Silent Sam's Reckoning (@sams_reckoning) header
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Silent Sam's Reckoning

@sams_reckoning

#SilentSam memorialized 287 #UNC Confederate dead. Their families bought, sold and enslaved men, women, and children. Here are the receipts: #samsreckoning

Joined January 2019
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Let's take a moment to consider the main way #UNC, as an institution, participated in the slave trade - not just implicated in the actions of slaveowning students/faculty/administrators - but the actual buying and selling of human beings. Let's talk about the "escheat" system.
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Multiple UNC sources claim he “died in service,” but he returned to Chowan after being released in 1865. Died of unknown causes on 3/2/1866. His name is held in a place of honor inside UNC’s Confederate Shrine aka Memorial Hall, memorialized under 1836, the year he entered UNC.
Findagrave.com record for Maj. Lucius Junius Johnson, born in 1822, died in March 1866. He is buried at the Holy Trinity Episcopal Church Cemetery in Perquimans County, NC.

ALT Findagrave.com record for Maj. Lucius Junius Johnson, born in 1822, died in March 1866. He is buried at the Holy Trinity Episcopal Church Cemetery in Perquimans County, NC.

Captured again in Feb. 1862, at Roanoke Island. Captured again in March 1865, where he remained until taking Oath of Allegiance on July 25, 1865. In between time as a POW, he served in NC’s Bureau of Conscription, enforcing the Confed. draft & prosecuting deserters.
Research notes detailing the Confederate Army military service of Lucius Junius Johnson.

ALT Research notes detailing the Confederate Army military service of Lucius Junius Johnson.

Research notes detailing the Confederate Army military service of Lucius Junius Johnson.

ALT Research notes detailing the Confederate Army military service of Lucius Junius Johnson.

Image from Silent Sam's Reckoning (@sams_reckoning)
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In 1861, Lucius Junius Johnson joined the Confederate Army, commissioned Captain in the 17th NC Infantry Regiment. Much of his “service” was spent inside U.S. prisons, as he was captured three times. First in Aug. 1861, exchanged for a Union Captain in Jan. 1862.
Confederate Army military records of Lucius Johnson of the 17th Regiment North Carolina Infantry.

ALT Confederate Army military records of Lucius Johnson of the 17th Regiment North Carolina Infantry.

Confederate Army military records of Lucius Johnson of the 17th Regiment North Carolina Infantry.

ALT Confederate Army military records of Lucius Johnson of the 17th Regiment North Carolina Infantry.

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In 1862, L.J.’s wife Mary’s father Josiah T. Granbery died and, in his will, he names many of the people he had enslaved (who were being bequeathed and re-enslaved by his heirs). L.J. and Mary were among the beneficiaries.
Copy of the will for Josiah T. Granbery, who died in 1862. The will was probated in 1865. The document names many of the people he enslaved at the time of his death.

ALT Copy of the will for Josiah T. Granbery, who died in 1862. The will was probated in 1865. The document names many of the people he enslaved at the time of his death.

Copy of the will for Josiah T. Granbery, who died in 1862. The will was probated in 1865. The document names many of the people he enslaved at the time of his death.

ALT Copy of the will for Josiah T. Granbery, who died in 1862. The will was probated in 1865. The document names many of the people he enslaved at the time of his death.

Copy of the will for Josiah T. Granbery, who died in 1862. The will was probated in 1865. The document names many of the people he enslaved at the time of his death.

ALT Copy of the will for Josiah T. Granbery, who died in 1862. The will was probated in 1865. The document names many of the people he enslaved at the time of his death.

Copy of the will for Josiah T. Granbery, who died in 1862. The will was probated in 1865. The document names many of the people he enslaved at the time of his death.

ALT Copy of the will for Josiah T. Granbery, who died in 1862. The will was probated in 1865. The document names many of the people he enslaved at the time of his death.

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L.J. married Mary Isabella Granbery in 1850. L.J. Johnson was enumerated in a Census for the 1st time as a head of household that year, in which he’s documented as enslaver of 159 people. It is likely this # includes people enslaved by the Granberys, as a result of their union.
Screenshot of the 1850 US Census Slave Schedule for Chowan County, NC, showing the entry for Lucius Johnson, which indicates he enslaved 159 people by that time. This is the first of a two page record.

ALT Screenshot of the 1850 US Census Slave Schedule for Chowan County, NC, showing the entry for Lucius Johnson, which indicates he enslaved 159 people by that time. This is the first of a two page record.

Screenshot of the 1850 US Census Slave Schedule for Chowan County, NC, showing the entry for Lucius Johnson, which indicates he enslaved 159 people by that time. This is the second page of a two page record.

ALT Screenshot of the 1850 US Census Slave Schedule for Chowan County, NC, showing the entry for Lucius Johnson, which indicates he enslaved 159 people by that time. This is the second page of a two page record.

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With each generation the Johnsons accumulated & passed down wealth in the form of “human chattel.” By 1830, L.J.’s father Charles trafficked 75 people in Chowan. L.J. was sent to UNC with this wealth, graduating in 1840, returning home to become an attorney and “farmer.”
Screenshot of the entry in the 1830 United States Census for Charles Johnson of Chowan County, North Carolina. The record indicates that Johnson enslaved 75 people by this time. This image is the first of three parts of the record.

ALT Screenshot of the entry in the 1830 United States Census for Charles Johnson of Chowan County, North Carolina. The record indicates that Johnson enslaved 75 people by this time. This image is the first of three parts of the record.

Screenshot of the entry in the 1830 United States Census for Charles Johnson of Chowan County, North Carolina. This image is the second of three parts of the record.

ALT Screenshot of the entry in the 1830 United States Census for Charles Johnson of Chowan County, North Carolina. This image is the second of three parts of the record.

Screenshot of the entry in the 1830 United States Census for Charles Johnson of Chowan County, North Carolina. This image is the third of three parts of the record.

ALT Screenshot of the entry in the 1830 United States Census for Charles Johnson of Chowan County, North Carolina. This image is the third of three parts of the record.

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Lucius Junius (L.J.) Johnson descends from a long line of enslavers (members of both his paternal and maternal lines are documented as enslavers on each Census, from 1790-1860). E.g., his grandfather Charles Johnson enslaved 35 people in Chowan Co., NC, by 1790.
Screenshot of a page from the 1790 U.S. Census enumerating Charles Johnson Esquire of Chowan County, North Carolina. The record indicates that Johnson enslaved 35 people.

ALT Screenshot of a page from the 1790 U.S. Census enumerating Charles Johnson Esquire of Chowan County, North Carolina. The record indicates that Johnson enslaved 35 people.

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Lucius Junius Johnson, #UNC Class of 1840, born to Charles Johnson & Ann Taylor of Chowan Co., NC., enslaved at least 159 people by 1850. Although honored by UNC as having “died in service,” survived the war but died in March 1866. #samsreckoning
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Not all of the 287 names venerated as UNC Confederate Dead are chiseled on tablets inside Memorial Hall. We’ve reckoned 149 / 259 tablet names and, to date, 46.3% of them were slavers; the slaving rate among parents of these Dead is 100%. #samsreckoning for all the receipts.
Image is an infographic. Text is overlayed on top of images of the Roll Of Confederate Dead marble tablets installed in UNC's Memorial Hall. Names on the tablets are highlighted in blue. Starting at the top, the first overlay text is on black bars and reads: @Sam_Reckoning has researched 56.4%* of the 287 men memorialized as UNC's Confederate dead. Next section of text is on light blue bars and reads: UNC venerates 259 of it's Confederate dead on marble tablets inside Memorial Hall. We have reckoned 149 of them. Of those 149 men, 46.3%* enslaved people. 100%* of their parents enslaved people. Next section of text is on black bars and reads: Together, these 162* UNC Confederates and their families enslaved at least 8,021 people. *This project is ongoing. Last section of text is on a light blue bar and reads: twitter.com/sams_reckoning

ALT Image is an infographic. Text is overlayed on top of images of the Roll Of Confederate Dead marble tablets installed in UNC's Memorial Hall. Names on the tablets are highlighted in blue. Starting at the top, the first overlay text is on black bars and reads: @Sam_Reckoning has researched 56.4%* of the 287 men memorialized as UNC's Confederate dead. Next section of text is on light blue bars and reads: UNC venerates 259 of it's Confederate dead on marble tablets inside Memorial Hall. We have reckoned 149 of them. Of those 149 men, 46.3%* enslaved people. 100%* of their parents enslaved people. Next section of text is on black bars and reads: Together, these 162* UNC Confederates and their families enslaved at least 8,021 people. *This project is ongoing. Last section of text is on a light blue bar and reads: twitter.com/sams_reckoning

Time for a research update. We've reckoned 56.4% of #UNC's Confederate Dead (162 / 287). Just under half of these UNC Dead were slavers; the slaving rate among parents of the Dead is 100%. These 162 families enslaved at least 8,021 people. #samsreckoning for all the receipts.
Image is an infographic. Text at the top reads: @Sam_Reckoning has researched 56.4%* of the 287 men memorialized as UNC's Confederate dead. Next are five rows of Silent Sam statue silhouettes that represent each of the names that have been reckoned. There are 162 silhouettes. Next section of text reads: 46.95% of these men enslaved people. 100% of their parents enslaved people. Next section of text reads: Together, these 162* UNC Confederates and their families enslaved at least 8,021 people. *This project is ongoing. Last section of text is on a light blue bar and reads: twitter.com/sams_reckoning

ALT Image is an infographic. Text at the top reads: @Sam_Reckoning has researched 56.4%* of the 287 men memorialized as UNC's Confederate dead. Next are five rows of Silent Sam statue silhouettes that represent each of the names that have been reckoned. There are 162 silhouettes. Next section of text reads: 46.95% of these men enslaved people. 100% of their parents enslaved people. Next section of text reads: Together, these 162* UNC Confederates and their families enslaved at least 8,021 people. *This project is ongoing. Last section of text is on a light blue bar and reads: twitter.com/sams_reckoning

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Silent Sam is rusting in pieces somewhere off campus, but men venerated by the monument are still held in a place of honor inside UNC’s Confederate Shrine aka Memorial Hall. William T. Nicholson & Edward A.T. Nicholson are memorialized under 1856 & 1860, the yrs each entered UNC.
Annotated image featuring a photo of one of the pairs of tablets titled Roll of Confederate Dead of the University of North Carolina. The name William T. Nicholson is highlighted.

ALT Annotated image featuring a photo of one of the pairs of tablets titled Roll of Confederate Dead of the University of North Carolina. The name William T. Nicholson is highlighted.

Annotated image featuring a photo of one of the pairs of tablets titled Roll of Confederate Dead of the University of North Carolina. The name Edward A. T. Nicholson is highlighted.

ALT Annotated image featuring a photo of one of the pairs of tablets titled Roll of Confederate Dead of the University of North Carolina. The name Edward A. T. Nicholson is highlighted.

Annotated image featuring a photo of the inside of the Memorial Hall Auditorium. The Tablets of UNC Confederate Dead are installed to either side of the stage.

ALT Annotated image featuring a photo of the inside of the Memorial Hall Auditorium. The Tablets of UNC Confederate Dead are installed to either side of the stage.

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Brother Guilford attended UNC from 1857-61 & survived the war. 1865: Guilford wrote to the Freedmen’s Bureau asking for help transporting freed peoples from the Nicholson’s Halifax Co plantation “back” to Mississippi, from where his family taken enslaved ppls generations earlier.
Screenshot of pages from a 1865 letter Guilford Nicholson wrote to Colonel Whittlesey, Assistant Commissioner for the State of North Carolina Bureau of Refugees, Freedmen, and Abandoned Lands, 1865-1870. The highlighted portions of the letter detail how the Guilford, speaking for his father, believes the freed peoples in NC will not be able to support themselves, nor will the Nicholsons be able to care for them. That the freed peoples had come from Mississippi and have kin there and better opportunities to work. That, if the letter recipient is unable to help with that journey, perhaps he can help with transporting freed peoples to the western portions of NC where they had been working. A note on the backside of one page reads: Transportation could not be ordered. We did not find additional documentation to describe what happened to these freed peoples.

ALT Screenshot of pages from a 1865 letter Guilford Nicholson wrote to Colonel Whittlesey, Assistant Commissioner for the State of North Carolina Bureau of Refugees, Freedmen, and Abandoned Lands, 1865-1870. The highlighted portions of the letter detail how the Guilford, speaking for his father, believes the freed peoples in NC will not be able to support themselves, nor will the Nicholsons be able to care for them. That the freed peoples had come from Mississippi and have kin there and better opportunities to work. That, if the letter recipient is unable to help with that journey, perhaps he can help with transporting freed peoples to the western portions of NC where they had been working. A note on the backside of one page reads: Transportation could not be ordered. We did not find additional documentation to describe what happened to these freed peoples.

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William & Edward were Captains in NC 37th regiment. William died ~25 March 1865; Edward died ~2 April 1865. UNC gave Edward a posthumous Special Confederate Bachelor’s degree in 1911, two years before Silent Sam was installed.
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Father Thomas enslaved 46ppl in Halifax Co acc. 1850 census & 51ppl in 1860 census. In the 1860 census, both William & Edward were at "Chappel Hill". Wm started at UNC in 1856, graduating in 1860. Edward started in 1860 & left UNC in 1862 to join the Confederate War effort.
Screenshot of one page from the 1850 slave census in Halifax County, NC. Entry for slaver Thomas Nicholson is highlighted in green. His household enslaved 46 people, aged 1 - 60yo. 16 of whom are women; 30 are men. All 46 people are described as Black.

ALT Screenshot of one page from the 1850 slave census in Halifax County, NC. Entry for slaver Thomas Nicholson is highlighted in green. His household enslaved 46 people, aged 1 - 60yo. 16 of whom are women; 30 are men. All 46 people are described as Black.

Screenshot of one page from the 1860 slave census in Halifax County, NC. Entry for slaver Thomas Nicholson is highlighted in green. His household enslaved 51 people, aged 3 - 74yo. 29 of whom are women; 22 are men. 48 are described as Black; 3 as mulatto [sic].

ALT Screenshot of one page from the 1860 slave census in Halifax County, NC. Entry for slaver Thomas Nicholson is highlighted in green. His household enslaved 51 people, aged 3 - 74yo. 29 of whom are women; 22 are men. 48 are described as Black; 3 as mulatto [sic].

Screenshot of the 1860 census in Halifax County NC. The household of Thomas Nicholson is highlighted in green. Entries for William T and Edward AT are highlighted. They, and their brother Guilford, are noted to have all attended school within the year.

ALT Screenshot of the 1860 census in Halifax County NC. The household of Thomas Nicholson is highlighted in green. Entries for William T and Edward AT are highlighted. They, and their brother Guilford, are noted to have all attended school within the year.

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Thomas and Martha Nicholson’s household enslaved 38 ppl in the 1840 census. Their eldest child, William T. Nicholson was born 1840 & named for his mat. gfather. Guilford, named for his pat. gfather, was born 1842, followed by Edward A.T. Nicholson in 1843.
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Parents Thomas & Martha (nee Thorne) both descend from NC slaving families. Thomas inherited his family’s “home plantation” + enslaved ppls in NC & Mississippi. Martha inherited a share of her father’s slaving estate; we did not find documentation that she was herself a slaver.
Screenshot of pages from the 1834 probate documents of G Thorne. The highlighted portions identify son Thomas W Nicholson as receiving the bulk of the estate when he comes of age and, once of age, as the administrator of a trust to benefit his female siblings until they marry. That estate includes enslaved people and the “home plantation” property in Halifax Co NC.

ALT Screenshot of pages from the 1834 probate documents of G Thorne. The highlighted portions identify son Thomas W Nicholson as receiving the bulk of the estate when he comes of age and, once of age, as the administrator of a trust to benefit his female siblings until they marry. That estate includes enslaved people and the “home plantation” property in Halifax Co NC.

Screenshot of pages from the 1838 probate documents of WW Thorne. The highlighted portions explain how Thorne dictated his estate, both property and enslaved peoples, to remain intact and to be run by his widow so as to keep her and his children in the quality of life they are accustomed to and to pay for the children’s education.

ALT Screenshot of pages from the 1838 probate documents of WW Thorne. The highlighted portions explain how Thorne dictated his estate, both property and enslaved peoples, to remain intact and to be run by his widow so as to keep her and his children in the quality of life they are accustomed to and to pay for the children’s education.

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William T. Nicholson, #UNC 1860, & younger brother Edward A. T. Nicholson, #UNC 1864, were two of 11 children to legacy slavers Thomas & Martha Nicholson of Halifax County, NC. They died within ~ a week of each other at the end of the Petersburg Campaign, 1865. #samsreckoning
Screenshot of the online UNC memorial page for William T. Nicholson. Class year is listed as 1860; conflict is listed as US Civil War. Town and state are listed as Halifax County, N.C. Degree is listed as AB. Birth and death are July 31, 1840-April 2,1865. Branch and rank are Captain of the 37th NC Regiment. Bio reads: “Nicholson was killed at Five Forks, Va. (Roster, volume IX, page 524). The loss of the junction at Five Forks caused Lee to abandon Richmond and Petersburg and led to his surrender at Appomattox a week later. "Nicholson advanced beyond his men, procured the necessary information, hurried back and reported to General Lee." A more detailed account of Nicholson's leadership and courage can be found in Clark (volume II, page 666).” Sources are listed as: GAA Alumni Records; North Carolina Troops 1861-1865: A Roster, N.C. Office of Archives and History; and Histories of the Several Regiments and Battalions from North Carolina in the Great War, edited by Walter Clark, 1901.

ALT Screenshot of the online UNC memorial page for William T. Nicholson. Class year is listed as 1860; conflict is listed as US Civil War. Town and state are listed as Halifax County, N.C. Degree is listed as AB. Birth and death are July 31, 1840-April 2,1865. Branch and rank are Captain of the 37th NC Regiment. Bio reads: “Nicholson was killed at Five Forks, Va. (Roster, volume IX, page 524). The loss of the junction at Five Forks caused Lee to abandon Richmond and Petersburg and led to his surrender at Appomattox a week later. "Nicholson advanced beyond his men, procured the necessary information, hurried back and reported to General Lee." A more detailed account of Nicholson's leadership and courage can be found in Clark (volume II, page 666).” Sources are listed as: GAA Alumni Records; North Carolina Troops 1861-1865: A Roster, N.C. Office of Archives and History; and Histories of the Several Regiments and Battalions from North Carolina in the Great War, edited by Walter Clark, 1901.

Screenshot of the online UNC memorial page for Edward A.T. Nicholson. Class year is 1864; conflict is US Civil War. Town / state are Halifax County, N.C. Degree is ABSC (Special Confederate Bachelor’s of Arts Degree, circa 1911). Birth / death are May 6, 1843-March 25,1865. Branch / rank are Captain of the 37th NC Regiment. Bio: “Nicholson was killed at Hare’s Hill, near Petersburg (Fort Stedman). This action was one of the last attempts by the Confederates to stage an offensive maneuver and break out of the Petersburg defensives. Nicholson previously served in the 1st Regiment, N.C. Cavalry, and was described as being "born to command men" (Clark, volume II, page 673). Nicholson was among those alumni awarded a Special Confederate Army AB degree in 1911.” Sources are: GAA Alumni Records; North Carolina Troops 1861-1865: A Roster, N.C. Office of Archives and History; and Histories of the Several Regiments and Battalions from North Carolina in the Great War, edited by Walter Clark, 1901

ALT Screenshot of the online UNC memorial page for Edward A.T. Nicholson. Class year is 1864; conflict is US Civil War. Town / state are Halifax County, N.C. Degree is ABSC (Special Confederate Bachelor’s of Arts Degree, circa 1911). Birth / death are May 6, 1843-March 25,1865. Branch / rank are Captain of the 37th NC Regiment. Bio: “Nicholson was killed at Hare’s Hill, near Petersburg (Fort Stedman). This action was one of the last attempts by the Confederates to stage an offensive maneuver and break out of the Petersburg defensives. Nicholson previously served in the 1st Regiment, N.C. Cavalry, and was described as being "born to command men" (Clark, volume II, page 673). Nicholson was among those alumni awarded a Special Confederate Army AB degree in 1911.” Sources are: GAA Alumni Records; North Carolina Troops 1861-1865: A Roster, N.C. Office of Archives and History; and Histories of the Several Regiments and Battalions from North Carolina in the Great War, edited by Walter Clark, 1901

Screenshot of the 1884 obituary of Halifax County NC legacy slaver Thomas W Nicholson. The obituary is highlighted in green and also in yellow. The highlighted portion is mostly in green: “In Canton, Miss., Mr. Thos.W. Nicholson, of the wellknown Halifax county family, aged 62. He has been visiting at Canton for several months. (yellow highlights begins) Two his sons were killed in battle during the last week of the war. (yellow highlights end) Another was drowned a few years ago, directly after graduating from the University. Mr. Nicholson leaves numerous relatives and friends by whom he was held in high esteem.”

ALT Screenshot of the 1884 obituary of Halifax County NC legacy slaver Thomas W Nicholson. The obituary is highlighted in green and also in yellow. The highlighted portion is mostly in green: “In Canton, Miss., Mr. Thos.W. Nicholson, of the wellknown Halifax county family, aged 62. He has been visiting at Canton for several months. (yellow highlights begins) Two his sons were killed in battle during the last week of the war. (yellow highlights end) Another was drowned a few years ago, directly after graduating from the University. Mr. Nicholson leaves numerous relatives and friends by whom he was held in high esteem.”

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Yesterday was the anniversary of Silent Sam’s fall. In recognition, we present 2 of UNC’s Confederate dead: the Nicholson brothers of Halifax Co NC. As depicted by the plaque on the plinth (RIP): one brother left UNC to die for a bigoted Southern society. teapawt.net/sams_reckoning/status/…
Silent Sam's Reckoning (@sams_reckoning) profile pictureSilent Sam's Reckoning@sams_reckoning25 Aug 2021
Replying to @sams_reckoning
It is not by chance that a plaque on Silent Sam’s plinth featured a woman, in Classical dress & personifying NC, handing a young male student a sword as he dropped his book & turned away from his studies.
Photo of a plaque that was on the plinth supporting the Silent Sam statue. The plaque image is of a woman in classical attire holding a sword. Her left hand is on the shoulder of a young man in a 19th century suit. He is looking up at her. On his lap is one open book; a second book appears to have fallen open to the floor, bending the pages.

ALT Photo of a plaque that was on the plinth supporting the Silent Sam statue. The plaque image is of a woman in classical attire holding a sword. Her left hand is on the shoulder of a young man in a 19th century suit. He is looking up at her. On his lap is one open book; a second book appears to have fallen open to the floor, bending the pages.

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