Slaves of Kenneth West, North Carolina

Date: 1820 [unknown]
Location: Bertie County, North Carolina, United States
Surnames/tags: West Slavery Black_Heritage

Contents 1 Slaves of Kenneth West, North Carolina 1.1 1820 Census 1.2 Deeds of Purchase 1.3 Probate and Estate Files 2 Sources

Slaves of Kenneth West, North Carolina

The purpose of this page is to document and identify the slaves held by Kenneth West (abt.1790-abt.1832) in Bertie County, North Carolina.

1820 Census

In 1820 Kenneth West held 17 enslaved in Bertie County.^[1]

• Slaves - Males - Under 14 5
• Slaves - Males - 14 thru 25 4
• Slaves - Males - 26 thru 44 2
• Slaves - Males - 45 and over 1
• Slaves - Females - Under 14 1
• Slaves - Females - 14 thru 25 1
• Slaves - Females - 26 thru 44 2
• Slaves - Females - 45 and over 1

Deeds of Purchase

On March 21, 1823, Kenneth West paid E A Rhodes the sum of $500

^[2]

• negro man, Hardy

On March 20, 1826, Kenneth West paid $743 for negroes from the estate of Starkey Skiles, dec'd

^[3]

• Harriet
• Jerry

Probate and Estate Files

From the first list of his Probate Inventory..^[4] Note The dates on these accounts were not always given. His estate probate is very large. The values changed upon distribution, which assumes a year or more had gone by. For instance, Tom was originally valued at $450, but when distributed, his value decreased to $300. The ages were recorded only once, without a date on the document. Furthermore, many of the slaves are named in hires, which have still to be transcribed.

Men:

1. Tom, 50, valued at $450
2. Harry valued at $600
3. Bob, 50, valued at $250
4. Dick, 25, $550
5. Jerry, 35, $300
6. Austin, $600
7. Jerry (#2), 21, $550
8. Stephen, 21, $500
9. Merrick, 20, $525
10. Washington, 17, $425
11. Henry, 15, $400
12. Solomon,15, $300
13. Bryan, 13, $250.
14. Ned, 11, $200
15. Cimon, 11 & Peter, 11, $325
16. Ben, 11, $165

Women & children:

1. Dalphin, 9, valued at $125
2. Abram, $115
3. Penicy (?), $125
4. Clarissa, $125
5. Harriet & child, $475
6. Patience & child, $475
7. Betty, 28, & child, $325
8. Judy & child, $375
9. Phillis & child (Louisa), $450
10. Prissy, 375
11. Marina, $300
12. Nelly, $400

December 31, 1834: We, the undersigned commissioners appointed to divide the negroes of Kenneth West, dec'd met and valued and laid of to Mrs. Elizabeth West her part of said negroes (to wit):

1. Harry, $600
2. Austin, $600
3. Marina, $300
4. Judy & child (Rachel), $375
5. Nelly, $400
6. Penicy, $125
7. Clarissa, $125
8. old Rose - deduct $75

Final petition for distribution was presented to the court on February Term, 1848

Distribution in Lots: Note Values have changed from above list

Lot #1, award to daughter Margaret Allen.

1. Bob, $225
2. Dick, $600
3. Jerry (#1), $600
4. Solomon, $400
5. Ned, $400
6. George, 7, $200
7. Abram, $362.50
8. Prissy, 30 $400
9. Phillis, 35, & Louisa, 6 months, $375

Lot #2, awarded to Frances West (wife of Whit R swain by 1848)

1. Jerry (#2), $425
2. Merrick, 20, $600
3. Henry, 15, $600
4. Bryan, $450
5. Ben, $362.50
6. Cicero, 8, $225
7. Alfred, 7, $200
8. Betty, $250 with her children Ann, William, Rosina
9. Ann, 4, $125
10. William, 2, $125
11. Rosina, 1 month, $50

Lot #3, awarded to Roxanna West

1. Tom, 50, $300
2. Stephen, 21, $600
3. Washington, 17, $600
4. Dalphin, 9, $400
5. Peter, 11, $400
6. Cimon, 11, $350
7. Patience, 40, $275 (with her children Isham and Mary)
8. Isham, 3, $150
9. Mary, 1, $100
10. Sophy, 5, $150

Sources

1. ↑ 1820 Census: "1820 United States Federal Census"
   Fourth Census of the United States, 1820; Census Place: Bertie, North Carolina; Page: 114; NARA Roll: M33_82; Image: 73
   Ancestry Sharing Link - Ancestry ca Record 7734 #361785 (accessed 20 December 2023)
   Kenneth West in Bertie, North Carolina, USA.
2. ↑ Slave Deed: NC.BER.BB.94.2; Bertie County NC. March 21, 1823; Bill of sale; Book BB, Page 94. accessed on DLAS 12-20-2023 Link to Image
3. ↑ Slave Deed; NC.BER.BB.536.3; Bertie County NC. c. 1826; Bill of sale; Book BB, Page 536. accessed on DLAS 12-20-2023 Link to Image
4. ↑ Probate: "North Carolina, U.S., Wills and Probate Records, 1665-1998"
   Wills and Estate Papers (Bertie County), 1663-1978; Author: North Carolina. Division of Archives and History (Raleigh, North Carolina); Probate Place: Bertie, North Carolina
   Ancestry Sharing Link - Ancestry Record 9061 #58448 (accessed 17 December 2023)
   Kenneth West probate in 1663-1978 in Bertie, North Carolina, USA.