Slaves of Francis Thomas (1743-1835), Virginia

Date: [unknown] [unknown]
Location: [unknown]

The purpose of this page is to record research on the slaves of Francis Thomas (1743-1835) and attempt to connect them to their families.

Will

Below information is from descendant Judith Minter, provided via email 3 Sept 2023.Weatherall-96 00:18, 4 September 2023 (UTC)

Will of Frances Thomas (typed copy found at W&L Special Collections- Coll. 001, Box 5, Folder 49) was sealed under his hand June 15, 1820 in the presence of Wm.M Gogg, Wm. Ferguson, and Saml. Ferguson. In it he states: “Secondly, as touching my worldly estate I give to my dear and well beloved wife Grace Thomas all my estate both real & personal as long as she lives, & at her decrease to dispose of my servants in such a way as she may think will be for their good- But it is my will that if they or any of them are sold it shall be to good & humane masters.” Grace Metcalf Thomas (3/1/1741-11/6/1829) pre-deceased her husband.

(This is a record of the sale of F. Thomas’ estate, ie. his enslaved persons, on June 16, 1836. The hand-written copy of the original bill of sale is contained in Box 2, Folder 16. Photo copy is in my file)

Name of Enslaved	Age	To whom	Price
Prissey (?) and her youngest child	30	R. N. Weir	$750
Nat	13	“	$675
Mary Ann	7	“	$400
Joseph Jacob	5	“	$400
Oliver	3	“	$275
Julius	29	“	$900
James	27	“	$800
Susan	74	“	$450
William	10	“	$550
David	29	Lewis Shanks	$800
Nelly and her youngest child	31	“	$675
Frances	6	“	$400
Sarah	4	“	$275
Jacob	39	Wm Anderson**	$800
Maria	12	Mrs. Liley Reid (dtr of F. Thomas)	$450
Evelina	9	Jonathan T Anderson (grandson of F. Thomas and son of Wm Anderson)	$400

**Wm Anderson (my [Judith Minter] 3rd g’g’father and son-in-law to F. Thomas)

(*Note- Original agreement in Box 2, Folder 16 for the ‘rental’ of Maria by J. Eton (?) Cofer on May 9, 1836 for a year for $12.00. On reverse was stated “returned the girl on 15th June, 1836”. I am assuming this is the same child sold to Liley Reid- who apparently was widowed by this time. Cofer was reimbursed $5.00. Need to check that.)

Sources