We are excited to announce a new database for 10 Millions Names, North America: Records of Enslaved People from Plantations and Estates, 1765-1890. This database contains birth, death, marriage, and census records of those who were enslaved at North American Plantations and Estates, as well as their family members. Each volume within this database is of a different plantation or estate. Currently, this database only contains records between the years 1765 and 1890 from the Cedar Grove Plantation in North Carolina, but more volumes will be added as they are completed. North Carolina: Cedar Grove, 1765-1890 contains 600 records and 805 names. This volume includes records from tax lists and inventories, deeds, family papers, the 1870 census, and the Torrence Family Tree project.
This volume was made possible by the HEARTS Collaborative. HEARTS (History, Ecology, Arts, Reunion, Trails, Store) is a nonprofit dedicated to weaving the threads of people, places, and things together into a vibrant interconnected tapestry of the Catawba Valley’s historical identity. The “R” in HEARTS represents the Reunion Project, which is the genealogical component of their mission. It seeks to determine all previous inhabitants of the region and to connect descendants with their heritage.
In June 2024, HEARTS honored the memory of 143 individuals once enslaved at Cedar Grove Plantation in Huntersville, Mecklenburg County, North Carolina by recovering their histories, connecting their descendants to their heritage, and contributing to the broader narrative of African American ancestry. By sharing these records, HEARTS is helping set a new standard for community-based historical recovery and preservation. We are honored to share HEARTS Reunion Project findings with the 10 Million Names Project and thank HEARTS for leading the way in this important work.
This database is presented as part of 10 Million Names, a project which aims to recover names and restore information to families of the estimated 10 million women, men, and children of African descent who were enslaved in the U.S. until emancipation through a collaborative network of expert genealogists, historians, cultural institutions, and descendant communities. This project seeks to amplify the voices of people who have been telling their family stories for centuries, connect researchers and data partners with people seeking answers to their family history questions, and expand access to data, resources, and information about enslaved African Americans.
Note: This database is available to all members, including Guest Members, as part of 10 Million Names.