The Lantern Project is a collaborative project led by Mississippi State University as part of a coalition of institutions located within Mississippi and Alabama, including the University of Mississippi Libraries (Oxford, MS); Delta State University (Cleveland, MS); The Natchez Historical Foundation (Natchez, MS); Columbus-Lowndes County Public Library System (Columbus, MS); and the Montgomery County Archives (Montgomery, AL). The Lantern Project provides, for the first time, centralized and institutionally supported access to information in legal records documenting enslaved persons, including probate records, court records (orphans court, civil court, criminal court, and others), deeds, receipts, bills of sale, and other documents which were or could have been used as evidence in a trial, from across Mississippi and the Deep South.
The materials contributed by University of Mississippi Libraries are drawn from court records and personal and family papers held in multiple collections. Documents represented include wills and other legal instruments used to transfer personal property; receipts, bills of sale; plantation ledgers, and other plantation records. Geographic areas represented include Alabama, Georgia, Kentucky, Louisiana, Mississippi, South Carolina, and Tennessee.
These collections have been donated to the UM Libraries in support of teaching and research and document the lives and businesses of early residents of Mississippi and other locations in the Deep South. To donate personal and family papers, or records of antebellum businesses and organizations which document the lives of enslaved persons to the University of Mississippi, please contact archivesdept@olemiss.edu.
The Lantern Project has been generously funded by the National Historical Publications and Records Commission (NHPRC) of the United States National Archives and Records Administration. The complete collection is hosted in Mississippi State University's institutional repository.
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List of 39 Enslaved Persons
Author Unknown
List of 39 enslaved persons, including names, ages, various ailments, and dollar amounts.
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Bill of Sale of an Unnamed Enslaved Person
Cummings Moseley
Bill of sale of an unnamed enslaved woman to Moseley and Cummings.
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![Bill of Sale of an Enslaved Person Named [Isom] by D. H. Moseley](https://egrove.olemiss.edu/lanternproject/1017/thumbnail.jpg "Bill of Sale of an Enslaved Person Named [Isom] by D. H. Moseley")
Bill of Sale of an Enslaved Person Named [Isom]
D. H. Moseley
Bill of sale of an enslaved man named [Isom] to D. H. Moseley.
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Inventory Lists of Elizabeth Haynie
Elizabeth Haynie
Three lists of the property of Elizabeth Haynie having 29 enslaved persons. The lists are nearly identical.
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Bill of Sale of an Enslaved Person Named Betsey Jack
George H. Moseley
Bill of sale of an enslaved woman named Betsey Jack to George H. Moseley.
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Bill of Sale of an Enslaved Person Named Mary
S. H. Plant
Bill of sale of an enslaved girl named Mary
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Receipt for Jail Fees Paid for Enslaved Person Named Rachael
B. F. Swazey
Receipt for jail fees paid for an enslaved person named Rachael, who was imprisoned after running away.
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Valuation of estate of Robert A. Reinhardt, 1854
Timmons Louis Treadwell, John Carruth, William A. Oates, and Paris A. Gorman
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Valuation of estate of Robert A. Reinhardt, 1854
Timmons Louis Treadwell, John Carruth, William A. Oates, and Paris A. Gorman
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List of Enslaved Persons Belonging to W. L. Treadwell
William Loundes Treadwell
List of 31 enslaved persons belonging to William Loundes Treadwell.
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List of Purchases of Enslaved Persons
William Loundes Treadwell
Purchase list made by W. L. Treadwell, listing eight enslaved persons named Jim Brown, Warren, George, Mary Ann, Robert, Francis, Eadie, and Alice.
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Handwritten List of 16 Enslaved Persons
Author Unknown
Handwritten list of 16 enslaved persons and their dollar amount.
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Handwritten List of 21 Enslaved Persons
Author Unknown
Handwritten list of 21 enslaved persons with their ages; five of the enslaved persons are listed as dead.
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Handwritten List of 38 Enslaved Persons
Author Unknown
Handwritten list of 38 enslaved persons with only their names present.
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Printed List of 41 Enslaved Persons and Their Ages
Author Unknown
List of 41 enslaved persons, with their names and ages, torn from a newspaper.
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Bill of Sale of an Enslaved Person Named George
George Moseley
Bill of sale of an enslaved man named George to George H. Moseley.
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Bill of Sale of an Enslaved Person Named Josh
George H. Moseley
Bill of sale of an enslaved boy named Josh to George H. Moseley.
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Bill of Sale of an Enslaved Person Named Henry
G. H. Moseley
Bill of sale of an enslaved man named Henry to G. H. Moseley.
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Bill of Sale of an Enslaved Person Named Reece
G. H. Moseley
Bill of sale at public auction of an enslaved boy named Reece to G. H. Moseley.
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Bill of Sale of an Enslaved Person Named Bass
Cummings Moseley
Bill of sale of an enslaved man named Bass to Moseley and Cummings.
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![Bill of Sale of an Enslaved Person Named [Jack] by Cummings Moseley](https://egrove.olemiss.edu/lanternproject/1010/thumbnail.jpg "Bill of Sale of an Enslaved Person Named [Jack] by Cummings Moseley")
Bill of Sale of an Enslaved Person Named [Jack]
Cummings Moseley
Bill of sale of an enslaved boy named [Jack] to Moseley and Cummings.
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Bill of Sale of an Enslaved Person Named Lewis
Cummings Moseley
Bill of sale of an enslaved man named Lewis to Moseley and Cummings.
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Bill of Sale of an Enslaved Person Named Ned
George Moseley
Bill of sale of an enslaved man named Ned to George H. Moseley.
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Bill of Sale of an Enslaved Person Named Middleton
H. S. Plant
Bill of sale of an enslaved person named Middleton
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Bill of Sale of an Enslaved Person Named Tom
George H. Moseley
Bill of sale of an enslaved man named Tom to George H. Moseley.
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Bill of Sale of an Enslaved Person Named Benjamin
G. H. Moseley
Bill of sale of an enslaved man named Benjamin to G. H. Moseley.
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News Article Announcing the Disappearance ("Runaway or Kidnapped") of an Enslaved Person Named Reuben
L. A. Caldwell
News article requesting the local populace for information regarding an enslaved boy named Reuben, who disappeared from the property of L. A. Caldwell
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News Article Discussing a Case between Two Slaveowners Regarding a Habitual Runaway
George W. Campbell
News article detailing a case between George W. Campbell and George W. Botts regarding an enslaved man who was a habitual runaway, and whether the owner of the enslaved man was responsible for him when he ran away from a buyer
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News Article Reporting the History of a Man Named William Houston Suing His Enslaver for Freedom
J. F. Lapice
News article in which the history of a free man of color named William Houston is explained in an attempt to further the evidence in his suite for freedom against his current enslaver, J. F. Lapice
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News Article Announcing the Execution of an Enslaved Person Named August
Alexander Grant
News article announcing the guilty verdict and scheduled execution of enslaved man named August, accused of killing another enslaved man
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News Article on a Freeborn Man Named Alexander Priere and his Free Family Returned to Slavery
George Heno
News article explaining the events that ended with Alexander Priere and his family, who were widely known as freeborn people, to be claimed by George Heno as enslaved persons
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News Article Noting an Enslaved Person's Death
John D. James
News article noting the death an unnamed enslaved man belonging to Mr. John D. James after an attempted robbery
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News Article Reporting the Beating Death of an Enslaved Overseer by 8 Enslaved Persons
Author Unknown
News article in which 8 unnamed runaway enslaved persons turned themselves in after sometime living in the woods, having beaten their abusive overseer to death on Windsor plantation
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News Article Reporting that an Unnamed Enslaved Man Killed His Enslaver, Colonel James Austin
James Austin
News article reporting that an unnamed enslaved man stabbed his enslaver, Colonel James Austin, to death and is now in custody
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News Article Reporting an Attempt to Smuggle an Enslaved Person Named Moses from Charleston to Philadelphia
Mary Brown
News article reporting an attempt to smuggle an enslaved man named Moses, belonging to Miss Mary Brown of Charleston, on a steamship from Charleston to Philadelphia
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Bill of Sale of an Enslaved Person Named Ester
Louisa Callaway
Bill of sale of an enslaved girl named Ester to Louisa Callaway from Mary Reed.
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News Article Reporting the Kidnapping of an Enslaved Person Named Louis
Madam Victor Dejoux
News article reporting that one David Jackson kidnapped an enslaved boy named Louis, belonging to Madam Victor Dejoux, in an attempt to sell Louis up the coast
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News Article on the Emancipations of 7 Enslaved Persons Named Minerva, Fanny, Auguste, Louis, Louisa, Victoire, and Zabette
Victor Martin
News article of the report and resolution for the emanciation of 7 enslaved persons named Minerva, Fanny, Auguste, Louis, Louisa, Victoire, and Zabette, belonging to various enslavers
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News Article Reporting the Trial of 1 Enslaved Person for Assaulting Another Enslaved Person
Alfred Penn
News article reporting that enslaved man named Bob, belonging to Alfred Penn, was tried for assault and attempt to kill another enslaved person named Lewis, belonging to Dennis Donnoran
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News Article on the Attempted Escape of an Enslaved Person Named Jack
Prendergast
News article explaining that an enslaved man named Jack, belonging to Mrs. Prendergast, made two escape attempts
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News Article Reporting the Death of an Enslaved Person Named Adam at 95 Years of Age
John M. Roberts
News article reporting that an enslaved man named Adam died at the age of 95 after a lifetime of dedicated service to his enslavers
