Slaves of William Lee Harris, Virginia

Date: [unknown] [unknown]
Location: Nelson, Virginia, United States
Surnames/tags: Slavery Black_Heritage Harris

This page's purpose is to record the people enslaved by William Lee Harris and attempt to connect them to their families.

William Lee Harris's early history is uncertain, but he was probably born about 1765 in Amherst County, Virginia, or in neighboring Albemarle County. His father, Lee Harris, had inherited a legacy of 425 acres from his own father, Matthew Harris in what was then Goochland County, Virginia [in the portion which later became Albemarle County in 1744, then Amherst County in 1761, and is now located in present day Nelson County, Virginia, formed in 1807]. He had expanded upon this with large land patents and purchases of his own, and his home, called "The Lee Harris House," built in 1770 near Buck Creek, still stands and is owned by his descendants. William Lee Harris inherited a large tract of land from his father, Lee Harris, which was divided with his brother, Matthew. William Lee Harris and his brother Matthew also inherited all the enslaved people they had in their possession at the time their father wrote his will (no names were listed).^[1][2]

In the 1820 census, William Lee Harris was recorded as head of household in Nelson County, Virginia, United States. His household included 6 free white people and 33 enslaved people.^[3]

Slaves - Males - Under 14- 10

Slaves - Males - 14 thru 25- 3

Slaves - Males - 26 thru 44- 3

Slaves - Males - 45 and over- 1

Slaves - Females - Under 14- 8

Slaves - Females - 14 thru 25- 3

Slaves - Females - 26 thru 44- 5

Number of Persons - Engaged in Agriculture- 16

Total Slaves- 33

Total All Persons - White, Slaves, Colored, Other- 39

William Lee Harris signed and dated his will on 8 October 1823, and it was proved in court in Nelson County, Virginia, on 23 August 1824.^[4] In his will, William named five enslaved people who were to be loaned to his widow, Mary N. (Mosby) Harris, for her lifetime:

• Sawney [a man]
• Delphia [a woman]
• Alexander [a man; hired out for $45 in 1825, and for $46 in 1827]
• Armstead/Armistead [a man; hired out for $35.75 in 1826 to J.W. Whitehead]
• Lucy Anne [a woman]

Not named in the will, but named in a later chancery case^[5] which references the estate documents that are included in the case file, was the daughter of Lucy Anne (probably born after the will was written in 1823 but prior to 1838):

• Esther, daughter of Lucy Anne

According to statements made in the chancery case, on 7 May 1838, William Lee Harris's widow, Mary N. (Mosby) Harris, conveyed by a deed, her life estate in the above six enslaved people to her sons-in-law, John S. Stickleman and Joseph C. Harris, "upon consideration that they would provide for her a comfortable support and maintenance during her life." On 24 July 1843, John S. Stickleman deeded all his interest in and control over these six enslaved people to Joseph C. Harris. At the time the chancery case began, all six of these enslaved people were still in the possession of Joseph C. Harris.

Purchased from William Lee Harris's estate, as reported in his executor's estate settlement report on 27 December 1830, were eight more named enslaved individuals (Nelson County, Virginia, Will Book D, Page 83):^[6]

• Henry [hired out for $50 in 1826, then sold to John L. Harris in 1830, $400]
• Goolsby [hired out for $35.25 in 1827 and for $32 in 1828, then sold to John L. Harris in 1830, $360]
• Nancy [hired out for $10 in 1826 to C.W. Townsend, then sold in 1830 to John L. Harris, $300]
• George [sold to John L. Harris, $200]
• Mary [sold to John L. Harris, $265]
• Harry [sold to D.B. Daly, $165]
• Aggy [sold to Lee W. Harris, $165]
• Will [sold to John Stevens, $50]

The chancery case, filed 22 November 1847, lists other slaves or descendants of slaves from the estate of William Lee Harris:

• Joe [a "mulatto" boy, hired out for $53.25 in 1827, then conveyed by John S. Stickleman to Henry G. Roberts to secure a debt of $662.30 that Stickleman owed to William Faber on 6 November 1839; then conveyed by John S. Stickleman to Robert Whitehead to secure a debt of $406.24 that Stickleman owed to Christopher T. Estes on 5 May 1840]
• Eliza [a Black woman, conveyed by John S. Stickleman to Henry G. Roberts to secure a debt of $662.30 that Stickleman owed to William Faber on 6 November 1839; then conveyed by John S. Stickleman to Robert Whitehead to secure a debt of $406.24 that Stickleman owed to Christopher T. Estes on 5 May 1840]
• Hannah [a woman, hired out for $10 in 1826 to John Wright; then conveyed by John S. Stickleman to Henry G. Roberts to secure a debt of $662.30 that Stickleman owed to William Faber on 6 November 1839; then conveyed by John S. Stickleman to Robert Whitehead to secure a debt of $406.24 that Stickleman owed to Christopher T. Estes on 5 May 1840]
• Mariah Louisa, daughter of Hannah [conveyed with her mother, Hannah, to Henry G. Roberts by John S. Stickleman to secure a debt of $662.30 that Stickleman owed to William Faber on 6 November 1839; then conveyed by John S. Stickleman to Robert Whitehead to secure a debt of $406.24 that Stickleman owed to Christopher T. Estes on 5 May 1840]
• Alexander [was hired out for $50 in 1826, and for $50 in 1829]
• Lucinda [hired out for $12 in 1825 to C.W. Townsend and for $14 in 1826 to Beverly B. Nash]
• John [hired out for $15 in 1826 to Levi Owens and again for $15 in 1827]
• Richard [hired out for $11 in 1826 to Richard Landrum]
• Edmund [hired out for $57.25 in 1827, for $57 in 1828, for $50 to Lee W. Harris in 1829]
• Joe [possibly the same as above, or another Joe] -- April 1828, Cash rec'd for sale [of] Joe in Mobile [Alabama] $450 (offset by expense etc to Mobile, $35--so apparently the executor or another agent took Joe there)
• Milly [an old woman, conveyed to the widow, Mary N. (Mosby) Harris by John S. Stickleman on 4 February 1841; on this day he also gave up all his interest (actually his wife's interest--Jane W. (Harris) Stickleman--in the dower slaves held by the widow, Mary N. (Mosby) Harris, that would have come under his control after her death. The enslaved people were to return to Jane, free from the control of her husband.]
• Eliza, daughter of Hannah [included in contract made by John S. Stickleman concerning her mother, Hannah, mentioned in indenture with Mary N. (Mosby) Harris on 4 February 1841]
• Dick, son of Hannah [included in contract made by John S. Stickleman concerning his mother, Hannah, mentioned in indenture with Mary N. (Mosby) Harris on 4 February 1841]
• Caroline [a young girl; given in division to Joseph C. Harris on behalf of his wife, daughter of William Lee Harris. Still living and in possession of J.C. Harris in May 1848.]
• Martha [a young girl; given in division to Joseph C. Harris on behalf of his wife, daughter of William Lee Harris. Had died by May 1848.]
• Sally [a young girl; given in division to Joseph C. Harris on behalf of his wife, daughter of William Lee Harris. Still living and in possession of J.C. Harris in May 1848.]
• Esther [given in the division to Daniel B. Daly on behalf of his wife, Nancy, daughter of William Lee Harris.]
• Mary [given in the division to Daniel B. Daly on behalf of his wife, Nancy, daughter of William Lee Harris.]
• Dennis [given in the division to Daniel B. Daly on behalf of his wife, Nancy, daughter of William Lee Harris.]
• Jim [given in the division to Daniel B. Daly on behalf of his wife, Nancy, daughter of William Lee Harris.]
• Phill [given in the division to Daniel B. Daly on behalf of his wife, Nancy, daughter of William Lee Harris.]

Other notes: In 1827 and 1828, William Harris was the overseer.

Joseph C. Harris stated that Lee W. Harris did not follow the instructions of the will of his father, William Lee Harris, to the letter, in keeping the estate's enslaved people together and hired out until the considerable debt he had was paid, but instead stated that Lee W. Harris had "disposed of a large portion of the negro slaves at inadequate prices as these respondents are informed having purchased the same by himself or partner, and conveyed them to the southern market for sale."

Lee W. Harris's sister, Jane (Harris) Stickleman , also stated that Lee W. Harris sold 7 or 8 of the "likeliest slaves" without advertising them first, selling them for a pittance to his partner, John S. Harris, or buying them personally, and then moving them to the southern market for sale. Most of the family did not want to see the enslaved people sold at all.

In the response of the widow and others, it was stated that Lee W. Harris did a partial division of the estate in December 1830, including the enslaved people.

Sources

1. ↑ Will of Lee Harris: "Virginia, U.S., Wills and Probate Records, 1652-1900"
   Wills (Amherst County, Virginia); Index to Wills, 1761-1920; Author: Virginia. County Court (Amherst County); Probate Place: Amherst, Virginia
   Ancestry Sharing Link - Ancestry Record 62347 #1608061 (accessed 20 December 2023)
   Lee Harris probate in 1786-1810 in Amherst, Virginia, USA.
2. ↑ Amherst County, Virginia, Will Book Volume 4, Pages 220 & 221
3. ↑ 1820 Census: "1820 United States Federal Census"
   Fourth Census of the United States, 1820; Census Place: Nelson, Virginia; Page: 194A; NARA Roll: M33_130; Image: 371
   Ancestry Sharing Link - Ancestry Record 7734 #15172 (accessed 18 December 2023)
   William Lee Harris in Nelson, Virginia, USA.

   Free White Persons - Males - 16 thru 18- 1

   Free White Persons - Males - 45 and over- 1

   Free White Persons - Females - 10 thru 15- 2

   Free White Persons - Females - 16 thru 25- 2

   Free White Persons - Females - 45 and over- 1

   Slaves - Males - Under 14- 10

   Slaves - Males - 14 thru 25- 3

   Slaves - Males - 26 thru 44- 3

   Slaves - Males - 45 and over- 1

   Slaves - Females - Under 14- 8

   Slaves - Females - 14 thru 25- 3

   Slaves - Females - 26 thru 44- 5

   Number of Persons - Engaged in Agriculture- 16

   Free White Persons - Under 16- 2

   Free White Persons - Over 25- 2

   Total Free White Persons- 6

   Total Slaves- 33

   Total All Persons - White, Slaves, Colored, Other- 39

4. ↑ Will of William Lee Harris: "Virginia, U.S., Wills and Probate Records, 1652-1900"
   Will Books, 1808-1931 ; General Index to Wills, Etc., 1808-1966; Author: Virginia. County Court (Nelson County); Probate Place: Nelson, Virginia. Page 184. SEE IMAGE 124.
   Ancestry Sharing Link - Ancestry Record 62347 #2018045 (accessed 20 December 2023)
   Will of Wm Lee Harris of Nelson, granted probate on 8 Oct 1823. (Nelson County, Virginia, Will Book C, Page 184)
5. ↑ Virginia, Library of. (n.d.-a). Chancery Case, Exrs Of Lee W Harris vs Mary N Harris Widow, Nelson County, Virginia, Index #1864-003. Virginia memory: Chancery records index. https://www.lva.virginia.gov/chancery/full_case_detail.asp?CFN=125-1864-003#img
6. ↑ Settlement of Estate of William Lee Harris: "Virginia, U.S., Wills and Probate Records, 1652-1900"
   Will Books, 1808-1931 ; General Index to Wills, Etc., 1808-1966; Author: Virginia. County Court (Nelson County); Probate Place: Nelson, Virginia. SEE IMAGE 345.
   Ancestry Sharing Link - Ancestry Record 62347 #2018045 (accessed 20 December 2023)
   Will of Wm Lee Harris of Nelson, granted probate on 8 Oct 1823.