William Ellison Jr., born April Ellison, (c. April 1790 – December 5, 1861) was born into slavery, was a cotton maker and blacksmith in South Carolina, became a free negro who achieved considerable success in business before the American Civil War. He was a slave owner of both black and white individuals. He eventually became a major planter and one of the medium property owners, and the wealthiest black property owner in the state. He held 40 slaves at his death and more than 1,000 acres (400 ha) of land. From 1830-1865 he and his sons were the only free blacks in Sumter County, S.C. to own slaves. The county was largely devoted to cotton plantations and the majority population were slaves.
Ellison and his sons were among a number of successful free people of color in the antebellum years, but Ellison was particularly outstanding. His master (and likely father) had passed on social capital by apprenticing him to learn a valuable artisan trade as a cotton gin maker, at which Ellison made a success. He took a wife at the age of 21. After buying his own freedom when he was 26, a few years later Ellison purchased his wife and their children, to protect them from sales as slaves. The Act of 1820 made it more difficult for slaveholders to make personal manumissions, but Ellison gained freedom for his sons, and a quasi-freedom for his surviving daughter. During the American Civil War, Ellison and his sons supported the South/Confederate States and gave the government substantial donations and aid. A grandson fought informally with the regular Confederate Army and survived the war.
Ellison and his sons were among a number of successful free people of color in the antebellum years, but Ellison was particularly outstanding. His master (and likely father) had passed on social capital by apprenticing him to learn a valuable artisan trade as a cotton gin maker, at which Ellison made a success. He took a wife at the age of 21. After buying his own freedom when he was 26, a few years later Ellison purchased his wife and their children, to protect them from sales as slaves. The Act of 1820 made it more difficult for slaveholders to make personal manumissions, but Ellison gained freedom for his sons, and a quasi-freedom for his surviving daughter. During the American Civil War, Ellison and his sons supported the South/Confederate States and gave the government substantial donations and aid. A grandson fought informally with the regular Confederate Army and survived the war.
