Kingstree Train Station in South Carolina
Images provided by: Amy D. Pringle, Main St. Development Director Town of Kingstree, SC
Memorializing 435 Souls
The Memorial Reads:
On January 15, 1867, a transportation request was made to Maj. Gen. Oliver Otis Howard, Commissioner of The Bureau of Refugees, Freedmen, and Abandoned Lands – The Freedmen’s Bureau – to transport 435 Freed men, women and children from Kingstree, South Carolina in Williamsburg County to Charleston, SC then on to Marlin, Falls County, Texas,. The journey was made by ship and these Freed people were ultimately transported to Falls County, Texas to work under Freedmen’s Bureau labor contracts.
The 435 men, women, and children are listed following the above text.
The News – Kingstree, SC, Wednesday, June4, 2025
My name is Sharon Styles. I am the great-granddaughter of Harvey Shaw and the great-great-granddaughter of Bess Shaw, two of the 435 names memorialized on the monument.
On Saturday, May 17, 2025, more than 100 people gathered at the Kingstree Amtrak Station to witness the unveiling of a monument dedicated to the 435 Freedmen who left Kingstree in January 1867 headed to Marlin, Falls County, Texas, in search of true freedom and better lives for themselves as well as their descendants.
The recently freed men, women and children left Kingstree, traveled to Charleston where they boarded the steamship Adele, sailed to Galveston, Texas, and then boarded a train to Marlin, Texas. Descendants of those Freedmen returned to Kingstree for the ceremony honoring their ancestors.
The beautiful, jet-black granite monument stands five feet tall and is engraved with the names of each individual listed on the Freedmen’s Bureau document which arranged (continue)
The Transportation and Employment of 435 Freedmen and Children"
The Kingstree Train Station in Kingstree, Williamsburg County, South Carolina, stands as a pivotal historical site due to its association with the transportation of enslaved Africans and later, the migration of freedmen after the abolition of slavery in 1865.
This location serves as a landmark for African American genealogical and historical research, providing insights into the forced movements, family separations, and eventual reunifications experienced by African Americans.
Nestled in the heart of Williamsburg County, this station has stood as a silent witness to both the harrowing struggles and the resilient spirit of countless individuals seeking freedom and new beginnings.
Use During the Era of Slavery
Prior to the Civil War, the Kingstree area was predominantly agricultural, with a heavy reliance on enslaved labor for the cultivation of crops such as cotton and tobacco. The transportation infrastructure, including railroads, was primarily utilized to support the economic interests of plantation owners, facilitating the movement of goods to markets.
Enslaved individuals were often transported via railroads and ports for sale or relocation,
Enslaved Africans were transported via railroads and ports, often arriving at Kingstree before being sent to plantations throughout South Carolina and neighboring states.
The train station facilitated the dispersal of labor forces to meet the agricultural demands of the Southern economy, particularly in cotton, rice, and tobacco plantations.
- Auction Sites and Transport Routes: The station likely served as a staging ground for auctions or direct shipments to plantations. It linked inland farms with coastal ports, enabling further transport by ship.
- Economic Hub: Kingstree's strategic location on trade routes amplified its role in sustaining slavery, making it a vital part of South Carolina's slave economy.
Abolition of slavery after 1865
Following the abolition of slavery in 1865, the Kingstree Train Station became a pivotal point for the movement of freed individuals seeking new opportunities.
A notable event occurred on January 15, 1867, when a transportation request was made to Major General Oliver Otis Howard, Commissioner of the Bureau of Refugees, Freedmen, and Abandoned Lands (commonly known as the Freedmen’s Bureau), to transport 435 freed men, women, and children from Kingstree to Charleston, South Carolina, and subsequently to Marlin, Falls County, Texas.
This journey was facilitated by the Freedmen’s Bureau to relocate freed individuals for employment under labor contracts in Texas.
Reading of Names on the Transportation Request
We gather not merely to recite names, but to speak the truth of a journey, one etched into the soul of our history. In January of 1867, just two years after the chains of bondage were broken by law but not yet by the world, 435 souls, formerly enslaved, now freemen and freewomen, set out from Kingstree, Williamsburg County, South Carolina, to Marlin, Falls County, Texas.
Their footsteps echoed the sound of courage, and their journey spanned not just miles but centuries of pain, prayer, and perseverance. they arrived—not just in Marlin, Falls County, Texas, but into a new chapter of their lives, into the fragile promise of freedom.
They carried no riches. Their possessions were few, but their hope was vast. They moved not just to find new land, but to claim what had been denied them for generations: dignity, autonomy, and a future unshackled.
We honor each of them by name. Because to say their names is to declare that they were not forgotten. They were dreamers. Survivors. Founders of legacy. They were mothers and fathers, children and elders. Their lives matter not just to their descendants, but to all who walk in the shadow of their strength.
| Larger Family Surnames | ||
| 1 | Shaw | 58 |
| 2 | Cooper | 28 |
| 3 | Burroughs | 22 |
| 4 | Pendergrass | 19 |
| 5 | Kinder | 18 |
| 6 | Singletary | 15 |
| 7 | Bradley | 15 |
| 8 | Brown | 13 |
| 9 | White | 12 |
| 10 | Jones | 12 |
| 11 | Fulton | 11 |
| 12 | Nesmith | 11 |
| 13 | James | 10 |
| 14 | Burgess | 9 |
| 15 | Hanna | 9 |
| 16 | Staggers | 9 |
| 17 | Cockfield | 8 |
| 18 | Gaskin | 8 |
| 19 | Tisdale | 7 |
| 20 | Oliver | 7 |
| 21 | Scarborough | 7 |
| 22 | Mouzon | 5 |
| 23 | Wilson | 5 |
| 24 | Fulmore | 5 |
| 25 | Brockington | 4 |
With Deep Appreciation
We extend our heartfelt gratitude to Sharon Styles for her outstanding dedication and meticulous work in transcribing the names found within the historical document. Together with Sharon, Angela Shaw Ross, reviewed and compared the transcription to carefully compile the final list of names, thoughtfully grouped by family connections.
Your unwavering commitment to preserving this important history goes far beyond transcription. By organizing each individual into family groupings, you have provided deeper meaning and restored a sense of identity to these names, transforming a list into a legacy.
This invaluable list would not have been possible without your diligence, attention to detail, and the countless hours you devoted to honoring each name with care and reverence. Your contribution is a powerful testament to our shared mission: to restore the voices of those long silenced by history.
Thank you for helping to bring these stories to light.
Origins and Recruitment:
The 435 freed men, women, and children who embarked on the journey from Kingstree, Williamsburg County, South Carolina, to Marlin, Texas, in January 1867, were primarily from Williamsburg County, South Carolina. This region, like much of the South, was undergoing significant social and economic upheaval following the Civil War.
In the post-emancipation period, many freed individuals in South Carolina faced limited economic opportunities, pervasive racial discrimination, and the challenges of rebuilding their lives. The Freedmen’s Bureau, established to assist formerly enslaved people, played a crucial role in facilitating labor contracts and relocation efforts to areas with higher demand for labor.
The relocation to Texas was part of a broader initiative by the Freedmen’s Bureau to address labor shortages in the post-war South and to provide employment opportunities for freed individuals. Texas, having been less directly impacted by the war’s devastation, had plantations and farms in need of labor. The Bureau coordinated the transportation and employment arrangements, ensuring that the freedmen and women had work upon their arrival.
Communication and Decision to Relocate:
Information about opportunities in Texas likely reached these individuals through several channels:
- Freedmen's Bureau Agents: Bureau agents disseminated information about labor opportunities and facilitated contracts between freed individuals and employers in different states. They organized meetings and distributed notices to inform freed people of available work and the terms associated with it.
- Community Networks: Word-of-mouth within freed communities played a significant role. Individuals shared information about employment prospects, wages, and living conditions in other regions, influencing decisions to relocate.
- Official Notices and Meetings: The Bureau often held public meetings to explain the terms of labor contracts and the benefits of relocation. These gatherings provided a platform for individuals to ask questions and make informed decisions about moving to places like Texas.
Journey and Employment in Texas:
The group traveled from Kingstree, Williamsburg County, South Carolina to Charleston, South Carolina, and then by ship to Galveston, Texas. Upon arrival, they were transported to Marlin, Falls County, Texas, to work under labor contracts facilitated by the Freedmen’s Bureau.
These contracts were designed to ensure fair wages and working conditions, marking a significant shift from the exploitative labor practices of slavery.
This relocation reflects the broader patterns of movement among freed individuals during Reconstruction, as they sought economic opportunities and autonomy in a rapidly changing social landscape.
The Freedmen’s Bureau’s role was instrumental in coordinating such efforts, aiming to provide support and structure during this transitional period.
