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Facts and Events
GIST SETTLEMENT DESCENDANT
References
- The History of Brown County, Ohio: containing a history of the County, its townships, towns, churches, schools, etc.; general and local statistic; portraits of early settlers and prominent men; history of the Northwest territory; history of Ohio; map of Brown County; constitution of the United States; miscellaneous matters, etc., etc. (Marceline, Missouri: Walsworth Pub. Co., 1981).
The original version is available on Google Books.
http://books.google.com/books/about/The_History_of_Brown_County_Ohio.html?id=udUyAQAAMAAJ
This is a reprint of an 1883 work and therefore out of copyright.
Page 591
Gist Settlement started in Eagle Township, west of Fincastle, in 1818.
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THE “ COLORED SETTLEMENT. ’ ’
The colored settlement in Eagle Township was made in 1818, by a number of the former slaves of Samuel Gist, a wealthy banker, resident of London, England, and an extensive land-owner and slaveholder in the United States.
It is not known that Gist ever visited his plantation here, or that he ever saw a single slave that cultivated his lands, but all was left to the management of resident agents appointed by him. These lands lay in the counties of Hanover, Amherst, Goslin and Henrico, Va., and included some of the finest plantations in the “ Old Dominion.”
In 1808, desiring to make ample provision for the future happiness of those who had so abundantly filled his coffers by their servitude, Gist made a will, the intent of which was certainly benevolent, but which has been most wretchedly executed. This document, of fifty-eight closely written pages, is a study within itself. It begins: “This is the last will and testament of me, Samuel Gist, of Gower street, in the parish of St. Giles, in the city of London, of the county of Middlesex, England.”
After bequeathing various valuable estates and large sums of money to his only daughter, he designates what property and sums of money shall fall to the numerous persons who have been in his employ, and most explicitly does he provide for his slaves in Virginia, who numbered nearly one thousand souls!
Relative to them, the will provides that at his death, his “ slaves in Virginia shall ‘be set free.” That his lands there shall be sold, and comfortable homes in a free State be purchased for them with the proceeds. That the revenue from his plantations the last year of his life be applied in building schoolhouses and churches for their accommodation. That all money coming to him in Virginia be set aside for the employment of ministers and teachers to instruct them. That “ care be taken to make them as comfortable and happy as possible.”
In 1815, Samuel Gist died, and Wickham, of Richmond, Va (in conjunction with his father-in-law, Page), who had been appointed Gist’s agent, proceeded to execute his will. Accordingly, through parties in Hillsboro, Ohio, 1,122 acres of land near Georgetown, and 1.2 acres west of Fincastle, in Eagle Township, were purchased for homes for these slaves. These lands were covered with thickets of undergrowth and sloughs of stagnant water, and were almost valueless at that time for any purpose other than pasturage. Here in June, 1818, came nearly 90O persons, a part of whom located on the Georgetown lands, the remainder on the Fincastle purchase. Their “ comfort able homes ” lay in the wild region about them; the education they received was in the stern school of adversity. As a matter of course, they did not prosper. Some who were able returned to Virginia. Others built rude huts and began clearing away the forest. What little money they had was soon spent. Scheming white men planned to get their personal property. They became involved in numerous law suits among themselves, and so from various causes they were reduced almost to pauperism. In later years, their lands have been sold, so that at present but few families remain as relics of this once large settlement. Among the first families that settled in this township were the following persons, most of whom had families:
Jacob Cumberland, George Cumberland, Samuel Hudson, Gabriel York, James Gist, Gabriel Johnson, Joseph Locust, James Cluff, —— Davis, Sol Garrison, ——- Parsons, —— Williams, Glascow Ellis and Tom Fox. “Old Sam Hudson,” as he was familiarly known, was an odd character, and many anecdotes are yet related of him. At one time, he was sent to the State Prison at Columbus for making unlawful use of another man’s horse, and it so happened that a white man named Demitt accompanied him for a like offense. Upon being interrogated as to his occupation, Sam answered, “ Preacher ob de Gospel!” Turning to Demitt, the ofiicer asked, “ What’s your occupation?” “ I clerk for Sam,” was the shrewd reply.
Richard Cumberland (“ Blind Dick ”), Meredith Cumberland, Taylor Davis, Moses Cumberland, Ephraim Johnson and Winston Cumberland were also born in Virginia.
- ↑ 2.0 2.1 United States. 1880 U.S. Census Population Schedule. (National Archives Microfilm Publication T9).
Name: Meredith Cumberland
Age: 70
Birth Year: abt 1810
Birthplace: Virginia
Home in 1880: Eagle, Brown, Ohio
Race: Black
Gender: Male
Relation to Head of House: Self (Head)
Marital Status: Married
Spouse's Name: Hester Cumberland
Father's Birthplace: Virginia
Mother's Birthplace: Virginia
Occupation: Farming
Household Members: Name Age
Meredith Cumberland 70
Hester Cumberland 68
Greenberry Wilson 45
Source Citation: Year: 1880; Census Place: Eagle, Brown, Ohio; Roll: 995; Family History Film: 1254995; Page: 42C; Enumeration District: 003; Image: 0548.
- ↑ United States. 1850 U.S. Census Population Schedule. (National Archives Microfilm Publication M432).
Eagle, Brown, Ohio, United States
All persons in this family are listed as Black
Cumberland, Meredith, 44, farmer, Va
Cumberland, Paster, 40, Va
Cumberland, Martin, 13, O
Cumberland, Rachel A, 11, O
Cumberland, George W, 7, O
Cumberland, Lydia, 2, O
Cumberland, Josephus, 2/12, O
Cumberland, George W, 75, basket maker, Va
Cumberland, Patsy, 42, Indiana
I am going to assume that George W. is Meredith's father.
I wonder who Patsy is, then?
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