A Friend of Friends Friday: African American Slaves Named in Deeds Spartanburg SC 1785-1827 Book A-B-C

Note: "A Friend of Friends" was a password used on the Underground Railway

A few months ago I purchased a resource book of deed abstracts from Spartanburg, South Carolina circa 1785-1827 by Albert Bruce Pruitt.  I obtained the book in order to research my colonial BRUTON/BREWTON and WOFFORD families,  who lived in that area.

As I searched through the book, I discovered that it contained much more than land deeds, although they are the majority.  Also included were deeds for estates and their dispersal, for the sale of horses & other livestock, for the dispersal of all household goods & furniture, such as when individuals were leaving for another area (usually Georgia) and some deeds  pertaining to the sale of slaves.

Here are  deed abstracts that I found in books A-C that name African American slaves:

Book A 1785--1787

p 45-46 Sept 20, 1785 WILLIAM NEEL (Spartanburgh) to DANIEL JACKSON (Union Co) for 200 pounds sterling sold three Negroes: woman LUE, girl RINER, and boy LIMAS; also the following: a feather bed and furniture, a wagon and gear, a white horse (branded). Witness John Motlow and Wm Prince. Signed Wm Neal

p141-142 Oct 27, 1784 JAMES HOLLAND (NC) to THOMAS DAVIS (96 District SC) for (illegible) sold a Negro woman DINAH. Witness: Henry Moffatt and Sarah Bird. Signed James Holland

p 181-182 March 15, 1787 THOMAS TOD (Tygar River, Spartanburg) to WILLIAM SWANSON (Blackwater River, Franklin Co VA), blacksmith; power of attorney to get a Negro woman NAN  (Thomas Tod's property) purchased from Hampton Lillybridge and ran away in March 1778; NAN to be returned (plus cost) from Christopher Harwood (King and Queen Co VA), who has NAN and holds her for ransom for prison charges, as Jailor of King and Queen Co VA. Signed Thos Tod. Witness oath March 20, 1787 before James Jordan, Richard Harrison, and Obediah Tremier, justices.

Book B 1787-1792

p 3 July 5, 1787 JOHN McCULLOCK to ROBERT KILPATRICK; a mortgage for 5 pounds South Carolina money on 1000 acres; condition of the mortgage is that John McCullock repay in 6 months a Negro 16 years old whom John borrowed (Negro not named). Witness: Joseap Elliot and Hugh Baid. Signed John McCullock

p 169 Aug 25, 1788 JOHN MAPP (SC) to WILLIAM THOMSON (Spartanburg); for 120 pounds sterling sold Negro named DOLL; Negro named DINAH; sorrel horse branded with "8" on should and buttock, 2 cows and calves, and a feather bed and furniture. Witness: Jerem. Thomson and Richd. Thomson. Signed John Mapp

p 240-241 April 13, 1786 JOSEPH BUFFINGTON (Spartanburg) to CAROLINE MATILDA BUFFINGTON (same) for 20 pounds sterling sold a Negro girl named ROSE about 9 months old. 

p 353 March 14, 1790 HENRY HAYES to JAMES JORDAN (Spartanburg); power of attorney to recover a Negro (not named) from James Wood. Henry has a note of hand from James Wood selling the Negro to Henry. Witness: John Hayes, Math. Stokes, and Thomas Jackson. Signed Henry Hayes

p 365-366 May 20, 1790 GEORGE WALKER (Rutherford Co NC) to MARY WALKER (Spartanburg) for 140 pounds sterling sold 3 Negroes: FANN (female) and her children JAMES about 10 years old and MARY about  2 years old. Witness: Edw Scarborough and Reubin Brock. Signed George Walker. Witness oath June 20, 1790 Edw Scarborough to  William McDowell.

p 366 May 25, 1790 GEORGE WALKER to MARY WALKER (Spartanburg); for 100 pounds sterling sold 4 horses and a Negro JACK about 60 years old. 

p 436-437 Nov 9, 1790 JOHN BEARDAN (Spartanburg) to son-in-law WILLIAM SMITH Esq (same); for love and affection sells a Negro girl VIOLET. Witness: John Beardan and Moses Clayton. Signed John Beardan. Witness Oath April 11, 1791 John Beardan to D. Goodlett. Recorded May 26, 1791.

p 487-488 April 6, 1790 JAMES LUSK (Spartanburg) to JOSIAH CULBERTSON (same) for 300 pounds sterling sold 430 acres on Fairforrest Creek and a Negro man CHARLES...Witness: Samuel Clouney and Archibald Cloney. Signed Jas Lusk. Received Dec 3, 1791.

p 499-500 Dec 7, 1791 DAVID GOLIGHTLY (Spartanburg) to WILLIAM LANCASTER (same) for 50 pounds sterling sold a Negro girl named SUKEY age 16 years old. Witness: Amey Golightly and James Golightly. Signed David Golightly. Witness Oath Sept 3, 1792 Amey Golightly to Sam Lancaster. Received Sept 8, 1792.

Book C 1792-1795

p 6-8 April 23, 1792 WILLIAM STORKE JETT executor of RICHARD BERNARD, deceased, and a son and executor of WILLIAM BERNARD, deceased, and guardian of orphans of RICHARD BERNARD and WILLIAM BERNARD, the other surviving son of WILLIAM BERNARD Sr;  to WILLIAM BENSON; power of attorney to recover slave JOHN, property of WILLIAM BERNARD Sr, who escaped or has been stolen; and to sell slave JOHN for 30 pounds Virginia money to WILLIAM BENSON when slave is recovered. Witness: Lan Berry and Matthew Tully. Signed William Storke Jett and Wm Bernard. Proved (Westmoreland Co VA) April 24, 1792 to James Bland. Received (Spartanburg) July 26, 1792.

p 42-43 Dec 4, 1784 PHILIP LANGFITT Sr (Fairfield Co VA) to JAMES SMITH (SC) for 250 pounds Virginia money sold 6 Negroes: NACE, ROSE, LEWES, NATHAN, FLORA and SIMON. Witness: Yelverton Reardon  Frances Langfitt, and Mason Foley. Signed Philip Langfitt. Witness Oath Sept 11, 1792 Yelverton Reardon to D Goodlett. Received Sept 11, 1792.

p 78-79 Oct 11, 1792 DAVID GOLIGHTLY (Spartanburg) to MARY GOLIGHTLY, minor and heir of WILLIAM GOLIGHTLY, deceased; sold a Negro wench ROSE and Negro girl child DILCE for consideration of half of Negro wench TILLER and half of her increase, a legacy left  Mary by her father William Golightly, which was made use of by David, executor, to pay a debt due from William Golightly's estate to NATHAN BARNETT(Georgia); condition of sale void if Mary brings suit for TILLER or her increase. Witness: W Lancaster, A Lancaster and Christopher Golightly. Signed David Golightly. Witness Oath Oct 12, 1792 Christopher Golightly to Isham Harrison. Received Nov 2, 1792

p 78 Oct 11, 1792 DAVID GOLIGHTLY (Spartanburg) to WILLIAM LANCASTER (same) for 40 pounds sterling a Negro girl DOLL..

p 114-115 Nov 23, 1792 WILLIAM MARKS (Southampton Co VA) to WILLIAM LANCASTER (Spartanburg) for 27 pounds 10 shillings sold a Negro boy SHREWSBURY 8 years old next spring. Witness: Brittain Williford, Joel Harris, and Juday Harris. Signed William Marks. Witness Oath Feb 21, 1793 Brittain Williford to Samuel Lancaster. Received April 19, 1793.

p 191 Sept 9, 1793 SAMUEL MORROW (Spartanburg) to his Negro wench POLL; gives her her freedom if she will "be her own woman". Witness: Wm Smith, Jason Moore and Brittain Willeford. Signed Samuel Morrow. Received Oct 17, 1793.

p 284-285 Jan 20, 1794 ZADOCK FORD esq (Spartanburg) to THOMAS FORD (Tygar River, same); for 20 pounds South Carolina money sold the slaves: a woman BETT and her female child JUDY; condition of sale void if Zadock pays John 20 pounds SC money before Dec 25, 1794. Witness: George Grace, Burges McFearson, and Wm Ford. Signed Zadock Ford. Witness Oath May 6, 1794 Wm Ford to Thos Moore. Received June 15, 1794.

p 285-287 Aug 5, 1794 THOMAS WRIGHT (Spartanburg) to JOHN FORD (same) for 140 pounds South Carolina money sold a Negro woman MARY about 29 years old, black complexion, and her five children: a boy named LEWIS, girls BETT, ROSE and ESTER, and a boy named ARCHER.  Condition of sale void if Thomas Wright pays John 35 pounds SC money May 1, 1796, 35 pounds on May 1, 1797 and 35 pounds May 1, 1798 for a total of 140 pounds. Witness: Robert Belcher, Wm Ford and John Wright.  Signed Thomas Wright. Witness Oath May 6, 1794 Wm Ford to Thos Moore. Received Sept 16, 1794.

p 289-290 Sept 15, 1794 WILLIAM RUCHER (Spartanburg) to "heirs of the body" of daughter SARAH WINGO, deceased; gives a Negro woman MILLEY and her "increase": SAM, BEN, NAN, CHARLES, BECK, LEWIS, REUBEN, EDY, and MOSES all now in possession of JOHN WINGO Sr in Amelia Co VA; WILLIAM RUCHER meant to dispose of slaves only to his daughter and her heirs; William also authorizes Sherwood Fowler to recover the slaves. Witness: Elisha Rucher, and William Wilson. Signed William Rucher. Witness Oath Sept 16, 1794 Elisha Rucher to Isham Foster. Received Sept 24, 1794.

p 384-385 Oct 3, 1791 PHILIP WELLS (Laurens Co SC) to MARTHA McCROREY; for 50 pounds sterling sold a Negro woman DINAH, born in this country, blind in left eye and 26 years old.. Witness William Earnest. Signed Philip Wells. Received Dec 1, 1795. Jan 16, 1794 ANTHONY WILSON assigns his interest in DIANAH to William Earnest. Witness: Thomas Tod. Signed Anthony Wilson.  Witness Oath April 30, 1794 Anthony Wilson to Thomas Farrow.

I will be transcribing from this book for the next few weeks and post every Friday on this blog. If anyone needs a look-up in this book, please let me know!

Have a great day!

Betty

© Betty Tartas  2010