Abraham Vanmeter (abt. 1752 - 1823)

Born about 1752 in Virginia

Died 3 Aug 1823 at about age 71 in Hardy, Virginia, United States

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Biography

Abraham Van Meter was possibly the son of Henry Van Meter (abt.1718-abt.1778) and Rebecca Dubois.

He married Elizabeth Cunningham.

He owned many slaves, including Joe Bruce (abt.1760-abt.1830) and family, a direct ancestor of Dr. Henry Louis Gates, Jr., noted Professor and American literary critic.^[1][2]

Samuel's residence in 1820 was in Hardy County, Virginia ^[3]

He died prior to Sep 1823 at Hardy County.^[4][5]

Abraham owned slaves but he agreed with their gradual emancipation, as long as it didn't happen in his lifetime. His views did little to help his own slaves at the time.

Abraham notes in his will, "Considering the great hardships of slavery to which an unfortunate class of beings among us is doomed, and wishing as much as (in consideration of their faithful servitude to me) in my power lies to ameliorate their condition. It is my Will & Desire that all my Negro Slaves be at my decease completely emancipated agreeable to the existing Laws of this Commonwealth."^[5] In that same Will, Samuel bequeaths 4 of the slaves to his wife, Elizabeth.

When his wife died in 1841, and having no children, she bequeathed her entire estate, including more than 1,600 acres of land in Hardy County to the children of Joe and Sarah Bruce.^[6]

1823 Joe and Sarah Bruce, great, great, great, great grandparents of Skip Gates, are freed by Abraham van Meter of Hardy County, Virginia, when he dies. In the wills of Abraham and Elizabeth Vanmeter... ^[7]

In 1820, Vanmeter wrote his will and gave one-third of everything he owned to his wife, including five named slaves. But further along in Vanmeter's will he wrote: Considering the great hardships of Slavery to which an unfortunate class of beings among us is Doomed, and wishing as much as (in consideration of their faithful Servitude to me) in my power lies to ameliorate their condition: It is my Will and Desire that all my negro Slaves be at my Decease completely Emancipated agreeable to the existing Law of this Commonwealth.

In 1823, Abraham Vanmeter died, freeing seven members of the Bruce family and leaving five of Joe and Sarah Bruce's children to remain enslaved to his wife Elizabeth Vanmeter until the time of her death. Even more surprising, when Elizabeth Vanmeter died she left her entire estate to the Bruce family -- lock stock and barrel -- all the land, money, buildings, and household items. ^[8]

• possible (slave owner) ancestor of noted historian and professor Henry Louis Gates, Jr.^[9]

Sources

1. ↑ Estimated value of each slave in 1825: "West Virginia Will Books, 1756-1971," database with images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:9392-HRGD-X?cc=1909099&wc=Q8BW-M7L%3A179686301%2C179759901 : 22 June 2016), Hardy > Will book, v. 004 1825-1829, page 344 > image 183 of 222; citing Jackson County Clerk, West Virginia.
2. ↑ Finding Oprah's Roots by Henry Louis Gates; 2007, Crown Publishing, Pg. 108.
3. ↑ "United States Census, 1820," database with images, FamilySearch where he is living with 2 other white persons and 15 slaves. (https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:XHLY-WHC : accessed 24 January 2021), Abraham Vanmeter, Hardy, Virginia, United States; citing p. 1193, NARA microfilm publication M33, (Washington D.C.: National Archives and Records Administration, n.d.), roll 137; FHL microfilm 193,696.
4. ↑ "West Virginia Will Books, 1756-1971," database with images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:QP8X-NLH3 : 21 August 2019), Abraham Vanmeter, 1823; citing Hardy, West Virginia, United States, , page , Jackson County Clerk, West Virginia; FHL microfilm.
5. ↑ ^{5.0 5.1} "West Virginia Will Books, 1756-1971," database with images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:QJD5-N36J : 12 March 2018), Abraham Vanmeter, 1820; citing Hardy, West Virginia, United States, Will book, v. 03 1819-1825, page 248, Jackson County Clerk, West Virginia; FHL microfilm 816,672.
6. ↑ Wife, Elizabeth's Will: "West Virginia Will Books, 1756-1971," database with images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:QJD5-N3XC : 12 March 2018), Elizabeth Vanmeter, 1836; citing Hardy, West Virginia, United States, Will book, v. 07 1839-1845, page 202, Jackson County Clerk, West Virginia; FHL microfilm 816,674.
7. ↑ https://www.thirteen.org/wnet/aalives/profiles/gates2.html
8. ↑ https://www.thirteen.org/wnet/aalives/2006/genealogy_journey.html
9. ↑ Gates, H.L., wr. "We Come From People." African American Lives 2 Episode 3. PBS. 13 Feb 2008

See also:

• "An Act allowing certain persons of color to remain within this Commonwealth for a limited time": Acts Passing at a General Assembly of the Commonwealth of Virginia; 1833, Pg. 189.
• Elizabeth's will probated 4 Oct 1841 and 1 Nov 1841 Item Description: Wills, Vol 7-8, 1839-1852 Probate Records; Author: West Virginia. County Court (Hardy County); Probate Place: Hardy, West Virginia Ancestry.com. West Virginia, Wills and Probate Records, 1724-1985 [database on-line]. Provo, UT, USA: Ancestry.com Operations, Inc., 2015. See image 183 at: https://www.ancestry.com/imageviewer/collections/9087/images/004715557_00183?treeid=&personid=&hintid=&queryId=9d902fa97d48cca9513e6ab3fd39bda1&usePUB=true&_phsrc=IzZ1646&_phstart=successSource&usePUBJs=true&_ga=2.187557742.776259929.1598317044-1670828725.1591635556&pId=400252

Acknowledgments

• Thank you to Dee Beach for creating WikiTree profile Vanmeter-71 through the import of Paternal Family Tree Keffer Sisson.GED on Apr 9, 2013.