Slaves of Reuben Long, Culpeper, Virginia

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This page's purpose is to record the enslaved people owned by Reuben Long (1730-1792), and attempt to connect them to their families.

Slaves

In his December 29, 1791 will, Reuben Long made specific reference to nearly twenty enslaved people.^[1] Many of them were later named in his 1792 inventory.^[2]

• To his son Nimrod Long (-aft.1791) he bequeathed "three young negros namely Joe (bef.1791-), Dinah (abt.1778-) and Alice abt.1785-)..."

• To his daughter Frances (Long) Richardson (abt.1765-) [whom he called Fanny] wife of Daniel Richardson, he bequeathed "all that I formerly lent her and has in possession also one negro girl named Fanney (abt.1783-) to her and her heirs forever." [Note: the name of the enslaved female was indeed the same as Reuben's daughter whom he called Fanny in his will.]

• [Paraphrased and edited for clarity] To "my beloved wife Mary Long, during her natural life I lend ... the following negros Jonathan (abt.1749-), George (abt.1756-), Frank (abt.1732-), Billy (abt.1754-), Esther (abt.1745-) (Easter or Ester), Phyllis (abt.1748-), Hannah (abt.1757-), Sileney (abt.1777-), Charlotte (abt.1781-), Edie (abt.1785-), Winney (abt.1787-), Celia (abt.1789-), and Abel (abt.1790-) ... and after her decease ... my desire is that all the said estate except as is before excepted and disposed of together with the increase thereof be equally divided between my seven children as above named - Gabriel E. Long (1751-1827), Evans Long (abt.1759-1819), Anderson Long (-1791), Nimrod Long (-aft.1791), Frances (Long) Richardson (abt.1765-), Margaret (Long) Key (-aft.1791) & Mary Harrison (Long) Nash (1754-1821) ... to them and their heirs forever and ...

• "... provided my son Nimrod should die before he enters into wedlock, my desire is that his estate as above mentioned be equally divided between the remaining six children as above mentioned to them and their heirs forever..."

His inventory lists several of these enslaved people, their ages, and their valuations.^[3]

• Jonathan (abt.1749-), age 43, valued at 55 pounds
• George (abt.1756-), age 36, valued at 65 pounds
• Frank (abt.1732-), age 60, valued at 15 pounds
• Billy (abt.1754-), an "invalid," age 38, valued at 15 pounds
• Esther (abt.1745-), age 47, valued at 25 pounds
• Phyllis (abt.1748-), age 44, valued at 27 pounds
• Hannah (abt.1757-), age 35, valued at 40 pounds
• Sileney (abt.1777-), age 15, valued at 52 pounds 10 shillings
• Charlotte (abt.1781-), age 11, valued at 35 pounds
• Edie (abt.1785-), age seven, valued at 25 pounds
• Winney (abt.1787-), age five, valued at 20 pounds
• Celia (abt.1789-), age three, valued at 20 pounds
• Abel (abt.1790-), age two, valued at 15 pounds

Research Notes

Reuben Long's use of the term "lent" when referring to the enslaved people he bequeathed to his female family members was in keeping with the laws of the day in Virginia. Women were not legally allowed to own property.