Abstracts from Wayne County, KY Records Submitted by Linda Murtaugh _________________________________________________________ Abstracts from June Bork's publication Wayne County, Kentucky - Deed Book B (1993), p. 48 1816 Dec 12 - Recorded: 26 Jan 1817 - page 372 Slave Certificate: This day John Davis personally appeared before a Justice of the Peace & made oath that he brought 5 Negroes into this State for his own service & that he did not bring them to sell neither does he yet intend to sell them.../s/Walter Emberson, JP [This was probably John Davis, son of John Davis and Jemina Jefferson Collins. He appeared on the Wayne County tax lists about 1804 along with his brother Robert. (a John Davis Sr. was there earlier - probably their father). Both John and Robert were Revolutionary War veterans, born in Virginia. Robert listed his movements (in pension records) as VA>NC>VA>TN. One of John's children was born in TN in 1796 so the brothers may have had parallel movements. There is no indication of from where John obtained these five slaves] p. 49 [agreement among heirs of Anthony Gholson, dec'd, to sell slaves belonging to estate] 1817 Jan 29 - Recorded: 29 Jan 1817 - page 374-375 Agreement: We, James Gholson, William Gholson, Benjamin Gholson, Samuel Gholson, Joseph Chrisman, Isaac Chrisman for Susan Chrisman & Charles Chrisman, Infant Heirs & children of Isaac Chrisman; John Dick, Nelly Chrisman, Harvey Chrisman, Samuel Martin, Micah Taul, Wesley Neely for Melinda Ruby Neeley do hereby mutually agree for John Gholson & Bartholomew Haden to be Administrators of the Estate of Anthony Gholson, Dec'd & to put up the Slaves belonging to the estate on 30th day of Jan & sell them at a 8 month credit & we do hereby pledge our word & honours to respect the sales made by the Admrs.../s/ James, William, Benjamin, Samuel Gholson, & Joseph, Isaac, Susannah, Charles, Isaac & Nelly Chrisman, John Dick, Harvey Chrisman, Samuel Martin, Wesley Neely, Malinda Neely, Dorothy Taul, Micah Taul. ___________________________________________________ continuing from Deed Book B p. 378 Wayne County to wit This day Ambrose Weaver personally appeared before the undersigned a justice of the peace in & for the said County and made oath that he brought ten Negroes [unnamed] into this state which Negores he states he brought into said state of Kentucky for his own service & that he did not bring the said Negroes to sell neither does he intend to sell them Given under my hand and seal this 12th day of December 1816 Walter Emerson JP Know all men by these presents that I John Gholson of Wayne County Kentucky have this day & by these presents do emancipate & entirely set at liberty a certain Negro woman by the name of Hannah late the property of Anthony Gholson Deceased In Testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand & seal this 11? day of February 1817 John Gholson p. 406-407 To all to whom it may Concern be It known that I James Walker of the County of Wayne and State of Kentucky for diverse good cause and consideration ? thereunto moving as also in further Consideration of Taking a farm of 20 acres on my land and using all industry for a living once to pay me the Half what he can make fourteen years also to pay his own Taxes and find himself and if now required In the winter season to assist me in getting wood and feeding my stock have released from slavery, liberate, manumuted and set free and by these presents Do hereby release from slavery liberate manumut and set free my Negro man named Merida being of the age of thirty years and able to work and gain sufficient livelihood and maintinance and him the said Negro man Named Merida I do declare to be henceforth free man ? and discharged In Testimony whereof I have set my hand and affixed my seal this seventeenth day of March In the year of our Lord 1817 Signed sealed and delivered in the presence of us Gideon Walker James Walker Katharine Walker Merida Wayne County Court Clerks office May the 19th 1817 the written Instrument of writing was this day acknowledged before me by James Walker party thereto to be his act and Deed whereupon the same is admitted to Record Teste John Chrisman Clk ____________________________________________________ [in Wayne County, Kentucky Marriages and Vital Records Volume Two...Compiled and Published by June Baldwin Bork, 1973 - Ms Bork includes some materials on the Walkers and the following court depositions pertaining to Merida. p. 48, 49] The deposition of Betsy Fry taken 25th April 1827 in Wayne County. Questions by Merida to Elizabeth "Betsy" Fry: Please state what you know relative to my freedom or what you may have heard Walker Sr. Say concerning it. Answer: I heard Walker Sr the Defendent state and say some 4 or 5 years ago that Dianna, the Sister of the Complainants Mother (Diana the sister of Merida's Mother, Barbary) that he knew that she and her sister were free and that her children and hersisters children (Merida and others) were free and that he would pay Andrew and Jack, two of the children, for their labor at his death in Land, that he could not do well without them and that they were free previous to Merida's buying his freedom and that Jack was the brother of Merida. The deposition of William Stanton taken in Russell County, Ky the 21 April 1827. Questions by Merida: Please state what you know relative to my being born free. Answer: I knew a James Wlaker in Orange County in Virginia who I believe to be the Defendant in this case. The said Walkers father was in possession of an old Lady of Colour by the name of Barbary who was reported and said to be free by the neighborhood and that the said Walker never disputed her being free and that Barbary is the Grandmother of Merida and that She Did Not Show or Possess Any Negro Blood. Question: How long has it been since you knew James Walker Sr in Orange County, Virginia? Answer: Something like 40 or 42 years ago and I am now 57 years old. Question: Do you know of your own knowledge that the James Walker you know in Orange County is the same James Walker who is Defendant in this suit? Answer: Yes he is the same man as I have heard from his sister and brother in law that he was the same man. I have not seen him for near 40 years. I never saw him in Kentucky. Question: Do lyou know of your own knowledge whether Barbary whom you have mentioned above was free and whether she was the Grandmother of Merida? Answer: I don't know of my own knowledge that Barbary was free. I have heard such a report through the neighborhood, but she was held and acted as a Slave and said Walker exercised all acts of ownership over her and as to Merida being the Grandson, I have heard it reported that he was. Question: How long has it been since you saw Merida and where was he born Answer: I never saw him in my life nor do I know when or where he was born. Question: Did you ever hear James Walker say that Barbary was free and did you ever hear Barbary claim her freedom in his presence? Answer: I never heard him say anything on the subject and neigher did I hear Barbary claimher freedom in his presence. The deposition of Francis Nicholas taken 21 April 1827 Questions by Merida: What do you know relative to my freedom? Answer: I heard James Walker some 7 or 8 years ago say that Jack, the brother of Merida was a Free Man and I asked him why so and he said that he was borned free and that their Mother was Free if she knew it. I have heard Walker state this several times. 14th June 1827 - This day came Peter Caterin before me to take the deposition of Reubin Coffey of Bath County, Ky by S.C. Gill, Justice of the Peace for Bath County. Questions by Merida and Peter Catron: Did you know a woman by the name of Barbary that was kept in slavery by a certain Mr Walker living in Orange County, Virginia near the head of the Rapid Dam? Answer: I did and was kept in slavery and was kept partly naked and her head trimmed and very much sunburned and I supposed her to Be a White Woman. Question: Did you no anything about her being a Slave? Answer: James Walker Seignor told me that he was glad that the thing was coming to issue and that they were free people at Winchester in Kentucky, Clark County, when there was a suit brought for someof the family in that Circuit Court. Question: Did you know of anything about lthis woman having a child by the name of Barbary? Answer: I have heard so and believe it to be true. A Summons for Elizabeth Stanton in the County of Garrard and State of Ky 28 May 1827 to speak in behalf of Merida, a Free man of Colour. End (Note: The above Suit involving Merida and his mother Barbary, and his Grandmother Barbara is established in the Will of Thomas Walker of Orange County, Va. Thomas names the negro woman Barbary and her children, Rachel, Barbary and Dinah. The Grandmother Barbara, according to the Depositions in the above Suit, was born of a Free White Woman. Thomas Walker's Grandson, James Walker Sr., brought Barbary and her son Merida along with him and his new wife, Catherine (Miller) to Kentucky. The Grandmother Barbary was probably born of the "yellow girl" that Jacob Miller raised.") _____________________________________________________ p. 483 Know all men by these presents that I George Berry Sr of Wayne County and state for and in consideration of the natural love and affection which I have to Lapsly Berry said County and State aforesaid as well as for the consideration of one hundred dollars to me in hand paid by the said Lapsley Berry Before the insealing and delivering of these presents the receipts hereof is hereby acknowledged have given and granted and by these presntes do give and grant unto the said Lapsley Berry his executors administrators and assigns one negro man named William two Bay mares four Cows & three Calves five beds and furniture one cuppoard one Desk on trunk two chests seven head of sheep also all my grain of all kinds to have and to hold...Unto him the said Lapsley Berry his Executors and Administrations and assigns against the claims of him the said George Berry Sr his executors and administrations and against the claim or claims of all and every person or persons whatsoever shall and will warrent and forever defend them by these presents I witness whereof I have hereunto set my hand and seal this 15th day of September 1818 George Berry Sr