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.
This unrecorded named child was owned by Elizabeth Johnston. In the List of Property belonging to Mrs. E. Johnston, a combined value of $2500.00 was placed on this unrecorded named child, an enslaved woman named Clary, and 4 other unnamed children.
Thomas Lunsford bequeathed Eileen, Suck, Easther, Angoline, Jim, Perry, Dick, Daniel, Sandy, Everett, Yeenser, Louisa, Martha, Mary Jr., Fanny, Mary Ann, Rachel, and Michael to his wife, whose name is not given.
In the 1862 valuation, a value of $1000.00 was placed on Susan. In an undated later appraisement, a value of $400.00 was placed on her. It was recorded that Susan had a bad walk which could explain the low value placed on her despite her young age; this injury likely happened between valuations.