Elias and Lewis were slaves brought from Virginia and North Carolina by William Sams (b. 1755). Illinois was free state, but a law was passed saying settlers could keep slaves until they were 35, then they would be free IF they agreed to indenture themselves. Lewis was freed when he went to Kentucky with William (Hickman Co Deed Book - deed of Emancipation, Lewis Sams1824). He freed his wife Lena and their infant child Dolly -
purchased them from Joseph Montgomery (stepson of William's son William) June 2, 1824. Lewis and Elias were the progenitors of the large black colony of Sams in Ballard Co, Ky. (paraphrased from SFOV, p. 47)
Lewis
1840 Kentucky Hickman Unk 350
Lewis Sams - free blacks - 000010 (m55-100) - 01001 (f 10-24, f 35-55)
1850 Kentucky Ballard 765-765
Lewis Sams (black) 66 M Farmer Va 1784
Tena (black) 66 F Va 1784
Polly (black) 22 F Ky 1828
Lewis (mulatto) 9 M Ky 1841
Mary (mulatto) 5 F Ky 1845
Elijah (mulatto) 5 M Ky 1845
Samuel (mulatto) 2 M Ky 1848
Jane (mulatto) 2 F Ky 1848
Mike Leonard (mulatto) 52 M Laborer Tenn 1798
1860 Kentucky, Ballard
673-651 Sams, Lewis 85 b farmer Ky
Tener 85 b Tn
Dilly 30 b
Luke 18 mulatto
Elijah 14
Samuel 12
Mary 14
Jane 11
John 9
William 5
Solomon J 3
Thos M 1 - all mulatto, all Ky
Elias - haven't found him on censuses
I'm not sure who this is
1870 Ky Ballard Lovelaceville 452b - 1 July - 47-47
Sams, Hulda 30 fb HK / James 11 mulatto / Sirie 10 / Mary 6 / John 5 / Dorah J
Bryant Piggy 61 fb sickly
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contact me at: lee@leesgenes.com
page last updated 7 September 2004