I have just learned some very interesting history of Washington County, North Carolina (a county where I am focusing part of my genealogy research).
I was looking at the 1860 slave schedules and found an entry for a Josiah Collins who owned 328 slaves and had 37 slave houses! This immediately piqued my interest and a quick search revealed that Collins owned Somerset Place, apparently, the third largest plantation in the state of North Carolina during the antebellum period.
Apparently, the site manager has done extensive research and written a couple of books about it. There is also an organization for slave descendants. I will have to keep my eye on this just in case I come across any slaves that may have been part of that plantation. The Official Website is at http://www.ah.dcr.state.nc.us/sections/hs/somerset/somerset.htm.
A few resources for extra reading…
1. Generations of Somerset Place by Dorothy Spruill Redford
2. Somerset Homecoming: Recovering a Lost Heritage – by Dorothy Spruill Redford
3. “Re-interpreting America’s History – African American History” by Kendra Hamilton
4. “Somerset Place – A Colossal Slave-Built Plantation” – by Bridgette A. Lacy
Hello! My name is Alisa. I’m a grad student researching Somerset Place and came across your blog while doing a Google search. I am eagerly seeking people–particular African American descendants–who would like to talk about Somerset. I would love it if you would contact me at ayh@duke.edu when ever you might have a chance. Any help you may be able to give me would be GREATLY appreciated!
Thank you!!!