A Friend of Friends Friday: African American Slaves Named in Deeds Spartanburg SC 1785-1827 Book P-Q-R

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 P-Q-R that name African American slaves:

Book P 1816-1818

p 66-67 June 21, 1816 JOHN FARROW (Spartanburg) to AARON CASEY, WILLIAM WARD, and ROBERT CRESWELL; sold 7 Negroes: WILL about 24 years old; MAN (or MARE) about 17 years old; SAMPSUN about 12 years old; FRANK about 12 years old; JACOB about ten years old; LED about 8 years old and SIMON about 9 months old; etc etc (he sold essentially all household goods and livestock in order to pay off wife's debts); Witness Thomas M Bragg and William M Farrow; signed JOHN FARROW. Witness oath July 31, 1816 Thomas M Bragg to Burrell Bobo. Received Aug 5, 1816.

p 108-109 Jan 1, 1814 (Union District SC) THOMAS LUSK to WILLIAM STONE; Thomas promises to pay William $210.96 by Jan 1, 1815; to secure that debt Thomas "pledges" to William a Negro girl RACHEL about 11 or 12  years old.  Witness Thomas Murray and John Lusk. Signed THOMAS LUSK. April 13, 1816 Thomas borrows $54 from executors of William Stone, deceased. Witness: Sary Lusk. Signed THOMAS LUSK. Witness oath July 4, 1815 Thomas Murray to William Reid. Received Oct 7, 1816.

p 131-132 June 27, 1815 JAMES WOFFORD to NATHANIEL WOFFORD for $500 sold a Negro woman JESSE. Witness John Wofford and Isaac Wofford. Signed JAMES WOFFORD. Witness oath Oct 14, 1816 John Wofford to John Brewton. Received Oct 19, 1816.

p 160 July 22, 1816 LAURENS BANKSTON and ROBERT GARRETT (Spartanburg) to LEONARD ADCOCK "Justice" (Spartanburg); they swears on March 8, 1816 they saw MARY CANTWELL sell a Negro girl SUCK for $200 to her son MARK CANTWELL. Witness Leon Adcock JP. Signed LAURENS BANKSTON and ROBERT GARRETT's mark. Witness oath none. Received Dec 19, 1816.

p 249 Jan 3, 1817 (Laurens district SC) JOHN SPURGEN (Laurens District) to JOHN PADEN (Spartanburg) for $304.93 sold a Negro girl CHERRE and her increase "otherwise called" BUFFY about 14 years old; Condition John Paden can't move Negro and her increase outside South Carolina, and is to give Negro sufficient provisions and clothing and treat her with humanity; and sale is void if John Spurgen pays $304.96 to John Paden by Jan 3, 1824. Witness Henry C Young and George Fowler. Signed JOHN SPURGEN and JOHN PADEN. Witness oath March 27, 1817 George Fowler to Thomas Poole. Received April 9, 1817.

p 260  Nov 6, 1816 JAMES HAMMETT (Spartanburg) to HENRY BROCKMAN; Henry Brockman paid $800 to John and Charles Bulow (Charleston, SC) to secure a debt James Hammett and Henry Brockman had with John and Charles Bulow; sold three Negroes--a wench SUSANNAH and two girls AGGY and MALINDA; Condition: sale void if James Hammett pays Henry Brockman or John and Charles Bulow $800 with interest by Dec 25, 1817. Witness Thomas Brockman and Harriet Brockman. Signed JAMES HAMMETT. Witness oath May 6, 1817 Thomas P Brockman to Thomas Poole. Received May 6, 1817.

p 374 Nov 20, 1817 REBECCA TURNER to son MATTHIAS TURNER; for $1800 sold five Negroes: JOAB, REUBIN, SARAH, JOHN, and EPHRAIM. Witness William Turner and John Turner. Signed REBECCA TURNER's mark.  Witness oath Dec 8, 1817 William Turner to J Camp. Received Dec 17, 1817.

p 434-435 Nov 1, 1816 JOSEPH WOFFORD to daughter MARTHA WHITE; for good cause give "an Intailment (entitlement?) forever from one generation to another" a Negro girl MARY and her increase. Witness John Mullinax and Thomas Jones.  Signed JOSEPH WOFFORD. Witness oath April 6, 1818 John Mullinax to James Hamm. Received April 6, 1818.

p 435 Sept 13, 1816 JOSEPH WOFFORD to son JOSEPH WOFFORD; for good cause give a Negro woman RODY and her increase, and a Negro boy ISAAC.  Witness Samuel Tucker and John Tucker. Signed JOSEPH WOFFORD. Witness oath Sept 19, 1816 Samuel Tucker to John Dean. Received April 6, 1818.

Book Q 1818-1820

p 2-3 Nov 1, 1817 JOSEPH WOFFORD to daughter REBECCA MILLINAX (MULLINAX?); for good cause give as "an Intailment (entitlement?) forever from one generation to another"

a Negro girl ESTHER and her increase. Witness Moses White and Thomas Jones. Signed JOSEPH WOFFORD. Witness oath April 6, 1818 Moses White to James Hamm. Received April 7, 1818.

p 23-24 May 20, 1818 JOHN OWENS Sr (Spartanburg) to son DAVID OWENS (same) for love and affection give 130 acres on Enoree River where John Owens Sr lives, and give a Negro boy TOLL, a Negro girl RACHEL, two Negro wenches JUDE and ROSE, a Negro boy WASHINGTON, two Negro children JACKSON and JACOB, and all his goods and chattles and household, etc etc. Witness James Leonard, James Lanford, and Caty Redman. Signed JOHN OWENS' mark. Witness oath May 20, 1818 James Lanford to Samuel Woodruff. Received May 21,1818.

p 137-138 Nov 2, 1818 WILLIAM ROLLINS (Spartanburg) to WILLIAM BENNETT (same) for $442 and /4 cents (sic) which is amount William Rollins gave William Bennet in a note and to secure payment, sold a Negro boy PATON between 5 and 6 years old, black complexion, and healthy and sound; Condition William Bennett is to giive William Rollins the money if more than $404 and 3/4 cents is obtained if PATON is sold by Marchd 1, 1819, after giving 20 days notice at the Spartanburgh Court House. Witness W Walker and Edmund Cooley. Signed (not signed). Wfitness oath Nov 2, 1818 Edmund Cooley to James Young. Received Nov 2, 1818.

p 197-198 Nov 6, 1817 RICHARD BARNETT (Spartanburg) to HANCOCK SMITH; for $500 sold a Negro girl BETTY about 14 years old. Witness Catherine Smith. Signed RICHARD BARNETT. Witnes oath jan 12, 1819 Catherine Smith to Daniel White. Received Jan 12, 1819.

p 198-199 Oct 8, 1815 JANE SMITH (Spartanburg) to HANCOCK SMITH; for $500 sold a Negro boy PHILL about  13 years old. Witness Isaac Smith. Signed JANE SMITH. Witness oath Jan 12, 1819 Isaac Smith to Daniel White. Received Jan 12, 1819.

p 378-379 May 18, 1819 (?) EDWARD HOOKER (Spartanburg) to son ZADOK HOOKER (Abbeville District Cambridge) for love and affection give Negroes 1) African named DICK about 45 or 50 years old, a boy DICK about 12 years old; a girl HAGAR about 10 years old and all her increase; and a boy JAMES about 7 years old; etc, etc; Witness Benjamin Hooker and Jesse Lamb. Signed EDWARD HOOKER. Witness oath Nov 11, 1819 Jesse Lamb to M Casey. Rec Nov 15, 1819.

Book R 1820-1822

p 75-76 March 6, 1820 JOHN W FARROW (Union District SC) to THOMAS FARROW (Spartanburg);. Thomas Farrow was sued and judgement obtained against him in U S District Court for $7000 due to his securityship to John W Farrow as  paymaster of late 28th Regt US Infantry; so Joh W Farrow sold ......the following: a Negro boy BEN about 20 years old, a Negro girl PATT about 8 years old.... (basically John Farrow sold everything Thomas Farrow owned down to spoons knives & forks!). Witness E Williamson and Sarah Williamson. Signed J W FARROW. Witness oath May 22, 1820 (Newberry district SC) E Williamson to Jno B O' Neall. Received July 3, 1820.

p 97-98 Aug 14, 1817 JAMES WILSON to JAMES VERNON; for $1300 sold a Negro woman NANCY, a Negro woman THURAY (daughter of NANCY), and her child BOB. Witness John Montgomery and Alexr McMakin. Signed JAMES WILSON's mark. Witness oath Aug 12, 1820 John Montgomery to John T Rowland. Received Aug 14, 1820.

p 104-105 Sept 21, 1816 ABRAM CANTRELL (Spartanburg) to WILLIAM BENNETT (same) for $500 sold a Negro woman POLLEY between 20 and 30 and her increase; aagreeable with the will of ISAAC CANTRELL deceased and all ABRAM CANTRELL's rights to mother MARY CANTRELL's property (when she died)....etc etc. Witness Iredell Cunningham and Alfred Cunningham. Signed ABRAM CANTRELL. Witness oath Oct 1, 1816 Alfred Cunningham to James Young. Received Sept 4, 1820.

p 140 Oct 10, 1820 THOMAS BURTON to daughter MARY McVAY, wife of CLABRON McVAY (Giles Co TN), and to grandchildren (children of Mary McVay) for paternal love give a Negro girl SARY 12 years old, adn her increase supposed to be worth $500; SARY is to "attend" to Mary during her lifetime and at her death to her children.  Clabron can't dispose of the Negro SARY. Witness Joseph David and Isaac S Whitten. Signed THOMAS BURTON's mark. Witness oath Oct 19, 1820 Joseph Davis to J Whitten. Received Oct 19, 1820.

p 223-234 April 1, 1821 THOMAS DARE (Spartanburg) to sons-in-law WILLIAM ROSS and MUSE TOLLESON (same) for love and affection give all lands, utensils, goods and chattels...and 13 Negroes--OWEN, SAUL, JABER, VINCE, MANUEL, NELSON, BOB, JIM, CLARY, PAT, HANNAH, WILL and MARY; etc, etc; Witness William Trimmier and Memory N. Chapman. Signed THOMAS DARE. Witness oath April 2, 1821 William Trimmier to E Bomar. Received April 2, 1821.

p 248-249 June 10, 1819 MUSE TOLLESON (Spartanburg) to ALFRED TOLLESON son of JOHN TOLLESON for affection give when Muse's father (John Tolleson) dies, a Negro boy MILAS and a mulatto girl MARY, children of Negro woman JANE; both born as property of Muse's father; John Tolleson has the Negroes now and is allowed to sell them in his lfietime, but if John doesn't sell them then they go to Alfred.  Witness James Tollison and Birdsong Tollison. Signed MUSE TOLLISON. Witness oath April 7,, 1821 James Tollison to William Reid. Received April 19, 1821.

p 253-254 June 10, 1819 MUSE TOLLISON (Spartanburg) to LUCINDA TOLLISON , daughter of JOHN TOLLISON; for affection give , at decease of John Tollison, a Negro woman JANE and her child EBYINA (or EBZINA?); JANE was sold by Norman Morrison to Maj John Tollison, but John can sell Negro during his lifetime if he wants to; if John doesn't sell her, she goes to Lucinda, and if Lucinda dies without issue then the Negro goes to James, Birdsong, Josephus B and Alfred Tollison. Witness James Tollison and Birdsong Tollison. Signed MUSE TOLLISON. Witness oath April 20, 1821 James Tollison to William Reid. Received May 1, 1821.

p 254-255 May 7, 1821 JOHN LINDER (Spartanburg) to son THOMAS LINDER for (omitted) give a Negro boy JACK. Witness Nathaniel Linder and Abraham Linder. Signed JOHN LINDER. Witness oath May 7, 1821 Nathaniel Linder to  E Bomar. Received May 7, 1821

p 255  May 4, 1821 JOHN LINDER (Spartanburg) to son JACOB LINDER for (omitted) give a Negro boy JIM. Witness Lee Linder and Elisha Bomar. Signed JOHN LINDER. Witness oath May 7, 1821 Lee Linder to  E Bomar. Received May 7, 1821

p 255-256 May 6, 1821 JOHN LINDER (Spartanburg) to son LEE LINDER for (omitted) give a Negro boy DANIEL. Witness Elisha Bomar and Jacob Linder. Signed JOHN LINDER. Witness oath May 7, 1821 Jacob Linder to  E Bomar. Received May 7, 1821

p 256 May 7, 1821 JOHN LINDER (Spartanburg) to son NATHANIEL LINDER for (omitted) give a Negro boy DAVE. Witness Thomas  Linder and Abraham Linder. Signed JOHN LINDER. Witness oath May 7, 1821 Thomas Linder to  E Bomar. Received May 7, 1821

p 266 June 20, 1819 JOHN TOLLISON to MUSE TOLLISON; for $1200 sold a Negro woman MILL and JANE and her children MILAS, MARY and EZINA. Witness Charles McAbie and Matthew Norton. Signed JOHN TOLLISON. Witness oath March 31, 1821 Charles McAbie to W Hunt. Received Mahy 14, 1821.

p 308 July 28, 1821 SAMUEL FOWLER (Spartanburg) to son JOHN FOWLER (same); for extra attention givenby John to Samuel and for parental affection give a Negro woman named DARK; Samuel reserves "authority and command of" DARK during his lifetime. Witness John W Lewis and John S Rowland. Signed SAMUEL FOWLER's mark.  Witness oath July 28, 1821 John S Rowland to J Whitten. Received Aug 6, 1821.

p 308-309 July 28, 1821 SAMUEL FOWLER Sr (Spartanburg) to grandson SAMUEL FOWLER Jr, son of JOHN FOWLER (same); for services rendered and attention paid to Samuel Sr, give a Negro boy CALEB at Samuel Sr's decease; Samuel Sr reserves  "authority to" CALEB during his lifetime. Witness John W Lewis and John S Rowland. Signed SAMUEL FOWLER's mark.  Witness oath July 28, 1821 John S Rowland to J Whitten. Received Aug 6, 1821.

p 334-335 Oct 9, 1821 NEMROD E BENSON to ABNER BENSON...to secure debt sold a Negro DICK about 35 years old; STEPHEN about 22 years old; ALEXANDER about 19 years old; LOT about 37 years old; MICHAEL about 17 years old; MOSES about 14 years old; and LARKIN about 20 years old. Witness E Roddy and Wilson Nesbett. Signed N E BENSON. Witness oath Oct 10, 1821 E Roddy to E Bomar. Received Oct 10, 1821.

p 351-353 Oct 1, 1821 AUGUSTIN SHANDS (Spartanburg) to PHEBE SHANDS (same) for $671 sold a Negro man PUNCH(?), etc etc (tools and livestock to secure debt); Witness Elijah Ballinger and Elijah Foster. Signed AUGUSTIN SHANDS. Witness oath Nov 6, 1821 Elijah Ballinger to James Hamm. Received Nov 10, 1821.

p 360-361 April 10, 1821 JOHN WOFFORD to FREDRICK PARHAM; for security of a  note John gives a Negro boy SMART age 10 years old to Richard Hewel and George Wofford if they lose out due to security on John's debt. Witness John W Williams and Samuel Turner.  Signed JOHN WOFFORD's mark. Witness oath Nov 5, 1821 Samuel Turner to Thomas Poole. Received Nov 10, 1821.

p 380-381 Aug 2, 1819 ROBERT McMILLEN (Spartanburg) to HUGH McMILLEN (same) for $800 sold a Negro woman OMA and her two children MARY and MARILLA. Witness John S Rowland and Luke Burnett. Witness oath Sept 15, 1820 John S Rowland to James Young. Received Dec 3, 1821.

p 384-385 ELIZABETH McCARRY (Spartanburg) to JOHN ARNOLD (same); power of attorney to obtain her due from teh will of EDMOND CHAMBERS, deceased (Spartanburg)...A Negro girl LEAH, etc etc . Witness William Lancaster. Signed ELIZABETH McCARRY. Witness oath Nov 7, 1821 William Lancaster to J Whitten. Received Dec 27, 1821.

Have a great day!

Betty


© Betty Tartas  2010

Amanuensis Monday: Transcribed Obituaries of the BROWN family Sacramento, CA and Victoria BC Canada

Transcribed from Sacramento CA Daily Record-Union, Thursday March 18, 1897
DEATH OF H.N.H. BROWN
An Old and Esteemed Citizen to be Buried Today
The death is announced of H.N.H. BROWN, an old and highly esteemed citizen, who had long been a sufferer from heart trouble. Mr. Brown was a native of Sanbornton, New Hampshire, and was 72 years of age. Coming to California some forty-four years ago (1850?) he entered into the employ of Leland Stanford, then a prominent merchant at Negro Hill, near Folsom. Later he was in the employ of W.R.Strong (American Seed Store) of this city, and subsequently with Wells, Fargo & Co.


Deceased leaves a son and daughter, FRANK R. BROWN of Alaska, and Mrs. PHEBE RHODES of Victoria B.C. ( Canada), also several brothers and sisters in the East. He was very prominent in Masonic circles, and the funeral will take place under the auspices of that order this afternoon.



Transcribed from Sacramento Record-Unon and Sacramento Bee Jan 26, 1875
In this city, January 23, Mrs CORDELIA BROWN, wife of H.N.H. BROWN, a native of England, aged 45 years old. Wisconsin and Boston papers please copy. Funeral from Calvary Baptist Church, at 2 o'clock tomorrow afternoon. Friends are invited to attend (Note: CORDELIA RICKARD was married first to HENRY WILLIAM F MYERS in Grant Co WI, and had one daughter EMMA before marrying H N H BROWN in Sacramento)



Transcribed from the Sacramento Bee 1894 & 1895
EMERY In this City June 19th 1894, Mrs. WALTER P. EMERY (Emma J Myers Brown), a native of Wisconsin, age 43 years, 7 months and 18 days. Friends and acquaintances are respectfully invited to attend the funeral tomorrow Thusday at 4 pm, from St. Paul's Church, Eighth street, between I and J streets. Interment private. Source: Sacramento Bee, Wednesday June 20, 1894 page 3.


EMERY In this city, February 20, 1895 WALTER P. EMERY, a native of Michigan, aged 57 years old. Friends and acquaintances are respectfully invited to attend the funeral tomorrow Friday at 2 pm from the St Paul's Church, Eighth street between I and J street. Friends can view the remains at the Church, Friday from 10 to 12 am. Source: Sacramento Bee, Feb 21, 1895 page 3.



Transcribed from the Victoria BC Canada Times-Colonist 1932
MRS CHARLES W RHODES
Victoria lost one of her most public-spirited citizens yesterday with the death of Mrs. CHARLES W. RHODES of 1024 Terrace Avenue, noted for many years as a keen worker in the interests of Jubilee Hospital. Mrs. Rhodes passed away suddenly early yesterday morning as the result of a heart seizure on Tuesday evening, which was of such obviously serious nature that she was removed at once to the hospital. Her daughter, Miss ETHEL RHODES, RN, who was summoned from Seattle, arrived just too late to be with her at the end.


The remains will repose on Saturday at the residence on Terrace Avenus until 2:15 p.m. when the funeral cortege will proceed to Christ Church Cathedral, where services will be held at 2:30 o'clock. The remains will be forwarded to Vancouver for cremation. Interrment will later be made at Ross Bay Cemetary here. haywards BC Funeral Company is in charge of the funeral arrangements.


Mrs. RHODES was born on April 18, 1868 in Folsom, CA, being the daughter of the late Mr. & Mrs. H.N.H. BROWN. She first came to Victoria in 1896 as a bride, her husband the late CHARLES W. RHODES, who died about twenty years ago, being the manager for many years at the Brackman-Ker Milling Company. They took up their residence on Terrace Avenue immediately on arrival here, and Mrs. Rhodes continued to make her home there until the last.


INTEREST IN HOSPITAL
Keenly interested in hospital welfare, Mrs. Rhodes became identified with the Jubilee Hospital very soon after her arrival here, and for nearly thirty years had been one of its most enthusiastic champions. Recognition of this was given practical expression when she was elected a member of the board of directors as a representative of subscribers in 1907, 26 years ago, holding office continuously ever since. Still earlier she was elected president of the Women's Auxiliary, which under her unflagging leadership became one of the most important sources of practical assistance to the hospital.


It was under her regime that the auxilairy projected its remarkable campaign to raise funds for the building of a new wing, a work temporarily frustrated by the intervention of the Great War. When the project was finally comsumated, Mrs. Rhodes and the auxiliary again threw their whole-hearted support into the undertaking, and gave the board invaluable assistance with the furnishing and other matters.


CONTINUES WORK
Even after she resigned her office in the Women's Auxiliary four years ago, Mrs. Rhodes continued to give assistance with advice. One of her outstanding undertakings in the hospital's behalf in recent years was the organization of the big tombola, for which she herself secured most of the prizes.


To all of her hospital colleaguesand associates, as well as her very large circle of personal friends, the news of her death has carried a sense of personal loss. In addition to her hospital activities, she was for many years an active member of Gonzales Chapter I.O.D.E.


In addition to her daughter, Miss ETHEL RHODES, there survive two grandchildren in England, and a brother FRANK R. BROWN, living in Alaska. A second daughter Mrs. Sturrock (should read Sterry), MABEL, died just two years ago.


TRIBUTES PAID
Warm tribute to the wonderful work accomplished by Mrs. Rhodes was paid by H.H. Shandley, president of the Jubilee board of directors: "In the deeply-regretted death of Mrs. Rhodes, the Jubille Hospital has suffered an irreparable loss. Year in and out she worked indefatigablyfor the hospital, whose cause she had so dearly at heart. Never shall we be able to find anyone who will give so generously and lavishly of their time and energy in the interests of the hospital as Mrs. Rhodes has for the last quarter of a century."


In expressing the feelings of the Women's Auxiliary of the Jubilee Hospital in the passing of Mrs. C.W. Rhodes, Mrs. W.A. Chambers president said," The name of Mrs. Rhodes has been associated with the Auxiliary for so many years that it will be a long time before we fully realize that she has left us to carry of the work that she did for a quarter of a century. her interest and enthusiasm in all hospital affairs were always an inspiration to us, and every member feels too deeply for words the loss of one who was always ready to do all that was possible for hospital welfare. Her sudden passing leaves us with a real sense of bereavement."

Have a great day!

Betty


© Betty Tartas  2010