Historians In Awe Over Discovery At Thomas Jefferson’s Monticello Property

Hugh Magee And The Last Living Slave

Hugh Magee was a slaveowner who owned the Lone Star Plantation in Covington County, Mississippi. This is of particular interest because one of his slaves is said to have been the last living slave, Sylvester Magee, who died in 1971, He was well past the age of 100. Actually, according to a New York Times article published at the time, they estimated Sylvester’s age to be at 130 years old.

In addition, some historians have said they believe Sylvester might have served in both the Confederate and Union wars, and that due to his intelligence in speaking on the matters it is thought there is no way he was fabricating his claims. While little documentation exists to prove Sylvester’s origin, this is not an uncommon plight for the history of slaves in the United States. Sylvester Magee is pictured here.