Fantastic Find: Ancestry's New Free Database May Help Fill Historical Gaps for Black Americans

On my way home yesterday I was listening to NPR's All Things Considered and one of their feature stories was titled:

This database could help descendants of enslaved people learn about their ancestry.*

Ancestry has made available tens of thousands of old newspaper records about formerly enslaved people. If you're wondering what sort of information can be found in this type of record, here is the explanation given by Nicka Sewell-Smith, a genealogist and senior story producer at ancestry.com:

These records are incredible because they come from approximately 38,000 newspaper articles, and the date range is from approximately 1788 to 1867. And amongst those 38,000 newspaper articles, we have the names and details of more than 183,000 formerly enslaved people in a free collection that potentially could help millions of descendants discover more about their ancestors...

With this collection, you are really getting a bird's-eye view into the everyday nature of enslavement in the United States. A lot of times, we just think about the roles of those involved in the system, and, you know, it just is corralled to the formerly enslaved and their slaveholders. But you'll also see folks who were seeking their freedom and their actual details of what they looked like, what they wore.

There are even individuals in this collection where you get to learn about them and their personality traits, like - there's one man that I loved reading about that could speak three languages. And a lot of times, folks think that the enslaved, you know, weren't educated, or they didn't have skills other just being in agriculture, but they were just varied people who had lives and being brought back to prominence with their names being in this collection.

Anyone can access the database at home and for free. All you need is just a free Ancestry account and get to searching.** This is a random sample: 

The Louisville Daily Courier, Thursday, August 11, 1859 Page 3

* You can listen to the whole thing here (4 minutes). The transcript is available here.

**This collection is called U.S., Newspapers.com™ Auctions of Enslaved People and Bounties on Freedom Seekers Index, pre-1880

 

© 2024 Copyright, Christine Manczuk, All Rights Reserved.

Fantastic Find Revisited: CSI: Dixie

Here's the site's simplest description of what it contains: "CSI: Dixie collects 1582 coroners reports from six South Carolina counties for the years 1800-1900." The counties include Anderson County, Edgefield County, Greenville County, Kershaw County, Spartanburg County, and Union County.

Put together by historians at the University of Georgia as a part of their ehistory project which seeks "not merely to reach a broader public but to involve a broader public."

[Unitarian Cemetery, Charleston South Carolina Gateway Walk, 2008. My photo.]

If your ancestors lived in one of those six South Carolina counties, you just might find familiar names mentioned in the records and you're welcome to share what you know:

"For all its focus on the dead, then, CSI:D is a living project, inviting users to contribute photos, documents, leads, and details in the cases of 1582 unfortunate souls. Unlike a book, which seeks to be the last word on a subject, CSI:D is just the first word; it is an appeal to the public to join an ongoing investigation."

And even if you don't happen to have anyone from those counties, the site provides a useful description of the history and role of coroners and their juries in the 19th century South.

Hat tip to Erik Loomis of Lawyers, Guns & Money blog.

Note: I first posted this in 2016 and I neglected to mention that some of these coroners reports detail the deaths of slaves. Here are links to reviews and notices of CSI:D that include the insight into the violence of slavery.


© 2018 Copyright, Christine Manczuk, All Rights Reserved.

From the Probate Files: William Richardson - Anne Arundel County, Maryland - 1698

I wasn't able to locate a scan of eighth great grandfather  William Richardson Senior's will but here's a transcript of it:

[Descendants of Richard & Elizabeth (Ewen) Talbott of Popular Knowle, West River, Anne Arundel County, Maryland' 

Ida M. Snirk, author. Genealogical Publishing Com, 2009. Source: Google books.]

Although William stated in this 1691 document that he was "sick and weak of body" he didn't die for another 7-1/2 years as it wasn't  presented for probate until 1698.

He made specific bequests of land to his two younger sons Daniel and Joseph, a smaller tract to his daughter Sophia, and his eldest son William (Junior) was granted permission to use land that was part of his widow Elizabeth's plantation known as Watkins his Hope "always provided that he makes use be not prejudicial to his mother." Since no tract of land was left to William by this will I think it's almost certain that William, who seems to have been his only child to have attained his majority, had already been provided for.

William remembered his step-children, leaving a cow calf to each of them. He also bequeathed a heifer to his daughter-in-law. The remainder of his estate after all the bequests was to be divided into three parts with his widow receiving her choice of them and the rest being divided into four parts shared equally between his four children.

Five pounds "Sterling money" was left to "the stock in Friends called Quakers" within three years of his decease.

I think the most interesting part of his will is what his intentions were for "the three negro children* that I have given and bequeathed to my children, called by the names of Chargoe, Mary and Susan, shall serve until they attain the ages of fifty years and then be set free." I wonder if that happened.

*Daughter Sophia was bequeathed Mary, C[h]argoe was left to son Joseph and Susan was to be given to his grandson William Richardson.



© 2018 Copyright, Christine Manczuk, All Rights Reserved.

From the Probate Files: John H. Hardy - Russell County, Alabama - 1854

When this paternal fourth great grandfather John Hardy* made his will in April of 1854 he was 81 and had outlived two wives and a number of his children including my direct ancestor Alfred Ward Hardy.

["Alabama Probate Records, 1809-1985." Images. FamilySearch. http://FamilySearch.org : 14 June 2016. County courthouses, Alabama.]

         Will of John Hardy
Russell County
  State of Alabama } I, John Hardy of the State
and County aforesaid being of sound mind
and memory do make and ordain this my last
will and testament as follows. First I direct
that all my just debts shall be paid. Second
I wish and it is my will that my daughter Fer-
aby Lockhurt shall have my horse and buggy
  Third. I wish and is my will that my negro woman
Rachel shall be permitted to live with my children as
she may desire. David Lockhart my son in law is
hereby appointed her Guardian to whose direction
and control I commit her that my will herein ex-
pressed may be performed as the laws of the State
may allow.
 Fifth. After the above special bequests have been made
it is my will that all my property be equally divided a-
mong all my children, the living children of those that
are dead receiving that portion that would belong to the
parents were they living.
  Sixth. I hereby appoint my son Wm Hardy to 
that portion of my property which I have bequeath
ed to the children of my daughter Elenor Lockhart 
deceased. I also direct said Trustee to hold said
property until the youngest living child of the
aforesaid Elenor Lockhart shall be twenty one years
of age or shall marry when I desire that the mon-
ey with the accruing interest to be equally divided
among the legal heirs of my daughter aforesaid
  Seventh I hereby appoint my son in law David
Lockhart trustee for the children of my son James
W Hardy deceased the money to be managed as directed
for the funds of the children of my daughter Elenor Lockhart
  Eighth. I hereby appoint my grandson James W Hardy
trustee for the children of my son John P Hardy deceased
Gabriel Parks trustee for the children of my daughter
mary G Parks deceased, Abram Chappel Trustee for the
children of my son Alfred Hardy deceased, William Bennett
Trustee for the children of my daughter Louisa Bennett
deceased and Mr. Wesson, the present husband of their
mother trustee for the children of my son Charles Har-
dy deceased and these trustees thus appointed are
requested to receive the property of the respective
legatees and to dispose of the same according
to the laws of the State of Alabama. I hereby
/
appoint David Lockhart & John H Lockhart
his son executors to this my last will nad
testament. In witness whereof I hereunto
set my hand and seal April 12th 1854
Test.  David Watson                  }
         Nashe Sledge                   } John Hardy {Seal}
         A B Bennett                     }

The State of Alabama Russell County
   Be it remembered that on this 18th day of
November AD 1854 in the probate Court of said
County personally came David Watson & Abijah B Bennett
two of the subscribing witnesses to the foregoing will of
John Hardy deceased who being duly sworn do depose
and say that they each saw the said John Hardy sign
seal publish and declare the same to be and contain
his last will and testament on the 12th April 1854;
that they each signed the same as witnesses in the pres-
ence of the said John Hardy and that they saw the
other witness sign the same as a witness in the pres-
ence of the said John Hardy and that the said John
Hardy at the time of signing said will was of sound
mind and that he executed the same without any
fears threats or compulsion so far as they know
or believe
   Sworn to 18th November 1854   } David Watson
          Thomas S Tate                     } A B Bennett
                 Judge of Probate

The first thing I noticed while doing the transcription of John's will is that whoever copied the original will into the probate record seems to have left out a section as it jumps from third to fifth.

There are lots more probate records available on FamilySearch so I'll see what else I can find. We know that John owned at least one enslaved person, Rachel. If I can locate the inventory of his estate we'll know more about his other possessions.


*Here's my descent from John H. Hardy.

[Ancestry.com]

© 2018 Copyright, Christine Manczuk, All Rights Reserved.

From the Probate Files: William Freeman - Surry County, North Carolina - 1802

I haven't found any information about my paternal 4X great grandfather William Freeman before 1753 when someone of that name appears in colonial records as a resident of Chowan County, North Carolina. There is some reason to believe that he may have been of Scots-Irish descent and could have been an immigrant. Although there have been claims that he was a veteran of the Revolutionary War I don't find any convincing evidence to support them.

However, by 1784 he had become a resident of Surry County where his name appears in the 1790 and 1800 U.S. Censuses. And that's where he was living when he made his will on March 25, 1802.

[North Carolina Probate Records, 1735-1970; https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:SQWX-D191-9?cc=1867501&wc=32L2-K6X%3A170003101%2C170786401]

In the name of God Amen. I William Freeman of the County of
Surry and State of North Carolina being weak in body but
of perfect mind and memory Thanks be to God for the same but
calling to mind the mortallity for all men once to die do make and
ordain this my last will and testament that is to say
  First of all, I give and recommend my soul into the hands of
god who gave it and my body to the earth to be buried in a decent
Christian like manner at the discretion of my Executors nothing
doubting that at the General Resurection I shall receive the same
again by the Power of God; and as touching such worldly Estate 
wherewith it has pleased God to bless me in this life I give demise
and dispose of the ame in the following manner and form.
   Item the 1st, And first and first I give to be beloved son
Josiah Freeman my negro boy named Hardy.
And 2ndly I give to my daughter Kiddy Mitchel a negro girl
named Chloe
   3rd I also give unto my son William Freeman one negro girl names Crease
   4th I give to my well beloved wife Sarah one mare saddle and bridle
and two cows and calves two basons and one dish and six plates and
likewise her peacible liveing on the plantation during her life time or
widowhood: Also I give her one negro man name Primas and one

                                                                                             wench

[North Carolina Probate Records, 1735-1970; https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:SQWX-D191-9?cc=1867501&wc=32L2-K6X%3A170003101%2C170786401]

wench named Ruth during the same (and after that the said
mare and negroes to go to my son Tyre I also give her one
feather bed and furniture
   5th I also leave to my daughter Polly one mare named Pol
and twenty dollars in cash.
   6th I also give to my daughter Penelope Hains one negro girl
named Milly.
   7th I also give to my son Tyre all my lands and plantation
where I now live: A also give and bequeath him my still and
all the necessary utentials to her belonging, I also give him
one negro boy name Will and one horse called Sumpter also I give
him all my stock of hogs and Sheep and one feather bed and 
              & all necessary household furniture
furniture ^ and plantation tools and one cow and calfe 
   Then all the property or remaining part of my Estate I leave
to be equally divided between Noah, John, Richard and David
   And I do hereby utterly disallow revoke and disannul all and 
every other formes Testament wills legacies bequests and Executors
by me in any wise ^before^ named, willed, or bequeathed ratifying and
confirming this and no other to be my Last will and testament
   I do constitute and appoint my worthy friends James Howard
and Nathan Haynes Executors to this my last will and testament.
   In witness whereof I have hereunto set my hand and seal 
this twenty-fifth day of March in the year of our Lord one
thousand eight hundred and two.
Signed sealed and delivered in presents of us}  William Freeman {seal}
Edward Smith
Lydia Smith
Jonathan Allen

                                                                                    State of 

[North Carolina Probate Records, 1735-1970; https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:SQWX-D191-9?cc=1867501&wc=32L2-K6X%3A170003101%2C170786401]

State of North Carolina Surry County, May Session AD 1802

Edward Smith and Lydia Smith two of the subscribing witnesses

to the foregoing last will and testament of William Freeman, made

oath that they saw the said Freeman sign publish and declare 

the same to be his last will and testament that he was of sound

and disposing mind and memory and at the same time they

saw Jonathan Allen sign the same as a witness thereto which

was ordered to be recorded.    Recorded according by Jo Willliams CC

There are more probate records for William Freeman's estate which I'll post about next week.

Here's how I'm related to him:

[Ancestry.com]

© 2018 Copyright, Christine Manczuk, All Rights Reserved.

Free Limited Time Webinar: Nicka Smith presents "Full Circle: Tracing the Descendants of a Slaveholding Ancestor"

When Ben Affleck insisted that his "Finding Your Roots" not include mentioning his slave-owning ancestor he missed a real opportunity to help a broad audience explore and understand a very real and painful era in American history, and how it might relate to their ancestry.  One one level, I understood his reluctance to associate with any ancestors who owned slaves. I was upset when I realized that a hefty portion of my mother's father's ancestors were slave owners, but I also immediately saw that this opened up new possibilities for helping in the enormous task of drawing out and distinguishing and naming at least some of the individuals who were trapped in slavery.

My mom has done some work toward this already in her series of posts on Mary Warren of Virginia, Georgia, and Texas (c. 1810-c. 1885).  She also covered incidental information on a few of the slaves of my 4th great grandmother Timney Watts (1805-1863) who racked up medical bills at the end of her life.

Nicka Smith presented "Full Circle: Tracing the Descendants of a Slaveholding Ancestor" yesterday showing steps in tracing people like me and my mom (and even Ben Affleck):

Descendants of former slaveholders come from all walks of life. DNA and renewed interest in family history research continue to unearth this phenomena for thousands of people every day. In this session, learn how to confirm slaveholding ancestors and the tools needed to trace and identify living descendants of their formerly enslaved.

1 hour 37 minutes
Free through January 19, 2018


© 2018 Copyright, Christine Manczuk, All Rights Reserved.

From the Probate Files: William Coale - Anne Arundel County, Maryland, 1678/9

If William Coale's estate was as substantial as it appears from the bequests in his will, the tobacco which he was to receive as noted in the Quaker Mens Meeting of 1676 doesn't appear to have been an act of charity.

I William Coale of ye County of Ann Arundell in the
Province of Maryland being sick and weake of Boddy
but of Sound and Perfect memory calling to mind [ye]
ffrailety & Mortality of all man kinde doe make
Ordaine Constitute and Appointe this my Last will
& testament in Manner & forme following & I give &
Bequeath my Soule unto god that gave it my Body
unto ye Earth from whence it was taken to be buried
at ye discretion of my Executrix hereafter to be 
named. Imprimio I give and Bequeath unto my [Sonne]
William Coale Borne of ye Boddy of Hester my
wife all my Land Knowne by ye name of Great
Bonnerstum Seituated Lyeng & being in west Ri[ver]
In ye county of Ann Arundell According unto the
meates & Boundes contained in ye land Pattint
ye same Bearing date the 16 day of ffebruary 16[59]
unto him & his heirs forever with one ffeather B[ed]
Curtaines & vallued of ye price of Seven poundes w[ith]
two pairs oof Sheetes one man servant A new hand {for]
terme he shall have to serve this to be delivered
next shiping after my decease with two Cowes {&]
two Breeding Sowes
(2 O doe give & Bequeath unto my Second Sonne W[m]
                           Coale
=====
Coale Begotten of Ye Boddy of Hannah my Second
wife One Hundred Acres of Land part of ye Sd Land
Knowne by ye name of Hickrey Hills being ye lower pat
theirof next unto Potexson River unto him & his heires
for Ever with one ffeather Beed & Curtaines and 
Valleined of ye Price of seven poundes & two pairs of
Sheetes together with ye Sume of four thousand 
poundes of tobacco when he attains unto age of one 
& twenty with one man Servant two Cowes with  
Calve or Calves by theire sides two breeding Sowes: and
ffoure thousand poundes of Tobacco when he attains
ye age of two & twenty
3 I give & Bequeath unto my Sonne Samuell Lawfully
Begotten of ye Boddy of my wife Elizabeth Eight
thousand poundes of tobacco to be paid unto him
when he shall Attaine to ye age of one & twenty together
with two men servants one of them my Negro Knowne
by ye name of Jack if he Shall then be alive & in case of
his mortality one Abell man Servant a new hand for
ye terme he shall have to serve, Alsoe two hundred
Acres of Land Part of Portland Mann: next unto
Potucson River & soe downward unto him & his
                               heires

Heires Lawfully Begotten of his Boddy & for w[ant]
of such heires to come Descend unto Phillip my
Sonne & his heires Lawfully Begotten of his boddy
& if my Sonnes should dye without Issue my Will
is ye ye Said Land descend unto ye next heire maile
of ye Coales & for want of such heire Maile to go[e]
unto ye next heire femaile
4) I doe give & Bequeath unto my Sonne Phillip
Bournn of ye Boddy of my wife Elizabeth three
hundred Acres of Land ye Resedew of Portland
Mann. after ye decease of Elizabeth my wife
unto him & his heires lawfully begotten of his
Body & for want of such heires to come and c[?]
descend unto my Sonne Samuell & his heires [?]
lawfully begotten as aforesaid & In case they
shall both dye without Issue then ye said Land [?]
fall & go unto ye next heire male of ye Coales and
for want of such heire hale to descend unto ye n[ext]
heires female & theire heires for Ever  I doe al[soe]
will unto my Somme Phillip two men Servants one of
them my Negro Knowne by Ye name of Roger if [he]
                            shall
======
Shall then be Alive & if not then one New hand & in
his Toome for ye terme he shall have to serve together
with two Cowes with Calfe or Calfesby theire sides &
two Breeding Sowes a ffeather Bedd & curtaines of
furniture of ye value of Seven poundes & two pr: of sheetes
& Eight thousand poundes of Tobacco
5) I doe give unto my daughter Elizabeth Eighteen
thousand poundes of Tobacco ye one helfe within
one year after she att ye age of fifteen together with
one ffeather Bedd Curtaines & Vallens of ye Price
of seven poundes & two pr of sheetes
Lastly  I doe constitute Ordaine & Appointe my ???
and well beloved wife ElizabethCoale my Sole &
whole Exe'x. of this my last will & testam: giving unto
my said Exe'x: my now Dwelling plantacon and three
hundred Acres of Land Adjoyning unto her owne
Proper use to her for during her naturall life & after
ye Exspiation theirof to descend unto my Sonne c
Phillip According and ??m this my Last will before
Expressed I doe also give & Bequeathunto my
Said Loving Wife & Ex'x: after my Just debts are
                   paid

[Will books; Author: Maryland. Prerogative Court; Probate Place: Maryland. Notes: Wills, vol 4-10, 1670, 1676-1679, 1682-1700. Ancestry.com. Maryland, Wills and Probate Records, 1635-1777 [database on-line]. Provo, UT, USA: Ancestry.com Operations, Inc., 2015.

Original data: Maryland County, District and Probate Courts.]

Paide & satisfyed & those my Legacies delivered
all ye Reaining of my Said Estate whither in
goods or Merchandize Tobaccoe goode or Moneys in
England unto her owne proper use [?] behoofe In
Confirmacon wheireof I have sette my hand & Seale
this twenty Six day of Octob: one thousand Six
hundred seventy Eight
Signed Sealed & delivered in 
the presence of ??                          WM Cole (Sealed]
Samuell Lane
Thomas ffrancis
And on ye Backside of ye Said will was written
Febry ye 6:78
Came Maj'r Samuell Lane of An Arundell County &
at ye house of ye Said Samuell Lane did then & th[ere?]
make oath & he ye Said Samuell saw ye testa[tor]
within menconed Instrument to be his Last will &
Testam: & that he was of a sound disposinge m[ind]
when he saw signed published & delivered &
further ye said Maj'r Lane as Physician to ye
Testat'r doth upon his oath further declare
said Testat'r not Long after ye publishing of [ye]
=====
Instrument was not capable of making another &
doth veryly believe that neither did or could make
another sworne before me  Thomas Taylor
Febr'y 24|78 then came Thomas ffrancis one of ye evidences
to ye within menconed testamt: before me at my
dwelling house & made Oath to ye same and the
above menconed Maj'r Lane verbatim Jurat Cor????
                            Thomas Taylor

As you can see from the will, William Coale's two surviving oldest sons were both named William*.My direct ancestor is the second one, the child of Hannah, whose first husband's surname was Galloway** but whose maiden name is unknown.

It seems likely that this William Coale was born in England and came to Maryland in the 1640 or 50s, although there are some believe that he was born in Virginia. You can read about the various claims here and decide for yourself.



*It isn't uncommon to find the same given name used by different wives of a man.
**The Galloways were a well-known family in the area.

© 2017 Copyright, Christine Manczuk, All Rights Reserved.

From the Probate Files: Richard Richardson - Frederick County, Maryland, 1761

As promised in Monday's post about my maternal ancestor Milcah Richardson, here is the 1761 Will of her father Richard Richardson, a Quaker. Although he bequeathed enslaved people to each of his children, shortly after his death the Society of Friends universally banned the ownership of slaves and expelled anyone who didn't conform so that transfer wouldn't have taken place.  

In the Name of God Amen Richard Richardson of Frederick County,
& Province of Maryland Farmer being Sick of Body but of but of Sound and disposing mind and
memory and knowing that it is appointed for all men to die do make and Ordain this ^to be my
last Will and Testament in manner and form following, recomending my Soul to God.
hoping through the Mercy to Obtain ^eternal Salvation ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
First that my body be decently buried at ye descretion of my Executors hereafter Named~~
2.ly. that all my Just Debts be honestly paid_ _ _ _ _ _______________________________
3.l.y I will and Ordain that all my Lands and xxxx Appurtenances thereunto
belonging Except what is hereafter Excepted to be sold at a Convenient time after my
Decease to ye highest Bidder my Executors first giving Notice by Advertisements in ye
Pennsylvania and Maryland Gazettes of ye time of Sales to be by them Appointed & I 
hereby Impowers them, my Executors to Convey and make over by Proper Deeds to such
Bidder or Bidders & put him or them into Immediate Possession of ye Said Lands after
_ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _______________________________________

ye Receipt of ye Money & to ^Give discharge ye purchaser or purchasers for such Lands so purchased as Afsd. and I will that ye moneys arising from such Sale shall be divided amongst my
Children hereafter named in manner and form following, First that Twenty pounds amount
Money shall be deducted out of ye Money Arising from ye Sales of ye Land Afsd. which sum of 
Twenty pounds I give and bequeath to my Loving daughter Sophia Mathews, her heirs and
assigns & ye remaining sum to be Equally divided amongst my five Sons Viz. Samuel
Richard Thomas John & William Richardson to them their Heirs and Assigns. & it is my Will
and desire that if any of my Sons ^aforesaid Should die before such Sale can be made as Afsd. sons not to Receive their proportions arising from such Sale or before ye Attain ye Age of Twenty One
years, then and ^in Such case my Will and Desire is that ye Money shall be Equally divided amongst ye Surviving brothers and as two of my Sons are young it is my Will and desire that their
Proportions Arising from ye Sales of ye Lands Afsd. be put out to Interest upon good and
Sufficient Security such Interest is to be applied to ye Maintenance of Afsd. Two young Sons
till they arrive at ye Age of Twenty One years ~~~
4.ly. I will and Ordain that my Executors sell with all Convenient Speed after my decease
that part or Parcel of Land which my which my [sic] Son in Law Edward Mathews now lives on
commonly Computed to be one Hundred acres of Land Called part of Sofiah and formerly
purchased by me from Henry Claqett and thereby Invest my Executors with such power to Convey
the same & I will that ye money arising from ye Sale of ye afsd. being one Hundred acres
of Land be immediately applied to discharge of my debts As to ye Remaining part of my
Estate with which I am now Possessed I give and bequeath in manner and form following Viz
I give and bequeath to my Son Samuel his heirs and assigns a Negro Boy Called Elluk ____
to my Son Richard and his heirs and Assigns a Negro Boy Called Watt Burr Tom To my Son Thomas
his heirs and Assigns a Negro Boy Called Boo To my Son William his heirs and Assigns a
Negro Boy Called Nat. I give to my Son John his heirs and Assigns a Negro Boy Called Sam_____
To my Daughter Milcah her heirs and Assigns a Negro Woman Called Sall a black Walnutt
Cupboard and all my China and Silver pint Cup & a Cotten Counterpin*  _________________
To my Daughter Lucretia her heirs and Assigns a little Negro Girl Called Phebe a set of Silver
                               and Thain??? and three Large Silver Spoons.  
Teaspoons Tongs ^To my Daughter Sophiah Mathews her heirs and Assigns a Negro Girl named Jenny and if she dies without heirs of her Body Lawfully begotten then I give ye Said Negro Girl
to my Daughter Lucretia her heirs and Assigns, I give to my daughter Margaret Peddycourt
her heirs and Assigns a Negro Girl Named Esther nd if she dies without heirs of her Body
Lawfully begotten then I give ye Said Negor Girl to my xxxx Son William his heirs and Assigns
I also give my daughter Margaret Peddycourt as many Feathers as will make a Bed
Boulster and two Pillows, three Ewes & one Sow and Pigs __  ____ _____________
And I Will that all ye remaining part of my Estate after my Just Debts are paid___
shall be Equally divided amongst my Six youngest Children Viz Richard Thomas
Milcah John William and Lucretia. Lastly I Appoint and Constitute my Loving 

[Ancestry.com. Maryland, Wills and Probate Records, 1635-1777 [database on-line]. Provo, UT, USA: Ancestry.com Operations, Inc., 2015.

Original data: Maryland County, District and Probate Courts.]

Cousins Samuel Richardson and Richard Thomas of Frederick County whole and
Sole Executors & I Trustees of this my last Will and Testament hereby revoking and
making Void all former Wills by me made In Testimony whereof I have
hereunto Set my hand & Seal. this Seventh day of January in ye year of Our Lord
1761 _______
Signed Sealed and published to ^be his Last Will and } Richard Richardson [Seal}
Testament in y3 presence of -----------------------------  }
John Darnall              }  On ye 7th Day February 1761 the Above Appointed
Henry Darnall Junr.   }  Samuel Richardson & Richard Thomas of Frederick
Edward Tansey          }   County came before me ye Subscriber and declared that
they and Each of them Do Renounce ye Executorship aforesaid and they will not
take upon themselves ye Burthen of ye Execution of this Testamant In Witness
whereof they have hereunto Set their hands respectively, In my presence
The above Renunciation taken ye Said  }  Saml Richardson
Day and year by Danl Dulany                }   Rich Thomas
                 Commissary Genl.                }      -------------
May 7th 1761 then 
Came Mr. Henry Darnall Junr & Edward Tansey two
of ye Subscribing Witnesses to ye within Will of Mr. Richard Richardson Deceased
and made Oath on ye Holy evangells of Almighty God that they and each of them saw
ye said Testator Richard Richard Richardson sign and Seal ye foregoing Will &
Codicil and also heard him publish ^pronounce & declare ye same to be his last Will and Testament 
and that at ye time of his so doing, he was to ye best of these Deponents' apprehension
and belief of a sound and disposing mind and memory & that the Subscribed
their ^respective Names as Witnesses to ye Said Will & Codicil in the presence of said Testator
and at his Request and that they also say John Darnall ye other Subscribing Witness
to the within Will Sign hi Name and Witness thereto in ye presence of ye said Testator
and also at his Request  

Although his "Loving Cousins" declined to act as executors, Richard Richardson's estate was probated and his son and namesake Richard placed this advertisement in (at least) the Maryland Gazette the following year:

[Date: Thursday, February 25, 1762   Paper: Maryland Gazette (Annapolis, Maryland)   Issue: 877   Page: 4 . This entire product and/or portions thereof are copyrighted by NewsBank and/or the American Antiquarian Society. 2004.Source: GenealogyBank.com]

*A coverlet.

© 2017 Copyright, Christine Manczuk, All Rights Reserved.

From the Probate Files: John Moore - North Hampton, Province of North Carolina, 1753

As promised, here's the 1753 will of my 5X great grandmother Tabitha Pace's husband John Moore (beginning at the bottom of the first page):

In the Name of God Amen
I John Moore of the Province of North Carolina
And County of N Hampton Being Weake and in
a Declining Condition do Make and Ordain this
to be my Last Will and Testament

in Mannor and Form Following (Vis) first I
Recommend my Soul to Almighty God who Gives and
my Body to be Decently Buried at the Discretion
of my Exe'rs. hereafter Named and as Touching my
Worldly Estate I Give and Bequeath as Followeth
Item I give and Bequeath unto my Son Mark Moore fifty
Pounds Current money of Virginia and Likewise one
Negro man named Jack - Item I give and Bequeath unto
my Son John Moore Fifty Pounds Current money
of Virginia, and Likewise one Negro man named Cofar
Item I give and Bequeath unto my Son Isham Moore
fifty Pounds Current Money of Virginia and Likewise
One Negro Man Named James. Item I give and
Bequeath unto my Son William Moore two Hundred
And Seventy Five Acres of Land lying near Pohill Creek
Commonly Called and Known by the name of the Spring
Lands and One Negro Boy named Cobb and ten Pounds
Current money of Virginia to him and his heirs and assigns
for Ever. Item I give and Bequeath unto my Son
Nathaniel Moore Three hundred Acres of Land joyning
my Son Williams it being the Land Whereon Abraham
Johnson now Lives with all the Stock Belonging to it and
Likewise Two Negro Boys ^named^ Matt and David to him his
heirs and assigns for Ever. Item I give and Bequeath 
unto my Son Richard Moore Ap 8[?] acre[s] of Land Whearon
George Harper and Samuel Carlile formerly Lived on
After my Wifes Decease and One Negro Boy named Daniel
And one negro Girl named Lotte to him his heirs and Assigns
for Ever. Item I give and Bequeath unto my Daughter 
Sarah Moore one Girl named Lucy and all her Increase
And One fether Bed And Furniture.

[North Carolina Wills and Court Records, 1679-1775; Author: North Carolina Secretary of State; 

Ancestry.com. North Carolina, Wills and Probate Records, 1665-1998 [database on-line]. Provo, UT, USA: Ancestry.com Operations, Inc., 2015. Original data: North Carolina County, District and Probate Courts.]

Item I give and Bequeath unto my Loving Wife
Tabitha Moor One Negro Man named Peter and two
Negro Women named Moll and Hanner With all the
Remainder of my Estate not before Mentioned and
her Living on the Plantation That I Gave to my
Son Richard During her Natural Life and
I do hereby Appoint my Loving Wife & Richard Moore
and Thomas Pace my Exers. to This my Last Will
And Testament and I Do Heareby Revoke all others
made Heartofore Either by Word or Wrighting in
Witness Whereof I have heareunto Set my hand and
Seal This first Day of September, in the Year of
Our Lord One Thousand Seven hundred and fifty
Three
     Tests.                                      John Moore {Seal}
George Harper   }
John Melldesley } Jurat

No. Hampton }
     County      } ses     November Court 1753
The Within Written Will of Capt'n. John Moore
Deceased was Exhibited Into Court & Proved by
the Oath of Both the Subscribing Witnesses thereto
at the Same Time Tabitha Moore Richard Moore 
And Thomas Pace were Qualify'd Executors thereof
Which on Motion Was Ordered to be Certified.
                    Test  J Edwards tter?ur

It's clear from his will that John Moore owned a considerable amount of land which he divided between three of his six sons, including my direct ancestor William. The other sons had to be content with 50 Pounds of Virginia money and a slave. In all, John mentions twelve enslaved persons which he distributed among his children while reserving three to his "Loving Wife."* His daughter Sarah, apparently unmarried at the time, was to receive a feather bed and "one Negro Girl named Lucy".

Since it's the "Plantation" that Tabitha was given a life tenancy I wish I could decipher the clerk's handwriting describing the land left to Richard Moore. Maybe you can do better?

[Detail of above]

The Thomas Pace named as one of the executors along with Tabitha and son Richard is almost certainly her brother who can be found in later North Carolina census records.

Unfortunately I wasn't able to find any further probate documents online--I was hoping for an inventory which would enable us to have a better idea of the material circumstances of John and Tabitha.



*There were five men--Jack, Cofar, James, Cobb and Peter; two women--Mall and Hanner; three boys--Matt, David and Daniel; and two girls--Lotte and Lucy.





© 2017 Copyright, Christine Manczuk, All Rights Reserved.

From the Probate Files: John Langston - Dawson County, Georgia, 1865

My Monday post about Dorothy Moss (an 8th great grandmother) led me back to my Matthews lineage which I haven't paid much attention to for quite a while. For those of you who share Matthews ancestors in Virginia and North Carolina, I highly recommend a visit to Greg Matthews' excellent website Southern Matthews.*

More information about the extended Matthews clan has surfaced in the intervening years, mostly about collateral relatives, which is the source of today's post regarding the will of John Langston (c.1792-1865), the husband of Clarissa Matthews (1798-after 1880) who is my first cousin 5 times removed.**

["Georgia Probate Records, 1742-1990," images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:3QS7-L93R-D61J?cc=1999178&wc=9SBS-W3X%3A267648501%2C267702301 : 20 May 2014), Dawson > Wills and bonds 1857-1896 vol B > image 49/50 of 178; county probate courthouses, Georgia.]

                                              Dawson Court of Ordinary
                                                          At Chambers 1865

Georgia             }
Dawson County} In the name of God. Amen.
I, John Langston of said State and County, being of
advanced age,. and knowing that I must shortly depart this
life, deem it right and proper, both as respects my family
and myself, that I should make a disposition of the 
property with which a kind Providence has blessed me, do
therefore, make this my last will and testament, hereby
revoking all others heretofore made by me.
1st. I desire and direct that my body be buried in a
decent and christian-like manner, suitable to my circumstances
and condition in life. my soul, I trust, shall return to rest
with God, who gave it, as I hope, for eternal salvation through
the merits and atonement of the blessed Saviour, Jesus Christ,
whose religion I have professed and as I humbly trust enjoyed,
for thirty-five years or upwards.
2nd. I desire and direct that all my just debts be paid, without
delay, by my executors hereinafter appointed, as I am 
unwilling my creditors should be delayed in their rights,
especially as there is no necessity for delay.
3rd. I give, bequeath and devise to my beloved wife Clarissa
with whom I have lived with in the strictest quiet for forty-two
years, parts of lots of land, numbers 91, 126,125, and all of
92, 160 acres and half of 93, and 155 acres of lot No. 88, the
remaining five acres, I give to Perry W. Grogan where his house
now stands all lying and being in the 5th. district and 2nd.
Section of said county. I also request that my wife keep all
of the negroes, viz: Eliza & Harriet and Bob and Frank and Jane
and Minerva during her natural life, and one certain bay
horse and bay mare and one yoke of oxen and wagon
and five cows, such as she chooses out of the stock and their increase
and five sows and pigs, such as she chooses and ten head of
sheep, such as she chooses, and all of the corn and fodder
here, and to have control of the household furniture and farming
tools.
4th. I, therefore, appoint Jno. M. Langston and William Langstonand
Gilbert L. Langston and Clarissa Langston my executors to
sell or dispose at their pleasure all of the lots and parts of lots lying in
Lumpkin county, a fraction No. 168,  in the 11th. district, originally Hall
now Lumpkin county, and No. 617 and No. 618 in 5th. district and 1st.
Section of Lumpkin county; also to sell and dispose of anything they
choose, this the 11th. of November 1854  
                                                       John Langston {Seal}
                                                               (Over)
Signed & sealed in the
presence of us.
Richard H. Gordon
J.B. Gordon
Cyrus Leay, J.P.

Of course John Langston's 1854 will, which he never amended, did not anticipate the circumstances his state would be in when it was presented for probate early in 1865. Although at the time the Confederate states hadn't surrendered yet it must have been clear that the old way of life was over.

According to the 1870 U.S. Census, Clarissa continued farming the land but by 1880 she was living with one of her daughters and family, still in Dawson County.

I wonder if I can find out what happened to Eliza & Harriet and Bob and Frank and Jane and Minerva after emancipation?


*Naturally we appear to descend from Thomas Charles Matthews about whom there are almost no records. Once again I refer you to Greg Matthews for more information about him.
**Her father Kinchen Matthews, a son of Thomas Matthews, was the brother of my direct ancestor
Claiborne.



© 2017 Copyright, Christine Manczuk, All Rights Reserved.

Limited Time Free Webinar: Nicka Smith presents "Finding Isaac Rogers"

I've been waiting a while for this one!  The list of situations and events listed for this webinar touch on almost every genealogical interest I've heard of from Americans with some Southern ancestry.  Nick Smith presented "Finding Isaac Rogers" on September 13, 2017 (free to non-subscribers through September 20, 2017):

Discover how a book, scant clues, crowd sourced research, and limited online records came together to make ancestral ties to the Trail of Tears, US Civil War, a hanging judge, an outlaw, and of slavery in the Cherokee Nation.

Runs 1 hour 32 minutes



© 2017 Copyright, Christine Manczuk, All Rights Reserved.

From the Probate Files: Mary Mrs. Worden - Yarmouth, New England, 1686

Peter Worden II's wife survived him by about seven years. Unfortunately her will, dated March 26, 1686, is only available in transcript form.

[“Barnstable, MA: Probate Records, 1685-1789.” Records of Barnstable, Massachusetts. CD-ROM. Boston, MA: New England Historic Genealogical Society, 2002. (Online database. AmericanAncestors.org. New England Historic Genealogical Society, 2008.)]

Her husband's will having disposed of his land, Mary didn't have that much to leave behind her and she sought to ensure that "there by no differance amongst my children" by having them agree that she could leave her worldly goods as she chose. "All my wearing apparrel" was to be divided equally between her three daughters, all married women, and almost everything else was left to Mary's son-in-law John Barge/Burge/Borg who was also named her executor. Her son Samuel was the recipient of the only exception: "my Indian Squaw Servant" as Peter II had directed in his will.

Sadly we have no idea of the name of that enslaved Native American woman.





© 2017 Copyright, Christine Manczuk, All Rights Reserved.

From the Probate Files: Peter Worden II - New Plymouth, New England, 1680 (Part IV)

If you look closely at the inventory of this 10X great grandfather's estate you may understand why I've been postponing my consideration of it. Handwriting from the late 17th century is hard to decypher.

["Massachusetts, Plymouth County, Probate Records, 1633-1967," images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:3QS7-997D-V3ZQ?cc=2018320&wc=M6BX-F29%3A338083801 : 20 May 2014), Wills 1633-1686 vol 1-4 > image 514 & 515 of 616; State Archives, Boston.]

In fact I'm going to take advantage of a printed version of the inventory taken from "Specific Ancestral Lines of the Boaz, Paul, Welty & Fishel Families" by Adrienne Boaz.

[Specific Ancestral Lines of the Boaz, Paul, Welty & Fishel Families, page 401.

By Adrienne Boaz. Source: Google Books]

From this inventory we can see that Peter II had amassed a respectable amount of worldly goods, including livestock, beds, other furniture and cooking utensils, tools, a gun with powder and bullets, and two bibles. But there's one item I particularly want to draw your attention to in the original:

Item an Indian servant that cost att first                 04 -- 10 --- 0

This is the person referred to in this phrase of the codicil to Peter's will: "I give my Indian servant to my son Samuell after my wife's decease."

I've already covered the land in Old England left him by his father Peter I here.

Peter II's wife Mary survived him by about seven years, making her own will in 1686 which we'll look at next time.


© 2017 Copyright, Christine Manczuk, All Rights Reserved.