The Death Registers contain contents from 1853 to 1881, and recorded the deaths of every individual in the greater Roanoke area during this time frame, whether white, enslaved African American, or free African American. This would include the individual’s age at the time of their death and the manner in which they died. For enslaved people, their place of birth often was not listed or lacked specificity, and parents' names and occupations are not commonly listed. Nonetheless these records can be helpful for establishing an enslaved person’s date of birth and date of death, as well as where they lived.
In Common Law Book D, it is reported that James Bruce set into motion for an "aged and infirm slave named Billy," to be exempt from taxation. In the same book, it is reported that James Bruce left "55 acres of land and 44 negroes" to Alex Bruce.
Jacob S. Fowler and Henry Fowler are mentioned in the will of Jacob Fowler. Henry was his son and Jacob was most likely his son but it is not specifically mentioned in the record.
In Common Law Book D, it is reported that Isaac Duckwiler put into motion to stop paying taxes on "a negro woman named Hannah, on account of age and infirmity."
The enslaved people listed in his will were to all remain together on Chapman's plantation. In Chapman's will it was requested that the enslaved people work for a year on the plantation after their enslaver passed away to, "bring the plantation to good standing and then to all be sold."