Barbara Cochran (1789 - 1872)

Born May 1789 in Hampshire, Virginia, United States

Descendants

Died Oct 1872 at age 83 in Hampshire, West Virginia, United States

Biography

Barbara Cochran is a part of US Black heritage.

Barbara was born enslaved May 1789^[1] in Hampshire County, Virginia.

Barbary age 6 was bequeathed to Thomas Lawson's daughter Fanny age 10, in his 1795 Will in Hampshire, Virginia. After his death, Barbara would have become the legal property of his widow, Hannah Farley Lawson, during Fanny's childhood.

Barbara legally became the property of Michael Blue, when Fanny Lawson married him on 4 Dec 1806 in Hampshire.^[2]

Barbara was given back to his widow, Fanny, for her life time, when Michael Blue died 11 Mar 1842 ^[3] in Hampshire.^[4] The will, proved on 26 Mar 1842, included instructions that after her death, Barbara was to be given to son Uriah Blue.

In 1850, Barbara was the 60 Female Mulatto in the slave schedule for the 3 unmarried sons--Michael, Lawson, and Garret Blue--still living at home with mother Fanny Blue.^[5]

Fanny Blue died 11 Sep 1854,^[6] at which point Barbara ought to have been handed over to son Uriah by the terms of the father's Will. And perhaps she was, for a time. However, Uriah Blue's 1860 Slave Schedule did not report her.^[7] And Michael Blue Jr's Schedule did. Barbara 71 Female Mulatto was first on his list of 13 slaves.^[8]

On 8 Aug 1870 in Springfield Township, Hampshire County, West Virginia, Barbara Cochran, 81 Female Mulatto, was living in the household of Michael Blue Jr., 50 Male White farmer, with his wife Mary Blue, his brother Lawson Blue and several other people. Barbara Cochran's function in the household was "at home." Also present was her son, Saml Cochran, 46 Male Mulatto farm worker.^[9]

In 1872, Barbria Cochran, colored female, died in Hampshire County, West Virginia. The cause was "old age." Her age was 83 years and 5 months. She was born in Hampshire, but parents' names "can't ascertain." Consort was Danl Cochran (coded DARL). Informant was Geo. Washington.^[10] This record suggests that Barbara died in October 1872 and that her married name was "Cochran."

Slave Owners

1. Thomas Lawson.
2. Hannah Farley Lawson
3. Fanny Lawson.
4. Michael Blue
5. Fanny Lawson Blue.
6. Uriah Blue
7. Michael Blue Jr.

Research Notes

• Michael Blue (1819-1903), son of Michael Blue (1782-1842), never appears in documents as "Jr." However, to distinguish him from his father, "Jr." is used.

Sources

1. ↑ Bible of Thomas Blue
2. ↑ Bible of Thomas Blue
3. ↑ Bible of Thomas Blue
4. ↑ Will of Michael Blue
5. ↑ Slaves of Michael Blue Jr.
6. ↑ Bible of Thomas Blue
7. ↑ 1860 Uriah Blue Slave: https://search.ancestry.com/cgi-bin/sse.dll?_phsrc=AXO2360&_phstart=successSource&usePUBJs=true&indiv=1&dbid=7668&gsfn=uriah&gsln=blue&msrpn__ftp=hampshire,%20west%20virginia,%20usa&msrpn=1272&new=1&rank=1&uidh=673&redir=false&msT=1&gss=angs-d&pcat=35&fh=0&h=1095080&recoff=&ml_rpos=1&queryId=921ea29f16a4936f47b55998493b84ac
8. ↑ Slaves of Michael Blue Jr.
9. ↑ 1870 census: https://www.ancestry.com/discoveryui-content/view/7968824:7163
10. ↑ Hampshire Co. WV Deaths 1866-1969, v. 1, p. 38 #11 (FHL #815356, DGS004227424, image 44): https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:S3HY-DH83-Z45?i=43&cat=227868

• Bible of Thomas Blue.
• Slaves of Thomas Lawson.
• Slaves of Michael Blue.