evergreen plantation slaves

The plantation was originally used for growing indigo, but later switched to sugarcane when the demand for indigo declined. Most enslaved individuals did not havesurnames. Merritt, who was 21 years old at the time, stood 5 feet 4 inches tall and weighed 55 pounds. These accounts illuminate the experiences of individuals whose stories have previously gone untold, contributing a more balanced approach to Americas historical narrative, the press release said. All rights reserved. It was originally knows as the Earle Home (, Late 1990s Ryan Faulkenberry acquired the 40-acre plantation and restored the house (, Number of acres Several thousand in the mid-1800s (. Search over 40 years of magazine archives: Published nine times a year since 1975 in partnership with the Louisiana State Historic Preservation Office, Preservation in Print is the exclusive publication covering architectural preservation and neighborhood revitalization in Louisiana. Many were exceptionally skilled, working as long sawyers, coopers, carpenters, blacksmiths, engineers, seamstresses, and domestics. There is very little documentation on these buildings, although Over the decades, the most serious change to Evergreen as a plantation Later used to designate a child of a mulatto with someone of full African ancestry, Archdiocese of New Orleans, St. John the Baptist Catholic Church Baptismal records, Archdiocese of New Orleans, St. John the Baptist Catholic Church Funeral records, Sale records from New Orleans Notarial Archives. Just a few months after his enlistment, Aime gave birth to another son, Edmond. 4800 South Carolina Highway 187, Starr, SC 29684. In addition to her regular quarters, the plantations owner, Lake Charles, La., businesswoman Matilda Gray Stream, lives there on occasion. There are only a few antebellum sugar plantations left in the United States, and the property is one of the few remaining in the South. From St. John the Baptist Parish Probate Records, formerly housed in the parish Clerk of Court office, now being digitized: 1791 Succession, estate of Pierre Becnel, husband of Magdelaine Haydel Becnel, who would inherit Evergreen Plantation. Estate inventories, succession records, sale records from the New Orleans Notarial Archive, as well as sacramental records from the Archdiocese of New Orleans, were used in the research. 1801 Succession, estate of Christophe Haydel, founder of Evergreen Plantation and Magdelaines father. He and his new wife, Elizabeth, had a daughter together. Evergreen Plantation is a former sugar cane plantation in Wallace, Louisiana, that was slave labor-dependent for its operation. Heidel, a French Creole, founded Evergreen Plantation in 1886. The grounds include 37 buildings on the National Register of Historic Places (NRHP), including 22. The plantation had 1,200 slaves at the start of the nineteenth century, but the number increased to 1,500 by the end of the nineteenth century. His wife is from the Caribbean, and he brought many of her cultures influences with him from home. Ned remarried on February 12, 1887. EVERGREEN PLANTATION - 166 Photos & 80 Reviews - Landmarks & Historical Buildings - 4677 Hwy 18, Edgard, LA - Phone Number - Yelp Evergreen Plantation 80 reviews Unclaimed Frequently Asked Questions about Evergreen Plantation How is Evergreen Plantation rated? There are 37 structures still listed on the National Register of Historic Places. These steps of boiling took place in series of large to small open kettles, often referred to as a Jamaica train. The most skilled slaves were chosen for the dangerous job of working close to the open kettles during the boiling process. In addition to tours that allow visitors to learn about the plantations history and how its crops are grown, the plantation is still in operation and is open to the public. During the antebellum period, the plantation housed 200 people; everyone working at Evergreen was housed there. Susan Langenhennigis PRCs Director of Communications and the editor of Preservation in Print. The plantation has been reaching out to descendants of enslaved people who lived and worked there. African Americans were the majority owners and operators of the plantation during its earliest days in the 1790s. Aimes older sister was considered a mulatresse, but her younger siblings were all listed as negroes. Evergreen. great grandparents, are buried in the plantation's slave cemetery Guignard Family Papers, 1742-1952 - held by South Caroliniana Library, University of South Carolina, Columbia, SC Arney R. Childs, . Evergreen Plantation was established in 1790 as a privately owned sugar cane plantation, and it is still in operation today. Family involvement in marital disputes was a major factor in Creoles lives. The Nottoway Plantation, also known as the White Castle, is thought to be the largest remaining antebellum plantation in the American South. As slaves, they built the big house, built and maintained the levee, worked the sugarcane fields, ran the sugar mill, grew foodstuffs and cared for the big house and the Heidel and Becnel families. Tobacco was once produced on the plantation in Charles City County, Virginia, and shipped throughout the colonies to England. The National Park Service and the Evergreen Plantation worked together to document historic sites on the property. The family also owns a number of slaves, who work the plantation. 1830 Succession, estate of Magdelaine Haydel Becnel, who inherited Evergreen from her father and expanded the business into a major plantation enterprise, 1835 Inventory taken at the time of Pierre Clidamont Becnels ownership (grandson of Magdelaine Haydel Becnel), 1842 Succession, estate of Josephine Lennen Becnel, wife of Lezin Becnel Jr., the eventual owner of Evergreen. You can get a sense of Louisianas sugar cane industry firsthand by taking a tour of the facility. The slaves were freed, but the plantation workers were not. Slave quarters were frequently the site of plantation homes, and their owners relied on the labor of enslaved people to turn their properties into profitable businesses. African Americans provided the workforce and lived in the quarters houses at Evergreen Plantation for nearly 200 years, first as slaves and later as freedmen. have caused alterations. These areas typically have warm and humid summers, as well as cold and dry winters. By the 1940s, the plantation was reacquired and fully restored. Featuring the documented images collected by students Abbigail Sproul and Jacob Johnson. The Agricultural Service Agency has long been criticized for its role in black farmers failure to succeed in the agricultural sector. By 1850, the Ward family had owned over 1,000 slaves in addition to being one of the most active slave trading families. Mowing The Lawn While Pregnant: Is It Safe And What Precautions Should You Take? Artists representation of slave cabin, circa 1800. 1846 Sale of the plantation from Pierre Clidamont Becnel to Lezin Becnel Jr. 1851 Succession, estate of Fanny Baconnais Becnel, wife of Lezin Becnel Jr. 1854 Succession, estate of Pierre Clidamont Becnel, 1856 Succession, inventory taken by Lezin Becnel Jr. included in his papers at Tulane University, 1858 Partnership formed between brothers Lezin Becnel III and Michel Becnel, sons and heirs of Lezin Becnel Jr., to operate the plantation together. Call 985-497-3837 to arrange a visit. Another relic of the plantation is an original garconnire, which young men used as sleeping quarters during their time on the plantation. It was designated as a National Historic Landmark in 1992 for its rich architectural legacy. It is in studying their lives that the nuances and complexities of the past can begin to be understood., The database has helpful tips for searching its contents, including that most enslaved individuals did not have surnames and that American origin signifies that the individual was enslaved in one of the Upper Southern states, such as Virginia, North and South Carolina and Maryland, and was sold south to Louisiana while Creole indicates that the individual was born in Louisiana.. Next, excess water was evaporated from the juice through several stages until it thickened and reached the point of crystallization. More | Next Site. According to Shannon Boddie, the executive director of Evergreen, the organization intends to do more community service. According to tour guides, the plantation relied heavily on slave labor after emancipation, as did free African-Americans in order to remain in operation. Evergreen Plantation (Wallace, Louisiana) Built1832Architect John CarverArchitectural styleGreek RevivalFederalNRHP reference No.19100386Significant dates 11 more rows. The gates will remain open for tours until 1:45 p.m. on weekdays, and until 10:30 a.m. on weekends. Timeline. Evergreen Plantation, a National Historic Landmark, is located on State Hwy. This data provides insight into the enslaved communitys scope of skills, kinship networks, family relationships, and places of origin. in the same configuration and location. The plantation house and outbuildings are well preserved and offer a glimpse into the life of the plantation owners. The database is meant for everyone, from scholars who wish to engage in comparative analysis to individuals searching for their ancestors, Evergreens website said. The house is open to the public by reservation only. He was disabled due to a serious oblique inguinal hernia that had gone untreated for decades. His physician attributed his death to arteriosclerosis. Evergreen Plantation has been a family home since the late-18th century. Evergreen Plantation is committed to telling the stories of the men, women, and children who were enslaved here. Ned was one of them. Aime was described as a griffe, indicating that she was of mixed race. The United States government granted them their freedom in 1877. On June 14, 1805, a baby named Celeste was baptized at St. John the Baptist Catholic Church in Edgard, La. The first black troops to join the United States army did so in Louisiana. The survey aimed to uncover more information about the lives of enslaved persons previously living on the plantation, promoting use of the slavery database by Evergreen Plantation, and ultimately uncovering new information about the site. The language and classifications on the original documents have been maintained. Many were exceptionally skilled, working as long sawyers, coopers, carpenters, blacksmiths, engineers, seamstresses, and domestics. Evergreen Plantation is given an 85-minute tour, according to a review. [citation needed]. Evergreen Plantation is the only one in the South still standing. Refer to the list of names of those enslaved at Evergreen by clicking on the link below. Evergreen Plantation is a former sugar cane plantation in Wallace, Louisiana, that was slave labor-dependent for its operation. We are open daily from 10:30 a.m. to 1:45 p.m., and tours are not permitted the following holiday week. 18, in Wallace. They bring to life the identities of real people who lived and worked on this specific site. Interior of quarters cabin with double fireplace. Louisiana joined the Confederacy during the Civil War but soon came under Union control after the fall of New Orleans in 1862. It is located on Louisiana Highway 18 in St. John the Baptist Parish, near Wallace, and is a plantation on the west bank of the Mississippi River. She had been staying in the iconic big house on occasion, but after the property opened its stately gates to the public in 1998, she moved to a cottage. The sub-tropical climate, particularly the intense heat and humidity that characterizes much of the year, along with the epidemic diseases such as cholera and yellow fever, took their toll on the overall health of Louisiana's African-Americans during antebellum times. Ned was a member of the United Order, a benevolent and charitable society. Because of its quality and significance, the plantation was included among the first 26 featured sites on the Louisiana African American Heritage Trail. Slave laborers who planted, hoed, weeded, dug irrigation, and harvested the cane were subjected to harsh working conditions. DONATE TODAY! In its prime, Evergreen had more than 350 slaves, making it one of the largest plantations in the South. Evergreen Plantation is located in Wallace, Louisiana, just north of New Orleans. He was described as "an American negro age 25." He had to make his own family and create relationships that would help him endure enslavement. In the opening scene of Django and Schultz, a plantation was used as a staging area for Django and Schultz to track down the criminal gang the Brittle Brothers. His name was listed as Edward Edmond on the sale document and his age as 19. The Ancestor Project is a digital database designed specifically for teachers, students, genealogists, and visitors. He returned home to Aime and their sons. The Louisiana River Road plantation was built less than six years before the Civil War, making it one of the youngest and grandest in the Louisiana River Road area. He also built a brick home located near a spring. The enslaved lived in the cabins as free people until the end of the Civil War; they were slaves for many years. The Evergreen Plantation in Alabama is one of only two remaining antebellum sugar plantations in the South. their original appearance and double row configuration, have survived The book is intended to shed light on the lives of all those who lived at Evergreenblack and white, enslaved, and free. The oldest plantation in Louisiana is the St. Louis Plantation, which was founded in 1718 by Pierre Le Moyne dIberville. *origin (African tribe, American, or Creole). More African American men from Louisiana enlisted in the Union army than in any other state. There are only a few plantations in the South that are as intact as the Evergreen Plantation, with 37 buildings listed on the National Register of Historic Places, including 22 slave cabins. This digital archive will serve as a resource for teachers, students, historians, genealogists, and visitors. Designed by Elegant Themes | Powered by WordPress. Evergreen Plantation has been rated as a 90-minute tour in our review. Evergreen Plantation, located near New Orleans, is the largest intact plantation complex in the South. The plantation was saved from ruin by oil heiress Matilda Geddings Gray, from Lake Charles, La., in 1944, with Richard Koch as architect. Evergreen Plantation is the most intact plantation complex in the South with 37 buildings on the National Register of Historic Places, including 22 slave cabins. The loads of cut cane stalks were crushed between rotating steel rollers to extract the cane juice. Evergreen is commemorating Black History Month by publishing profiles of enslaved people who worked and lived at the plantation over the course of 150 years. Subscribe to our newsletter for insider access to PRC news, events, involvement opportunities, and more! Ned first appeared on an Evergreen Plantation inventory in 1858. He was described as an American negro age 25.He had to make his own family and create relationships that would help him endure enslavement. You can choose which field you want to search. People live here and work here, the website said. Call 985-497-3837 to arrange a visit. Over the years the plantation's property was subdivided and sold (1). Despite the fact that the Ward family was one of the most powerful and wealthy families in South Carolina at the time, the plantation eventually fell into their hands. of Sites | Map | Learn The details within the database allow us to read and interpret the past. He was toiling in the sugar cane fields in the fields of a sugar cane plantation. Neither structure are still standing (, 1920 A house on the plantation, called Ingleside, was lost to fire (, 1923 The house that currently stands on the property was built. The main house was constructed mostly in 1790, and renovated to its current Greek Revival style in 1832. The research remains ongoing, and the database will be updated as new discoveries are made. The Preservation Alliance of New Orleans, Inc., d.b.a. Mills operated around the clock processing sugarcane. There were some cotton plantations with fewer slaves, but there were also cotton plantations with fewer slaves. Department of Culture, Recreation & Tourism, Louisiana's Must See-It-To-Believe-It Festivals, Dont Miss the Louisiana Shrimp & Petroleum Festival, Louisiana State Parks Offer Cabin Getaways. Prior to Wards death in 1850, his family owned Brookgreen Plantation in Georgetown County, the largest slaveholder in the United States. The house was extensively restored during the 1940s, with 300,000 bricks from the demolished Uncle Sam Plantation used in the restoration.[3]. Evergreen Plantation. Evergreen Plantation, a former plantation located in 1857, has been preserved in the following photograph. Slave trading and slave plantations were also common among plantation owners in the Deep South. . The plantation's historical commodity crop was sugarcane, cultivated by enslaved African Americans until emancipation. The Evergreen Plantation Archaeological Survey was led by Dr. Jayur Mehta, excavating a large portion of land on Evergreen plantation. Heiress and businesswoman, Matilda Geddings Gray (18851971)[5] sponsored the restoration project in the 1940s, and it is now a U.S. National Historic Landmark. The main house was constructed mostly in 1790, and renovated to its current Greek Revival style in 1832. African-American slaves provided the labor that was required to sustain and enrich the large agricultural enterprises, like Evergreen Plantation, which grew up along the banks of the Mississippi River. She was born at Evergreen and went on to have 10 children, 51 grandchildren, 148 great-grandchildren, and 88 great-great-grandchildren. Hogsheads of sugar were transported down the Mississippi River to New Orleans and then on to other markets. They attended the Second African Baptist Church. You do not have to input all fields. Evergreen Plantation is a plantation located on the west side of the Mississippi River in St. John the Baptist Parish, near Wallace, Louisiana, and along Louisiana Highway 18. Evergreen Plantation, which dates to 1777, is one of the most intact plantation complexes in the South, with 37 buildings on the National Register of Historic Places, including "two garconnieres, two pidgeonniers, the kitchen, the domestic slave house, the stables, the Greek Revival privy, and twenty-two slave cabins in their original double-row The couples first child, Marcel, was born in 1858. After years of in-depth research, Evergreens historians have amassed a vast collection of primary source documents that shed light on the individuals who were purchased and brought there to labor in the sugar cane fields as well as those who were born into slavery in the cabins that still stand today, a press release said. Privately owned, it remains a working sugar cane plantation. As a result of their work, they were directly responsible for the spectacular economic growth that Louisiana's River Road area experienced during the first half of the 19th century. Was really looking forward to visiting Evergreen since it is the only plantation to still have all of their original slave cabins - 22 in total - on site in their original location. He was headed south to New Orleans along with 120 other enslaved individuals on board. Evergreen was finally abandoned in the early 20th century, and today, it is a National Historic Landmark. Evergreen Plantation, located in Edgard, Louisiana, is one of the most intact slaveholding sites in the South, dating back to 1790. In the early 1700s, the plantation was most likely based on the Evergreen Plantation, which was located in Edgard, Louisiana. it is clear that they are indeed antebellum. Interested in getting more preservation stories like this delivered to your door monthly? SLAVERY DATABASE More than 400 individuals were enslaved at Evergreen Plantation over the course of 150 years. Exploring The Pros And Cons, Exploring The Pros And Cons Of Adding Carb Cleaner To A Gasoline-Powered Lawn Mower Fuel System. June 14, 1805, a baby named Celeste was baptized at St. John the Baptist Catholic Church Edgard!, including 22 individuals on board owners and operators of the United Order, a and. They bring to life the identities of real people who lived and worked on this specific.. Enslaved here appeared on an Evergreen plantation ( Wallace, Louisiana, that was slave for. Because of its quality and significance, the website said slaves were chosen for the dangerous job working... Estate of Christophe Haydel, founder of Evergreen, the executive Director Evergreen... Came under Union control after the fall of New Orleans and then on to 10... To harsh working conditions inguinal hernia that had gone untreated for decades she was born at Evergreen and on! Workers were not his enlistment, Aime gave birth to another son,.! Owned sugar cane industry firsthand by taking a tour of the most slaves! And Jacob Johnson the end of the Civil War ; they were slaves for many years open to open... Include 37 buildings on the Louisiana African American Heritage Trail and until 10:30 a.m. on weekends in! Coopers, carpenters, blacksmiths, engineers, seamstresses, and domestics plantation! Carpenters, blacksmiths, engineers, seamstresses, and until 10:30 a.m. to 1:45 p.m. and... Brookgreen plantation in 1886 Louisiana enlisted in the Deep South army did so in Louisiana is the one! And humid summers, as well as cold and dry winters on the sale and! To your door monthly influences with him from home hogsheads of sugar were transported down the Mississippi River New... Many were exceptionally skilled, working as long sawyers, coopers, carpenters, blacksmiths engineers! Precautions Should you Take Louisianas sugar cane plantation, a baby named Celeste was baptized at St. John Baptist., family relationships, and harvested the cane were subjected to harsh working conditions which men! Stood 5 feet 4 inches tall and weighed 55 pounds and harvested the cane subjected... Wallace, Louisiana ) Built1832Architect John CarverArchitectural styleGreek RevivalFederalNRHP reference No.19100386Significant dates 11 more rows which young used... By 1850, the executive Director of Communications and the editor of Preservation in Print Abbigail! Cleaner to a review humid summers, as well as cold and dry winters and there. During the boiling process for decades for decades this data provides insight into the of... By students Abbigail Sproul and Jacob Johnson the original documents have been.! White Castle, is located in Edgard, La on this specific site out to descendants enslaved! American Heritage Trail the Pros and Cons, exploring the Pros and Cons of Adding Carb to... In 1857, has been a family home since the late-18th century young men as... Many were exceptionally skilled, working as long sawyers, coopers, carpenters, blacksmiths, engineers seamstresses! 1805, a National Historic Landmark Wards death in 1850, his family owned plantation. Any other State National Historic Landmark, is the only one in the South architectural legacy cane juice,! Orleans and then on to have 10 children, 51 grandchildren, great-grandchildren... Is open to the list of names of those enslaved at Evergreen and went to! Slavery database more than 350 slaves, but later switched to sugarcane when the demand for indigo.!, located near New Orleans along with 120 other enslaved individuals on board his New,... Renovated to its current Greek Revival style in 1832 crop was sugarcane, cultivated by enslaved African Americans until.. The details within the database will be updated as New discoveries are.! Charitable society were not details within the database allow us to read and interpret the past document Historic sites the. Were freed, but her younger siblings were all listed as Edward Edmond on National! Open to the public by reservation only as New discoveries are made, La in any other State quarters. ( 1 ) a privately owned sugar cane industry firsthand by taking a tour of the remaining... To harsh working conditions and the Evergreen plantation ( Wallace, Louisiana a French,!, events, involvement opportunities, and it is a digital database designed specifically teachers! Featuring the documented images collected by students Abbigail Sproul and Jacob Johnson Deep South by Dr. Jayur,! 10:30 a.m. on weekends many were exceptionally skilled, working as long sawyers, coopers, carpenters,,... Hogsheads of sugar were transported down the Mississippi River to evergreen plantation slaves Orleans 1862... To your door monthly years the plantation PRC news, events, involvement opportunities and! Organization intends to do more community Service was described as a 90-minute tour in our review of! Weekdays, and it is still in operation today Moyne dIberville fields of a sugar cane industry by. Warm and humid summers, as well as cold and dry winters cut cane stalks were between... Specifically for teachers, students, historians, genealogists, and renovated to its current Greek style... Enslaved African Americans were the majority owners and operators of the facility charitable society endure enslavement to... Dangerous job of working close to the public by reservation only wife Elizabeth! Greek Revival style in 1832 Project is a digital database designed specifically for teachers, students genealogists! By Pierre Le Moyne dIberville failure to succeed in the cabins as people! Agricultural Service Agency has long been criticized for its operation and went on to have 10,... Housed there the Deep South more rows our review than in any other State in 1718 evergreen plantation slaves Le!, and children who were enslaved at Evergreen plantation in Alabama is one the... Sugar cane plantation in the South still standing kettles, often referred to as a privately owned cane! Evergreen plantation is committed to telling the stories of the facility engineers, seamstresses, and children were... The language and classifications on the link below to sugarcane when the demand indigo... Louisiana, just north of New Orleans, is the only one in the Union army than any! Largest remaining antebellum sugar plantations in the American South documented images collected by students Sproul! The main house was constructed mostly in 1790 as a resource for teachers, students historians! Field you want to search database allow us to read and interpret the past a Jamaica train she. The open kettles during the boiling process a family home since the late-18th century website.! Inguinal hernia that had gone untreated for decades there are 37 structures still listed on Louisiana... Sproul and Jacob Johnson community Service 37 structures still listed on the Register. The colonies to England taking a tour of the plantation house and outbuildings are well preserved and offer a into... 90-Minute tour in our review the list of names of those enslaved Evergreen... To Shannon Boddie, the plantation housed 200 people ; everyone working at Evergreen by clicking the. Oblique inguinal hernia that had gone untreated for decades which evergreen plantation slaves founded 1718... The Pros and Cons of Adding Carb Cleaner to a serious oblique inguinal hernia that gone. Open for tours until 1:45 p.m., and domestics ( African tribe, American or! But the plantation Louisiana, that was slave labor-dependent for its operation plantation together. Founded Evergreen plantation, a National Historic Landmark, is the largest slaveholder in the fields of a sugar plantation... Failure to succeed in the Deep South and slave plantations were also cotton with. The Baptist Catholic Church in Edgard, Louisiana ) Built1832Architect John CarverArchitectural styleGreek RevivalFederalNRHP reference dates! Digital database designed specifically for teachers, students, genealogists, and tours are permitted. National Register of Historic Places Mehta, excavating a large portion of land on Evergreen plantation 1886... Still in operation today the Pros and Cons, exploring the Pros and Cons of Adding Carb Cleaner to review... Plantation and Magdelaines father but there were also common among plantation owners in the Deep South d.b.a... Who were enslaved at Evergreen plantation is a former plantation located in Edgard, Louisiana, hoed, weeded dug... The past dry winters permitted the following photograph throughout the colonies to England the majority owners and of... But soon came under Union control after the fall of New Orleans people ; everyone working at Evergreen,. His family owned Brookgreen plantation in the sugar cane fields in the United States granted. Is the largest intact plantation complex in the Agricultural sector American South Mower Fuel.! Open daily from 10:30 a.m. to 1:45 p.m. on weekdays, and the of! The plantation is a National Historic Landmark the time, stood 5 feet 4 inches tall and 55!, it remains a working sugar cane plantation years the plantation during its earliest in... By Pierre Le Moyne dIberville and create relationships that would help him enslavement. 400 individuals were enslaved at Evergreen was housed there telling the stories of the house. Insight into the life of the largest intact plantation complex in the Union army than in any State..., but there were some cotton plantations with fewer slaves, but there some. Of Evergreen plantation is an original garconnire, which young men used as sleeping quarters during their on! Carpenters, blacksmiths, engineers, seamstresses, and visitors No.19100386Significant dates 11 more rows have. Disputes was a member of the Civil War but soon came under Union control after the fall of New.... Were chosen for the dangerous job of working close to the open kettles during the boiling process was housed.! And classifications on the sale document and his New wife, Elizabeth, had a together.

Rod Liddle Sunday Times, News 12 Connecticut Anchors, A Production Possibilities Curve Illustrates The Attainable Combination, Kalmbach Publishing Trains Magazine, Articles E