Freedman's Savings Bank: Caswell County, North Carolina

The Freedman's Saving and Trust Company, popularly known as the Freedman's Savings Bank, was a financial organization created by the U.S. government to encourage and guide the economic development of the newly emancipated African-American communities in the post-Civil War period. Although functioning only between 1865 and 1874, the company achieved notable successes as a leading financial institution of African-Americans. Its archives are valued as an exhaustive collection of information regarding the African American community and its socioeconomic life in the immediate aftermath of the Emancipation Proclamation. Source: Wikipedia.
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Remarks of Reginald Washington
National Archives and Records Administration
February 23, 2001

Good Afternoon!

I'd like to thank Senator Reid for that introduction and also thank the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints for inviting me here today to participate in the announcement of the release of the Freedman's Bank CD. It is indeed a pleasure to be here.

The Freedman's Savings and Trust Company, popularly known as the Freedman's Bank, was incorporated by Congress on March 3, 1865, and the bank maintained some 37 offices in 17 states, including the District of Columbia.

Because of mismanagement, abuse, fraud, and other economic factors, the Freedman's Bank failed in 1874, leaving tens of thousands of its depositors in economic ruin. The original records of Freedman's Bank are housed at the National Archive facility in College Park, MD, and are available on microfilm at College Park and the National Archives Building downtown.

While the failure of the Freedman's Bank was tragic and left many African Americans with feelings of distrust of the American banking system, the records created by the bank are a rich source of documentation for black family research for the period immediately following the American Civil War.

What makes these records so important are the thousands of signature cards that contain personal data about the individual depositors. In addition to the names and ages of depositors, the files can contain their places of birth, residence, and occupations; names of parents, spouses, children, brothers, and sisters; and in some cases, the names of former slave owners. The records however, are not indexed; thus making research in them time consuming and frustrating.

While the names and other personal information about individual depositors is extremely important, it is the stories behind the names that have their descendants combing through rolls of microfilm and other unfilmed records searching for the keys to unlock the mysteries to who they are and where they have come from.

Stories that reveal struggle, sacrifice, courage and determination. Stories that must be told to their children and left for future generations.

The National Archives applauds the efforts of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints for making the records of the Freedman's Bank more accessible and easier to use through the development of a database searchable by name. We hope the Church's efforts will encourage other institutions and individuals to embark on similar projects to assist in bringing the stories of the African American family to life.

Thank you.
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Set forth below are Freedman's Bank records with respect to people born in (or living in) Caswell County, North Carolina:

Donoho, J. E.
Freedmans Bank Records, 1865-1874
birth: Caswell Co., N.C.
residence: Macon, Tenn.
parents: Lila
record title: Freedmans Bank Records, 1865-1874
name: J. E. Donoho
birthplace: Caswell Co., N.C.
residence: Macon, Tenn.
occupation: House Carpenter, Boards at No. 92 Causey St.
remarks: Milly Daughter No. 92 Causey St. is to receive money on Mr. Donoho's order
mother's name: Lila
spouse's name: Polly
account date: 17 Jun 1868
bank account number: 498
bank location: Memphis, Shelby, Tennessee, United States
relationship with account holder: Self

Donoho, Moses
Freedman's Bank Record
Name: Moses Donoho
Birthplace: Milton, N. Car.
Residence: Macon, Tenn.
Age: 38y
Complexion: Light Brown
Remarks: One daughter goes to school at Mrs. Thompson
Spouse's Name: Nancy
Account Date: 29 Mar 1872
Bank Account Number: 3754
Bank Location: Memphis, Shelby, Tennessee, United States
Relationship with Account Holder: Self

Hunt, Miles
Freedmans Bank Records, 1865-1874
birth: Milton, N.C.
residence: Cor. Third & Fourth
parents: Sam Hunt, Agga
record title: Freedmans Bank Records, 1865-1874
name: Miles Hunt
birthplace: Milton, N.C.
residence: Cor. Third & Fourth
age: 20y
complexion: Dk. Brown
where brought up: Danbrook, Vir.
occupation: Works Southern Oil Works
works for: Co.
remarks: In case of sickness pay to Ester Mc Neal (See Dep)
father's name: Sam Hunt
mother's name: Agga
account date: 13 Dec 1871
bank account number: 3296
bank location: Memphis, Shelby, Tennessee, United States
relationship with account holder: Self

Lila
Freedmans Bank Records, 1865-1874
Residence: Milton, N.C.
Record Title: Freedmans Bank Records, 1865-1874
Name: Lila
Residence: Milton, N.C.
Bank Account Number: 498
Bank Location: Memphis, Shelby, Tennessee, United States
Relationship with Account Holder: Mother

Lowe, Nettie
Freedmans Bank Records, 1865-1874
birth: Caswell Co., N.C.
residence: Elmwood Cemetery 200 yds. from gate
record title: Freedmans Bank Records, 1865-1874
name: Nettie Lowe
birthplace: Caswell Co., N.C.
residence: Elmwood Cemetery 200 yds. from gate
age: 52y
complexion: (Stout) Light
remarks: Widow
spouse's name: Samuel Lowe
account date: 28 Jan 1869
bank account number: 776
bank location: Memphis, Shelby, Tennessee, United States
relationship with account holder: Self

Thornton, Anthony
Freedmans Bank Records, 1865-1874
birth: Milton Roswell Co N. C.
residence: N. H. Ave bet 21st and 22nd St
record title: Freedmans Bank Records, 1865-1874
name: Anthony Thornton
birthplace: Milton Roswell Co N. C.
residence: N. H. Ave bet 21st and 22nd St
age: 30y
where brought up: Milton Roswell Co N. C.
occupation: Laborer
works for: Himself
spouse's name: Patience Thornton
account date: 16 Sep 1870
bank account number: 4745
bank location: District of Columbia, United States
relationship with account holder: Self

This record is included in this database because there is no Roswell County, North Carolina, and there is a Milton, Caswell County, North Carolina. There also was a white Thornton family living in Milton, Caswell County, North Carolina, in the 1800s.

Towne, John
Freedmans Bank Records, 1865-1874
birth: Caswell C. H., N.C.
residence: Mitchell Street
parents: George Smith, Vina
record title: Freedmans Bank Records, 1865-1874
name: John Towne
birthplace: Caswell C. H., N.C.
residence: Mitchell Street
age: 48y or 9y
complexion: Very Dark a Tall Spare Man
where brought up: In Ga. Since 16 at Athens
occupation: Cook
works for: Mr. Reynolds
remarks: Some Brother's Dead
father's name: George Smith
mother's name: Vina
spouse's name: Ann
account date: 07 Sep 1870
bank account number: 745
bank location: Atlanta, De Kalb, Georgia, United States
relationship with account holder: Self

White, Frank
Freedmans Bank Record
birth: Caswell Co., N. Car.
residence: Nonconner
parents: John Hatchet, Milly Gunn
record title: Freedmans Bank Records, 1865-1874
name: Frank White
birthplace: Caswell Co., N. Car.
residence: Nonconner
age: 30y
complexion: Blk.
where brought up: Hardiman Co., Tenn.
occupation: Farmer
works for: Rents of C. J. Wild Cooper
remarks: Pay to Wife about 18 born Nr. Jackson, Tenn. Was "Wallace" before married
father's name: John Hatchet
mother's name: Milly Gunn
spouse's name: Cheney
account date: 11 Dec 1872
bank account number: 4654
bank location: Memphis, Shelby, Tennessee, United States
relationship with account holder: Self