From NKAA, Notable Kentucky African Americans Database (main entry)

Fulton County (KY) Enslaved, Free Blacks, and Free Mulattoes, 1850-1870

Fulton County, located in southwestern Kentucky, was formed from a portion of Hickman County in 1845. It is bordered by one Kentucky county, the Mississippi River on the west side, and the state of Tennessee on the south side.

The county was named for Robert Fulton [online biography]. Fulton, from Pennsylvania, was an engineer who developed the first commercially successful steamboat, an enhanced steam warship, and a submarine. There are many places in the United States named for Robert Fulton.

The county seat of Fulton County, KY is Hickman, previously named Mills Point in honor of James Mills, who settled in the area on a military grant. The town was renamed Hickman in 1837 in honor of Mrs. G. W. L. Marr (her maiden name was Hickman); Mr. Marr had owned the town site.

The 1850 county population was 3,503, increasing to 4,239 in 1860, excluding the enslaved. Below are the number of slave owners, enslaved, free Blacks, and free Mulattoes for 1850-1870.

1850 Slave Schedule
  • 209 slave owners
  • 751 Black slaves
  • 192 Mulatto slaves
  • 4 free Blacks
  • 0 free Mulattoes
1860 Slave Schedule
  • 216 slave owners
  • 901 Black slaves
  • 141 Mulatto Slaves
  • 16 free Blacks
  • 3 free Mulattoes
1870 U.S. Federal Census
  • 824 Blacks
  • 113 Mulattoes
  • About eight U.S. Colored Troops listed Fulton County, KY as their birth location.
For more see the Fulton County entry in The Kentucky Encyclopedia, edited by J. E. Kleber; Declaration of Marriage of Negroes and Mulattoes, the Commonwealth of Kentucky, 12 May 1866 to 2 April 1874, by M. H. Adams; Fulton County, Kentucky: histories and biographies, by L. Collins and W. H. Perrin; and Fulton, by E. R. Jones.

Kentucky County & Region

Read about Fulton County, Kentucky in Wikipedia.

Kentucky Place (Town or City)

Read about Mills Point, Kentucky in Wikipedia.
Read about Hickman, Kentucky in Wikipedia.

Item Relations

Cited in this Entry

NKAA Source: The Kentucky encyclopedia
NKAA Source: Declaration of marriage of negroes and mulattoes, the Commonwealth of Kentucky, 12 May 1866 to 2 April 1874 : total record of declarations found in Fulton county, Kentucky
NKAA Source: Fulton County, Kentucky : history & biographies
NKAA Source: Fulton

Related Entries Citing this Entry

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Cite This NKAA Entry:

“Fulton County (KY) Enslaved, Free Blacks, and Free Mulattoes, 1850-1870,” Notable Kentucky African Americans Database, accessed June 6, 2024, https://nkaa.uky.edu/nkaa/items/show/2343.

Last modified: 2023-08-30 18:53:28