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.
F. Johnston is listed as the administrator for Fleming James in the IAS Book 4. In the appraisement of Fleming James' property, two entries are listed mentioned enslaved people. One of these entries states, "To recd. of Mrs. A. James, balance of many in her hands at the time of F. James death, after deducting burial expenses + clothing for servants" with a value of $166.45. Another entry states, "Deduct this sum for Mrs. C. P. Jones, Richmond for interest of her children in land + negroes per decree of court" with a final value of $3,585.76. The original amount listed was $3,923.09 but was subtracted from to get the final amount listed.
The Death Register records that Isabel was in the "possession of" F. Johnson at the time of her death, though W. J. Burwell was listed as her enslaver.