Slaves of James Gillespie Birney, Kentucky

Date: [unknown] [unknown]
Location: Kentucky, United States
Surnames/tags: slavery black_heritage

This page's purpose is to record the enslaved people owned by James Gillespie Birney Jr, and attempt to connect them to their families. Their names are as follows :

• Billy Clarke (b.c.1789) ^[1]
• Tom Deer (b.c.1813) ^[1]
• David Myres (b.c.1774) ^[1]
• Esther Myres (b.c.1779) ^[1]
• Nelson Myres (b.c.1807) ^[1]
• Charles Myres (b.c.1809) ^[1]
• Maria Myres (b.c.1811) ^[1]
• Martha Myres (b.c.1826) ^[1]
• Judy Myres (b.c.1828) ^[1]
• Rosa Myres (b.c.1831) ^[1]
• James Myres (b.c.1835) ^[1]
• Daniel Myres (b.c.1838) ^[1]
• Louisa Myres (b.c.1813) ^[1]
• Davy Myres Jr (b.c.1815) ^[1]
• Esther Myres (b.c.1816) ^[1]
• Polly Deer (b.c.1836) ^[1]
• Anna Deer (b.c.1838) ^[1]
• Jackson Myres (b.c.1819) ^[1]
• Frederick Myres (b.c.1822) ^[1]
• Michael Myres (b.1824) ^[1]
• Keziah Birney (b.c.1784) ^[1]
• Michael (b 1792 - ?) and his wife and three children. All were freed in June 1834.^[2]
• Other unknown at this time on his cotton plantation in Madison County, Alabama were sold with the plantation in 1823.

Emancipation deed signed 3 Sep 1839 ^[1]

Transcribed from The Pittsburgh Gazette 28 Sep 1839, p.2. :

ONE ABOLITIONIST IN EARNEST

A few days since, James G. Birney, Esq., formerly of Kentucky, more recently a leading Abolitionist around the country generally, called upon us, together with several other friends, to witness deeds of emancipation, executed by him to twenty one slaves. These slaves became the property of Mr. Birney by the death of his father, who departed this life some weeks ago, at the residence of his son-in-law, Judge Marshall, in this vicinitv. No one who knew him ever doubted Mr. Birney 's perfect sincerity in advocating sentiments, from which (we beg the abolitionists' pardon) the great body of sober-minded men have dissented but in addition to all else about him, that has commended his sincere, however we may deem it misdirected, zeal in the cause of negro emancipation, here is proof to the amount of ten or twelve thousand dollars - rather heavier arguments than those with which the most of people back their opinions. An eminent man of the last generation is said to have declared, when the question of engrafting slavery on the Constitution of the Commonwealth was under discussion, that he had forty good reasons for the measure. Mr. Birney has given at least half that number for his attachment to his principles. We commend his example to the friends of Colonization. The old Romans spread their victories and made their power invincible, by adopting every improvement of their enemies. Let us imitate their wisdom. Mr. Birney will make abolitionists by this movement. It presents strong arms to conquer opponents, it embodies mighty arguments to gain friends. We may reason as we please about slavery, and the best method of its extinction, or the propriety of rendering it perpetual, but men's feelings are in favor of a liberation of the slave - and however wrong we may deem it to emancipate him here, the common sentiments of men are prompt to congratulate him on his freedom. Shall none now win goIden opinions for their principles but Mr Birney? Who, in this region of the slave's wiser friends, will gain advocates of better views by imitating his example? We are glad that so many have liberated their slaves for colonization. We wish there were more ready to do it.

We have thought that many of our readers would be pleased to see the above mentioned deed of emancipation. It is as follows:

Know all men by these presents - That I, James G. Birney, late of Kentucky, but now having my residence in the City of New York, believing that slaveholding is inconsistent with natural justice, with the precepts and spirit of the Christian religion, and with the Declaration of American Independence, and wishing to testify in favor of them all, do hereby emancipate and forever set free the following named slaves, which have come into my possession, as one of the heirs of my father, the late James Birney, of Jefferson county, Kentuckv, they being all the slaves held by the said James Birney, deceased, at the time of his death.

Their names and descriptions are as follows.

David Myres, about 65 years old, black, slender, five feet seven or eight inches high.

Esther, his wife, about 60 years old, yellowish, common size.

Nelson Myres, son of Davy and Esther, about 32 years old, black, light made, about 5 feet 6 inches high.

Charles Myres, also son of Davy and Esther, next in age to Nelson, black, about 5 feet 7 or 8 inches high.

Maria Myres, daughter of Davy and Esther, next in age to Charles, black, tall and her five children, Martha, a girl of about 13 years, now living with C. M. Polk, in Illinois - Judy, 11 years old, now living with Levy Lindsey, Esq., in Princeton, Kentucky, and to remain with him, by an agreement of my late father, until she arrived at the age of twenty years - Rosa, a girl of about 8 years - James, a boy of 4 years - and Daniel, an infant.

Louisa Myers, also a daughter of Davy and Esther next, in age to Maria, black, light made, well looking.

Davy Myers, Junior, a son of Davy and Esther next in age to Louisa, black, tall, light made.

Esther, a daughter of Davy and Esther, and wife of Tom Deer, (hereafter to be mentioned,) next in age to Davy, tall, yellowish; also, her 2 children Polly, about 3 years old, and Anna, an infant.

Jackson Myers, a son of Davy and Esther, next in age to Esther, common height, yellowish.

Frederick Myers, a son of Davy and Esther, next in age to Jackson, about 17 years old, yellowish.

Michael Myers, also a son of Davy and Esther, next in age to Frederick, supposed to be 16 years old on the 1st day of January next black, light made by contract, heretofore made, he is to remain in the service of the Hon. John J. Marshall, to be instructed in agricultural pursuits, until the 1st day January, 1845, when it is supposed he will be 21 years old.

Tom Deer, about 26 years old, heavy made, black, the husband of the younger Esther.

Billy Clarke, about 50 years old mulatto, now in Lexington.

Keziah, a woman about 55 years old yellowish, now at Wm. Hughes' in Danville.

In testimony of the above, I have hereunto set my name and affixed my seal, this third day of September, in the year of our Lord, 1839.

JAMES G. BIRNEY, [sealed.]

Witnesses, CHARLES E. MARSHALL,

ANNA R. MARSHALL,

A. BAYLESS,

W. L. BRACKENRIDGE

Sources

1. ↑ ^{1.00 1.01 1.02 1.03 1.04 1.05 1.06 1.07 1.08 1.09 1.10 1.11 1.12 1.13 1.14 1.15 1.16 1.17 1.18 1.19 1.20 1.21} "ONE ABOLITIONIST IN EARNEST" in The Pittsburgh Gazette 28 Sep 1839, p.2 viewed at https://www.newspapers.com/clip/104507304/abolitionist-birney-with-myers-family/
2. ↑ "James Birney", Ohio History Connection, ohiohistorycentral.org.