http://xroads.virginia.edu/~hyper/twh/higg.html
An article from 1867 discussing some of the origins of Negro Spirituals, including one that with some variations becomes No More Auction Block:
MANY THOUSAND GO
No more peck o' corn for me,
No more, no more, --
No more peck o' corn for me,
Many tousand go.
No more driver's lash for me, (Twice.)
No more, &c.
No more pint o' salt for me, (Twice.)
No more, &c.
No more mistress' call for me,
No more, no more, --
No more mistress' call for me,
Many tousand go
BTW, the evolution of Charles Albert Tindley's I"ll Overcome Someday (
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TassVI10wqM) into We Shall Overcome includes taking on the melody used for No More Auction Block/Many Tousand Go ... Pete Seeger points out that Blowin' In The Wind also borrows the melody ...