Esther (Ashby) Conquest (1829 - aft. 1895)

Born 1829 in Accomack, Virginia, United States

Wife of Littleton Conquest — married 17 Jul 1871 in Deep Creek, Accomack, Virginia, United States

Descendants

Biography

Esther (Ashby) Conquest is a part of US Black heritage.

Esther was born about 1829. She was the daughter of Tamer Ashby.

Esther and her mother were enslaved people, owned by James Ashby (-bef.1837). Under the terms of Ashby's will, Esther (of Tamer) was to go free on the first day of January 1846.^[1]

Esther was living with her mother as free people of color as of the 1840 Census.^[2]

Once she reached adulthood, Esther was required to register as a Free Negro in Accomack County.^[3] Her registration provides this information:

”#1336: Easter Ashby; born about 1829; “Emancipated by the Will & Testament of James Ashby dec’d admitted to record in Acco. Co. Court on 30 Jany 1837”

Description: complexion: “Dark Brown”; height: 5’ 1-1/2”; distinguishing marks: “No visible scars”

About 1852, Esther partnered with Littleton Conquest. They were living together as of a1864 U.S. Freedmen's Bureau Census of Accomack County: ^[4]

Littleton Conquest; Age 40 {1834}; Laborer; Living on William Pettit’s land

Hetty Ashley {sic} Age 36 {1838}; House Servant; Living on William Pettit’s Land; Has 4 children

Levy Ashley {sic}; Age 12 {1852}

Sarah Ashley {sic} Age 10 {1854}

Georgiana Ashley; Age 6 {1858}

George H Ashley; Age 2 {1862}

Esther formally married Littleton Conquest on July 17, 1871 in Deep Creek, Accomack, Virginia.^[5][6]

Marriage 17 July 1871 in Deep Creek, Accomack, Virginia

Littleton Conquest; Age 40 {1831}; African-American; Single; Born in Accomack County; Son of Grace Conquest

Esther Ashby; Age 39 {1832}; African-American; Single; Born in Accomack County; Daughter of Tamar Ashby

Their children included:

1. Levi
2. Sarah
3. Georgiana
4. George
5. John
6. Charles

She survived her husband Littleton who died died April 11, 1895 in Accomack County, Virginia.^[7]

Research Notes

The profile for James Ashby (-bef.1837) includes links to the enslaved people he listed in his will. Some may also be related to Tamer, Esther, and Sarah Ashby.

Sources

1. ↑ Will of James Ashby, Senior of Accomack County in “Virginia, U.S., Wills and Probate Records, 1652-1900”> Accomack> Wills, 1828-1845> page 222, image 237. Database and Images at Ancestry.com Ancestry Record 62347 #1587621. Signed 25 July 1835; Proved 30 January 1837. Emancipates {enslaved girl} Esther (of Tamer) on 1 January 1846
2. ↑ 1840 United States Census - St Georges Parish, Accomack, Virginia> Household of Thamer Ashby. Database and images at Ancestry.com Ancestry Record 8057 #3474010. Free people of color: 1 woman, age 24-35 {1805-1816}; 1 girl, under age 10 {1831-1840}
3. ↑ Registration of Easter Ashby in "Accomack County, Register of Free Negroes, 1785-1863", in “Land Causes and Complete Cases, 1727-1805, 1812-1872. Images at FamilySearch.org, Film #008620584, Image 252. [1]
4. ↑ U.S. Freedmen’s Bureau Records, 1868-1878 > Records of the Field Offices> M1913> 074> Image 897. Database and Images at Ancestry.com Ancestry Record 62309 #619644. Census of Part of Accomack County, August and September {1864} (information from image 855)
5. ↑ "Virginia, Vital Records, 1715-1901", database, FamilySearch (https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:6JY9-HRZ7 : 27 November 2022), Littleton Conquest, 1871.
6. ↑ ”U.S., Select Marriages, 1785-1940”. Database at Ancestry.com Ancestry Record 60214 #233734, citing FHL Film Number 30135, Reference ID: L-87 P31
7. ↑ "Virginia, Bureau of Vital Statistics, Death Records, 1853-1912", database, FamilySearch ([2] : 30 October 2020), Littleton Conquest, 1895.

• 1870 United States Census - Dwelling #1613, St Georges Parish, Accomack, Virginia Ancestry Record 7163 #39065940

L Conquest; Age 45 {1825} African-American; Born in Virginia; Occupation: Farm Laborer

Easter Conquest; Age 40 {1830}; African-American; Born in Virginia; Occupation: Keeping House

Levi Conquest; Age 17 {1853}; African-American; Born in Virginia; Occupation: Farm Laborer

Sarah Conquest; Age 16 {1854}; African-American; Born in Virginia; At Home

Georgia Conquest; Age 14 {1856}; African-American; Born in Virginia; At Home

John Conquest; Age 12 {1858}; African-American; Born in Virginia; At Home

• “U.S. Freedman’s Bank Records, 1865-1874”> Registers of Signatures of Depositors, 1865-1874> Roll 13: Baltimore, Maryland; May 3, 1866-Jun 23, 1874, Record #6660,on image 809. Database and Images at Ancestry.com Ancestry Record 8755 #224989

Account of Littleton Conquest; Age 42 {1832}; Account date 28 March 1874, citing Wife: Hester; Children: Levias Robert, Sarah Jane, Georgianna, John Henry, Charles Heel{?}; Siblings: Henry Conquest, Sarah Jane App

• “Virginia, U.S., Deaths and Burials Index, 1853-1917”. Database at Ancestry.com Ancestry Record 2558 #429691, citing FHL Film Number 2056972

Death of Littleton Conquest: 11 Apr 1895 in District No. 2, Accomack, Virginia

Age 65 {1830}; African-American; Married, to Hester J. Conquest; Occupation: Farmer

• “Virginia, U.S., Select Marriages, 1785-1940” Database at Ancestry.com Ancestry Record 60214 #5452565 citing FHL Film Number 30135, Reference ID L-3 P27

Marriage 24 January 1892 in Pungoteague, Virginia, of John Conquest; Age 28 {1864}; Single; Born in Accomack County, Virginia; Son of Littleton & Hester Conquest, and Ella B. Kellam