Slaves of William Algernon Alston 1839, South Carolina

Date: [unknown] to 1839
Location: South Carolina, United States
Surnames/tags: Alston Slavery Black_Heritage

Contents 1 Background 1.1 Will 1.2 Slaves 1.3 Census 2 Sources

Background

This page was created to record the enslaved owned by William Algernon Alston during his lifetime, and where they went after his death.

Will

William's will, signed 29 November 1838 and proved in court 27 June 1839, was lengthy and detailed. Mentioned by name as heirs were the following children and grandchildren:^[1]

• Sons Charles Cotesworth Pinckney Alston, Thomas Pinckney Alston, and William Algernon Alston, Jr.
• Daughters Rebecca Brewton Hayne, Elizabeth Laura Hayne, Mary Pringle, Lady Maria Nesbitt (widow of Sir John Nesbitt, now married to Dr Murray), Charlotte Wilson, deceased
• Granddaughters Sarah Middleton, two (unnamed, minor) daughter of Charlotte Wilson

Executors: Sons Charles, Thomas and William

Witnesses: Edward W North, Alexander Robertson, H A DeSaussure

Note - Mention is made of Clifton Plantation in Georgetown District.

Slaves

William Alston was a slaveholder. He named 2 slaves in his will,^[1]

• Charles
• Olivia (his wife)

and 19 slaves in his probate inventory in Sept 1839.^[2]

• Thomas and Olivia his wife, $1000
• Henrietta & child, $800
• Betsey, $700
• Eleanor, $600
• Thomas, $800
• John, $400
• Nathan, $700
• Ishmael, $700
• Smart, $700
• Fellore(sp?), $500
• Sam, $700
• Ann, $600
• Mary Anne, $300
• Carolina, $100
• Hannah, Miley, Flora, Martha, and Old Hannah, useless $0

However, there were another 702 slaves who were unnamed in the Jan 1840 portion of his inventory appraisement.^[3]

Census

In 1800, William was enumerated in Waccamaw, Georgetown, South Carolina, with the following household members:^[4]

Free White Males: Under Age 10: (4); Age 16-25: (3); Age 26-44: (1)

Free White Females: Under Age 10: (2); Age 10-15: (2); Age 16-25: (1); Age 26-44: (1)

All Other Free: (8)

Slaves: (550)

The 1810 Census enumerated William in Georgetown, South Carolina, with the following household:^[5]

Free White Males: Age 10-15: (3); Age 16-25: (1); Over Age 45: (1)

Free White Females: Under Age 10: (1); Age 10-15: (1); Age 16-25: (3)

Slaves: (710)

At the time of the 1820 Census, William, Sr. and sons William A. Jr. and Charles were all enumerated as living at North Island, Waccamaw, Georgetown, South Carolina. Together, the three owned a total of 731 Slaves and 1 "Free Other." This census makes it difficult to sort out the family members, since several of the children, grandchild, and in-laws appear to be all enumerated in William Sr's household and Charles has no enumerated Free White members at all.^[6]

Property - transfer of title property^[7]

Sources

1. ↑ ^{1.0 1.1} "South Carolina Probate Records, Bound Volumes, 1671-1977": Will of William Alston; Charleston County Wills, 1834-1839; Vol 41, p 939ff FamilySearch (Images 475-482 of 493)
2. ↑ South Carolina Probate Re...d Loose Papers, 1732-1964: "South Carolina Probate Re...d Loose Papers, 1732-1964"
   Catalog: Charleston District, South Carolina estate inventories, 1732-1844 1810-1818 1819-1824 1819-1824 (indexed with last item) 1824-1844
   Image path: South Carolina Probate Records, Files and Loose Papers, 1732-1964 > Charleston > Probate Court, Estate inventories > 1834-1844 > No File Description Available > image 1185 of 1227
   FamilySearch Image: 939L-JJ57-S (accessed 13 February 2023)
   • p.433 probate inventory names slaves
3. ↑ South Carolina Probate Re...d Loose Papers, 1732-1964: "South Carolina Probate Re...d Loose Papers, 1732-1964"
   Catalog: Charleston District, South Carolina estate inventories, 1732-1844 1810-1818 1819-1824 1819-1824 (indexed with last item) 1824-1844
   Image path: South Carolina Probate Records, Files and Loose Papers, 1732-1964 > Charleston > Probate Court, Estate inventories > 1834-1844 > No File Description Available > image 1205 of 1227
   FamilySearch Image: 939L-JJPV-M (accessed 13 February 2023)
   • 1840 probate inventory, p.470
4. ↑ "United States Census, 1800": William Alston household; Waccamaw, Georgetown District, South Carolina FamilySearch (Image 5 of 5)
5. ↑ "United States Census, 1810": William Alston household; Georgetown, South Carolina FamilySearch (Image 17 of 18)
6. ↑ "United States Census, 1820": William A, William, and Charles P Alston households; Waccamaw, Georgetown, South Carolina FamilySearch (Image 2 of 2)
7. ↑ Estate papers: "Estate papers"
   Catalog: Estate papers Estate papers, no. 611-635 (AD 1232) 1831-1940
   Film number: 008703128 > image 847 of 896
   FamilySearch Image: 3QHV-J38V-298H-2 (accessed 24 November 2023)
   • 1906 Alston William to Alston William A. Deed