Thomas Wright's Diary

Ross Plantation

Before I move into the second part of Thomas, I would like to let you know, about a Plantation in Mississippi. Owned by Captain Issac Ross Revolutionary War Captain. Him his Brother and seven Free Blacks, that served with him, left Orangeburg County South Carolina, for the Mississippi Territory in 1808. He purchased land and developed what became Prospect Hill Plantation, near Port Gibson, Jefferson County.

Ross bought several other Plantations before his death, in 1836 Ross owned 5,000 acres and 160 Slaves. Around 1830 Ross and Reverend Chambers three other Planters Mcgehee, Duncan and Kerr.

Cofounded The Mississippi Colonization Society, to help move Free Blacks to Africa, Liberia the American Colony of Free Blacks. The land Purchased became known as Mississippi in Africa.

Allan Huffman wrote a book on the Saga of The Slaves of Prospect Hill, called Mississippi in Africa. Although I haven't read it yet, I have read a few excerpts from four chapters. I would like to read it.
Think it's listed on Amazon.

So what makes this Plantation different? Ross taught his Slaves to read and write, which at the time was illegal, he thought his slaves should be married, he held wedding ceremonies in his Mansion. Giving gifts to the Bride and Groom.
Ross never sold a Slave. From verbal history of his slaves. They tell accounts of him working alongside the slaves in the field.

                              Captain Issac Ross

Clarion-Ledger, Billy Watkins writer, February 24, 2018. Mentions how he worked the fifty-acre garden on the Plantation angering the other Planters. James Belton an ancestor of the Slaves of Prospect Hill, that didn't leave Mississippi for Africa, told the story of Ross working the Garden.

Prospect Hill has had Open Houses for the Ross family both Black and White attend, the first was 2009. Belton wants the story of Prospect Hill told.
His Family was treated like Humans, not slaves.

So what makes Prospect Hill so Different, besides the treatment? On Ross's death, his Will stated the Plantation must be sold and the Slaves freed, those choosing to go to Africa, the proceeds of the sale would pay for it.

Issac Ross Wade, Grandson of Ross fought the Will. From 1836 on his death till 1845, when the Will was decided as legal, by The Mississippi Supreme Court. The Slaves stayed on and worked. They had an uprising according to reports they tried to poison the family they burnt the original house down. Twelve Blacks were lynched for the uprising.

The Mansion that currently stands was built in 1854, Wade eventually bought back Prospect Hill.
Those Slaves that wanted went to Mississippi in Africa. So that's what made Issac Ross and Prospect Hill Plantation different.

A place that seems let the Slaves be human, not Chattle. This is only speculation, could he have bought slaves to protect them and teach them. This makes you wonder, how many more did this. The story is buried in an old box of rotting paper. Sadly we will probably never know.

I won't list all the websites for this, just Google Prospect Hill Plantation. More sites come up to find facts on this than you could read even Issac Ross works well. Maybe Ross wasn't the norm, not all Planters were like him. It is good to know that maybe a few lives were made better.

So go unbury some facts, see what you can learn about the Antebellum period. Just might find things the History classes didn't teach.

Thanks all for your support, those that keep coming back and reading. Commenting voting, I like the comments, they are great to read. Hope all continue on with me.
Dram12