ROOTS OF THE BLACK GOLLADAY,
GOLLIDAY,  &  GOLIDAY FAMILIES

 

 

Grave of Russell Golladay
- soldier in U.S. Colored Troops -
 Nashville National Cemetery
 



Frederick W. Golladay of  Tennessee, Jacob Shall Golladay of Kentucky and George Shall Golladay of Grenada, Mississippi were slave owners. All three were sons of Isaac Golladay in Lebanon, Tennessee.
 

 

AFRICAN AMERICAN ROOTS

Most African Americans with the Golladay/Golliday/Goliday surname can trace their roots back to these farms:

Wilson County, Tennessee

Yalobusha/Grenada County, Mississippi

Logan County, Kentucky

After the Civil War, these former slaves acquired the Golladay name. Many of the descendants of these African slaves use the "Golliday" or "Goliday" spelling variation.

 

 

In my sorrow, Lord walk with me
In my sorrows, Lord walk with me

When my heart is aching

Lord, I want Jesus to walk with me
 

- Lyrics from Negro Spiritual

 

The Golladay families in Virginia fought for the Confederacy. However, at the start of the Civil War, there is no evidence that any Golladay families in Virginia owned slaves. Only one Golladay shows having a slave in the 1860 slave schedule in Augusta County. This was Jonathan Golladay, who had a 50 year old black male and a 22 year old black female employee. Since Jonathan was not shown as the owner, it is likely he paid the slave's owner for the work.

David Golladay in Augusta County owned slaves in the early 1800's. However, family records indicate that David and his son Frederick were part of the effort to free the slaves and return them to Africa to settle in Liberia. Years later, Frederick daughter's Mary and Martha could still recall the memorable day when David's former slaves departed for the trip back to Africa. This was after David's death. The U.S. census in 1810 and 1820 shows that David had slaves.  David made a will in the autumn of 1823, just before his death. David was a wealthy man at this time, but his will does not list these slaves. This will seems to verify the story that David's slaves were freed.

 

LIFE ON THE GOLLADAY PLANTATION
 IN MISSISSIPPI BEFORE THE CIVIL WAR
 

George and Martha Golladay's ten year old daughter Medora died early in 1858. Because of their grief, George and Martha took their family on a trip to Tennessee in the summer after Medora died. While they were gone, their relatives wrote several letters to them concerning the happenings back at their plantation in Grenada. These letters give some information about the blacks working on the plantation.
 

 

Grenada, 06 Jul 1858

Your negroes are all well and at work except Harriet. She is grunting a little.

Everything is going on right at your place in Town. The negroes are taking good care of everything so far.

   - from letter written by C. H. Guy (Martha Golladay's stepfather)

 


But the flooding of the Yalobusha River and the resulting mosquitoes caused a lot of illness that summer.
 

 

Grenada, 15 Jul 1858

Your negroes are all well with the exception of Monroe. He was quite unwell yesterday. I gave him some medicine last night. He is better today. He had a high fever yesterday.
.....
....

While writing John came up from your place. He tells me Ennis and Henry and some of the children are sick today. I will go down this evening and see them. I will give them every attention they need . So don't give yourself any uneasiness on that score.

   - from letter written by C. H. Guy (Martha Golladay's stepfather)

 


In a letter written later in the summer, an update on the black workers was given:

 

Grenada, 20 Aug 1858

There has been a great deal of sickness at your plantation. Chills and fevers, but there is none that is very sick.

   - from letter written by Eliza Guy (Martha Golladay's mother)

 

Other blacks mentioned by name in these letters are Smithy and Harrison.

 

BLACK SOLDIERS

Several of these former slaves fought in the Civil War for the U.S. Colored Troops in the Union Army:

 
Edward Golladay 13th Colored Infantry, Company A
   
Jeremiah (Jerry) Golliday 13th Colored Infantry, Company C
   
Major Golliday 13th Colored Infantry, Company A
   
Russell Golladay  13th Colored Infantry, Company B
   
Spencer Golladay 13th Colored Infantry, Company K

 

SUMMARY OF THE 13th COLORED INFANTRY

 

Way down yonder in the graveyard walk,
I thank God I'm free at last,
Me and my Jesus gonna meet and talk,
I thank God I'm free at last. Oh...

On my knees when the light passed by,
I thank God I'm free at last,
Thought my soul would rise and fly,
I thank God I'm free at last.

- from slave song "Free At Last"

 

The Cedar Grove Cemetery in Logan County, Kentucky contains the unmarked graves of some of these black Golliday's.

Hilliard Golliday  
   
Harriet Golliday  
   
Ewing Golliday   
   

AFTER THE WAR:
 


BLACK GOLLADAY'S IN 1870 KENTUCKY CENSUS
   

BLACK GOLLADAY'S IN 1870 MISSISSIPPI CENSUS
   

BLACK GOLLADAY'S IN 1870 TENNESSEE CENSUS
   

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This page last updated on February 26, 2008