Between 1794 and 1806, five people are known to have been enslaved by the Polk family at the property which is now the James K. Polk State Historic Site in Pineville, Mecklenburg County, North Carolina. Thus far, research has uncovered the names of three of these people: Violet, Lucy, and Elias Polk.
This project follows Violet, Lucy, and Elias from North Carolina to the Polk family’s properties in Tennessee and Mississippi and beyond. These individuals’ stories tell us not just about their own individual lives, but also about the brutal system of bondage on which the Polk family built their success, and about the rich, complicated, and often painful lives of the people they enslaved. Understanding these stories is critical to understanding President Polk’s story. Our shared past is inextricably intertwined; we must examine all the threads to better understand the finished tapestry.
Contents
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Use the links at the bottom of each page to navigate to other pages in this project. As you click through, each page will open in a new window that you can return to.
- Timeline of Key Events: An infographic detailing the years that important events in the lives of Violet, Lucy, Elias, and the Polk family.
- Names of People Enslaved by President Polk: A list of all of the people who were enslaved by President Polk through purchase or inheritance.
- Researching the Enslaved: More details on the process of researching the lives of Violet, Lucy, Elias, and other people enslaved by the Polk family. Includes resources for conducting historical or genealogical research on enslaved people.
- The Polks Who Fought for Freedom: An essay on the lives of several Black men who were enslaved on the Polk's Mississippi plantation before joining the Union Army during the Civil War.