African American Records
from the Grant County Estates
from Abstracted County Records by Janet Pease-
Grant County Historical Society


Volume IV Grant Co Kentucky Guardianships 1838-1871

Settlement:
H.B. Smith, guardian of Mary Ann Walker Late Stansifer.
-Smith files 2 receipts from her, and from her husband, W. Lillard.
     a. received of H.B. Smith, late guardian of Mary Ann Lillard, late Mary Ann Stansiffer, one of the heirs at law of Gabriel Stansiffer,dec'd...her interest in 5 negro children, one of whom died as a small girl name Barthena.
-Nancy Stansiffer is the widow of the dec'd Gabriel Stansiffer and she has since intermarried with H.B. Smith.
-There are 3 Negores left: Reuben, Alfred and Amanda.
-mentions a judgment in the Franklin County Circuit Ct. in the name of Charles Mills vs. R. Anderson and G.F. Cox, dec'd administrators of Gabriel Stansiffer dec'd.
-mentions a judgment in the Campbell County Circuit Ct in favor Jacob Fowler, against the same parties.
-mentions that the 2 boys Reuben and Alfred ran away but were apprehended... Reuben in the state of Indiana and Alfred in Cincinnati, Ohio.
-Mentions the receipt of Mary A. and her husband Walker Lillard.
-Mentions the share of her brother Gabriel Stansiffer jr.
-Mentions Samuel Cox, surviving administrator of G. Stansiffer dec'd.
-Mentions a note collected from Abram Stansiffer.
17 December 1839
page 3

Report:
Eunice Mcclure and Ezra K.Ffish - gurardians of the heirs of John A. McClure dec'd.
-the farm known as the Johnson Farm - its land were exhauasted so it was "out down grass"
-the Elam Riddle farm was in the same condition.
-both of these farms were rented to Tho. Thompson and to S. Osburn.
-(a year by year account of rentals follows)
-slaves included in the estate:
  1.) Ned
  2.) Jefferson - he was hired out to John Wood for 1852.
  3.) Andy - he was hired out to Benj. Northcutt
  4.) (name is smudged ; appears to be "Betty") -was hired out to Thoms. S. Fish
  5.) Mary - she died last October
  6.) Ann - she died last November from the result of a burn.
recorded 17 June 1853
pages 21


Report:
Eunice McClure, guardian for John T. McClure, Exra K. McClure, Laura A. McClure, Nancy H. McClure, Mary J. McClure, Sarah F. McClure, Wm. H. McClure, Eunice Alice McClure and Margaret T. McClure - children of John A. McClure dec'd.
-the said John T. McClure "being of the full age of 21 years...his receipt in full is filed.
-the Stone tract of land - was rented to Wm. Cunningham.
-the Johnson tract of land was rented to Harrison Skirvin.
-the Levi Webster tract of land was rented to John Carnes
-the Elam Riddle tract of land is mentioned.
-the Negro boy Andy ran away on 10 February 1856, as did Press, one of the other boys - neither has ever been heard from.
-the boy Jefferson was then sent to Lexington, Kentucky to be sold.
-the girl Bet has been sick and has had many doctor bills. She has a boy named Julius aged about 3 months.
-Ned (apparently a slave) has been working for the guardian.
-Harriet, Martha and Ellen - children now aged 10 or 11 years, have been in the possession of the guardian.
-at the time of his death, Mr. McClure, held in his possession a title bond executed by James O'Hara for a tract of land known as the Johnson tract. After the death of Mr. McClure, it was learned that the wife of Edward Ely, living in Virginia, had an interest in that land, and that Mr. O'Hara had not obtained title for that interest....a suit in the Grant County Chancery Court resulted from this.21 Novmeber 1857, pages 47


Report: Richmond's. Baxter, guardian of Mary L.F. Lawrence.
-mention is the Negro girl named Martha, aged 17 years.
13 September 1858
page 62

Volume III Grant Co. Kentucky Order Books

Order for Dower Division:
Estate of R.M. Daniel- widow: Zerilda Daniel
lands involved are near Crittenden.
-she is also given these slaves: Jane aged 45; Woodford aged 42 years; William aged 39 years; Adeline aged 21 years; Martha E. aged 16 years; Mary E. aged 12 years; John aged 8 years; and William jr aged 1 year.
16 March 1863
H: 615

Appropriation:
Thos. S. Stroud is allowed $1.50 for the support of Benja., a colored man.
January, 1854. C: 520

Claims against the county court, for services rendered;
- to B.H. Evans, for holding an inquest over the Negro "Ben".

Manumission:
Daniel, late the slave of Alexander H. Carlisle, was emancipated in the will of the said Carlisle...it appears that Nancy Carlisle is the widow of the dec'd that his daughter Armilda is married; that Jno. Mitchell is the administrator of the will of the dec'd...Daniel is aged 35 years, is 5'5 " tall, very black. A certificate of his freedom is hereby issured.
May 1854 C: 551

Manumission:
It is ordered that Sam, a man of color, who was manumitted under the will of Joshuar Childers, dec'd, be summoned to court to say whether or not he accepts his freedom.
May 1858. H: 198.

Manumision:
.Sam, a man of color, who was emancipated by the will of Joshua Childers, dec'd...it appears that there is a sufficent fund to remove him from this state as required by law. Sam testified that he is willing to be removed from Kentucky to accept his freedom.
14 February 1859. H: 254

Runaway:
John R. Willaims, jailor of Grant County, appeared in court and stated that a runaway Negro named Tom had been taken up in this county Robert E. Harrison, had been committed to the jail on 28 July 1856, and had been advertized in the Covington Journal (the newspaper being the closest one published to Williamstown)....siad Negro Tom is to be sold by the sheriff of Grant County on 11 May 1857 for not less than $400 .
February, 1857. H: 100

Harrison County
Probate Abstracts by Janet Pease

Will of Alexander Smith Hendley Hawkins
Wife: Nancy-..plus a negro named Nathan,
A Negro man Jerry, a Negro woman Sisley, a Negro woman Nell, and a Negro girl Charity.
Children: John, Milton, Alfred, Elender, Jane Hawkins and Betsy Grubs.
Also the infant my wife is pregnant with.
Son: Francis-when he comes of age
Son: Basil W.-when he comes of age
Son: Alex A.S. -when he comes of age
3 Negro boys ( Sam, Silvester and David) which I have given by deeds of gift to my sons Francis, Basil and Alexander.
Son: Thomas
Daughter: Elizabeth Hawkins, now Ellizabeth Miller
Daughter: Nancy Hawkins, now Nancy Jackson
Written: November 1 1807 Probated: December 1807
Volume I, page 83


Will of Henry Coleman
Wife: Mary
Son in Law: Willaim Moore- a Negro girl name Aggy ( Dina's daughter) also a boy called Captain, son to old Jenny.
Daughter: Polly Green- a Negro girl called Easter (Dina's daughter)
Daughter: Caty Miller- a Negro girl called Fann (daughter of old Jenny) and a boy called Bill ( son to Dinah)
Daughter: Lucy
Daughter: Sally- a Negro boy called Daniel (son to old Dina) and boy called Bob (son to old Jenny)
Daughter: Peggy- a Negro girl called Sarah ( daughter of Jenny) and a Negro boy called John (son to Dinah)
Daughter: Sucky ….a Negro fellow named Glass and Jeeny, his wife; also Rachel and a Negro boy called Valda, son of Jenny; and girl called Maria.
Grandson: Napoleon Coleman, oldest son of William Coleman- a Negro boy named Sam (son of old Jenny)
Sons: William and Edward
Son-in law; John Miller
Son Edward: a Negro boy named Major
Written: November 14 1807 Probated April 1808
Volume I page 95
(this is a long and detailed document)

Will of Joshua Hall
Wife: Sarah
Daughter: Rebekah Hall - a Negro boy named Peter
Daughter: Kitturah Hall - a Negro boy named Harrison
The rest of my children: Elizabeth Jones, John Hall, Mary Kemper, Joshua Hall, Thomas Hall, Charles Hall and William ( no surname given )
Written: September 24 1812 Probated: May 1813
Volume I, page 196

Will of Thomas Lilley
Aged 78 years
My son Joshua- a Negro boy named Nathan
My son Thomas - a Negro boy named Jacob
My daughter - Susannah Lilley- a Negro girl named Jane
My Son-in- law, Wm Way- a Negro boy named Elisha
My daughter Lucy Spoon- a Negro boy named Samuel
My daughter Ann Gohagin- a Negro boy named William
"independent of her husband" and at her death, said Negro boy is to go to her 2 daughters, Elizabeth M. Gohagin and Mary Ann Gohagin.
My son Joshua - a Negro boy named David ( which I was giving to my son-in- law Joseph Ellis who refused.
Written: December 1 1810 Probated: July 1813
Volume I, page 198

Will of John Clarke
Son: William T.
Son -in-law: James Kelly and to Augustine C. Repass
My slaves are to be divided equally among my 3 children:
My son William- Billy, Jim Cesar, Hannah, Frank, Nancy, Joe and Maria Nancy's chn & Elliott
To James Kelly- Edmond, Barbary and her children, Marisa, Polly, Scott, Sam, Jenny and her eldest child
To Augustine C. Respass- George, Sabria and her children by name Delphi, Louisa, Caroline and Marra Judy and her child John Tom Jacob Jinny's youngest child and Alice (no punctuation)
My Negro woman Betty and her children Elisa, Mike and Ealina are to be manumitted from salvery..
Executors: son William and my 2 sons in laws James Kelly and Augustine Respass
Written: July 15 1814 Probated: August 1814
Volume I, page 245


Will of Benjamin Neale
Wife: Dorcas- one Mulatto man named Jack and a Negro woman named Levina; a Negro girl named Nancy and a Negro boy named Fielding
Son: George Neale
Son: William Neale
To Gabriel George
To Reuben Anderson
To Joseph Shropshire
To Charles Mothershead
To the heirs of my son James Neale
To the heirs of my son Thomas Neale
To the heirs of my son Benjamin Young Neale
To the heirs of Lettice McDaniel
Youngest son: Jonathan Neale
Youngest daughter: America Neale
Mentions land given to Reuben Anderson, Joseph Shropshire and the heirs of James Neale
Written: December 30 1816 Probated: February 1817
Volume I, page 361

Will of Susannah Chandler
Son: Henry Chandler- a Negro woman Dafney and Negro boy, Bobb
Daughter: Sarah Chandler
"the heir of my man Charles is for the benefit of my funeral expenses"
Written: October 23 1807 Probated: April 1817
Volume I, page 364


Will of Keziah Moore
Sister: Elizabeth- my Negro man George
My Negro girl named Minto aged 10 years, my Negro girl named Henny aged 16 yrs, my Negro girl named Polly, aged 6 years, and my Negro girl named Letty, aged 4 years are to be set free after my sister reaches age of 20 yrs.
To Baston Moore, James Moore, and Benjamin Moore
Written: October 20 1815 Probated: November 1816
Volume I, page 352

Will of Samuel McMillin Sr.
Wife: Easter- slaves Nipkin?, Joseph, Polly, Lucy, Lair, George and Mary
Sons: William and Marshall
Younger children are to be supported
Son: William- the Negro boy Ephraim and girl Hannah
Daughter: Polly- the girls Sealy and Kitty and the boy Jefferson
Son: Marshall- the Negroes- Oliver, Major, Mariah
Son: John
Executors: wife Easther, son Andrew, and James Coleman
Daughter: Polly
Son: Kenndy
Son: William
Son: Marshall
To My children: Andrew, Kenndy, Samuel, William, Polly and Marshall
Written: August 15 1816 Probated: November 1816
Volume I, 335


Will of John Clarke
Son: William T.
Son -in-law: James Kelly and to Augustine C. Repass
My slaves are to be divided equally among my 3 children:
My son William- Billy, Jim Cesar, Hannah, Frank, Nancy, Joe and Maria Nancy's chn & Elliott
To James Kelly- Edmond, Barbary and her children, Marisa, Polly, Scott, Sam, Jenny and her eldest child
To Augustine C. Respass- George, Sabria and her children by name Delphi, Louisa, Caroline and Marra Judy and her child John Tom Jacob Jinny's youngest child and Alice (no punctuation)
My Negro woman Betty and her children Elisa, Mike and Ealina are to be manumitted from slavery..
Executors: son William and my 2 sons in laws James Kelly and Augustine Respass
Written: July 15 1814 Probated: August 1814
Volume I, page 245

Will of Thomas Mahan
Wife: Margarett- 4 Negros; Eady, Celey, Willis & Feffrey
My Children
My Negro man Jeffrey is to be emancipated 10 years after my death
Written: March 16 1814 Probated: July 1814
Volume I, page 246

Will of John Massey
To Hugh, my wife's second son
My daughters: Betsey, Nancy, Delilah, Marry
Son: John
To Rebeckah Tewkery and William
To Hugh
My daughter Betsy- a Negro girl Vina (aged about 12 years)
My 3 Negroes: Jesse, Titus and Jun? Are to be sold
Written: September 23 1814 Probated: October 1814
Volume I, page 247

Pendleton County Kentucky 1799-1871

Will of Thomas Duncan, "being weak of body"
Nephew; Mathew Duncan, son of Seth Duncan - 500 acres on Highland Creek, plus what is coming to me from the estate of John Carney dec'd; a suit being now instituted against said Carney's heirs in Berkley Co, Virginia;
Plus all estate coming to me in Fantlin Co., Pennsylvania which Mathew Duncan has power of atttorney from to collect; plus my Negro woman Lucy. To Seth Duncan Jr, son of Seth Duncan- 500 acres on Clay Creek in Lexington County, Kentucky.
Niece; "Eliza Duncan of Seth Duncan" 566 acres in Nerln county (no state given)
Executors: my brother Seth Duncan and my friend John Montjoy Sr.
Witnesses: Alexander C. Lanier; Britain Clay
Written 17 June 1806; probated 14 October 1806.
Deed Book B; page 139.


Will of Charles Colvin of Pendleton County Being weak in body Daughter: Elizabeth Duncan - the Negro woman Palace Daughter; Nancy Duncan- a Negro Frank?, plus the child which she now has. Daughter: Franky Duncan- a Negro girl Eve Son: Charles B. Colvin - a Negro girl Siller, plus 50 acres including the land cleared by John Sharp, bounding on Charles Stern's land to Enoch Duncan's line Daughter: Margaret Riddell- a Negro girl Sibb Grandson: Gaven Duncan- mentions the debt that Elias Duncan owes him Mentions the debt that Willis Duncan owes him Mentions that the rest of his slaves are to be sold. Executors: Elias Duncan, Willis Duncan, Charles B. Colvin Witnesses: Pressy Kennett, Andrew Porter, Sally Porter Written 15 March 1810 probated 24 May 1810 Deed Book B, page 287

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