George McConnell, formerly enslaved by Robert C. Hines, was awarded $120 from the U.S. Southern Claims Commission in 1879 in compensation for property confiscated from him by the U.S. Army when it raided Liberty County, Georgia, in December 1864.
For the full transcript of this claim, see: https://theyhadnames.net/2020/10/04/george-mcconnell-southern-claims-commission/
McConnell, who was 57 years old and farming in Turkey Scratch, Liberty County, in 1877 when he testified about his claim, said he had lived in Liberty County all his life. He said that at the time of the war, he was enslaved on Robert Hines’ plantation, and that Robert Hines was not testifying for him because he was ill.
McConnell’s claim stated that the soldiers had taken a bay mare and a colt, a cow, and a wagon and harness. He said he bought the mare from K.L. Keaton some time before the war and had raised the colt from it. He was present when Kilpatrick’s Cavalry showed up around December 15, 1864. They saddled and bridled the mare and rode her off; the colt followed her, and they went in the direction of Savannah. They also drove his cow off with other cattle, and put a horse to his wagon and harness, loaded it with potatoes, and drove off.
Augustus Williams, who was also enslaved by Robert Hines, testified for McConnell, saying he had known him for about 25 or 30 years but only really well for about 20 years. He said that he was 43 years old and had resided in Liberty County for 20 years. He said that Jack Stewart, Sam Gaulden, and Lewis Hines could also testify that McConnell had been in favor of the Union (presumably because they were on the same plantation). (For more about Augustus Williams, please see his own claim and the research done on it.): https://theyhadnames.net/2020/06/02/augustus-williams-southern-claims-commission/ and the note below this in Robert Hines’ testimony.)
Newton Bacon, who said in his 1877 testimony that he was 55 and had lived in Liberty County all his life, said he had known McConnell intimately since he was a boy, and that they lived on the same plantation. He cited Abram Hines, Charles Hines, and Cuffee Hines as people who could attest to McConnell’s loyalty to the Union. (For information about why Newton Bacon took the surname Bacon, please see: https://theyhadnames.net/2019/10/06/why-did-newton-bacon-take-the-name-bacon-after-the-civil-war/.)
Slaveowner Robert Hines did testify for McConnell in January 1878. He said that he was 66 years old, and had lived in Liberty County all his life. When asked whether he lived near McConnell during the war, Hines said, “He was my slave and was off at work as a carpenter most of the time during the war,” but that he saw him at least once a month. He said he was not present when the property was taken but that McConnell had owned property by his [Hines’] permission.
A document was found in Liberty County court records showing that on November 15, 1877, Robert C. Hines had certified to the court that “George McConnell my former slave owned property on my place two horses a waggon and harness a cow and calf which I believe he lost during the war.” Hines also said that Augustus Williams had belonged to Mrs. Lewis Hines, who lived in Bryan County as a widow, and that Lucy, Augustus Williams’ wife, had belonged to Robert Hines and lived on his plantation. He said that Lucy and Augustus had owned property, which was on his (Hines’) plantation at the time of the war, and that “Williams was under my control at the time of the war.”
This is a rare instance in which the 1870 and 1880 U.S. federal censuses and this Southern Claims Commission records all agree on a birth year: George McConnell was born in 1820. In the 1870 census, George McConnell was listed as a carpenter who had $300 worth of real estate and $150 worth of personal property. In the household were his wife Grace (47), George (12), Joseph (10), and Monimia (7). George was listed as being able to read and write, and his wife was able to read. His race was listed as mulatto.
On June 4, 1875, George McConnell bought 560 acres of land in Liberty County from Benjamin Darsey, who was the administrator of the John F. McGowen estate and had put the land up for sale at a private auction. At $200, McConnell was the highest bidder. The deed record provided a detailed description of the land, part of which was the northern half of a tract originally granted to Daniel Dunham, another part a 234-acre tract originally granted to John Q. Baker, and the last a 50-acre tract known as the John S. Norman tract, formerly called the Bairds tract.
In the 1880 census, McConnel’s occupation was given as carpenter and farmer, and his wife Grace (51) was assisting on the farm. Son Joseph (18) was also assisting on the farm, but Monimia (15) and adopted daughter Eva Lawson (12) were both at school. George was still listed as literate, and Grace as able to read, and George’s race was still listed as mulatto (as were his children’s race).
In 1884, McConnell used 500 acres of land, his entire future crop of cotton, rice, and corn, and an ox as security for $35 worth of groceries to J.C. Thompson. He had to repay the amount at 8 per cent interest, waive his homestead and tax exemption rights, and agree to pay an additional 10 % interest on the principal and interest if he should default.
On May 14, 1886, George McConnell sold 200 acres of land for $130 to E.P. Miller and N.J. Norman. The land was described as “bounded on the north by the Stacy land on the east by R.Q. Cassels on the south by the Savannah Florida and Western Railway and on the west by Fraser.”
Just a month later, on June 17, 1886, George McConnell died. Joseph McConnell applied to the Liberty County Court of Ordinary for widow’s support for his mother, Grace McConnell, stating that his father George had died without a will. The court appointed Fortune Anderson, Thomas McIver, Stephen Bacon, Byron McIver, and Frank Bacon to appraise his estate and decide on an amount.
Joseph McConnell moved to Savannah, where he worked for the railroad, and died in 1932. His death certificate listed his father as George McConnell and his mother’s maiden name as Grace Monroe. Grace McConnell lived until at least 1900, when she was listed in the 1900 census living with her daughter Monamia, listed as Minnie McConnell, and grandchildren Rosa (18), George (14) and Benjamin (12) McConnell.
Slavery
Robert C. Hines did not die until after the Civil War so there were no probate records for him that would have named George McConnell. However, Hines’ father, Charlton Hines, died in 1864, and his estate inventory named a George who was valued at $1500.
Citations:
1870 U.S. Census, Liberty County, Georgia, population schedule, Subdivision 181, p. 5, dwelling #41, family #42, enumerated on November 12, 1870, by W.S. Norman, George & Grace McConnell household, digital image, Ancestry.com (https://www.ancestry.com: accessed 10/4/2020).
1880 U.S. Census, Liberty County, Georgia, population schedule, District 15, enumeration district 66, p. 10, dwelling #88, family #90, George & Grace McConnell; digital image, Ancestry.com (https://www.ancestry.com: accessed 10/4/2020).
1900 U.S. Census, Liberty County, Georgia, population schedule, Militia District 1476, enumeration district 88, sheet #15, line number 38-43, Grace McConnell household, digital image, Ancestry.com (https://www.ancestry.com: accessed 10/4/2020).
Robert C. Hines testimony about George McConnell and Augustus Williams: “Georgia Probate Records, 1742-1990,” database with images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:3QSQ-G93L-GC4N?cc=1999178&wc=9SYT-PT5%3A267679901%2C268032901 : 20 May 2014), Liberty > Wills, appraisements and bonds 1790-1850 vol B > image 583 of 689.
Widow’s Support application for George McConnell estate: FamilySearch.org, “Georgia Probate Records, 1743-1990,” Liberty County, within “Administration Records 1911-1915 Martin, Peter-Mints, M.C.,” image #232-237. (https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:3QS7-L9Q4-ZVNV?i=231&wc=9SBV-C68%3A267679901%2C267920801&cc=1999178, accessed 10/4/2020)
Joseph McConnell’s notification of George McConnell’s death: FamilySearch.org, “Georgia Probate Records, 1743-1990,” Liberty County, within “Miscellaneous probate records 1878-1891 vol R,” pages 635-6, images #355-6. (https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:3QSQ-G93L-5FJ7?i=354&wc=9SYY-924%3A267679901%2C268016101&cc=1999178, accessed 10/4/2020)
Deed Records
Liberty County Superior Court, “ Deeds & Mortgages v. U 1884-1885,” p. 202, George McConnell to J.C. Thompson; digital image, FamilySearch.org, “Deeds & Mortgages, v. T-U 1882-1885” within “Deeds and mortgages, 1777-1920; general index to deeds and mortgages, 1777-1958,” image #382, (https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:3Q9M-C3QP-R9CW-L?i=381&cat=292358, accessed 10/4/2020)
Liberty County Superior Court, “ Deeds & Mortgages v. W 1886-1887,” p. 143-4, George McConnell to E.P. Miller and N.J.. Norman; digital image, FamilySearch.org, “Deeds & Mortgages, v. V-W 1885-1887” within “Deeds and mortgages, 1777-1920; general index to deeds and mortgages, 1777-1958,” image #300-1, (https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:3Q9M-C3QP-GN7S?i=299&cat=292358, accessed 10/4/2020)
Liberty County Superior Court, “ Deeds & Mortgages v. R 1874-1877,” p. 131-2, Benjamin Darsey to George McConnell; digital image, FamilySearch.org, “Deeds & Mortgages, v. Q-R 1870-1877” within “Deeds and mortgages, 1777-1920; general index to deeds and mortgages, 1777-1958,” image #353-4, (https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:3Q9M-C3QP-511T?i=352&cat=292358, accessed 10/4/2020)
Charlton Hines 1864 estate inventory: https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:3QS7-L93L-RJ96?cc=1999178&wc=9SYY-ZNP%3A267679901%2C268025701 : 20 May 2014), Liberty > Wills 1863-1942 vol C-D > image 43 of 430; https://theyhadnames.net/2019/03/18/liberty-county-estate-inventory-charlton-hines/