Slaves of Andrew Coffman, Tennessee

Date: [unknown] [unknown]
Location: Grainger County, Tennessee
Surnames/tags: slavery black_heritage Coffman

This page's purpose is to record the people enslaved by Andrew Coffman of Grainger Co., TN, and attempt to connect them to their families.

The will of Andrew Coffman of Grainger County, Tennessee, made on 30 April 1844, records that he had ten slaves, who he names as :

• Sarah
• Liza
• Else
• Ralph (b.c.1840)
• Huston (b.c.1832)
• Anna
• Betsy
• Jane
• Emma
• Sterling (b.c.1841)

The will reads in part :

My will is that all my slaves that I shall own at my death with any issue they may have after my death shall be set free and not belong to any Human being, and that my executors reserve what money I may have on my hands at my death in their hands until said Slaves are set free, and that when said slaves are set free said Executors are to divide said money between said coloured people as they may think best for the benefit of said coulored [sic] people, after said Executors retaining out of said money a reasonable compensation for their Trouble, and I do hereby appoint my Trusty friends Ellis Riggs and James Carmichael Jr my executors ...

... N.B. My Slaves are now ten in number to wit Sarah Liza Else Ralph Huston Anna Betsey Jane Emma & Sterling

Sources

See also :

• Tennessee, U.S., Wills and Probate Records, 1779-2008 (Inventories of Estates and Wills, 1833-1852) viewed at https://www.ancestry.com.au/imageviewer/collections/9176/images/004776329_00418 : Final page of microfilm of will is partially obscured by a note dated 1860 which confirms that Rafe Coffman, a boy of colour, was one of the enslaved people freed by the will of Andrew Kauffman.