African Americans

Biographies:

Jubie Barton Bragg, teacher
born in Twiggs Co., Feb. 17 1876; son of Andrew and Rebecca Smith Bragg; attended Ballards Norman School, Macon; graduate Tuskegee Institute, Ala., 1900; B.S., Talladega College, 1910; married Anna Mariah Smith, of Orangeburg, S.C., Sept. 15, 1904; 4 children. Teacher at Florida Agricultural and Mechanical College (Florida A & M University), Tallahassee. (He began the schools football program in 1899 and was head football coach and athletic director) and W. Virginia Colored Institute, 1 yr.; instructor of manual training and professor of science Jackson (Mississippi) College since 1911. Episcopalian Progressive. Source: Who's Who of the Colored Race; FAMU website

Charles C. Cater, Atlanta Businessman

Rev. John Thomas Stevens
(also known as J.T. or Jack Stevens) was born in Twiggs County around the year 1853
to the parentage of Richard and Sarah Tharpe-Stevens. He was the founding pastor of both Mount Olive Baptist Church,
located in Tarversville, and Stone Creek Baptist Church, located in Dry Branch. He was also help established the Mount
Olive School for African American, which still stands to this day. He was married to Fannie Anna Flowers. He was a well
known Baptist preacher in the area, as well as a traveling medicine man (it is thought that his medical training was received
in slavery, learning from Dr. Dave Solomon). He died March 4, 1934 and is buried in the J. T. Stevens Cemetery, located on Cresent
Rd., outside of Fitzpatrick, Twiggs County.
Submitted and copyrighted by  Avery S. Robertson, Jr. 2009

Rev.Robert Benjamin Williams D.D., pastor
     Born near Westlake, August 4, 1879 to parents who were both slaves, Peter and Rhoda (McCrae) Williams. Paternal grandparents Peter and Sallie Williams, maternal grandparents Bob and Rebie McCrae; great grandparents  Harry and Hester Powell. Attended the pubic schools of Twiggs County. The family moved to Macon when he was about 12. When he was 14 he began railroad work.
     When about 17 he was converted and joined the New Zion Baptist church. Licensed for ministry in 1893 and in June 1893 began ministry at Bethesda Baptist Church.
     Married Lulu Howard, daughter of Miles and Laura Howard Dec. 24, 1888
 

Links:
African American Research at national archives
Freedman's Bureau Records at national archives
Freedman Bank Records in Twiggs County
Freedman's Bureau
Georgia's Slave Population in Legal Records: Where and How to Look
 

1850 Slaveholders
1860 Slaveholders
Largest Slaveholders in 1860 Census with matching African American Surnames in 1870
 

1830 Vol. 1 -- Page: 197
Sequential Number: 145

Full Title: AN ACT to regulate slaves in the county of Twiggs, and to punish their owners or managers in certain cases, and to prevent the sale of poultry by slaves, except in certain cases.

Whereas, much evil exists in the county of Twiggs, in consequence of owners and managers of slaves, permitting them to hire their time, and live separate and apart from their owners or managers, and from the liberty given by the owners or managers of slaves, to them, to furnish victualing on public days, in said county -- For remedy whereof,

Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the State of Georgia, in General Assembly met, and it is hereby enacted by the authority of the same, That from and after the first day of January next, it shall not be lawful for any owner or manager of any slave or slaves in the county of Twiggs, to allow him or them to hire his or their own time, to live on a separate town lot, from his owner or manager, or to hire themselves on any farm or plantation, or hire any slave or slaves to any other person to the intent that said slaves, may be allowed to live separate and apart from their owner or manager, or to be allowed to furnish victuals for sale or accommodation of any person or persons whatsoever, and that any owner or manager offending against this act, shall be deemed and considered guilty of a misdemeanor, and subject to indictment for the same, and on conviction, shall be fined in a sum not less then fifty dollars, nor more than one hundred dollars.

Sec. 2. And be it further enacted, That any two or more freeholders may, whenever they know of any slave or slaves living separate and apart from their owner or manager, in the county aforesaid, and doing any act, which manifests to them that they are allowed to act for themselves or furnish victuals for any persons whatever, for pay or emolument, take said slave or slaves to the keeper of the common jail of said county, who shall receive them, and safely keep them until the owner or managers shall have paid all jail fees and given bond and security to abide the judgment of the Court on any indictment which may be instituted onder this act, and which jail fees shall be the same as in all other cases, for the imprisonment of slaves. Provided, That the jailer shall not be authorised to receive any slave from said freeholders until one or more of them shall file an affidavit, that said slave or slaves, has been apprehended with a view to the inforcement of this act.

Sec. 3. And be it further enacted, That any person purchasing of any slave, any poultry without a written authority from the owner or manager of said slave, shall be held and deemed guilty of a misdemeanor and on conviction, shall be fined not exceeding twenty dollars.

ASBURY HULL,

Speaker of the House of Representatives.

THOMAS STOCKS,

President of the Senate.

GEORGE R. GILMER, Governor.

Approval Date: Assented to, Dec. 23d. 1830.
 
 

 

 Eileen Babb McAdams Copyright 2004-2010