Ashland Plantation, Fayette County, Kentucky

Date: [unknown] [unknown]
Location: Fayette, Kentucky, United States
Surnames/tags: Clay Slavery Black_Heritage

Index of Plantations

Contents 1 Biography 1.1 Slaves 1.2 Slave Obits 2 Sources

Biography

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Ashland Plantation, named for the abundant ash trees on the property in Fayette Co, KY,^[1] was created by Henry Clay. He began calling his estate Ashland about 1809.^[2] It is said that Henry Clay owned about 50-60 slaves.^[3][4]

Slaves

Henry Clay named these enslaved persons in his will written 10 Jul 1851:^[5]

to son John Clay

• Harvey Mitton
• Henry
• Bob
• Margaret Woods, (who belongs to John Clay already)
• Harold, child of Margaret Woods
• Filly, child of Margaret Woods
• Rally, Child of Margaret Woods

The following enslaved persons from Henry Clay's estate were sold in family units, on 20 Sept 1853, with stipulations set forth in the will,^[6] to to Jacob N. Payne and Filson P. Harrison, merchants and partners in trade at New Orleans. According to the will the issue born to the following after 1 Jan 1850 were to be set free at age 25 and the males set free at age 28. They were to be taught to read and write and cipher. When they learned with competency and obtained the respective ages they were to be sent to one of the African colonies. ^[7] Henry Clay played a leading role in the American Colonization Society.

• Betsey age 34
• Ellick age 12
• Elijah age 10
• Winston age 8
• Willis age 2

• Kitty age 45
• Tom age 13
• Lucy age 8

• Anne age 36
• Nancy age 10
• Aggy age 8

• Adam age 60
• Milly age 55

Slave Obits

• Albert/Allison Mitchem died in New Albany, Floyd County, Indiana, Sept 1902. He was 99-years-old. The obit states he was a former slave of Henry Clay, and he lived on Prospect Street in New Albany.^{[8] [9][10]} His death certificate calls him Allison Mitchem, living on Prospect Street and says he was 84-years-old. I believe these are the same persons.^[11]

Sources

1. ↑ https://henryclay.org/history-of-ashland/
2. ↑ https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ashland_(Henry_Clay_estate)
3. ↑ https://www.smithsonianmag.com/history/the-day-henry-clay-refused-to-compromise-153589853/#:~:text=Clay%20owned%2060%20slaves.&text=Throughout%20his%20life%2C%20Clay%20maintained,the%20integrity%20of%20the%20Union
4. ↑ https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Henry_Clay#Marriage_and_family
5. ↑ Kentucky Probate Records, 1727-1990: "Kentucky Probate Records, 1727-1990"
   Catalog: Mixed land and probate records, 1793-1952; index to records, 1793-1948 Mixed records, Vols. T-U 1850-1854
   Image path: Kentucky Probate Records, 1727-1990 > Fayette > Mixed records, 1850-1854, Vol. T-U > image 268 of 634
   FamilySearch Image (accessed 1 February 2022)
6. ↑ Kentucky Probate Records, 1727-1990: "Kentucky Probate Records, 1727-1990"
   Catalog: Mixed land and probate records, 1793-1952; index to records, 1793-1948 Mixed records, Vols. T-U 1850-1854
   Image path: Kentucky Probate Records, 1727-1990 > Fayette > Mixed records, 1850-1854, Vol. T-U > image 529 of 634
   FamilySearch Image (accessed 5 February 2022)
   • 1853 probate sale of slaves
7. ↑ Kentucky Probate Records, 1727-1990: "Kentucky Probate Records, 1727-1990"
   Catalog: Mixed land and probate records, 1793-1952; index to records, 1793-1948 Mixed records, Vols. T-U 1850-1854
   Image path: Kentucky Probate Records, 1727-1990 > Fayette > Mixed records, 1850-1854, Vol. T-U > image 530 of 634
   FamilySearch Image (accessed 5 February 2022)
8. ↑ https://www.newspapers.com/clip/112763533/1902-albert-mitchem-obit-ky/ The Courier-Journal, Louisville, Kentucky, 07 Sep 1902, Sun, Page 7
9. ↑ Find a Grave, database and images (https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/188403413/allison-mitchem: accessed 08 November 2022), memorial page for Allison Mitchem (1818–6 Sep 1902), Find a Grave Memorial ID 188403413, citing West Haven Cemetery, New Albany, Floyd County, Indiana, USA; Maintained by Bill Durham (contributor 46825780)
10. ↑ Find a Grave, database and images (https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/186263943/albert-mitchem: accessed 08 November 2022), memorial page for Albert Mitchem (1802–Sep 1902), Find a Grave Memorial ID 186263943, citing Freedomland Cemetery, New Albany, Floyd County, Indiana, USA; Maintained by suef (contributor 47116378) .
11. ↑ https://images.findagrave.com/photos/2018/89/188403413_64d3ae7e-0699-4ecd-9426-4ea6f378bef8.jpeg