The Lucas Family

The Lucas Family

Mars & Jesse Lucas were slaves of the Heaton family in Loudoun Co. until they were freed on the condition that they emigrate to Liberia.  Also on that trip were a number of slaves belonging to Robert Braden.  This post is actually a part of the Loudoun Slaves Information I posted, just too long for that post.  

Several members of the Lucas family were among the group of freed slaves that went to Liberia in 1830.  They had been slaves of the Heaton family before they emigrated.  Not all of the family left Virginia.  The Loudoun Museum in Leesburg, Virginia has several letters from the Lucas brothers.  There is now an excellent web page created by the museum related to the Lucas family and the letters.  Take a look.

     1.  (--?--)¹ Lucas.

(--?--) Lucas died before January 1832 at Virginia.

(--?--) Lucas was mentioned in the letter of Jesse Lucas to Dr. Albert Heaton on 10 March 1830 from Caldwell, Liberia. …

(--?--) Lucas was mentioned in the letter of Jesse Lucas to Dr. Albert Heaton on 29 December 1831 from Caldwell, Liberia.

     Children of (--?--)¹ Lucas and an unknown spouse were as follows:

          +   2     i.   Jesse² Lucas married Amelia (--?--).

Jesse Lucas died in 1842 at Liberia of "anasarca."

               3     ii.   Daniel Lucas.

Daniel Lucas was a slave of Dr. James Heaton before 1824 at Loudoun Co., Virginia.

Daniel Lucas was mentioned in the letter of Jesse Lucas to Dr. Albert Heaton on 10 March 1830 at Caldwell, Liberia.

               4    iii.   Edward Lucas.  He also went by the name of Ned.

Edward Lucas was a slave of Dr. James Heaton before 1824 at Loudoun Co., Virginia.

Edward Lucas was mentioned in the letter of Jesse Lucas to Dr. Albert Heaton on 10 March 1830 at Caldwell, Liberia.

Edward Lucas was mentioned in the letter of Jesse Lucas to Dr. Albert Heaton on 2 February 1831 at Caldwell, Liberia.

               5    iv.   Mars Lucas.

Mars Lucas was born circa 1797 at Virginia.

He died in 1839 at Liberia of "anasarca."    

Mars Lucas was a slave of Dr. Albert Heaton before December 1829.

Mars Lucas was emancipated by Dr. Albert Heaton in December 1829 at Loudoun Co., Virginia.

Mars Lucas was a farmer in 1830.

The following news story appeared in the The Evening Post, New York, New York, on 7 January 1830: "On Friday last, according to the Washington City Chronicle, thirty-two people of colour, twenty-five of whom were manumitted slaves, sailed from Washington to Norfolk to embark in the Liberia, which has been chartered by the Auxiliary Colonization Society, for the purpose of taking a number of emigrants to Africa. - Most of the manumitted slaves belonged to the late Maj. Robert Braden, of Waterford, Loudon (sic) County, Va., and were directed by his will to be liberated on the express condition of their being transported, with their own consent, either to Liberia or Hayti.  Five slaves had also been emancipated by Mr. Braden's brother, in order that they might accompany their relatives and friends to Liberia, and three others, relatives to the emigrants, by three other humane individuals."

The following appeared 9 January 1830 in the Leesburg, Virginia, newspaper, The Genius of Liberty:    "In our last number we mentioned the passage through this town of certain manumitted slaves, destined for Liberia. - The Washington city Chronicle has received the following information, from the two gentlemen that accompanied them, which we take great pleasure in transferring in our columns..

'Major Robert Braden, of Waterford, Loudoun County, Virginia, anxious to emancipate his slaves, yet convinced that in this country they could never enjoy the privileges and immunities of citizens, directed by his will that all of them should be liberated, on the express condition that they should, with their own consent be transported either to Liberia or Hayti.  To their removal to Hayti there were strong objections, arising from the wide difference between the habits, manners and language of that island and those prevailing in out land, and from the dissimilar, and (as it was thought) unsettled character of the government; and , consequently, every argument has been used to induce these servants to emigrate to Liberia. - Their ignorance, attachment to the family of their late master, apprehensions of danger, a partiality for the place of their birth, have rendered them for some time reluctant to accept the privilege secured to them by the benevolence of their late proprietor.

John Braden, Esq. (the brother of Major Robert Braden) impelled by a sincere desire to confer blessings on those entrusted to his care, has imitated the noble example of his brother and given freedom to five slaves, that they might accompany their friends and relatives to Liberia.

Dr. Albert Heaton and Mr. Townsend Heaton each, cheerfully emancipated a valuable servant (one of which was the husband of a female in the company) that they might be spared a separation from their friends and be delivered from the darkness and degradation of slavery.  With similar general views a man servant was liberated by Mr. Samuel B. Harris.

Various useful articles were contributed by the liberal citizens of Loudoun, who were acquainted with these people, and they are supplied with clothing for many months after their arrival.  The whole company are highly recommended for their industrious and correct moral habits, and will doubtless prove a valuable acquisition to the colony.'

The proposed emigrants to Liberia, above spoken of, consist of thirty-two persons and are, with about one hundred others, to proceed to their place of destination in a brig of the same name, now lying at Norfolk, and expressly chartered for the purpose by the Auxiliary Colonization Society of Pennsylvania."

Noble S. Braden accompanied the group of freed slaves from the Loudoun Co. area to Hampton Roads and Norfolk.  The brig "Liberia" sailed from Norfolk, Virginia, on 15 January 1830 taking the freed blacks to Liberia as colonists.

A story published in The Pittsburgh Gazette on Tues., Feb. 9, 1830 (page 2) stated:  "African Colony. - We are informed that the brig Liberia, Captain Sherman, which sailed from this port, the other day, for Monrovia, took out about sixty emigrants for the interesting colony at that place.  Of these, we understand, fourteen were liberated by Robert Braden, deceased, Loudoun county; five by John Braden, of do.; one by Albert Heaton, of do.; one by Townsend Heaton, of Loudon (sic) county; one b Mr. Winston, of Richmond; one by J Scott, of Murfreesburgh, N. Carolina."

Mars Lucas emigrated on 17 February 1830 from Virginia to Monrovia, Liberia, on the Brig "Liberia" as part of a group of freed slaves who were sent to Liberia by their former owners.

Mars Lucas lived at Caldwell, Liberia after Feb. 1830

On 12 March 1830 at Caldwell, Liberia, Mars Lucas wrote a letter to Townshend Heaton.

On 19 June 1830 at Caldwell, Liberia, Mars Lucas wrote a letter to Townshend Heaton.

 On 27 April 1832 at Liberia, Mars and Jesse Lucas wrote a letter to unnamed members of the Heaton family, their former owners.  That letter was published 27 June 1832 in the Genius of Liberty.  That letter and the letter to the editor published with it follow: (scanned copy provided by Bronwen Souders):

"We are indebted to the politeness of an esteemed friend for the annexed information. - The letter enclosed, by our correspondent, mentions a circumstance of which we were not before apprized, we allude to the colonists "thrashing the natives." - Many of our readers, we have no doubt, will be gratified in reading the letter of Mars and Jesse Lucas.

TO THE EDITOR.

Mr. Sower,

     I send you the enclosed letter from two of the settlers in the colony of Liberia, who were emancipated by my brother and myself, and who sailed from Norfolk in the brig Liberia, in the month of January, 1830. - George McPherson, who is mentioned therein, was manumitted by the will of the late Major Braden, and went out in the same vessel, leaving his wife, a slave, in this country.  Being very much dissatisfied with the colony, he obtained a passport from the governor, under the pretence of coming after his wife, and returned to this country in the spring of 1831.  His stories have been heard by the people of colour, generally, in this section of country, and having been as generally believed, the benevolent and patriotic cause of colonization has sustained, in consequence, some injury. - Should you consider any part of the letter as interesting to the public, you have my permission to publish such extracts from it as you think proper. - Very respectfully, &c.

June 27, 1832.

----

LIBERIA, Africa, April 27, 1832.

Respected and much esteemed Friends,

     Having a favourable opportunity, we seize it with pleasure for the purpose of expressing our good feelings and wishes towards you and yours, and hope this little epistle will find you and yours enjoying the same blessings of health that we are at present.

     We received your kind letter by the James Perkins, of Boston, the 14th of January, and was extremely sorry to hear of the death of your brother, and also of our father.  We are extremely sorry, also, that McPherson told, or carried, so exasperated, [exaggerated,] a report home, concerning the colony, and particularly that of his representing our condition so bad as your letter states.  It is true, we found things no so flourishing as had been reported, and we had many hardships to confront, but not more than might be expected in settling new countries; and were a fair statement given to persons coming here, they would not suffer so much from the sting of disappointment; and we can assure you, that amidst all our difficulties, (which we have many,) we cannot say that we wish to return again to stay.  We think, after we shall have built our houses, that one of us will pay America a visit.

     My brother Jesse has been very sick with the yellow janders, but is now convalescent. - He is more sickly than myself, and I think he feels the effect of the climate more than I; owing, I think, to his being more delicate than myself.

     We were preparing a letter to send to you before this, but the vessel sailed before we got it finished.

     We have had some hostilities with the natives since Mr. McPherson left, which have caused harder times than those which were before he left.  We have had to take up our arms, march ten or twelve miles into the interior, for the purpose of bringing the natives to amicable measures, which we were successful in doing, by giving them a thrashing, and only lost one man.

     We hope you will continue to write to us every opportunity that offers, as we shall do the same.

     We give our love to you and yours, and to all inquiring friends, and particularly to mother. - We remain yours, in high respect.

                    MARS & JESSE LUCAS."

Mars Lucas was mentioned in the letter of Jesse Lucas to an unknown person on 24 April 1836 at Caldwell, Liberia.

          +   6    v.   Soloman Lucas

Soloman Lucas was born circa 1805 at Virginia.

He married Harriet (--?--).

Generation Two

     2.  Jesse² Lucas ((?)¹) married Amelia (--?--).

Jesse Lucas died in 1842 at Liberia of "anasarca."    

Jesse Lucas was a slave of Dr. Albert Heaton before December 1829.

Jesse Lucas was emancipated by Dr. Albert Heaton in December 1829 at Loudoun Co., Virginia.

Jesse Lucas was a farmer.

Jesse Lucas emigrated on 17 February 1830 from Virginia to Monrovia, Liberia, on the Brig "Liberia" as part of a group of freed slaves who were sent to Liberia by their former owners.

Jesse Lucas lived at Caldwell, Liberia.

On 29 April 1830 at "Exedra", Loudoun Co., Virginia, Dr. Albert Heaton wrote a letter to Jesse Lucas.

On 2 February 1831 at Caldwell, Liberia, Jesse Lucas wrote a letter to Dr. Albert Heaton.

On 29 December 1831 at Caldwell, Liberia, Jesse Lucas wrote a letter to Dr. Albert Heaton.

On 27 April 1832 at Liberia, Mars and Jesse Lucas wrote a letter to unnamed members of the Heaton family, their former owners.  That letter was published 27 June 1832 in the Genius of Liberty

On 24 April 1836 at Caldwell, Liberia, Jesse Lucas wrote a letter to unnamed friends in America

     Children of Jesse² Lucas and Amelia (--?--) were as follows:

               7     i.   Susan³ Lucas.

Susan Lucas died in 1830.

               8     ii.   Henry Lucas.

Henry Lucas died on 5 December 1830.

               9    iii.   Elizabeth Lucas.

Elizabeth Lucas was born circa 1821.

Elizabeth Lucas died circa 1841 at Liberia She had been in Liberia eleven years.    

Elizabeth Lucas was mentioned in the letter of Jesse Lucas to Dr. Albert Heaton on 10 March 1830 at Caldwell, Liberia.

Elizabeth Lucas was mentioned in the letter of Jesse Lucas to Dr. Albert Heaton on 2 February 1831 at Caldwell, Liberia.

Elizabeth Lucas was mentioned in the letter of Jesse Lucas to an unknown person on 24 April 1836 at Caldwell, Liberia.

              10    iv.   Jonathan Lucas.

Jonathan Lucas was born circa 1827.

Jonathan Lucas died before 1843 at Liberia.    

Jonathan Lucas was mentioned in the letter of Jesse Lucas to an unknown person on 24 April 1836 at Caldwell, Liberia.

              11    v.   Alexander Lucas.

Alexander Lucas was born circa April 1830.

Alexander Lucas died before 1843 at Liberia.

     6.  Soloman² Lucas ((?)¹).

Soloman Lucas was born circa 1805 at Virginia.

He married Harriet (--?--).    

Soloman Lucas was a slave of Dr. James Heaton before 1824 at Loudoun Co., Virginia.

Soloman Lucas was mentioned in the letter of Jesse Lucas to Dr. Albert Heaton on 10 March 1830 at Caldwell, Liberia.

Soloman Lucas was mentioned in the letter of Jesse Lucas to an unknown person on 24 April 1836 at Caldwell, Liberia.

Soloman Lucas and Harriet Lucas appeared on the census of 9 September 1850 at Loudoun Co., Virginia. The Lucas family (free blacks) was listed as all being born in Virginia.  The household was:  Soloman Lucas, 45, m, b, laborer; Harriet Lucas, 38, f, m(ulatto); Edward, 8, m, b; Wm, 6, m, b; Hannah, 4, f, b; Harriet, 3/12, f, b.  They were listed two households away from Washington & Cecelia Vandevanter.

     Children of Soloman² Lucas and Harriet (--?--) all born at Virginia were as follows:

              12     i.   Edward³ Lucas.

Edward Lucas was born circa 1842.    

Edward Lucas appeared on the census of 9 September 1850 in the household of Soloman Lucas and Harriet Lucas on 9 September 1850 at Loudoun Co., Virginia.

              13     ii.   William Lucas.

William Lucas was born circa 1844.    

William Lucas appeared on the census of 9 September 1850 in the household of Soloman Lucas and Harriet Lucas on 9 September 1850 at Loudoun Co., Virginia.

              14    iii.   Hannah Lucas.

Hannah Lucas was born circa 1846.    

Hannah Lucas appeared on the census of 9 September 1850 in the household of Soloman Lucas and Harriet Lucas on 9 September 1850 at Loudoun Co., Virginia.

              15    iv.   Harriet Lucas.

Harriet Lucas was born circa 1850.    

Harriet Lucas appeared on the census of 9 September 1850 in the household of Soloman Lucas and Harriet Lucas on 9 September 1850 at Loudoun Co., Virginia.