Slaves of Thomas Burton

Date: [unknown] to 29 Oct 1821
Location: Accomack, Virginia, United States
Surname/tag: SLAVERY, BLACK_HERITAGE, BURTON

This page's purpose is to record the enslaved people owned by Thomas Burton (1741-1821, and attempt to connect them to their families.

Work In Progress Please give me until March 15 2023 to complete. Thank You

Census and Census-type Records

1783-1784^[1]

Slaves: 10

Do. 16: 5 {under 16?}

1800^[2]

Black Tith[e]s: 4

Blacks 12 and under: 16

1810^[3]

18 enslaved people, no information on sex or ages

1820

• 1820 United States Census^[4]

Note: There is no 1820 Census listing for Thomas Burton -- he was living with his son Joshua, and many of these enslaved people belonged to him, as shown by his will signed July 1820.

Male slaves under age 14 {1807-1820} – 3

Male slaves age 14-25 {1795-1806} -- 1

Male slaves age 26-44 {1776-1794} – 1

Male slaves over age 45 {before 1775} – 3

Female slaves under age 14 {1807-1820} – 2

Female slaves age 14-25 {1795-1806} – 2

Will of Thomas Burton

• Will of Thomas Burton. Signed 29 July 1820. Proved 29 October 1821. In "Virginia, U.S., Wills and Probate Records, 1652-1900"> Accomack> Wills, 1821-1823> Page 11, image 26. Database and Images at Ancestry.com Image.

Will of Thomas Burton. Signed 29 July 1820. Proved 29 October 1821^[5]

Bequests to: son, Joshua Burton; son Garrison Burton; Methodist meeting; daughter Nancy Harmon; John Harmon (of Henry) forgiveness of debts “for negroes since 1806;” granddaughter Rosy Harmon. Executors: sons Joshua and Garrison. Witnesses: Thomas Smith of Jon’a; Parker Copes; Levin Harges

Enslaved People named: Samuel and Adah to go free immediately. Mary, Tamer, James, Selby, Mary Carter – use given to son Joshua Burton until each person reaches age 35. Any of their children (before parents turns age 35) – to be set free at age 21. Privileges of truck {garden?} patches by meeting house land given to “negro man Levin during his natural life.” Sarah, Ann, {?}Level, Betty, George, Harriet -- use given to son Garrison Burton until each person reaches age 35. Any of their children (before parents turns age 35) – to be set free at age 21. Man, Jim – to Garrison Burton, outright. Leah, Esther, and Spencer -- use given to daughter Nancy Harrison until each person reaches age 35. Any of their children (before parents turns age 35) – to be set free at age 21. “Provided there is no claim made for my negro man Samuel”..? Woman, Did- {Dido?} to granddaughter Rosy Harmon – to be set free at 35. Requests son Joshua to care for man Levin during his natural life.

Slaves bequeathed to Joshua Burton

Mary -- emancipated as of 1830

Tamer -- emancipated as of 1830

James

Selby

Mary Carter

Use of each given to son Joshua Burton until each person reaches age 35. Any offspring they may have (before parents turns age 35) – to be set free at age 21. Privileges of truck {garden?} patches by meeting house land given to “negro man Levin during his natural life.” Requests son Joshua to care for man Levin during his natural life.

Slaves bequeathed to Garrison Burton

Sarah

Ann

Levin {?}

Betty

George

Harriet

Slaves bequeathed to Nancy (Burton) Harrison

Leah Burton

Esther Burton

Spencer

Slaves bequeathed to Rosy Harmon

Dido

Other

Children of the above enslaved people, born after Thomas Burton's death, but still enslaved under the terms of his will until age 21:

• Registration of Sam Burton in "Accomack County, Register of Free Negroes, 1785-1863", in “Land Causes and Complete Cases, 1727-1805, 1812-1872. Images at FamilySearch.org, Film #008620584, Image 222. [1]

’#1152; Sam Burton; born about 1824; “Emancipated by will of Thos. Burton of record in Acco. County Court”

• Registration of Arthur Harmon in "Accomack County, Register of Free Negroes, 1785-1863", in “Land Causes and Complete Cases, 1727-1805, 1812-1872. Images at FamilySearch.org, Film #008620584, Image 236. [2]

’#1245; Arthur Harmon; born about 1824; “Emancipated by will of Thos. Burton of record in Acco. County Court”

• Registration of Edmund by Burton in "Accomack County, Register of Free Negroes, 1785-1863", in “Land Causes and Complete Cases, 1727-1805, 1812-1872. Images at FamilySearch.org, Film #008620584, Image 252. [3]

’#1326: Edmund by Burton; born about 1828; “The descendant of Easter Burton a free negro, who together with her increase was emancipated by the last Will & testament of Thomas Burton dec’d --? Recorded by the County Court of Accomack” on 29 October 1821

• Registration of William Burton in "Accomack County, Register of Free Negroes, 1785-1863", in “Land Causes and Complete Cases, 1727-1805, 1812-1872. Images at FamilySearch.org, Film #008620584, Image 256. [4]

”#1356: William Burton; born about 1823; “The descendant of Tamer Burton (free negro) who together with her increase was emancipated by the last Will & Testament of Thos. Burton dec’d ordered to be recorded by the County Court of Accomack on the 29th day of October 1821

”Permission granted him to remain in the state and reside in Accomack County on the 31st day of March 1851, by the County Court of said County”

• Registration of Stephen Harmon in "Accomack County, Register of Free Negroes, 1785-1863", in “Land Causes and Complete Cases, 1727-1805, 1812-1872. Images at FamilySearch.org, Film #008620584, Image 258. [5]

”#1362:Stephen Harmon; born about 1827; “Emancipated by the last Will & Testament of Thos. Burton dec’d ordered to be recorded by the County Court of Accomack on the 29th day of October 1821

”No permission granted to reside in this State”

• Registration of Adah Burton in "Accomack County, Register of Free Negroes, 1785-1863", in “Land Causes and Complete Cases, 1727-1805, 1812-1872. Images at FamilySearch.org, Film #008620584, Image 908. [6]

”#1535: Adah Burton born about 1826; Emancipated by the Will of Thomas Burton ordered to be recorded by the Court of Accomack County on the 29th day of October 1821“

”No Permission granted {to reside in this state}”

• Registration of Silby Burton in "Accomack County, Register of Free Negroes, 1785-1863", in “Land Causes and Complete Cases, 1727-1805, 1812-1872. Images at FamilySearch.org, Film #008620584, Image 908. [7]

”#1535: Silby Burton on born about 1831; Emancipated by the Will of Thomas Burton ordered to be recorded by the Court of Accomack County on the 29th day of October 1821“

”No Permission granted {to reside in this state}”

• Registration of Mary Burton in "Accomack County, Register of Free Negroes, 1785-1863", in “Land Causes and Complete Cases, 1727-1805, 1812-1872. Images at FamilySearch.org, Film #008620584, Image 290. [8]

”#1537, 27 April 1857 Mary Burton; born about 1831; Emancipated by the Will of Thomas Burton ordered to be recorded by the Court of Accomack County on the 29th day of October 1821“

”No Permission granted {to reside in this state}”

• Registration of Wilson Burton in "Accomack County, Register of Free Negroes, 1785-1863", in “Land Causes and Complete Cases, 1727-1805, 1812-1872. Images at FamilySearch.org, Film #008620584, Image 292. [9]

”#1549, 27 July 1857 – Wilson Burton; Born about 1832; Emancipated by the Will of Thomas Burton ordered to be recorded by the Court of Accomack County on the 29th day of October 1821“

”No Permission granted {to reside in this state}”

• Registration of Bede Burton in "Accomack County, Register of Free Negroes, 1785-1863", in “Land Causes and Complete Cases, 1727-1805, 1812-1872. Images at FamilySearch.org, Film #008620584, Image 306. [10]

”#1650, 29 Nov 1859 – Bede Burton; Born about 1838; Emancipated by the Will of Thos. Burton ordered to be recorded by the Court of Accomack County on the 29th of October 1825” {sic}

”Permission granted {to reside in this state} on 29 November 1859”

• Registration of Charles Burton in "Accomack County, Register of Free Negroes, 1785-1863", in “Land Causes and Complete Cases, 1727-1805, 1812-1872. Images at FamilySearch.org, Film #008620584, Image 318. [11]</ref> His registration provides a physical description:

”#1738, 27 April 1863 – Charles Burton; Born in 1840; Emancipated by Thos. Burton’s Will