MUSCOGEE COUNTY, GA - Clapp Factory Slaves ***************** Copyright. All rights reserved. http://www.usgwarchives.net/copyright.htm http://www.usgwarchives.net/ga/gafiles.htm *********************** This file was contributed for use in the USGenWeb Archives by: John Mallory Land On 31 DEC 1835, James A. CHAPMAN of Warren Co, GA, sold to Ebenezer C. CHANDLER and Julius R. CLAPP of Muscogee Co, GA, two Negro slaves: Lucinda, a woman about 25 years of age, and her youngest child, Allen, then four months old. CHANDLER and CLAPP were business partners in Columbus, GA. In 1837, they became invested in a cotton mill (later called Clapp's Factory) three miles north of the city. This mill had been founded in 1834 by James SHIVERS and several partners, some of whom came from Warren Co, GA, and had been associated with James CHAPMAN. CLAPP bought CHANDLER's half interest in the business when he died in 1847 from CHANDLER's heirs. The company "property" included the following Negro slaves: Allen, a man about forty years old; Lucinda, his wife about thirty four; Milston, a boy about twelve; Joe, a boy about ten; Evelina, a girl about eight; Martha, a girl about six; Agnes, a girl about four; and Ella, a girl about two. (I wonder if Milston is the same as the child named Allen in the 1835 deed?) CLAPP remained at Clapp's Factory until his death in 1876. I am interested in learning more about this slave family and their descendants. I am particularly curious to find out if any of these folk are buried in the Clapp's Factory Cemetery (all of the graves but one are now unmarked). I have further information on CLAPP, CHANDLER, and Clapp's Factory I will be glad to share. I will also be glad to provide transcriptions and photocopies of the above deeds to anyone who would care to have them - thanks. In 1848, Charles STEWART sold to his son-in-law Henry V. MEIGS an undivided one-eighth interest in the property of the Columbus Factory (a cotton mill and related operations, also known as Clapps Factory), including an undivided one-eighth interest in two slaves, Myer and Sheppard, engaged in work at the mill. This factory was located three miles north of Columbus in Muscogee County, GA. In 1862, MEIGS sold to Julius R. CLAPP his one-eighth interest in the factory property, including interest in Negro slaves named Shepherd, John, Jake & Dick, who were owned and employed by the Columbus Factory. Had Myer died in the interim? If so, is he buried in the Clapps Factory Cemetery? (All of the graves but one there are now unmarked.) Note incidentally that, during 1861, the 30 slaves employed in the tannery and shoe factory at Clapps Factory tanned 5,000 sides of leather and manufactured 12,000 pairs of heavy shoes for field workers. I believe some of the slaves at Clapp's Factory were engaged as domestic servants, and some probably worked in other trades as well. Any suggestions on tracking down records of these slaves or locating their descendants would be appreciated, and I will be glad to share further information about Clapps Factory.