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Slaves of Ralph Banks, Georgia

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Date: [unknown] [unknown]
Location: Elbert, Georgia, United Statesmap
Surnames/tags: Banks Slavery Black_Heritage
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Contents

Introduction

Ralph Banks (1757-1823), as reported on census and estate records as well as his Will, owned slaves in Elbert County, Georgia, and bequeathed some of these slaves by name to his wife and descendants.

Descendants' genealogical records also describe a whipping of "only" one young boy, as follows: "Only one instance is given of a slave being whipped, and that was when one of them, a young boy, was caught in the minister's house at night, probably intent on some petty theft. Major Banks and his father used to put silver and gold coins in all sorts of places about the house, leaving them for an indefinite time, and these were never disturbed. In this manner he sought to teach the servants the commandment, Thou shalt not steal."[1]The boy might have been one of the 19 male slaves under the age of 14 listed in the 1820 census.

For more information about the plantation, see Coldwater Plantation, Elbert County, Georgia

1804 Purchase of Slaves as Mortgage, Elbert County, GA

On 29 Apr 1804, Ralph Banks purchased 8 named slaves (a mortgage or security) from John Daniel for $1132. It's unknown if John Daniels paid him back and received his slaves back. We do know that Ralph owned them for a time and so they are included in this enslavement record.

"Minutes" Catalog: Minutes 1791-1806. Film number: 008192130 > image 500 of 666 FamilySearch Image: 3Q9M-CSLX-K996-Y (accessed 31 October 2023) p.72, gave mortgage loan to Daniels

Because some of these 8 named slaves are listed as boy or girl, it's assumed that those who are not -- Will and Hagar -- were grown men, at least 18 years old.

1820 Census: Elbert County, Georgia

According to the census record of 1820 in Elbert County, Georgia, Ralph Banks owned 69 slaves ranging in age from under 14 years old to over years old. [2]

  • 19 M under 14
  • 13 M 14 thru 25
  • 7 M 26 thru 44
  • 2 M 45 and over
  • 11 F under 14
  • 7 F 14 thru 25
  • 6 F 26 thru 44
  • 4 F 45 and over


Probate Inventory, about 1823

Four years later, according to the Inventory and Appraisal of the Estate of Ralph Banks in Elbert County, Georgia (date not given, but presumably around the time of his death in 1823), he owned 62 slaves. 58 of these people are listed by first name in this record, identified as man, woman, boy, or girl; plus an unnamed wife and three children (another 4 slaves) are included in the list. "Color" is not assigned though some men are identified as "negro." All are given "values," along with other "property" such as livestock and furniture. [3]

As for the value of the enslaved people, the highest estimate on an individual person was $600, these (such as the men called Larkin and Bill) probably skilled carpenters, wheelwrights, or shoemakers.


Will and Testament, 1823

In his Will and Testament (recorded 9 November, 1823)[4], Ralph Banks bequeathed land and 23 slaves by first name (along with some of their unnamed family members) -- most of them matching, or approximately matching, some of the names listed above, from the probate inventory -- to four of his sons and to his wife. He appointed two of his sons, Thomas Banks and John Banks, the Executors of his Will.

Five named slaves he left to his successors do not match those in the probate inventory. All the other unnamed remaining slaves not left to the three sons and wife were "put into the possession" of Ralph's other ten children who survived him. [5]

This means that of the 62 slaves listed in the probate inventory, only 18 of them through the Will can be traced by name to the next slave owner:

Ralph left to his son Marion Banks (1813-1886):

Ralph left to his son Ralph Banks Jr. (1796-1871):

Ralph left to his sons Henry Banks (1804-1846) and Lemuel Banks (1806-bef.1857):

  • Solomon (bef.1805-)
  • Winney and her child Item (no closely matching names found in probate document)

Ralph left to his wife Rachel Alston (Jones) Banks (1769-1851):

The following listed in the Will as being left to Rachel have no closely matching names in the probate inventory of the same year:

  • Lett Peter and his unnamed wife
  • Hannah (this Hannah named as "old" not a match for the child on probate document)
  • Jenkins
  • Nancy (there are several people named Nancy in the probate inventory)

All remaining, unnamed slaves were left to Ralph's other children.


For more information please see Coldwater Plantation


Research Notes

  • It is likely that other records of Ralph Banks' slaves were made over time, but the federal census records for Georgia from 1790-1810 were lost. Although Ralph and his father (according to his descendants) brought 16 slaves with them in 1785 when they moved from North Carolina to Georgia, [6], neither state has surviving census records for this time.
  • The names of the enslaved people listed in parentheses above, bequeathed through Ralph Banks' Will to his successors, do not match exactly the names of the enslaved people listed in the probate inventory, even though this inventory and the Will were written at about the same time (around the year of Ralph's death in 1823), and so names, genders and family configurations would likely not be different. Other names, noted above, do not appear to match at all, so profiles for these people have not been made. Errors could easily have occurred in either document -- especially in the Will, found in an authored secondary source. The original Will (not available online) should be reviewed in person if available.
  • Some of the inherited enslaved adults were listed with the names of the children on the probate inventory, and without these children on the Will. It is not known at this point if those children were separated to be inherited by other children of Ralph Banks, or sold.

Sources

  1. ↑ Banks, Elbert Augustine MD and Young, Georgia Butt, The Genealogical Records of the Banks Family of Elbert Country, Georgia, reproduction by the Church of the Latter Day Saints, Second Edition edited by Sarah Banks Franklin, pp. 152-153.
  2. ↑ 1820 Census: "1820 United States Federal Census"
    1820 U S Census; Census Place: Christian, Elbert, Georgia; Page: 172; NARA Roll: M33_8; Image: 119
    Ancestry Sharing Link - Ancestry Record 7734 #1455491 (accessed 25 December 2022)
    Ralph Banks in Christian, Elbert, Georgia.
  3. ↑ Probate: "Georgia, U.S., Wills and Probate Records, 1742-1992"
    Georgia, Elbert County, Estate Records; Author: Georgia. Probate Court (Elbert County); Probate Place: Georgia
    Ancestry Sharing Link - Ancestry Record 8635 #1683644 (accessed 25 December 2022)
    Ralph Banks probate.
  4. ↑ Banks, Elbert Augustine; Young, Georgia Butt; Franklin, Sarah Banks. The Genealogical Records of the Banks Family of Elbert County, Georgia. Second Edition, 1937, pp.192-194
  5. ↑ Banks, Elbert Augustine; Young, Georgia Butt; Franklin, Sarah Banks. The Genealogical Records of the Banks Family of Elbert County, Georgia. Unknown publication date and location (likely self published), pp. 192-193.
  6. ↑ Banks, Elbert Augustine MD and Young, Georgia Butt, The Genealogical Records of the Banks Family of Elbert Country, Georgia, reproduction by the Church of the Latter Day Saints, Second Edition edited by Sarah Banks Franklin
  • Request for division of estate 30 Dec 1823,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 340 of 554; citing various county, district, and probate courts. FamilySearch Image: 33S7-9R6N-DRZ (accessed 1 December 2023)
  • and on the 12 Jan 1824 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 346 of 554; citing various county, district, and probate courts. FamilySearch Image: 33S7-9R6N-DL9 (accessed 1 December 2023)
  • Probate Inventory (Family Search images) 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 419 of 554; citing various county, district, and probate courts. FamilySearch Image: 33SQ-GR6N-6MD (accessed 1 December 2023)
1824 probate inventory of the enslaved for Ralph Banks, loose probate papers, 2 pages with names of the enslaved
  • 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 424 of 554; citing various county, district, and probate courts. FamilySearch Image: 33S7-9R6N-DVG (accessed 1 December 2023) :loose probate papers, probate inventory listing the enslaved
  • Will of Ralph Banks p.206-207 Georgia, Elbert County, Wills: "Georgia Probate Records, 1742-1990" Catalog: Georgia, Elbert County, Wills Will records, will book, p. 1-299, 1822-1823 Image path: Georgia Probate Records, 1742-1990 > Elbert > Wills 1822-1823 > image 129 of 356; citing various county, district, and probate courts. FamilySearch Image: 33S7-9R6N-PM8 (accessed 3 December 2023)

Land Deeds - Elbert County Georgia

Ralph Banks was part of the Land Court in Elbert County, a sampling:

  • 4 Apr 1791 Georgia, Elbert County, land records: "Georgia, Elbert County, land records" Catalog: Georgia, Elbert County, land records Land records, Land Court records, 1791-1822. Film number: 004968225 > image 7 of 188 FamilySearch Image: 33SQ-GR6N-W77 (accessed 31 October 2023) unknown page number
  • 6 Jun 1791 Georgia, Elbert County, land records: "Georgia, Elbert County, land records" Catalog: Georgia, Elbert County, land records Land records, Land Court records, 1791-1822. Film number: 004968225 > image 12 of 188 FamilySearch Image: 33SQ-GR6N-W8Z (accessed 31 October 2023) unknown page
  • 5 Sept 1791 Georgia, Elbert County, land records: "Georgia, Elbert County, land records" Catalog: Georgia, Elbert County, land records Land records, Land Court records, 1791-1822. Film number: 004968225 > image 15 of 188 FamilySearch Image: 33SQ-GR6N-WCK (accessed 31 October 2023) unknown page number
  • 3 Sept 1798. Georgia, Elbert County, land records: "Georgia, Elbert County, land records" Catalog: Georgia, Elbert County, land records Land records, Land Court records, 1791-1822. Film number: 004968225 > image 64 of 188 FamilySearch Image: 33S7-9R6N-71B (accessed 31 October 2023) unknown page number
  • 1808 Georgia, Elbert County, land records: "Georgia, Elbert County, land records." Catalog: Georgia, Elbert County, land records Land records, Land Court records, 1791-1822. Film number: 004968225 > image 90 of 188,FamilySearch Image: 33SQ-GR6N-7TT (accessed 31 October 2023) unknown page number

Property Purchases

  • 1806 - Property purchased by Ralph Banks 30 Sept 1806 from Joseph Bond and Jean his wife, 419 acres for $400.
Deeds and mortgages, 1796-1819: "Deeds and mortgages, 1796-1819" Catalog: Deeds and mortgages, 1796-1819 Deeds and mortgages v. K 1806-1808 v. N 1810-1812. Film number: 008563533 > image 184 of 490. FamilySearch Image: 3Q9M-C3QP-V7FV (accessed 31 October 2023) p.202
  • 1806 - 24 November, from William Higgenbotham and Dolly his wife to Ralph Banks, tract of land on the fork of the Beverdam Creek in Elbert County, for the sum of $1000, containing (?hundred) 43 acres. Document difficult to read and acrage was faded off the document.
Deeds and mortgages, 1796-1819 "Deeds and mortgages, 1796-1819" Catalog: Deeds and mortgages, 1796-1819 Deeds and mortgages v. K 1806-1808 v. N 1810-1812. Film number: 008563533 > image 211 of 490. FamilySearch Image: 3Q9M-C3QP-VHFR (accessed 31 October 2023) p.228
  • 17 Mar 1807 - Hugh King and his wife Mary, to Ralph Banks, tract of land on the Little Coldwater Creek in Elbert County, Containing 587 acres, for the sum of $1000.
Deeds and mortgages, 1796-1819: "Deeds and mortgages, 1796-1819" Catalog: Deeds and mortgages, 1796-1819 Deeds and mortgages v. K 1806-1808 v. N 1810-1812. Film number: 008563533 > image 219 of 490. FamilySearch Image: 3Q9M-C3QP-VWBK (accessed 31 October 2023) p.236
  • 17 Feb 1817 to Abraham Parks, a tract of land on the waters of Ceder Creek containing 250 acres, for the sum of $100
Deeds and mortgages, 1796-1819: "Deeds and mortgages, 1796-1819" Catalog: Deeds and mortgages, 1796-1819 Deeds and mortgages v. O 1812-1813 v. Q 1816-1818. Film number: 008193959 > image 191 of 270 FamilySearch Image: 3Q9M-CSLX-RSSR-R (accessed 31 October 2023) p.27

Additional Legal Records

  • Ralph Banks vs Benj Head, found for Banks, L11.5.5 "Minutes" Catalog: Minutes 1791-1806. Film number: 008192130 > image 60 of 666 FamilySearch Image: 3Q9M-CSLX-K9M2-6 (accessed 31 October 2023) p.42
  • Ralph Banks with Solomon McAlpine was seeking restitution for money owed, $1640 in notes, from Louchlin McCurry, John McDonald, Roderick McDonald, and Donald McDonald
"Minutes" Catalog: Minutes 1791-1806. Film number: 008192130 > image 404 of 666. FamilySearch Image: 3Q9M-CSLX-K995-N (accessed 31 October 2023) p.452-455




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