What is Brister English Project (BEP)?

Brister English Project (BEP) manages 5 data types including resources. Helps you organize, track, and share your work in 1 place for teams and solo users.

Back to Projects

Antebellum VA Probate Doc Mentioning Slaves Paris, Reuben, Billy, Nancy & Sally

Bills of Sale

0 contributors7 pages

0% Complete

Page 1 of 7

DoneNeeds reviewIn progressNot started

100%

Scroll to zoom · Drag to pan

Your Transcription

In Progress

Notes / Questions (optional)

Antebellum VA Probate Doc Mentioning Slaves Paris, Reuben, Billy, Nancy &amp; Sally An 8pp probate document from Prince William County, Virginia dated November 1845 - March 1848, being a record of credits and debits on the estate of the deceased, Colonel John Hood, Jr. The ledger is a contemporary clerical copy that was probably produced and consulted during litigation involving an unresolved lien on the deceased's slaves. Handwritten in secretarial script on blue-lined paper with hand-ruled columns. The bifold paper bundles have been neatly sewn at the binding. Expected wear including flattened folds, light toning, and isolated fly specking, else extremely legible and near fine. 7.75" x 12.25." Colonel John Hood, Jr. of Prince William County, Virginia died sometime before November 27, 1845, the first entry of the probate doc. Prince William County is located in northeastern Virginia about 40 miles inland from Alexandria, Virginia and Washington, D.C. No genealogical records could be found for Colonel John Hood, Jr. (It is not believed that he is related to Confederate General John Bell Hood, whose family originated in Kentucky.) The last entry of Colonel Hood's probate ledger, a court addendum, is dated March 9, 1848. The probate ledger lists credits and debits to the estate of Colonel Hood. Commodities such as wheat, corn, apple trees, timothy seed, a pony, and clothing are listed. Costs relating to the deceased's coffin and funeral dinner can also be found. Farm work, slave hire, postage, legal expenses, and accrued interest are also itemized. The most interesting portion of the estate settlement, however, relates to Hood's slaves. These included children Paris, Billy, and Sally; two adults named Reuben and Nancy; and "two old slaves" who remain unnamed. While it was arranged that the elderly slaves were to be "kept for life" (page 1), the younger slaves were to be sold (page 6). In part: "To cash paid Thos B Garius for crying sale of slaves Reuben + Nancy " Do paid printers bill for attending sale of same By Do for negro boy Paris " Do " Negroes Reuben + Nancy interest " Do " " boy Billy…" (page 6) References to slaves in historical records are relatively common, but mentioning slave auctioneers by name are much rarer. This probate ledger contains several references to "crying sales," that is, estate auctions, and two auctioneers are mentioned, William S. Allen (page 1) and Thomas B. Garius (page 6). This item comes with a Certificate from John Reznikoff, a premier authenticator for both major 3rd party authentication services, PSA and JSA (James Spence Authentications), as well as numerous auction houses. WE PROVIDE IN-HOUSE

About This Project

Source: University Archives https://www.universityarchives.com/auction-lot/antebellum-va-probate-doc-mentioning-slaves-paris_E1546B2A50 Antebellum VA Probate Doc Mentioning Slaves Paris, Reuben, Billy, Nancy & Sally An 8pp probate document from Prince William County, Virginia dated November 1845 - March 1848, being a record of credits and debits on the estate of the deceased, Colonel John Hood, Jr. The ledger is a contemporary clerical copy that was probably produced and consulted during litigation involving an unresolved lien on the deceased's slaves. Handwritten in secretarial script on blue-lined paper with hand-ruled columns. The bifold paper bundles have been neatly sewn at the binding. Expected wear including flattened folds, light toning, and isolated fly specking, else extremely legible and near fine. 7.75" x 12.25." Colonel John Hood, Jr. of Prince William County, Virginia died sometime before November 27, 1845, the first entry of the probate doc. Prince William County is located in northeastern Virginia about 40 miles inland from Alexandria, Virginia and Washington, D.C. No genealogical records could be found for Colonel John Hood, Jr. (It is not believed that he is related to Confederate General John Bell Hood, whose family originated in Kentucky.) The last entry of Colonel Hood's probate ledger, a court addendum, is dated March 9, 1848. The probate ledger lists credits and debits to the estate of Colonel Hood. Commodities such as wheat, corn, apple trees, timothy seed, a pony, and clothing are listed. Costs relating to the deceased's coffin and funeral dinner can also be found. Farm work, slave hire, postage, legal expenses, and accrued interest are also itemized. The most interesting portion of the estate settlement, however, relates to Hood's slaves. These included children Paris, Billy, and Sally; two adults named Reuben and Nancy; and "two old slaves" who remain unnamed. While it was arranged that the elderly slaves were to be "kept for life" (page 1), the younger slaves were to be sold (page 6). In part: "To cash paid Thos B Garius for crying sale of slaves Reuben + Nancy " Do paid printers bill for attending sale of same By Do for negro boy Paris " Do " Negroes Reuben + Nancy interest " Do " " boy Billy…" (page 6) References to slaves in historical records are relatively common, but mentioning slave auctioneers by name are much rarer. This probate ledger contains several references to "crying sales," that is, estate auctions, and two auctioneers are mentioned, William S. Allen (page 1) and Thomas B. Garius (page 6).

Collection: University Archives — Bill of Sale Search

Time Period: Pre-1865 (Slavery Era)

Quick Reference

[[?]]Word you can't read

[[image]]Sketch, photo, or seal

[[stamp]]Official stamp or seal

[[strikethrough]]..[[/strikethrough]]Crossed-out text

[[word?]]Best guess at uncertain word

Full instructions →