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safely, even from the persons who delivered them to him, until the affair could be investigated. Mr. Baird was notified by letter and by telegraph, and on Sunday arrived in the city with some of
Hensley's friends, who brought with them his certificate of freedom under the hand and seal of the Clerk of the Montgomery County Court of Kentucky. It appears that Hensley was enfranchised by Joseph Hensley in 1832, by last will and testament duly proven and recorded in the aforesaid County Court. The description of Hensley in the certificate of freedom was so individual and precise, that Mr. McMillen at once delivered Hensley and his children over to his friends, who returned with them to Ohio.
380:. A clergyman testified at the Bolton trial that although he was a slave trader and a tavern owner, McMillin was considered to be respectable and of good character. Two businessmen from Memphis testified as to McMillin's "character for peace and good citizenship, for he was the most amiable of men." Bolton was acquitted. Bolton's legal fees (and alleged bribe money for sheriff, judge, and jurors) cost a fortune, which in turn triggered a violent conflict over the expense between Bolton and his erstwhile business partner Thomas Dickins, which continued, with many casualties, until 1874.
262: (equivalent to $ 374,742 in 2023) to "lay out in Negroes." According to records from a lawsuit, in autumn 1855 Wash Bolton wrote James McMillin that he was trying to fill out a shipping lot to send south for the already-underway selling season: "We must have negroes if possible. Can't you buy the man and wife in jail? Buy every good negro you can and have them here by Friday. If you believe we can make $ 150 a head profit on the Peed negroes, buy them; if not, let them runaway, but don't let any of your negroes get away."
166:
drovers of cattle and chattel made their way south to sell their stock in
Mississippi and Alabama. For another, Maysville was home to a notorious nest of kidnappers who regularly stole the lives of free people of color: "This gang was located in Maysville because of its proximity to the Ohio shore. These kidnappers had connections with the slave traders in the central part of the state, and no purchaser questioned where the slaves were secured." In any case, McMillin worked with a number of interstate slave traders—including
33:
269:, "She brought suit for her freedom, alleging that she had been forcibly arrested by the officers and lodged in the negro jail of the late James McMillan, under the claim of the defendant, Mary Goddard, that she was her slave, when in truth she was a free white woman...An attempt was then made by the defendant to prove her the daughter of a mulatto named Matilda, by whom the plaintiff had been reared from infancy, but in this they did not succeed, as no witness was introduced who was present at the birth of the child."
162:. His name is often recorded as James McMillan or James McMillen. In 1903, his hometown newspaper summarized his biography thusly: "Jim McMillin, as he was familiarly known, was, in the parlance of that period, a 'Nigger Trader.' At the time of which we write, he lived in a house in the 'brick row' in West Second street, using the cellar for a 'pen,' the windows and doors being secured by iron bars, bolts and locks." His widow once testified that McMillin "kept his slaves in the basement of his kitchen."
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fraud on the purchaser. By some rare, good fortune the negro obtained the aid of a lawyer of integrity and by suit recovered his freedom; and the
Boltons were compelled to refund the money they had received for him." An 1898 retelling of the Bolton-Dickens feud described the young man who was sold as being about 23 years old (thus born about 1833) and "possessed of some education and considerable common sense".
178:, circa 1855 to 1857—as an agent who visited plantations and small towns buying slaves for resale in larger, more profitable markets. Forrest and McMillin had a profit-sharing agreement in which McMillin received 25 percent of revenue above expenses on enslaved people that were purchased for resale at Forrest's negro marts in
331:
Crenshaw and also pay heavy costs for their misdemeanor. They had expected McMillan to testify in their favor. He failed to do so and stuck to the truth throughout. The dealers managed to obtain a new trial and having been deceived into the belief that McMillan would swear as they wished to prevent his reappearance.
359:
In any case, Isaac Bolton was enraged and after enticing McMillin to
Memphis with a business proposal, Isaac Bolton called McMillin a rascal and shot him at least three times. According to another account: "On the morning of the 23d Isaac Bolton was alone in the Howard Row slave market. He was under
241:
McMillen was notified of the fact that
Hensley was inquired for. Accordingly, early on Saturday morning, Mr. McMillen called on Mr. Wadsworth and apprised him of the fact that Hensley and his children had been brought to him the night before, and were then in his possession. He promised to keep them
321:
of his master and who was to be set free after he arrived at a certain age. The conditions of the sale were named and Bolton & Dickens' agent, one McMillan became the purchaser. He was conveyed to their mart in this city and the firm subsequently sold the boy for the sum of $ 1800 to Thomas B.
165:
It is unclear exactly when McMillin's slave trading career began but that his home base was
Maysville may be significant. For one thing, "The Kentucky road from Maysville to Nashville made up the northern link of the old Natchez Trace, the road which was followed into Mississippi," and from there,
330:
nothing being said about his promised freedom. The colored boy informed his new master of the actual situation. Crenshaw sent to
Kentucky for a copy of the will, employed counsel for the boy, and the courts decided against the slave traders. They were forced to return their ill gotten dollars to
299:
described the circumstances of McMillin's death, writing that he was "a well-known trader, who for years had ranged over
Kentucky searching for slaves for Lexington and Memphis dealers. The apprentice was promptly sent to Memphis and sold as a slave. This was a crime against the apprentice and a
356:(who ran the firm's office and jail there) knew all about the legal circumstances of the laborer, and had determined that they should take the risk. Apparently after the legal proceedings found against Bolton, Dickens & Co., the 23-year-old was sent back home to Kentucky.
254:, sued over an unpaid financial obligation. The premises were purchased by Bolton, Dickens & Co., whose local representative was one of the principals of the firm, Washington Bolton. According to J. Winston Coleman's
548:(Original publisher: J. H. Fürst Co., Baltimore). Southern Classics Series. Introduction by Michael Tadman (Reprint ed.). Columbia, S.C.: University of South Carolina Press. pp. 253–256, 258, 371.
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the influence of liquor and was in an ugly mood. McMillan entered. No one ever knew exactly what occurred. There were loud words. McMillan was seen to run across the open court and Isaac Bolton raised a
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114:(July 26, 1806 – May 24, 1857) was an American tavern keeper and slave trader of Kentucky. He was implicated in more than one case of attempted
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667:. Indiana University Publications, Social Science Series No. 17 (Reprint ed.). Westport, Conn.: Negro Universities Press. p. 49.
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article claimed the enslaved man was to be freed under the terms of a
Kentucky owner's will if he was ever taken out of state. The 1898
505:
Coleman, J. Winston (1940). "Chapter VI: 'Niggah
Tradahs' & Chapter VII: Down the River & Chapter VIII: 'Nigger Stealers'".
1128:
837:
ARCHITECTURAL/HISTORICAL ASSESSMENT FOR NEW CANADA ROAD, FROM I-40 TO STATE ROUTE 1 (US 70) IN LAKELAND, SHELBY COUNTY, TENNESSEE
209: (equivalent to $ 21,974 in 2023) to kidnap a legally free woman named Arian Belle, and her four-year-old child Martha, from
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My Husband James McMillin, b. July 26, 1806, was murdered In the City of Memphis by Isaac L. Bolton, May 23, 1857, age 50 years.
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shot McMillin several times over an unprofitable trade. McMillin died hours later in the home of Memphis slave trader
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In 1856 a woman named Ann Goddard sued over being wrongfully imprisoned in McMillin's slave jail. According to the
217:, her friends discovered what had happened to her and sued for her return. In 1853, a man named Isaac Hensley, of
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221:, and his four children were taken from their beds in the middle of the night, tied up, rowed south across the
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in this county. The boy was considered valuable and brought a big price for those times but he was sold as a
1073:. Digitization sponsored by Joan & Burlyn Pike. Louisville, Kentucky: Filson Historical Society: 71–81.
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McMillin was 52 years old when he was killed. His body was moved from Memphis to Maysville by the steamship
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213:, in the middle of the night. As Arian and Martha were being shipped down the river on the steamship
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Over 20 years ago a colored lad was purchased somewhere in Kentucky at a public sale who had been
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Fowler, Ila Earle; Daughters of Colonial Wars (1951). "Tombstones in Old Maysville Cemetery".
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retelling claims the buyer was not Thomas Crenshaw of Morning Sun but Rev. D. K. Crenshaw of
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The deal that resulted in James McMillin's murder was supposedly done in December 1856. In
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138:; this article uses the spelling that appears on his grave marker and hometown newspaper.
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511:. Chapel Hill, N.C.: University of North Carolina Press. pp. 157–163, 170, 210–211.
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Thomas C. Crenshaw owned a plantation in Shelby County. The two-story house, called
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118:(the abduction of a free family of color with intent to sell them as chattel in a
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newspaper account of the Bolton–Dickins family feud provides additional detail:
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1021:(3). Urbana, Illinois: Mississippi Valley Historical Association: 331–342.
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Tennessee, Shelby County, Memphis, Board of Health Death Records, 1848-1913
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into McMillan’s back." McMillin died shortly thereafter from his wounds.
365:
229:, and deposited in James McMillen's private slave jail. According to the
56:
464:
Men of Fire: Grant, Forrest, and the Campaign That Decided the Civil War
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McMillin's heirs successfully petitioned to have the trial moved out of
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839:(Report). City of Lakeland, Tennessee. p. 17. TDOT Pin No. 107036.
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661:(1971) . "Chapter Two: Hire, Sale, Theft and Flight of Slaves".
563:
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McMillin was buried in Maysville Cemetery. His headstone reads,
740:"Interesting Legal Proceedings—Ann Goddard v. Mary Goddard"
1011:"The Slave Trade between Kentucky and the Cotton Kingdom"
352:, Shelby County. McMillin claimed that Lexington-based
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Around 1855, Robards lost his slave jail when investor
1060:"Kentucky's Overland Trade with the Ante-Bellum South"
415:
Bibliography of the slave trade in the United States
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83:
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42:
23:
888:. Collins & Company. p. 1870 – via
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794:"Are the Bolton Thousands Cursed? (part 2 of 2)"
776:"Are the Bolton Thousands Cursed? (part 1 of 2)"
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201:In 1850, notorious Lexington, Kentucky, trader
980:. Frankfort, Kentucky. p. 264. FHL 38787.
782:. Memphis, Tenn. January 16, 1898. p. 17
8:
601:. Maysville, Ky. March 23, 1903. p. 3.
904:"James McMillan's Heirs v. Isaac L. Bolton"
990:: CS1 maint: location missing publisher (
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20:
704:
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364:to his shoulder and emptied two loads of
105:Slave jailor, slave trader, tavern keeper
1015:The Mississippi Valley Historical Review
978:Kentucky pioneers and their descendants
929:"Entry for James McMillan, 24 May 1857"
857:. Jackson, Mississippi. Reprinted from
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130:. His last name is very often spelled
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621:National Endowment for the Humanities
258:, in July 1855, Bolton sent McMillin
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1114:19th-century American slave traders
1058:Parr, Elizabeth L. (January 1928).
851:"The End of a Long and Bloody Feud"
14:
467:. Basic Books. pp. 185–188.
16:American slave trader (1806–1857)
122:). In 1857 Memphis slave trader
97:Jim McMillin, McMillan, McMillen
1119:People from Maysville, Kentucky
950:"The body of James McMillin..."
835:Clifton, Angie (October 2010).
796:. January 16, 1898. p. 19.
716:. September 22, 1853. p. 2
1144:Deaths by firearm in Tennessee
1009:Clark, T. D. (December 1934).
910:. November 18, 1857. p. 3
545:Slave Trading in the Old South
405:History of slavery in Kentucky
400:List of American slave traders
292:Slave-Trading in the Old South
283:Maysville Daily Public Ledger,
1:
150:"Important to Slave-Holders"
1149:People murdered in Tennessee
1124:Businesspeople from Kentucky
746:. August 21, 1858. p. 2
744:The Louisville Daily Courier
714:The Louisville Daily Courier
195:The Louisville Daily Courier
861:. August 2, 1870. p. 1
815:The Daily Memphis Avalanche
193:"Kidnapping—Great Outrage"
158:McMillin was a resident of
37:Deaths in Memphis, May 1857
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955:. June 12, 1857. p. 3
817:. July 30, 1875. p. 4
710:"Kidnapping—Great Outrage"
508:Slavery times in Kentucky
345:Memphis Commercial Appeal
256:Slavery Times in Kentucky
176:Bolton, Dickens & Co.
30:
267:Louisville Daily Courier
235:Louisville Daily Courier
1129:American murder victims
882:Collins, Lewis (1882).
855:The Semi-Weekly Clarion
673:2027/inu.32000002020263
252:Confederate States Army
174:beginning in 1853, and
116:kidnapping into slavery
811:"A Dead Man's Dollars"
333:
286:
281:"Celebrated Vendetta"
244:
211:Mason County, Kentucky
198:
184:Vicksburg, Mississippi
155:
128:Nathan Bedford Forrest
1139:American slave owners
1067:Filson Club Quarterly
780:The Commercial Appeal
595:"Celebrated Vendetta"
280:
192:
149:
664:Slavery in Tennessee
461:Hurst, Jack (2008).
437:, was built in 1835.
197:, September 22, 1853
1134:American kidnappers
953:The Courier-Journal
885:History of Kentucky
617:Chronicling America
599:Daily Public Ledger
410:Bolton–Dickins feud
160:Maysville, Kentucky
84:Cause of death
540:Bancroft, Frederic
287:
199:
180:Memphis, Tennessee
170:as early as 1850,
156:
152:Anti-Slavery Bugle
76:Memphis, Tennessee
908:Republican Banner
859:Memphis Avalanche
555:978-1-64336-427-8
474:978-0-465-00847-6
421:Explanatory notes
306:Memphis Avalanche
297:Frederic Bancroft
225:to Kentucky in a
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778:. Part Three.
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328:slave for life
322:Crenshaw near
285:March 23, 1903
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248:John H. Morgan
233:by way of the
219:Sardinia, Ohio
205:paid McMillin
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112:James McMillin
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88:Gunshot wounds
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72:(aged 50)
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203:Lewis Robards
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168:Lewis Robards
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142:Life and work
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53:July 26, 1806
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957:. Retrieved
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937:FamilySearch
935:– via
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912:. Retrieved
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890:Google Books
884:
863:. Retrieved
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830:
819:. Retrieved
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784:. Retrieved
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748:. Retrieved
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718:. Retrieved
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689:– via
684:. Retrieved
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646:Clark (1934)
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629:
615:– via
610:. Retrieved
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124:Isaac Bolton
111:
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70:(1857-05-24)
68:May 24, 1857
18:
1109:1857 deaths
1104:1806 births
634:Parr (1928)
385:Northerner.
354:Wash Bolton
324:Morning Sun
120:slave state
1098:Categories
959:2023-09-20
914:2023-09-20
865:2023-12-03
821:2023-10-29
786:2023-10-30
750:2023-09-20
720:2023-09-20
691:HathiTrust
686:2023-09-20
612:2023-09-20
572:1153619151
445:References
435:Mount Airy
315:manumitted
260:US$ 11,460
223:Ohio River
49:1806-07-26
1079:0015-1874
1035:0161-391X
986:cite book
681:609222448
607:2157-3484
542:(2023) .
372:Aftermath
339:Avalanche
1051:35781793
564:95020493
394:See also
366:buckshot
337:Memphis
335:An 1870
303:An 1875
215:Sea Gull
136:McMillen
132:McMillan
57:Kentucky
1087:6674913
1043:1897378
1003:Sources
362:shotgun
207:US$ 600
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1077:
1049:
1041:
1033:
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