Slaves in Kentucky were emancipated by the
owner petitioning the county court or being set free through a provision in the
owner's last will and testament. To guarantee the former slave would not become
a charge upon the county, a bond with security was signed by a responsible
local citizen. The following emancipations are recorded in Livingston County Court Order Book I [eye]. The notation at the end of each entry lists
the book and page number and the date recorded in the court order book. For example, Bk I: 172, 2 Jul 1838 signifies
the record is found in Book I, page 172, 2 July 1838.
William Gordon of Smithland produced a writing
of Emancipation for Negro man slave named Levi, aged about 42 years, about 5
feet 10 inches high. Security: Thomas L.
Jewitt. [Bk I: 172, 2 Jul 1838]
McLin Mitchell produced a deed of emancipation of
his servant woman Cynthia, aged about 39 years, about five feet four inches
high. Security: John Duvall. [Bk I: 267,
6 Apr 1840]
Austin, named and emancipated by the will of
James Martin dec’d, … found to be about Fifty one years of age, 5 feet 7 ½ inches
high … and the court to issue him a certificate of freedom. Security: Jacob
May. [Bk I: 340, 3 May 1841]
Nelson, emancipated by the will of
John Berry dec’d, found to be about 42 years of age and about 5 feet 10 inches
high. Securities: Uriah G. Berry, Rutledge T. Berry. [Bk I: 349, 4 Oct 1841]
Henry F. Given, administrator of the estate of
Hamlet Ferguson dec’d, produced a deed of emancipation, emancipating Negro man
Pompey, belonging to the estate of Hamlet Ferguson, aged about 55 and 5 feet 8
inches high … his suit for freedom commenced in Livingston Circuit Court hath
this day sold and conveyed the right to freedom to Pompey for $350. Security:
James L. Alcorn. [Bk I: 393-394, 3 Oct 1842]
Henry F. Given, administrator of the estate of
Hamlet Ferguson dec’d, produced a deed of emancipation, emancipating Negro man
Miles, belonging to the estate of Hamlet Ferguson, aged about 60 and 6 feet
high … his suit for freedom commenced in Livingston Circuit Court have this day
for “one hundred and fifty” which Given hath executed his note and released unto
Miles all his right … sell and convey unto Miles his right to Freedom, release from
all further servitude after the first day of Jany 1843 hereby making him free
to all intents & purposes. Security:
Blount Hodge. 24 Feb 1842. [Bk I: 399-400, 3 Oct 1842]
Benjamin Barner, executor of the last Will and
Testament of Henry Wells dec’d, produced a deed of Emancipation of Well’s Negro
man Prince. Wells, late of Livingston County willed Price, alias Prince, his freedom
upon paying Wells’ executor $150. Prince is 6 feet 3 inches high and was 41
years old in June last. Securities:
D.B. Sanders, Wm. Gordon, J.L. Dallam. [Bk I: 463-464, 7 Nov 1844]
