Return of Slaves 1845

Recently I came across the flollowing document and thought it might be of interest to others. It was found in Livingston County Deed Book HH, page 95, and is dated February 1845.

"Mrs. Ellender Burgess widdow of Dempsey Burgess dec'd under the Act of Assembly of the Kentucky Legislature approved March 2d 1844 relative to the rights of [illegible] would here return to the Livingston County Court Clerk's Office, the county in which I reside, That I hold a life estate on the following Slaves and have them in possession, Towit:

"Esther, a woman, aged thirty four years yellow complexion, Mary, a woman aged Thirty Two years, rather dark Complexion, Warren, a man aged Twenty Nine years, very dark skin, Lewis, a Boy aged fourteen years, yellow, Isabel, a Girl aged fourteen years, yellow, Peter a boy aged Thirteen years Black, Joe a Boy aged Twelve years Black, Rachel a Girl aged Eleven years black, Henry a Boy aged Nine years light, Mary Elizabeth a Girl aged Seven years dark, George a Boy aged Seven years black, Dempsey a Boy aged Two years Yellow, Abram a Boy aged one year light - all belonging to the Estate of said Dempsey Burgess dec'd. Witness my hand this [blank} day of February 1845. [signed] Ellender (X her mark) Burgess. Witness Test: J.E. Smullen, Test: Sharrad Barron.

James L. Dallam, Clerk of Livingston County Court, certifies that the foregoing Return of Slaves by Mrs. Ellender Burgess was on this day filed in his office and ordered to be recorded. 20 March 1845 [signed] James L. Dallam."

Published 15 March 2023, Western Kentucky Genealogy Blog, http://wkygenealogy.blogspot.com/