596.
[2] Leon County, Texas, Voters’ Registration, 1867, folio 112, entry 142, G. W. Tubb; digital image, in Hait, comp., Leon County, Texas, 1867 Voters’ Registration Lists, pp. 13-14.
[3] 1860 U. S. Census, Leon Co., Texas, population schedule, Leon Division, Centerville post office, page 58, dwelling 410, family 410, G. W. Tubb; digital image, Ancestry.com (http://www.ancestry.com : accessed Mar 2010); NARA microfilm publication M653, roll 1299.
[4] 1860 U. S. Census, Leon Co., Texas, slave schedule, Leon Division, page 21, stamped page 78, column 2, lines 40; and page 22, column 2, lines 1-18; digital image, Ancestry.com (http://www.ancestry.com : accessed Mar 2010); NARA microfilm publication M653, roll not stated.
[5] 1850 U. S. Census, Noxubee Co., Mississippi, population schedule, no district stated, unpaginated, dwelling 689, family 689, George W. Tubbs household; digital image, Ancestry.com (http://www.ancestry.com : accessed Mar 2010); NARA microfilm publication M432, roll 379.
[6] 1850 U. S. Census, Noxubee Co., Mississippi, slave schedule, no district stated, unpaginated, after penciled page, column 1, lines 28-42, and column 2, line 1, George Tubb’s slaves; digital image, Ancestry.com (http://www.ancestry.com : accessed Mar 2010); NARA microfilm publication M432, roll not stated.
[7] Leon County, Texas, Voters’ Registration, 1867, folio 112, entry 147, Jefferson Clark; digital image, reproduced in Michael Hait, compiler, Leon County, Texas, 1867 Voters’ Registration Lists, pub. 2009; e-book/PDF download, Scribd (http://www.scribd.com/doc/23695411/Leon-County-Texas-1867-Voters-Registration-Lists : accessed 5 Jan 2010), pp. 13-14.
[8] 1860 U. S. Census, Leon Co., Texas, slave schedule, Leon Division, page 21, stamped page 78, column 2, lines 40; and page 22, column 2, lines 1-18.
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