Old Choctaw Plantation Part of Oklahoma Archaeology Site

Robert Jones, Choctaw Slaveholder and Wife Susan Colbert Jones

Source: Oklahoma Historical Society 

A large antebellum plantation in the Choctaw Nation, is now being explored for the long forgotten history lying on it's soil. Robert Jones was a wealthy plantation owner, and said to have been the largest slave holder in the Choctaw Nation.

An announcement from the Oklahoma Historical Society mentioned a current dig, that began October 7-10th of this year, at the site where the home of Robert M. Jones is said to have been. The announcement from OHS indicated that two state agencies were involved, including the Oklahoma Archealogical Survey, and the Ft. Towson Historic site. Volunteers also from the Oklahoma Anthropological Society were also involved in the effort. A spring dig at the will take place as well. One of the goals of the dig, was to actually locate the site of the original Jones home. Apparently the original home was destroyed in a fire in 1912. The report from the OHS Extra, an electronic newsletter, indicate that the home site was found.

There is no indication as to whether any remains of slave cabins or other artifacts from the slavery era were actually sought by participants, but I would hope that all who have an interest in the entire history being told, will also tell the story of the slaves, and will encourage the exploration more in depth history of the antebellum black presence on what is now, Oklahoma soil.

Therefore, I am compelled to ask the questions:

Who were the slaves of Robert Jones and his wife Susan?
Where did they live?
Did any who survived ever refer to him or her as their slave holders?
And what was their life like?


Well Robert Jones had several plantations:
 Walnut Prairie Farm
 Shawneetown Farm,
 Kiamitia County Farm
 Lake West Farm (Blue County)

Yes, many of his slaves did survive, and quite a few mentioned him as their slave owner during the years of the Dawes Commission. What follows is a Dawes Enrollment Card of one of the slaves of Robert Jones.

Enrollment Card of Nip Tucker, Janis, I.T.

He was born a slave of Robert Jones

Reverse side of Nip Tucker Enrollment Card

Both of his parents were also enslaved by Robert M. Jones

 Robert Jones had African slaves working on all of his estates. The slave schedules from 1860 provide a glimpse into the vast numbers of slaves that he owned.

The Slaves of Robert Jones - 1860

Robert Jones Slaves Shown on 1860 Slave Schedule

(Walnut Farm and Kiamitia farms shown)

Source: National Archives 1860 Slave Schedule, Choctaw Nation

More slaves of Robert M. Jones.

These slaves are a continuation of those enslaved at Shawneetown

Source: National Archives 1860 Slave Schedule, Choctaw Nation

End of Robert Jones' slaves listed in Shawneetown, 

and list of those enslaved at Kiamitia.

Source: National Archives 1860 Slave Schedule, Choctaw Nation

A closer look at his farm in Shawneetown, makes one pause only wonder what the quality of life must have been for the female slave in her 90s, counted with no name---but only as property.  One must ask---what service could a 90 year old woman have provided for Robert Jones and Susan Colbert Jones, his wife?

Close up view of some of the slaves listed on slave schedule, owned  by Robert M. Jones,  

living in Shaweetown, Red River County, Choctaw Nation, 1860.

The current archeological project at the old Jones estate sounds interesting, and the remains of the old home were actually found by workers on the dig. 

My hope is that there will be more exposure about the project and strong encouragement of the initiative.  Hopefully historians, anthropologists, archaeologists will jump at this opportunity to explore slavery in an area that has never been studied in depth---slavery in the west---in Indian Territory.  

Like all subjects, the study of slavery in Indian Territory, merits objective examination and involvement by scholars of many disciplines.