Free People of Color in East Carroll Parish

The title of this posting may sound like a myth to anyone who is familiar with the history of African Americans in the East Carroll Parish area. Looking at statistics prior to the Emancipation Proclamation will prove this point:

• 1850 United States Federal Census, Carroll Parish, LA - 2,346 inhabitants on the free schedules, 6,443 inhabitants on the slave schedules

• 1860 United States Federal Census, Carroll Parish, LA - 4,144 inhabitants on the free schedules, 13,973 inhabitants on the slave schedules

It's amazing to consider just how much slaves outnumbered the free in this one parish in the state of Louisiana.  On the other hand, it begs one to question whether or not there were any free African Americans living there before slavery ended.

On the 1850 US Census, there are 10 free people of color (listed as "Black" or "Mulatto") living in Carroll Parish. They are listed below, in family groups:

1. Clarissa Clark, living in the home of Nathanial Dady, a planter
2. Mary Murry/Murray, William Murry/Murray, Katherine Murry/Murray
3. Sally Wiley, Franklin Wiley, Minerva Wiley, Wiley Wiley, Mary Wiley, Bishop Wiley

On the 1860 US Census, there are 20 free people of color (listed as "Black" or "Mulatto") living in Carroll Parish. They are listed below, in family groups:

1. Calm (Last name not listed)
2. Gracy Drew, in the home of Savery Larch/Larche
3. Artilicia Grave
4. Swann Vinson, in the home of Daniel Vinson
5. Sally Wiley/Wily, Minerva Wiley/Wily, Mary Wiley/Wily, Bishop Wiley/Wily, Katy Wiley/Wily, Frank Wiley/Wily, Harry Shelton and Martha Hall
6. Mirando/Miranda Caddo, a servant to hotel keeper Jonathan Merritt
7. Cora Houston, Margaret Houston, Stokely Houston, Thomas Houston, John Houston, William Houston
8. Zilphy Smith

These lists, by no means, are all inclusive. 

We're sure anyone researching this area would wonder where these families ended up.  Did they stay in the area, despite the tense racial culture or did they go elsewhere?  Are the descendants of these people even aware that their families were emancipated before slavery ended? There are many questions left to be answered.