The Kingstree Train Station in Kingstree, 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.
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.
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 Galveston, Texas.
This journey was facilitated by the Freedmen’s Bureau to relocate freed individuals for employment under labor contracts in Texas.
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 Galveston, 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.
These are the names of the freed people who were listed on the transportation request.
The Historic marker recognizing these freed people transported from Williamsburg County to Texas in response to a labor contract in Marlin Texas and the surrounding area will be erected in the vicinity of the Amtrak station on Main Street. Details of the specifications of marker are below, which will be in the form of a book listing the names of the people on the transportation list.
| 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 |
The 435 freed men, women, and children who embarked on the journey from Kingstree, South Carolina, to Galveston, 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.
Information about opportunities in Texas likely reached these individuals through several channels:
The group traveled from Kingstree to Charleston, South Carolina, and then by ship to Galveston, Texas. Upon arrival, they were transported to 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.
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