4 Lines After 30 Years

Year end is always a time to look back. Today instead of looking just at this past year, I'm looking back to when I started keeping track of my family history. In the beginning I kept it on paper. Then in 1995 I got my first home PC and family tree software, and in 1997 connected to the internet. What I wanted to know at that time was the country of origin for each of my family lines. 

As a hobby genealogist working full time, I do the best I can. Going to court houses and anywhere at a distance requires taking vacation days, so while I know things I need to do I just don't have many opportunities to get them done. 

So, I'll just briefly recap my four Grandparents' lines today.

MENKE - my Grandpa Kenneth was the son of Charles Albert, who was the son of Henry Menke. Those three generations are well documented with the basic four (birth, marriage, death and burial) and much more. Henry came from Germany about 1859 "with his parents" according to one biography of him, but I have not learned their names. I have seen online more specific locations of where Henry came from, but I don't see where they're getting the information. Finding Henry's parents would be the next great thing to find on this line.


MANN - my Grandma Doris was a daughter of Clarence, who was a son of William Mann. William came from England about 1851, but I've never found any reference to an exact location. I've also never seen any reference to siblings or parents. I have his birthdate, and if there was an online database where I could search by that it would help. There is one called FREEBMD, but the records there start in 1837. William was born in 1830. I'm stuck at William without knowing his parents' names or his birth place.


BELL - my Grandpa was Stan, his father was Cicero, Cicero's mother was Martha (father is something that "they never talked about"), Martha's father was John Silas and his father was David Bell.  This line is well documented back to David, his children were mentioned in land records. David's place of birth may have been Augusta County, Virginia or Buckingham County, Virginia. His father may have been Joseph Bell and his mother may have been Elizabeth Henderson. I need to work with online Virginia records to see if I can confirm something there. The Bell's in Virginia are believed to be Scots-Irish people, in the US before 1780. I have faith that the Bell line does come from Scotland or Ireland.


McGRATH - my Grandma Violet was a daughter of Arthur, Art was the only son of John McGrath. John was from Dublin, Ireland according to most records. He was in Illinois by 1858. I have his second marriage certificate which gives his parents as Arthur and "R. McCarty". I believe the R stands for Rebecca because that's the name of John's oldest daughter. John's birth year varies a lot in different records so I'd love to find an official birth record for John, But more than that I need to find his first marriage record to Rachel Jane Simmons. This is one of my goals for 2020. A family Bible would really help here, if only I knew of one.


This is only a small part of the work I've done in 30 years. I'm looking forward to retirement, but it seems so far off yet. Hoping 2020 will be a good year!

My Signature Collection

Signatures are so unique and personal and I always love to find my ancestors' signatures. I was renovating my house and wanted to add some family history displays to the wall above my desk. If you've seen this before, I had tweeted it a while back.

The signatures came from documents that I felt my direct ancestors personally signed, like Draft registrations, Wills and legal documents. I cropped them out then resized each signature to 3" in width. Then I lined them up in the center of a legal size document and printed on white cardstock. I had more signatures than I could use, but I had a limit.  I wanted the vertical to end up 13" to match up beside my family tree chart (and could only print on 14" cardstock anyway). Some of the signatures needed some cleaning up, like removing some background marks. My experience with Microsoft Paint was very minimal before this, but I took my time.

The frame was sold in pieces, I bought one set (2) of 13" and one set of 8". When I get tired of seeing this collection of signatures, I can replace signatures with others and have an entirely new collection to see! 

So Many Mothers Lost

March is National Women's History Month. I have been blessed to be a mother and I'm very grateful that I've been able to see the woman my daughter has grown up to be. She makes me very proud. Being a mother was very challenging and stressful at times, but my daughter and I have had a lot of fun together, too. Though being a mother is not a requirement of all women, it's a wonderful aspect of being female. 

One thing I find all too often in my family tree that grieves me is a woman who died during or after having given birth. It's so sad to know that she didn't get to see her children grow up. Incredibly sad to think that her children had to grow up without her. 

Though I don't have positive proof in all cases, these are the mothers in my family tree who likely died of complications during or after childbirth. Five of these women are my direct ancestors. Their deaths all occurred in the mid 1800's. This make me very grateful for the progress made in the medical field. 


Susannah Case Lee (1816-1851) my Third Great Grandmother, died the same day she gave birth to her third child. She was 34. Her son, Thomas died about four months later. My Second Great Grandmother was two years old at the time and her father never remarried.



Mary Abigail Bliss Smith (1829-1866) my Third Great Grandmother, died "in confinement" in 1866.  The baby boy was born three days before her death and he died almost three months later. Mary was almost 38 years old. She left my Second Great Grandmother Henrietta, age 18, Annie age 14 and Carrie age 5. Mary's husband John remarried five months after her death. 

In 1889, daughter Carrie also died of pereperal eclampsia after the premature death of an unnamed baby girl who also died. She had no other children that I know of. 

I Believe this may be
Ruth Smith Simmons Webb. This is
the only picture I have of any
of these women.

Ruth Smith Simmons Webb (1819-1863) also my Third Great Grandmother, died at about age 44, 10 days after her 9th child was born. This information came from the affidavit of a woman who was present when the boy was born. I believe in this case he was adopted and went on to live a full life.  Ruth had five children with her first husband, my second Great Grandmother Rachel was her oldest. Rachel was married and had two children of her own when her mother died. Ruth's husband Cyrus Webb mustered into Camp Butler a few months after her death and died one month later. Ruth's children are all in separate households in the 1870 census. 

Ruth's second daughter, Rosilla, died at age 22, also possibly after giving birth to a son or another baby within a couple years of her sons birth in November of 1864.


Mary Jane Hull Clemie Jones (1818-1854) another Third Great Grandmother, died at age 37. I have no record proving her death was due to childbirth, but the same year she died, she gave birth to her 8th child. a son George. I don't know his birth date. My Second Great Grandmother, Nancy Jane, was 16 at that time and was left with her step-father and five younger step-siblings at home. Her two older brothers may have been around home yet also. Mary Jane's husband Edward Jones remarried in the next two years.


Hiley Ann Decker Spann (1836-1884) my Second Great Grandmother, possibly died due to childbirth, I don't know for sure. She was 47 years old and I only say she might have died from childbirth because her youngest child was just two. So she had a child at 45. Hiley Ann had 10 children, all of them lived to at least 22 years. One or two of her daughters may have also died of causes related to childbirth. Her husband Benjamin remarried within a few years.  

Mattie Conley Spann (?-1894) After Ben's first wife died, he married Mattie who gave him six more children, though only three survived. A descendant of Mattie's told me that she died from the birth of twin boys and the twins also died. 

Mittie Ramsey Bell (1873-1900) was my Great Grandfather Cicero Bell's first wife. She died of cholera just after giving birth to their fourth child. That boy also died, as well as three year old daughter Leavey, one month later. Two sons ages 8 and 6 were left without their mother. Had it not been for Mittie's death, I would not be here. I am the great granddaughter of Cicero and his second wife Allie. They married six months after Mittie's death.


Catherine Negley Dorman (1843-1870) the sister of my Great Grandfather Josiah F. Negley died when she was 26. She had given birth to a daughter the same month of her death. Years ago a descendant of hers told me that was how she died. I don't know how long the girl lived. 


Henrietta Thompson Spalding (1786-1826) was my husband's third Great Grandmother. She died just days after giving birth to her sixth child when she was 40 years old. The boy was my husband's direct ancestor. Henrietta was her husband Richard's second wife, I'm unsure of how his first wife died. He then married again about a year later.


No doubt there are many more women in my tree who lost their lives due to complications of giving birth. This only covers the past six generations. In some cases following a mothers death a step-parent entered the home, in others the children were sent to other homes. In all cases they learned to deal with the loss of their mother.  

Menke Brothers With US Patents

Two brothers of my Great Grandpa Albert Menke were issued US Patents for their inventions over 100 years ago. One of them I learned about from this clipping in the Columbus Journal, March 17, 1886.

Henry Menke Jr  was 24 years old when he filed an application dated November 14, 1885 for a Revolving Fan. Click on the link to see his full application with sketches which I found at Google Patents (even though his name was terribly transcribed).

United States Patent No. 337,600 issued March 9, 1886

"My invention relates to revolving fans adapted for use on dining or library tables, or at other places, for driving away flying insects, and for briskly circulating the air for cooling persons near the machine; and the invention has for its object to provide a simple, inexpensive, and effective devise of this character. "

A distant cousin had told me about George Edward Menke inventing a corn sheller he called the "Little GEM". That was not the patent I found for him online. His application was filed July 29, 1911 for a a railroad Loading Device. Again, you can find the application and sketches at that link. 

United States Patented No. 1,021,696 issued March 26, 1912 

"An object of the invention is to provide a loading device, particularly adaptable for use in connection with railway engines, to load the tenders thereof when the engines pass beneath the device. My invention embodies among other features, a structure which when used in connection with railway engines to load the tenders thereof, will be automatically operated by the engine when the same passes beneath the device to fill the tender of the engine with coal or other material, used to operate the engine."

How much of an impact either of these inventions had on their industries, I couldn't say without a lot of research which I don't have the time to do. But I might look closer now at old fans in antique stores. I do know that neither man became famous for their invention, nor got rich from it. Still, it's kind of cool. 

Newspaper Clippings - Rock Creek, Nebraska, 1910

I've been living life lately and my blog has been somewhat of a low priority. Not apologizing, but I will try to keep posting things I have of family history value. Winter will be here before long and I'll be home more.

This little bit of news is from Rock Creek in Saunders County, Nebraska. Transcribed as it was, it looks like they tried to correct their error in the last few paragraphs and have some lines turned around. The death of Nancy Bennett is relevant to one of  my Smith families.  Nancy was the daughter of my Fourth Great Grandparents Jonathan and Rachel Smith.

From the Wahoo Democrat, Wahoo, Nebraska, January 27, 1910

ROCK CREEK

Wm. Bennett, who at the present is making his home in Lincoln, where Mrs. Bennett is under the care of a physician, came up Tuesday to attend the funeral of his mother.

Word was received Monday of the death of Mrs. Nancy Bennett. Mrs. B. had made her home, since the death of her husband, with her daughter, Mrs. G. S. Lambert. Last fall she went to spend the winter with her daughter, Mrs. C. J. Haggerman, who lives in McCool, York county, where 

she passed away Monday, the 24th. The remains were brought here Tuesday. The funeral will be held at Mt. Zion church Wednesday and the remains laid to rest beside her departed husband.

Grant Mills, a brother of J. W. Mills, of this precinct, was found dead in a hotel in Omaha Friday morning.

George and Sadie Ethel of Green, were visiting friends and relatives on the Creek Monday and Tuesday.

D. L. Beaman arrived Thursday for an extended visit with his brothers, I. K. Beaman and J. O. Beaman.

O. L. Bennett and Walter Stewart attended the auction sale of hardware and implements at Valparaiso Saturday.

J. O. Beaman, J. H. Vanlandingham and Grace Beaman attended the funeral of Dr. R. D. Bush at Wahoo on Thursday.

Miss Ina Larson, teacher in district 40 spent Sunday with her parents, Mr. and Mrs. A. P. Lamson, [sic] near Raymond.

Have you seen the comet?

J. J. Wondra transacted business at Wahoo Thursday.

Miss Grace Hodge of Stella, is visiting her friend, Miss Edna Nelson.

Mr. and Mrs. D. F. Bennett and daughter of Lincoln, were visiting on the 

Miss Ina Lamson teacher in district [sic] the creek Saturday and Sunday.

Inez and Eva Stewart helped Everett Beaman to celebrate his 11th birthday Tuesday evening.

Friday's Faces from the Past - A Closer Look

In September, 2014 I posted this photograph which I thought read "This is Myrtle and Deril". The "da." on the next line I thought might be an abbreviation of "daughter". After looking at it closer, I think my eyes neglected to see a hypen because the name "Derilda" was not familiar to me. That little hyphen made me take another look for Myrtle and her daughter "Derilda".

Still looking in the 1940 census because I thought the picture had been taken around that time based on the printed photograph and the way they were dressed, I found no Myrtle and Derilda. But when I searched other online family trees for a mother/daughter without using any dates, I found a family that has a connection to my ancestors. By the ages of that Myrtle and Derilda, the photo had to have been taken 20 years earlier than I was thinking.

I found a Myrtle Jessie and Helen Derilda who had the last name Hebert. This tree showed Myrtle's maiden name was Pitt. That name was familiar to me. Years ago I had heard from someone named Pitt. Myrtle's father was William Pitt, her mother was Martha Berkstresser. I knew how the Berkstresser name fits into my family tree.

For ease of explanation I'll say this photo was originally given to my Second Great Grandparents, Josiah and Sarah Negley who lived in Eldorado, Nebraska.  Sarah's maiden name was Lee, her brother was George W. Lee. George was married to Christine Berkstresser. Martha and Christine were sisters. So, Myrtle is Sarah Negley's sister-in-law's niece.

The Berkstresser and Negley families had both lived in Bedford County, Pennsylvania before moving first to Bureau County, Illinois, and then the Clay county, Nebraska area. Josiah Negley and Christine Berkstresser were both born in 1846, Martha was about 10 years younger.

Myrtle Jessie Pitt was born in 1894 and Derilda in 1914, so in this picture if Derilda is about 3 years old, Myrtle would be about 23. Between 1900 and 1910, William & Martha Pitt moved from Eldorado, Nebraska to Fergus county, Montana. That is where Derilda was born. Following Helen Derilda Hebert in the online trees, she was shown to have married Robert Chester Holmes and had at least a couple of children. She died in 1968 in Seattle, Washington.

The only explanation I have for the stamp "United Photo Service, LaCrosse, Wisconsin" is that whoever took the photo sent their film there for processing. We used to send our film somewhere to be processed. I remember the fun of getting the pictures back! Sometimes it took from Christmas to the county fair to finish a roll of film. You never knew what would be in that envelope.

2017 Year in Review - Accentuate the Positive

I was thinking about doing a "year in review" post when I discovered that Jill Ball, author of the GeniAus blog, has an annual year-end challenge she calls "Accentuate the Positive". This is my first year to take part in this. She has 20 sentence starters, but I will finish just a few of them. For all of Jill's prompts see her post Accentuate the Positive Geneameme 2017.

An illusive ancestor I found was... Potter Smith, father of Azor C Smith of Connecticut. According to the death certificate of John Potter Smith, his parents were Azor C Smith and Mehitable "Potter". An Ancestry hint showed a marriage record of Azor C Smith to Mehitable "Watrous". Further searching led me to a death record for Azor C Smith, whose father was named "Potter" Smith. I haven't confirmed this yet, but I believe the informant for the death certificate may have just assumed John's middle name came from his mother's maiden name.

A great newspaper article I found was... Years ago a fellow researcher gave me a date of December 24, 1879 for the death of Lebbeus Simmons, but could not tell me the source of that date. In nearly 20 years, I have never found the source. This year I posted a message in the Facebook group for the Fulton County, Illinois History & Genealogical Society for some help. The President of that society (and local DAR chapter Registrar) did some research for me and found the newspaper article announcing Lebbeus' death which happened on December 24, 1879. 

A geneajournal I took was... a one day stop in the little town of Peotone, Illinois spending some time in the library and a cemetery. Wasn't able to find a marriage date I had hoped to, but narrowed the date down to within a few weeks.

An important record I found was... Two women's death records that I consider very important 1) because records for women in the mid 1800's are very hard to find and 2) they both are in my direct line for the Patriot Libbeus Simmons. I've worked on this line for many years and these two documents were well worth the money I spent on getting them from a Civil War pension and Genealogybank. 

A newly found family member shared... photos of my Great Grandmother's sister, Laura Kyle and her family. I had a photo of people who I assumed were Laura and her family. I searched Ancestry and found a photo of Laura & Joseph Kyle and contacted the man who posted it. He helped me identify the people in a few photos and even had a copy of one of the photos I had which was labeled with the names.

A geneasurprise I received was... a photograph of my Great Grandparents Cicero & Allie Bell about the time of their marriage. A first cousin once removed sent it to me in the mail. It's an awesome photo!

My 2017 blog post that I was particularly proud of was... Two Different Frank Roscoe's  I was able to find several records to differentiate the two men.

A new piece of technology I mastered was... scanning slide film. I've had a scanner a long time, but had never figured out how to scan slides. Now I've added 900 digital photos to my collection.

I joined... several #genchat sessions this past year. They are informative, helpful and a lot of fun!

A DNA discovery I made was... not a discovery yet, but I might be on the right track about Isaac Burnett being somehow related to John Adair's wife Mary.  I'm working on finding her maiden name and with some of my matches having Isaac Burnett in their trees, I hope to discover the relationship.

I taught a genimate how to... well, I can't say for sure but I've tried to include some helpful things in the newsletter I edit for my local genealogical society. No one has told me they've learned anything, but there's a chance.

I am excited for 2018 for... the chance to get to the Midwest Genealogical Center in Independence, Missouri. I've wanted to go for a while and don't have set plans yet, but will try to get there.

Another positive I would like to share is...the volunteer services I've spent time doing like editing the newsletter and doing some transcription for articles in the Nebraska State Genealogical Society publications. Also a couple of blog posts for the Slave Name Roll Project.

My focus in 2018 will be on getting the last few needed documents for my fourth (and final) DAR supplemental. With this last one, all four of my Grandparents will be proven descendants of Revolutionary War Patriots - provided the one I sent in this year will be approved (supplementals take about a year to process). 

Nebraska sunset, August, 1961

Catherine Elizabeth Mattingly 1907-1936

Lottie, Catherine & Ham Mattingly

110 years ago on June 21, 1907 William Alfred Bryant Mattingly and his wife Lottie of Marion County, Kentucky had a daughter they named Catherine Elizabeth. She was my husband's Aunt, but she died before he was born. She had two older brothers, William Robert and Benedict Boone; two older sisters, Mary Etta and Eliza Celeste; and a baby brother Joseph Hamilton, who was two years younger. She also had two older half siblings, John Raymond and Josephine Mattingly. A half-sister, Gertrude, died before Catherine was born and her father died before she turned three. They all lived in Marion County, Kentucky.

"Young Woman Succumbs

Miss Catherine E. Mattingly, 29 years old, passed away at 4:00 o'clock Tuesday morning at the home of D. A. and W. B. Bickett on the National Cemetery Road near Calvary where she had made her home with her mother, Mrs. Lottie Mattingly, for sixteen years.  Her death was due to bonchial (sic) pneumonia which developed following a ten months illness of a complication of diseases.  

Miss Mattingly was graduated from the Calvary High School in 1928, after which she took a nurses' training course at a hospital in St. Louis, Mo.  Later she went to Indianapolis, Ind., where she served at St. Francis' Hospital until forced by ill health to give up her work and return home.  She was a daughter of the late William A. Mattingly, and Mrs. Lottie Boone Mattingly, and was born in this county June 21, 1907.  She was a faithful member of Holy Mary's Catholic Church at Calvary and was a young woman possessing many traits which endeared her to a wide circle of friends.  

Besides her mother, she is survived by one sister, Mrs. Virgil Dennison of Indianapolis, Ind.; three brothers, Boone Mattingly of Louisville and Robert and Hamilton Mattingly of Lebanon, and one half-brother, Raymond Mattingly of Louisville.  

Funeral services were held at 9:00 o'clock yesterday morning at Holy Mary's Church at Calvary by the Rev. Robert Canty, and burial was in Holy Mary's Cemetery. 

The pallbearers were:  Garland Luckett, Paul Bland, Joseph Ford, George Spalding, Vincent Spalding and Kelly Thomas."

It is now known that what Catherine went to St Louis, Missouri for was to have a child. She lived at the "St. Ann's Widow's Home, Lying-In Hospital and Foundling Asylum". Catherine's son was born in November, 1928. He found his birth family in the 1990's, too late to meet his birth mother. 

On October 13, 1936 Catherine passed away at only 29. Her official cause of death was "carcinoma of breast, with general metastosis".   She had fought breast cancer for 2 years.

Along with the death certificate, obituary and papers from St. Ann's Home, that my sister-in-law had in a file was this poem.  The author is unknown, she may have written this herself. 

A Broken Hearted Girl

I am dreaming, dreaming dear,
Wondering here tonight
Thinking only dear, of you
In the moon-light

Some day you'll be sorry
And think of what I've said
Yes, you will think of me
When I'm dead 

How my heart is sad and broken?

How I long and sigh and pine?
How the memories come stealing?
How I think of the flight of time?

It will be too late I fear
When you will think and do what's right
Now you'll remember this I've said
Here in the moonlight

December 15, 1928

She was reunited with her son when he passed away in 2014. 

Trying to Match Faces to Names

Along with the photo in my last post, there were five other Tintype photographs, also unidentified, among the possessions of Art & Sadie McGrath. Believing these people may be family, I've got some ideas on who they MIGHT be. I looked at the families of the brothers and sisters of Art & Sadie and both of their parents. We have some identified photos of members of Sadie's side of the family, so I have compared them and I don't see much resemblance. These photos look like they were all taken before 1900. According to Wikipedia, Tintypes started losing commercial ground in the mid 1860's, yet survived for well over another 40 years mostly as a carnival novelty. So it's possible that these are from the 1880's or 1890's. 

This group of a family including parents, 6 children and a young woman may be the easiest one to determine who they could be. I assume the man has his hand on the shoulder of his wife, and the young woman in the hat seems to be a few years older than the children and may not be a sibling. She could be a relative or she could be someone they took in to help with the children.  The two girls, one on each side of the adult women, look about the same age or within a few years. So I looked for a family with at least six children where two girls are the oldest.  

One family I found was Levi and Minnie Patterson's. Minnie's full name was Arminda Ruth, she was the second oldest sister of Art McGrath. Ruth Webb, who was possibly the woman in my last post was her Grandmother. Levi and Minnie's family started with a girl, then another girl, then boy, boy, girl, boy - the last boy was born in 1890. This photo could have been taken about 1891 or 1892 judging by the smallest child in the middle. Levi & Minnie's family moved from Illinois to Nebraska about 1885. So if this is them, the picture was taken in Nebraska. 

One other possible family that might match this photo is the David Foster Negley family.  The children in that family start out with three girls, then three boys. It's hard to say if the boy in the forefront looks older than the younger girl on the right. Those Negley children were born between 1869 and 1882 with three years between the two oldest girls. These girls look closer in age than that to me. Most of the other Negley family photos we have are the Carte de Visite type.

I think the age order of these 3 children goes girl, boy, girl.  One related family that starts out that way is the William and Rebecca Smith family. Rebecca is Art McGrath's oldest sister. Their third child was born in 1887, the younger girl looks about two or three years old. The next girl they had died in 1890. Again, this picture may have been taken about 1891 or 1892.

For comparison, I know the young woman on the right is Elizabeth, the oldest daughter of William and Rebecca Smith. Can this be the same girl?

Maybe I'm stuck thinking along the same family line, but IF the family group is Arminda McGrath's, and the children belong to Rebecca McGrath, could I expect to find a photo of William and Rebecca (McGrath) Smith?

The couple in this photo and the next one look to me like they could be the same, below just a few years later. It really could be anyone. 

Below it looks like a boy on the man's lap, and I can barely see a ruffle and two little feet on the woman's lap (it's much easier to see when zoomed in closer).  It's impossible to tell with the damage to the photo. There's no face, but I really think there's a little girl there, older than the boy. Could the children in the photo below be the oldest two in the photo of the three children above? 

Another comparison look - the woman on the right is Rebecca (McGrath) Smith.

Arthur McGrath had no other siblings. The woman below could be anyone. She is wearing what looks like a ring on a chain hanging from her neck.  She does have a band on her wedding ring finger.  Sitting on a chair leaning on a table, she looks to me like she is in her early to mid 20's. 

We will never really know who they are unless someone else has the same or similar photos. I can't say for sure, but I think that these photos are all of the McGrath side of the family. I believe they belonged to Rachel McGrath at one time, the mother of Rebecca, Arminda and Arthur.  

Amanuensis Monday - Will of David Bell

Ancestry.com, Kentucky Wills and Probate Records, 1774-1989

"In the name of God Amen I David Bell of the County of Wayne and State of Kentucky, being in a low State of health but sound in mind thanks(?) be to God for his mercies and knowing that man is mortal, I make my last will and testament as followeth first I will that all my lawful debts shall be paid I further will that all my estate shall remain in the hands of my beloved wife Polly during her widowhood.  I further will that my sister Patsey shall have one cow and money to by a bed and if my wife Polly shall marry she shall have her lawful estate and as the children come of age to have their portion, and I certify this to be my last will and testament, in presence of us and that Robert Parmley and John Adair to be Executors in witness where of I have set my hand and seal this 28th day of August in the year of our Lord 1818. 

David Bell (his mark)
witnesses present teste

Moses Anderson (his mark)Fleming Gregory (his mark)"

My last post showed the marriage record of David Bell & Polly Adair.  This Will was written just over six years later.  David owned 100 acres of land surveyed on October 15, 1815 on the waters of the Little South Fork.  In 1848, that land was sold to Robert Parmley for $233.  John Adair was David's father-in-law and Robert Parmley's brother Garner became the step-father of David's children.  Such a nice brother to give his sister a cow and money for a bed!

Wills of Washington County Kentucky 1792-1858, Part 1

The book "Wills of Washington County, Kentucky 1792-1858", compiled by Annie Walker Burns in 1936 is a typed transcription of wills.  It's not an exact transcription of each will, she uses "etc." and question marks where she couldn't read the original or wasn't sure. And at times, she seems to have gotten tired of her project and only includes the names of beneficiaries, executors and witnesses and may have left out names of many people.

Here I have extracted all references mentioning names of negroes, but these Wills, as she transcribed them, can be found in a downloadable pdf file online at GenGophers - Wills of Washington County Kentucky.   It's also available through familysearch.org here.

The page numbers in this book are listed first, and the original Book and Page numbers are at the end of each segment. I'm doing this to release the names of many people and help out the descendants of those mentioned here and will ask for this to be included in the Slave Name Roll Project hosted by Schalene Jennings Dagutis at her blog Tangled Roots and Trees.  This is the first half of the book.

Wills of Washington County, Kentucky (1792 - 1858)
Compiled by Annie Walker Burns, 1936

Page 1
John Hardin Nelson County, Virginia
July 22, 1788
April 4, 1795
"...I also give to my beloved wife (Jane) one negro man named Peter and one negro woman named Carner but not her further increase"
"Note I give to John McMechan two hundred and fifty acres of land in consideration for Negro George to be laid off on the south of the above mentioned five hundred acre tract."
"...I devise to the above mentioned children to be equally divided amongst them also negro George, Bob and Bet and the future increases of Carner to be equally divided among them in like manner."
John Hardin
Will Book A, Page 4

----
Page 2
Thomas Pierce
April 13, 1793
June 6, 1793
"...In the first place I bequeath to my beloved wife Lydia Pierce the plantation whereon she now lives...
...also the negro girl until she arrives to the age of thirty years with her increase, but my will is that she be the negro by name Hanna be set free at the age of thirty years and that her increase be set free at the age of twenty five years.  And that my legatees be jointly bound to comply with all of the recognitions of the law concerning the freedom of negros."
Thomas Pierce
Book A, Page 11

---
Page 4
William Hayden
March 24, 1794
June 5, 1794
"...My will and desire is that the plantation I now live on Pottingers Creek to be sold with all the negroes Rose and Agnes and the money arising from the sale to set at interest for the use and benefit of my sons William and Robert, equally to be divided.
I will and bequeath my negro wench Rose to my loving wife during her natural life.  Remainder and her offspring to my aforesaid two sons William and Robert.
I will and bequeath a negro wench called Agnes to my daughter Elizabeth and her heirs and assignees for ever.
I will and bequeath a negro wench named Charity to my daughter Molly her heirs and assignees for ever, and in case one should die the survivor to heir the other that is Molly and Betsy."
William Hayden

---
Page 6
Hugh McElroy
January 30, 1794
July 3, 1794
"...I then lend to my loving wife Easter McElroy the house and tract of land whereon I now live the three negroes (towit) Beck, Tom and Jack...
I give to my son James McElroy a negro boy by name Len to his and his heirs forever.  I give to my son John McElroy a negro boy by name Sie to him and his heirs forever.  I give to my son Samuel McElroy a negro boy by name Dick to him and his heirs forever.  I give to my son Hugh McElroy Ned to him and his heirs forever.  I give to my daughter Peggy Muldin ? a negro girl by name Kitty to her and her heirs forever.  I give to my daughter Sally Soducky a negro boy by name Stephen to her and her heirs forever...
I give to my daughter Mary Simpson a negro boy by name Fleming to her and her heirs forever.  I give to my daughter Elizabeth McElroy a negro girl by name Rose...
My will and desire is that at the death of my wife my son Abraham McElroy shall have my negro boy Jack and my son William McElroy to have Tom or any other that my wife may think proper to let him have..."
Hugh McElroy
Book A, Page 27

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Page 6-7
Benet Hayden (Benedict)
April 8, 1794
July 3, 1794
"... I will and bequeath a negro man Ben and one sorrel mare to my wife during her natural life remainder to my children John and Betsy and the child unborn if it comes to live.
I will and bequeath two negro wenches Clare and Rachel to my son John and Elizabeth and to my unborn child provided it lives and be safely born to their heirs and assignees forever equally to be divided."
Benet Hayden
Book A, Page 30

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Page 7-8
Zacharius Taylor
May 3, 1794
November 6, 1794
"...and leave to my beloved wife Prudence Taylor during her life or widowhood one negro girl named Jenny and then to return to my son Zacharius Taylor land and negro after her death to him and his heirs forever.  Then the rest of my negros to be equally divided amongst my children names as followeth:  John, George, Marmon, Uriah, Ann, Mary, Elizabeth to them and their heirs forever at my decease."
Zacharius Taylor
Book A, Page 34

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Page 8-9
Samuel Abell, Sr.
February 1, 1795
June 4, 1795
"...Item I give and bequeath to my son Edmd. Abell one negro man named Ralph, one negro woman named Lydia, one negro boy named George, one negro girl named Henrietta and one negro girl named Ann which of foresaid negroes he has in his possession them and their increase, to him and his heirs forever.
Item I give and bequeath to my son Barton Abell one negro man named James and one negro boy named Joseph...
Item I give and bequeath unto my daughter Elizabeth Fenwich the use of one negro girl named Alice during her natural life and after her decease I give and bequeath unto my two grand sons John Thomas and Benet Thomas the above named negro girl named Alice, and her increase if any...
Item I give and bequeath unto my son Ignatius Abell one negro boy named Paul,...Item I give and bequeath unto my daughter Henrietta Thompson one negro man named Richard,...
Item I give and bequeath unto my daughter Susannah Herd's children one negro man named Henry, ...
Item I give and bequeath unto my grand son Joseph Abell one negro girl named Rachel and her increase,..."
Samuel Abell Sr.
Book A, Page 38

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Page 13
Samuel Vaughn
October 9, 1797
January 2, 1798
"...I give and bequeath to Prudence my dearly beloved wife all of my estate... And if she marries I lend negro named Jenny and a negro named Lewis a horse and saddle and two cows and a feather bed..."
Samuel Vaughn
Book A, Page 114


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Page 17
Bennett Nottingham
Will not dated
July 7, 1801
"...Item six, and as my negro boy Jack is to be sold I greatly desire his welfare.  It is my earnest desire that James Gough shall have the first refusal of him who lives in Scott county."
Bennett Nottingham
Book A, Page 206

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Page 18-19
Nathan Beall
July 29, 1802
September 6, 1802
"...Item I give and bequeath to my beloved wife Sarah Beall my five negroes towit: Sampson, Henry Alexandra, Susanna, and Harry with all my personal estate during her life and at her death to dispose of as she may think proper."
Nathan Beall
Book A, Page 224

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Page 21
Henry H. Hilton
December 29, 1801
May 2, 1803
"...First I give and bequeath to my honored father William Hilton and Mildred his wife the plantation they now live on, one negro man named Jerry, one negro woman Jin and child together... for them freely to possess and enjoy their lives, but it is to be understood that they the said William and Mildred have no power to sell or in any way dispose of any part of the above mentioned property or the increase thereof."
Henry Hilton
Book A, Page 245

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Page 22
Mary Luckett
April 20, 1803
May 2, 1803
"...It is my will and desire that my executor shall have a sum of money arising from the sale of my property sufficient to pay him and to bear his expenses to the State of Maryland, and also the money if any shall be required for the use of removing a negro boy called Joseph out of the possession of Orsbern Eaton which boy was sold to said Eaton by me."
Mary Luckett
Book A, Page 247


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Page 23
William Roberts
February 6, 1803
May 2, 1803
"...But after my children shall have their respective parts so as to leave my said wife then in that case my said wife is to have Mayer a negro man and Ruth a negro woman during her life.  And after her death the negroes and their increase is to be equally divided among the all of my children..."
(* Children not named)
William Roberts
Book A, Page 252

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Page 27
Patty Edmondson
"...Item I give my son Robert Edmondson one hundred acres of land where I now live and plantation and fifty acres of land adjoining John Edmondson and two negroes by the name of Sal and Dafney her child...."
Patty Edmondson
Book A, Page 296

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Page 27-28
William Mudd
October 16, 1801
January 6, 1804
"...Item I give and bequeath to my beloved wife Elizabeth Mudd my plantation that I now live on that I purchased of Samuel Grundy.  It lying on the waters of Cartwright Creek and the following negroes namely:  Nall, Charles, Sarah, and likewise all of my personal estate to her during her natural life.
Item I give and bequeath the balance of my negro property to my following children to be equally divided, Namely: Richard Mudd, William Mudd, Henrietta Sansburey, the wife of Nicholas Sansburey, Mary H. Boone, the wife of Henry Boone, Walter Mudd, in the above named children should agree in making the division in the above mentioned property it is my will and desire that the property should be put up at public sale and the money to be equally divided amongst the above mentioned children."
William W. Mudd
Book A, Page 297

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Page 28-29
James McElroy
September 21, 1804
November 6, 1804
"...Item I give and bequeath to my beloved wife Margaretta two negro women named Sarah and P?y also two negro boys James and King;...
...Second I give and bequeath unto my daughter Betsy three negro girls Fanny, Gudy, and Betsy also one negro boy named Bob to her and her heirs forever.
Third I give unto my daughter four negro girls Cloo, Tever, Nanc and Peggy.  Also one negro boy named Frank to her and her heirs forever.
Fourth I give and bequeath unto my daughter Nerian two negro girls Dafny and Cassy.  Also two negro boys Charles and Moses to her and her heirs forever.
Fifth I also give and bequeath unto my youngest daughter Esther three negro girls named Nancy, Agg and Minny.  Also two negro boys George and Henry...
...When my son William becomes of age also one negro boy named Abraham upon the same conditions as the above mentioned...
...Also I give unto my son James one negro man named Jacob also one negro woman named Jenny and a girl named Mary...
Seventh I give and bequeath unto my youngest son William one negro man named Bill also one negro girl named Sylvia...
The service of my son William negro boy to pay for his education."
James McElroy
Book A, Page 343

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Page 29-30
Seth Catlen (Catlin)
November 5, 1797
April 2, 1804
"...Item I give and bequeath unto my well beloved wife Elizabeth... by the industry of my two sons, viz: Seth and William out of their parts hereafter mentioned by the negro boys named Craes during her natural life or widowhood then at her death or widowhood the said negro boy, furniture, and property to remove to my said sons Seth and William.
...with an equal dividing of all my moveable re property to them the said Thoedore, James, Elizabeth, Rebecca, Seth, William and Susannah excepting a negro boy named Charles, shall be vested in my two sons Seth and William to assist them to keep and maintain their mother during her life or widowhood and to be at her command then what ever the said negro Charles at the death or marriage of my wife Elizabeth shall be valued at by men apointed by my executors.  One third of the same to be paid to my daughter Susannah in cash by my two sons Seth and William and the said negro Charles to be the property of my sons Seth and William equally."
Seth Catlen
Book A, Page 403

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Page 30-31
John Doudall (Dawdall)
November 18, 1802
April 2, 1804
"...First of all I do will and bequeath to my beloved wife Stacy Doudall the negroes which came to me by her towit: Daniel and Joe with Anny and George and Peter as my own property and also the house and ...
Second all my negroes after the death of my beloved wife Stacy that shall have arisen to the age of thirty one years shall be freed from slavery and bonded at the death of my wife.
Third I give and bequeath to my daughter Polly Lewis a tract of land whereon she now lives containing one hundred and fifty acres. Also my negro woman Jenny and her child named Nancy.
Fourth I give and bequeath to my granddaughter Betsy Lewis daughter of Polly Lewis the land whereon that I now live, after the death of my wife Stacy Doudall also one negro boy named Charles which negro is to continue with my wife during her natural life...
Fifth I give and bequeath to Thomas Doudall Lewis a son of Polly Lewis one negro boy named Jim...
Sixth I give and bequeath to John Doudall Lewis one negro boy named Solomon...
Seventh I give and bequeath to Sally Lewis one negro boy named Sampson, but if the said Sally Lewis should die without heirs lawful of her body the said Sampson to return to Nancy Lewis...
Tenth I give and bequeath to Daniel a negro man who came to me by my wife Stacy Doudall...
...I also will and desire that all my negroes that I dispose of as those that are yet to come be freed from slavery and bonded at the age of thirty one years."
John Dowdall
Book A, Page 406

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Page 33-34
Bazil Hayden
June 15, 1804
August 6, 1804
"...I give and bequeath unto my eldest son Stanislaus Hayden two negroes namely Clara and George which he has now in his possession to belong to him and his heirs forever...
I also give my wife Henrietta for and during her natural life the following negroes namely Jack, James and his wife Hannah, a woman Nell, Esther and her son Matthew, and Poll,...But the negroes and land and the profits thereof to be equally divided among my heirs at her death...
I give and bequeath to my son Robert Hayden a negro woman named Mary and a boy named Samuel which negroes he has in his possession...
I give unto my son Bazil the negroes he now has in his possession namely Sarah and Luke...
I give unto my daughter Ann Hayden two negroes named Bill and Isaac to belong to her and her heirs of her body lawfully begotten if any.  If not at her death to be equally divided among my heirs.
I give unto my daughter Teresa Hayden two negroes named Harry and Charles to belong to her and the heirs of her body lawfully begotten if any. If not at her death to be equally divided among my heirs.
I give and bequeath unto my wife's son William Hayden one negro boy named Nace...
I give unto my son Lewis Hayden two negroes named Joseph and Susan...
I give to my son Edward two negroes named Clement and Clara daughter of Nell.
It is also my will and desire in case any of the negroes willed to Ann, Teresa, Lewis or Edward should die before the death of my wife that their loss or losses shall be made good to them out of the negroes willed to my wife during her life before distribution of those negroes shall be made amongst my heirs.
I have one negro boy Jeremiah to be sold if it is necessary to pay my debts but if it can be dome without not to sell him.
I give unto the Rev. W. Badin and those he may think proper to make his heir a boy named Gerrard..
It is my will that the negroes willed to Lewis be hired and the profits received for him until he comes of age...
The profits of the other negroes willed to Ann, Teresa and Edward I wish their mother to make use of in clothing and maintaining them decently during her life."
Bazil Hayden
Book A, Page 427

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Page 35
James Smith
May 7, 1807
January 4, 1808
"...Item three I have lent my daughter Ann Matilda Coombs a negro girl named Sophia and I will that my wife may take her home before the expiration of the five years from the time of lending and then lent to her again or keep her as my said wife may think best, but said girl and her increase if any is to be considered a part of my estate when the distribution takes place.  It is not my will that my wife shall sell any of the negroes except my negro man Bill and if she thinks proper to sell him the purchase money to be deposited in good hands on interest for the children, or laid out in the purchase of another negro of the same kind as my said wife may think best which negro if purchased is to be part of my estate."
James Smith
Book A, Page 459

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Page 36
John Dant
June 14, 1807
February 1, 1808
"...Item one I give and bequeath unto my son James Dant the debt due me for a pair of wagon wheels also the balance due me for my negro Suck I sold him.
Item three I give and bequeath unto my wife Elizabeth Dant negro Steven and his wife Dianna which together with the land of aforesaid is to be for her maintainance so long as she lives and at her death said Dianna and Steven is to belong to my son Joseph and his heirs forever.  And if Dianna has any increase hereafter I give the first to my grand daughter Polly Dant and the next of increase to my grand daughter Eliza. (Dianna) Elliott? and so on to my daughter Mary Elliott and my sons Joseph Dant's children turn about.
Item four I have a long time given negro woman named Mary to my son Joseph and in order that there be no misunderstanding about her I give and bequeath the aforesaid Mary to my son Joseph Dant.
Item five I give and bequeath a negro boy Steven to my grand daughter Ann Dant to belong to her and her heirs forever."
John B. Dant
Book A, Page 478

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Page 38
Richard Berry
August 10, 1797
December 4, 1798
"...Also I give to my son Edward his mare and saddle and cow and a rifle gun and my negro boy called Phil..."
Richard Berry (L.S.)
Book A, Page 134


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Page 39
James Brunfield
July 23, 1795
January 7, 1796
"...Item I give to my wife one negro girl named Rachel."
James Brumfield
Book A, Page 71

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Page 40-41
Eleanor Miles
January 23, 1805
July 7, 1806
"...Item I will unto my son William Miles one mulatto girl named Clair and a negro boy named George.  Also Clair's increase.
Item two I will unto my son Barton Elexius Miles one negro named Charles.
Item three I will to my son Joseph Miles one negro man named Harry, etc. ..
Item five I will to my daughter Audrey Vain one negro woman named Nancy and a boy Benjamin, etc...
Item six I will to my daughter Priscilla Osbourn one negro woman named Ann and her child Milly, etc."
Eleanor Miles
Book A, Page 409

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Page 44
Michl Furnor (Father Fournier)
February 11, 1803
May 2, 1803
"...Item I give and bequeath my negro boy George for the use of Pottingers Creek Church under the direction of the Revd. Steph. Theadore Baden and his successors.
Item I give and bequeath my negro girl Stacey to Vincent Gates and his sister Eleanor Ryan during their lives and then to the Revd. Steph. Theadore Baddin and his successors.
Item I give and bequeath to the Revd Stephen Theodore Baddin the bed and furniture I lie on and my negro man purchased Prince and all the residue of my estate after my just debts are paid."
Mic. Fournier (Seal)


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Page 45-46
Thomas Simpson
November 3, 1799
January 4, 1800
"...Item I give and bequeath to my beloved wife Sary...one negro woman Clow and one negro man named Jim her lifetime.  And after her death the woman to go to my daughter Jean Simpson and the negro man Jim to my son James Simpson.
Item I give to my daughter Jean a negro boy George and all of Clow's children...and all the increase of Clow and her children to her and her heirs forever.
Item I give to my son James all the land I now live on after the death of my wife and one negro woman Jean and all her children and boy leave and balance of my money..."
Thomas Simpson
Book A, Page --

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Page 51
Richard Hamilton
August 14, 1809
September 13, 1809
"...I give to my dear mother my negro boy Charles during her life and the sum of one hundred dollars..."
Richard Hamilton
Book B, Page 35


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Page 51-52
James Rudd
July 15, 1806
September 11, 1809
"...Item I give to my beloved wife Susannah Rudd during her widowhood all of my land where I now live.  Also seven negroes named Tom, Oswold, Daniel, Rachel, Sealy, Jane and Nelly.
I give to my son John Rudd...Also two negroes names Old William Milley and Daniel, after his mother's widowhood.
I give to my son Richard Rudd...Also two negroes Grace and Priscilla. Also Tom after his mother's widowhood.
I give to my son James Rudd three negroes namely: Mary, Arthur and Rose. Also negro Oswold after his mother's widowhood.
I give to my son William Rudd four negroes namely: Henry, Lettey, Mary the daughter of Grace and George...
I give to my daughter Margaret Rudd five negroes who are named Henry, Allie, Lewis, Bob and James. Also Nell after her mother's widowhood.
I give to my son Christopher Rudd three negroes namely: Young Will, Charity, Kate also Rachel after his mother's widowhood.
Be it understood that the following negroes that I have sold to the following men should claim and obtain by my heirs or executors I do ordain that the land where on I now live shall be sold and the following negroes Rachel and her children Stace and her child Ed or as much as will make the hold the men that purchased negroes of me.  Hatton Hilton purchased of me one negro girl named Jane. John Phillips purchased of me one negro girl named Nan. Uriah Gregory purchased of me one negro girl named Sarah."
James Rudd
Book B, Page 40

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Page 52
Henry Barlow
September 10, 1807
December 11, 1809
"...First I give to Jinne (Tinne) my dearly beloved wife all the land I live on containing two hundred and fifty acres...Also my two negroes, the boys by the name of Jack and the girl by the name of Nance...
I also give to my daughters Nancy and Peggy my negro girl Nance with her increase after the death of my wife. But if she negro girl Nance should die and leave no increase then their brothers Jesse, Julius and Joel shall give their sisters Nancy and Peggy the sum of eighty pounds."
Henry Barlow
Book B, Page 55


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Page 53-54
Edmond Eggleston, Hanover County, Parish of St. Martin, Virginia
December 24, 1807
December 27, 1807
"...I give and bequeath to my son Edwin one negro boy named Steven.
Item I give to my son John one negro boy named Elias, one negro woman Sibby with her child Mary and all their further increase.
Item I give to my son Waller one negro boy named Armstead...
Item I give to my daughter Agnes Jones one negro boy named Will Weatherly...
Item I give to my daughter Ann Pettus Goldson after the death of my wife one negro boy named Sansey.
Item I give and bequeath to my daughter Mary Carr Wadkins after the death of my wife one negro boy named Garland.
Item I give to my daughter Betsy two negroes named Roxey and Lydia...
Item it is my will that the negroes and other property the land excepted lent my wife be sold after her death and the money be equally divided between all of my children namely: Agnes Jones, Ann Pettus Goldson, Mary Carr Wadkins, Edmond, John, Waller, and Betsy Eggleston...."
Edmond Eggleston
Book B, Page --

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Page 59-61
Samuel Taylor
September 21, 1801
September 13, 1812
"...I give to my beloved wife Elizabeth Taylor a negro woman by the name of Rose...
Also the negroes, Stakky, Abram, Gibb, Ben, Rhoda, Sallie, and Ann.
My will and desire that is the above named negroes Gibb and Ann shall have their freedom after my wife's death.  If the former is then twenty five and the latter twenty one years old. If not to remain in bondage until they arrive at those ages.
My desire further is that all of the further offspring of any of my female slaves which may come into existence before the death of my beloved wife shall be freed.  The males at the age of twenty five and the females at the age of twenty one years.
My will and desire is that my two hundred and fifty acres of land at the west end of the tract whereon I now live including the mill and the mansion house shall be laid off and given to my daughter Sophia except twenty acres which I reserve for the use of my negro woman Rose on provision my wife should give her her freedom.  If my wife does not I give it to Sophia...
My will and desire is that the tract of land whereon I now live including the lease to William and Nancy Hagarty fifty acres during their natural lives shall be alotted to my daughter Fanny together with a negro girl named Sally.
I give and bequeath unto my daughter Polly Wilson two negroes by the name of Charles and Dianna...
I give to my negro Gibb the whole of my black smith tools when he obtains his freedom."
Samuel Taylor
Book B, Page 191

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Page 61-62
John Simpson
November 25, 1812
March 8, 1813
"...I will to my Will a negro woman named Jane and a negro man named Nance...
The land and negroes willed to my said wife to be vested in her and her heirs forever.
I also will to my said daughter Esther McElroy one negro girl named Sarah now in her possession...
I also will to my daughter Jane Simpson one negro girl named Sil.
I also will to my daughter Peggy one negro boy named George.
I also will to my son James one negro boy named Frank...
It is also my will that Jack and Signore a negro man and woman be left with my wife and under her directions to work the farm for the support of the family until they become of age to marry."
John Simpson
Book B, Page 223

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Page 63
Thomas E. Green
June 25, 1813
January 10, 1814
"...First I give to my two sons James and Thomas my negro man Basil...
I give to my beloved daughters Eleanor Thompson and Elizabeth and Katherine Green my negro woman Mildred..."
Thomas E. Green
Book B, Page 274

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Page 64
Bernard Montgomery
February 13, 1814
March 14, 1814
"...Seventh I desire that after the death of my wife Eleanor or marriage that my negro boy Samuel with the rest of my estate shall be sold..."
Bernard Montgomery
Book B, Page 281

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Page 65-66
Jacob Myers
April 18, 1808
May 9, 1814
"...I will to my beloved wife Margaret Myers...Also a negro woman named Peg.
I also will to my son in law a negro girl named Rachel about five years old for the special purpose of maintaining my daughter Catennah? Myers during her natural life which Catennah Myers he is requested to take into his care and protection during her natural life and treat her in a humane manner."
Jacob Myers
Book B, Page 290

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Page 66
Thomas Gardiner
March 23, 1814
May 9, 1814
"...I also give unto my wife a negro woman Hannah during her life.
Item three I give to my daugher Ann Gardiner negro girl named Suck. With this condition that if Suck should by chance have any increase the first one to belong to James Gardiner and the second to Richard Gardiner and the residue of the increase of Suck to belong to my daughter Ann Gardiner."
Thomas Gardiner
Book B, Page 296

---
Page 70
Thomas Bullock
April 9, 1814
May 9, 1814
"...Item one I give unto my beloved wife Rebecca Bullock all of my estate both real and personal so long as she lives single except a negro girl named Charlotte...
Item two I give to my daughter Ann said negro girl Charlotte when the other property is appraised by her paying to the other children should the valuation exceed their dividend.
Item three at the death or marriage of my wife Rebecca it is my will that my negro woman Beck shall be freed consequently she is not to be included in said inventory..."
Thomas Bullock
Book B, Page 334

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Page 72
William Montgomery
June 8, 1813
September 12, 1814
"...I give unto John Montgomery son of my brother Charles Montgomery all the land I own and also my negro man Dennis and my negro woman Nellie his wife and her increase to the said John Montgomery and his heirs.  Also I give unto said John Montgomery me negro girl Hester. Also I give unto Samuel Montgomery brother to said John Montgomery me negro boy George. I also give unto Annie F. Montgomery daughter to my brother Charles my negro girl Agnes.  I also give unto Benedict Montgomery son of the said Charles Montgomery me negro boy Lewis. I also give unto Jane Cambron formerly Jane Queen my negro boy Steven..."
William Montgomery
Book B, Page 361

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Page 73-74
John Medley
August 21, 1814
December 12, 1814
"...Item I give unto my beloved daughter Harriet Boone one negro girl Charlotte...
Item I give to my daughter Ann H. Medley...Also negro boy John...
Item I give unto my beloved daughter Eliza Medley one negro boy called Cornelius..."
John Medley
Book B, Page 379

---
Page 74-75
John Ray, Sr
December 26, 1811
June 13, 1814
"...Item one I give to my wife Saray Ray the plantation and all the appurtenances there unto belonging to her proper use and benefit for her single life together with all of my personal property and negro woman Harriet after all of my just debts are paid to belong to her during her widowhood."
John Ray
Book B, Page 408

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Page 75-76
Benedict Spalding, Sr.
October, 1815
October 9, 1815
"...I give unto my beloved wife Alathear Spalding during her life the plantation whereon I now live.  Also the following negroes: Lewis, Clare, Henny, Teary, Tom and Treacy....
I give and bequeath unto my son Wm. Spalding, one negro boy called Stephen and negro boy called Felix...
I give and bequeath unto my daughter Ann Hamilton, one negro girl called Teary and her increase, which negro I bought of Clement Hamilton..."
Benedict Spalding
Book B, Page 457

---
Page 76
Henry Barlow
No date
December 11, 1809
"...I give and bequeath to Jinnie my beloved wife all that tract of land and I now live on containing 200 acres to have and to hold as long as she doth remain my widow and no longer. Also my negro boy by name of Jack the girl by the name of Nance...
I also leave to my daughters Nancy and Peggy my negro girl named Willi? also her increase if any at the death of their mother to be equally divided and if the negro girl Nancy should die and leave no increase then their brothers Jesse, Julius and Joel shall give unto their sisters Nancy and Peggy the sum of 80 lbs to be equally divided.
Also I give the rest of my estate property unto my son James and daughters Elizabeth, Sary and Mary all my property not above mentioned with the negro boy Jack in the name of God Amen."
Henry Barlow
Book B, Page 55

---
Page 77
James Carrico
August 26, 1814
December 11, 1815
"...I give to my daughter Anne Statia my negro girl Milley..."
James Carrico
Book B, Page 468

---
Page 79
Martin N. Parker
February 10, 1816
May 13, 1816
"...It is my will and desire that my negro George shall belong and go to my sister Francis Jenkins wife of James Jenkins at the price of $450.00 ...
But it is understood that Francis Jenkins is to take George at the above price in part of my estate so that each of my sisters shall have an equal share of my estate."
Martin N. Parker
Book B, Page 528

---
Page 82
Basil Smith
June 28, 1815
September 11, 1815
"...I give and bequeath to my beloved wife Hester one negro woman Calriey...
The above negro woman and the rest of the property I have willed her to be her own to do as she pleases with forever on these conditions.
I also give unto my daughter Lucy Cambron wife of Basil Cambron my boy Henry and my negro woman Henrietta...
I also give unto my daughter Treacy Jarboe my negro woman Celia..."
Basil Smith
Book B, Page 451

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Page 84
William Walker
September 20, 1815
October 9, 1815
"...1st it is my desire that my wife Martha keep possession of the tract of land whereon she now lives during her life and also four negroes, towit: Jack, Amy, Edward and Margeny, and at her death both land and negroes to be equally divided among my children...
3rd I give to my son Richard Logan Walker a negro boy named Arruge.
4th I give to my son David Caldwell Walker a negro boy named Burwell
5th I give to my son Robert a negro boy named Samuel
6th I give to my daughter Amy Mariah Walker a negro girl named Libby
7th I give to my daughter Nancy Jane a negro girl named Anny...
A negro girl that has not been named, named Judy I give to my wife Marthy given under hand..."
William Walker
Book B, Page 456

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Page 85-86
George Grundy
September 1, 1811
February 13, 1815
"...To my loving wife Eleanor Grundy I give one negro woman named Bet to be vested in her for ever...
It is also my will that Jack a negro man and the smith tools and a negro woman named Winney be hired out in good hands to be treated with humanity during the pleasure of my executors the one half of the hire of Jack to be paid to my wife annually and the other part of the hire with the hire of Winny to be applied to purchase property with if any be lacking.
Item 3rd I also will and bequeath to my son John Grundy...Matt a negro boy...
Item four I also give to my daughter Betsy one negro girl named Milly...
Item five I also will and bequeath to my daughter Charlotte Grundy one negro girl named Amey...
Item six I also give to my daughter Molly Grundy one negro girl named Henny...
Item seven I also will to my daughter Minerva one negro girl named Dinah..."
George Grundy
Book B, Page 120

---
Page 86-88 (no page 87)
Charles Hayden
October 26, 1813
December 13, 1813
"...I further will and bequeath to my loving wife my negro man Stephen and negro woman Clare and negro boy Peter during her life for her children benefit in the form...
I do also bequeath to my son Thomas my negro boy Isaac when he becomes of age.
To my son John I bequeath my negro boy Harry same as above conditions.
To my son in law William Hoden I will my negro man Dennis..."
Charles Hayden
Book B, Page 272

---
Page 89-90
Thomas Ozbourn
January 1,1815
February 13, 1815
"...I give and bequeath unto my beloved Perscilla...my negro man Isaac and my negro woman Hannah...
I also give to my daughter Catherine Carrico my negro girl Milly...
Also to my daughter Sarah Montgomery my negro girl Mary...
Also to my daughter Patsey Cambron my negro boy Felix...
I also give to my daughter Anne Smith my negro girl Charity...
Also to my daughter Elizabeth my negro boy Joseph...
Also I give unto my daughter Treacy my negro woman Anne and her increase hereafter...
Likewise I leave unto my son Joseph after his mother's death the tract of land above described to his mother etc. Also a saddle and bridle bed and etc. Also all my oldest clothes except my oldest hat.  It is my will negro man Isaac shall have that...
It is my desire that if I do not sell my 2 negro men Charles and William before I die that my executors shall sell them to make payment for the land I purchased from Lockart Eagin etc."
Thomas Ozburn
Book B, Page 401

---
Page 90
William Paris
February 11, 1814
May 9, 1814
"...1st I give and bequeath to my beloved wife Polly Paris all my estate except a negro man named Major her life time except she should marry and then she is to have one third of my estate and beside her one third I do give and bequeath to her forever and to dispose of as she pleases one negro woman named Diner...
The negro man called Major is to be sold and the money divided among my heirs here and after mentioned."
William Paris
Book B, Page 285

---
Page 91-92
Anthony Sandusky
May 22, 1810
July 9, 1810
"...I hereby set aside the said verbal grant and in liew there of do give unto my grand son John Sandusky and son of the said Samuel after the death of my said wife Rebecka a negro  woman named Seln?..."
Anthony Sandusky
Book B, Page 82

---
Page 93
Henry Smock
January 23, 1814
May 9, 1814
"...I will Joe and Mall to my wife her life time but if he will not behave John must take him and let my wife have Andrew after my wife death John is to have Joe or Andrew etc.
I will Andrew to John and Mary.
I will Nancy a boy named Martin.
I will Polly a girl named Lydia.
I will Jennie a girl named Eve.
I will William a boy named Jack..."
Henry Smock
Book B, Page 292

---
Page 93-94
Aaron Van Cleave
November 11, 1813
December 13, 1813
"...I also will to my wife Rachel my negro Simon and other slaves...
Item 2 I have given my daughter Eleanor Bailey 1 negro girl Esther...
Item 3 I gave my daughter Elizabeth Van Cleave one negro boy Felix
Item I gave my daughter Rachel Chandin a negro Frank...
Item I have given my daughter Mary Love a negro boy Jack...
Item I have given my son Joseph 1 horse. I now give him a negro boy Garrard...
Item I have given my son Burditt 2 horses. I now give him a negro boy Lewis..."
Aaron Van Cleave
Book B, Page --

---
Page 98
John Dyer
November 1, 1820
June 10, 1822
"...three slaves Arch, Ann and Joseph"
John Dyer
Book C, Page 433

---
Page 113
Susannah Boone
August 12, 1826
November 27, 1826
"...First I give and bequeath all my real property as well as such as is personal or mixed to my beloved friend Maria Sansberry, towit: one negro woman named Nellie with her son George..."
Susannah Boone
Book D, Page 210

---
Page 114
John Wheatley Sr,
June 23, 1825
January 22, 1827
"I give to my children Ignatius Wheatley, Eleanor Wheatley, Mary Wheatley, and Elizabeth Doyle one negro woman named Matilda one negro girl named Nehhy and one negro boy named James with their increase during their lives and at the death of these four heirs the said negroes to return to the surviving heirs of my family..."
John Wheatley
Book D, Page 218

---
Page 115
Theacy Hamilton
September 5, 1825
January 23, 1826
"...First I give to my beloved mother Priscilla Ozburn my negro woman Ann during her natural life and after her death it is my will that Ann and her increase should belong to my sister Elizabeth Ozburn.  I also give unto my sister Elizabeth a negro boy named Marshall also a negro boy named Patrick also a negro girl named Martha."
Treacy Hamilton
Book D, Page 142


---
Page 116
Joseph Johnson
February 15, 1826
March 28, 1826
"...Item three I give to my grand daughter Polly Johnson a negro boy by the name of Richard and if the said Polly Johnson dies with out lawful issue the said boy Richard to fall to the children of Elizabeth Bowels and Monica Bowling.  The boy Richard to be hired out every year and the money applied to the use of the said Polly Johnson until she arrives at the age of twenty one years.
Item I give unto my grandson Benedict Canter a negro woman named Mary and her increase if any to him...
Fifth I give unto my grand children Joseph, Sary Ann, and Kitty Ann and Elizabeth Bowling a negro boy by the name of Benjamin.
My daughter Monica Bowling to have life interest in said negro Benjamin.
My negro man Allen to be hired or sold and the money to be put out at interest until the children of Elizabeth Bowles come of age...
Item I give to son John Johnson a negro man called Basil and a negro woman named Rachel..."
Joseph Johnson
Book D, Page 146

---
Page 116-117
Austin Montgomery
October 25, 1825
March 27, 1826
"...The balance of my estate consisting of ninety nine acres of land whereon I now live my two negro girls named Sophia and Lucy and their increase with everything else that I possess, I give to my beloved wife Martha Montgomery during her natural life and then to my son George A. Montgomery to him and his heirs forever.  But if George A. should depart this life before my wife then it is my will that at the death of my wife Martha one half of my estate shall be paid to the superior of St Rose Church, the other half to be at the disposal of my wife Martha to do as she pleases."
Austin Montgomery
Book D, Page 148

---
Page 118
James Ewbanks, Sr
June 8, 1826
June 26, 1826
"...I also give to my beloved wife Mary Ewbanks a negro woman called Terry and her increase and a boy named Hiram.  At her death the woman to go to the children of my daughter Margaret Ray, and the boy to my son James.  The increase of the woman to be equally divided my son James the one half and my daughter Margaret's children the other half.
Item two I give to my son James Ewbanks the plantation on which he lives, containing one hundred and thirty seven acres. Also one negro girl named Emiline...
I also give unto the children of my daughter two black girls named Mariah and Millyann."
James Ewbanks
Book D, Page 173

---
Page 120
William Thorp
October 16, 1820
March 26, 1827
"...I bequeath to kinswoman Polly H. S. Logan and now Polly H. S. Grundy I give one negro woman named Nancy and a negro boy named Jeffry and two negro girls named Frances and Mahala and a negro man named Anderson...
Item I give to my brother Charles Thorp one negro man named James, one negro woman named Hannah also three negro girls Amelia, Louise and Maria also two small boys named Washington and Green...
Item I give to my brother James Thorp negro man named Ruben negro woman named Nancy and one girl named Harriet and three boys named Harrison, Bob and Henry."
William Thorp
Book D, Page 239

---
Page 121-122
George Payne
March, 1821
May 28, 1827
"...I will unto my son Meridith Payne the following negroes: Ned, Henry, James together with a negro man named Tom that he sold in Virginia for...
I will to my son Richard Payne the following negroes: Bill, a workman which he sold for fifteen hundred dollars together with a boy named Edmond...
I will to my son Samuel Payne the following negroes Jerry, Newlan, Vincent, Bill and Nancy...
I will unto my daughter Persillar Payne the following negroes: Anne, Henry, Eliza, Alexander, Bill, Bill, Amul, Maria and her child Frank...
I will to my daughter Elizabeth Payne the following negroes: towit: Silas, Charlotte, Rachel, and her child James...
I will and bequeath unto my grandson George Payne Smith son of Elias Smith the following negroes: Charity, Emily, Judith and her two children Eavy and Isaac to be delivered to him at the age of twenty one.  If he should live that long, if not then it is my will that they shall go to my son Merith Payne's children to be equally divided amongst them.
As there is one of my negroes names Zarles lying sick which I believe will die but if he should survive and live unto the death of my wife it is my will that my children shall cast lost for him.
As for the rest of my negroes they are old and infirm and it is my will that they shall be taken care of out of my estate."
George Payne
Book D, Page 252

---
Page 122-123
John Cosby
May 9, 1822
April 23, 1827
"...I do direct that my old negro man Epin be comfortable supported by my son Dabney Cosby out of my estate during his life and is not to want for the comforts of life and is to be decently buried by my son at the expense of my estate."
John Cosby
Book D, Page 260

---
Page 123-124
John Isaac, Sr
April 22, 1826
July 23, 1827
"...I give to my wife Nancy Isaac a negro boy by the name of Nat to be her property until my youngest son Samuel Swan Isaac comes of age.  Then it is my will and desire that said Nat shall be set free from slavery."
John Isaac
Book D, Page 271

---
Page 124
Martin Everhart Jr.
August 13, 1827
August 27, 1827
"...Codicil: My two negroes Nelson and George I will to be equally divided between my sister Roseanna and Patsey and my brother Daniel Everhart."
Martin Everhart Jr
Book D, Page 274

----
Page 124-125
William Miles
September 12, 1826
August 27, 1827
"...I also give my said son Henry P. Miles two of my slaves namely Ann and her increase and a yellow boy John.  Said woman Ann is not to be moved from her husband Steven further than one half mile from where they now live.
Item two I give unto my said son Jesse Miles the whole of the land we purchased of Woods also one negro man named George and one yellow girl Teresa, etc.
Item three I give to my son John Miles the land whereon he now lives and one yellow boy Steven and one other boy Dan, etc
I also give to my daughter Pernelia Mattingly one yellow girl Rachel and a small boy Charles..
Item fifth I give to my Grand daughter Elizabeth Goodrum two yellow girls named Louisa and Stecia..."
William Miles
Book D, Page 274

---
Page 125-126
William T. Caldwell
July 14, 1827
August 27, 1827
"...I give to my executors the tract of land where John McCord now lives and all the negroes in the possession of McCord except a negro girl named Mary which I give to my grand daughter Isabella McChord."
William T. Caldwell
Book D, Page 275

---
Page 127
Wilfred Haydon (Hayden)
September 5, 1827
September 24, 1827
"...I will to my wife Nancy Hayden... also four negro men and two negro women named as follows: Peter, Ambrose, Frederick, George, Silvia and Lucy...
I will to my son William Hayden one negro child named Sam...
I also will my son James L. Hayden a negro boy named Lewis...
I will to my daughter Nancy Hayden one negro boy named Slim and at her death said boy is to go to her children, etc.
At the death of my wife I also will to my son Henry Hayden one negro boy named Matt...
I will to my son Phillip Hayden... also one negro man named George...
I will to my grand daughter Martha Hays my negro boy named Joe...
Henry Hayden is to have one negro man named Frederick and one negro woman named Silvy. But if Charles T. Hayden should become sane and it is my will that he shall have the foresaid negroes."
Wilfred Hayden
Book D, Page 282

---
Page 128-129
George McKay, Springfield
September 28, 1827
October 22, 1827
"...I give unto John Calhoon and John Hughes Jr... also my negro woman Mary negroes John, Alfred and Bill...
They are to sell the land adjoining Elias Davison on the hill south of Springfield and land I puchased of Samuel Robertson and my negro Bill..."
George McKay
Book D, Page 292

---
Page 129
Ignatius Mills
September 10, 1827
November 26, 1827
"...Item three I will to my beloved daughter Allovosa Mills now Allavesa Fenwick after the death of my beloved wife Mary Mills my negro girl named Maria, etc.
Item I will after the death of my beloved wife Mary Mills to my beloved daughter Ann Mills negro girl Monaca
Item I give after the death of my beloved wife unto my daughter Martha Mills now Martha Abell my negro girl Trect and her child, etc.
It is my will that my three negroes Henry, Dick and Joseph after the death of my wife Mary shall be divided amongst all of my children."
Ignatius Mills
Book D, Page 300

---
Page 130
Richard Ray Sr
March 18, 1826
November 26, 1827
"...Item one I give to my beloved daughter Sally one negro woman named Maria and one negro boy named Felix, one negro girl named Eliza, one negro girl named Dinah...
Item secondly I give and bequeath to my dutiful son Richard W. Ray one negro woman named Matilda, one negro woman named Mary, one negro boy named Nelson, one negro boy named Alfred one negro woman named Rachel one negro woman named Hannah and one negro girl named Rebecca..."
Richard Ray
Book D, Page 302

---
Page 131
John McMurry
August 25, 1823
No date.
"...To my daughter Elizabeth McMurry I give one negro girl by the name of Maria and one negro boy by the name of Harry.
To my daughter Jane McMurry I give a negro girl named Monarch also negro boy named Alfred.
My negro man Steven I bought in the year 1807 and the rules of the Methodist Church to which I belong that is "the rules of their conference allowed me to keep Steven in slavery twenty three years and nine months and then set him free and I am still willing to provide by it and do say pointedly that he shall be freed accordingly and his Steven's wife Sall I say shall be freed at the same time said Steven is provided that she is willing to leave the family and not otherwise.
My negro man Dick and Amy his wife I say appointenly declare shall be set free from their slavery on the twenty fifth day of August in the year of our Lord 1838.  My reason for setting Amy and Dick free are because they are and have been honest industrious slaves.
If I should die before them two expires it is my will that my wife Elizabeth McMurry may keep Dick and Amy for her own benefit during the balance of their servitude, etc.
My negro man Gam after the death of my wife Elizabeth shall be sold..."
John McMurry
Book D, Page --

---
Page 132
John B. Lanham
March 19, 1828
April 28, 1828
"...And in case my wife (Eleanor Lanham) should marry then my negro boy Ken is to be for my children use and to school them..."
John B. Lanham
Book D, Page 330

---
Page 133-134
Deborah Butler
March 12, 1822
May 13, 1822
"...I tive to my loving son Douglas Butler three negro slaves Ann, Robert and Nelson...
First my son Douglass Butler shall his to Rebecca Fryate the wife of Edmond Fryate one negro girl named Eliza, etc. and at her death the negro girl to go to my niece Deboray Fryate during her life. And at her death shall be divided between my grand daughters Devorah Butler and Rebecca Carlisle."
Deborah Butler
Book D, Page 353


---
Page 134
Charles Mudd
August 2, 1828
September 22, 1828
"...The negro man Randal and Richard and Caroline to fall to Austin Mudd, Patrick Mudd, Patrick Mudd, Robert Mudd, Polin Baptist Mudd and Lewis Mudd to be equally divided between the above named heirs and representatives of Susannah Mudd deceased."
Charles Mudd
Book D, Page 354

---
Page 134
Mathew Logan
September 19, 1828
October 27, 1828
"...Item it is further my will that (my dearly beloved wife Sally Logan) shall have the following negroes: towit: Mourn, Jane, Eliza, Harriet, Elweze and Jim"
Matthew Logan
Book D, Page 358

---
Page 135
Joseph Funk
September 16, 1828
October 27, 1828
"...I give unto my wife Elizabeth...a negro woman named Maria..."
Joseph Funk
Book D, Page 367

---
Page 136
Henrietta Boone
November 27, 1828
December 24, 1828
"...Item three I give unto my sister Sarah Medley my two women slaves Magdelen and Catherine during her natural life and at her death to go to her daughter and my grand daughter Mariah Medley.  The two women slaves I do not wish to be separated...
Item five I will that Mary my woman slave shall be sold to the highest bidder who is to be a housekeeper in the St Rose congregation..."
Henrietta Boone
Book D, Page 385

---
Page 137
Thomas Ozbourn
February 18, 1829
March 23, 1829
"...I give and bequeath unto my brother Edward...my man Philip his wife and their six children and it is also my will that my brother Edward shall give to my five sisters in exchange for the above named negroes four of his negroes namely Peg, Nancy, Chara Ann and Mary with my negro boy Henry to be divided equally between my above sisters Catherine, Patsy, Sarah, Anne and Elizabeth to belong to them and their heirs forever. Said Edward is also to give in exchange for the above named Phil, Milly and six children his negro boy David.  It is also my will that said negro David shall belong to my brother Joseph forever.
It is also my will that my negro man Philip shall have my trunk, my ?ed stad and furniture.."
Thomas Ozbourn
Book D, Page 396

---
Page 137-138
Abiezer Plummer
March 19, 1829
April 27, 1829
"...to my grand daughter Eliza Jane Plummer Rineheart I bequeath to her one negro girl named Esther...
To Mordecai Plummer my beloved son I bequeath to him a negro man named William...
To my daughter Elizabeth Lamnem I bequeath one negro boy named Ben...
To my daughter Hester Hayes I leave a decent support during her natural life it to be made out of the main property one negro boy named Friday...
To my daughter Nancy I bequeath to her at the division a negro boy named Lank...
To my son Steven I bequeath one negro boy named James...
To my son George I bequeath to him one negro girl named Ruth..."
Abiezer Plummer
Book D, Page 402

--
Page 140
John M. Stayton
March 23, 1830
April 26, 1830
"...I will to my beloved mother Hannah Stayton my two negroes Abraham and David..."
John Stayton
Book D, Page 467

---
Page 141-142
Edward Clarkson
July 23, 1828
August 23, 1830
"...I will unto my daughter Treacy Constantine my negro woman Milly and her child and her increase to said Treacy forever.
After the death of my wife it is to be understood that I intend to give my son Charles that is my negro man George..."
Edward Clarkson
Book D, Page 479

---
Page 143
William Willis, Jr
March 19, 1830
July 26, 1830
"...N. B. it is my wish that my negro man Phil should be hired for the best price that can be had until some opportunity offers to sell him for a good price."
William Willis Jr
Book D, Page 491