The Inventory, Appraisements, and Settlements books consist of a wide variety of record types. They include wills formatted similar to the will books, in which an enslaver would divide and bequeath enslaved people amongst their heirs, general relations, and friends. These wills were typically written when an enslaver was older but while they were still of “a sound mind and body,” according to their own language. Inheritors were not always specified, but may have been referenced implicitly, such as simply saying “[the enslaver’s] wife” rather than giving the wife’s name. The books also include estate appraisements and settlement of estates, in which a deceased enslaver’s whole estate and “possessions” would be cataloged and priced. This would include all household items, livestock, and in the case of enslavers, enslaved people would be listed as well, priced and at times sold to other enslavers. Settlement of estates were also recorded in which someone would list all of their trades, payments, and transactions with other people, including the hiring out of enslaved people to other enslavers. The money from such hires would go to the enslaver and not the enslaved person doing the labor. The information provided on enslaved people was largely dehumanizing and transactional, and the records provided herein are limited by this. It is also important to note that for every valuation of an enslaved person, there were white people who may or may not have been enslavers themselves but were actively involved in this aspect of the slave trade.
A value of $500.00 was placed on Susan. However, a value of $1,950.00 was placed on Susan, Mary, and Lucinda. William Johnston bequeathed Susan to Lucy Johnson. In IAS 2, Susan is described as a girl, and in IAS 3, she is described as a woman.
In the will information for Ann N. Branch, Sam Branch's name is written in parenthesis next to the enslaved person Collin. Their connection is not explained. It is likely that Sam Branch was a family member of Ann N. Branch.
A value of $350 was placed on Robert and he was later purchased by Lewis Richardson. Robert was referred to as a boy in the record. That likely means that he was still a child at the time this was recorded.
In 1847, Henry Chapman hired a " negro woman" Ritter for the year for $12.50, but she got sick for part of the year and was "taken back." In 1850, a midwife was paid for the delivery of Ritter's children.