You are probably referring to the EATON family of Warren Co.,NC, there was a very large Eaton Plantation there, one of the earliest in the area, as a matter of fact. There has even been an excavation of a slave graveyard there in recent years, the results of which are published online. Among the family holdings was a section known as Eaton's Ferry, which was a major river crossing in Colonial and later time period.
There are several people on this Forum who are researching former EATON slaves, but in order to help you, they will need to know some names that you may be looking for. Can you give us some more details and possibly some names of the former slaves you are looking for, and anything else you may know about them?

Deloris