The county Birth Registers altogether range from 1853 to 1885, and record the birth of every individual in the greater Roanoke area during this time frame, whether white, enslaved African American, or free African American. Typically, less information for enslaved people was recorded. Only first names were recorded and place of birth was recorded with much less specificity. Moreover, the birth registers had a category for “Father’s Name or Owner if Enslaved,” meaning in the case of most enslaved people, the enslaver’s information would be given instead of the child’s father. Nonetheless these records are an important source for connecting enslaved children to their mothers, and providing information about their births that is otherwise not found in other records.
Sarah Bett's will notates a clause that if any "slaves" are born from her willed enslaved individuals, they are to remain within the family of "owners" to their heirs forever.
Sarah may have been enslaved by Jacob S. Fowler, instead of Jacob Fowler. The Birth Register only describes her enslaver as Jacob Fowler, not distinguishing between the two men.
It is mentioned in the record that Samuel G. Woods had a "bond for hire" of a "negro man" associated with Thomas C. Read. The value put on this bond was $140.00.