Slaves of Washington Berry

Slaves of Washington Berry
 


 


On the Campbell County Tax List for 1795, Washington Berry is listed having 17 slaves.  It not known if he brought these slaves with him from King George County in Virginia when he brought his family to Kentucky in 1793 or if he bought them when he arrived.  In the 1802 property tax list he shows 18 slaves.

Washington Berry died May 4, 1813 and in his will he gave his wife, Alice the following slaves;  Toby, Jenny his wife, George, Hanibel, Daphne, Anthony, Jefferson, Richard, Lucy, Matilda, Jonathan, and Edmund.  He willed to his son, Taylor, a slave boy named Peter; to his son Hubbard, a slave boy named William and to his daughter, Milly, a slave girl named Maria.  The value of these slaves were to be deducted from "their claims to stock, Peter and William one hundred pounds each and Maria seventy pounds."

The remaining slaves were to be sold at auction.  This was held on September 13, 1813 in Lexington.  John B Lindsey purchased a slave man, Winston; a Mr. Burbridge bought a slave man, Robin; James Taylor bought a slave man, Richard; Jacob Fowler bought a slave man, Lewis. On September 27 additional slaves were sold to the following:  General William Lytle bought Aggy and child and Betsey; Taylor Berry bought Charles, a young boy;  Alfred Sanford bought James, a young boy and Pleasant, a little girl; Traner & Downard bought Venus and two children;  Richard Southgate bought Joe, an old slave; Robert Pendleton bought a woman without child;

In the 1814 property tax list, Widow Alice Berry is listed with 13 slaves and her son is listed with one black above 16.  Alice's father died March 12, 1814 and he willed to her additional slaves from his estate.

In 1825, Alice is listed with her daughter Sophia's husband, Thornton Timberlake with 400 acres of land in Oldham County, 1000 acres in Campbell County and 13 slaves. Alice's will was proved on May 27, 1837 having been written April 2, 1837.  All property was divided among her children.


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