The Settlement of Estates includes information from the early 1860s to the late 1880s, and most of the information given is from after the Civil War. It largely includes the accounts of white landowners recording transactions, including enslavers hiring out enslaved people to other enslavers. The money from such hires would go to the enslaver and not the enslaved person doing the labor. However, the language of such hires is sometimes vague, and could include the hiring of free workers or sharecroppers. Even after the Civil War and emancipation, white plantation owners' settlement records include such ambiguity, specifying the hiring of freedmen while the hiring of other individuals is not specified as “freedmen” or otherwise.
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 Settlement of Estates, an amount of $29.00 was agreed upon between L. Simmon and their guardian for the hire of "negro Sampson" for 2 years. This was reported by John Garst Jr., the guardian of Rhosa J. Smith.
In SoE Book 1, John Garst Jr. is listed as the guardian of Rhosa J. Smith. In this document, the hire of a Black man named Sampson is mentioned. This transaction occurred between Rhosa J. Smith and L. Simmon.
Peter was "hired out" to "McGeorge Land" in 1854 for $75.00. Peter was listed as being enslaved by Mary Frances and Mildred C. Ruddell, with Michael Ruddell as the guardian of their estates.
Mildred C. Ruddell is seen in the Settlement of Estates with Michael Ruddell being listed as the guardian of her estate. Michael Ruddell was also listed as the guardian of Mary Frances' estate in the same entry. The enslaved individuals listed above were listed as being part of her estate.
Mary Frances is seen in the Settlement of Estates with Michael Ruddell being listed as the guardian of her estate. Michael Ruddell was also listed as the guardian of Mildred C. Ruddell's estate in the same entry. The enslaved individuals listed above were listed as being part of her estate.
F. Johnston and J. K. Pitzer are listed as administrators of Madison Pitzer's estate and property. J. K. Pitzer could possibly be John Pitzer but the record does not specify whether John Pitzer and J. K. Pitzer are the same person.
In the Settlement of Estates, an amount of $29.00 was agreed upon between L. Simmon and their guardian for the hire of "negro Sampson" for 2 years. This was reported by John Garst Jr., the guardian of Rhosa J. Smith.
J. K. Pitzer is listed in Settlement of Estates as the administrator for Madison Pitzer after Madison's death. J. K. Pitzer is also listed alongside Frederick Johnston as an administrator for Madison's estate. It is also listed on March 13, 1865 that, "To cash in for hire of servants at fortifications." That cash would have been $89.00. In the same entry, an enslaved man, Anderson is listed as having died in service of Confederate States Government. It is said in the entry that, "To cash received for negro man Anderson who died in service of Confederate States Government." $4,700.00 would have gone to J.K. Pitzer, Frederick Johnston, and Madison Pitzer.
In SoE Book 1, an amount of $200.00 was collected by Edmundson Blair from VA and Tenn. R. Road in July 1871 for the hiring of the people he enslaved in 1864.