Thomas ("Tom") Anderson
1849 - unknown
According to the Slave Schedule of 1850, Tom Anderson was born into slavery in 1849 in Newton County, Georgia. It was not until the United States Census of 1870 that former slaves were counted as individuals, so there is not much known about his family or his origins. The Census of 1870 only indicates that Tom was living in Oxford with four other men, ranging in age from 16 to 21. During this time, Tom lived next door to George and Angeline Sims, the parents of the young lady he would later marry. Minerva Sims, also known as Nannie, was born into slavery in 1854.
Tom and Minerva were married on June 7, 1874 in Newton County by Justice of the Peace, M. Alexander. Both Tom and Minerva could read, however only Minerva could write. Soon after their marriage, they started their family. They had six children, three girls and three boys: Will (b. 1875), Thomas (b.1879), Henry (b.1885), Luvenia (b. 1887), Pauline (b. 1889), and Angeline (b. 1893).
After the Civil War ended, Tom Anderson and other newly emancipated African Americans living in Oxford, established Rust Chapel in 1867 with funding assistance from a northern church called the Freedmen’s Aid Society. They called it Rust Chapel in honor of the Reverend Richard S. Rust, secretary of that society.
Tom and Minerva Anderson owned property in Oxford where they built a house and raised their family. Their home, on the corner of Mitchell and Soule Streets, still houses their descendants and has remained in the Anderson family continuously for five generations.
Tom and Minerva were married on June 7, 1874 in Newton County by Justice of the Peace, M. Alexander. Both Tom and Minerva could read, however only Minerva could write. Soon after their marriage, they started their family. They had six children, three girls and three boys: Will (b. 1875), Thomas (b.1879), Henry (b.1885), Luvenia (b. 1887), Pauline (b. 1889), and Angeline (b. 1893).
After the Civil War ended, Tom Anderson and other newly emancipated African Americans living in Oxford, established Rust Chapel in 1867 with funding assistance from a northern church called the Freedmen’s Aid Society. They called it Rust Chapel in honor of the Reverend Richard S. Rust, secretary of that society.
Tom and Minerva Anderson owned property in Oxford where they built a house and raised their family. Their home, on the corner of Mitchell and Soule Streets, still houses their descendants and has remained in the Anderson family continuously for five generations.