HICKS FAMILY

     Rachel Butler Hicks (seated), James Henry Hicks, spouse (left), Beverly Hicks, son, (right)

courtesy of Katie Pool Primas, granddaughter of Beverly Hicks

After reading the New York Times' article about the Jesuit slaveholdings, Katie Pool Primas sent me this photograph of my great-grandparents, Rachel and Henry Hicks, and their son, Beverly. Katy is the granddaughter of Beverly Hicks. I never thought that I would see the faces of my great-grandparents because they were deceased when I was born. With the photo, Katy included the message "hoping this will help you."  I was "over the moon" when I received this photograph. Beverly is the older brother of Nace Hicks, my grandfather.

Rachel Butler was born into slavery on Jesse Batey's Maringuion Plantation in circa 1852. She was the daughter of two of the original enslaved people, James Scott, born 1816, and Mary Butler, born in 1835. Rachel is also the granddaughter of four  enslaved people,  Bennett and Clare Scott and Nace and Biby Butler who were sold to Jesse Batey in 1838. This is a photo of Rachel,my great-grandmother, who was a child of four enslaved people and who was enslaved with them and her grandparents on Jesse Batey's plantation. Henry Hicks, my great-grandfather, was born in Virginia around 1851.  It is not known how and when he arrived in Louisiana.