Slaves: Nancy Knight
Mayo of Edgecombe Co. NC
African ancestors documented as property of Nancy Knight Mayo
Note: Nancy Knight married Kinchen Mayo in 1828, Edgcombe Co., NC. They had one child in TN, then settled in Tallahatchie Co., MS in ca. 1830.
(1845) Will of Willis Knight
Edgecombe Co. Original Wills, 1750-1945, CR.027.801.18
Given to daughter Nancy Mayo ("now living in Mississippi")
- Aron: child of Cherry
- Betty: child of Camy/ Carry; noted as one of "negroes she has already received"
- Camy/ Carry: woman; noted as one of "negroes she has already received"
- Celia: child of Cherry
- Cherry: negro woman
- James: child of Cherry
Biographical Notes: Charlote "Cherry" Mayo and her children
Pre-Emancipation
Cherry was born in 1807, NC. At the age of 33, she gave birth to her son "Aron" (1840, NC). Her second son, James was born a slave of Willis Knight in 1846. Her daughter Celia's birth date is not yet known. Cherry and her three children were sent to Willis Knight's daughter Nancy Knight Mayo, living in Tallahatchie Co., MS at the time. So far, no documents have been recovered to give insight into the lives/fate of the Mayo slaves in Tallahatchie Co., MS. The Mayo family migrated to Lavaca Co. TX ca. 1850, where Cherry, Aaron, and James appear in census records in 1870-1900.Post-Emancipation
Census records reveal that Cherry, Aaron, and James took on the surname Mayo. Cherry's son Aaron Mayo married Sarah Saunders December 27, 1867. They are listed as freed persons in Lavaca Co. Marraige book "B." Charlote "Cherry" Mayo resided in the Lavaca Co., TX household of her son Aaron in 1880 and 1900. Although subjected to the horrors of slavery for 57 years, up-rooted and sent across the country at her master's whim, Charlote "Cherry" Mayo endured, living to be at least 93 years old.REFERENCES
- Lavaca Co. TX Marraige Book "B"
- 1870 African American Heads of Household Index
- Lavaca Co. TX census: 1880, 1900
Biographical Notes: Nancy Knight Mayo
Nancy Knight (1805/NC - ????/TX) married Kinchen Mayo (1805/NC - 18??/TX) in 1828, Edgecombe Co., NC. Soon thereafter, Kinchen and Nancy Mayo migrated to Tennessee where they had their first child, William H. Mayo. They settled in Tallahatchie Co., MS ca. 1830. In the will of Nancy's father, Willis Knight, slaves Carry/Camy, Betty, Cherry, Aaron, Celia, and James were bequeathed to Nancy Mayo in 1846.
Kinchen and Nancy Mayo finally settled in Lavaca Co. TX, where they appear in the 1850 census. Kinchen may have died prior to 1870. Nancy Mayo (age 65) is listed as head of household in 1870.