Location: Wythe, Virginia, United States

Surnames/tags: Slavery Virginia Craig
This page's purpose is to record the enslaved people owned by John Craig, and attempt to connect them to their families.
Introduction
No census records have been found for John Craig, who died in Wythe County, Virginia, in 1808.
John's will, will, dated 3 May 1805, and recorded in court in Wythe County, Virginia, on 8 March 1808, named several enslaved people.[1] In his will, John stated,
- "True it is that I intended to let him [son James Craig] have the tract of land but under the following conditions[,] that is to say[,] provided he would reconvey to me the tract of land I now live on[,] known by the name of St. Clears place[,] which I purchased of Edward Johnston[,] and give to him[,] and also relinquish his right to a family of negroes I helped him purchase and raised for him[,] to wit)[,] Pegg[,] Joseph[,] Frank[,] Liddy[,] Milly[,] and George so it is and may it always be understood that if the said James Craig do make or cause to be made to my son John Craig Jnr a lawfull right to the above mentioned tract of land known by the name of St Cleares place containing by survey three hundred acres and also relinquish to my son Hiram Craig the above mentioned negroes (to wit) Joseph and Frank[,] and to my daughter Jane Allison (to wit) Pegg[,] Milly[,] Liddy[,] and George[,] that is my whole will and desire that my son James Craig shall have and for ever enjoy the right and interest of the well known place Hands Meadows[,] containing by estimation two thousand one hundred and six acres[;] but on the contrary not to convey to my son John Craig, Junr the tract of lands known by the name of St. Clears place and also to my son Hiram Craig the above named negroes (to wit) Joseph and Frank[,] and to my Daughter Jane Allison the above negroes (to with) Pegg[,] Milly[,] Liddy[,] and George[,] it is my whole will and desire that he have no more of my estate and that I give and bequeath unto my son John Craig Junr and my son Hiram Craig all of that tract of land known by the name of Hands Meadows to be equally divided between them agreeable to quantity and quality and to pay Jane Allison three negroes to be of the value of the above mentioned negroes (to wit) Pegg[,] Milly[,] Liddy[,] and George if he obtain and possess Hands Meadows."
James Craig complied with the desire expressed in his father's will, and as witnessed by John and Nancy Craig on 25 May 1806, and recorded in court in Wythe County, Virginia, on 8 March 1808, James wrote,
- "Having been requested by Father and Mother to give up my rights and tital [title] of the following family of negroes that is to say Pegg[,] Joseph[,] and George[,] Millie and Lidia[,] I do hereby relinquish all right and further oblige my self to convey the right and tital of Joseph to Hiram Craig and George to David Craig after their decd and to Relinquish all my right and tital of the tract of lands on which they now live on and to give up all the tital paper that is now in my possession at any time could on given under my hand this 25th day of May 1806."[2]
John Craig made provision in his will for the disposition of three of the enslaved people loaned to his wife for her natural life, but he made no provision for Aggy, the mother of Peggy and grandmother of Esther. Thus, at the death of his widow, Mary (Cox) Craig, Aggy was appraised on 17 February 1816 with the rest of his estate. She was valued at $60; no age for her was given and no other enslaved people were included in the inventory. At a public auction held on 24 February 1816, a "negro woman" (not named, but almost certainly Aggy) was purchased by John Craig Jr, John's son, for $65.[3]
Slaves
- Pegg
- Joseph
- Frank
- Lidia/Liddy
- Milly
- George
- Aggy
- Peggy, daughter of Aggy
- Esther, daughter of Peggy
- London
- Fanny
- Hannah, daughter of Fanny
Sources
- ↑
Will of John Craig Sr:
"Virginia, U.S., Wills and Probate Records, 1652-1900"
Wills, 1790-1906; General Index to Wills, 1790-1911; Author: Virginia. County Court (Wythe County); Probate Place: Wythe, Virginia
Ancestry Sharing Link - Ancestry Record 62347 #2031973 (accessed 21 November 2023)
John Craig Sen probate on 8 Mar 1808 in Wythe, Virginia, USA. Residence Wythe County, Virginia. - ↑
Slaves of John Craig Sr:
"Virginia, U.S., Wills and Probate Records, 1652-1900"
Wills, 1790-1906; General Index to Wills, 1790-1911; Author: Virginia. County Court (Wythe County); Probate Place: Wythe, Virginia. PAGE 402, immediately following John Craig's will. SEE IMAGE 365.
Ancestry Sharing Link - Ancestry Record 62347 #2031973 (accessed 21 November 2023)
John Craig Sen slaves on 8 Mar 1808 in Wythe, Virginia, USA. Residence Wythe County, Virginia. - ↑
Estate of John Craig Sr:
"Virginia, U.S., Wills and Probate Records, 1652-1900"
Wills, 1790-1906; General Index to Wills, 1790-1911; Author: Virginia. County Court (Wythe County); Probate Place: Wythe, Virginia. Will Book 2, PAGE 162, SEE IMAGE 501 for both inventory/appraisal and sales.
Ancestry Sharing Link - Ancestry Record 62347 #2031973 (accessed 21 November 2023)
John Craig Sen inventory/appraisal/sales on 17 & 24 Feb 1816 in Wythe, Virginia, USA. Residence Wythe County, Virginia.
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