Nelson Cozart (abt. 1811 - aft. 1861)

Born about 1811 in Granville, North Carolina, United States [uncertain]

Biography

Nelson Cozart is a part of US Black heritage.

Nelson was born about 1811, possibly in Granville County, North Carolina. He was an enslaved person in the household of Hubbard Cozart of Granville, North Carolina.

Hubbard Cozart died about 1835 without a will. An inventory of 15 slaves belonging to his estate, as of 15 Feb 1836, named Ambros 66, Emanuel 31, William 50, Nelson 25, Gilbert 35, Scott 77, David 17, Fudy 15, Crener 44, William 10 months, Reasey 3, Tamer 52, Nancy 68, Kissey 21, Henderson 4.^[1]

A Petition for commissioners to distribute 17 enslaved people to the heirs, dated May Term 1836, named: Nancy, Tamar & Scott who are very old and infirm, Ambrose, Billy, Crenar & her child William, Gilbert, Manuel, Nelson, Kizzy, Davy, Fedy, Frank, Phil, Henderson, & Reesy.^[2]

Seventeen enslaved people were distributed by the commissioners of Hubbard Cozart's estate in 1836:

• 8. To Simeon Cozart, Negro Man Nelson $500, Negro child Henderson $200, old Woman Nancy $0, Negro Woman Phede $600.^[3]

Simeon Cozart died early in 1838. His will bequeathed all of his property to his mother, Mary Cozart for her lifetime, and after her death, he gave brother Allen Cozart 6 Negroes, including Nelson.^[4]

Mrs. Mary Cozart died in 1849, and Allen W Cozart died 7 Jul 1861 in Granville County, without a will.

An inventory of Allen Cozart's estate named 47 slaves: Billy, Crener, Gilbert, [Old] Nelson, James, Steven, Martha, Betty, Line, Boson, Squire, David, Charles, Nelson, Green, Will, Calvin, Goeny, Mary, Caroline, Tilda, Fanny, Dinah, Dewit, John, Sofronia, Kinch, Nancy, Elick, Henry, Mintus, Amos, Lucy, Crawley, Adeline, Clary, Helon, Hilmon, Lucus, Eliza, Mary, Elizabeth, Alice, Angeline, M Delar, Hawkins, Cassandra.^[5]

On 9 Dec 1861, "We the undersigned met at the residence of Allen Cozart deceased, according to an order of court, and allotted the Negroes of the said Allen Cozart deceased as follows, (viz)…..

Lot No. 7 to Ema Cozart, as follows: Old Nelson $450, Nancy & child $300, Amos $400, Adeline $200, No. 7 pays No. 1 $25 = $1325. .....
given under our hands & seals Month & date shown written. No. 1, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 9, 10 & 12 to remain in common [because these heirs are minor children]. [signed] L.D. Ferrill, Amos Gooch, Dennis Tilley.”^[6]

Slave Owners

• Hubbard Cozart
• Simeon Cozart
• Mrs. Mary Cozart
• Allen W. Cozart
• Emma Cozart

Research Notes

• The inventory of Allen W. Cozart's estate names 47 enslaved people, but the list of allotments reports only 41 named adults plus 6 indicated as "child" of a mother. Six people on the inventory do not appear on the allotment list, and therefore are apparently the six children: Boson, Kinch, Clary, Mary, Alice, and Cassandra. It has not been possible to match up the children with their mothers, but one of these is the child of Nancy.
• Because Emma Cozart was a minor child, she and her enslaved people would have continued to live in the home of her mother, Mrs. Sarah Cozart.
• Note that all of these inheritance arrangements would have ceased 4 years later, when Emancipation was announced in 1865.

Sources

1. ↑ Hubbard Cozart inventory: "Granville County, North Carolina, estate records"
   Catalog: Granville County, North Carolina, estate records Estate records 1746-1919 Cazart, Allen (cont.) - Currin, Cornelia
   Film number: 007641250 > image 429 of 2686
   FamilySearch Image: 3QS7-89GN-NQBN (accessed 6 August 2022)
2. ↑ List of enslaved: "Granville County, North Carolina, estate records"
   Catalog: Granville County, North Carolina, estate records Estate records 1746-1919 Cazart, Allen (cont.) - Currin, Cornelia
   Film number: 007641250 > image 358 of 2686
   FamilySearch Image: 3QS7-89GN-N3PW (accessed 6 August 2022)
3. ↑ Distribution of enslaved: "Granville County, North Carolina, estate records"
   Catalog: Granville County, North Carolina, estate records Estate records 1746-1919 Cazart, Allen (cont.) - Currin, Cornelia
   Film number: 007641250 > image 361-364 of 2686
   FamilySearch Image: 3QS7-89GN-N3LK (accessed 6 August 2022)
4. ↑ Simeon Cozart will: "North Carolina, U.S., Wills and Probate Records, 1665-1998"
   Wills, 1746-1943; Index, 1749-1943; Author: North Carolina. County Court of Pleas and Quarter Sessions (Granville County), North Carolina. Superior Court (Granville County); Probate Place: Granville, North Carolina
   Ancestry Sharing Link - Ancestry Record 9061 #2447538 (accessed 24 August 2022)
5. ↑ Inventory: "Granville County, North Carolina, estate records"
   Catalog: Granville County, North Carolina, estate records Estate records 1746-1919 Clayton, Albert - Cazart, Allen (cont.)
   Film number: 007641287 > image 1459 of 2270
   FamilySearch Image: 3QS7-89GN-6SNN (accessed 25 July 2022)
6. ↑ Distribution: "Granville County, North Carolina, estate records"
   Catalog: Granville County, North Carolina, estate records Estate records 1746-1919 Clayton, Albert - Cazart, Allen (cont.)
   Film number: 007641287 > image 1496 thru 1498 of 2270
   FamilySearch Image: 3QS7-89GN-637Q (accessed 24 July 2022)

• Slaves of Hubbard Cozart.
• Slaves of Allen W Cozart.