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.
Lucy Johnston was the wife of William Johnston. William Johnston bequeathed Lucinda, Susan, and Mary to Lucy Johnston. A value of $1,950.00 was placed on Lucinda, Susan, and Mary.
James Glenon is listed as being the informant of Lucy's birth as well as her enslaver. However, the enslaver of Lucy was listed as Patterson Hannah. The record is not clear about who her enslaver was at the time of her birth.
Lucy's mother was hired out to P. Read. Though the record says that Read "heirs" the mother, she was likely hired by him and gave birth to Lucy while she was hired by Read.