Celebration Sunday-Genealogy Happy Dance!-Finding a Manumission Record

 

  You know the dance. You know you've done it. The one every researcher does after finding something new. The one where you want to jump up and down and shout to everyone that you found the document, contacted a cousin with the family Bible, made a DNA connection, or found a new branch to your tree. The one that is met with glazed stares and eye rolls.

                                                          Celebration Sunday is a place to share your discoveries. 

This weekly series enables everyone to tell about their Genealogy Happy Dance moment. 

Share by scrolling 

down and add your story to the comments section, or you may also put a link to a blog post telling about what had you dancing this week.

Sumter County, South Carolina Conveyance Records, (FamilySearch.org),
William Doughty to Hester, Edward, Sarah, and Susan,
Book D, 1812, pg. 26

My Happy Dance Moment for this week: 

As a researcher in the south, I often run across records of enslavers buying, selling, or willing the enslaved as pieces of property. These are hard records to reconcile with.

This week as I was looking for information on my maternal Daughrity line from Sumter District/County, South Carolina, I was surprised to come across a manumission record.

William Daughty, Jr. gives "the mulatto wench Hetty, and her three mulatto children, named Edward, Sarah, and Susan their full and absolute freedom.....releasing them from a state of slavery and bondage.....making them fully and absolutely and free forever every sense conception and meaning of the word free."

At this time, I am not sure exactly where William fits into my Daughrity family. A grandfather to my William, perhaps?  He may not be part of my line at all. But, he gives me hope. Hope that someone in my family line did was right regarding the holding of the enslaved. 

A genuine happy dance of thankfulness for his huge act of humanity during a time and place when it was uncommon to do so.

What's your Happy Dance Moment?

 Please share, and let's celebrate together!

                                                                      

                                                                                              

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Looking forward to reading about your Happy Dance moment!

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Friends of Friends Friday-Releasing Names from the Estate of John Cantey Thames: Charlotte, Leon, Anthony, Ben, Binkey, January, and Henry

When John Cantey Thames died intestate in Kershaw County, South Carolina in January of 1856 his estate was inventoried and items sold to pay creditors. Among those items listed as goods and chattel were the names of 5 of his enslaved.

.

They are
One Negro Woman Charlotte
Leon young man,
Sam
Anthony
Ben 
Binkey girl
January
Henry

A letter from the administrator of the estate sent a letter to the court informing them

"the estate is considerably in debt. In order to pay said debts, it will be necessary to sell one negro belonging to the said estate named Leon for cash."

An account page shows Leon being sold for $900 and the payment received from "hiring out of negros".

Releasing the names of  Charlotte, Leon, Sam, Anthony, Ben, Binkey, January, and Henry. May they be remembered and reunited with their families.



Source:
Sumter, South Carolina, “South Carolina, Wills and Probate Records, 1670-1980”, database and images, Ancestry (http:www.ancestry.com:accessed 27 May 2020), image for J. C. Thames, 5 Jan. 1855, Bundle 136, package 2, images  274-279, citing Sumter Estate Records, Bundles 135-136, 1784-1960

Are you finding the names of the enslaved in records?
Please transcribe and share them.
Say their names, help connect families.


Thanks so much for stopping by!
Helping you climb your family tree,

Friends of Friends Friday~ The Enslaved of William Kerksey: Releasing Their Names

While researching for clients or for my own family, I often stumble upon the records of the enslaved. When found, these documents should be transcribed and placed online where their descendants can find them. 

Recently while going through a box of original records from Pickens County, South Carolina, I came across this Sale List for the property of a William Kirksey. 

No date is given on the document. These loose papers may be part of the probate proceedings for William Kirksey from Pickens county who died in 1854. Similar names of property are found in the digitized probate package for him on Ancestry.com.

These loose papers are not part of the image collection.

Sale List pg1

Sale List pg2.

The document was found at the South Carolina Department of History and Archives. It was included in a box of loose papers with the label Pickens County, Box 1, Mixed Provenance + Papers.
ca. 1840-ca. 1910.

Enlarged Section of Page 2 

 Page two of the Bill of Sale for the Property of William Kirksey included the following enslaved and those who bought them.

Peter, Nancy and Child- M. Mauldin     $980.00
Caroline and Child-Wm Hunter             $910
(Wm Hunter for R. Kirksey)
Celia -W. D. Steele                                     $872
Candis and Child- C. Kirksey                 $400
Jacob (17 years old)-J.M. Kirksey        $1077
Amelia (17 years old)-D. Garman      $1060
Anderson -C. Kirksey                              $750
Bailes-B.F. Holland                                 $940
Miles-William Kirksey                           $810
Jane-William Kirksey                            $900
Dinah-J.M. Kirksey                                $850
Jane-D. Garman                                     $800
Laviniah-C. Kirksey                               $640
Hester-Robt. Kirksey                             $580
Phoebe-Robt. Kirksey                            $570


Remembering: 
Peter, Nancy and their child
Carolina and her child
Celia
Candis and her child
Jacob
Amelia
Anderson
Bailes
Miles
Jame
Dinah
Jane
Laviniah
Hester
Phoebe



This post will also be shared on The Slave Name Roll Project.

Have you found records of the enslaved while researching?
Please consider extracting and sharing their names.
Are you looking for your African American ancestors?
Please share any names you may have and where and with whom you are looking for them. Working together we can help the African American Community connect with their ancestors. We can say their names.



Thanks so much for stopping by!
Helping you climb your family tree,

Friends of Friends Friday~Releasing their Names: The Enslaved of William Cantey

I love watching Genealogy TV.
Not only is it fun, but there are documents and methodology to learn shown in the episodes. Sometimes, you discover a connection between the ancestors found and you.

On the second episode of season 5 of Finding Your Roots, my interest peaked when the guest Michael K. William was told he had ancestors in Williamsburg County, South Carolina. 
So do I and I listened for a connection. And,  there was.
Unfortunately, it wasn't the type of connection one would want, but it is a reality when you are from the south.

Michael's ancestors were enslaved on a plantation owned by William J. R. Cantey. Hearing the Cantey name and knowing my paternal lines included a line with the same surname, I quickly looked for a link.
It is a distant one. William J.R.Cantey is my 4th Cousin 6 times removed. 

Looking at his probate record I was able to find the evidence of his owning slaves. 
There were many. They are documented on the following pages of an inventory of his property upon his death.

Sumter County, South Carolina, “South Carolina, Wills and Probate Records, 1670-1980”, database and images, Ancestry (http://www.ancestry.com: accessed 23 Jan.2019), image for William J.R. Cantey, 10 August 1846, pg1, Bundle 122, Packet 9, citing “Estate Records, Bundles 133-134, 1784-1960”

The names on this page are:
John
Elsie
Caroline
Celina
Stephen
Joe 
Baccus
Eliza
William
Henny
Linder
William
Nelly
Martha
Mullett
Edwin 
Wallace
Peter
Susanna
Job
Peter
John
Judy
Prissa
Pomphery
Prissy
Lewis
Clara
Margaret
Shiloh
Evaline

Sumter County, South Carolina, “South Carolina, Wills and Probate Records, 1670-1980”, database and images, Ancestry (http://www.ancestry.com: accessed 23 Jan.2019), image for William J.R. Cantey,10 August 1846, pg2, Bundle 122, Packet 9, citing “Estate Records, Bundles 133-134, 1784-1960”

The next page names:
Thomas 
Caroline
Sumter
Young Peter
Gabriella
Suckey
Hester
Thesdon
Rachel
Binah
Simon
Cinder
Cilla
Betty 
Amos
Moley
Quash
Quilla
Old Jonny
Isaac
Sammy
Old Simon
Brewington
March
Emaline
Julia
Eliza

Sumter County, South Carolina, “South Carolina, Wills and Probate Records, 1670-1980”, database and images, Ancestry (http://www.ancestry.com: accessed 23 Jan.2019), image for William J.R. Cantey,10 August 1846, pg3, Bundle 122, Packet 9, citing “Estate Records, Bundles 133-134, 1784-1960”

And they continued on to name on this page:
Binah
Mosely
Billy
Juber
Little Clara
Morris
Robert
Polly
Amy
Tener
Susana
Maldina
Little Joseph
Little James
Hetty 
Prissa
James
Rachel
Maryann
Margaret
Harriet
Little Lewis
Laura
Ella
Quilla
Felix
Careless
John
Cinder
Peggy
Milly 
Durant

Disturbing to see prices next to all these names and the inventory continuing on with the household goods like tables, crockery, and silver.

Releasing their names- all 90 of them- in hopes their descendants will discover them and connect them to their families. This post will be added to the Slave Name Roll Project.


Please take the time to extract names of the enslaved you may find while researching your family history. Their names need to be said again, they need to be remembered and helped back home.


Releasing the names of the enslaved of William Cantey. 
90 names. 90 people. May their families find them.

Thanks so much for stopping by!
Helping you climb your family tree,

Friend of Friends Friday~Releasing Pomphrey

On October 13, 1787, in Monk's Corner, St. John's Parish, South Carolina, John Ryan sold a slave named Pomphrey to Lawrence Campbell, Archibald Campbell, and David Benson of Charleston.

South Carolina Department of Archives and History, “Bills Of Sale, 1773-1843” database, Fold3 (http://Fold3.com accessed 05 Dec. 2018), entry for John Ryan, volume 2Q, pg. 590 (1778)

May Pomphrey be found and connected with his descendants.

Have you discovered the records of the enslaved while researching?
Please consider sharing the documents and transcribing their names so they may be remembered.

This post will be shared with the Slave Name Roll Project. 

Thanks so much for stopping by!
Helping you climb your family tree,

Friend of Friends Friday~Releasing the Names from John Milton Dargan's Estate

Friend of Friends Friday is a blog prompt found on GeneabloggersTribe.com that encourages extracting the names of the enslaved found in documents while researching. 

By extracting and sharing the names we hope to enable their descendants to find them. 

The probate packet of John  Milton Dargan (1799-1847) of Sumter District, South Carolina names those who were enslaved on his property.

Will of John Milton Dargan pg. 1

On the first page, John wills that his slaves are to be kept together and worked on his plantation for the use and support of his wife and children. He also states his wishes that they then be divided among his children upon the death of his wife,
 One "negro girl Betty" is mentioned as already being in the possession of his daughter Leonora.

Will of John Milton Dargan, pg. 2

Again on the second page, John refers to his "slaves" and says they are not to be sold to pay for any debts. No others are mentioned by name.

Inventory of the Estate of John Milton Dargan

The names of the enslaved do appear in the inventory of his estate. They are:
Gilbert
Claiborn
Peggy 
Dinah
Mariah
Bob
May
Legrande
Jesse

May they be remembered and reuinited with their family's.
This post will be added to the Slave Name Roll Project.


Thank you for stopping by!
Helping you climb your family tree,

Emily's Will~Releasing the Names

Many face the situation of finding the enslaved in our ancestor's records. 
This will of my 4th great grandmother Emily Elizabeth (Vaughn) Dargan (1797-1865) is interesting as it was written in May of 1865 just days before the end of the Civil War.
Living in Sumter County, South Carolina all her life, she saw firsthand the horrors of war and a complete change of lifestyle. 

Will of Emily Vaughn

Source: Sumter, South Carolina, “South Carolina, Wills and Probate Records, 1652-1670-1990”, database and images, Ancestry (http://www.ancestry.com: accessed 26 January 2018), image for Emily Dargan, 9 May,1865 will pg. 256-25710-11, citing “Will Book, Vol D-1-E2, 1823-1868”

  She wrote these words 

I will and bequeath my servant boy William to my eight grandchildren viz Milton, Henry, Burgess, Bradford , Bernard, Dargan, Frances, Mary V., Alice Scarborough and to their heirs forever for their equal use and benifit. I will and bequeath my servant boy Iassac an my carriages and horses to my daughter Francis Elizabeth and her heirs forever. Should the following negros viz. Dick, Jim. Wesley, Adam, Amy, Annette, Nelly, Lea, Molly, & Jane which have been taken by the  army of the United States be still my property, or should they or any of them be at any time restored to my estate, I will and bequeath the same to my children and grandchildren and their heirs forever to be equally divided between them, except for my daughter Martha and her children; my granchildren only taking the share which is her or their part if living at the time would be entitled in an equal division of my property among my children.         

Could it really be just days before the end of the war, there was doubt in Emily's mind as to the outcome and ultimate freedom for her "servant boys" and "negros" who had been taken from her?

William, Isaac, Dick, Jim, Wesley, Adam, Amy, Annette, Nelly Lea, Molly, and Jane
 All but William and Isaac were no longer living on the property. If as Emily stated they were taken by the Union Army, where did they go? Were they still in the area or had they escaped north? Why were William and Isaac left behind? 
Perhaps other records will come to light to answer those questions.

As with all my posts releasing the names of the enslaved found while researching, this post will be shared with the Slave Name Roll Project. By extracting their names out of Emily's will and posting online it is hoped their descendants will be able to locate them and reunite them with their family as they are added to the family tree.  

Do you have slave owners in your family tree? If so, won't you consider releasing the names of the enslaved in their records? 

This post was written for 52 Ancestors, week 9 "Where There's a Will" from Amy Johnson Crow.

Thanks so much for stopping by!
Helping you climb your family tree,

                                                                       

Friends of Friends Friday~Hall Hudson's Will-Releasing Gray

Friends of Friends Friday is a blogging prompt from Geneabloggers Tribe to give the community an opportunity to transcribe the names of the enslaved as they come across them while researching and put them online.

When my 5th great grandfather Hall Hudson  (Abt. 1708-1778) from Amelia County, Virginia wrote his will on 13 March 1778 he left to his son Peter Hudson "one negro man named Gray".
Interestingly, the two signatures at the bottom are people with the surname Gray. A coincidence? Probably not.

Henry's will can be found on pages 10 and 11 of the Amelia County, Virginia Will Book, 1780-86.

Hall Hudson 

Will

pg. 10

Amelia Virginia, “Virginia, Wills and Probate Records, 1652-1963”, database and images, Ancestry (http://www.ancestry.com: accessed 26 January 2017), image for Hall Hudson, 13 March 17, 1778, will, Amelia County Will Book no. 3, 1780-86, pg. 10-11, citing “Will Books, Vol 2-3, 1771-1786”

Hall Hudson

Will

pg. 11

Amelia Virginia, “Virginia, Wills and Probate Records, 1652-1963”, database and images, Ancestry (http://www.ancestry.com: accessed 26 January 2017), image for Hall Hudson, 13 March 17, 1778, will, Amelia County Will Book no. 3, 1780-86, pg. 10-11, citing “Will Books, Vol 2-3, 1771-1786”

This post will be added to The Slave Name Roll Project in hopes Gray's family will be able to find him and connect him with his family.

Have you located the names of the enslaved in your family's records? Please consider releasing their names by either writing a post about them and placing the link on the Slave Name Roll Project website or leaving a comment on their blog. Please include the enslaved person(s) names, the name of the owner with the source information for the document including date and location.
Their descendants are looking and they want to be found. Together we can help them reunite.

Thanks so much for stopping by!

Helping you climb your family tree,

Friends of Friends Friday~Winsor, Celia, Sandy and Kia.

Research into the Richbourg family of South Carolina lead to the will of Claudius Richbough.

Will of Claudius Richbourgh

Sumter County, South Carolina Will Books and Estates Index and File Book, 1800-1963 

Will Book, Vol A-Aa, 1800-1822, pg 209-212

Image from Ancestry.com

Claudius Richbourgh (1715-1788), a planter in the St. Marks Parish area of South Carolina, recorded a will leaving members of the enslaved in his possession to his children. 

The will was copied into a will book in 1820.
This is my transcription of that copy.
Spelling and punctuation as originally written.

 In the name of God Amen.

  I Claudius Richbourgh of Craven County in the province of South Carolina of St. Marks Planter being of perfect health and of perfect mind and memory thanks be to almighty God; and calling to reembrace the mortality of my body and that it is ordained for all men once to die, do make and declare this my last will and testament in manner and form following, that is to say, first and principally, I recommend my soul into the hands of God beseeching him to forgive me all my sins through the merits of Jesus Christ my blessed redeemer and my body I bequeath to the earth to be buried and the discretion of my executors hereafter named and as touching such goods worldly estate it hath pleased God to bless me with I give bequeath and devise of the same in manner and form following Impremis--It is my will request and order that all my just debts be first of all duly paid and discharged.

Item I give and bequeath to my beloved son Henry Richbourgh one negroe man by name Winsor to him the said Henry Richbourgh his heirs and assigns forever

Item- I give and bequeath to my beloved son James Richbourgh one negroe boy by name {blank space} to the said James Richbourgh his heirs and assigns forever.

Item -I give and bequeath to my beloved son John Richbourgh one negroe girl by name Celia with her issues and increase to him the said John Richbourg his heirs and assigns forever.

Item-I give and bequeath to my beloved son Nathaniel Richbourgh one negroe boy by name Sandy to him the said Nathaniel Richbourgh during his life and after his death to the lawful heirs of his body.

Item -I give and bequeath to my beloved son William Richbourgh one negroe girl by name Kiah with her issue and increase to him the said William Richbourgh his heirs and assigns forever.

Item-I give and bequeath to my beloved daughter Unity Gayle one negroe girl by name Maria with her issue and increase to her the said Unity Gayle during her life and after her decease then to the heirs of her own body forever.

Item-I give and bequeath to my beloved daughter Susannah Richbourgh one negroe girl by name Betsey with her issue and increase to her the said Susannah Richbourgh during her life and after her decease then the heir of her own body forever.

Item-I give and bequeath to my dearly beloved wife Unity Richbourgh all the remainder of my estate of what kind, nature of denomination whatsoever it may be, or to whosesoever it may be found at the time of my decease both real and personal during her life, and my will and pleasure is that my said wife Unity Richbourgh shall have free possession and enjoyment of the same without any molestation or hindrance whatsoever from or by my executors or other children during her life and further that from and after her decease then I give and bequeath all my estate real and personal both whosesoever and what nature or kind so ever that was in her prosession to be equally divided among Henry Richbourgh, James Richbourgh, John Richbourgh, Unity Gayle and Susannah Richbourgh to be equally and impartically shared and divided between them share and share alike to them or to their heirs and assigns forever.

Lastly I nominate constitute and appoint my three sons Henry, James and John Richbourgh executors of this my last will and testament revoking and disannulling all other former will or wills testament or testaments in witness here of I have here unto set my hand and seal the sixteenth day of February in the year of our Lord One Thousand and seven hundred and seventy eight.

signed sealed published and declared by the testator to be his last will and testament in presence of

RG Dennis

Joseph Joyner

Thomas Avery

And further it is my will all that part of my estate that falls to my son Nathaniel Richbourgh and Unity Gayle, that after their deaths it shall return to the heirs of their bodies forever

Signed Claudius Richbough.

A true copy examined per me

Wm Humphrey Clerk of the Court

South Carolina

Clarendon County

 Personally appeared before me Thomas Avery who being duly sworn on the Holy Evangelists of Almighty God sayeth that he did see the willing named testator sign seal publish and declare the within testament of writing to be his last will and testament and that he saw Richard G. Dennis and Joseph Hoyner subscribe their names as witnesses with him to the said will sworn this 6th Day of September 1788 before John Ridgill J.P. signed Tho. Avery.

Releasing the names of Winsor, Celia, Sandy and Kiah so they may be remembered and lead their families to them.

This post will be submitted to the Slave Name Roll Project created by Schalene Dagutis. Do you have documents and records that list the names of the enslaved? Please consider contributing to this project.