Slaves held by Burgess Witt

Date: [unknown] [unknown]
Location: Nelson County, Virginia, United States
Surnames/tags: Slavery Black_Heritage

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Burgess Witt held slaves for at least five decades. He is listed with 5 slaves in the 1810 U.S. Federal Census.

1810 United States Federal Census -- Nelson County, Virginia
Head of Family: Burgess Witt
Total slaves held		5

Burgess Witt is listed with 9 slaves in the 1820 U.S. Federal Census.

1820 United States Federal Census -- Nelson County, Virginia
Name of Head of Family: Burgess Witt
Slave Information		Number Held
Slaves, males, under 14		4
Slaves, males, 14-25		1
Slaves, males, 26-44		1
Slaves, females, under 14		2
Slaves, females, 26-44		1
Total slaves		9

Burgess Witt is listed with 11 slaves in the 1830 U.S. Federal Census.

1830 United States Federal Census--Nelson County, Virginia
Name of Head of Family: Burgess Witt
Slave Information		Number Held
Slaves, males, under 10		1
Slaves, males, 10 thru 23		4
Slaves, males, 24 thru 35		1
Slaves, males, 36 thru 54		1
Slaves, females, under 10		2
Slaves, females, 36 thru 54		2
Total slaves		11

Burgess Witt is listed with 15 slaves in the 1840 U.S. Federal Census.^[1]

1840 United States Federal Census--Nelson, Virginia
Name of Head of Family: Burgess Witt
Slave Information		Number Held
Slaves, males, under 10		1
Slaves, males, 10 thru 23		1
Slaves, males, 24 thru 35		2
Slaves, males, 36 thru 54		4
Slaves, males, 55 thru 99		2
Slaves, females, under 10		2
Slaves, females, 10 thru 23		1
Slaves, females, 24 thru 35		2
Total slaves		15

Burgess Witt is listed with 10 slaves in the 1850 U.S. Federal Census Slave Schedules. The source has been damaged and some portions are unreadable, but color of slaves and a tally of 10 is still clear.^[2]

1850 U.S. Federal Census -- Slave Schedules
Name of Slave Owner		Number of Slaves		Age	Sex	Color
Burgess Witt		1		50	F	B
Burgess Witt		1		35	M	B
Burgess Witt		1		33	M	B
Burgess Witt		1		33	M	B
Burgess Witt		1		51	F	B
Burgess Witt					F	B
Burgess Witt						B
Burgess Witt					F	B
Burgess Witt					M	M
Burgess Witt						B

Burgess Witt is listed with 9 slaves in the 1860 U.S. Federal Census Slave Schedules.

1860 U.S. Federal Census -- Slave Schedules
Name of Slave Owner		Number of Slaves		Age	Sex	Color
Burgess Witt		1		70	F	B
Burgess Witt		1		50	M	B
Burgess Witt		1		45	M	B
Burgess Witt		1		30	M	B
Burgess Witt		1		60	F	B
Burgess Witt		1		20	F	B
Burgess Witt		1		18	F	B
Burgess Witt		1		12	M	B
Burgess Witt		1		1	M	B

Two of these female slaves listed, likely the ones listed here in 1860 aged 18 and 20, were named Susan and Win. Their names are listed in the Virginia Slave Birth Index, both women having given birth to infants, Ann and Florra, respectively, in 1861.

Sources

1. ↑ 1840 Census: "1840 United States Federal Census"
   Year: 1840; Census Place: Nelson, Virginia; Roll: 569; Page: 80; Family History Library Film: 0029690
   Ancestry Sharing Link - Ancestry Record 8057 #1893527 (accessed 1 August 2022)
   Burgess Witt in Nelson, Virginia.
2. ↑ "United States Census (Slave Schedule), 1850 ", database with images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:HRWG-XC2M : 15 February 2020), Burgess Will in entry for MM9.1.1/MVD9-Z88:, 1850.

• 1810 United States Census (pending)
• "United States Census, 1820," database with images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:XHLC-Z7Z : accessed 30 April 2021), Burger Witt, Nelson, Virginia, United States; citing p. 200, NARA microfilm publication M33, (Washington D.C.: National Archives and Records Administration, n.d.), roll 130; FHL microfilm 193,689.
• "United States Census, 1830," database with images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:XH5H-W95 : 20 February 2021), Brges Will, Nelson, Virginia, United States; citing 128, NARA microfilm publication M19, (Washington D.C.: National Archives and Records Administration, n.d.), roll 196; FHL microfilm 29,675.
• "United States Census (Slave Schedule), 1860", database with images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:W2XP-21PZ : 16 October 2019), Burgess Witt, 1860.
• Virginia Slave Birth Index entry for Susan and baby Ann "Virginia, Slave Birth Index, 1853-1866," database, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:WD3K-GJ3Z : 4 February 2020), Burgess Witt in entry for Ann, 1861; citing Birth, Nelson, Virginia, United States, Virgina State Library and Archives, Richmond; FHL microfilm 008151965.
• Virginia Slave Birth Index entry for Win and baby Florra "Virginia, Slave Birth Index, 1853-1866," database, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:WD3K-GJ6Z : 4 February 2020), Burgess Witt in entry for Florra, 1861; citing Birth, Nelson, Virginia, United States, Virgina State Library and Archives, Richmond; FHL microfilm 008151965.