some slave owners were black. an african former indentured servant who settled in virginia in 1621, anthony johnson, became one of the earliest documented slave owners in the american colonies. this was documented when he won a civil lawsuit to own a man named john casor. in 1830, there were 3,775 black slave owners in the south. they owned a total of 12,760 slaves. 80% of the black slave owners lived in louisiana, south carolina, virginia, and maryland.