Slaves of Francis A. Banks

Date: [unknown] [unknown]
Location: Elbert, Georgia, United States
Surnames/tags: Banks Slavery

This page provides the slavery history of Francis A. Banks (abt.1814-abt.1894).

Contents 1 Bequest of Property from James Banks, May 4,1836, Elbert County, GA 2 Probate Inventory, James Banks, June 6, 1836, Elbert County, GA 3 1840 Census, Elbert County, Georgia 4 Administration of Brother's Estate, 1844-1849 5 Sources

Bequest of Property from James Banks, May 4,1836, Elbert County, GA

In his Will dated May 4, 1836, Francis' father James Banks (1770-1836) left property to Francis. This Will gives to Francis the tracts of land on which he lived at the time, and directs Francis to "keep the whole of my property together made with the proceeds of my past debts but should Executor find in first years that he will not be able to accomplish that, then in that case I wish the whole of personal property with the exception of my negroes to be sold on a usual credit, and my land rented and my negroes hired out until said sale of personal property the rent of land and hire of negroes shall raise a sufficiency of money to pay off my debts."^[1]

It's presumed that after James' death the "property" left to Francis included the enslaved people. No information has been found about who was "hired out," and whether or not these hires raised enough money.

Probate Inventory, James Banks, June 6, 1836, Elbert County, GA

The enslaved whom Francis inherited may have been those listed on his father's Probate Inventory of the following month.^[2]

List of named slaves, with their "values" as property Men

• Pompey Banks (bef.1818-) $850
• Orange Banks (bef.1818-) $800
• Larkin Banks (bef.1818-) $750
• Ned Banks (bef.1818-) $900
• Bill Banks (bef.1818-) $500
• Dave Banks (bef.1818-) $750
• Sam Banks (bef.1818-) a blacksmith, $1200
• Parris Banks (bef.1818-) $400

Women

• Sucky Banks (bef.1818-) $300
• Peggy Banks (bef.1818-) $550
• Grace Banks (bef.1818-) $500
• Agga Banks (bef.1818-) $550
• Milly Banks (bef.1818-) $500
• Caty Banks (bef.1818-) $125

Girls

• Sousy Banks (bef.1836-) $600
• Amanda Banks (bef.1836-) $625
• Sena Banks (bef.1836-) $450
• Grace Banks (bef.1836-) $200

Boys

• Peter Banks (bef.1836-) $550
• Wesley Banks (bef.1836-) $400
• Ben Banks (bef.1836-) $300
• Lem Banks (bef.1836-) $300
• Monday Banks (bef.1836-) $200
• John Banks (bef.1836-) $200
• Lewis Banks (bef.1836-) $600

Total: 25

1836 - Another probate record exactly matches the names and "values" above.^[3]

1840 Census, Elbert County, Georgia

According to the Census enumeration made just four years after Francis' father James willed him his "property" there, 30 unnamed slaves are listed under Francis' name. These may well have been the 25 enslaved people listed in James Probate Inventory, plus another five perhaps obtained separately by Francis. No further census records documenting Francis' enslaved people were found. ^[4]

• Slaves - Males - Under 10 - 7
• Slaves - Males - 10 thru 23 - 4
• Slaves - Males - 24 thru 35 - 3
• Slaves - Males - 36 thru 55 - 4
• Slaves - Females - Under 10 - 3
• Slaves - Females - 10 thru 23 - 3
• Slaves - Females - 24 thru 35 - 4
• Slaves - Females - 36 thru 54 - 1
• Slaves - Females - 55 thru 99 - 1

Total 30

Administration of Brother's Estate, 1844-1849

After the death of his brother Nathaniel Banks in 1843, Francis vowed in writing that Nathaniel had died intestate (without a Will). Francis committed to administer the "goods, chattels rights (?), credits, and real estate" of his brother.^[5]

Nathaniel had enslaved 26 people, as documented at Slaves of Nathaniel Banks, Georgia. Also documented on this page, from 1844 through 1849 Francis "hired out" almost all of the enslaved to other enslavers, and to earn income during the settlement of the estate. Between 1844-1848, Francis himself hired four slaves from Nathaniel's estate, one of them (with her children) "for victuals and clothes."

Sources

1. ↑ Georgia, Elbert County, Wills: "Georgia Probate Records, 1742-1990"
   Catalog: Georgia, Elbert County, Wills Will records, will book A, 1835-1860
   Image path: Georgia Probate Records, 1742-1990 > Elbert > Wills 1835-1860 vol A > image 27 of 307; citing various county, district, and probate courts.
   FamilySearch Image: 33S7-9R6N-RTQ (accessed 3 December 2023)
   • 1836 will of James Banks Sr
2. ↑ Georgia Probate Records, 1742-1990: "Georgia Probate Records, 1742-1990"
   Catalog: Annual returns (Elbert County, Georgia), 1835-1907 Vols. [P]-Q 1835-1842
   Image path: Georgia Probate Records, 1742-1990 > Elbert > Returns 1835-1842 vol P-Q > image 144 of 574; citing various county, district, and probate courts.
   FamilySearch Image: 3QS7-893G-NJP5 (accessed 27 November 2023).

   1836 probate inventory of James Banks, Probate Inv Bk 1835-1837, p.252-253

3. ↑ Georgia Probate Records, 1742-1990: "Georgia Probate Records, 1742-1990"
   Catalog: Georgia, Elbert County, estate records Estates, Banks, James A. - Banks, Thos. A.
   Image path: Georgia Probate Records, 1742-1990 > Elbert > Estates 1790-1900 Banks, James A.-Banks, Thos. A. > image 148 of 554; citing various county, district, and probate courts.
   FamilySearch Image: 33SQ-GR6N-D8V (accessed 30 November 2023)
   • probate inventory loose probate papers
4. ↑ 1840 Census: "1840 United States Federal Census"
   Year: 1840; Census Place: District 195, Elbert, Georgia; Roll: 40; Page: 176; Family History Library Film: 0007043
   Ancestry Sharing Link - Ancestry Record 8057 #1715793 (accessed 9 January 2024)
   Francis A Banks in District 195, Elbert, Georgia.
5. ↑ Probate Records, 1742-1990: "Georgia Probate Records, 1742-1990"
   Catalog: Georgia, Elbert County, estate records Estates, Banks, James A. - Banks, Thos. A.
   Image path: Georgia Probate Records, 1742-1990 > Elbert > Estates 1790-1900 Banks, James A.-Banks, Thos. A. > image 219 of 554; citing various county, district, and probate courts.
   FamilySearch Image: 33SQ-GR6N-DS9 (accessed 1 December 2023)
   • 1844 letter regarding Nathaniel Banks died intestate