Slaves of Woodburn Stud

Date: [unknown] [unknown]
Location: Spring Station, Woodford, Kentucky, United States
Surnames/tags: Black Heritage Slavery

"Mother Farm of the Standardbred"

Contents 1 History 1.1 Slaves of Robert Alexander 1.2 Taxes 1.3 Census 2 Slaves of Robert Aitcheson Alexander 3 Slaves of A J Alexander 3.1 Slaves of Elisha Warfield 4 Research Notes 5 Sources

History

Robert Alexander (1767-1841), second son of William and Christian Aitcheson, was the first Alexander to settle on Woodburn Farm. He purchased the two thousand acres in 1790 from the estate of General Hugh Mercer.

Robert A. Alexander (1819-1867) was the first to establish a systematic design method for horse breeding. Woodburn Stud was home to the stallion Lexington (1850–1875), purchased in 1858 from Elisha Warfield(1781-1859) ^[1], America's leading sire for sixteen years. Lexington (horse) sired numerous champions and winners of major races including, Duke of Magenta, Kentucky and Preakness, for whom the Preakness Stakes is named^{[2] [3]}. Woodburn breeding yielded 18 winners of U.S. Triple Crown race winners and other major winners including Lexington's grandson Foxhall.

Some of the notable Thoroughbreds buried at Woodburn farm include Asteroid (1861–1886), Planet (c. 1855-1875), and Australian (1858–1879), a son of the English Triple Crown winner, West Australian

Although Lexington's success as a sire made Woodburn Stud near synonymous with flat racing Thoroughbreds, in fact during the mid to late 19th century, Woodburn was where the Standardbred horse originated and the farm was best known for these trotting horses for harness racing.

After the death of Robert A. Alexander in December 1867, the operation prospered under his brother A. J. Alexander. But after A.J.'s death 1902, it went into decline. By the beginning of the 20th century, the farm was no longer in the horse business and had been converted to cattle land. Today some of the original property is known as Airdrie Stud, owned by descendants of the Alexander family. ^[4]

Slaves of Robert Alexander

In 1848 Robert's estate was divided with 25 enslaved persons were named in the probate papers.^[5]

Division No.1

• Louisa, $250
• John, child of Louisa, $250
• Mary Eliza, $150
• Americus, $100
• Maria, $100
• Eliza, $400
• Dudley, child of Eliza, $450
• Jane, $300
• Tom, $500

Division No.2

• Nelley, $200
• Martha, dau of Nelley, $500
• Edawrd, son of Nelley, $450
• Andrew, son of Nelley, $400
• Neavill, son of Nelley, $350
• Offeline, son/dau? of Nelley, $250
• Monie, son/dau? of Nelley, $200
• John Alexander, son of Nelley, $100

Division No.3

• Mary, $150
• Milley, dau of Mary, $400
• Docie, son of Mary, $450
• Ann Maria, dau of Mary, $300
• James, son of Mary, $300
• Eliza Ann, dau of Mary, $200
• Bob, a young man, $600
• Lewis, an old man, $350

Taxes

Woodford Co, KY Taxes: 1792^[6]

• 14 enslaved persons over age 16
• 3 enslaved persons under age 16

1793 ^[7] 1794^[8]

• 16 enslaved persons over age 16
• 5 enslaved persons under age 16

1795^[9]

• 17 enslaved persons over age 16
• 6 enslaved persons under age 16

1796^[10]

• 11 enslaved persons above age 16
• 18 total enslaved persons

1797^[11]

• 10 enslaved persons above age 16
• 18 total enslaved persons

Census

1820 Census: ^{[12] [13]}

1. UNKNOWN Male under 14
2. UNKNOWN Male under 14
3. UNKNOWN Male under 14
4. UNKNOWN Male 14-26
5. UNKNOWN Male 14-26
6. UNKNOWN Male 14-26
7. UNKNOWN Male 14-26
8. UNKNOWN Male 14-26
9. UNKNOWN Male 26-45
10. UNKNOWN Male 26-45
11. UNKNOWN Male 26-45
12. UNKNOWN Male 26-45
13. UNKNOWN Male 26-45
14. UNKNOWN Male 45 and up
15. UNKNOWN Male 45 and up
16. UNKNOWN Male 45 and up
17. UNKNOWN Male 45 and up
18. UNKNOWN Male 45 and up
19. UNKNOWN Female under 14
20. UNKNOWN Female under 14
21. UNKNOWN Female under 14
22. UNKNOWN Female 14-26
23. UNKNOWN Female 14-26
24. UNKNOWN Female 26-45
25. UNKNOWN Female 45 and up
26. UNKNOWN Female 45 and up
27. UNKNOWN Female 45 and up
28. UNKNOWN Female 45 and up

1830 Census: ^[14]

1. UNKNOWN Male under 10
2. UNKNOWN Male 10-24
3. UNKNOWN Male 24-36
4. UNKNOWN Male 24-36
5. UNKNOWN Male 24-36
6. UNKNOWN Male 24-36
7. UNKNOWN Male 36-55
8. UNKNOWN Male 36-55
9. UNKNOWN Female under 10
10. UNKNOWN Female under 10
11. UNKNOWN Female under 10
12. UNKNOWN Female under 10
13. UNKNOWN Female under 10
14. UNKNOWN Female under 10
15. UNKNOWN Female 10-24
16. UNKNOWN Female 10-24
17. UNKNOWN Female 10-24
18. UNKNOWN Female 24-36
19. UNKNOWN Female 36-55
20. UNKNOWN Female 55-100
21. UNKNOWN Female 55-100

Slaves of Robert Aitcheson Alexander

• Dudley Brown 1850-1906
• Lucy Brown
• Ansel Williamson 1810-?
• Semensa
• Lewis
• Permelia
• John
• Spencer
• S------
• Mary
• Bob

US Slave Schedule 1860: ^[15] S C A Alexander

1. UNKNOWN Male 19
2. UNKNOWN Male 19
3. UNKNOWN Male 19
4. UNKNOWN Male 27
5. UNKNOWN Male 25
6. UNKNOWN Male 35
7. UNKNOWN Male 20
8. UNKNOWN Male 35
9. UNKNOWN Male 40
10. UNKNOWN Male 25
11. UNKNOWN Male 27
12. UNKNOWN Male 27
13. UNKNOWN Male 27
14. UNKNOWN Male 38
15. UNKNOWN Male 27
16. UNKNOWN Male 25
17. UNKNOWN Male 33
18. UNKNOWN Male 40
19. Ansel Williamson Male 50
20. UNKNOWN Male 30
21. UNKNOWN Male 27
22. UNKNOWN Male 25
23. UNKNOWN Male 27
24. UNKNOWN Male 24
25. UNKNOWN Male 25
26. UNKNOWN Male 23
27. UNKNOWN Male 35
28. UNKNOWN Male 25
29. UNKNOWN Male 33
30. UNKNOWN Male 30
31. UNKNOWN Male 35
32. UNKNOWN Male 55
33. UNKNOWN Male 35
34. UNKNOWN Male 33
35. UNKNOWN Male 30
36. UNKNOWN Male 35
37. UNKNOWN Male 20
38. UNKNOWN Male 20
39. UNKNOWN Male 33
40. UNKNOWN Male 40
41. UNKNOWN Male 34
42. UNKNOWN Male 27
43. UNKNOWN Male 40
44. UNKNOWN Male 30
45. UNKNOWN Male 30
46. UNKNOWN Male 25
47. UNKNOWN Female 55
48. UNKNOWN Female 35
49. UNKNOWN Female 55
50. UNKNOWN Female 27
51. UNKNOWN. Female 27
52. UNKNOWN Female 20
53. UNKNOWN Female 23
54. UNKNOWN Female 35
55. UNKNOWN Female 25
56. UNKNOWN Female 14
57. UNKNOWN Female 13
58. UNKNOWN Female 10
59. Semensa Female 7
60. UNKNOWN Female 8
61. S------ Male 3
62. UNKNOWN Male 5
63. Permelia Female 3
64. UNKNOWN Female 18
65. UNKNOWN Female 38
66. UNKNOWN Female 38
67. UNKNOWN Female 40
68. UNKNOWN Female 18
69. UNKNOWN Female 38
70. UNKNOWN Female 40
71. UNKNOWN Male 9
72. UNKNOWN Female 7
73. UNKNOWN Male 6
74. UNKNOWN Female 5
75. Bob Male 3
76. UNKNOWN Male 1
77. UNKNOWN Male 9
78. UNKNOWN Male 6
79. Mary Female 3
80. UNKNOWN Female 3
81. UNKNOWN Female 2
82. UNKNOWN Male 1
83. UNKNOWN Male 11
84. UNKNOWN Male 8
85. UNKNOWN Male 6
86. UNKNOWN Female 5
87. UNKNOWN Male 3
88. UNKNOWN Male 8
89. UNKNOWN Male 6
90. UNKNOWN Male 3
91. UNKNOWN Male 1
92. UNKNOWN Male 6
93. UNKNOWN Male 4
94. UNKNOWN Female 2
95. UNKNOWN Male 8
96. UNKNOWN Male 4
97. UNKNOWN Male 12
98. Lewis Male 7
99. UNKNOWN Male 10
100. UNKNOWN Male 9
101. UNKNOWN Female 7
102. Lucy Brown Female 1
103. UNKNOWN Male 9
104. UNKNOWN Male 7
105. UNKNOWN Male 8
106. UNKNOWN Male 8
107. UNKNOWN Male 11
108. UNKNOWN Male 11
109. UNKNOWN Male 12
110. UNKNOWN Male 9
111. UNKNOWN Male 8
112. UNKNOWN Male 9
113. UNKNOWN Male 9
114. UNKNOWN Male 9
115. UNKNOWN Male 14
116. UNKNOWN Male 14

• Another for 1860: ^[16]

1. UNKNOWN Male 11

Slaves of A J Alexander

US Census 1850 Woodford, Kentucky: ^[17] Household Role Sex Age Birthplace A J Alexander

1. UNKNOWN Male 47
2. UNKNOWN Male 30
3. UNKNOWN Male 21
4. UNKNOWN Male 19
5. UNKNOWN Male 60
6. UNKNOWN Male 28
7. UNKNOWN Male 18
8. UNKNOWN Male 82
9. UNKNOWN Female 28
10. UNKNOWN Female 27
11. UNKNOWN Female 23
12. UNKNOWN Female 45
13. UNKNOWN Female 16
14. UNKNOWN Female 14
15. UNKNOWN Female 12
16. UNKNOWN Female 8
17. UNKNOWN Female 6
18. UNKNOWN Female 5
19. UNKNOWN Female 3
20. UNKNOWN Female 2
21. UNKNOWN Female 0
22. UNKNOWN Female 2

US Slave Schedule 1860: ^[18] Household Role Sex Age Birthplace A J Alexander

1. UNKNOWN Male 60
2. UNKNOWN Female 50
3. UNKNOWN Male 45
4. UNKNOWN Male 40
5. UNKNOWN Female 35
6. UNKNOWN Female 34
7. UNKNOWN Male 36
8. UNKNOWN Female 30
9. UNKNOWN Male 25
10. UNKNOWN Male 20
11. UNKNOWN Male 18
12. UNKNOWN Female 17
13. UNKNOWN Female 15
14. UNKNOWN Female 15
15. UNKNOWN Female 14
16. UNKNOWN Male 13
17. UNKNOWN Male 13
18. UNKNOWN Male 10
19. UNKNOWN Male 9
20. UNKNOWN Female 8
21. UNKNOWN Male 7
22. UNKNOWN Female 6
23. UNKNOWN Female 5
24. UNKNOWN Male 4
25. UNKNOWN Female 4
26. UNKNOWN Male 2
27. UNKNOWN Female 1
28. UNKNOWN Female 0

Slaves of Elisha Warfield

Foaled in Kentucky, Lexington was bred and owned by Dr. Elisha Warfield. The colt was technically under lease to his trainer, Henry Brown, for his first two starts but raced in Dr. Warfield's colors as Brown, an ex-slave, could not enter horses at Lexington's Kentucky Association Race Track in his own right. Lexington was then sold to a partnership consisting of Richard Ten Broeck, Captain Willa Viley, General Abe Buford II and Junius R. Ward for US$2,500. Ten Broeck bought out his partners for an undisclosed price after the Great Post Stake, and Lexington raced in his colors for the remainder of his racing career.^[19] Dr. Warfield's farm was known as The Meadows

• born January 1855, Male^[20]
• born 3 August 1855, Male ^[21]
• born April 1855 Male ^[22]

US Slave Schedule 1850 Fayette, Kentucky: ^[23]

• born March 1856, Female ^[24]
• born August 1856, Male ^[25]
• born November 1857, Male ^[26]

Household Role Sex Age Birthplace E Warfield

1. UNKNOWN Female 55
2. UNKNOWN Male 55
3. UNKNOWN Female 45
4. UNKNOWN Female 35
5. UNKNOWN Male 30
6. UNKNOWN Male 22
7. UNKNOWN Male 22
8. UNKNOWN Male 21
9. UNKNOWN Male 12
10. UNKNOWN Female 10
11. UNKNOWN Male 8
12. UNKNOWN Male 6
13. UNKNOWN Male 6
14. UNKNOWN Female 5
15. UNKNOWN Female 3
16. UNKNOWN Female 2
17. UNKNOWN Female 2
18. UNKNOWN Male 10
19. UNKNOWN Male 10
20. UNKNOWN Male 6
21. UNKNOWN Female 7
22. UNKNOWN Male 2

Research Notes

In June 2009, portions of the Woodburn Farm collection were made available for public research. This extensive collection details the lives and business dealings of the Alexanders, one of Woodford County’s earliest families. These materials were originally donated to the Kentucky Historical Society (KHS) Special Collections by the late Dr. Alexander J. Alexander and Katherine Alexander Brewer. Later portions of the collection were donated by Gretchen Burud and Dr. Jack and Jonelle Fisher. The Woodburn Farm collection contains thousands of documents from at least six generations of the Alexander family, and includes manuscripts, ledgers, correspondence, business records, and personal papers. The portion of the materials now available for public research includes documents from 1767-1934.^[27] The Woodburn Library, which consists of the books owned by the Alexander family that were housed at Woodburn Farm, was also donated in 2003. Over 2,100 books and pamphlets from the Woodburn Library and the Woodburn Farm collection have been cataloged and are available from KHS Special Collections.^[28]

• The first Alexander of Woodburn Farm, Robert Alexander was born in 1767 in Scotland and came to America

around 1786. This genealogy, however, starts with Robert’s father, William R Alexander (1729-1819), in order to provide background on the family and explain various family connections. William Alexander was the son of Mariamne1 Louisa de la Croix (d. 1773) and William Alexander (d. 1763), who had served as Lord Provost of the city of Edinburgh in 1752-1753, and as a Member of Parliament in 1754.2 William (1729) married Christian Aitcheson, the daughter of John Aitcheson (of Rochslach and Airdrie) and Bertha Spruel. William and Christian had seven children: William (1755-1842), Bethia (1757-1839), Mariamne (1758-1816, occasionally spelled Marianne), Christine (1762-1845, possibly also called Christian), Jane (1765-1843), Robert (1767-1841),3 Isabella (1768-1851), and Joanna (1771-1783, also called Jacky).4 Christian, William’s wife, died ca. 1783, and William, along with several of his children, moved to France. It was during this stay in France that Robert, William’s second-eldest son, served as a private secretary to Benjamin Franklin. Franklin’s great nephew, Jonathan Williams, was William Alexander’s son-in-law, having married Mariamne Alexander in 1779.

Sources

1. ↑ https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lexington_(horse)
2. ↑ https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Preakness_(horse)
3. ↑ https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Preakness_Stakes
4. ↑ Today the Woodburn name is long gone but the horse breeding business was revived in 1972 as Airdrie Stud Inc. which now operates on 2,500 acres (10 km2), much of which is part of the original Woodburn Stud lands. Airdrie Stud, Inc. is owned by former Kentucky Governor Brereton Jones and his wife Libby. Mrs. Jones is a descendant of the Alexander family. In 2000, the Airdrie-bred filly Caressing won the Breeders' Cup Juvenile Fillies.
5. ↑ Probate records, 1789-1991: "Kentucky Probate Records, 1727-1990"
   Catalog: Probate records, 1789-1991 Vols. N-O 1846-1854 - N has no index
   Image path: Kentucky Probate Records, 1727-1990 > Woodford > Will records, 1846-1854, Vol. N-O > image 132 of 625
   FamilySearch Image: 3QSQ-G9DP-LSXX (accessed 7 June 2022)
   • 14 Apr 1848 probate division Woodford Co, KY, Bk N p.245
6. ↑ Tax record: "Tax books"
   Catalog: Tax books Tax books 1790-1797, 1799-1814
   Film number: 007834527 > image 74 of 1330
   FamilySearch Image: 3Q9M-CS3J-CS83-J (accessed 7 June 2022)
   • 1792 Woodford Co, KY property tax
7. ↑ Unclassified: Film number: 007856355 > image 519 of 834
   FamilySearch Image: 3Q9M-CS79-1HWT (accessed 7 June 2022)
   • 1793 Woodford personal property tax
8. ↑ Tax record: "Tax books"
   Catalog: Tax books Tax books 1790-1797, 1799-1814
   Film number: 007834527 > image 131 of 1330
   FamilySearch Image: 3Q9M-CS3J-CSD9-M (accessed 7 June 2022)
   • 1794 Woodford property tax
9. ↑ Tax record: "Tax books"
   Catalog: Tax books Tax books 1790-1797, 1799-1814
   Film number: 007834527 > image 208 of 1330
   FamilySearch Image: 3Q9M-CS3J-CSD7-X (accessed 7 June 2022)
   • 1795 Woodford property tax
10. ↑ Tax record: "Tax books"
    Catalog: Tax books Tax books 1790-1797, 1799-1814
    Film number: 007834527 > image 294 of 1330
    FamilySearch Image: 3Q9M-CS3J-CSDM-X (accessed 7 June 2022)
    • 1796 Woodford property tax
11. ↑ Tax record: "Tax books"
    Catalog: Tax books Tax books 1790-1797, 1799-1814
    Film number: 007834527 > image 350 of 1330
    FamilySearch Image: 3Q9M-CS3J-CS8S-C (accessed 7 June 2022)
    • 1797 Woodford property tax
12. ↑ "United States Census, 1820," database with images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:XHLJ-35M : accessed 8 June 2021), Robert Alexander, Woodford, Kentucky, United States; citing p. 114, NARA microfilm publication M33, (Washington D.C.: National Archives and Records Administration, n.d.), roll 29; FHL microfilm 186,189.
13. ↑ http://www.airdriestud.com
14. ↑ "United States Census, 1830," database with images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:XHPZ-7KK : 20 February 2021), Robert Alexander, Woodford, Kentucky, United States; citing 322, NARA microfilm publication M19, (Washington D.C.: National Archives and Records Administration, n.d.), roll 42; FHL microfilm 7,821.
15. ↑ "United States Census (Slave Schedule), 1860", database with images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:WK2M-M23Z : 16 October 2019), R S C A Alexander, 1860.
16. ↑ "United States Census (Slave Schedule), 1860", database with images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:WK2M-M2MM : 16 October 2019), R S C Alexander, 1860.
17. ↑ "United States Census (Slave Schedule), 1850 ", database with images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:HR7L-P92M : 15 February 2020), A J Alexander in entry for MM9.1.1/MVZW-B2M:, 1850.
18. ↑ "United States Census (Slave Schedule), 1860", database with images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:WKK1-KWMM : 16 October 2019), A J Alexander, 1860.
19. ↑ http://www.americanclassicpedigrees.com
20. ↑ "Kentucky Births and Christenings, 1839-1960", database, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:FWJQ-GQ2 : 4 March 2021), Warfield, 1855.
21. ↑ "Kentucky Births and Christenings, 1839-1960", database, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:FWJQ-YY4 : 4 March 2021), Warfield, 1855.
22. ↑ "Kentucky Births and Christenings, 1839-1960", database, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:FWJQ-YYW : 4 March 2021), Warfield, 1855.
23. ↑ "United States Census (Slave Schedule), 1850 ", database with images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:HR7V-MXW2 : 15 February 2020), E Warfield in entry for MM9.1.1/MVZ9-3NX:, 1850.
24. ↑ "Kentucky Births and Christenings, 1839-1960", database, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:FWJQ-JFM : 4 March 2021), Warfield, 1856.
25. ↑ "Kentucky Births and Christenings, 1839-1960", database, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:FWJQ-YZP : 4 March 2021), Warfield, 1856.
26. ↑ "Kentucky Births and Christenings, 1839-1960", database, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:FWJ7-9H9 : 4 March 2021), Warfield, 1857.
27. ↑ KentuckyAncestorsv45.n1.pdf
28. ↑ A complete guide to the collection is available online through KHS Digital Collections, located at history.ky.gov under “Search our Collections.”

• https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Spring_Station,_Kentucky
• https://kentuckykindredgenealogy.com/2020/05/16/the-alexander-family-of-woodburn-farm-woodford-county/
• https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Woodburn_Stud
• https://filsonhistorical.org/wp-content/uploads/publicationpdfs/70-2-4_Disaster-at-Woodburn-Farm-R.A.-Alexander-and-the-Confederate-Guerrilla-Raids-of-1864-1865_Mangum-II-William-Preston.pdf
• Bundy, Diane; Howard, Jennifer (Autumn 2009). "The Alexander Family of Woodburn Farm, Woodford County, Kentucky" (PDF). Kentucky Ancestors: 4–14.

https://history.ky.gov/pdf/Publications/KentuckyAncestorsv45.n1.pdf

• https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lexington_(horse)

See also;

• Robert Aitcheson Alexander, Turf, Field and Farm, 16 November 1867, p 312.
• Hervey. Racing in America. 1665-1865 (New York, 1944). 330; Hervey. American Trotter. 295: Robert Altcheson Alexander, Woodburn Stud Farm 1864

Catalogue (Lexington. 1864), pp. 37-45.

• https://www.loc.gov/resource/g3953bm.gct00130/?sp=25&r=0.22,1.008,0.254,0.296,0