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.
Patterson Hannah bequeathed Henry Clay, Edward, and Stephen to Ivin P. Henry, who would obtain them when he became 21 years old. Until that time, Matthew Harvey was to "have the services" of those three enslaved people.
David Gish's will stipulated that if his wife and children are deceased, then the enslaved would go to his remaining heirs.
A valuation was placed on Patsey and her two children of $800.
P. Read was an informant for Joseph Campbell. An unrecorded named mother was doing work for him in April 1856, and gave birth to her daughter, Lucy, while she was hired by Read.
Michael Miller's will stipulated that after his passing, his son and daughter, George and Sallie Miller would inherit Nancy and her husband Almstead to work at the plantation. In the appraisement of the estate of Michael Miller, a value of $250.00 was placed on Nancy.