The Enslaved Community at Locust Grove

The Croghan family enslaved approximately 100 individuals between 1790 and 1856. These enslaved men, women and children were the heart of the farm at Locust Grove. They cultivated the land, cared for the many animals, built and maintained the house and other structures, and tended to the most intimate needs of the Croghan and Clark families. At the peak of the farm’s operation in 1820, more than 40 enslaved people labored here. All of them had little control over the conditions of their lives.

In 1849, the 22 enslaved individuals remaining at Locust Grove were emancipated by the will of Dr. John Croghan. However, those that were ‘freed’ from enslavement were then indentured for seven years before finally being released from bondage. We do not know where these individuals went after leaving Locust Grove, some probably remained nearby while others left for free territory north of the Ohio River.

We have few details about how the enslaved community was treated at Locust Grove, for there are no words left from them to tell their story. While do not have any record of runaways, we do know that at least three enslaved individuals were sold “down river” in New Orleans by the Croghans.

Race-based chattel slavery stripped the men, women and children enslaved across the United States of their humanity and agency. While they had little control over the conditions of their lives, the institution of enslavement could not strip away the resiliency of these individuals. Across the United States and throughout the entirety of our global history, enslaved men, women and children resisted their enslavement and their enslavers.

Our research into the lives of the enslaved community at Locust Grove is ongoing.

Locust Grove seeks to honor the lives of the enslaved community by interpreting the history of enslavement on our land accurately and honestly. Only by learning their names and sharing their stories can we gain insight into aspects of the lives of individuals like Nan, Criss, Kitt, Malinda, Sylvia, Alfred, Abe, Bob and more.