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 It was a very common practice after the American 
Civil War and slave emancipation in 1863 for slaves to take the surname of their 
former master.  Not all did, but it's a good indicator and a common 
"genealogical research tool" when pursuing African-American 
genealogy. 
  
Karen M 
     According to another family story, my 
    great-grandfather, a St. Clair, owned  approximately one hundred slaves, 
    some of whom took the family name. The  plantation was located in 
    Kentucky, I believe. It is not known whether or not  he had any children 
    by any of them. He wasn't reputed to have participated in  that 
    dispicable activity.
  Johnnye [ This is the Sinclair family 
    discussion list, sinclair@jump.net. [ To get off or on 
    the list, see http://www.mids.org/sinclair/list.html
  
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