Joseph “Old Joe” Greenlief was born around 1781 and was enslaved at Newtown Manor plantation in Maryland. With his wife, Esther “Old Stacey” (b.1781), the couple had six children: Anthony (b.1813), Sylvester (b.1819), Emeline (b.1822), Miles (b.1825), Mary (b.1826), and Esther Lucinda (b.1828). In 1838, the entire family was purchased by Henry Johnson and transported to Louisiana on the Katharine Jackson. Both Joseph and Esther passed away before 1845 and left behind a legacy of thirteen grandchildren, all born on the Louisiana plantation.
