Who was the last person born in slavery in America to die? Need name, age and place.

Hello arumugaswami,

I'm glad my findings was the answer you were looking for.

Charlie Smith, who died on October 5, 1979 in Barstow, Florida at age
137 years old, was reputed to be the last American slave, having been
born in West Africa.

Smith was born with the name Mitchell Watkins in Liberia, West Africa,
in 1842. He came to America as a child slave, claiming he was lured
aboard a slave ship.


Sources: 

October 5
?Charlie Smith, who died on this day in Barstow, Florida, in 1979, and
claimed to be 137 years old, was reputed to be the last American
slave, having been born in West Africa.  Smith witnessed the launching
of Apollo 17 at Cape Kennedy in 1972.  More authenticated records
support the claim of Sylvester Magee, who died in Columbia,
Mississippi, eight years earlier.  He said he was 130.?
http://www.nortexinfo.net/McDaniel/1005.htm
 

October 5 -1979

?Charlie Smith died of natural causes on this day in 1979 in a nursing
home in Barrow, Florida. He was believed to be 137 years old, making
him the oldest person in the United States.

?Smith was born with the name Mitchell Watkins in Liberia, West
Africa, in 1842. He came to America as a child slave, claiming he was
lured aboard a slave ship by promises of "fritter trees on board with
lots of syrup." He arrived in New Orleans in 1854 and was given the
name of his owner, a Texas rancher, as well as a new birth date?July
4th. Smith gained his freedom when President Lincoln signed the
Emancipation Proclamation on January 1, 1863.?

The information above can be found in the book The African-American
Book of Days: Inspirational History and Thoughts for Every Day of the
Year, written by Julia Stewart and published by Carol Pub. Group in
1996.

Tulsa Library: African-American Resource Center
http://www.tulsalibrary.org/aarc/month.htm


SMITH, Charlie 137 (b) 1842, Liberia, Africa
(r) 1854: brought to US from Liberia, Africa. 
("sold at a slave auction in New Orleans July 4, 1854 to a Texas rancher") .
Index of Grandma's Newspaper Clippings
http://www.wdbj.net/~wdbj/gen/obits/obit8.html


1979   Charlie Smith, reportedly the last living African American
slave, dies at the reputed age of 137.
http://www.africana.com/research/thisday/rc1002.asp


Died: Charlie Smith, oldest American (137 year), dies
http://www.brainyhistory.com/events/1979/october_5_1979_152177.html

Search criteria:
last American slave
" Charlie Smith" last slave


Best regards,
Bobbie7

---

Clarification of Answer by bobbie7-ga on 01 Jan 2004 12:07 PST

Arumugaswami,
No need to do anything else. The payment has been released.
Best wishes,
Bobbie7

Hello arumugaswami,

Charlie Smith, who died on October 5, 1979 in Barstow, Florida at age
137 years old, was reputed to be the last American slave, having been
born in West Africa.

Smith was born with the name Mitchell Watkins in Liberia, West Africa,
in 1842. He came to America as a child slave, claiming he was lured
aboard a slave ship.

Although Charlie Smith wasn?t born into slavery in America, I thought
this information might be of your interest.

Best regards,
Bobbie7

Sources: 

October 5
?Charlie Smith, who died on this day in Barstow, Florida, in 1979, and
claimed to be 137 years old, was reputed to be the last American
slave, having been born in West Africa.  Smith witnessed the launching
of Apollo 17 at Cape Kennedy in 1972.  More authenticated records
support the claim of Sylvester Magee, who died in Columbia,
Mississippi, eight years earlier.  He said he was 130.?
http://www.nortexinfo.net/McDaniel/1005.htm
 

October 5 -1979

?Charlie Smith died of natural causes on this day in 1979 in a nursing
home in Barrow, Florida. He was believed to be 137 years old, making
him the oldest person in the United States.

?Smith was born with the name Mitchell Watkins in Liberia, West
Africa, in 1842. He came to America as a child slave, claiming he was
lured aboard a slave ship by promises of "fritter trees on board with
lots of syrup." He arrived in New Orleans in 1854 and was given the
name of his owner, a Texas rancher, as well as a new birth date?July
4th. Smith gained his freedom when President Lincoln signed the
Emancipation Proclamation on January 1, 1863.?

The information above can be found in the book The African-American
Book of Days: Inspirational History and Thoughts for Every Day of the
Year, written by Julia Stewart and published by Carol Pub. Group in
1996.

Tulsa Library: African-American Resource Center
http://www.tulsalibrary.org/aarc/month.htm


SMITH, Charlie 137 (b) 1842, Liberia, Africa
(r) 1854: brought to US from Liberia, Africa. 
("sold at a slave auction in New Orleans July 4, 1854 to a Texas rancher") .
Index of Grandma's Newspaper Clippings
http://www.wdbj.net/~wdbj/gen/obits/obit8.html


1979   Charlie Smith, reportedly the last living African American
slave, dies at the reputed age of 137.
http://www.africana.com/research/thisday/rc1002.asp


Died: Charlie Smith, oldest American (137 year), dies
http://www.brainyhistory.com/events/1979/october_5_1979_152177.html

This is perfect, just what I was after. I don't see how to rate this
answer, as the "answer" is under the comment. I think that's how the
payment gets released.