Welcome! This project is in the process of creating a database of Irish slaveholders in South Carolina in order to recover the names of African American people enslaved by our ancestors. Slavery has many legacies but one of the most painful is the generational impact of the seperation of families. Our aim is to make it easier for Americans of African descent to trace family members. In order to do this, we firstly upload information even when it is incomplete as it may provide a starting point for people searching for their families. Secondly, the information here is available free of charge and not hidden behind a paywall. It is however protected under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-ShareAlike 4.0 International License in order to prevent it from being used for commercial purposes. We ask only that if you use this research you acknowledge the source as follows
Database of Irish slaveholders in South Carolina compiled by Martine Brennan, Ireland www.enslavement-to-citizenship.com/#/
Database of Irish slaveholders in South Carolina compiled by Martine Brennan, Ireland www.enslavement-to-citizenship.com/#/
Anderson County, South Carolina est. 1826 (10 Irish-born slaveholders identified as of Nov. 2023.)
Crawford, James 1800-? Crawford, Sarah 1778-? Greer/Grier, David 1760-1855 (born Antrim, Ireland) Harkness, John 1774-? McCully, Stephen 1800-1881 (born Antrim, Ireland) Orr, Thomas 1783-1866 (born Armagh, Ireland) Orr, William 1788-? Ransom, William 1788-? Steele, Henry 1824-? Todd, Olive 1780-1866 (born Down, Ireland) |
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Beaufort County, South Carolina est. 1769 (10 Irish-born slaveholders identified as of Sept. 2023.)
Butler/Butter, Edward 1787-? Cardwell, A S 1795-? Catherwood, Samuel 1825-? Cunningham, A/A M 1820-1858 Goettee, George c1838-1922 (son of John G Goettee) Goettee, John G 1807-1850 Fielding, John 1795-? McElheran/Elheran, David M 1800-? OConnor, Michael 1793-? Pearse, Isabel c1782 |
*(Berkeley County, South Carolina est. 1682 (10 Irish-born slaveholders identified as of Jan. 2023.)
Please note that this map is of modern-day Berkeley County. Arthur, Dominick resident c1707 (born Limerick, Ireland) Butler, Pierce 1744-1822 Carlow, Ireland, South Carolina, Butler Island, Georgia & Philadelphia. See the work of Brian Sheffey Cantey, Sir Teige 1618-1679 Cork, Ireland (names of enslaved people recovered) Dalton, Joseph (resident SC 1670-) Gough, John d.1738 (names of enslaved people recovered) Harleston, Affra d.1698 (born Dublin, Ireland) Harleston, John c1670-1738 ( born Dublin, Ireland)see entry for Affra. Harleston, Elizabeth d.1721 (born Dublin, Ireland. Wife of Elias 'Red cap' Ball) see entry for Affra. Mahon, Michael resident 1707-1713 (born Limerick, Ireland) O'Sullivan, Florence, resident SC 1670-1680) (born Kinsale, Cork, Ireland) Taylor, Peter 1700-1765 (names of enslaved people recovered) |
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Charleston County, South Carolina est. 1769 (24 Irish-born slaveholders identified as of Jan 2023.) Incomplete.
Adger, James 1777-1858 (born Antrim, Ireland) (names of enslaved people recovered) Addison, George c1800-1883 Addison, John c1816- Jane Anthony 1783-1856 (born Monaghan, Ireland) Armstrong, William c1829- Berwick, Simon d.1783 (born Armagh, Ireland) Berwick, John (born Armagh, Ireland) See Simon above. Berwick, Elizabeth (born Armagh, Ireland) See Simon above. Burke, Aedanus 1743-1802 (born Galway, Ireland) Connolly, Bernard c1824- England, John (R.C. Bishop) 1786-1842 (born Cork, Ireland) Fitzsimons, Christopher 1762-1825 (born Louth, Ireland) Gibson, Elizabeth c1770- Kennedy, Brian (resident in Tipperary, Ireland 1802) Sale of enslaved people Charleston 1802, source lowcountryafricana.com Kennerly, John c1812- Lynch, Patrick (R.C. Bishop) 1817-1882 (born Monaghan, Ireland) see William McKenna, Lancaster County. Lynus, B c1817- McKeegan, John 1800-1881 (born Antrim, Ireland) (names of enslaved people recovered) O'Raw, John 1783-1841 (born Antrim, Ireland) Payne, William d.1834 (probably born Carlow, Ireland) (names of enslaved people recovered) Pennal, Robert 1792-1847 (born Antrim, Ireland) Robinson, Joseph c1813- (born Belfast, Ireland) Ryan, Thomas c1800-1866 Torrans, John Gordon 1702-1780 (born Derry, Ireland) Walker, John Falls 1798-1841 (born Armagh, Ireland) |
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Chesterfield County, South Carolina est. 1798 (3 Irish-born slaveholders identified as of Sept. 2023.)
Craig, John 1755-1839 (born Greyabbey, Down, Ireland Lynch, Conlaw 1790-1870 (born Monaghan, Ireland) Moore, Margaret c1778-? |
Colleton County, South Carolina est. 1798 (5 Irish-born slaveholders identified as of Sept. 2023.)
Clifford, Loftus C 1814-1885 (born Wexford, Ireland) Delamar, Charles G c1798-? Leonard, Samuel c1802-? Purcell, James c1790-? Sandford, Matthew 1792-1859 (born Dungannon, Tyrone, Ireland) |
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Darlington County, South Carolina est. 1785 (3 Irish-born slaveholders and overseers identified as of Jan. 2023.)
Flinn, Thomas c1798-1865 (born Dublin, Ireland) O'Neal, Griffin c1790-? Ross, John c1808, Overseer 1850 |
Edgefield County, South Carolina est. 1785 (15 Irish-born slaveholders as of Jan. 2023.)
Bailey, James c1822-? Bailey, Richard c1823-? Bailey, William c1811-? Carroll, James 1771-1820 (born Tipperary, Ireland) Carroll, Mary 1782-1851 (names of enslaved people recovered) Colgan, John 1809-1892 Hamphill, Samuel c1785-? (born Derry, Ireland) Herbert, William c1813-? Hernaghan, Thomas c1798-? Kenny, Robert c1782-? Mcevoy, William c1810-? Moore, Patrick c1810-? O'Conner, F c1790-? OKeefe, Michael c1813-? Todd, Robert c1815-? |
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Fairfield County, South Carolina est. 1798 Incomplete. (4 Irish-born slaveholders and overseers identified as of Jan. 2023.)
Cabean/Cabeen, Richard c1813-? Overseer 1850 Clowney, Robert c1838-1885 (born Dromore Parish, Down, Ireland) Scott, Matthew c1820-? Overseer 1850 Stuart, James c1827-? Overseer 1850 |
Greenville County, South Carolina est. 1786 (8 Irish-born slaveholders identified as of Sept. 2023.)
Dickson, James K 1811-1893 Dickson, William c1813-? Dunbar, James 1791-1875 (born Antrim, Ireland) Erwin/Irwin, William 1818-1893 (born Roscommon, Ireland) McCullough, Joseph c1779-1853 (born Antrim, Ireland) McCullough, William 1762-1852 Walker, Thomas c1781-? Woodside/s, James c1795-1858 |
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Kershaw County, South Carolina est. 1801 (5 Irish-born slaveholders identified as of Sept. 2023.)
Carlisle, William c1797-1867 Cooper, John M c1815-? Spence, Samuel c1808-1886 (born Belfast, Ireland) Tweed, Robert L c1815-1850 (born Antrim, Ireland) Wilson, Robert c1822-? |
Lancaster County, South Carolina est. 1798 (5 Irish-born slaveholders identified as of Oct. 2023.)
Crawford, Robert (Major) c1728-1801 McKenna, William c1790-1859 (born Cock Hill, Donegal, Ireland) Perry, May M c1790-? Robertson, William c1807-? Steale, J c1783-? |
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Laurens County, South Carolina est. 1785 (15 Irish-born slaveholders identified as of Nov, 2023.)
Austin, Samuel c1802-? Austin, William c1801-? Baxter, William c1790-? Bell, James c1828-? Bell, Robert c1796-? Downey, Samuel c1800-? Dunn, William C c1809-? Hamilton, Samuel c1800- McWilliams/Williams Alexander c1798-? Simpson, John B c1782-? Todd, John c1792-? Todd, Patrick c1768-? Todd, Samuel 1788-1869 Todd, Samuel R 1807-1891 Workman, Robert c1781-? |
Lexington County, South Carolina est. 1804 (2 Irish-born slaveholders identified as of Sept. 2023.)
Egan, James c1790-? Walace, James c1782-1851 (born Kilkenny, Ireland) |
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Newberry County, South Carolina est. 1785 (7 Irish-born slaveholders identified as of Sept. 2023.)
Chalmers, James 1784-? Fleck, James c1813-? (Antrim, Ireland) Hunter, William c1769-1853 (born Antrim, Ireland) Moore, Roseanna c1769-? Redd, James c1768-? Thomson, Hannah c1780-? Warnack, Samuel c1818-? |
Orangeburg County, South Carolina est. 1769 (1 Irish-born slaveholder identified as of Sept. 2023.)
O Dowd, William c1818-1882 (names of formerly enslaved people recovered) |
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Pickens County, South Carolina est. 1868 (4 Irish-born slaveholders identified as of Sept. 2023)
Johnston, Robert 1808-1884 Magee, Tilman c1770-1850 (born Antrim, Ireland) Lamont Walker, Jane c1768-1856 (born Antrim, Ireland) (names of enslaved people recovered) Young, James 1808-? |
Richland County, South Carolina est. 1785 (8 Irish slaveholders identified as of Sept. 2023.)
Brodie, Alexander c1784-? Gaffney, Peter c1812-? (see wikitree) Haley, Matthew c1813-? Keenan, Roland c1794-1872 (born Antrim, Ireland) Miller, Robert c1772-1852 Quigley, Kyle 1811-1844 (born Derry, Ireland) (names of enslaved people recovered) Scott, James S c1805-? Waddell, Robert 1799-1841 (born Donegal, Ireland) |
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Spartanburg County, South Carolina est. 1785 (6 Irish-born slaveholders identified as of Sept. 2023.)
Arnold, R 1815-? Copeland, Alexander c1754-1836 (born Armagh, Ireland) see Rebecca Copeland, Rebecca c1755- (born Armagh, Ireland) (names of enslaved people recovered) Dixon, William 1770-? Gaffney, Michael 1755-1854 (born Longford, Ireland) Moore, Charles 1729-1805 (Ulster, Ireland) (names of enslaved people recovered) |
Sumter County, South Carolina est. 1798 (8 Irish-born slaveholders and overseers identified as of Sept. 2023.)
Burgess, Thomas c1783-1854 (Belfast, Ireland) Graham, John L c1818-? Overseer 1850 Kavanagh, Briant c1800-? Lowry/Lowery, Robert c1819-? Mack, James c1815-? Stewart, Wm K c1817-? Tallon, E H c1791-? Valentine, William c1800-? |
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Union County, South Carolina est. 1798 (11 Irish-born slaveholders and overseers identified as of Sept. 2023.)
McDowell Black, Mary c1790-1875 (born Antrim, Ireland) Clowney, Moses 1822-1894, Overseer 1850 (born Dromore Parish, Down, Ireland) Comer or Connor, Jesse c1822-? Overseer 1850 Dunn, Philip c1818-? Jennings, Rowan c1820-? McCaughey, James c1802-? McIlwain, John c1801-? Murphy, James 1798-? Patrick, Isabella c1775-? Pearson, Joseph c1805-? Quay, Catherine 1751-1851 (born Co. Down) (names of enslaved people recovered) |
York County, South Carolina est. 1785 (23 Irishborn slaveholders identified as of Oct. 2023.)
Blair, James 1805-1895 (born Derry, Ireland) Boyd, Thomas 1798-1853 (born Derry, Ireland) Cairnes John c1808-? Cairnes/Caunes, Robert c1815-? Caldwell, James 1787-1871 (born Antrim, Ireland) Caldwell, Robert c1785-? Crawford, James c1790-? Hackett, William c1792-? Hunter, John B c1803-? Nesbit, Robert c1786-? McClure, Robert c1788-? McDowell, James c1814-? McElwee, William c1790-? McGowan, John c1805-? McKnight, Dickson c1808-? Moore, Andrew c1811-? Scott, John c1803-? Scott, William c1791-? Sloan, John J 1778-1865 Stewart, Robert c1802-? Wallace, James c1784-? Watson, William c1799-? Wylie, William S c1815-? |
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