Sugarland 95 Convict Labor Project
Image provided by: Library of Congress, Washington, DC
As a project of Fort Bend ISD, the Afro-American Historical & Genealogical Society, Inc. Willie Lee Gay H-Town Chapter conducted genealogical research on a number of the 94 men and one woman who were victims of the convict lease and labor system and possibly buried at the Bullhead Labor Camp Cemetery in Sugarland, Texas.
To further support the project and preserve the history of the men and one woman who suffered and lost their lives as a result of the convict labor leasing system, the chapter is supporting education and awareness by providing the identified names of 74 individuals listed in the Roster of the Deceased, with links to research that is preserved on FamilySearch.org.
It is our hope that this database of genealogical information will be a key resource in assisting potential descendants in being connected with their family member who is buried amongst the Sugar Land 95.
To access the Roster of the Deceased that is included in the final report of findings "Back to Bondage" please visit, https://www.fortbendisd.com/sugarland95
For persons who believe that they may be a descendant of the individuals listed, please contact Dr. Helen Graham at helengraham600@gmail.com and 281-763-6276.
SUGARLAND 95 NAMES:
Click the Family Search ID for a link to related research.
Convict Name | Age at Conviction | Color | Employment (Trade) | Nativity (State/Country) | Marital Status | Date Convicted | County of Conviction | Reason for Conviction | Sentence Length (Years) | Received Penn. | Death Date | Age at Death | Death Details | FamilySearch ID |
Pope, Nathan | 18 | Black | Laborer | Texas | No | 29 Nov 1879 | Fayette | Burglary | 5 | 11 Dec 1879 | 13 Dec 1879 | 18 | Killed during escape at Freemans | GH7J-417 |
Norton, Jonathan | 27 | Black | Laborer | Texas | Yes | 25 Apr 1879 | Bastrop | Assault with intent to murder | 6 | 7 May 1879 | 16 Dec 1879 | 27 | Pneumonia | GH7J-QDL |
Powell, Esau | 27 | Black | Laborer | Texas | Yes | 23 Nov 1875 | Fayette | Theft | 6.5 | 25 Nov 1875 | 26 Feb 1880 | 32 | Chronic diarrhea | GH7J-ZC2 |
White, William | 26 | Mulatto | Laborer | Alabama | Yes | 14 Dec 1879 | Wilson | Theft of Mare | 5 | 15 Dec 1979 | 20 July 1880 | 26 | Escape attempt Freemans | GH7J-Y86 |
Stroud, Garrison | 23 | Mulatto | Laborer | Texas | Yes | 25 Jan 1877 | Robertson | Not stated | 7 | 3 Feb 1877 | 9 Sept 1881 | 27 | Caught in machinery at camp | GH7J-DQZ |
Boone, Harry | 20 | Copper | Laborer | Texas | No | 16 April 1881 | Washington | Theft | 5 | 26 Apr 1881 | 27 Sept 1881 | 20 | Dysentery | GH7V-9HM |
Bonner, William | 30 | Black | Laborer | Alabama | Widower | 3 May 1879 | Bastrop | Theft | 7 | 7 May 1879 | 30 Dec 1881 | 32 | Pneumonia | GH7J-FXM |
Cruse, Michael | 18 | Mulatto | Laborer | Texas | No | 23 Sept 1881 | Jefferson | Burglary | 2 | 13 Oct 1881 | 8 Feb 1882 | 18 | Tree fall | GH7J-RZN |
Froch, Sebe | 60 | Black | Laborer | Georgia | Yes | 10 Dec 1881 | Washington | Theft | 5 | 4 Jan 1882 | 17 June 1882 | 60 | Result of amputation of a limb | GH8P-9X9 |
Cartinas, Manuel | 25 | Mexican | Laborer | Mexico | No | 8 Feb 1882 | Travis | Burglary | 2 | 5 March 1882 | 5 Oct 1882 | 25 | Congestion of brain and stomach | GH8P-SJK |
Brewer, George | 39 | Black | Teamster | New York | Yes | 31 Oct 1881 | Cherokee | Theft of cow | 2 | 28 Nov 1881 | 18 Nov 1882 | 40 | Complications of illness | GH8P-7TT |
Fuller, Hardy | 28 | Black | Laborer | Texas | Yes | 15 July 1881 | Jackson | Theft of yearling | 2 | 30 Jul 1881 | 29 Dec 1882 | 28 | Meningitis | GH8P-33L |
Davis, Lewis | 24 | Black | Laborer | Texas | Yes | 3 July 1883 | Lavaca | Assault with intent to murder | 5 | 25 July 1883 | 26 Oct 1883 | 24 | Congestion of bowels | GH8P-7B6 |
Garcia, James | 19 | Black | Laborer | Texas | No | 20 May 1884 | Guadalupe | Assault with intent to murder | 5 | 29 May 1884 | 28 Oct 1884 | 19 | Unknown | |
Newman, Steve | N/A | N/A | N/A | N/A | N/A | N/A | N/A | N/A | N/A | N/A | 27 Nov 1885 | Unknown | GH8G-5BP | |
Odam, Bill | 23 | Black | Laborer | Texas | Yes | 2 Dec 1881 | Anderson | Theft of person | 6.5 | 5 Jan 1882 | 30 June 1886 | 27 | Pneumonia | GH7N-G71 |
Chambers, John | 26 | Black | Laborer | Texas | Yes | 10 May 1881 | Lee | Theft of mule | 7 | 16 May 1881 | 28 July 1886 | 32 | Pneumonia | GH7J-LWC |
Darby, Aaron | 18 | Black | Farmer | Texas | No | 1 Oct 1883 | Caldwell | Theft | 7 | 15 Oct 1883 | 29 Oct 1886 | 18 | Heart clot | GH7J-ZB9 |
Brown, Peter | 23 | Black | Laborer | Texas | No | 7 Oct 1886 | Washington | Burglary and theft of property over $20 value | 4 | 25 Oct 1886 | 17 Dec 1886 | 23 | Pulmonary congestion | GH7J-Z6G |
Rollins, Newton | 22 | Black | Laborer | Tennessee | Yes | 11 Nov 1877 | Houston | Manslaughter | 5 | 11 Dec 1877 | 5 Jan 1887 | 32 | Pneumonia | GH7J-6HW |
Hagell, Will | 22 | Dark Mulatto | Laborer | Texas | No | 31 May 1887 | Wood | Assault with intent to murder | 5 | 3 June 1887 | 20 Jan 1888 | 22 | Pneumonia | GH7V-4WP |
Varnes, John | 32 | Black | Laborer | Texas | Yes | 16 Dec 1885 | Jackson | Horse theft | 7 | 14 Jan 1886 | 23 Jan 1888 | 34 | Pneumonia | GH7J-P2H |
Rhodes, Ike | N/A | Black | N/A | N/A | N/A | 20 Feb 1888 | Lavaca | Theft of cattle | 2 | 2 Mar 1888 | 5 Mar 1888 | unk | Heart Clot | GH8P-96P |
Dixon, Ben | 23 | Black | Laborer | Texas | No | 17 Feb 1888 | Trinity | Murder 2nd degree | 5 | 23 Feb 1888 | 28 Mar 1888 | 23 | Pernicious Fever | GH8P-WDX |
Parker, Gus | N/A | Mulatto | Farmer | N/A | No | 20 Feb 1888 | Lavaca | Swindling of property over $20 value | 2 | 2 Mar 1888 | 24 May 1888 | unk | Congestive fever | GH8P-7TV |
Williams, Riley | 25 | Black | Laborer | Texas | No | 3 April 1888 | Fort Bend | Burglary and theft of money over $20 | 4 | 21 April 1888 | 26 May 1888 | 25 | Congestion | GH8P-4JQ |
Corey, Henry | 29 | Mulatto | Laborer | Tennessee | No | 25 Apr 1888 | Dallas | Robbery | 2 | 9 June 1888 | 27 June 1888 | 29 | Killed by Guard M. D. Jarnett while attempting to escape | GH8P-33T |
Franklin, Ben | 39 | Black | Laborer | Missouri | Yes | 25 May 1888 | Fayette | Assault with intent to murder | 5 | 12 June 1888 | 26 July 1888 | 39 | Congestive fever | GH8G-1TJ |
Collins, Joseph | 24 | Mulatto | Laborer | Louisiana | No | 21 May 1888 | Guadalupe | Aiding felons to escape from an officer | 7 | 4 June 1888 | 10 July 1888 | 24 | Killed by Guard M. D. Jarnett while attempting to escape | GH8P-7XF |
Granville, Alex | 26 | Black | Laborer | Alabama | No | 22 May 1888 | Fayette | Assault with intent to murder | 2 | 12 June 1888 | 7 Aug 1888 | 26 | Typho malarial fever | GHKK-YRV |
Allen, Sam | 20 | Black | Laborer | Texas | Yes | 7 June 1888 | De Witt | Theft | 3 | 9 Aug 1888 | 3 Sept 1888 | 20 | Epileptic convulsion | GHKK-T5F |
Shelton, Jim | N/A | Brown | Railroad | Texas | No | 7 Dec 1887 | Colorado | Burglary | 2 | 29 July 1889 | 31 Dec 1888 | unk | Dropsy | GHKK-J7W |
Jessie, George | 24 | Black | Farmer | Texas | No | 26 June 1888 | Grimes | Burglary and assault with intent to murder | 4 | 7 July 1889 | 4 Sept 1889 | 25 | Heart disease | GHKK-LN3 |
Davis, Phil | 26 | Black | Cook | Canada | No | 24 May 1889 | El Paso | Burglary and theft of property over $20 value | 4 | 22 July 1889 | 12 Sept 1889 | 26 | Paralysis of heart | GHK2-9WJ |
Davis, John | 25 | Black | Laborer | Texas | Yes | 27 Sept 1888 | Colorado | Burglary | 2 | 5 Oct 1888 | 16 July 1889 | 26 | Congestion of brain | GHK2-MG7 |
Gray, Morris | 40 | Black | Laborer | Mississippi | Yes | 30 June 1888 | De Witt | Assault with intent to murder | 2 | 9 Aug 1888 | 18 July 1889 | 40 | Sun stroke | GHK2-STL |
Nevils, Jerry | 28 | Copper Black | Laborer | Texas | Yes | 17 Sept 1888 | Walker | Cattle theft | 5 | 17 Sept 1888 | 21 July 1889 | 29 | Sun stroke | GHK2-S8K |
Mitchell, Josh | 23 | Black | Farmer | Texas | No | 16 Feb 1889 | Lavaca | Manslaughter | 2 | 13 Mar 1889 | 21 July 1889 | 23 | Sun stroke | GHK2-SDZ |
Whitfield, Dempsy | 19 | Black | Laborer | Georgia | Yes | 2 Nov 1888 | Washington | Burglary | 2 | 2 Nov 1888 | 24 July 1889 | 20 | Sun stroke | GHK2-W52 |
Terry, Henry | 25 | Black | Cook | Texas | No | 26 July 1889 | Galveston | Theft | 2 | 1 Aug 1889 | 28 Aug 1889 | 25 | Sun stroke | GH8G-514 |
Williams, John | 25 | Black | Farmer | Texas | No | 12 Sept 1889 | Cass | Burglary | 2 | 29 Sept 1889 | 13 Nov 1889 | 25 | Internal hemorrhage and dropsy | GH8G-BT7 |
Baker, George | 25 | Black | Laborer | Texas | No | 6 Jan 1890 | Austin | Burglary | 2 | 21 Jan 1890 | 29 Jan 1890 | 26 | Killed during escape attempt | GH8P-C8S |
Thomas, Jeff | 24 | Black | Farmer | Texas | Widower | 3 Oct 1889 | Harrison | Theft of property over $20 value | 2 | 9 Oct 1889 | 25 May 1890 | 25 | Abscess of liver & dropsy | GHKK-B8B |
Cole, Coleman | 28 | Copper | Farmer | Texas | Yes | 21 May 1890 | Fayette | Robbery | 5 | 8 June 1890 | 16 June 1890 | 28 | Congestive convultions | GHKK-VP2 |
Scott, West | 18 | Dark Mulatto | Farmer | Texas | No | 5 Mar 1890 | Smith | Theft | 2 | 25 Mar 1890 | 21 July 1890 | 18 | Killed during escape attempt | GHKK-52N |
Stephens, Wm. | 23 | Brown Negro | Farmer | Texas | Yes | 6 Jan 1890 | Austin | Horse theft | 5 | 21 Jan 1890 | 31 Aug 1890 | 23 | Dropsy | GHKK-PSV |
Nichols, Wm. | 24 | Black | Blacksmith & Cook | Kentucky | No | 1 Aug 1889 | Webb | Theft of property over $20 value and burglary | 5 | 27 Aug 1889 | 4 Sept 1890 | 25 | Congestive chill | GHK2-9PJ |
Smith, Davy | 21 | Black | Laborer | Texas | Yes | 3 April 1888 | Fort Bend | Burglary and theft of money over $20 | 4 | 21 April 1888 | 16 Nov 1890 | 23 | Run over by tram car | GHKK-1V7 |
Anderson, Tom | 22 | Black | Farmer | Texas | Yes | 11 Aug 1890 | Rusk | Assault with intent to murder | 2 | 22 Aug 1890 | 30 Mar 1891 | 23 | Dropsy | GHKK-1VF |
Boon, Auz. | 26 | Black | Laborer | Texas | No | 22 Oct 1890 | Panola | Burglary | 7 | 9 Nov 1890 | 20 Jun 1891 | 27 | Sun stroke | GHKK-1QN |
Adams, Loyd | N/A | N/A | N/A | N/A | N/A | N/A | Guadalupe | Assault with intent to murder | 5 | 19 July 1891 | 29 July 1891 | unk | Sun stroke | GHK2-9CJ |
Williams, Will | 21 | Mulatto | Farmer | Texas | No | 21 April 1892 | Bandera | Theft of a horse | 5 | 2 July 1892 | 17 Jan 1893 | 22 | Pleurisy | GHK2-CX9 |
Lee, Sam | 22 | Black | Hostler | Iowa | No | 26 Oct 1892 | Grayson | Burglary and theft | 6 | 2 Nov 1892 | 3 Mar 1893 | 22 | Escape attempt | GHK2-MHH |
Crawford, William | 20 | Black | Cook | Texas | Yes | 31 Mar 1892 | Washington | Forgery | 2 | 21 Apr 1892 | 23 June 1893 | 21 | Pistol shot while escaping | GHKK-T95 |
O'Dair, Wafer | 23 | Dark Mulato | Laborer | Texas | No | 10 May 1893 | Milam | Rape | 5 | 27 May 1893 | 8 July 1893 | 23 | Sun stroke | GHKK-TSV |
Nash, William | 16 | Black | Cook | Georgia | No | 19 Apr 1892 | McLennan | Theft of property over $20 value | 4 | 27 Apr 1892 | 3 Sept 1893 | 16 | Congestion of brain | GHK2-MYP |
Simons, Hence | 25 | Black | Mill Man | Texas | Yes | 7 Aug 1891 | Rusk | Horse theft | 15 | 12 Aug 1891 | 6 Sept 1893 | 27 | Consumption | GHK2-75F |
Baldwin, Mack | 20 | Copper | Laborer | Texas | No | 21 Mar 1890 | Liberty | Assault with intent to murder | 5 | 13 Apr 1890 | 4 Mar 1894 | 24 | Escape attempt | GHRD-DNP |
Glass, Jim | 21 | Mulatto | Laborer | Texas | No | 19 Oct 1894 | Smith | Murder 2nd degree | 10 | 4 Oct 1894 | 9 July 1895 | 22 | Pernicious malaria | GHRD-FTQ |
Jackson, Ed | 20 | Black | Laborer | Texas | No | 11 Oct 1897 | Burnet | Theft of a horse | 2 | 24 Nov 1897 | 30 Aug 1898 | 20 | Malaria | GHRD-FC5 |
Tollison, Allie | 25 | Black | Laborer | Texas | Yes | 27 Oct 1987 | Lavaca | Fraudulently disposing of a mortgaged property | 2 | 2 Nov 1897 | 8 Feb 1899 | 26 | Pneumonia | GHRD-6HC |
Blacksom, John | 18 | Black | Hotel Waiter | Louisiana | No | 17 Mar 1891 | Brazos | Burglary | 14 | 25 Mar 1891 | 10 July 1899 | 25 | Drowned | GHRD-L7V |
Adams, Abe | 25 | Brown | Laborer | Texas | No | 20 Apr 1898 | Lavaca | Theft of a horse | 2 | 27 Apr 1898 | 10 July 1899 | 26 | Drowned | GHRD-P8D |
Miller, Joe | 18 | Black | Laborer | Texas | No | 5 Nov 1899 | Bexar | Burglary | 2 | 11 Nov 1897 | 29 July 1899 | 22 | Malaria | GHRD-R9H |
Berman, Joe | 38 | Black | Laborer | Texas | Yes | 9 Oct 1897 | Bexar | 26 cases of burglary and theft | 12 | 9 Nov 1897 | 21 Jun 1900 | 40 | Malaria | GHRD-KKF |
Mitchell, Jack | 33 | Dark Brown | Railroad Laborer | Texas | Yes | 25 Oct 1900 | Harris | Theft of a horse | 4 | 01 Nov 1900 | 12 Nov 1900 | 33 | Pernicious Malarial Fever | GHK2-WRV |
Miller, Dump | 20 | Mulatto Black | Laborer | Texas | No | 10 Apr 1901 | Bexar | Burglary with intent to commit theft | 2 | 24 Apr 1901 | 11 July 1901 | 20 | Pernicious Malarial Fever | GHK2-S9S |
Robinson, Arthur | 20 | Black | Laborer | Texas | No | 25 Oct 1902 | McLennan | Burglary | 10 | 29 Oct 1902 | 9 Dec 1902 | 20 | Killed by Dog Sgt J. H. Veal while attempting to escape | GHK2-WZH |
Walker, Henry | 23 | Dark Brown | Laborer | Texas | No | 26 June 1903 | Bastrop | Attempt to commit Arson | 5 | 13 July 1903 | 11 Sep 1905 | 25 | "Struck by lightning at 11:40 AM and instantly killed" | GHK2-SND |
Jackson, Andy | 53 | Dark Brown | Laborer | Mississippi | Yes | 20 Oct 1902 | Panola | Assault with intent to commit murder | 2 | 6 Nov 1902 | 16 Nov 1903 | 54 | Pernicious Malaria | GHRD-NCY |
Owens, Travis | 25 | Brown | Laborer | Texas | Yes | 25 Oct 1905 | Lamar | Sodomy | 5 | 8 Dec 1905 | 13 Dec 1905 | 25 | Pneumonia | GHRD-W3W |
Brown, Robert | 18 | Brown | Cook | Georgia | No | 13 Jan 1904 | Harris | Burglary | 8 | 2 Feb 1904 | 26 Jul 1909 | 23 | Sunstroke | GHRD-LQT |
*Newsom, Isreal First burial at Old Imperial Prison Farm Cemetery) | 37 | Dark Brown | Laborer | Texas | Widower | 31 May 1911 | Burleson | Perjury | 2 | 6 Jun 1911 | 10 Feb 1912 | 38 | Heart Failure | |
*Davis, Alfred (Second burial at Old Imperial Prison Farm Cemetery) | 25 | Dark Brown | Laborer | Texas | No | 7-Nov-01 | Houston | Rape | 25 | 15-Nov-01 | 7-Mar-12 | 37 | Pneumonia |
More Information on Convict Leasing:
Convict Leasing and Labor Project: https://www.cllptx.org/sugarland95
Convict Leasing Memorial Project: https://www.sugarlandtx.gov/1709/Convict-Lease-Memorial