Category: Wills & Deeds

Genealogy of Slavery – Center for Studying Stricture of Race – Roanoke College

This website serves as an important resource for understanding the history and legacy of slavery in our region. It contains information collected from Roanoke County sources about more than 4,000 enslaved individuals.

https://www.roanoke.edu/a-z/center_for_studying_structures_of_race/projects_x71825

Genealogy of Slavery – Center for Studying Stricture of Race – Roanoke College

This website serves as an important resource for understanding the history and legacy of slavery in our region. It contains information collected from Roanoke County sources about more than 4,000 enslaved individuals. Many of the family names of enslaved African Americans recorded here also appear in neighboring Montgomery County, making this work deeply relevant to our local history. In addition, the family names of many individuals who enslaved others are found in the Roanoke primary sources.

The purpose of this page is to document and connect these shared names, with the hope of bringing to light the lives of those too often lost to history and deepening our understanding of the enduring legacy of slavery in Montgomery County and beyond.

More names will be added with time.

Family Names of Enslaved African Americans in Montgomery County

Brown

  • William Brown – enslaved by William Watts. “In IAS Book 4, the partition of the lands and other property of Edward Watts, William Brown is listed among the enslaved individuals that were bequeathed to Edward Watts’s daughter, Alice W. Morris. A value of $1,700.00 was placed on William Brown.”; Inventory, Appraisements, and Sales Book 4, Roanoke County Archives.

Calloway

Campbell

  • George Campbell – “George Campbell was listed in an indenture agreement: “…bind unto the said Lewis Zirkle a boy of colour named George Campbell until he arrives to the free age of twenty one which will be on the 25th day of June 1854.”
    In the Common Law book, it was ordered that the Overseers of the Poor bind out George, “a boy of color,” to Lewis Zinkle.”;
    Common Law Orders – A – May 1838 – May 1840, Roanoke County Archives.

Saunders/Sanders

Family Names of Enslavers in Montgomery County

Evans

  • Elizabeth Evans (List of first names of people they enslaved), “Elizabeth was listed in Michael Shepard’s property appraisement as having purchased enslaved people after Michael’s death. In the record, Elizabeth purchase” the enslaved people Joe, Nancy, and an unrecorded named child for $675.00.” She was possible daughter of Jonathan Evans. “Elizabeth’s son was William Evans and her husband was William W. Evans.”; Common Law Orders – B – June 1840 – July 1843, Roanoke County Archives

Kent

Kyle

Oliver

Wyatts

Enslaved People Named in Wills: Enslaved by Michael Price (1718-1802, father) and Michael Price (1748-1839, son)

Michael Price (1718-1802) Will

Michael Price wrote his will on 11 June 1802, witnesses by Abram Trigg and John Gardiner. James Patton Preston and his sons, Jacob and Henry Price were his executors. The will was proved on 09 July 1802. According to the 1788 Tax list, Michale was taxed for two enslaved people.

Summary

  • Son David inherited an enslaved woman named Nall for $200.
  • Son Michael inherited a small girl, Lizey for $50
  • Son Jacob inherited Will, paying $133
  • Perry inherited Clary with her “increase.”

Michael Price (1748-1839) Will

Michael Price wrote his will on 12 March 1835. witnessed by Jacob Shell, Jacob Harless, and Samuel Smith. The executors were Alexander Price (son), David Keister, Phillip Harless, and Peter Keister, proved on 12 March 1839. According to the 1788 Tax list, Michale held no enslaved people.

Summary

  • Wife, Esther Francisco Price inherited Liz and her two children, Maria and Ben. Upon Esther’s death she may “dispose” of Maria and/or Ben, but Liz was to be retained by the family. Liz was given the choice of which child she would become property.
  • Son Alexander inherited David and Sam.

Livey was alive in 1802 and was passed to Michael Price’s son, also named Michael. When Michael Price died in 1839, a woman named Liv and her two children, Maria and Ben, were mentioned in his estate. After his death, Liv was inherited by Esther Francisco Price, who was living with her son, Alexander Price.

Further research is needed to trace the lives of those held in bondage by the early Price family.

The Enslaved of Charles Black Family and the Virginia Tech Campus Legacy

Andrew, Eliza and Daniel

This is the last will and testament of Charles Black (1796-1853), son of John Black (1755-1845) and nephew of William Black, namesake of the Town of Blacksburg, Virginia. Charles died 1853 and his will was proved in Montgomery County, by Rice D. Montague, Clerk.

Quote: “I give her [my beloved wife Rhoda Black] my negro woman Eliza to dispose of all as suits her, and my two boys Daniel and Andrew I desire that she will dispose of Daniel and Andrew to my sons John & Edward, on condition that they pay to Kezia Francisco $750.00. dollars and to Ann T. Black $550.00 dollars.” 

Rhoda McDonald Black (1805-1859), wife and mother of Keziah Black Francisco (1830-1903), Ann Taylor “Nannie” Black (1837-1903), John Black A. (1831-1899), and Edward Black (1835-1912).

Much of Charles and Rhoda Black’s land becomes part of Virginia Tech campus after the death of Charles and Rhoda.

Page 1 Charles Black Last Will & Testament, Montgomery County Court House
Page 2

George Mills, Servant

Blacks and Other Families: A Compilation of Mrs. William Armstead Porter (née Nannie Francisco) Researcher, Genealogist, Heraldic Artist. Richmond, Virginia, 1934

George Mills is noted as “After the war an old servant George Mills by name….” in Nannie Francisco Porter’s , daughter of Keziah Black Francisco.

The 1850 Slave Schedule for Montgomery County does not name the people held against their will and provide a documentation of the slave owners. Charles Black’s will notes three people, a woman and two men, not four as noted below. No proof yet, but perhaps Eliza is the one listed female. Daniel and Andrew are likely one of these three people.

Alexander Black is the brother of Charles Black.

Register of Death of Enslaved by their owners

In 1853, one of Charles Black’s enslaved men reportedly died from apoplexy. This explains why his will only mentioned two men and one woman.