Rachel (Kemp) Barthaniel (1788 - bef. 1850)

Born 1788 in Screven County, Georgia, United States

Died before 1850 before age 62 in Decatur County, Georgia, United States

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Biography

Rachel (Kemp) Barthaniel is a part of US Black heritage.

Rachel was born into slavery about 1788. She was likely born in Burke County, Georgia in that area that became Screven County in 1793. Rachel was a slave of Daniel Kemp. When he died in 1826, he freed her in his will. He wrote his will on December 9, 1826 and it was one of the first recorded in Decatur County on December 20, 1827. His wife had evidently died a number of years prior to that as evidenced by this interesting gleaning. Part of his will describes the manumission of his slave Rachel, probably the first to freed in Decatur County:

“ it is further more wish and desire that my negro woman Rachel for her faithful trust and attention to me in my present sickness, and attention to my business for several years past in my lonesome situation; as well as at present time; that she totally be free from Slavery during her natural life. And that she be with what little property I have in given her. That she be under the guardianship of my son in law James Lambert of Decatur County, State of Georgia. I give unto the said negro woman Rachel two likely cows and their yearlings also two other likely ( basson) cows, one likely two year old heifer~ I further more give her my gray horse and cart and mattress, two sheets one pillow and two blankets."^[1]

It seems Rachel took an important role both to him personally, and in helping him with all of his affairs. Also of note is that Rachel was the name of his dearly departed wife.

It was not uncommon for slaves to be fathered by slave owners, and it is possible this is the case with Daniel and Rachel, with Rachel having Daniel's son Edmund.

Rachel is probably the first slave set free in Decatur County, Georgia. In 1830 there were a total of five free persons of color in Decatur County, 2 males, one of whom was blind, and 3 females. ^[2]

Rachel chose the name Barthaniel as her surname by 1829. Whether this was her actual last name at birth, a married name, her father's given name, or one she chose for other reasons is not known. It is as Rachel Barthaniel that she petitioned the Inferior Court to appoint another guardian instead of John Kemp. Lambert had apparently relinquished the responsibility by this time.^[3]

She was living in 1833 when she is listed as "Old Rachel' with a debt of $28 owed on an account Rachel had with a local dry goods store for a variety of merchandise she bought over time with this particular deceased merchant. Another entry in the same account has her buying 8 and 1/2 yards of calico @ .20 for 1.60, a dozen table spoons @ .75, four pair of shoes 5.03, one pair of scissors .25, 2 sets of plates @ .30, one hat 3.00^[4]

In 1872,one former resident of Bainbridge, then removed to New Orleans wrote a brief sketch of the inhabitants in the town in 1834. This he delivered in brief casual form( inhabitants' foibles included), and sent it to Bainbridge newspaper. This was preserved in the form of a clipping. One line reads as follows: One cake shop,(Old Rachel) who in addition ran a Saturday night dance house , for the Kulud ladies, etc. etc...^[5]

This shows Rachel had a small confectionery, and ran a dance hall. She lived in freedom for the last two decades of her life. She was listed as living in Bainbridge in 1840, under the listing of Rachel, aged 36-55 Free Female Colored Person.^[6]

Unless she moved away, Rachel died before 1850 as she is not listed on the census.

Sources

1. ↑ Decatur County Will Book I "Georgia Probate Records, 1742-1990," images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:3QS7-8935-BYR5?cc=1999178&wc=9SB9-2NG%3A267653701%2C267811501 : 20 May 2014), Decatur > Wills 1817-1913 > image 11 of 456; county probate courthouses, Georgia.
2. ↑ 1830 Census Decatur County, Georgia, Final Page
3. ↑ HIstory of Decatur County,Georgia page 235
4. ↑ "Georgia Probate Records, 1742-1990," database with images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:3QS7-8935-BQX8?cc=1999178&wc=9SB9-GPJ%3A267653701%2C267671901 : 20 May 2014), Decatur > Appraisements and sales 1828-1848 > image 55 of 353; citing Houston County Probate Court Judge, Georgia.
5. ↑ History of Decatur County, by Frank S. Jones page 210
6. ↑ https://www.thegagenweb.com/gadecatur/Census/1840/Bainbridge.html page 25 LIne 20