Slaves of Thomas Alston Banks, Georgia

Date: [unknown] [unknown]
Location: Elbert, Georgia, United States
Surnames/tags: slavery Banks Black_Heritage

This page enumerates the slavery history of Thomas Alston Banks

Contents 1 1820 Census Elbert County, GA 2 1830 Census Elbert County, GA 3 Transcription of Last Will and Testament 25 June 1835 4 Estate Inventory 1835 5 Sources 5.1 Property Records

1820 Census Elbert County, GA

• Males - Under 14 (2)
• Males - 14 thru 25 (2)
• Males - 26 thru 44 (1)
• Females - Under 14 (3)
• Females - 14 thru 25 (1)
• Females - 26 thru 44 (1)

Total Slaves 10

1830 Census Elbert County, GA

• Free Colored Persons - Males - 10 thru 23 (1)
• Free Colored Persons - Males - 24 thru 35 (1)

• Males - Under 10 (2) Lindsey, Russell?
• Males - 10 thru 23 (8)
• Males - 24 thru 35 (1)
• Males - 36 thru 54 (1)
• Males - 55 thru 99 (1)
• Females - Under 10 (4) Isaphena?
• Females - 10 thru 23 (2)
• Females - 24 thru 35 (2)

Total Slaves 21

Total Free Colored Persons 2

Transcription of Last Will and Testament 25 June 1835

In the name of God Amen.

I Thomas Alston Banks of the state of Georgia and county of Elbert being of sound and disposing mind and memory and convinced of the propriety of making whilst still living, such a disposition of my property as I wish to take place after my death do make ordain and constitute this my last will and testament herby evoking all former wills by me at any time heretofore ( ) divest.

I will and bequeath to my beloved son Elbert Jones Banks the sum of two thousand dollars in cash in consideration of his misfortune in being deprived of his eyesight which sum I wish paid to the guardian of my said son Elbert Jones by my executors herein after named to be managed for his benefit.

Secondly I will and bequeath to my beloved wife Mary Jones Banks the sum of one thousand dollars in cash. Also my gold patent (lever) watch to be delivered to her at such time as she may desire it.

Thirdly I will and bequeath to my beloved son Elbert Jones Banks my negro boy by the name of Lindsey now about thirteen years of age.

Fourthly I will and bequeath to my beloved son Joseph Ralph Banks my negro boy by the name of Russell now about thirteen years of age.

Fifthly I will and bequeath to my beloved son Richard Oliver Banks a negro boy by the name of Seaborn (Jones) now about four years of age.

Sixthly I will and bequeath to my beloved daughter Mary Louisa Banks my negro girl Isaphena, now about eight years of age.

Seventhly it is my will and desire that all the balance of my property (after the above mentioned legacies are parceled out) both real and personal shall be divided at such time and in such manner as my executor shall deem most proper between my said wife Mary Jones Banks and each of my before mentioned children (viz, Elbert Jones Banks, Joseph Ralph Banks, Richard Oliver Banks, and Mary Louisa Banks, share and share alike.

Lastly I do hereby make ordain and appoint my friends Thomas Jones Young, L.G. Harris and William Bailey executors of this my last will and testament.

In testimony where I have hereunto set my hand and seal this twenty fifth day of June one thousand eight hundred and thirty five.

Thomas A Banks

Signed sealed and acknowledged in the presence of us who have prescribed in the presence of each other.

Amos Hammonds

James A Clark

C. L. McGee

Georgia

Elbert County

Court of ordinary

The four enslaved people mentioned in the Will, transcribed above, are profiled here:

• Lindsey Banks (abt.1822-)
• Russell Banks (abt.1822-)
• Seaborn Jones Banks (abt.1831-)
• Isaphena Banks (abt.1827-)

Estate Inventory 1835

Annual Return From 1835-1837. Estate inventory names 27 people (four of these also mentioned in the Will, see above) who were enslaved p.144-146^[1]

• Lem Banks (abt.1817-) Man, $450
• George Banks (bef.1817-) Man, $800
• Fendal Banks (bef.1817-) Man, $800
• Jarrett Banks (bef.1817-) Man, $750
• Bob Banks (bef.1817-) Man, $700
• Pleasant Banks (bef.1817-) Man with wife Anna & child Pleasant $900
• Anna Banks (bef.1817-), Pleasant's wife
• Pleasant Banks (bef.1834-), Anna and Pleasant's child
• Lindsey Banks (abt.1822-)$600
• Fanney Banks (bef.1825-) Girl, $450
• Mary Ann Banks (bef.1823-) Girl, $350
• Chloe Banks (bef.1823-) Girl, $350
• Isabelle Banks (bef.1825-) Child $275
• Meley Banks (bef.1825-) Child, $200
• Amy Banks (bef.1817-) woman with child Pleasant $600
• Will Banks (bef.1795-) with wife Hagar, $1.00
• Hagar Banks (bef.1817-), Will's wife
• Windsor Banks (bef.1817-) Man, $1200
• Meley Banks (bef.1817-), Windsor's wife
• Tom Banks (bef.1817-)
• Stephen Banks (bef.1817-) Man $600
• Russell Banks (abt.1822-) $650
• Isaphena Banks (abt.1827-)$450
• Seaborn Jones Banks (abt.1831-)$325
• Suckey Banks (bef.1817-) Woman $600
• Maley Banks (bef.1817-) Woman $600
• Martha Banks (bef.1817-) Woman $200

Schedule p.146-148^[2][3] These pages lists people who owe him money and the amounts.

Sale p.190-193^[4][5] These pages list all his goods that were sold. No slaves were listed.

---

Several of the slaves listed above in the Estate Inventory were also hired out from Dec 1, 1835 to April 1 1836 (p.193 of inventory). Their names appear as "workers" below. ^[6]

Land Owner |Worker |Rental Amount

1. William Bailey|George| $27.25
2. William W Downer|Fendal]21.50
3. William W Downer|Bob|$16.00
4. William White|Lem|$17.25
5. Mary Banks|Pleasant|$10.00
6. James B Adams|Stephen|$26.75
7. Amos W Hammonds|Jarrett|$25.00
8. Amos W Hammonds|Windsor & Wife & shop [could "shop" mean son?]|$65.25
9. Amos W Hammonds|Tom|$28.50
10. James Bryson|Martha|$11.25
11. Picket Shiflet|Suckey|$10.00

---

Several of the slaves listed above in the Enslaved Inventory were sold following Thomas' death, some of them to his brother Henry and sister Mary, as shown under "Name" on Sale of the Enslaved (April 1836) p.240^[7]

Name|Purchaser|Amount

• Pleasant & wife Anna & child Pleasant|Mary Banks|$1600
• Fanney, a girl|Mary Banks|$614
• Mary Ann|Mary Banks|$375
• Chloe|Mary Banks|$375
• Isabella|Mary Banks|$280
• Meley|Mary Banks|$201
• Fendal|Henry Banks (1804-1846)]]|$1095
• George|George Gaar?|$1052
• Bob|John A H Harper|$1057
• Windsor & Wife Meley|Henry Banks|$2300
• Tom|Henry Banks|$1106
• Stephen|R.W. Terrell|$896
• Jarrett|G. S. Oglesby|$1106
• Suckey & Child|James Bryson|$1056
• Martha|A Buxton/Burton|$400
• Lem|Yewing|$606
• Will & Wife Hagar|Henry Banks|$251

Land Sale p.356^[8]

Returns p.372-378, p.383-384^[9][10]

Next book same roll of film

Est Returns p.44, 65-66, 105^[11][12][13]

Returns 295, 301^[14][15]

Sources

1. ↑ Georgia Probate Records, 1742-1990:"Georgia Probate Records, 1742-1990"
   Catalog: Annual returns (Elbert County, Georgia), 1835-1907 Vols. [P]-Q 1835-1842
   Image path: Georgia Probate Records, 1742-1990 > Elbert > Returns 1835-1842 vol P-Q > image 87 of 574; citing various county, district, and probate courts. FamilySearch Image: 3QS7-L93G-NK1X (accessed 1 November 2023)
2. ↑ https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:3QS7-L93G-N2MV?i=87
3. ↑ https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:3QSQ-G93G-NKPY?i=88
4. ↑ https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:3QSQ-G93G-NKGP?i=112
5. ↑ https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:3QS7-893G-NV3P?i=113
6. ↑ https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:3QS7-893G-NV3P?i=113
7. ↑ Georgia Probate Records, 1742-1990: "Georgia Probate Records, 1742-1990" Catalog: Annual returns (Elbert County, Georgia), 1835-1907 Vols. [P]-Q 1835-1842. Image path: Georgia Probate Records, 1742-1990 > Elbert > Returns 1835-1842 vol P-Q > image 138 of 574; citing various county, district, and probate courts. FamilySearch Image: 3QS7-L93G-NKH2 (accessed 1 November 2023)
8. ↑ https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:3QS7-L93G-NL67?i=208&cc=1999178
9. ↑ https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:3QS7-L93G-NLXK?i=218
10. ↑ https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:3QS7-893G-NKP9?i=223
11. ↑ https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:3QS7-893G-NKNK?i=290
12. ↑ https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:3QS7-893G-NKXX?i=315
13. ↑ https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:3QSQ-G93G-N2JB?i=357
14. ↑ https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:3QSQ-G93G-NLJ3?i=554
15. ↑ https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:3QSQ-G93G-NLDK?i=561 Continues next page

• 1820 Census: "1820 United States Federal Census"
  Fourth Census of the United States, 1820; Census Place: Smiths, Elbert, Georgia; Page: 185; NARA Roll: M33_8; Image: 130
  Ancestry Sharing Link - Ancestry Record 7734 #1455845
  Thos A?? in Smiths, Elbert, Georgia, USA.

• 1830 Census: "1830 United States Federal Census"
  Year: 1830; Census Place: Elbert, Georgia; Series: M19; Roll: 17; Page: 152; Family History Library Film: 0007037
  Ancestry Sharing Link - Ancestry Record 8058 #1832276
  Thomas A Banks in Elbert, Georgia.

• Probate: "Georgia, U.S., Wills and Probate Records, 1742-1992"
  Probate and Marriage Records (Elbert County, Georgia), 1803-1919; Author: Georgia. Court of Ordinary (Elbert County); Probate Place: Elbert, Georgia
  Ancestry Sharing Link - Ancestry Record 8635 #331679
  Thomas Alston Banks probate on 25 Jun 1835 in Elbert, Georgia, USA.

• Will of Thomas A. Banks p.5-7 Georgia, Elbert County, Wills: "Georgia Probate Records, 1742-1990" Catalog: Georgia, Elbert County, Wills Will records, will book A, 1835-1860 Image path: Georgia Probate Records, 1742-1990 > Elbert > Wills 1835-1860 vol A > image 22 of 307; citing various county, district, and probate courts. FamilySearch Image: 33S7-9R6N-RBT (accessed 1 November 2023)

Property Records

• 25 Apr 1826 - James Rucker to Thomas Banks, for $15 in the town of Ruckersville, located at Wm White's corner near said Banks Blacksmith shop, containing two lengths and two hundreds of an acre.

"General index to deeds, 1793-1912; deeds and mortgages, 1869-1912" Catalog: General index to deeds, 1793-1912; deeds and mortgages, 1869-1912 Deeds, v. A-D, 1791-1796 -- Deeds, v. X, 1835-1839. Film number: 008153424 > image 361 of 582 FamilySearch Image: 3Q9M-CSKK-JQGD-T (accessed 2 November 2023) *Deed Bk X p.36

• 19 Apr 1825 - Purchased from William Henderson, 8 7/10 acres for the sum of $52.

"General index to deeds, 1793-1912; deeds and mortgages, 1869-1912" Catalog: General index to deeds, 1793-1912; deeds and mortgages, 1869-1912 Deeds, v. A-D, 1791-1796 -- Deeds, v. X, 1835-1839. Film number: 008153424 > image 361 of 582 FamilySearch Image: 3Q9M-CSKK-JQGD-T (accessed 2 November 2023) *Deed Bk X p.36-37

• 14 Nov 1829 - Dozier Thornton, 145 1/4 acres on Beaverdam Creek for $250.

"General index to deeds, 1793-1912; deeds and mortgages, 1869-1912" Catalog: General index to deeds, 1793-1912; deeds and mortgages, 1869-1912 Deeds, v. A-D, 1791-1796 -- Deeds, v. X, 1835-1839. Film number: 008153424 > image 363 of 582 FamilySearch Image: 3Q9M-CSKK-JQG8-V (accessed 2 November 2023) *Deed Bk X p.38

• 17 Oct 1827 - From Administrators of James Clark, lot one acre and half length, in Ruckersville

"General index to deeds, 1793-1912; deeds and mortgages, 1869-1912" Catalog: General index to deeds, 1793-1912; deeds and mortgages, 1869-1912 Deeds, v. A-D, 1791-1796 -- Deeds, v. X, 1835-1839. Film number: 008153424 > image 363 of 582 FamilySearch Image: 3Q9M-CSKK-JQG8-V (accessed 2 November 2023) *Deed Bk X p.38-39

• 21 Feb 1832 - From Jeremiah Mann, 200 acres on Vans Creek, for the sum of $800

"General index to deeds, 1793-1912; deeds and mortgages, 1869-1912" Catalog: General index to deeds, 1793-1912; deeds and mortgages, 1869-1912 Deeds, v. A-D, 1791-1796 -- Deeds, v. X, 1835-1839. Film number: 008153424 > image 364 of 582. FamilySearch Image: 3Q9M-CSKK-JQG8-N (accessed 2 November 2023) *Deed Bk X p.39

• 17 Sept 1834 - From Samuel N. Bailey, for the sum of $450, on the waters of Coldwater Creek 200 acres

"General index to deeds, 1793-1912; deeds and mortgages, 1869-1912" Catalog: General index to deeds, 1793-1912; deeds and mortgages, 1869-1912 Deeds, v. A-D, 1791-1796 -- Deeds, v. X, 1835-1839. Film number: 008153424 > image 364 of 582 FamilySearch Image: 3Q9M-CSKK-JQG8-N (accessed 2 November 2023) *Deed Bk X p.39-40