Pulaski Co, KY African American Research Project

Pulaski County Kentucky
African American Research Project

Slaves in Court Records


	Emancipations/Transfers Found In Deeds Contributed Apr/Aug 2000 by Dale Cordner, Dale.Cordner@helen.bush.edu Includes these Slave Owners: Free Frank - 1835 Allin, John - 1829-1831 Buster, Michael - before 1826 Cowan, Col. A. (deceased) - before 1829 Dalhoots? Williams, Margaret (dec'd) - bef 1829 Denham, Obediah - before 1843 Dunham, William - 1817 Eastham, John Sr. - before 1835 Edward, John - 1820 Ferguson, David - before 1831 Gibson, Thomas - 1826 Goggin, Bowen - 1826 Haines, Thomas - 1830 Hays, Samuel - 1834 Hays, William - 1841 McWhorter, Frank - 1843 McWhorter, George (deceased) - 1819 Modrell, John - 1847 Morgan, Susanna - 1820 N(?)odrell, Robert - 1839 Owens, William Jr. - 1826 Roper, David - 1837 Vanhook, Lawrence (deceased) - 1820 Vanhook? Williams, Margaret (dec'd) - bef 1829 Weaver, Eurigy F. - 1844 White, Lambert - 1848 Williams, Baylis - 1829 Williams, Henry - 1835

Pulaski County Deeds, v. 3:228: Know all men by these presents that I William Dunham being desirous for certain reasons to liberate from a state of slavery my Negro woman Lucy, a yellow or Mutatto [sic] woman. ...I William Dunham in pursuance to an act of the general assembly of the Commonwealth of Kentucky authorizing the owner of slaves by their last will and testament or by any other instrument of writing... by theses presents emancipate And set free my said Negro woman Lucy from my service as a slave... set my hand and seal this 7th day of April 1817. Wit Jon Porter, Joshus Jones, Aaron Sargent

Pulaski County Deeds, v. 4:136: Know all men by these presents that I Abner McWhorter of the county of Lincoln and the state of Tennessee and one of the heirs of George McWhorter dec. late of said county aforesaid for myself and also Attorney in fact for the rest of the heirs and representatives of said George McWhorter dec. to wit: John McWhorter, Adam Morris & Amos Morris, being desirous and willing on our part (It being to our knowledge the will and desire of our late father & father in law) to liberate from a state of slavery a certain Negro man named Frank a yellow man.; I the said Abner McWhorter being at this time in the County of Pulaski & State of Kentucky where said Negro man Frank does and has been suffered to reside for [?] years previous to the death of my said father and being authorized by the rest of the heirs ... do therefore hereby free said Negro man agreeable to the laws of the state of Kentucky. ...seals this 13th day of September 1819. Wit. Aaron Sargent, David Cooper, Joshua Jones, William Bath

Pulaski County Deeds, v. 4:218 -- [see v. 4:232 below]: Whereas I purchased on this day of February in the year 1820 from Susanna Morgan of the County of Pulaski and the State of Kentucky all the rights title and interest of the said Susanna Morgan in and to a man of color called Libe being 6 parts of the said Libe, purchased by the said Susanna from 6 of the legal heirs & representatives of Lawrence Vanhook dec. to wit: Rachel Vanhook, John Hardin & Bridget his wife late Bridget Vanhook, Johnson Watson and Betsey his wife sate Betsey Vanhook, Catherine Vanhook, Archibald Vanhook, & Pheby Vanhook . . . to whose estate the said Libe formerly belonged. And whereas it seemeth right and meet to me to emancipate and set at liberty the said Libe so far as I am interested in him by virtue of the purchase aforesaid.; Now therefore knoweth all men by these presents that I John Edward of the County of Pulaski ...emancipate manumit and forever set at liberty the said Libe... this the 28th day of February 1820. Produced in court on the same day, witnessed by the court

Pulaski County Deeds, v. 4:232 -- [see v. 4:218 above]: Know all men by these presents that I Susanna Morgan of Pulaski... emancipate.. and forever set at liberty a colored man name Libe [Zibe???] late the property of the estate of Lawrence Vanhook dec. as far as the laws of the State will permit . . . as far as I have acquired an interest from John Gibson administrator of the estate ... made on the 10th day of March 1820. Given this 27th day of March 1820 in open court

Pulaski County Deeds, v. 6:282: I Bowine Goggin of the Pulaski Co. Kentucky being for certain causes and considerations desirous to emancipate a certain negro man Slave named Joe about fifty years of age, formerly owned by Michael Buster. ...that I the said Bowene Goggin do liberate and set free the said negro man to all intents and purposes as though he had been born free. This day the 16 of January 1826. Presented in court 16 January 1826.

Pulaski County Deeds, v. 6:283: 1 April 1826 this day William Owens Jun. personally appeared before me and made an oath that on the 1st day of February he imported and brought to the Commonwealth & County three slaves, one negro woman named Peggy, one negro girl named Ponder and one boy named Mattimore and that he imported and brought them to the Commonwealth for his own use and not for the purpose of traffic or speculation. Charles Hays J.P.

Pulaski County Deeds, v. 6:283: 1 April 1826 this day Thomas Gibson personally appeared before me and made an oath that on the 1st day of February he imported and brought to the Commonwealth & County three slaves, one negro woman named Ersy (?), one boy named Daniel and one boy named Lafayatte and that he purchased, imported and brought them to the Commonwealth for his own use and not for the purpose of traffic or speculation. Charles Hays J.P.

Pulaski County Deeds, v. 7-1:54: Know all men by these presents that I Baylis Williams being possessed of a Negro woman named Hannah about 22 by my intermarriage with my late wife Margaret Dalhoots (sic) formerly. Who departed this life some time since and as it was her request . . . and as it is my desire now as it was during her life to let her will and desire be executed . . . I do hereby these presents mammate and set free said Negro woman Hannah hereby relinquishing all my rights... this 18th day so May 1829 Baylis Williams. Presented in open court.

[The Pulaski Co Clerk's Book of Bonds shows a Baylis Williams m. Margaret Vanhook, date of bond: 05 Jan 1816. I don't know if this is the same couple, but I have seen handwritten "D" & "V"s which look very similar (I've not seen this particular document). vjd]

Pulaski County Deeds, v. 7-1:113 (Dale Cordner is the ggg grand nephew of John Allin): ... I John Allen of the Co of Pulaski ... for certain causes and considerations ... I set free a colored negro man named Joe, commonly called Joe Allen aged about 30 years, once the property of Col. A Cowan, deceased... Given under my hand ... 17th day of August in the year ... 1829. John Allin (by mark); ... I John Allin of the state of Pulaski ....emancipate and set free a certain negroe woman called Sucky, the wife of free Joe aged about 29 years-once owned by David Ferguson and by him sold to me ...Given under my hand ... 17th day of January ... 1831. Pulaski Co deeds, v. 7-1:404.

Pulaski County Deeds, v. 7-1:399: Know all men by these presents that I Thomas Haines of the County of Pulaski . . . being for certain causes and considerations desirous to emancipate a certain negro man slave named George about 40 years of age . . . I Thomas Haines do by these presents emancipate liberate and set free the said Negro man George for all purposes as though he had been born free. this 24th day of September 1830. Witness Stephen Hail, Benjamin Hail, Wilson Hail executed in open court 13 Nov 1830.

Pulaski County Deeds, v. 7-1:1086: Know all men by these presents that I Samuel Hays of Saline Co. State of Missouri do by these presents emancipate forever set free and quit claim to my Negro man Peter of yellow complexion a blacksmith by trade, aged about fourty years, at this time living in Pulaski Co Kentucky. And he is from henceforth free and as much at liberty to trade and act for himself as tho he had been born free. . . . Samuel Hays by Charles Hays Sr his attorney in fact authorized by written power of attorney ... this 19th day of May 1834. Acknowledged in court 16 June 1834 by Charles Hays Sr attorney in fact.

Pulaski County Deeds, v. 8:93: Know all men by these presents that I Henry Williams of Pulaski Co Kentucky do by these presents emancipate, liberate and set free my negro man Isom aged about thirty years of dark complexion and do forever set free said Negro and give up and release all claims upon his person... this 16th day of March 1835 Henry Williams Witnessed John Williams, T Fox. Presented at court 16 March 1835; Know all men by these presents that I Henry Williams of Pulaski Co Kentucky do by these presents emancipate, liberate and set free my negro man Joe aged about twenty six years of black complexion and I do forever set free said Negro and give up and release all claims upon his person... this 16th day of March 1835 Henry Williams Witnessed John Williams, T Fox. Presented at court 16 March 1835

Pulaski County Deeds, v. 8:199: Be it known to all whom it may concern, that whereas the undersigned Free Frank of Pike Co of the state of Illinois have purchased a mulatto boy named Solomon aged about twenty one years (a slave purchased from John Eastham Sr of the state of Pulaski and state of Kentucky for the sum of five hundred and fifty dollars, and for diverse considerations have determined to emancipate and set free the said Solomon. Therefore, by these presents emancipate him from all obligations to me or my heirs... I the said free Frank hereunto set my name and seal this 7th day of August 1835. Acknowledged by Free Frank in open court 17 August 1835. William Fox, Clerk

Pulaski County Deeds, v. 9:254: Know all men by these presents that I David Roper of Pulaski Co. Kentucky for and in consideration of the faithful service heretofore rendered me by my negro slaves Hector and Lucy and their children, towit, Greene, Niagara, Violet, Margaret and Polly Ann, and in consideration of a bond to be executed to me by said Hector and Lucy binding them to maintain me during my natural life I hereby emancipate and set free forever the said Hector and Lucy and their children, to wit, Greene, Niagara, Violet, Margaret and Polly Ann.

Hector is a black man about 29 years old, weighs about 165 pounds and is about 5'10" high.

Lucy is a very bright mulatto woman about 27 years old about 5'6" high weighs about 130 pounds has black and tolerably strait [sic] hair and has scar over her left eye from the kick of a horse.

Greene is a black boy about 10 years old weighs about 75 pounds and is about 4 feet high.

Niagara is a bright mulatto girl about 8 years old 3'6" high weighs about 50 pounds.

Violet is a dark mulatto girl about 6 years old and weighs about 36 pounds.

Margaret is a dark mulatto girl about 4 years old and weighs about 30 pounds.

Polly Ann is a mulatto girl child about 4 months old.

Said slaves and each of them from the date hereof are to be absolutely free, to do and act for themselves in all things as if free-born. Hereby releasing all claims whatever to them and each of them and investing them and each of them with all the rights and privileges and freedom that I the said Roper could lawfully invest ...this 21st day of August 1837 David Roper by mark. Presented in County Court Monday 21st of August 1837 wit. William Fox clerk.

Next act the posting of a bond of $1,000 by David Roper, Daniel F James, and Charles Jasper on 21 August 1837 that the previously emancipated slaves can support themselves and will not "become chargable to the County of Pulaski under the act or acts of the assembly for providing for poor persons" signed and presented in county court 21 Aug 1837.

Pulaski County Deeds, v. 10:346: Know all men by these presents that I Robert N(?)odrel of Pulaski Co Kentucky do ... forever set at liberty set free and emancipate my negro man called Jack aged about thirty nine years, said negro is of dark color about 5'8" or 9" high and is forever hereafter to be free from my control and is in all respects a free man. . . . this 17th day of September 1839 signed. Presented at county court 17 September 1839

Pulaski County Deeds, v. 12:378: I Henry J Mudd clerk of Pike Co Illinois commissioner's court ... certify that ...on Monday the 4th of September 1843 Frank McWorter produced to said court ... a deed of emancipation ... setting free Sally McWorter a woman of color of yellow complexion aged about 35 years of age. Said Sally being a slave and formerly owned by Obediah Denham of Pulaski Co Kentucky. ... appears from said deed so emancipation has been purchased by the said Frank McWorter of the said Denham. ...subscribed and sealed by Frank McWorter and bears date the said 5 September 1843 and was acknowledged by said McWorter before the ... open court to be his act and deed. HJ Mudd clerk. Certified by John Neely Sr judge of court Pike Co Illinois

Pulaski County Deeds, v. 12:441: Know all men by these presents that I William Hays of Saline Co Missouri but now in Pulaski Co Kentucky for divers causes and considerations ... emancipate liberate and forever set free my negro man named Jourden aged about 45 years of dark or black color about 5'8" or 9" high, the said Jourdan forever hereafter is be free [of] my control and in all respects a free man ... this 4th day of August 1841. Witnesses A Williams, J Moore, Charles Hays, John Crawford, Bourne Goggin, John W Cowans. Presented in court and subscribed by the oath of witnesses.

Pulaski County Deeds, v. 12:503: "Know all men by these presents that in consideration of the faithful services of my negro man slave named William about 45 years of age of dark or caper (sic copper?) complexion, I do by these presents to take affect from the present date emancippate and set free the said slave William to injoy all the privilages that a free man can have which I am capable of inventing him with. In testimony I do herein subscribe my name & seal this 31st day of December 1844." Eurigy F Weaver (signed) Witness: E H Woods. Presented in court 18 August 1845 and proven by the oath of E H Woods.

Pulaski County Deeds, v. 13:530: Know all men by these presents that I John Moodrill of Buckhanan Co Missouri for and in consideration of the sum of $600 paid to me by my Negro man Ned (a slave) the receipt whereof I hereby acknowledge (I) emancipate and set free forever the said Ned who is a black man about 28 years of age weighs about 150 pounds and is about 5'10" high ... from this date of deed to be absolftely free to act for himself as if free born and I do hereby release all claims th the said Ned and invest him with all the rights and freedom that I can vest lawfully ...this 25th day of August 1847 John Modrell by James Gilmore. Wit by LD Cowan, James Frazier Wm M Fox. Presented in court and proven by witnesses to be the act of James Gilmore attorney in fact for John Modrell

Pulaski County Deeds, v. 13:541: Know all men by these presents that I Lambert White of Pulaski Co Kentucky from motives of benevolence and humanity have manumitted and do hereby manumit and set free from slavery my two mulatto women and their children towit my muuatto woman Lucinda and her two children Greenbury and Lutitia Ellen and my other mulatto woman Matilda and her two children Wm H Harison and James Franklin. Lucinda aged about 26 years and Matilda aged about 24 years and I do hereby give grant and release them the said Lucinda and Matilda and their children all my rights title and claim of in and to their person's labors and services and of in and to the estate and property which they may hereafter acquire and sbtain. ... this 25 day of October in the year of our Lord 1848. Wit Wm Starrs, James Poiee [?], Alfred Lnee [?], Wm Pnee [all three the same last name] and Silas Todd. Presented in court and proven by the oath 20 Nov 1848.

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