Slaves of James Alston Banks d. 1822, Georgia

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

This page presents the slavery history for James Alston Banks (abt.1800-aft.1822) in Elbert County, Georgia.

Contents 1 Estate Inventory, 1822 2 Division of Enslaved between James' Widow and Son, 1826 3 Hire of the Enslaved, 1823-1839 4 Research Notes 5 Sources

Estate Inventory, 1822

The eleven enslaved of James A. Banks in the estate inventory 21 Jul 1822, after his death:^[1]

• Betty Banks (abt.1772-), age 50, "value" $100
• John Banks (abt.1800-), age 22, $600
• Peter Banks (abt.1793-)age 29, $500
• Ben Banks (abt.1811-) age 17, $500
• Charles Banks (abt.1806-), age 16, $500
• Julia Banks (abt.1808-), age 14, $400
• Hannah Banks (abt.1808-), age 14, $400
• Letty Banks (bef.1804-), no age given, & child John $500
• John Banks (bef.1822-)
• Ailey aka Aisley Banks (bef.1804-) and child named Joe, $550
• Joe Banks (bef.1822-)

A twelfth enslaved person, the child of Julia Banks (abt.1808-) (listed above), appears in records later. (See "Hire of the Enslaved" records below.)

• Betty Banks (bef.1838-)

Division of Enslaved between James' Widow and Son, 1826

In 1826, ten of the eleven enslaved people from the Probate Inventory appear on the Inventory of the Division of the Estate between James Alston Banks' heirs: his widow Mildred Tait Oliver (1805-1856) called "Milly," and their five-year-old son William Chandler Banks (1821-1877). They were "drawn by lot or otherwise equally." 29 December 1826. ^[2][3]

Inherited by "Milly" Mildred Tait Oliver (1805-1856) 1826.

• Charles, "value" of $500
• Peter, $375
• Ailsey, $325
• Joe, $50
• Hannah, $350

Total "value" $1600

Inherited by William Chandler Banks (1821-1877) 1826. William was only five years old at this time, and presumably his mother or another adult managed the enslaved people he inherited. Perhaps this is why a "drawing" by lot was held between William and Millie. Also see Research Notes, below.

• John, "value" $500
• Ben, $500
• Betty, $50
• Julia, $375
• John, $150

Total "value" $1575

Hire of the Enslaved, 1823-1839

Between 1823 after James passed away and 1826 when his widow and son inherited his enslaved people, these people were "hired out" to other enslavers for money. They continued to be "hired out" by their new enslavers through 1839, and it is not known if Milly and William (or his parent or guardian when he was a child) required slave work for themselves as well.

Hire of the enslaved 1823^[4]

• Betty, hired by Leavell Page, $25
• Letty & child, to Richard Adams, $26
• Hannah, to Shelton Oliver, $40
• Julia, to John Brawner, $41.06 1/4
• Charles, to Elijah Presley, $72
• Peter, to Benjamin Smith, $51
• John, to Smith Cook, $85
• Ben, to James Glenn, $60.25
• Ailsey & child to David Mattox, for their victuals and cloathes $00.00

Another 1823 list for hire of the enslaved^[5]

• Ben, hired to James Banks, $50
• Peter, to Joshua Clark, $38.50
• Charles, to William Tiller, $55
• John, to Simon Oliver, $60
• Hannah, to William Tiller, $36.06 1/4
• Julia, to Pleasant Ogbinn, $33.56 1/4
• Betty, to Levil Page, $27
• Ailcey & child, to Simeon Oliver, $17
• Letty & child, to David Mattox, $14.31 1/4

---

Hire of the enslaved for 1825^[6]

• Hannah, to Abner Webb, $41.75
• Julia, to Zadock Shackelford, $50.00
• Ben, to Simeon Brawner, $61.75
• Betty, Culvin Adams, $14
• Letty & 2 children, to Simeon Glenn, $13.31 1/4
• Charles, Milton P. Webb, $61.75
• Peter, Nicholas Adams, $51.25
• Ailsey & 2 children, Charles T Vey, $24.12 1/2
• John, Smith Cook, $65.25

---

Hire of the enslaved for 1826^[7]

• John & Betty & child John, to Shelton Oliver, $90
• Ben, Mr. Dodds, $65
• Julia, Nicholas M. Adams and Rich'd C. Adams, $50

---

to May 1827 the hire of the enslaved^[8]

• John, hired to Smith Cook, $75
• Charles, to Bridger Wilb, $65
• Ben, to Henry P. Brawner, $65
• Peter, to Nathaniel Cook, $60
• Julia, to Richard C. Adams, $60.75
• Hannah, to David Mattox, $40
• Letty & child, to David Mattox, $30
• Betty, to John C. Adams, $32
• Ailsey & child, to William King, $25

---

1828(same source)

• John, Shelton Oliver, $70
• Ben, Franklin Cunningham and David Daniel, $65
• Julia & child, Nicholas M. Adams & Franklin Cunningham, $30.25
• Betty, Leavell Page & Watson D. Page, $20

---

Hire of the enslaved for 1830^[9]

• John, hired by Alexander Vaughn, $70
• Ben, by Franklin Cunningham, $65
• Julia & child, by James J Daniel, $30
• Betty, by Leavell Page, $20

Hired in 1830^[10]

• John, to Shelton Oliver, $60
• Ben, to William Brown, $65
• Julia, to Jas J. Daniel, $35
• Betty, to Leavell Page, $18

1831(same source as above)

• John, to Shelton Oliver, $65
• Ben, to William Roebuck, $65
• Julia, to Jas J. Daniel, $35
• Betty, to L. Page, $15
• little John, to A. Rooker, $10

---

Hire of the enslaved for 1833^[11]

• Ben, Julia & child, to Abner Adams, $90
• John & old Betty, to Shelton Oliver, $80
• Little John, to John Bently, $20

1834 Hire of the enslaved^[12]

• John, to Shelton Oliver, $70
• Betty, to Shelton Oliver, 15
• Ben, Julia & child, George Garr, $105
• Little John, to Davis Arnold, $30

1835 Hire of the enslaved^[13]

• John, to Shelton Oliver, $75
• Betty, to Shelton Oliver, $15
• Ben, Julia & little Betty, $100
• little John, to Simon Oliver, $40

1836 Hire of the enslaved^[14]

• John, by John Hall, $96
• Ben, Julia & little Betty, by - Hulm, $130
• Little John, Robert C. Oglesby, $50
• old Betty, Shelton Oliver, $15

1838 Hire of the enslaved^[15]

• John, hired to Micajah Almands, $120
• Ben, to Henry P. Brawner, $120
• Julia & child, to Jeptha Brawner, $100
• little John, Robt N. Booth, $80
• Old Betty, purchase money Shelton Oliver, $141

1839 hire of the enslaved^[16]

• little John, to H. B. Bailey, $85
• Ben, to Y. L. G. Harris, $141
• Julia & child, to Wm Moss, $91
• big John, to Shelton Oliver, $144

Research Notes

1. In the documents about the division of the enslaved between James' widow Millie and son William, William was referred to as an "orphan." Though it is not definitive that William was James' son along with Millie (who herself was previously married), William was born the year before his father's death, so it's likely he was theirs together.

2. An analysis of the hiring records from 1826-1839 suggests a possible from the Inventory of individual enslaved people in 1822: The older Betty, adults Letty and John, and child John may have been a family. Possibly grandmother, partner/spouses and their child? Letty in the initial Inventory is listed with a child named John, in earlier hiring records with an unnamed child and then two unnamed children. Though Letty's name does not appear again, the child John appears later in hiring records with a Betty and an adult John hired together, with the adult John hired together, and still later (1834-1839, when the child John was older) the "old Betty," "little John," and "Big John" were hired out separately. It is not known what happened to Letty after 1826, or to her second unnamed child.

Sources

1. ↑ Georgia Probate Records, 1742-1990: "Georgia Probate Records, 1742-1990"
   Catalog: Georgia, Elbert County, estate records Estates, Bagwell, Sarah E. - Banks, James A.
   Image path: Georgia Probate Records, 1742-1990 > Elbert > Estates 1790-1900 Bagwell, Sarah E.-Banks, James A. > image 409 of 606; citing various county, district, and probate courts.
   FamilySearch Image: 33S7-9R6N-ZF8 (accessed 28 November 2023)
   • estate inventory
2. ↑ Georgia Probate Records, 1742-1990: "Georgia Probate Records, 1742-1990"
   Catalog: Georgia, Elbert County, estate records Estates, Bagwell, Sarah E. - Banks, James A.
   Image path: Georgia Probate Records, 1742-1990 > Elbert > Estates 1790-1900 Bagwell, Sarah E.-Banks, James A. > image 559 of 606; citing various county, district, and probate courts.
   Inventory for Division of Estate between heir "Milly" Mildred Tait Oliver (1805-1856) (widow of James Alston Banks) and William Chandler Banks (1821-1877) (son of James Alston Banks), " FamilySearch Image: 33SQ-GR6N-ZFW (accessed 30 November 2023)
3. ↑ Georgia Probate Records, 1742-1990: "Georgia Probate Records, 1742-1990"
   Catalog: Georgia, Elbert County, estate records Estates, Bagwell, Sarah E. - Banks, James A.
   Image path: Georgia Probate Records, 1742-1990 > Elbert > Estates 1790-1900 Bagwell, Sarah E.-Banks, James A. > image 560 of 606; citing various county, district, and probate courts.
   FamilySearch Image: 33SQ-GR6N-ZCH (accessed 30 November 2023)
   • drawing for the division of the enslaved
4. ↑ Georgia Probate Records, 1742-1990: "Georgia Probate Records, 1742-1990"
   Catalog: Georgia, Elbert County, estate records Estates, Bagwell, Sarah E. - Banks, James A.
   Image path: Georgia Probate Records, 1742-1990 > Elbert > Estates 1790-1900 Bagwell, Sarah E.-Banks, James A. > image 605 of 606; citing various county, district, and probate courts.
   FamilySearch Image: 33S7-9R6N-Z3R (accessed 30 November 2023)
   • hire of the enslaved 1823
5. ↑ 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 4 of 554; citing various county, district, and probate courts.
   FamilySearch Image: 33S7-9R6N-6MM (accessed 30 November 2023)
   • another 1823 list of enslaved who were hired out
6. ↑ Georgia Probate Records, 1742-1990: "Georgia Probate Records, 1742-1990"
   Catalog: Georgia, Elbert County, estate records Estates, Bagwell, Sarah E. - Banks, James A.
   Image path: Georgia Probate Records, 1742-1990 > Elbert > Estates 1790-1900 Bagwell, Sarah E.-Banks, James A. > image 414 of 606; citing various county, district, and probate courts.
   FamilySearch Image: 33SQ-GR6N-ZK5 (accessed 28 November 2023)
7. ↑ Georgia Probate Records, 1742-1990: "Georgia Probate Records, 1742-1990"
   Catalog: Georgia, Elbert County, estate records Estates, Bagwell, Sarah E. - Banks, James A.
   Image path: Georgia Probate Records, 1742-1990 > Elbert > Estates 1790-1900 Bagwell, Sarah E.-Banks, James A. > image 427 of 606; citing various county, district, and probate courts.
   FamilySearch Image: 33SQ-GR6N-ZY8 (accessed 30 November 2023)
   • hire the enslaved 1826
8. ↑ Georgia Probate Records, 1742-1990: "Georgia Probate Records, 1742-1990"
   Catalog: Georgia, Elbert County, estate records Estates, Bagwell, Sarah E. - Banks, James A.
   Image path: Georgia Probate Records, 1742-1990 > Elbert > Estates 1790-1900 Bagwell, Sarah E.-Banks, James A. > image 586 of 606; citing various county, district, and probate courts.
   FamilySearch Image: 33SQ-GR6N-ZXP (accessed 30 November 2023)
   • hire of enlaved to May 1827
9. ↑ Georgia Probate Records, 1742-1990: "Georgia Probate Records, 1742-1990"
   Catalog: Georgia, Elbert County, estate records Estates, Bagwell, Sarah E. - Banks, James A.
   Image path: Georgia Probate Records, 1742-1990 > Elbert > Estates 1790-1900 Bagwell, Sarah E.-Banks, James A. > image 548 of 606; citing various county, district, and probate courts.
   FamilySearch Image: 33SQ-GR6N-ZJG (accessed 30 November 2023)
   • hire of enslaved 1830
10. ↑ Georgia Probate Records, 1742-1990: "Georgia Probate Records, 1742-1990"
    Catalog: Georgia, Elbert County, estate records Estates, Bagwell, Sarah E. - Banks, James A.
    Image path: Georgia Probate Records, 1742-1990 > Elbert > Estates 1790-1900 Bagwell, Sarah E.-Banks, James A. > image 600 of 606; citing various county, district, and probate courts.
    FamilySearch Image: 33S7-9R6N-CY8 (accessed 30 November 2023)
    • hire of enslaved in 1830
11. ↑ Georgia Probate Records, 1742-1990: "Georgia Probate Records, 1742-1990"
    Catalog: Georgia, Elbert County, estate records Estates, Bagwell, Sarah E. - Banks, James A.
    Image path: Georgia Probate Records, 1742-1990 > Elbert > Estates 1790-1900 Bagwell, Sarah E.-Banks, James A. > image 431 of 606; citing various county, district, and probate courts.
    FamilySearch Image: 33SQ-GR6N-ZT5 (accessed 30 November 2023)
    • hire of enslaved 1833
12. ↑ Georgia Probate Records, 1742-1990: "Georgia Probate Records, 1742-1990"
    Catalog: Georgia, Elbert County, estate records Estates, Bagwell, Sarah E. - Banks, James A.
    Image path: Georgia Probate Records, 1742-1990 > Elbert > Estates 1790-1900 Bagwell, Sarah E.-Banks, James A. > image 435 of 606; citing various county, district, and probate courts.
    FamilySearch Image: 33SQ-GR6N-ZPF (accessed 30 November 2023)
    • 1834 hire of the enslaved
13. ↑ Georgia Probate Records, 1742-1990: "Georgia Probate Records, 1742-1990"
    Catalog: Georgia, Elbert County, estate records Estates, Bagwell, Sarah E. - Banks, James A.
    Image path: Georgia Probate Records, 1742-1990 > Elbert > Estates 1790-1900 Bagwell, Sarah E.-Banks, James A. > image 489 of 606; citing various county, district, and probate courts.
    FamilySearch Image: 33SQ-GR6N-ZVJ (accessed 30 November 2023)
    • 1835 hire enslaved
14. ↑ Georgia Probate Records, 1742-1990: "Georgia Probate Records, 1742-1990"
    Catalog: Georgia, Elbert County, estate records Estates, Bagwell, Sarah E. - Banks, James A.
    Image path: Georgia Probate Records, 1742-1990 > Elbert > Estates 1790-1900 Bagwell, Sarah E.-Banks, James A. > image 470 of 606; citing various county, district, and probate courts.
    FamilySearch Image: 33SQ-GR6N-ZKJ (accessed 30 November 2023)
    • 1836 hire of the enslaved
15. ↑ Georgia Probate Records, 1742-1990: "Georgia Probate Records, 1742-1990"
    Catalog: Georgia, Elbert County, estate records Estates, Bagwell, Sarah E. - Banks, James A.
    Image path: Georgia Probate Records, 1742-1990 > Elbert > Estates 1790-1900 Bagwell, Sarah E.-Banks, James A. > image 497 of 606; citing various county, district, and probate courts.
    FamilySearch Image: 33SQ-GR6N-Z2M (accessed 30 November 2023)
    • 1838 hire of the enslaved
16. ↑ Georgia Probate Records, 1742-1990: "Georgia Probate Records, 1742-1990"
    Catalog: Georgia, Elbert County, estate records Estates, Bagwell, Sarah E. - Banks, James A.
    Image path: Georgia Probate Records, 1742-1990 > Elbert > Estates 1790-1900 Bagwell, Sarah E.-Banks, James A. > image 498 of 606; citing various county, district, and probate courts.
    FamilySearch Image: 33S7-9R6N-ZZ9 (accessed 30 November 2023)
    • 1839 hire of the enslaved