The Enslaved Community at Locust Grove

A History of Enslavement 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 enslaved individuals remaining at Locust Grove and Mammoth Cave were emancipated by the will of Dr. John Croghan. However, the emancipation process was delayed, and they continued to labor at Locust Grove and Mammoth Cave, and their wages paid Dr. Croghan’s debts. Only after the debts were paid and the delayed emancipation terms were met did the men, women, and children obtain freedom. We do not know where many of these individuals went after leaving Locust Grove. Some remained nearby in Louisville, while others left to seek out their families and loved ones.

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.