Slaves of William Nash IV, Virginia

Date: [unknown] [unknown]
Location: [unknown]
Surnames/tags: Slavery Black_Heritage Nash

This page's purpose is to record the enslaved people owned by William Nash IV, and attempt to connect them to their families.

Slaves

William Nash IV was a slave owner. His March 8, 1754 estate inventory (recorded May 16, 1754) and subsequent probate papers mention twelve slaves by name. (See this separate space page for specific details about his probate documents, including the listing of slaves being sold.) This page also details some of the probate documents of William's wife, Betty Nash, who was charged with being the "guardian" of her husband's slaves because they were considered assets that were to be passed on to his (their) children when she died. See Research Notes below for more information.

The 1754 records did not include their exact ages, but on August 20, 1762 and in some subsequent documents, the actual and/or general age range ("16-year-old," "boy," "girl," etc.) of those named were included. Some of the enslaved people were mentioned in 1754, 1759, 1762, 1763 and again in 1767. Others were named only in one or a few of those years. They are:

• Jack, "a Negro fellow," was valued at £50.00 in the 1754 inventory. On March 16, 1759, he was listed as having been sold for £73.00. See digital images 60 and 105 of 547.^[1] Not to be confused with the enslaved "negroe boy Jack" who was mentioned in Betty Nash's probate documents of July 17, 1767.

• Rose, "a Negro wench," was valued at £45.00 in the 1754 inventory. She was not mentioned in William Nash IV's estate papers of March 16, 1759 or October 15, 1761. Called a "Negro woman Rose aged abt 23" on August 20, 1762 when she was listed as an "asset" that needed to be maintained as part of the William Nash Orphan's account, with William's wife Betty (Hardwick) Nash named as Guardian. She was not named in documents on August 18, 1763. On July 17, 1767, after the death of Betty Nash in 1766, "negroe wench Rose" was transferred to William Nash IV and Betty Nash's son William Nash V. Her value on that date was written as £50.00. See separate references to Rose on digital images 60 of 547, and 154 of 547 in William Nash IV's estate^[1], and 294 of 547 in Betty Nash's estate.^[2]

• Sarah, "a Negro girl," was named in the May 16, 1754 inventory when she was valued at £35.00. She was not mentioned in William Nash IV's probate documents on March 16, 1759 or October 15, 1761. She was named again as age 20 on August 20, 1762, but not on the August 18, 1763 documents. On July 17, 1767, after the death of Betty Nash in 1766, Sarah was transferred to William Nash IV and Betty Nash's son Elijah Nash. Her value on that date was written as £22 10 shillings. See separate references to Sarah on digital images 60 of 547 and 154 of 547 in William Nash IV's estate^[1], and 294 of 547 in Betty Nash's estate. See also digital images 309-310 of 547 for the remaining documents for Betty Nash's estate.^[2]

• Harry, "a Negro boy," was named in the May 16, 1754 inventory, when he was valued at £30.00. He was not named in William Nash IV's probate documents on March 16, 1759 or October 15, 1761. He was named again, as a "young ("Negro") fellow aged 16 years" on August 20, 1762. He was not mentioned in probate documents on August 18, 1763 or in the final accounting for Betty Nash's estate, recorded on July 17, 1767, after her death in 1766. It is unclear whether Harry was sold or died. See separate references to Harry on digital images 60 of 547 and 154 of 547^[1] and 294 of 547 to see that he is left out of the named enslaved people in Betty Nash's estate. See also digital images 309-310 of 547 for the remaining documents for Betty Nash's estate.^[2]

• Tom, "a Negro boy," was named in the May 16, 1754 inventory as valued at £20.00. He was not named in William Nash's probate documents on March 16, 1759, October 15, 1761, August 20, 1762 or August 18, 1763. He was valued £55.00 in the final accounting for Betty Nash's estate, recorded on July 17, 1767, after her death in 1766. See separate references to Tom on digital image 60 of 547 in William Nash IV's estate^[1], and 294 of 547 in Betty Nash's estate. See also digital images 309-310 of 547 for the remaining documents for Betty Nash's estate.^[2] From the 1767 final accounting, it is unclear what happened to Tom. He was not specifically transferred to any of the Nash's children.

• Daniel, "a Negro boy," was named on May 16, 1754 , when he was valued at £15.00. On March 16, 1759, he was named and valued at £28 10 shillings. He was not mentioned on August 20, 1762 or August 18, 1763. In the final accounting for Betty Nash's estate, recorded on July 17, 1767, after her death in 1766, he was again not mentioned. It is unclear whether Daniel was sold or died. See separate references to Daniel on digital image 60 and 105 of 547 in William Nash IV's estate^[1] and 294 of 547 to see that he is left out of the named enslaved people in Betty Nash's estate.See also digital images 309-310 of 547 for the remaining documents for Betty Nash's estate.^[2]

• Lucy ("the Elder"), "a Negro wench," was named on May 16, 1754. To distinguish her from the child named Lucy in other Nash probate documents, this profile will call her "Lucy the Elder." She was valued at £27.00 in the May 16, 1754 William Nash IV inventory. In the March 16, 1759 estate documents, she was named along with her child Dinah. They were valued together at £53 10 shillings. She and Dinah were not mentioned in probate documents for October 15, 1761, August 20, 1762 or August 18, 1763. On July 17, 1767, in the final accounting for Betty Nash's estate, after her death in 1766, "Lucy the Elder" was called "a negroe girl" and valued at £35. She was transferred to Elizabeth Nash, William and Betty Nash's daughter. Her daughter Dinah was not listed. See separate references to Lucy ("the Elder") on digital images 60 and 105 in William Nash IV's estate^[1], and 294 of 547 in Betty Nash's estate.See also digital images 309-310 of 547 for the remaining documents for Betty Nash's estate.^[2]

• Lucy ("the Younger"), "a negroe girl," was named on August 20, 1762 documents, along with three other enslaved children. To distinguish her from the "wench" named Lucy in other Nash probate documents, this profile will call her "Lucy the Younger." She was not mentioned on May 16,1754, March 16, 1759, October 15, 1761, or August 18, 1763 probate documents. In the final accounting for Betty Nash's estate, recorded on July 17, 1767 after her death in 1766, "Lucy the Younger" was called "a negroe girl" and valued at £27 10 shillings. She was transferred to Leanna Nash, William and Betty Nash's daughter. See separate references to Lucy the Younger on digital images 154 in William Nash IV's estate^[1], and 294 of 547 in Betty Nash's estate. See also digital images 309-310 of 547 for the remaining documents for Betty Nash's estate.^[2]

• Dinah, "a Negro child," was named in 1754 and valued at £13.00. She was listed right after "Lucy the Elder" in those 1754 documents, although their relationship was not outlined at that time. On March 16, 1759, she was listed as the child of Lucy ("the Elder)," where they were valued together at £53 10 shillings. In probate documents on August 20, 1762, Dinah was listed with a group of three other enslaved children (including "Lucy the Younger"). She and her mother "Lucy the Elder" were not mentioned in probate documents for October 15, 1761, August 20, 1762 or August 18, 1763. In the final accounting for Betty Nash's estate, recorded on July 17, 1767, after her death in 1766, Dinah was not mentioned. It is unclear whether Dinah was sold or had died. See separate references to Dinah on digital images 60, 105 and 154 in William Nash IV's estate^[1], but not on image 294 of 547 in Betty Nash's estate.See also digital images 309-310 of 547 for the remaining documents for Betty Nash's estate.^[2]

• Peter, "a Negro child," was not mentioned in William Nash IV's probate documents on May 16, 1754, March 16, 1759, October 15, 1761 or August 18, 1763. He was named as a child in August 20, 1762 probate documents along with three other enslaved children. In the final accounting for Betty Nash's estate, recorded on July 17, 1767 after her death in 1766, Peter was called "a negroe boy" and valued at £32 10 shillings. He was transferred to John Nash, William and Betty Nash's son. See separate references to Peter on digital image 154 in William Nash IV's estate^[1], and image 294 of 547 in Betty Nash's estate. See also digital images 309-310 of 547 for the remaining documents for Betty Nash's estate.^[2]

• Hannah, "a negroe girl," was not mentioned in William Nash IV's probate documents on May 16, 1754, March 16, 1759, October 15, 1761 or August 18, 1763. She was named on August 20, 1762 documents, along with three other enslaved children. In the final accounting for Betty Nash's estate, recorded on July 17, 1767 after her death in 1766, Hannah was called "a negroe girl" and valued at £40. She was transferred to Robert Sanders and his wife, Elizabeth (Nash) Sanders, William and Betty Nash's daughter. See separate references to Hannah on digital images 154 in William Nash IV's estate^[1], and 294 of 547 in Betty Nash's estate. See also digital images 309-310 of 547 for the remaining documents for Betty Nash's estate.^[2]

• Jack, "a negroe boy," was first referenced in the estate documents of Betty Nash on July 17, 1767. He was valued at £10. The ownership of this profile's "negroe boy Jack" was transferred to William Nash IV and Betty Nash's daughter Mary (Nash) Robertson. See image 294 of 547.^[1] (Not to be confused with the enslaved "negroe fellow Jack" who was mentioned in the 1754 probate documents of William Nash IV but then sold, as confirmed in the March 16, 1759 documents. See images 60 and 105 of 547 for references to the "Negroe fellow Jack.") It is unknown what happened to this boy Jack after July 17, 1767.

Research Notes

In Virginia in the 1700s (and elsewhere?), a husband's children are "orphaned" if he dies before they are adults. In this case, their mother is appointed "guardian" of the assets that are not hers legally, but must be maintained until passing them on to his (their) children. So in this case, William Nash IV's wife Betty Nash became guardian of the "assets" (the enslaved people). She was charged with their "maintenance" while she was alive, and had to arrange for them to be passed down to their children when she died.

This situation may appear unclear when only looking at William IV's probate documents. But when reviewing Betty's probate records, it becomes clearer. Betty willed the enslaved people (or at least most of them) to their children. The article linked here may be helpful for those who are trying to understand how enslaved people are "accounted for" in a guardianship situation.^[3]

Sources

1. ↑ ^{1.00 1.01 1.02 1.03 1.04 1.05 1.06 1.07 1.08 1.09 1.10 1.11} Probate: "Virginia, U.S., Wills and Probate Records, 1652-1900"
   Mixed Probate Records, 1749-1870; Index, 1749-1930; Author: Virginia. Circuit Court (Culpeper County); Probate Place: Culpeper, Virginia
   Ancestry Sharing Link - Ancestry Record 62347 #1003188 (accessed 24 May 2023)
   Wm Nash probate in 1749-1783 in Culpeper, Virginia, USA. See separate references to "fellow" Jack on digital images 60 of 547 and 105 of 547 and another Jack -- a "Negroe boy" on digital image 294.
2. ↑ ^{2.0 2.1 2.2 2.3 2.4 2.5 2.6 2.7 2.8 2.9} Probate: "Virginia, U.S., Wills and Probate Records, 1652-1900"
   Culpeper > Mixed Records, Vol A-B, 1749-1783 > image 294 of 547
   Ancestry Sharing Link - Ancestry Image (accessed 25 May 2023) See also digital images 309-310 of 547 for the remaining documents for Betty Nash's estate.
3. ↑ "Bob's Genealogy Filing Cabinet" on Southern and Colonial Genealogies. Article entitled "Orphans & Guardians" about how orphans are accounted for in guardianship situations. Copyright© by Robert W. Baird (various dates, 2010-2030). Accessed May 25 2023. https://genfiles.com/articles/orphans-guardians/