Fayette County, Texas Slave Transactions

GEORGE MOSS, PROBATE B, 187

Fayette County, Texas

#176 - Will filed 20 Apr 1850

My Last Will and Testament, March 30th, 1849

Whatsoever debts are owing to me are hereby forgiven and annulled.  I leave to Mr. H. Ledbetter & N. Grover wheresoever goods and chattels of mine may be on ther premises respectively.  I require Mr. Ledbetter to bury me and to inform my sister by letter that I died sudeenly of a disease of the heart after a week's illness, her address is Miss M. Moss, 19 Parrock Street, Graves End, Kent, old England.  If an Executor is necessary, I appoint Mr. Ledbetter to that office.  The sadale is mr. Coleman's.
George Moss

The State of Texas

County of Fayette

This day personally appeared in Open Court, William Sutton and Isham McMillon who make other the the foregoing will of George Moss is entirely in the hand writing of said Moss and that his signature thereto is genuine.
William Sutton
Isham McMillon
Sworn to and subscribed in open Court 30 April 1849
N.W. Faison, CCC

Case #375 (pgs 355-356) - Sucession of Rebecca Townsend (Colorado County Wills and Sucessions)

Rebecca Townsend was the wife of Asa Townsend of Colorado Cnty. She died prior to 28 Nov 1859, when her husband appeared before the Count to pray for Court appointed appraisal of the community inventory of the estate. He presented an inventory which included land and the following 12 negros -
Andrew and his wife Mary; Lewis (a man); Cevin (?) (a boy); Bill (a boy); Ann (a girl); Jack and his wife Jane; Fid (a boy); Heti (a girl); Sandy (a boy); West (a boy); Sandy (a boy); and Pat (a girl) - worth $12,000.
NOTE - I think Sandy is listed twice, for counting that name twice would make 13 persons rather than 12.

LIGON-ROSS CONTRACT: Deeds N, 118

The State of Texas, County of Fayette

Articles of agreement made and entered into this day by and between Martha E. Ligon, who acts both for herself and as Guardian of the property of Nancy Ligon minor heir of Wm H. Ligon deceased of the first part and Anderson I. Ross of the 2nd part,

1st - Said parties hereby agree to go into partnership in farming upon a place in said County about 8 miles north of LaGrange, and the same place known as the James M. Eanes farm, containing 350 acres in the whole tract more or less.  And the same farm deeded by said Eanes to S. M. McAshan and George R. Seay and by them sold to Wm. H. Ligon;

2nd -  Said Martha E. Ligon hereby agrees with said Ross to give him the exclusive management and control of said farm for five years from the first day of January next, but with the privilege to said Ross of leaving or giving the same up to her with all the negroes and other matters she may furnish at the end of any one of the five years.

3rd - She further agrees to furnish said Ross for the same time the following negroes, viz Coleman, Mary and Louise;

4th - Said Ross on his part agrees to furnish the following negroes viz, Burrill, Edy and Matilda, for so long a time as he shall stay on said farm;

5th - Said Ligon also agrees to furnish another negro name Ell (male), and said Ross binds himself to pay unto her for the use of said boy on said farm the sum of $20 per year for every year he may remain on said farm;

6th - Said Ross also agrees to take charge of all of said negroes, to use one for a cook on the farm and the others to work thereon, and to cultivate the farm in a workmanlike manner, and to take care of, manage and control it as a prudent man would his own;

7th -  It is further agreed by the parties that each one one of them is to furnish and pay an equal part of the expenses of the farm for tools provisions and all necessary expenses;

8th - It is further agreed that each shall furnish an equal quantity of team necessary to carry on the farm;

9th - It is further agreed that said Ross shall purchase tools, provisions and such other matters as may be necessary on the farm to be paid for out of the proceeds of the crops;

10th - It is further agreed that said Ross may take in more land if he sees proper, and also make such improvements as he thinks needs, but without cost to said Ligon;

11th -  It is further agreed that said Ross and his family shall be supported on the farm and the expense for the same shall form a part of the general expense of the farm;

12th - Said Ross also agrees to take charge of and manage for said Ligon her stock of cattle consisting of about 50 head, to see after them and attend to them as a prudent man should do with the privilege of using the milk cows on the farm and to make no charge for his services with reference to said cattle;

13th - It is further agreed that the remainder of the corn after retaining enough to support the farm, and the remainder of the cotton, after enough is sold to pay the expenses of the farm, shall be equally divided between the contracting parties;

14th - It is further agreed that the support to be furnished said Ross for himself and his white family, shall consist only in such meat and cornbread and suth other articles raised on the farm as they need, and as to all other articles the same shall be purchased by the said Ross at his own expense;

15th - It is also agreed that said Ross shall take on the farm, the children of the women above named, and that their support shall form
a part of the expense of the farm;

16th - It is further agreed that the sewing for the clothes of all the negroes little and big, shall be done on the farm without additional expense.

In witness of all of which the contractig parties hereunto set their names and affix their scrolls for seals o this the 30th day of Nov A.D. 1858

M. Cavanagh, W.F. Fitz (Witnesses)      M.E. Ligon (Seal), M.E. Ligon - Guardian for the property of Nancy Ligon (Seal), A.I. Ross (Seal)

APPRENTICESHIP PETITION – WM. G WEBB FOR MINORS, Georgiana and Albert (Webb)

Probate Records – Vol G, pg 251 – 252

In the County Court of Fayette County, TX – April Term 1967

To the Hon John C. Stiehl, Judge of Said Court

And now comes Isaac Sellers, a Justice of the Peace of said County and makes known to the Court that there are in the possession of William G. Webb, two minor children, viz: Georgiana, a mulatto girl about eleven years old, and Albert, a black boy, about nine years old, who are indigent; that said Georgiana has neither mother or father living so far has he is informed or believes and said Albert’s Mother is dead, and one Peter, he is informed did claim him as his child, but that said Peter has left said minor to be supported by said Webb, and has not the means to support him; that said minors do now, and since their birth have resided with said Webb, in the town of LaGrange, in the County aforesaid, and petitioner under the statute in such cases made and provided reports them, that they may be apprenticed to some suitable and competent person on such terms as your Honorable Court my direct, having particular care to the interest of said minors, as provided by law &c.

Isaac Sellers,

Justice of the Peace, Fayette County, Texas

In the County Court of Fayette County, Texas, April Term 1967

To Hon J.C. Stiehl, Judge of Said Court:

The petition of William G. Webb, a citizen of said County, respectfully makes known that he has had among his family two negroes who were his slaves, till set free, and since that time they have continued to reside in his family; indeed they had not father or mother to offer to take them, when declared free by the United States Government.  One of them is named Georgiana, a mulatto girl about eleven years old, and the other is named Albert, of black complexion, and about nine years old.  The mother of these children died while a slave of petitioner, and since declared free by the Government of the United States, your petitioner has supported and taken care of them and treated them with all proper kindness, and no one else has provided for them.  The father of the girl aforesaid must have been a white man, but who he is, is not known to petitioner.  While the mother of Albert was alive, a negro man by name Peter, then a slave of Peter V. Shaw, claimed the mother as a wife, and during this time the child Albert was born, but said Peter has never paid any attention to, or done anything for said child Albert and has even shown him a father’s kindness, and since his freedom, has left petitioner to take care of, and support him, and indeed said Peter, as petitioner believes and charges, is not only an improper person to have the custody and control of said child, but is not able to support or properly provide for him.  Your petitioner desires to have said children apprenticed to him, and proposes to raise them as house servants and to teach them such branches of education and to train them in such other occupations as the Court may prescribe, if such as petitioner considers reasonable, and to enter into bond and do all else necessary to comply with the law in such cases made and provided.  Petitioner further makes known that said children have been members of his family, and have resided in Beat No.1 of said County, since they were born; that they are indigent, and not able to support themselves.  And further he represents that Isaac Sellers, a Justice of the Peace in and for Beat Number One of said County under the provisions of the law in such cases made and provided, have reported said minors to your Honor’s Court, making known in terms of the law, the necessity of apprenticing them to some competent person, as appears by his report now on file in your said Court, and your petitioner is ready and willing and here offers to receive the apprenticeship of said minors and to comply with the law in every respect.  Wherefore he prays that the proper notice may be given and on final hearing that said minors may be apprenticed to him and all proper orders and reliefs be granted in the premises, &c

William G. Webb

The State of Texas, County of Fayette

Know all men by these presents that we William G. Webb as principal and Lovick P. Webb as surety are held and firmly bound unto John C. Stiehl, County Judge of said County, and his successors and office, in the penal sum of five hundred Dollars for the payment of which will and truly to be made, we bond ourselves, or heirs, executors and administrations firmly by these presents.  The conditions of this bond are such that whereas at the April Term 1867 of the County Court of said County, upon the report of Isaac Sellers, a Justice of the Peach in and for Said County, and the petition of William G. Webb, a citizen of Said County, Said Court after due notice and hearing entered a decree for the apprenticing of the girl Georgiana Webb, a free person of color, born Jan’y 1^st AD 1855 and the boy Albert Webb, also a free person of Color, born February 14^th AD 1859 unto the Said William G. Webb, and directed in Said Decree that Said Webb should enter into ____, in the sum aforesaid to comply with the Terms designated in Siad decree (which terms are made the condition of the bond,) now therefore should Said Webb, his heirs, executors or administrators furnish Said minors and each of them with sufficient food and clothing; also treats them and each of them humanily; also furnish them and each of them with good medical attendance in case of sickness; also teach them and each of them at least how to read and write, or cause it to be done; and also shall learn them, and each of the , the occupation of house Servants, or cause it to be done with power at his or their option in addition thereto to teach tem or either of them, some other useful trade, or some other useful occupation, or cause it to be done; also release said Albert upon his arriving at the age of twenty one years, or shall legally marry, which ever shall first happen, and upon the happening thereof pay unto him the sum of one hundred Dollars, and also release the Said Georgiana upon her arriving at the age of twenty one years, or legally marrying, which ever shall first happen, and upon the happening thereof shall pay unto her the sum of fifty Dollars.  Then and in that case, the bond shall be null and void; otherwise it shall be and remain in full force and virtue.  Witness our hand and Scrolls for Seals on this the 2nd day of May AD 1867 __________ before Signing

App____ May 2^nd 1867

William G. Webb (Seal)

John C. Stiehl, C.J.F.C.

L.P. Webb (Seal)

I hereby certify that the foregoing as a true copy of the original Report, petition and Bond noe on file in my office among the papers in the apprenticeship of the minors Georgiana and Albert Webb, and that Revenue Stamps of the U. States to the amt of fifty cents ___ also attached to Said Bond

Recorded on the 28^th May 1867

WB McClellon, Deputy for ZMP French, C’k. Co. County