Chronicles of Boone County Kentucky

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======African Americans in Early Boone County Deed Records======

Different types of legal transactions involving African Americans prior to Emancipation in Boone County can be found in the pages of the county deed books. In addition to deeds of manumissions of enslaved people, there are also land transfers involving free people of color and transfers of enslaved people between slaveholders. 

====Deed Book B p. 258====

3 May 1809= Thomas M. Prentiss emancipates Maria, 26 years old for "various good causes moving me thereto."



====Deed Book D p. 391====
14 September 1819-  Thomas R. Smith, resident of Boone County, KY transfers the ownership of Hannah, 27 yrs, and her two children Julia, about 5 or 6 yrs, and Matilda, about 2 yrs, to his wife, Ann Smith.  Mr. Smith was travelling in Arkansas and fell ill, prompting the official documentation of this transfer, which was later filed in the Boone County clerk’s office.

====Deed Book E p. 391====

29 August, 1822- John Alloway, formerly of Henry County, Kentucky, emancipates Peggy, wife of Ben, in Cincinnati.  The manumission is later certified by the clerk of the Boone County, KY court on 3 September, 1822. 

====Deed Book F p. 217====
2 February 1825- Joseph Perrin and his wife Nancy (Beall) Perrin, of Clark County, Ohio, manumitted Caleb for the following year, 1 April 1826.  The deed states that they have dower interest, and do not intend to interfere with the rights of John F. Beall (Jr,) the heir of John F. Beall, deceased. 
====Deed Book F p. 296====
11 October, 1824- Joseph Henderson of Decatur County, Indiana, manumitted Stephen, a man of color.  First deed of emancipation filed in the county of record for both (Decatur, IN,) second filing in Boone County, KY on 12 Oct, 1825.
====Deed Book H p. 599====
4 March 1833- Thomas manumitted by Erastus Tousey, heir of Zerah Tousey, deceased.  Thomas was born in New York to Lydia, owned by Zerah, and is entitled to his freedom, by the laws of New York, at age 28 (his age at the time of the deedin 1833.) Erastus states in the deed he is unwilling to interfere with any claims that Zerah Tousey's other heir, Zerah Craig, may have to Thomas.  

====Deed Book I p. 28====
3 June 1833- Samuel Barkshire manummitted by slaveholder Joseph Hawkins (for payment of one dollar.) Samuel was formerly held by slaveholder Richard "Dickey" Barkshire. 
====Deed Book I p. 362====
3 September 1832- Emancipation of Violet by Joseph Kendrick, administrator of the estate of  Reuben George, deceased, per the wishes of the deceased.  
====Deed Book I p. 613====
30 Dec 1833- Emancipation of Judy and Chelsea, two slaves of Frederick Tanner, deceased, by his heirs, per the wishes of the deceased.  The heirs do swear that each is not responsible for the interest any others (of the heirs,) nor for the conduct of the slaves.
====Deed Book K p. 147====
1 February, 1836- Squire manumitted by John Hawkins .  At the time of his manumission, Squire was 45 years old. 
====Deed Book K p. 309====
1 August, 1836- Lewis buys his freedom.  The deed of emancipation states the Lewis had paid his former owner $900 for his freedom. Initially owned by Samuel Hamilton, sold to John B. Hamilton and Delaware Dawley, who execute this deed.
====Deed book K p. 329====
5 September, 1836- James Bristow emancipates Davy by deed.  Security bond of $100 provided by Charles Mayersback on Bristow's behalf.
====Deed Book K p. 254====

5 Aug 1833- Sam Barkshire, simply referred to as "Sam, a man of color" is mentioned in a deed between Sophia Graves, widow of Willis Graves (deceased,) and Joseph Youell.  Willis Graves, before his death, conveyed two seperate tracts of land: one to Youell, and one to Sam, who in turn sold his tract to Youell.  Both were later conveyed officially through the commissioners. This document makes both transactions official in terms of the widow's rights. Sam Barkshire had been emancipated prior to the transaction.

====Deed Book M p. 123====
8 June, 1836- George H. Berry emancipates Rebecca, aged 22, giving her "her full freedom, as if she had been born free."  Witnessed by:W. W. Southgate, George B. Marshall, Harvey Lewis, J.M. Preston and Joseph C. Hughes

16 Oct, 1839- Addendum to above emancipation: Rebecca since had a child, and her child, George Thomas Hughes, aged 18 months, is also emancipated. Witnessed by W. W. Southgate, Joseph C. Hughes and J. M. Preston
 
====Deed Book O page 267====	
8 October, 1844- Aggy, also referred to as Agnes, deed of manumission from Edmund F. Vauter, and Burlington lots 108, 123 and the eastern half of lot 72.  Ownership of Aggy had gone to Edmund upon the death of his sister, Virginia Vauter.  Virginia left instruction in her will that Aggy be freed upon Edmund’s death or whenever he saw fit, with the town lots transferred to her upon her emancipation.
====Deed Book O p. 590====
10 April, 1846- Aggy sold town lot 108 to James Kirtley for the amount of  $20.
====Deed Book P p. 43====
25 July, 1846- Aggy sold eastern half of town lot 72 to James Frazier for the sum of $15.  Frazier is the owner of the other half of the lot at the time of the sale.


====Deed Book P p. 65====
23 September, 1846- Horatio Wood, of Boone County mortgages his enslaved people:  Betsy,a woman about 50 yrs old, Charles, a boy about 15 yrs old, and Jim, a boy about 9 yrs old for the sum of $1, 075 to Martha D. Wood of Mason County. Martha gave Wood $500 and agrees to be his security for the remaining $575 for which Horatio Wood is indebted to Samuel E. Colochy, J.J. Miller and Marshal M. McNanama. Transfer of ownership of the enslaved people would occur if Horatio is unable to pay his debts.
====Deed Book P p. 268====	
3 May 1847- Deed of manumission- Michael Rouse to Abraham, abt. 50 yrs, granted his freedom for the sum of $1, and in consideration of years of faithful service

====Deed Book Q p. 45====
2 September 1848- Aggy sold lot 123 to John Comter for the amount of $15.
 
====Deed Book R p. 605====

26 July 1852-  Sale of a parcel of land from Abraham and Mary Stansifer to Charles, free man of color, (formerly enslaved by Reuben S. Clarkson,) a parcel of land for $160.  The land is on the waters of Gunpowder Creek, bordered by the lands of Edward Rice (west side of Visalia Road), Samuel Stephens, then Henry Hamilton and back to Rice- no acreage or measurements given in deed.  The parcel is all of the land owned by the Stansifers on the East side of Visalia Road.

====Deed Book T p. 579====

5 November 1856- Fanny Parker manumitted a woman and her three children:  "Charlotte, about 25, copper colour; Mary Ann, aged about 7 years, bright mulatto; Nancy, near three years old, copper colour; and Wade, about fourteen months, copper colour." Witnessed by Richard Parker and Thomas A. Cornelius.