Slaves of John Coates Russell, Kentucky

Date: [unknown] [unknown]
Location: Union Co., Kentucky, United States
Surname/tag: Russell

Contents 1 Introduction 2 Slaves 3 1820 Census 4 Deeds of Gift 5 Will 6 Widow's Dower 7 Estate Inventory 8 Slave Biography 9 Sources

Introduction

This page's purpose is to record and try to identify the enslaved people held by John Coates Russell, and connect them to their descendants.

Slaves

The following is an alphabetical list of named slaves owned by John Coates Russell.

• Abraham
• Alender
• Allen
• Alsey
• Archer
• Auston
• Becca
• Caroline
• Daniel
• David
• Edith
• Fanny
• Grace
• Isom
• Israel
• Jerry
• Jim
• Lucy
• Milly
• Mina
• Molly
• Nancy
• Nelson
• Phillis
• Retta
• Quash Washington
• Queen
• Sarah

1820 Census

John C. Russell lived in Union Co., Kentucky and owned 21 slaves in 1820.^[1]

• female (b. 1776-1794)
• female (b. 1776-1794)
• male (b. 1795-1806)
• male (b. 1795-1806)
• male (b. 1795-1806) probably Nelson
• female (b. 1795-1806)
• female (b. 1795-1806)
• female (b. 1795-1806)
• female (b. 1795-1806) probably Queen
• male (b. 1806-1820) probably Israel
• male (b. 1806-1820) probably Daniel
• male (b. 1806-1820)
• male (b. 1806-1820)
• male (b. 1806-1820)
• male (b. 1806-1820) possibly Abraham
• female (b. 1806-1820)
• female (b. 1806-1820)
• female (b. 1806-1820)
• female (b. 1806-1820)
• female (b. 1806-1820)
• female (b. 1806-1820) possibly Nancy

Deeds of Gift

• John gave three slaves to his daughter Jane: Jerry, Queen and Sarah.^[2]
• John gave three slaves to his daughter Tabitha: Archer, Milly and Edith^[3]

Will

John C. Russell bequeathed three slaves to his wife, Sarah ^[4]

• Sarah
• child of Sarah
• Daniel

Widow's Dower

Sarah Russell was allotted five slaves from John C. Russell's estate:^[5]

• Abram
• Daniel
• Lucy
• Phillis
• Jim

Estate Inventory

A number of enslaved persons were listed in the inventory John Russell's estate in 1822.^[6] One enslaved among them would be a future notable, Israel Campbell.

• Lucy, woman, age 23, $400
• Allen, boy age 4, $200
• Ausborne, boy age 5, $250
• Isam, man, age 25, $700
• Alsey, woman, age 25, $450
• Merlin?, boy age 1, $100
• Filis, girl age 11, $350
• Abraham, boy, age 4, $200
• David, man age 23, $350
• Becca, girl age 14, $400
• Caroline, girl age 5, $200
• Quash, boy age 15, $600
• Israel, boy age 8, $350
• Daniel, man age 18, $700
• Sarah, woman age 22, $450
• Ritter, girl child age 1 month, $50
• Fanny, woman age 37, $200
• Mima, girl child, age 3 years, $150
• Nancy, girl age 11, $400
• Molly, girl age 7, $325

Slave Biography

Israel Campbell wrote a biography that named his mother and his siblings. His mother was named Nelly. She married Edward Finnie after her first husband died. Her children with her first husband were named Daniel, Washington, Nelson, Abraham, Israel, Eliza and Nancy.^[7]

Sources

1. ↑ 1820 U.S. census, Union County, Kentucky, Population schedule, Morganfield, p. 147 (penned), white male over age 45 in the John C. Russell household, digital image 4 of 11, FamilySearch.org ([1]: accessed 16 November 2023); citing NARA microfilm publication M33, roll 20
2. ↑ 1818 John C. Russell slave gift to Jane E. Duval. Kentucky, Union County, County Court Clerk, Deeds, Vol. A, pp. 485, 15 July 1818, digital image 256 of 603, FamilySearch.org ([2]: accessed 15 November 2023)
   • “…give unto my said daughter Jane E Duvall and to her Heirs or the heirs of her body forever the following negros towit Jerry Queen & Grace and their increase…”
3. ↑ 1818 John C. Russell slave gift to Tabeth A Russell. Kentucky, Union County, County Court Clerk, Deeds, Vol. A, pp. 487, 15 July 1818, digital image 290 of 603, FamilySearch.org ([3]: accessed 15 November 2023)
   • "...to my said daughter Tabith A Russell and the Heirs of body forever the following Negro slaves towit Archer Milly & Edith and their increase…But I do hereby reserve to myself the possession oand sole control of said slaves untill [sic] my said daughter marries at which time they are to be delivered up..."
4. ↑ 1822 John C. Russell Will. Kentucky, Union County, Probate Court, Wills, Vol. A, p. 100-101, 23 October 1822, digital image 136 of 363, FamilySearch.org ([4]: accessed 15 November 2023)
5. ↑ 1823 Sarah Russell Allotment of Dower. Kentucky, Union County, Probate Court, Wills, Vol. A, p. 124-125, 23 September 1823, digital image 148 of 363, FamilySearch.org ([5]: accessed 15 November 2023)
   • "...of the slaves ??? assigned to the said widow Lucy, Daniel, Phillis, Abram, and Jim..."
6. ↑ 1822 John C Russell estate Inventory. Kentucky, Union County, Probate Court, Wills, Vol. A, p. 105-105, 22 November 1822, digital image 138-139 of 363, FamilySearch.org ([6]: accessed 15 November 2023)
7. ↑ 1861 An Autobiography Bond and Free: on Yearnings for Freeom from My Green Brier House. Being the Story of My Life in Bondage, and My Life in Freedom . Israel Campbell, An Autobiography Bond and Free: on Yearnings for Freeom from My Green Brier House. Being the Story of My Life in Bondage, and My Life in Freedom. Philadelphia, Pennsylvania: C.E.P. Brinckloe & Co., 1861, Documenting the American South , ([7]: accessed 16 November 2023)