The Hope Family in Florida: Georgia Roots

Posted by Lowcountry Africana | Labels: , | Posted On Tuesday, March 30, 2010 at 4:00 AM

     The Hope family of Florida has early roots in Liberty County, Georgia. John Hope, grandfather of William Hope, was born in Liberty County Georgia in 1750. He married Jane Meek, daughter of Adam Meek and Jane Mitchell, on 01 Jul 1773. She was born in Cecil, Maryland in 1750.

     Their son William Hope, Sr. was born in 1770 in Liberty County, Georgia. He married Celia Wright in 1793 in Liberty County. Together they had at least five children who lived to adulthood, including William Hope who migrated to Florida (highlighted below).

1 Charity Hope (1798-1885), married William Baggs in GA

2 John Hope (1800-1865)

3 William Hope (1808-1898), married (1) Susan Mitchell Harville 15 Apr 1832 in Liberty County, GA; (2) Jane E. Crum 14 Jun 1838 in FL and (3) Anna Jane Wiggins 15 Apr 1846 in FL

4 Henry Hope (1810-1869), married Alatha Frances Garrison in FL

5 David Hope (1819-1879), married Frances Sophia Pyles in FL

     William and his brothers John, Henry and David migrated to Florida in the mid-1830s.

Early Records of the Hope Family in Florida: 1840 Federal Census; 1843 Voter List

Posted by Lowcountry Africana | Labels: | Posted On at 2:00 AM

     William Hope and his brothers John, Henry and David migrated to Florida in the mid-1830s. The earliest record of the Hope family in Florida is the 1840 Federal Census, which shows Henry Hope as a resident of Newnansville, Alachua County, Florida. His household consists of 1 male between the ages of 20 and 30 and 1 female between 20 and 30 (presumably Henry and his wife Alatha Frances Garrison) and 4 slaves (1 male between 24 and 36 years of age; 1 female under 10 and 2 females between the ages of 10 and 24).

Above: Detail from 1840 Census, Newnansville, FL for Henry Hope
Source: Sixth Census of the United States, 1840; (National Archives Microfilm Publication M704, 580 rolls); Records of the Bureau of the Census, Record Group 29; National Archives, Washington, D.C. Year: 1840; Census Place: Newnansville, Alachua, Florida Territory; Roll 36; Page: 161; Image: 339; Family History Library Film: 0006712.
 
Above: Detail from 1840 Census, Newnansville, FL for Henry Hope
Source: Sixth Census of the United States, 1840; (National Archives Microfilm Publication M704, 580 rolls); Records of the Bureau of the Census, Record Group 29; National Archives, Washington, D.C. Year: 1840; Census Place: Newnansville, Alachua, Florida Territory; Roll 36; Page: 161; Image: 339; Family History Library Film: 0006712.

     The earliest known mention of William Hope in Florida is on a list of voters made in November of 1843, where he is listed as a resident of the Chucochatta [Chocochatta] precinct. You may view the document transcription on the Early History of Hernando County website.   

William Hope: 1850 Federal Census, Chocochatta Township, Benton County, FL

Posted by Lowcountry Africana | Labels: | Posted On at 1:00 AM

     William Hope and family are listed in the 1850 Federal Census for the Chocochatta Township, Benton (present day Hernando) County, Florida. The surviving microfilm image is poor but appears to list the following family members:

William Hope, male, age 40, Planter, born in GA
Mary Jane Hope, female, age 22, born in FL
Samuel Hope, male, age 17, born in GA
Virginia Hope, female, age 10, born in FL
Adela of Idela Hope, female, age 3, born in FL
Christian A. Hope, female, infant, born in  FL

Above: 1850 Federal Census for William Hope
Source: Seventh Census of the United States, 1850; (National Archives Microfilm Publication M432, 1009 rolls); Records of the Bureau of the Census, Record Group 29; National Archives, Washington, D.C. Year: 1850; Census Place: Chocochatta Settlement, Benton, Florida; Roll M432_58; Page: 24B; Image: 53.

     The 1850 Census Slave Schedule lists William Hope as holding 16 slaves in the Lake Lindsay Settlement in Benton County. The 1850 and 1860 Census Slave Schedules did not list slaves by name, but by age, gender and race only. Below is the age and gender and race breakdown for William Hope's slaves in 1850:

Age 40, female, Black
Age 35, male, Black
Age 30, female, Black
Age 30, male, Black
Age 30, male, Black
Age 30, male, Black
Age 30, male, Black
Age 18, female, Mulatto
Age 12, female, Black
Age 8, female, Black
Age 8, female, Black
Age 8, female, Black
Age 7, female, Black
Age 7, female, Black
Age 3, male, Mulatto

     David Hope is also listed in the 1850 Census Slave Schedule, holding 2 slaves (age 47, female, Black and age 17, male, Black).

Above: Detail from 1850 Federal Census Slave Schedule, William and David Hope
Source: United States of America, Bureau of the Census. Seventh Census of the United States, 1850. Washington, D.C.: National Archives and Records Administration, 1850. M432, 1,009 rolls.

     The 1850 Federal Census Slave Schedule for Hillborough County, FL also lists William and David Hope's slaveholdings in that county, possibly associated with Fort Brooke in Tampa, as the census taker noted that the information was taken from the Quartermaster's Books. William Hope is listed there holding 1 slave, age 47, male, Black.
     A subsequent page lists David Hope holding 2 slaves, both male, with the notation: "Ages cannot be ascertained. Colours [sic] cannot be ascertained. These were taken from the Quartermaster's Books and left since the First of June." The risk of musquito-borne disease was great in Florida in the summer, and U.S. troops withdrew from the state from June to November.

Above: Detail from 1850 Census Slave Schedule, Hillsborough County, FL
Source: United States of America, Bureau of the Census. Seventh Census of the United States, 1850. Washington, D.C.: National Archives and Records Administration, 1850. M432, 1,009 rolls.

William Hope, Jurors Certificate, 1855

Posted by Lowcountry Africana | Labels: | Posted On at 12:00 AM

          On October 12, 1855, William Hope was issued a certificate for serving on a jury. He was paid $8.05 for his service:

Above: Juror's Certificate for William Hope, 5 Oct 1855
Source: Photo courtesy of Carol Bouknecht and Charles Blankenship, Early Hernando County History Website. With Kind Permission of Jeff Miller, Webmaster

William Hope: 1860 Tax Roll, Hernando County, FL

Posted by Lowcountry Africana | Labels: | Posted On Monday, March 29, 2010 at 11:00 PM

     The 1860 Federal Census for Hernando County, FL does not survive, however the 1860 Florida County Tax Roll lists William, David and Samuel Hope. They show the following taxable property for the Hope family in Hernando County:

  • William Hope: 1800 acres of land, 46 slaves
  • David Hope: 160 acres of land, 10 slaves
  • Samuel Hope: 367 acres of land, 5 slaves
     You may view the entire 1860 Hernando County Tax Roll at the Early History of Hernando County website.

William Hope: 1870 Census, Hernando County, FL

Posted by Lowcountry Africana | Labels: | Posted On at 10:00 PM

     William Hope and family were listed in the 1870 Federal Census for Hernando County. Member of William Hope's household were:

William Hope, male, age 59, Farmer, born in GA
Anna J. Hope, female, age 45, Keeping House, born in FL
Ann, female, age 18, born FL
William A. Hope, male, age 15, born in FL
Mary Hope, female, age 13, born in FL
Lula Hope, female, age 11, born in FL
Jessy D. Hope, male, age 9, born in FL
Lee Hope, female, age 6, born in FL
Lewis Hope, male age 1, born in FL
Jane Crum, female, age 19, born in FL
John Crum, male, age 17, born in FL
 
    Above: William Hope Household, 1870 Federal Census, Brooksville, Hernando County, FL
Source: 1870 U.S. census, population schedules. NARA microfilm publication M593, 1,761 rolls. Washington, D.C.: National Archives and Records Administration, n.d. Year: 1870; Census Place: , Hernando, Florida; Roll M593_130; Page: 84B; Image: 173; Family History Library Film: 545629.

African American Families Living On, or Next to, William Hope's Property in 1870

Posted by Lowcountry Africana | Labels: | Posted On at 9:00 PM

Listed on the same 1870 census page with William Hope are several Black families, living on, or next to William Hope's property. They include:


Haney Tindal, age 31, farm laborer, born in Alabama
Mariah Tindal, age 12, born in Florida
--
Susan Richardson, age 22, keeping house, born in Florida
Mary Ann Richardson, age 2/12, born in Florida
--
Nero Evans, age 32, farm laborer, born in South Carolina
Fanny Evans, age 23, keeping house, born in South Carolina
--
Joseph Green, age 50, farm laborer, born in South Carolina
--
George Gigger?, age 30, working at cedar, born in South Carolina
Ruth Gigger, age 21, domestic servant, born in South Carolina
--
Joseph Mills, age 40, farm laborer, born in South Carolina
Elizabeth Mills, age 24, Mulatto, keeping house, born in Florida
Calvin F. Mills, age 7, born in Florida
Mariah Mills, age 5, born in Florida
Emily Mills, age 1, born in Florida
Lowry, Frank, age 12, born in Florida
--
Horace Mills, age 36, farm laborer, born in South Carolina
Alice Mills, age 25, keeping house, born in Florida
Mariah Mills, age 60, farm laborer, born in South Carolina
Emily Mills, age 24, farm laborer, born in South Carolina
--
Parker Hopkins, age 21, farm laborer, born in South Carolina
Robert Hopkins, age 19, farm laborer, born in South Carolina
--
Robert H. Parker, age 32, farmer, born in Georgia
Amanda Parker, age 32, keeping house, born in Georgia
Salathiel Parker, age 14, farm laborer, born in Florida
Lavinia Parker, age 12, born in Florida
Robert B. Parker, age 10, born in Florida
Sarah Alice Parker, age 7, born in Florida

Above: African American Families Living On, or Next to, William Hope's Property, 1870
Source: 1870 U.S. census, population schedules. NARA microfilm publication M593, 1,761 rolls. Washington, D.C.: National Archives and Records Administration, n.d. Year: 1870; Census Place: , Hernando, Florida; Roll M593_130; Page: 84B; Image: 173; Family History Library Film: 545629.

     If your family lived, or worked on William Hope's homestead, we would like to learn about your ancestors and their history at Hope Homestead. You can write to us at info@lowcountryafricana.com.   

William Hope, 1880 Federal Census, Hernando County, FL

Posted by Lowcountry Africana | Labels: | Posted On at 8:00 PM

     William Hope and several family members were listed in the 1880 Federal Census for Hernando County. Members of William Hope's household were:

William Hope, male, age 74, Farmer, born in GA
A.J. Hope, female, age 53, wife, born in FL
Jessie Hope, male, age 19, son, Attending School, born in FL
Louis Hope, male, age 15?, son, Attending School, born in FL

Above: William Hope Household, 1880 Federal Census
Source: Tenth Census of the United States, 1880. (NARA microfilm publication T9, 1,454 rolls). Records of the Bureau of the Census, Record Group 29. National Archives, Washington, D.C. Year: 1880; Census Place: Precinct 4, Hernando, Florida; Roll T9_128; Family History Film: 1254128; Page: 346.1000; Enumeration District: 60; Image: 0255.

African Americans Living Near William Hope's Property in 1880

Posted by Lowcountry Africana | Labels: | Posted On at 7:00 PM

     Listed on the same 1880 census page as William Hope are the following African American families:

Sam Taylor, age 56, laborer, born in Georgia
Eliza Taylor, age 50, wife, laborer, born in Georgia
Sambo Taylor, age 22, son, laborer, born in Florida
Bell Taylor, age 19, daughter, laborer, born in Florida
Arthur Taylor, age 16, son, laborer, born in Florida
Lum Taylor, age 14, laborer, born in Florida
--
Jane May, age 31, cook, born in Florida
Florince May, age 10, born in Florida
Lavinia May, age 6, born in Florida
No Name May, age 3/12, born in Florida
--
Henry Hayes, age 37, laborer, born in Florida
Chloe Hayes, age 34, wife, cook, born in Florida
William Hayes, age 9, son, born in Florida
Jack Hayes, age 20, son, laborer, born in Florida
Purman Hayes, age 6, son, born in Florida
Bill Hayes, age 3, son, born in Florida
Idella Hayes, age 1, daughter, born in Florida
--
Rolly Fagan, age 30, laborer, born in North Carolina
Charlotte Fagan, age 28, wife, cook, born in Florida
Alice Fagan, age 10, stepdaughter, born in Florida
John Fagan, age 9, stepson, born in Florida
Brazilia Fagan, age 6, stepdaughter, born in Florida
Precious Fagan, age 4, stepdaughter, born in Florida
Flossy Fagan, age 1, stepdaughter, born in Florida

Above: African Americans Living On, or Next to, William Hope's Land in 1880 Census
Source: Tenth Census of the United States, 1880. (NARA microfilm publication T9, 1,454 rolls). Records of the Bureau of the Census, Record Group 29. National Archives, Washington, D.C. Year: 1880; Census Place: Precinct 4, Hernando, Florida; Roll T9_128; Family History Film: 1254128; Page: 346.1000; Enumeration District: 60; Image: 0255.

Archaeology

Posted by Lowcountry Africana | Labels: | Posted On Monday, March 22, 2010 at 11:28 PM