George Dabney was just 25 years old when he was transported to Louisiana. He was taken up the Mississippi River and brought to Alhambra Plantation. While enslaved, he met Emily, and they had at least nine children and made a life together. They worked to support their family during the Reconstruction Era. Emily died between 1878 and 1880 likely of Dengue Fever, George kept the family together.
1870 U.S. census, Iberville Parish, Louisiana, population schedule, ward 1, p. 35 & 36 (written), dwelling 333, family 487, George Dabney; NARA microfilm publication M593, roll 514; online Ancestry (https://www.ancestry.com/search/collections/7163/ >Louisiana>Iberville> Ward 1> image 35 of 76 : accessed February 2021).
George was tragically killed in 1884, sitting outside his home, while his family were attending church. Initially his sons were suspected of committing the crime, but the charges were dropped and no records have been found indicating whether anyone was ever charged with George Dabney's murder.
"A Murder in Iberville." The Times-Picayoune, 19 May 1884. Online (http://www.geneaologybank.com : accessed 15 February 2021); citing p. 4.
Jerry Dabney was born around 1818. He was recorded in 1830 in a contract between George Hay, James Monroe, and Robert Stannard. Jerry was deeded with George, the Bakers: John and Lewis, John Richard, Joe Lumpkin, Frank and Anne and Anne's five children. Jerry Dabney was not listed at Oak Hill in 1836 when the inventory was taken, but he with many of the people from Ashfield, was transported down to Oak Hill plantation in Iberville, Louisiana.
Jerry survived to see the end of the Civil War. He continued to work for Harriot Adams during reconstruction and was paid $8 per month based on the quality and amount of work.
In 1880 Jerry, was still living in Iberville. He was married to Easter or Hester (depending on the record). It is unclear when Jerry and Hester/Easter passed away or whether they had any any children.
Ancestry.com. U.S., Freedmen's Bureau Records, 1865-1878 [database on-line]. Lehi, UT, USA: Ancestry.com Operations, Inc., 2021.
Research on Jerry and Hester's lives is ongoing.