OVERVIEW
Location: Carroll County, Mississippi; town of Duck Hill
Date Constructed/ Founded: 1834
Associated Surnames: Binford, Bradford, Campbell, Munson, Sykes
Historical Notes: Captain John Alexander Binford (also spelled Bentford or Bentfer in the U.S. census), son of James and Nancy Jane Binford of Halifax Co., North Carolina, was one of the first white colonizers in the Duck Hill, MS area after the Indian Removal Act of 1830. John’s father James Binford died ca. 1804. John’s widowed mother Nancy Jane then married Benjamin Campbell. They had three children (John’s half-siblings) Charles Cotesworth Pinckney Campbell, Martha Louisa Campbell, and Frances Campbell. In 1830 in Halifax Co., NC, John A. Binford (age 30) established his own estate where he was the only free person enumerated in his household with 15 enslaved people near his step-father Benjamin Campbell’s place, where he and his family enslaved 18 people.
By 1834, John A. Binford moved from North Carolina to Mississippi and acquired land between Bouge Creek and Duck Hill in Carroll Co., MS (eventually in Montgomery Co.). His extended family from Halifax Co., NC joined him in Duck Hill: C.C.P. Campbell, Martha Louisa Campbell, and Frances Campbell. John A. Binford oversaw the construction of a house and established a large cotton plantation that eventually included 640 acres (according to his 1871 Will) near Mt. Zion Church, and additional land in Sunflower Co., MS (township 22, range 4).
John A. Binford would eventually enslave 113 people in 1860. From 1850 to 1862 he and his half-brother C.C.P. Campbell undersigned slave ownership transactions for his neighbors, including the Burt, Dikes, Eskridge, McMath, McNeill, Parker, and Sykes families.
During the Civil War, Binford’s sons, Col. James R. Binford (b.1839-d.1918) and John A. Jr. (b.1838), helped lead the Confederate “Company E” from Duck Hill, known as the “McClung Rifles.” James R. Binford went on to serve in the Mississippi State Senate, where he wrote the Jim Crow laws for Mississippi, which were adopted by the other southern states. The fate of the plantation after the Civil War is uncertain. Fannie L. Binford, daughter of John A. Binford’s half-brother C.C.P. Campbell, and wife of James R. Binford, inherited property in Carroll County from her father’s estate after his death ca. 1867.
Associated Pages: Benjamin Campbell Plantation (Carroll Co., MS)
Accession: MScarro00003
ASSOCIATED ENSLAVED PERSONS
Binford family: Elisha “Lisha” Binford (b.1827-d.?) – from North Carolina; Pink Binford (b.1857-d.?) – son; Melissa Binford (b.1845-d.?) – dau.; Alvira Binford (b.1863-d.?) – dau.
Munson family: Richard Munson (b.1854-d.?); Melissa Binford Munson (b.1845-d.?) – wife (m.1880), dau. of E. Binford; Scot Munson (b.1884-d.?) – son; Henry Munson (b.1883-d.?) – son; Albert Munson (b.1888-d.?) – son
Binford family: Dinah Binford (b.1810-d.?) – from North Carolina; Clara Binford (b.1828-d.?); Mag Binford (b.1859-d.?); Andrew Binford (b.1854-d.?); Ellen Binford (b.1865-d.?); Elija Binford (b.1863-d.?); Mack Binford (b.1863-d.?)
Note: enumerated in the household of John A. Binford (Sr.) in 1870
Information from Antebellum Census & Estate Records
1830: 15 slaves – 1 boy under age 10 (b.1821-1830); 5 males, age 10 – 23 (b.1807-1820); 1 man, age 55 – 99 (b.1731-1775); 3 girls under age 10 (b.1821-1830); 2 females, age 10 – 23 (b.1807-1820); 2 women, age 24 – 35 (b.1795-1806); 1 woman, age 55 – 99 (b.1731-1775); [1830 US Federal Census, Halifax Co., NC, John A. Binford, 15 slaves]
1840: 39 slaves – 5 boys under age 10 (b.1831-1840); 7 males, age 10 – 23 (b.1817-1830); 3 men, age 24 – 35 (b.1805-1816); 2 men, age 36 – 54 (b.1786-1804); 1 man, age 55 – 100 (b.1740-1785); 6 girls under age 10 (b.1831-1840); 6 females, age 10 – 23 (b.1817-1830); 5 women, age 24 – 35 (b.1805-1816); 3 women, age 36 – 54 (b.1786-1804); 1 woman, age 55 – 100 (b.1740-1785) [1840 US Federal Census, Carroll Co., MS, John A. Binford, 39 slaves]
1850: Group 1 – Male age 70 (b.1780), Male age 60 (b.1790), Male age 40 (b.1810), Male age 50 (b.1800), Male age 25 (b.1825), Male age 30 (b.1820), Male age 25 (b.1825), Male age 25 (b.1825), Male age 23 (b.1827), Male age 30 (b.1820), Male age 25 (b.1825), Male age 18 (b.1832), Male age 25 (b.1825), Male age 50 (b.1800), Male age 35 (b.1815), Male age 18 (b.1832), Male age 23 (b.1827), Male age 25 (b.1825), Male age 28 (b.1822), Male age 40 (b.1810), Male age 22 (b.1828), Male age 20 (b.1830), Male age 20 (b.1830), Male age 25 (b.1825), Male age 20 (b.1830), Male age 30 (b.1820), Male age 18 (b.1832), Male age 13 (b.1837), Male age 13 (b.1837), Male age 13 (b.1837), Male age 10 (b.1840), Male age 2 mo. (b.1850), Male age 12 (b.1838), Male age 7 (b.1843), Male age 2 (b.1848), Male age 1 mo. (b.1850), Male age 4 (b.1846), Male age 8 (b.1842), Male age 3 (b.1847), Male age 7 (b.1843), Male age 4 (b.1846), Male age 1 (b.1849), Male age 4 (b.1846), Male age 2 (b.1848), Male age 6 mo. (b.1850); Group 2 – Female age 25 (b.1825), Female age 37 (b.1813), Female age 38 (b.1812), Female age 20 (b.1830), Female age 15 (b.1835), Female age 2 (b.1848), Female age 7 (b.1843), Female age 1 (b.1849), Female age 2 (b.1848), Female age 12 (b.1838), Female age 1 (b.1849), Female age 7 (b.1843), Female age 14 (b.1836), Female age 3 (b.1847), Female age 18 (b.1832), Female age 2 (b.1848), Female age 20 (b.1830), Female age 25 (b.1825), Female age 20 (b.1830), Female age 60 (b.1790), Female age 65 (b.1785), Female age 30 (b.1820), Female age 12 (b.1838), Female age 13 (b.1837), Female age 16 (b.1834), Female age 20 (b.1830), Female age 18 (b.1832), Female age 40 (b.1810), Female age 18 (b.1832), Female age 7 (b.1843), Female age 5 (b.1845), Female age 16 (b.1834), Female age 6 (b.1844), Female age 4 (b.1846), Female age 7 (b.1843), Female age 1 (b.1849); Group 3 – Male age 14 (b.1836), Male age 12 (b.1838) [1850 U.S. Federal Census – Slave Schedule, Carroll Co., MS, John A. Binford, 83 total]
1860: Group 1 – Male age 40 (b.1820), Male age 35 (b.1825), Male age 30 (b.1830), Male age 27 (b.1833), Male age 30 (b.1830), Male age 27 (b.1833), Male age 40 (b.1820), Male age 30 (b.1830), Male age 35 (b.1825), Male age 27 (b.1833), Male age 45 (b.1815), Male age 10 (b.1850), Male age 11 (b.1849), Male age 12 (b.1848); Group 2 – Male age 55 (b.1805), Male age 30 (b.1830), Male age 40 (b.1820), Male age 30 (b.1830), Male age 25 (b.1835), Male age 23 (b.1837), Male age 28 (b.1832); Group 3 – Male age 90 (b.1770), Male age 18 (b.1842), Male age 18 (b.1842), Male age 18 (b.1842), Male age 18 (b.1842), Male age 14 (b.1846), Male age 13 (b.1847), Male age 15 (b.1845), Male age 16 (b.1844), Male age 13 (b.1847), Male age 14 (b.1846), Male age 13 (b.1847); Group 4 – Male age 30 (b.1830), Male age 14 (b.1846), Female age 45 (b.1815), Female age 47 (b.1813), Female age 40 (b.1820), Female age 40 (b.1820), Female age 37 (b.1823), Female age 28 (b.1832), Female age 27 (b.1833), Female age 26 (b.1834), Female age 25 (b.1835), Female age 25 (b.1835), Female age 26 (b.1834), Female age 25 (b.1835), Female age 22 (b.1838), Female age 21 (b.1839), Female age 20 (b.1840), Female age 25 (b.1835), Female age 18 (b.1842); Group 5 – Female age 80 (b.1780), Female age 65 (b.1795), Female age 16 (b.1844), Female age 16 (b.1844), Female age 14 (b.1846), Female age 14 (b.1846), Female age 13 (b.1847), Female age 13 (b.1847), Female age 11 (b.1849), Female age 11 (b.1849); Group 6 – Female age 30 (b.1830), Female age 20 (b.1840), Female age 25 (b.1835), Female age 12 (b.1848), Female age 12 (b.1848), Male age 10 (b.1850), Male age 10 (b.1850), Female age 12 (b.1848), Male age 10 (b.1850), Female age 8 (b.1852), Female age 6 (b.1854), Female age 3 (b.1857), Male age 2 (b.1858), Male age 4 (b.1856), Male age 2 (b.1858), Female age 11 (b.1849), Female age 2 (b.1858), Male age 4 (b.1856), Male age 3 (b.1857), Female age 2 (b.1858), Female age 1 (b.1859), Male age 6 (b.1854), Female age 3 (b.1857), Male age 6 (b.1854), Female age 3 (b.1857), Female age 1 (b.1859), Male age 9 (b.1851), Female age 6 (b.1854), Female age 4 (b.1856), Female age 2 (b.1858), Male age 1 (b.1859), Male age 11 (b.1849); Group 7 (p. 251) – Female age 6 (b.1854), Male age 2 (b.1858), Male age 3 (b.1857), Female age 1 (b.1859), Female age 3 (b.1857), Female age 1 (b.1859), Female age 6 (b.1854), Male age 10 (b.1850), Female age 1 (b.1859), Female age 2 (b.1858), Male age 3/12 (b.1860), Male age 7 (b.1853), Female age 6 (b.1854), Female age 4 (b.1856), Female age 2 (b.1858), Female age 10 (b.1850), Female age 10 (b.1850), Female age 4 (b.1856), Female age 6 (b.1854) [1860 US Federal Census (Slave Schedule), Carroll Co., MS, John A. Binford, 113 total, 21 houses]
ASSOCIATED FREE PERSONS
Binford family: John Alexander Binford (b.1800-d.1876) – founder of Binford Plantation; Priscilla A. Bradford West Binford (b.1810-d.1859) – wife (m.1830); Margaret M. Binford (b.1834-d.1915) – dau.; James Robert Binford (b.1839-d.1918) – son; Thomas J. Binford (b.1845-d.1906) – son
Sykes family: Solon M. Sykes (b.1832-d.1900); Margaret M. Binford Sykes (b.1834-d.1915) – dau. of J.A. and P.A.B. Binford; Mary Sykes (b.1857-d.?) – dau.; P.B. Sykes (b.1860-d.?) – dau.; William R. Sykes (b.1862-d.?) – son; Lucy Sykes (b.1865-d.?) – dau.; Blanch Sykes (b.1867-d.?) – dau.
Binford family: Lt. Colonel James Robert Binford (b.1839-d.1918) – son of J.A. and P.A.B. Binford, legislator credited for developing Jim Crow Law of Mississippi later adopted by the Southern states; Frances “Fannie” L. Campbell Binford (b.1844-d.1913) – wife, inherited real estate from her father C.C.P. Campbell in 1867; Lloyd Tilghman Binford (b.1866-d.1956) – son; Fannie Binford (b.1870-d.1886) – dau.; James Campbell Binford (b.1876-d.1907) – son
Binford family: Thomas J. Binford (b.1845-d.1906) – son of J.A. and P.A.B. Binford; Emma M. Binford (b.1854-d.1915) – wife (m.?)
HISTORICAL RECORDS AND DATA
- 1830 U.S. Federal Census, Halifax Co., North Carolina, USA (Ancestry.com) – Benjamin Campbell, 18 slaves (Roll: 121; Page: 312); John A. Binford, 15 slaves (Roll: 121; Page: 312)
- 1840 U.S. Federal Census, Carroll Co., Mississippi, USA (Ancestry.com) – John A. Binford, 39 slaves (Roll: 215; Page: 31)
- 1850 U.S. Federal Census, Carroll Co., Mississippi, USA (Ancestry.com) – John A. Binford (b.1801), farmer, household 21 (Roll: 369; Page: 255a)
- 1860 U.S. Federal Census, Carroll Co., Mississippi, USA (Ancestry.com) – John A. Binford (b.1811), planter, household 119 (Page: 832)
- 1870 U.S. Federal Census, Carroll Co., Mississippi, USA (Ancestry.com) – John A. Binford (b.1801), white, farmer, household 23 — includes family of Dinah Binford, black, b.1810 (Roll: M593_723; Page: 692A); James R. Binford (b.1839), white, farmer, household 29 — includes Mary Binford, black, b.1840; Janette Binford, mulatto, b.1867 (Roll: M593_723; Page: 692B); S.M. Sykes (b.1833), white, farmer, household 94 (Roll: M593_723; Page: 698A); Elisha Binford (b.1827), mulatto, farmer, household 66 (Roll: M593_723; Page: 723A); John A. Binford Jr. (b.1838), white, farmer, household 75 (Roll: M593_723; Page: 723A)
- John Alexander Binford, memorial ID 19131875 (Find a Grave)
- Slave Narrative: Melissa Munson, Montgomery Co., MS (The American Slave) – Melissa Munson (101 years old in 1977) was interviewed by the Works Progress Administration (WPA). She recounted Colonel J.R. Binford’s attempt to hide from Union soldiers who arrived at the Binford Plantation during the Civil War.
- Chief Duck Statue – Duck Hill is named for a large hill northeast of the town, where a Choctaw chief named “Duck” held war councils. Chief Duck was also a medicine man or shaman. A statue of Chief Duck is located on U.S. Route 51 in Duck Hill. Chief Duck Statue, entry ID 52473 (Roadside America), Duck Hill, Mississippi (Wikipedia.com)
- 1871 Will of James A. Binford (Ancestry.com) – Record of Wills, 1884-1918; Index to Wills, 1884-1972; Author: Sunflower County (Mississippi). Chancery Clerk; Probate Place: Sunflower, Mississippi
REFERENCES
- Ancestry.com. Mississippi, U.S., Wills and Probate Records, 1780-1982 [database on-line]. http://ancestry.com. Provo, UT, USA: Ancestry.com
- Ancestry.com. 1830 United States Federal Census [database on-line]. http://ancestry.com. Provo, UT, USA: Ancestry.com Operations, Inc., 2010. Fifth Census of the United States, 1830. (NARA microfilm publication M19, 201 rolls). Records of the Bureau of the Census, Record Group 29. National Archives, Washington, D.C.
- Ancestry.com. 1840 United States Federal Census [database on-line]. http://ancestry.com. Provo, UT, USA: Ancestry.com Operations, Inc., 2010. Sixth Census of the United States, 1840. (NARA microfilm publication M704, 580 rolls). Records of the Bureau of the Census, Record Group 29. National Archives, Washington, D.C.
- Ancestry.com. 1850 U.S. Federal Census – Slave Schedules [database on-line]. http://ancestry.com. Provo, UT, USA: Ancestry.com Operations, Inc., 2004. United States of America, Bureau of the Census. Seventh Census of the United States, 1850. Washington, D.C.: National Archives and Records Administration, 1850. M432, 1,009 rolls.
- Ancestry.com. 1860 U.S. Federal Census – Slave Schedules [database on-line]. http://ancestry.com. Provo, UT, USA: Ancestry.com Operations, Inc., 2010. United States of America, Bureau of the Census. Eighth Census of the United States, 1860. Washington, D.C.: National Archives and Records Administration, 1860. M653, 1,438 rolls.
- Ancestry.com. 1870 United States Federal Census [database on-line]. http://ancestry.com. Provo, UT, USA: Ancestry.com Operations, Inc., 2009. 1870 U.S. census, population schedules. NARA microfilm publication M593, 1,761 rolls.
- Find a Grave. [database online]. http://findagrave.com.
- Roadside America. Duck Hill, Mississippi: Chief Duck Statue [database on-line]. https://www.roadsideamerica.com/.
- Wikipedia. Duck Hill, Mississippi [database on-line]. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Duck_Hill,_Mississippi
- Hanks, S. (2013). Akee Tree: A Descendant’s Quest for His Slave Ancestors on the Eskridge Plantation. American History Press.
- Rawick G. (1977). The American Slave: A Composite Autobiography (Supplement, Series 1) – Vol 9.
- Wiltshire, B.C. (1997). Carroll County, Mississippi Estate Records 1840 – 1869 with Freedmen Apprenticeships. Pioneer Publishing Co.
- Bruner, M.L. Supplement to Binford Family Genealogy. Metropolitan Printing Co., Portland, Oregon. [accessed online] http://www.seekingmyroots.com/members/files/G000656.pdf
- Carroll County MSGenWeb Project. Early County Settlements of Carroll County, Mississippi. [webpage online] http://theusgenweb.org/ms/carroll/history/townhist.htm
Sankofagen 