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.
In the will of Jacob Murray, Rose was allowed to chose a new master for herself and her children. Murray did not want them to be sold publicly or taken away by strangers. However, Henry was later purchased by Mrs. C. Murray; if Mrs. C. Murray was Jacob Murray's wife or another close family member, it is possible Henry was still kept with his family. In the Appraisement of Property of Jacob Murray, a value of $1200.00 was placed on Rose and Harrison.
In the appraisement of Jacob Fowler's property, Gilbert and child had a value of $1,100.00 placed on them. Listing them together could have meant that they were related in some way or were to be kept together but the record does not specify.
It is mentioned in the record that T.J. Bush had a "bond for hire" of a "negro man George" associated with Thomas C. Read. The value put on this bond was $160.00.
A value of $1,100.00 was placed on George. It is unclear who George was devised to, but it is possible that he was also devised to E.B. McClanahan since the rest of his family were devised to McClanahan.
In the will of Sarah Betts, it is listed that Gabriel and the other enslaved individuals listed above be divided equally between Sally Betts Jones, Josephine W. Jones, and Paul James Jr.