Dick Heath (bef. 1780)

Born before 6 Feb 1780 in North Carolina, United States [uncertain]

Problems/Questions Profile manager: Sacha Heath [send private message]

Biography

Dick Heath is a part of US Black heritage.

On February 6, 1780, Dick was enslaved by William Heath in Craven County, North Carolina, and in William's will is bequeathed to William's son Christopher Heath. Dick is referred to as "boy" at this time, but his age is not listed. Other enslaved people bequeathed in the will are Jim (bequeathed to Rigdon Heath, Nann (bequeathed to Cassia Heath), and Nann's "increase" (i.e., children) if any were bequeathed first to daughter Lize, and next daughter Zilphia Heath, and the remainder (presumably Nann's children if any) to be "equally divided among [his] children".^[1] It is uncertain, but possible, that some of the mentioned additional enslaved people could have been related to Dick.

Between March 12 and the June legal term of 1798, Dick is listed in an account of sale of William Heath's estate in Craven County, North Carolina, and administered by William's son Christopher Heath as being given to Jeremiah Heath with a value of 135 pounds. ^[2]

In December 1798, Dick is listed in the estate inventory of Jeremiah Heath, who apparently died only months after he received and enslaved Dick. The inventory states "2 Negros, big Dick and little Dick". Given that Dick was referred to as "boy" (as opposed to "man" as seems to be sometimes the case), I am currently assuming that "boy" and "little" Dick are both the Dick of this profile.^[3]

Slave Owners

1. William Heath
2. Possibly Christopher Heath
3. Jeremiah Heath

Research

Indications are that Jeremiah died in 1798, only a few months after Dick was transferred to him. More research needed to determine who Dick was next bequeathed to or if he was freed. So far, I have only found the estate inventory or Jeremiah which lists "2 Negroes, big Dick and little Dick.^[3]

Sources

1. ↑ Transcribed from original by Kathryn Gearhart c2009 in Allied Families: Heaths of Craven County, North Carolina. https://alliedfamilies.wordpress.com/virginia-and-maryland-heath-families/heaths-of-middlesex-virginia-and-craven-county-north-carolina/
2. ↑ "North Carolina Estate Files, 1663-1979," database with images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:33S7-9YFZ-94RZ?cc=1911121&wc=Q6WB-398%3A183209301%2C183304101%2C195451601 : 20 November 2015), Craven County > H > Heath, William (1798) > image 1 of 7; State Archives, Raleigh. Pages 1-7.
3. ↑ ^{3.0 3.1} "North Carolina Estate Files, 1663-1979," database with images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:33SQ-GYFZ-98PF?cc=1911121&wc=Q6WB-3QY%3A183209301%2C183304101%2C195436901 : 21 May 2014), Craven County > H > Heath, Jeremiah (1798) > image 2 of 3; State Archives, Raleigh