Emancipation of Edmond

 

Slaves in Kentucky were emancipated by their owner petitioning the county court or being set free through a provision in the owner’s last will and testament. The following Deed of Emancipation is found in Livingston County, Kentucky Court Order Book (county court minutes) L, pages 9 - 10, 3 March 1851.[1]

“George D. Williamson, administrator of Martha McCawley dec’d produced a Deed of Emancipation for slave Edmond … I Martha McCawley widow of James McCawley dec’d of Smithland, Ky in a few days purpose taking a trip to Louisville and Jefferson County to see my friend And whereas I am seized and possessed of my own property a certain mulatto Boy named Edmond aged about 22 or 23 years of age, raised by myself who I wish to serve no one after I shall die shall do as promised that is to pay me four hundred Dollars for himself. Edmond paid to me $100 this day and as soon as he pays the remaining $300, then I have obligated my heirs to manument Edmond immediately after my death. It is understood Edmond is to serve Martha as long as she lives …Tho he may have paid me the Three hundred Dollars while I live, as he promises to pay me along as it may be convenient to him … he will always be given a receipt … If I should die before he pays all, he must pay the balance to my heirs, Executors Administrators and there be manumitted. But it is understood that Edmond is to serve me as a slave faithfully during my life as tho this paper did not exist as what I now do is merely to secure him his freedom after my death.   20 July 1849  [signed] Martha McCawley. Wit: W. Beverly, Mina McCawley.”

And thereupon Geo. D. Williamson proved sd. writing by the oaths of W. Beverly and Mina Williamson, late McCawley, subscribing witnesses to be act & deed of Martha McCawley, desired that a Certificate of freedom be given to Edmond. Whereupon the boy Edmond came into court and appears to be about 25 years old with a scar on his left arm on the inside of his elbow and a small scar between his eyes just above the nose and is 5 feet high.”

 

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[1] The two entries just prior to the Deed of Emancipation of Edmond, both on page 9, are the appointments of administrators of the estates of Martha and James McCawley. The entry following the Deed of Emancipation on page 10 is the appointment of appraisers of the estate of Martha McCawley.

Published 19 July 2023, Western Kentucky Genealogy Blog, http://wkygenealogy.blogspot.com/

Emancipation of Underage Sons 1885

Parents sometimes emancipated an underage child, allowing the child to act for himself as if he were of legal age. These emancipations may be found among the county court order books (court minutes) or in the deed books. The following emancipations are recorded in Crittenden County Court Order Book 8 (1885-1887).

“This day came S.N. Marvel and upon his motion, and it appearing to the court that S.N. Marvel is the Father of B.G. Marvel, a male under twenty one years of age and being now in his nineteenth year of age, and it further appearing that S.N. Marvel desires to & moves the Court for an order Emancipating his Son B.G. Marvel and vesting B.G. Marvel with the title to certain property which appears to the Court to have been acquired by the industry of B.G. Marvel & here in after and the Court being sufficiently advised, It is therefore ordered by the Court that B.G. Marvel be & he is hereby Emancipated & set free from his Father S.N. Marvel & that he the sd. B.G. Marvel is the owner of one Iron Gray filly, one year old, Two Sows & Eleven pigs each, sd. sows are both black, one has white spots & the other yellowish spots, And Four acres of Tobacco, now growing on the farm of S.N. Marvel in Crittenden Co, Ky. Free from any & all Claims of S.N. Marvel.” [1]

“On motion,  R.S. Binkley appeared in open Court and asked the Court to make an order on its public record Emancipating his son, R.E. Binkley. It is therefore ordered by the Court that R.E. Binkley, son of R.S. Binkley, be and is Emancipated & released from the Services of his father, R.S. Binkley and that he is authorized to act, Hold property, Trade & do for him Self free from the control of his father, as though he was twenty one years of age, and any property that he may acquire by his labour & skill shall be enjoyed by him & his assigns free from the control of his Father R.S. Binkley.”[2]

 

 

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[1] Crittenden County Court Order Book 8, pp 64-65, 15 July 1885.

[2] Crittenden County Court Order Book 8, p 128, 14 Dec 1885.

Published 16 Sep 2021, Western Kentucky Genealogy Blog, http://wkygenealogy.blogspot.com/

Livingston County, Kentucky Emancipations 1848

Slaves in Kentucky were emancipated by their 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 K. The notation at the end of each entry lists the date of the deed of emancipation and the book and page number in the court order book. For example, 5 June 1848, OB K:23 signifies the record is found in Book K, page 23, 5 June 1848. Sec: refers to the security on the bond.

It appearing that Bazel late the slave of Wm. Jenkins dec’d was by Jenkins’ last Will & Testament emancipated and John Smith, administrator with will annexed assenting, ordered that clerk of this court issue to Bazel a certificate of his freedom upon giving bond with security in penalty of $500 that Bazel not become a charge upon any county in this commonwealth. Bond given with Henry F. Given as security. Bazel is of following description: aged 37 years, 5 feet 11 inches high, light mulatto color with a large scar on his right wrist occasioned by a burn.  [OB K:23]   5 June 1848.

A Deed of Emancipation from Levi Gordon (a free man of color) to his slave Harriet was produced in court and the clerk of court ordered to issue to Harriet a certificate of her freedom upon her giving bond with security in penalty of $500 conditioned that she shall not become a charge upon any county in this Commonwealth. Harriet is ascertained to be of the following description: aged 25 years, medium form, height 5 feet & ½ inches, dark mulatto color with 2 scars from a burn on her right arm & a scar on her right forefinger, also a small scar near the left eye.  Sec: Richd. Moore.  [OB K:24]   5 June 1848. 

Also, on 5 June 1848, Richard Moore of Livingston County, Kentucky presented to the county court deeds of emancipation for six slaves:  William, Lenoy, Homer, Philip, Augustus and Milton. Richard Moore signed security on the bond for each of the former slaves, stating that each person would receive a certificate of his freedom upon giving bond in the penalty of $500.  A physical description completed each entry in the county court order book. 

A Deed of Emancipation from Richard Moore to his slave William, who is aged 22 years, 5 feet 9 ½ inches high, light mulatto color, scar on his right knee which is somewhat stiff and of medium form.  [OB K:28] 5 June 1848

A deed of Emancipation from Richard Moore of Livingston County to his slave Lenoy, who is aged 17 years, 5 feet 9 inches high, of medium form and of light mulatto color. [OB K:28] 5 June 1848

A Deed of Emancipation from Richd. Moore to his slave Homer,[1] who is aged 20 years, 5 feet 8 ½ inches high, of medium form and light mulatto color & with a scar or lump on outside of his little finger, it having been a small finger taken off in infancy.  [OB K:29]  5 June 1848

A Deed of Emancipation from Richard Moore to his slave Philip, who is aged 19 years, height 6 feet, slender form, of light mulatto color and has a scar on the left hand near the root of his fore finger. [OB K:29]  5 June 1848

A Deed of Emancipation from Richard Moore to his slave Augustus, who is aged 13 years, height 5 feet, 2 inches, of medium form, of light mulatto color and no marks on his person. [OB K:30] 5 June 1848

A Deed of Emancipation from Richard Moore to his slave Milton, who is age 15, height 5 ½ feet high, medium form, of light mulatto color and a small scar on the back of his neck on the left hand side.  [OB K:30] 5 June 1848

Published 26 Aug 2021, Western Kentucky Genealogy Blog, http://wkygenealogy.blogspot.com/

 

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[1] 1850 Pope County, Illinois census, Roll 125, p. 265a, Ancestry.com.  Homer is the only former slave of Richard Moore who was located after being emancipated.

Livingston County Emancipations 1838 - 1844

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]

Published 30 Dec 2020, Western Kentucky Genealogy Blog,  http://wkygenealogy.blogspot.com/

Manumission of Ivy 1825

Slaves in Kentucky were manumitted [emancipated] through the county court or through a provision in the last will and testament of the slave's owner. The amount of the bond was not paid unless the slave had no support and became a charge upon the county. The following manumission is recorded in Caldwell County, Kentucky Order Book D, pages 160 and 169.

"A Deed of manumission from Hugh McVay of this County to Iras commonly called Ivy was this day produced in open Court and acknowledged by McVay to be his act and deed for the purposes therein named and ordered to be recorded, to wit:  State of Kentucky  Caldwell County To wit: Be it Known that I have this day emancipated and set free my negro Woman named Iras commonly called Ivy  of dark complection  aged about forty five years which said girl was purchased by me of and from David Tucker of Mecklingburg County and state of Virginia hereby Renouncing all claim to her from henceforth, and do request the County Court of Caldwell to give the Certificate a place on their records. And furthermore request any person to treat her with friendship so long as she may deserve the same. In Testimony whereof I hereunto set my hand and seal this 17th day of January 1825 at Princeton." [signed] Hugh McVay.

"On motion of Hugh McVay, who at the January term last of this court recording his Deed of emancipation, by which he set free & emancipated his negro Woman named Iras commonly called Ivy  of dark complexion  aged about forty five years, leave is given him & he enters into and acknowledges bond in penalty of $1000, payable to the Justices of the Caldwell County Court and their successors in office, to keep his negro from becoming chargeable to said county, conditioned according to law, together with Kinson McVay his security and it is ordered that a certificate of freedom be granted said negro woman."  18th April 1825.

Published 16 August 2018, Western Kentucky Genealogy Blog, http://wkygenealogy.blogspot.com/

Release of Services 1834

A Release of Services usually occurred when a teenage son was released from the control and direction of his father.  This was the situation  in 1834 when James F. Clemons [Clemens] was released from the control and authority of his father, Gersham Clemons [Clemens]. This document is recorded in Livingston County, Kentucky  Deed Book DD, p. 85.  For more information on this type of document, read  Emancipation or Manumission and  Deed of Release of Services

"Know all men by these presents that I Grisham Clemons of Livingston County Kentucky  Father of James F. Clemons aged about 17 or 18 years have ever since the year 1832 in the month of June I think permitted my said Son to trade & work for his own Benefit and I do hereby disclaim any right or authority I have, or wright, to control said Boy or any right I might have to his Services  that said Boy is free from my control or interference that he is now and has been since June 1832 and from henceforth is his own man & free from my Authority  my reason of this is that I am unable to give him any thing for his services now and probably will not be Better [illegible]  able when he is twenty one . Therefore I am prompted  to do this as an act of Justice to my said son.    Witness my hand & seal this  4th day of January 1834.        [signed] Gersham Clemons.

Kentucky  Livingston County Sct

I James L. Dallam clerk of the county court for the county and state aforesaid do hereby certify that the foregoing release of services from Gersham Clemons to James F. Clemons was on this day produced to me in my said office and acknowledged by the said Gersham to be his act & deed Had & seal and ordered to be recorded whereupon I have verily recorded the same and this certificate this 4th day of January 1834.  [signed] James L. Dallam"

Published 30 March 2018, Western Kentucky Genealogy Blog, http://wkygenealogy.blogspot.com/

Emancipation of Slave 1819

Slaves in Kentucky were emancipated through the county court or through a provision in the last will and testament of the slave's owner. The following handwritten document provided for the emancipation of a slave woman, Mary, by Milintha Johnson. This paper was located in the loose county court papers, Emancipations, Caldwell County Clerk's Office.

"Caldwell County July 27  1819

                "Whereas for the many valuable servises rendered unto me  and my family by my negro woman Mary, who has assisted me through many of the hardships of life

                "I do hereby make known to all Persons that said black woman Mary is to be free at my death.  And I do by these presents emancipate and set free the said Negro woman Mary at my death hereby requesting the County Court of Caldwell to give this paper a place on their records together with her papers of freedom after my decease.

                "In Testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand and affixed my seal the date above in Presence of                                                                             [signed] Milintha (X her mark) Johnson.

                Test  Thos. Beck   Joshua G. Church"

     

[Reverse: Bill of Emancipation  Negro Woman Mary  by}  Mrs. Johnson.  Proven by Beck & Church Augst 23d  1819.      1819  Emancipation]

Published 9 Feb 2017, Western Kentucky Genealogy Blog, http://wkygenealogy.blogspot.com/

Crittenden County, Kentucky Emancipations

Slaves in Kentucky could be 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 handwritten emancipation papers are located in the loose county court papers, Crittenden County Clerk's Office.

Know all men ... we John S. Elder, Harvey W. Bigham & George T. Mayes are held & firmly bound unto the Commonwealth of Kentucky in the penal sum of $1000  ... 11th day of December 1843. The condition  is such that whereas the above named court have this day  ordered a certificate of freedom to be granted to Sethe a man of Color emancipated by the last will & testament of James Elder. Should Sethe never become chargeable upon any County of the Commonwealth this obligation to be void ... [signed] John S. Elder, H.W. Bigham, G.T. Mayes.

Know all men ... we H.M. Witherspoon, Wm. B. Hickman, U.G. Witherspoon and James R. Hanks are held and firmly bound unto the Commonwealth of Kentucky in the penal sum of $500 ... this 11th day of Octr. 1847. The condition  is such that whereas George Witherspoon late of Crittenden County now deceased in his last Will and testament declared that his slave named Sam should be liberated and set free at the Octr. term of the Crittenden County Court. Now whereas the sd. Court has this day directed that Certificate of Emancipation shall issue to sd. slave ... if Sam shall never become chargeable to the County then this bond is to become of no effect ... [signed] H.M. Witherspoon, W.B. Hickman, U.G. Witherspoon, J.R. Hanks.   Attest: R.L. Bigham.

Know all men ... we Green C. Reece and W.H. Husband & H.R.D. Coleman are held and firmly bound unto the Commonwealth of Kentucky in the penal Sum of $500 for the payment of which ...  bind ourselves our heirs  executors &c  ... this 10th day of April 1848. The condition is such that whereas Elisha Reece dec'd by his last will and testament (which was this day proven & ordered to Record by the County Court) hath set free and Emancipated his Negro Boy Cyrus aged about fifty years  Now if  Cyrus shall not become chargeable to any county in this Commonwealth then ... this shall become null and void ... [signed] G.C. Reese, W.H. Husbands, H.R.D. Coleman.

Know all men ... we Manerva and W. Wagar are held and firmly bound unto the Commonwealth of Kentucky in the penal sum of $500 ... this 11th day of March 1861. The condition is such that whereas Manerva has been Emancipated and set free Now should Manerva never become a charge upon any County in the Commonwealth for her support and maintenance then this obligation shall be void ... [signed] Manerva (X her mark), W. Wagar.

Know all men ... we King and F.D. Wyatt are held and firmly bound unto the Commonwealth of Kentucky in the penal sum of $500 ... this 11th day of March 1861.  King has been emancipated and set free ... should King never become a charge upon any county in the Commonwealth for his support and maintenance then this obligation shall be void ... [signed] King (X) his mark, F.D. Wyatt. Wit: Berry S. Young  clerk.

Published 28 December 2016, Western Kentucky Genealogy Blog, http://wkygenealogy.blogspot.com/

Follow-Up on 1866 Livingston County Apprenticeships

The following response to the recent post on Indentures of Apprenticeship - Livingston County, Kentucky 1866 has been provided by Janet Hawkins (hawkinsjk1@gmail.com). Information about the Coker family appears in her master's thesis, Slavery, Emancipation, and Afterward.  A Chronicle of the African Americans of Crittenden and Livingston Counties, Kentucky, to 1939, George Mason University, Fairfax, VA, 2004.

Ties between white slave-owners and former slaves often endured generations after Emancipation, especially in cases involving mixed-race children.   A Livingston County, Kentucky Court Order Book M  (see 28 August 2014 post) entry illustrates the complexity of race relations in post-Civil War Kentucky: 

Adeline, a free Mulatto, bound as an apprentice to Ann E. Coker until 6 March 1874, when Adeline will be 18 years old, to learn the art & mystery of a spinster. [Bk M:132, 4 June 1866]

Adeline Coker (7 March 1854 - 2 October 1944) was the daughter of Daniel Coker, a Caucasian slave-owner and the husband of the Ann E. Coker mentioned above, and Manda Coker, an enslaved black woman.  The 1860 U.S. Population Census, Slave Schedule, for Livingston County lists Daniel Coker as the owner of a 22-year-old black female, a 6-year-old mulatto female, and a 2-year-old black  male.

Adeline Coker married Edward Crawford at Mrs. Coker's house on 26 December 1879, five years after her apprenticeship had ended.(2) 

According to Addie Bell Crawford(3), Adeline Coker’s granddaughter, Daniel Coker made provisions for Adeline to receive a portion of his Salem property after he died.  Addie Bell inherited this land from her father, James Crawford, in 1961(4), and lived on this land her entire life.

Addie Bell also stated that Adeline’s white half-brother, Charlie Coker, occasionally paid social visits to his half-sister and her family.

Whether Manda Coker remained in contact with Daniel or Ann Coker after Emancipation is currently unknown.  Prior to 1870, she married a black Civil War veteran named Jordan Caldwell and resided in Smithland, Livingston County, in 1880.(5)

(1) Death Certificate, Adeline Crawford, Livingston Co., KY. 

(2) Livingston County, KY Marriage Bonds:  Negroes and Mulattoes, Microfilm #997708.

(3) Personal Interview with Addie Bell Crawford, 2002.

(4) Livingston County, KY Will Book D, Microfilm #997691, 581.

(5) U.S. Population Census, 1870 and 1880.


Published 11 September 2014, Western Kentucky Genealogy Blog, http://wkygenealogy.blogspot.com/

Manumission of Wife and Child 1836

It is not unusual to find that a Free Person of Color owned and manumitted members of his own family. This was done through the county court or by the last will of the slave owner. The following entry in Caldwell County, Kentucky Court Order Book E, page 423 illustrates this process.

"This day John Montgomery (a free man of Color) produced in open Court a Deed of emancipation setting free his woman called Abbey (his wife) and his infant Son named Jackson which Deed is here ordered to be recorded to wit: Know all men by these presents that I John Montgomery (a free man of Color) of the County of Caldwell and State of Kentucky from motives of benevolence and humanity have manumitted & do hereby manumit & set free from Slavery my negro woman Abbey, aged about thirty three years  of black complexion and my infant Son Jackson aged 6 months, And I hereby give grant, & release to her the said Abbey & my Son of all my right, title, & claim of, in & to these person, labour & services and in and to the estate & property which they have hereafter acquire or obtain. In witness whereof I have hereunto set my hand & seal this 15th Feby 1836."

John and Abbey Montgomery can be found on the 1840 and 1850 Caldwell County census records. They do not appear on the 1860 census, but their oldest son, Jackson, is shown living in nearby Dycusburg, Crittenden County, Kentucky.

Published 19 July 2014, Western Kentucky Genealogy Blog, http://wkygenealogy.blogspot.com/

Deed of Release of Services

Another way to emancipate an underage child is through a Release of Services as seen in Livingston County, Kentucky Deed Book EE, page 246, 21 January 1837:

"Know all men by these presents that I, David Brown Father of William Washington Brown and Jos. Newton Brown the first aged Eighteen on April next, 9th day, the second aged sixteen on 9th August next, both of my sd. sons now living with me, Do by these present and from this date henceforth, permit sd. boys to trade for themselves, own, contract and sell any property they may obtain and possess from this time henceforth, and I do hereby disclaim any right or authority I have or might have to control & govern sd. boys, or any right I may have to their service. They are free from me to act as their own men, to work for themselves without any hindrance or interference on my part. I am prompted to this as an act of justice to my sd. sons, I am unable to give them any thing for their services and likely will not be better able when they are Twenty one years old. [signed] David Brown.

"The foregoing Deed of Release from David Brown to his sons Wm. Washington Brown and Jos. Newton Brown was this day produced in my office by David Brown and acknowledged to be his act and deed. Recorded 21 January 1837." [signed] Jas. L. Dallam.

Emancipations - Hopkins County, Kentucky 1846 - 1848

In Kentucky, slaves could be emancipated by a last will and testament or through the county court. It was not unusual for special conditions to be set forth in a will for slaves to be set free. For example, the testator of a will might stipulate that the slaves were not to be emancipated until the slaves reached a certain age, or a number of years after his death or the death of his spouse. Note the date on the Baker will. The following entries have been abstracted from County Court Order Book 8 (1846 - 1848), Hopkins County clerk’s office, Madisonville, Kentucky.

14 Dec 1846, p. 45Whereas Richd. Baker, late of this county dec’d, by his last will and Testament of record in the clerk’s office emancipated his slaves male & female ten in number & their future increase said emancipation to take effect at the death of the wife of decesent [sic] and whereas it appears that the wife hath been dead several years and the slaves have not received certificates of their freedom ... on the motion of Lucy one of the slaves named in said will, ordered that the clerk issue to her a certificate of her freedom. Lucy is of the following description Light or mulatto color, 45 years of age ordinary form, 5 feet 5 inches high.

I Richard Baker of Hopkins County & State of Kentucky do make my last will & Testament as follows (viz) I give & bequeath to my beloved wife during her natural life all my estate both real & personal of every kind & description At the death of my wife it is my will & I hereby positvely direct that all slaves namely tom Lucy Milly Jack Affa Malinda Matilda Kitty Ann & Sela and the future increase of the said Lucy Milly Affa Malinda Matilda Kitty Ann & Sela are to be free to all intents & purposed in the same manner as if they were free born. At the death of my said wife I give & bequeath to my nephew James Baker son of Elijah Baker all my landed estate with it appenturances to him & his heirs or assigns forever also one bed & furniture At the death of my said wife I give & bequeath to my nephew Richard Baker son of James Baker or his heirs all my estate not herein otherwise especially disposed of after the payment of all my just debts I hereby nominate consititute & appoint William Tear Executor of this my last will & Testament In testimony whereof I have hereunto subscribed my name & affixed my seal this 26th day of December 1825.
Richard (X his mark) Baker

Signed sealed published &
declared in the presence of
Sam Woodson
Elijah Grace
Kentucky Hopkins County May County Court 1826
The foregoing Instrument of writing was exhibited into Court & presented to be the last will & testament of Richard Baker dec’d by the oaths of Sam Woodson & Elijah Grace subscribing witnesses thereto & ordered to be recorded [Will Book 2, p 238]

Inventory of slaves of Richard Baker:
Tom $600
Lucy & child $450
Milly & child $450
boy Jack $300
girl Affa $175
girl Tilday $175
girl Malindy $175
girl Cathean $120
girl Seala $120
[Will Book B, pp 253-254]


3 July 1848, p 248A deed of Emancipation from Wm. H. Ramsey & John Medlock being duly authorized by Samuel Compton to Comptons slave Peter was this day produced in Court by the said Ramsey & Medlock and acknowledged by them to be their act & deed. Whereupon it is ordered that the clerk of this court issue to Peter (who is ascertained to be of the following description Viz aged about 37 years about 5 feet 7 inches high yellow color his head a little bald stout built) a certificate of his freedom accordingly upon his executing bond with security in the penalty of $1000 conditioned that Peter shall not become a charge upon any county in this Commonwealth. And thereupon Peer executed bond with John M. Galbraith, John Medlock & David Hicklin his securities.

4 Dec 1848, p. 285
It appearing that Richard Ashley, a free man of color, who has Indenture of Apprenticeship for two children of color, one a boy named Dick about 11 of yellow color & the other a girl named Mary about 9 years of age yellow color, both children of Levina, a free woman of color & it being proved to the court that said children are entitled to their freedom at the expiration of their apprenticeship & Ashley being desirous to remove said children out of this state, leave given him to do so.