Location: Nelson, Virginia, United States

Surnames/tags: Slavery Black_Heritage
John William Witt held slaves for many years. In the 1830 U.S. census, he is listed with 4 slaves.
1830 United States Federal Census--Nelson County, Virginia | |||
---|---|---|---|
Name of Head of Family: John W Witt | |||
Slave Information | Number Held | ||
Slaves, males, under 10 | 1 | ||
Slaves, males, 10 thru 23 | 2 | ||
Slaves, females, 24 thru 35 | 1 | ||
Total slaves | 4 |
The 1840 U.S. census shows John W. Witt with 7 slaves:
1840 United States Federal Census--Nelson, Virginia | |||
---|---|---|---|
Name of Head of Family: John W Witt | |||
Slave Information | Number Held | ||
Slaves, males, 10 thru 23 | 3 | ||
Slaves, males, 24 thru 35 | 1 | ||
Slaves, females, under 10 | 2 | ||
Slaves, females, 24 thru 35 | 1 | ||
Total slaves | 7 |
The 1850 U.S. census slave schedules show John W. Witt with 17 slaves:
1850 United States Federal Census -- Slave Schedules -- Nelson County -- 19 Oct 1850 | |||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Slave Owner | Number of slaves | Age | Sex | Color | |
John W Witt | 1 | 45 | M | B | |
1 | 40 | F | B | ||
1 | 30 | F | B | ||
1 | 21 | M | B | ||
1 | 20 | M | B | ||
1 | 20 | M | B | ||
1 | 13 | M | B | ||
1 | 13 | M | B | ||
1 | 11 | F | B | ||
1 | 9 | M | B | ||
1 | 5 | M | B | ||
1 | 5 | M | B | ||
1 | 4(?) | F | B | ||
1 | 3(?) | F | B | ||
1 | 3 | M | B | ||
1 | 3 | M | B | ||
1 | 2 | M | B | ||
Total | 17 |
On Christmas Day, 25 Dec 1853, one of John W. Witt's slaves gave birth to a daughter. The slave was Elvira, and her daughter's name may have begun with the initial "J."
The 1860 U.S. census slave schedules show John W. Witt with 17 slaves and 3 slave houses:
1860 United States Federal Census -- Slave Schedules -- Nelson County -- 4 Aug 1860 | |||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Slave Owner | Number of slaves | Age | Sex | Color | |
John W Witt | 1 | 65 | M | B | |
1 | 55 | F | B | ||
1 | 53 | M | B | ||
1 | 52 | F | B | ||
1 | 43 | F | B | ||
1 | 23 | F | B | ||
1 | 35 | M | B | ||
1 | 25 | M | B | ||
1 | 20 | M | B | ||
1 | 13 | M | B | ||
1 | 8 | F | B | ||
1 | 6 | F | B | ||
1 | 4 | F | B | ||
1 | 5 | M | B | ||
1 | 4 | F | B | ||
1 | 2 | F | B | ||
1 | 16 | M | B | ||
Total | 17 | Slave Houses: 3 |
The six-year old female shown in 1860 could very well be the daughter born of Elvira on 25 Dec 1853, as she should be 6 years of age on 4 Aug 1860, the day John W. Witt's slaves were enumerated on the slave schedules.
Sources
- "United States Census, 1830," database with images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:XH5H-W9R : 20 February 2021), John W 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.
- Year: 1840; Census Place: Nelson, Virginia; Roll: 569; Page: 81; Family History Library Film: 0029690; Ancestry.com. 1840 United States Federal Census [database on-line]. Provo, UT, USA: Ancestry.com Operations, Inc., 2010. Images reproduced by FamilySearch.
- "United States Census, 1850," database with images, FamilySearch (https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:M8DF-QC8 : 23 December 2020), John W Will, Nelson, Virginia, United States; citing family , NARA microfilm publication (Washington, D.C.: National Archives and Records Administration, n.d.).
- "Virginia Births and Christenings, 1584-1917", database, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:HN49-WGMM : 28 January 2020), Elvira, John W Witt, 25 December 1853.
- "United States Census (Slave Schedule), 1860", database with images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:W2XP-THPZ : 16 October 2019), John W Witt, 1860.
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