Black Migration from England to Kentucky
(start date: 1900 - end date: 1940) This entry is in response to a reference question that asked if emigrants from England who identified as Black [or Colored, Mulatto, Negro, African] were sought to work in the coal mines in Kentucky from 1900-1940. At this time, nothing has been found to indicate that Blacks from England were actively recruited to work in Kentucky coal mines and live permanently in Kentucky.The names of two Black miners from England were found in the U.S. Census records. For the most part, Black coal miners were brought from locations in the U.S., particularly from Alabama, to work in the coal mines in Kentucky. Very few immigrant mine workers in Kentucky were from England. However, while researching the reference question, it was found that there were a few other Black immigrants from England who had other employment in Kentucky. Data about the miners and others are presented in the table below.
For more about Black coal miners in Kentucky, see A History of Blacks in Kentucky, vol. 2, by G. C. Wright; African American Miners and Migrants, by the Eastern Kentucky Social Club; Black Coal Miners in America, by R. L. Lewis; Work and Faith in the Kentucky Coal Fields, by R. J. Callahan; and "Interview with Vicie Combs, June 10, 1992" [online recording] at the Louie B. Nunn Center for Oral History.
|
NAMES |
KENTUCKY LOCATIONS |
OCCUPATIONS |
BIRTH/DEATH YEARS |
SOURCES |
NOTES |
|
William Barnett |
Louisville |
Minister |
1834-1916 |
KY Death Certificate File #7965, Registered #1020 |
Widower |
|
James Cook |
Louisville |
Work House |
1843-1869 |
KY Death Records |
Died of paralysis |
|
George Collins |
Louisville |
Fresco Painter |
b. 1870 |
1900 U.S. Census |
Immigrated 1880 |
|
Joseph Cox |
Covington |
Porter at Shoe Store |
b. 1906 |
1930 U.S. Census |
Immigrated 1914 |
|
Walter Davis |
Cynthiana |
Odd Jobs Butcher |
b. 1886 |
1910-1920 U.S. Census |
Widower |
|
May Delta [Pitcher] |
Louisville |
Widow |
1808-1911 |
KY Death Certificate File #31631, Registered #4074 |
|
|
Maria Duff |
Louisville |
Widowed |
b. 1830 |
1900 U.S. Census |
Immigrated 1870 |
|
Oney Duff |
Louisville |
Public School Teacher |
b. 1865 |
1900 U.S. Census |
Son of Maria Duff |
|
Lainie Gardiner |
Franklin |
Servant |
b. 1867 |
1900 U.S. Census |
|
|
George Morton Jackson |
Lexington |
Soldier |
1842-1932 |
1930 U.S. Census; KY Death Certificate File #20977, Registered #176 |
Immigrated 1842 |
|
Sidney Jenkins |
Eddyville |
Shoemaker in Prison |
b. 1879 |
1920 U.S. Census |
|
|
Frank Menifee, Sr. |
Campbell (Perry County) |
Coal Miner |
b. 1880 |
1920 U.S. Census |
Immigrated 1898 |
|
Mack Mitchell |
Hazard (Perry County) |
Coal Miner |
b. 1873 |
1930 U.S. Census |
Immigrated 1918 |
|
William Johnson |
Louisville Lexington |
Newspaper editor |
b. 1860 |
1900 U.S. Census |
Father-England Mother- India |
|
Alonzo Owens |
Lexington |
Brick Mason |
b. 1875 |
1930 U.S. Census |
|
|
Henry R. Marshall |
Mayfield |
Medical Doctor |
b. 1881 |
1940 U.S. Census |
|
|
Maggie Marshall |
Mayfield |
Housewife |
b. 1889 |
1940 U.S. Census |
Wife of Henry R. Marshall |
|
Jane McDowell |
Earlington |
Servant |
b. 1863 |
1880 U.S. Census |
|
|
Alonza Reid |
Louisville |
Hotel Waiter |
b. 1873 |
1920 U.S. Census |
Immigrated 1884 |
|
Thornton Smith |
Louisville |
Minister |
b. 1820 |
1870 U.S. Census |
|
|
William Stringer |
Camp (Fort) Knox |
Soldier Utilities Detachment |
b. 1899 |
1920 U.S. Census |
Immigrated 1905 |
