What We Inherit

Truth, Repair, and a Promise to the Future

A companion site to the traveling exhibit from the Descendants Truth & Reconciliation Foundation.

NOW ON DISPLAY: St. Paul, Minn. · University of St. Thomas · Through November 5

What Happened in 1838

Maryland to Louisiana

In 1838, the Jesuits of Maryland — one of the largest slaveholders in the Americas — sold 314 men, women, and children to two planters in Louisiana. The money paid the debts of Georgetown College, the Jesuit school many of those enslaved helped to build. Families were loaded onto ships and sent south. Some were separated at the dock and never saw one another again.

Their stories were nearly lost to history. But in 2016, the past was uncovered. What they built outlived them — and shaped the world the rest of us inherited. And now, a traveling exhibit asks:

If this history belongs to all of us, what do we owe to the future?

Choose Someone to Walk With

Exhibit visitors meet Cornelius, Bibiana, and Peter. Here, dive deeper into their lives and legacies.

Cornelius “Neely” Hawkins 13 years old Sold at 13 with his parents and his seven brothers and sisters. In 2016, a photograph of his gravestone brought this history to light for the whole world.

Bibiana “Biby” Mahoney 45 years old The Jesuits promised her family would never be sold. In 1838 they broke their promise.

Peter Queen 21 years old Peter was not sold in 1838, but he was taken from his family again and again — west at 12, sold away at 13, sold from his wife and children at 32.

Cornelius, 13 — Sold at 13 with his parents and his seven brothers and sisters. In 2016, a photograph of his gravestone brought this history to light for the whole world.

Bibiana, 45 — The Jesuits promised her family would never be sold. In 1838 they broke their promise.

Peter, 21 — Peter was not sold in 1838, but he was taken from his family again and again — west at 12, sold away at 13, sold from his wife and children at 32.

Their Legacy Lives On

A collage of photographs of Descendants of those enslaved by the Jesuits, past and present

More than 10,000 people alive today descend from those the Jesuits enslaved.

The People the Jesuits Sold in 1838

Isaac Hawkins, Age 65 • Charles Hawkins, Age 40 • Nelly Hawkins, Age 38 • Henrietta Adams, Age 13 • Mary Francis Ware • Cecilia Adams, Age 8 • Rutha Adams, Age 6 • Patrick Hawkins, Age 35 • Letty Blacklock, Age 30 • Cornelius Hawkins, Age 13 • Francis Hawkins, Age 12 • Susan Hawkins, Age 10 • Gabriel Hawkins, Age 8 • Peter Hawkins, Age 5 • Jackson Hawkins, Age 3 • Elizabeth Hawkins, Age 1 • Martha Hawkins • James Hawkins, Age 28 • Delia, James’s wife, Age 22 • Susan Hawkins, Age 3 • George Hawkins, Age 1 • Isaac Hawkins, Age 26 • Kitty Harrison, Age 28 • Austin Hawkins, Age 6 • Isaac Hawkins, Age 4 • Elias Hawkins, Age 1 • Sally Harrison, Age 65 • Ned Harrison, Age 45 • Rachael, Ned’s Wife, Age 43 • Simon Harrison, Age 20 • Anderson Harrison, Age 18 • Louisa Harrison, Age 14 • Ned Harrison or Harris, Age 19 • William Harrison, Age 49 • Nelly Harrison, Age 38 • John Harrison, Age 5 • John Queen, Age 30 • Nancy Harrison, Age 24 • Patrick Queen, Age 3 • Charles Queen, Age 45 • Sally, Charles Queen’s wife, Age 44 • Nancy Queen, Age 17 • Margaret Queen, Age 15 • David Queen, Age 14 • Eliza Queen, Age 12 • Martha Queen, Age 5 • Thomas Queen, Age 5 • Sarah Anne Queen, Age 1 • Nelly Winderry, Age 60 • Joseph Blacklock, Age 40 • Nelly Blacklock, Age 16 • Kitty, Age 22 • Mary, Kitty’s daughter, Age 6 • Sam, Kitty’s son, Age 4 • Elizabeth, Kitty’s daughter, Age 1 • Polly, Age 60 • Sally, Age 50 • William Diggs, Age 21 • Mary Ann Diggs, Age 18 • Robert Diggs, Age 12 • Henry Diggs, Age 8 • Harriet, Age 43 • Cesar Queen • Elizabeth Queen, Age 23 • Isaias Queen, Age 21 • Mary Ellen Queen, Age 17 • Nancy Queen, Age 15 • Martha Queen, Age 10 • Jim Francis, Age 1 • Betsy, Age 32 • Augustin West, Age 13 • Adelphia West, Age 10 • Christina West, Age 7 • Harriet Anne West, Age 4 • Richard, Age 38 • Nancy, Age 34 • Margery, Age 60 • Len, Margery’s son, Age 38 • Minty, Age 36 • Nancy, Minty’s daughter, Age 5 • Mary, Minty’s daughter, Age 1.5 • Charles or Jarvis, Age 60 • James, Age 50 • Tom Dorsey, Age 45 • William, Age 42 • Eliza, Age 26 • Reverdy, Eliza’s son, Age 7 • Noble, Eliza’s son, Age 5 • Edward, Eliza’s son, Age 3 • William, Eliza’s son, Age 1 • Regis Gough • Maria, Age 26 • Maria, Maria’s daughter, Age 5 • William, Maria’s son, Age 6 months • Charles, Age 75 • Benedict, Age 65 • Len Queen, Age 50 • Sam Harris, Age 30 • John Butler, Age 35 • John Coyles, Age 21 • George Harris, Age 65 • Len Sweetum, Age 50 • Daniel, Age 80 • Nace, Age 55 • Bernard Butler, Age 35 • William Ware, Age 18 • Thomas Riley, Age 16 • James Blair, Age 12 • Henry Johnson, Age 10 • Francis, Age 8 • Stephen, Age 60 • Anny, Age 20 to 50 • Charles Queen, Age 1 to 7 • Gabriel Isaac Queen, Age 1 to 7 • Eliza Queen, Age 1 to 7 • Adeline Queen • Betsy Ware or West, Age 20 to 50 • Ellen Harris, Age 1 to 7 • Martha Harris, Age 1 to 7 • Ned Harris • Sam Harris • Matilda, Age 20 to 50 • Girl, Matilda’s daughter, Age 1 to 7 • Girl, Matilda’s daughter, Age 1 to 7 • Girl, Matilda’s daughter, Age 1 to 7 • Catherine • Oswald Harris • Sarah Harris • Harriet Harris • Margaret, Age 20 to 50 • Girl, Margaret’s daughter, Age 1 to 7 • Crissy, Age 20 to 50 • Girl, Crissy’s daughter, Age 1 to 7 • Boy, Crissy’s son, Age 1 to 7 • Girl, Crissy’s daughter, Age 1 to 7 • Boy, Crissy’s son, Age 1 to 7 • Celestia, Age 20 to 50 • Henny, Age 20 to 50 • Louisa • Teresia • Mary • Mary • Jenny • Girl, Jinny’s daughter, Age 1 to 7 • Harry Scott • Dinah, Harry’s wife • Joseph Greenlief • Esther, Joe’s wife • William Hill • Peter Waters • Stephen • Sarah, Stephen’s wife • Bibiana Plowden or Hill • Mary • Elizabeth • Bennet Scott • Clare, Bennett’s wife • John • Abraham • Susan Plowden • Priscilla Plowden • Perry Contee • Jarred Plowden • Rose Anne Scott • Charlotte Plowden • Sarah Ann Kelly • Mary • Julia Anna Plowden or Hill • John Henry Brown • Child Brown • Dick Plowden or Hill • Greenfield Anthony Green • James Scott • Ferdinand Hill • Sylvester Green • Christina Scott • Harriet Hill • Emeline Green • Eleanor Scott • Mary Green • Susana • Henrietta Hill • Remus Plowden • Lucretia Hill • Mary Jane • Child • Joseph Hill • Mary Elizabeth Hill • Miles Green • Lucy Ann Scott • Esther Lucinda Green, Age 10 • Rose Scott • Peg Scott • Alexius Scott • Child, Age 1 to 2 • Child, Age 1 to 2 • Infant • Nace Butler • Nace Butler • Bibiana Mahoney • Susan Butler • Bridget Butler • Caroline Butler • Basil Butler • Martha Ann Butler • Ann Butler • Gabe Butler • Biby Ann Butler • Henry Butler • Thomas Butler • Mary Butler • John Lewis Butler • Loan Butler • Henny Butler • Bazile Ford • Emeline Brown • Amanda Brown • Elizabeth Brown • William Brown • Biby Brown • Harriet Ann Eaglin • Robert Mahoney • Mary Yorkshire • Abraham Mahoney • Robert Mahoney • James Mahoney • Bridget Mahoney • Mary Jane Mahoney • Susan Mahoney • Sally Anne Mahoney • Nelly Mahoney • Charles Mahoney • Nancy Mahoney • William Cutchmore • Regis Gough • Phil Merrick • Nelly, Phil’s wife • Lewis Merrick • Augustin Merrick • George • Joseph • Harry Mahoney • Anna • Harry Mahoney • Nelly Mahoney • Gabe Mahoney • Daniel Mahoney • Louisa Mahoney • Arnold Jones • Anna Mahoney • Arnold Henry Jones • Louisa Ann Jones • Betsy • Bernard Dorsey • Lucinda Dorsey • William Grandison Dorsey • Daniel Henry Dorsey • Bill • Watt Campbell • Theresa • Frank Campbell • Sam Campbell • Rachael Campbell • Alexander Campbell • Charlotte Campbell • Emeline Campbell • Watt Campbell • Child Campbell • Dick • Adeline Campbell • Matthew Campbell • Jenny Campbell • Catherine Campbell • Mary Campbell • Nelly Barns • Eliza Butler • Mary Ellen Butler • Regis • Kitty Walton • Peter • John or James • Micheal • Ned • Sally Yorkshire • Alexius Yorkshire • Henry Yorkshire • Frederick, Age 20 • Jenny, Age 19 • Henny Langley, Age 2 • Zeke • Nathan • Henny, Nathan’s wife • James • John Brown • Nancy Lee • George Henry • Tom Hawkins • Jenny • Bridget • Child • Child • William Harrison • Mary Anne • John Kelly • Thomas Noland • Augustus • Henny • Infant • William Kelly • Peter Adams • Hillary Ford • Clem Langley • Clair • Boy

Every name and age recorded in the Jesuits’ own documents of the 1838 sale.

The Documents

What the record keeps

The sale left a paper trail: a census, contracts, a ship manifest, a bill of sale, and much more. These documents are, for many families, the oldest surviving record of an ancestor’s name.

The Jesuits’ 1838 census of the people they intended to sell

The Census, 1838 Before the sale, the Jesuits counted the people they intended to sell, listing them by plantation and family and totaling them at the foot of the page: 272 in all. By the time the ships sailed, 314 people had been sold.

The Articles of Agreement, June 19, 1838 In this contract, Thomas Mulledy agreed to sell the people named in the census to two Louisiana planters for $115,000.

Ship manifest of the Katharine Jackson, November 1838

The Ship Manifest, November 1838 The manifest of the Katharine Jackson records each person by name, age, height, and complexion, in the same columns a ship would use for any other cargo.

Bill of sale from Thomas Mulledy to Jesse Batey, November 10, 1838

The Bill of Sale, November 10, 1838 This bill of sale lists 64 people delivered to Jesse Batey of Louisiana, including children and infants, and warrants them to be “slaves for life.”

For Teachers

Bring your students to the exhibit

High school classes are welcome at What We Inherit. Two free resources — including a teacher guide and a student reflection sheet — will help deepen the experience.

Field Trip Guide for Teachers Before-and-after discussion prompts, a sample script for establishing the history, a primary source exercise, and guidance on preparing students for difficult material. Download PDF Student Visit Reflection Sheet Five questions students answer as they move through the exhibit, from the Wall of Names to the ribbon they tie at the end. Download PDF

Planning a class visit or want to bring the exhibit to your school? Get in touch.