Following my recent research trip to the Special Collections and Archives at Clemson University’s Library, I’ve now added some new information to this previous posting about James Edward Calhoun, son of John Ewing Colhoun and Floride Bonneau. In the the Ernest McPherson Lander Papers at Clemson’s archives (box 3, mss 280), I found a transcribed typescript copy of the 19 October 1889 will of James Edward Calhoun. I’ve now added digital images of that typescript to the posting about James Edward linked above, with the following new notes:
Pages: 1 2
BEGATS AND BEQUEATHALS 
Thank you.
I am researching for a historical fiction book in which James Edward Colhoun of Millwood will be me tinned as an owner a d captain of one or .ore Petersburg boat
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That sounds like an interesting project.
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That sounds interesting although probably not as interesting as his real life. Please LMK when your book is done. I’m interested in him as he is my 4x great grandfather.
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Professor Lindsey,
The Caroline Calhoun mentioned in his will is also known as Caroline Simpkins. She is believed to have been the enslaved half-sister of Maria. James Edward had 9 children with her and one with my enslaved 4x great grandmother, Curnsie. I would love to know what happened to Curnsie as her name only appears once in my research, on my 3x great grandfather’s death certificate.
I have taken the AncestryDNA test and match other descendants of the Bonneau family. James Edward gave land to my 3x great grandfather which he used to establish a Baptist church that is yet extant in town.
Feel free to reach out.
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Thank you for this really interesting information, which helps me understand some of the people mentioned in documents of James Edward. I’m very interested in any information you’d like to share. There are so many stories like this in American history, many of them long hidden, and it seems to me that to understand our history — and face it accurately — we need to hear them.
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How wonderful to receive this information and links to others with an interest. I have the the book idea languish this summer, but upon receipt of this information, I am encouraged to take up my pen again.
Jo Claire Hickson
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Wonderful! Please let me/us know about your progress and when the book is finished.
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I traced my ancestry and it seems that I may be a direct descendant of his, possible 5th grandparent, his dad 6th grandparent, and his dad 7th, prior to that// nothing follows.
He acknowledged “Cuff” so, the relation starts with him and his wife.
Caroline may be my enslaved grandparent which starts the beginning of the fifth generation.
A deep dive traced the (Calhoun’s, Colhoun’s) back to the1300’s–Scotland and then to Ireland-
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Thank you for this interesting information. One of the long-hidden stories of American history and is the fact that many white slaveholding men had families with enslaved women and free women of color, at the same time that they maintained a family with a white wife. This has long been an open secret as people wrote about slavery, and it seems to me a good thing that these stories are now coming to light and being told. It’s also important to recognize that the women of color around whom these stories also revolve were not free agents, and sexual coercion and even rape was sometimes a part of the story.
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Hello Lia, I am a decent of one of those 9 children Caroline had. I am just now figuring this puzzle piece out this morning. I will continue to keep you in my prayers and as I research, if I come across anything I will refer back here! I hope you find your answers.
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