In a previous post, Speaking Names. The Slave Name Roll Project, I talked about an initiative to try to give researchers and descendants of slave ancestors hope to bridge the 1870 gap. It is called the Slave Name Roll Project, started by Schalene Jennings Dagutis at Tangled Roots and Trees. This is my second post to the Project.
The second volume of the Monroe County Will Books formally spans the years 1819-1829, but as with the litigious society of today, there are often carryovers from preceding years, so I will point out when previous and subsequent volumes should be referenced as I reach them, and will update as necessary.
**Please note that I have provided below any names as I see them written, and indicated the gender and or age as these people were described (for example: Woman, Wench, Girl, Child, Man, Boy). I have also noted to whom they were bequeathed to if specified for the purpose of further tracking. Unless otherwise noted, the following people were described as slaves or negroes.
West Virginia Will Books, Monroe, Volume II, 1819-1829, by order of the Estate holder:
ALEXANDER, James – (Will in Vol I, see previous entry) Estate Appraisals of the Legacies left to wife and two sons, Mathew and Henry, all dated 7 Sep 1814, but not dated as to appearance in court, pages 12-14.
– Patience, Woman, as part of the Legacy of Isabella Alexander, widow, pg 14
– Mary, Girl, as part of the Legacy of Isabella Alexander, widow, pg 14. Mary is known by the Will of James Alexander to be the child of Patience.
– Calm, Man, as part of the Legacy of Mathew Alexander, pg 14
– Sealy, 2 year old Girl, the Legacy of Henry Alexander, pg 14. Sealy is very likely to be the Cicilia, second child of Patience, from the will, as Cicilia was willed to Henry Alexander.
ALEXANDER, Mathew – Will dated 28 Apr 1825, recorded in Monroe County Court Aug 1825, pages 301-302.
– “4thly, I give to my wife Jane Alexander all my Negroes with their Increase forever” pg 302
Estate Appraisal – dated 26 Aug 1825, recorded Oct 1828, pages 478-480.
– Cush (?), Mulatto, no gender specified, pg 480
– Bet, Girl, pg 480
– Dinah, Woman, pg 480
BLACK, William – Estate Appraisal dated 2 May 1822, recorded 21 May 1822, pages 123-124.
– Rachel, Girl, 22 years old, pg 124
– Betty, Girl, 23 years old, pg 124
– Rachel, Girl, 2 years old, pg 124
– Hamilton, Boy, 3 years old, pg 124
– Jack, Boy, 2 years old, pg 124
BOWYER, Adam – Estate Sale dated 22 Aug 1815, recorded May 1825, pages 273-275. Adam Bowyer’s Estate Appraisal is listed in Vol I, and names 3 female slaves, Charlotte, Sally, and Dolly, so the following unnamed women are possibly Charlotte and Sally.
– unnamed, Woman, hired out to Charles Friend for one year, pg 275
– unnamed, Woman, hired out for a period of five years by Christian Bowyer, Administrator of the Estate, pg 275
Estate Settlement of Adam Bowyer, at the death of his Christina Bowyer, dated 17 Jan 1829, recorded Mar 1829, pages 442-443.
– Dolly, Girl, hired out for 4 years, pg 442
– Andrew, Boy, hired out, pg 442
– unnamed, Boy, “Credit… By Raising a negro boy Two years 20.00” pg 442
BOWYER, Christina – Estate Sale dated 20 Jun 1828, recorded Jun 1829, pages 458-463.
– unnamed, Girl, hired out for 1 year to Michael Erskine, pg 460 (Dolly?)
– unnamed, Boy, hired out for 1 year to Michael Erskine, pg 460 (Andrew?)
– unnamed, Small Boy, hired out for 1 year to Anderson A Lewallen, pg 461
BYRNSIDE, John – Estate Settlement not dated, recorded 22 Nov 1821 and settled 15 Jan 1822, pages 102-108. An unspecified number of slaves were hired by Isaac (son of John) and Elizabeth Byrnside, John’s widow on page 102, spanning the years 1817-1821. I’ll be honest in that I’m not entirely sure what this section is telling us. John Byrnside’s will can be found in Vol I, and the names all match up between the will and estate settlement, with only the addition of Charlotte/Shorlot’s child. As there were 7 Legatees of John Byrnside (widow and 6 children), and 7 slaves (and 1 child not separated from its mother) in his possession, the Court assigned values to each slave and had the Legatees each drew lots to determine which slave they received.
– Nelly, 21 years old, to Elizabeth Byrnside, widow, pg 106
– Billy, 30 years old, to Andw Alexander on behalf of his wife Jane, formerly Jane Byrnside, pg 106
– Shorlot (Charlotte?), 19(?) years old, to Thomas Edgar for his wife Elisa, formerly Elisa Byrnside, pg 106
– unnamed, child of Shorlot, to Thomas Edgar for his wife Elisa, formerly Elisa Byrnside, pg 106
– Bob, about 28 years old, to Isaac Byrnside, pg 106
– Mat, about 44 years old, to Julyann Byrnside by her guardian Mathew Alexander, pg 106
– James, about 28 years old, to John Byrnside by his guardian Mathew Alexander, pg 106
– Jack, about 9 years old, to James Byrnside by his guardian Mathew Alexander, pg 106
Guardianship Report by Mathew Alexander, guardian of Julyann, John, and James Byrnside, children of John Byrdnside, dated 9 Feb 1822, recorded 19 Feb 1822, pages 109-110.
– Jim (James), Man, owned by John Byrnside, hired out by his guardian Mathew Alexander, to Elizabeth Byrnside from 25 Jun 1821-31 Dec 1822. Slaves were hired off to highest bidder at Union on 1 Jan 1822, pg 109
– Jack, Small Boy, owned by Jack Byrnside, hired out by his guardian Mathew Alexander, to Elizabeth Byrnside from 25 Jun 1821-31 Dec 1822. Slaves were hired off to highest bidder at Union on 1 Jan 1822, pg 109
– Matt, Man, owned by Julian Byrnside, hired out by her guardian Mathew Alexander, to Elizabeth Byrnside from 25 Jun 1821-31 Dec 1822. Slaves were hired off to highest bidder at Union on 1 Jan 1822, pg 109
CAPERTON, Hugh Sr – Estate Inventory dated 1 Oct 1816, recorded 14 Jan 1819, pages 19-21.
– Tye, Man, pg 19
Estate Sale dated 14 Nov 1816, recorded on an unknown date, pages 22-23.
– Tye, Man, purchased by Henry Erskine, pg 22.
CROW, James – Will dated 1 Mar 1821, recorded in Court 20 Mar 1821, pages 94-95. Note the possible family units either being created or maintained.
– Chloe, Girl, to daughter Fanny Brown, pg 94
– Old Jim, no age or gender specified, to daughter Jane Brown, already in her possession, pg 94
– Mary, no age or gender specified, to daughter Jane Brown, already in her possession, pg 94
– unnamed, Child of Mary, to daughter Jane Brown, already in her possession, pg 94
– Franky, Woman, to daughter Polly Mills, pg 94
– Frank, Boy, to the children of daughter Nancy Shields (deceased), pg 94
– Isaac, Boy, to the children of daughter Nancy Shields (deceased), pg 94
– Lewis, Man, to son John Crow, pg 94
– Moriah, wife of Lewis, to son John Crow, pg 94
– Sally, Child of Moriah, to son John Crow, pg 94
– Joe, Man, to son Joseph Crow, pg 4
– Beck, Woman, to son Joseph Crow, pg 94
– Agga, Beck’s Child, to son Joseph Crow, pg 94
EWING, Oliver – Will dated 17 Jan 1818, brought to court in Jun 1823 with one subscribing witness, continued for further proof, a second appeared in court Oct 1823, pages 198-199.
– Moses, Boy, to nephew Oliver Ewing, son of brother Samuel Ewing, pg 198
– Wilson, Boy, to nephew Oliver Ewing, son of brother Samuel Ewing, pg 198
– Seel, Girl, to niece Sidney Ewing, daughter of brother Samuel Ewing, pg 198
– Lucy, Woman, to Fanny Ewing, daughter of brother Joseph Ewing, pg 198
– Winney, Girl, to Gean Charlton, daughter of sister Fanny Ewing, pg 198
Estate Appraisal dated 7 Nov 1823, recorded Dec 1823, page 208. Mentioned in will (dated 17 Jan 1818) but not appraised: Wilson and Seel.
– Lucy, Girl, about 37 years old, pg 208
– Moses, Man, about 33 years old, pg 208
– Winney, Girl, about 17 years old, pg 208
FLESHMAN, Michael – Estate Appraisal, not dated, recorded in court Jan 1828, pages 362-363.
– unnamed, Girl, pg 363, not mentioned in Will, Vol II page 335, also not mentioned in Estate Sale, pgs 387-388
GRAHAM, David – Estate Appraisal dated 2 Dec 1818, recorded in Court 16 Sep 1823, pages 189-191.
– Joseph, Boy, pg 191
– Fillis, Woman, pg 191
– Alice (?), Girl, pg 191
– Milly, Girl, pg 191
– Ellen, Girl, pg 191
– Luden (?), mall Boy, pg 191
Estate Sale dated 4 Dec 1818, recorded in Court 16 Sep 1823, pages 192-193. It may be possible to at least guess as to which individuals were sold to whom based on their appraisal values and the amount that the purchasers paid, though the amounts paid might suggest purchase on credit or somesuch deal as the amounts are about 10% of the appraised values. One boy is unaccounted for per the Sale.
– unnamed, Girl, purchased by William Clark
– unnamed, Girl, purchased by William Clark
– unnamed, Boy, purchased by William Graham
– unnamed, Girl, purchased by widow Polly Graham
– unnamed, Girl, purchased by widow Polly Graham
GRAHAM, Florence – Widow of James Graham (Vol I). Her will is dated 25 Mar 1824, recorded in Court Dec 1824, pages 250-251. Cleary, a slave also left to James’ widow Florence, is not included in any of Florence’s records in this Volume, despite being willed to her.
– Rose, Woman, to daughter Jane Garrett, pg 250
Estate Appraisal dated Dec 1824, recorded in Court Jun 1825, pages 285-290.
– Rose, Old Woman, pg 286
Estate Account dated 30 Nov 1826, recorded in Court Dec 1826, pages 373-375.
– Rose, Old Woman, pg 373, receipt to daughter Jane Garrads, pg 374
GRAHAM, James – Will listed in Volume I. Additional Estate Appraisal not dated, but recorded in Court Dec 1825, page 320.
– Clary, Woman, pg 320, there being two Clary/Cleary in the will (one listed as a Sr), it is unclear as to which this may be, but likely the younger Cleary as she was willed to his wife Florence, and then to be sold after his wife’s death. Cleary Sr was willed to his daughter Elizabeth Stodghill.
– Rachael, Child, pg 320, not mentioned in James Graham’s Will.
GRAHAM, Samuel – Estate Appraisal dated 19 Jun 1819, recorded Jun 1824, pages 221-222.
– unnamed, Boy, pg 222 This is possibly the boy named Ceasar who was bequeathed to James Graham’s son Samuel “never to be sold nor ever taken from his family during his life” from James Graham’s Will.
GRAY, John – Estate Appraisal dated 25 Feb 1822, recorded in Court 19 Mar 1822, pages 117-119.
– Lymus, Man, about 45 years old, pg 117
Estate Sale dated 27 Feb 1822, recorded 19 Mar 1822, pages 120-123.
– Lymus, Man about 46 years old, purchased by John Wiley, pg 120
HARVEY, Nicholas – Will dated 8 Oct 1825, recorded in Court Dec 1826, pages 360-361.
– Moses, Boy, to son John Harvey, pg 361
– Nancy, Girl, to son James Harvey, pg 361
Estate Appraisal dated 22 Dec 1826, recorded Dec 1826, pages 349-353. Based on this Inventory, Nicholas Harvey may have been running an inn, or similar public house, per the will it was likely in the Red Sulphur Springs area.
– Moses, Boy, pg 351
– Nancy, Girl, pg 351
HAYNES, William – Will dated 6 Aug 1819, recorded in Court May 1819, pages 2-5, then a codicil attached pages 5-6.
– Minta, Woman about 25 years old, to only daughter Agness Davidson Erskine, wife of Michael Erskine, pg 2
– Harry, Mulatto Man about 30 years old, to son James Madison Haynes, pg 3
– Gilbert, Boy about 3 years old, son of Minta, to son James Madison Haynes, pg 3
– Jim, Man about 21 years old, to son Andrew Shanklin Haynes, pg 3
– Bob, Man, married to Betsy, to son William Powel Haynes, pg 3
– Betsy, Woman, married to Bob, to son William Powel Haynes, pg 3
– Sam, Boy about 5 1/2 years old, to son Thomas Neilson Haynes, pg 3
– Jinny, Mulatto Girl, born 29 Dec 1808 to Minta, “shall have her freedom when she arrives at the age of eighteen years old provided the same can be obtained agreeable to the Laws of this state and it is my will that my daughter Agness Davidson Erskine shall take the said Girl at my Death into her possession and have the full control & Benefit of her services until she obtains her freedom agreeable to Law as aforesaid and I require that not any of my legal Representatives will oppose her emancipation,” pg 4
The Codicil immediately following the Will swaps the ownership of Bob and Betsy from William Powel Haynes to Andrew Shanklin Haynes, and gives Jim to William Powel Haynes instead of Andrew Shanklin Haynes.
**There is some additional information on this family, and their slaves available in the book The History of Summers County from the Earliest Settlement to the Present Time by James H. Miller**
JOHNSON, Thomas – Will dated 16 Mar 1819, recorded in Court Jan 1826, page 322.
– Edmund, no age or gender specified, to daughter Peggy Johnson
– Sall, no age or gender specified, to daughter Peggy Johnson
– unnamed – child of Sall, to daughter Peggy Johnson
Estate Appraisal not dated, recorded Jun 1827, pages 398-399.
– Edmond, Boy, named in Will, p 398
– Sall, Girl, named in Will, p 398
– Dilse (?), Small Girl, p 398
– Wilson, Boy, p 398
– Albert, Boy, p 398
– Viney, Small Girl, p 398
Estate Sale dated 1826, recorded Mar 1828, pages 400-401. The individuals sold at the Estate Sale were not named specifically. We know that Edmund, Sall, and an unnamed child of Sall were to be taken in by Peggy Johnson, but it is currently unknown which of the four named slaves from the Estate Appraisal is that unnamed child of Sall.
– unnamed, purchased by Richard Johnson, p 400
– unnamed, purchased by Geo Beirne (?), p 400
– unnamed, purchased by Isaac Wist, p 400
MAY, Pierce W Estate Appraisal dated 6 Dec 1822, recorded in the Court in Mar 1824, p 215. None of the mentioned slaves were sold in the Dec 1822 Estate Sale on page 344 of Vol II. Under the accounts of Joseph Alderson, Adminstrator of the estate of Pierce W. Mays, the hire of 3 Negroes in 1824, and 2 in 1825 per page 356 in Vol II. The Estate Settlement was written 16 Oct 1829, and recorded in the Oct 1829 Court, page 498, no names listed.
– Betty, Woman, p 215
– Sophy, Woman, p 215
– Jinny, Woman, p 215
– unnamed, Child of Jinny, p 215
– Jordan (?), Boy, p 215
– Sam, Boy 2 years old, p 215
– Sally, Child, p 215
McDANIEL, Henry Sr Will written 1 Apr 1819, recorded in Court Jun 1819, page 7.
– unnamed, unspecified number or ages, to wife Caty, then to son Isack after her death, all but one to be chosen by daughter Peggy to never be sold in her lifetime without her consent.
Estate Appraisal written 24 Jun 1819, recorded in Court 17 Nov 1819, page 38.
– Winney, Woman, p 38
– Svady, Girl, p 38
– Clony. Girl, p 38
– Rachael, Girl, p 38
NEWMAN, Jonathan Estate Appraisal completed 28 Aug 1817, recorded in Jan 1825 Court, pages 258-259.
– Shed, Boy, about 8 years old, p 258
– Charlotte, Girl, about 14 years old, p 258
Nickell, John Estate Appraisal ordered Dec 1825, and recorded in Court Jun 1829, pages 455-457.
– Edwin, Boy, page 456
Nickell, Margaret Will written 24 Nov 1825, recorded in Court Dec 1825, page 317.
– Dulce, Woman, to nephew William Patton [possibly the same woman called Dilse/Disse in the will and estate appraisal of Robert Nickell Vol I,1813 & 1816], p 317
– Emily, Child of Dulce, to nephew William Patton ” till she comes to the age of twenty one years which time I allow her to be set free if the Laws of Virginia will admit if not she is to remain the property of the said William Patton together with the sd Dulce to him and his heirs forever,” p 317
– Jack, Man, to “nephew John Gray, son of Archibald and to pay each of his brothers and sisters an equal share of the value of Jack, reserving two shares to himself,” p 317
Estate Appraisal ordered at Dec 1825 Court, recorded Jul 1826 Court, pages 336-337.
– unnamed, Man, likely Jack from the will, p 337
– unnamed, Woman, likely Dulce from the will, p 337
– unnamed, Child, likely Emily from the will, p 337
PACK, John Estate Appraisal orded Dec 1825 Court, recorded in Court Feb 1826, pages 325-328.
– Shada, Girl, p 327
PATTON, Robert Will dated 7 Aug 1823, recorded in Oct 1823 Court, page 197.
– More, Man, “to be sold after my decease and my executors shal sel said More by private sale endeuvouring to get him a good Master…” p 197
PENCE, Jacob Will dated 17 Nov 1820, recorded in Court 19 Dec 1820, pages 77-79.
– unnamed, Girl, “My Negro girl is not to be sold but remain on the place and if she should have seven Children eatch of my Children have one and the youngest son Washington to have the Negro Mother, but if she should not have saven Children hur and hur Children must be sold by the Executors and the time of Credit is with teh executors and the money equlley divided among my Children,” p 78
Estate Appraisal completed 3 Sep 1821, pages 79-80, estate sale follows the appraisal.
– unnamed, Girl, p 80
RAEBURN, John Sr Will dated 10 Feb 1823, recorded in Court Nov 1824, pages 238-239.
– Amey, Girl, to wife Elizabeth Raeburn, then to son Isaac Raeburn after her death, p 238
– Abigal, Girl, to son John Raeburn, after wife Elizabeth’s death, p 239
– Elijah, Boy, to son John Raeburn, after wife Elizabeth’s death, p 239
– James, Boy, to son Charles Raeburn, already in his possession, p 239
– Lucinda, Girl, to daughter Margaret Tracey, p 239
– Feny, Girl, to daughter Margaret Tracey, p 239
– Sarah, Girl, to son Henry Raeburn, p 239
– Malitia, no gender or age specified, to son Isaac Raeburn, p 239
– Kinder, no gender or age specified, to son Isaac Raeburn, p 239
– Mary, no gender or age specified, to son Isaac Raeburn, p 239
SHAWVER, John Estate Appraisal completed 24 Jun 1828, recorded Jun 1829 Court, pages 494-498.
– Rody (?), Girl, aged 14 years, page 497
SHAWVER, Sebastian Estate Appraisal dated 28 Mar 1818, recorded at Court 22 Aug 1823, page 185.
– unnamed, Woman, [likely Rose mentioned in the will in Vol 1], p 185
– unnamed, Child (of unnamed woman above), not mentioned in will, p 185
– Nancy, Girl, not mentioned in will, p 185
– Maria, Girl, not mentioned in will, p 185
– Jim, Boy, [likely Jame mentioned in will to be given to grandson Samuel Longton], p 185
– Betsy, Girl, given to daughter Barbarra Rowen in will, p 185
– Davy, Man, mentioned in will, to be sold and the funds equally divided, p 185
– Lewis, Boy, mentioned in will, given to daughter Elizabeth Hambarger, p 185
SHUMATE, Daniel Will dated 7 Jul 1826, recorded in Aug 1826 Court, pages 368-370.
– Liza, Woman, to wife Milley, p 369
– Grinnage, Boy, to be divided between four of his children after his wife Milley’s death: Betsey, Silas, John, and Polly, p 369
– Hetty, Girl, to son Tollison, p 369
– unnamed, all slaves (etc) not already divised in the will to be equally divided between Daniel, Nancy, Peggy, Rhoda, Malinda, and Rachel, p 369
Estate Appraisal completed 31 Aug 1826, recorded at Dec 1827 Court, pages 375-377.
– Liza, left to widow Milly Shumate, p 375
– Grinage, Infant [noting that any individual under the age of 21 could be called an Infant], left to widow Milly Shumate, p 375
– Hetty, Infant [noting that any individual under the age of 21 could be called an Infant], left to Tolisson Shumate, p 375
– Pheobe, Girl, part of the remaining estate not otherwise devised, p 376
– George, Boy, part of the remaining estate not otherwise devised, p 376
Estate Sale held 1 Sep 1826, recorded by the Court Dec 1827, pages 377-381
– Pheobe, Girl, sold to Larken Tuggle by virtue of power of attorney (receipt on pg 419), p 379
– George, Boy, sold to John McDaniel by virtue of power of attorney (receipt on pg 419), p 379
SPARR, George Will dated 25 Feb 1823, recorded on 20 May 1823 at Court, page 179.
– Rose, Woman, to wife Sally Sparr for her lifetime, then to nephew George Sparr son of John Sparr, along with any increase, p 179
– Minty, Girl, to wife Sally Sparr for her lifetime… also to niece Catharine Spar daughter of John Spar, forever, p 179
– David, Man, to brother John Sparr, p 179
– Rachael, Girl, to niece Sally Spar daughter of John Spar, p 179
– Dolly, Girl, to niece Elizabeth Spar daughter of John Spar, p 179
Estate Appraisal, not dated, recorded at Oct 1823 Court, page 200.
– David, Man, p 200
– Rose, Woman, p 200
– unnamed, Child of Rose, not mentioned in will, p 200
– Rachel, Girl, p 200
– Minty, Girl, p 200
– Dolly, Girl, p 200
SYMMS, Samuel Will dated 21 Jun 1819, recorded in Court 15 May 1821, page 96.
– Stot, Bound Boy, “and my will is that givens otherwise Stot a bound boy I have do live with my wife [Margaret Symms] and to her use until he is of age then she do for him Indentures direct or more if she think proper…” page 96
VAWTER, William Will dated 26 Nov 1818, recorded in Court 17 Dec 1822, page 155.
– Nelly, Female, p 155
– Jerry, Male, p 155
– Willis, Male, p 155
“‘Tis my desire that Jerry shoud have his freedom at any time he will take it or desire it – also Nelly if she wishes her freedom and will go to where she can have it, and Willis is to be free is he chooses to have it by complying with the laws of the state, at the age of twenty five years old, but if any or all chooses to stay with any of my family my will is that they are well used, and if they stay longer with the family than myself or wife lives they may choose with branch of the family to live with they pleas. If they choose to go where they can be free my Executors is requested to Emancipate them.”