The Will Books contain wills from 1839 to 1885. In these wills, people would specify where their property and savings would be inherited to. In the case of enslavers, they would specify enslaved people or a certain number of enslaved people that were to be inherited by named individuals. At times, enslaved people would be priced and when divided amongst heirs, money would be paid between inheritors in order to insure the value being inherited was equal. Many wills also describe the "future increases" of female slaves, referring to future unborn children as potential property. These wills also sometimes specify familial relations between enslaved people, but usually just between spouses and parents and children. Family relationships such as siblings, parents of adult children, grandparents, aunts or uncles, etc., are rarely if ever specified. In these wills, people would specify where their property and savings would be inherited to. In the case of enslavers, they would specify enslaved people or a certain number of enslaved people that were to be inherited by named individuals. At times, enslaved people would be priced and when divided amongst heirs, money would be paid between inheritors in order to insure the value being inherited was equal. Many wills also describe the "future increases" of female slaves, referring to future unborn children as potential property. These wills also sometimes specify familial relations between enslaved people, but usually just between spouses and parents and children. Family relationships such as siblings, parents of adult children, grandparents, aunts or uncles, etc., are rarely if ever specified.
George, Zache, Mett, and Moses were bequeathed to Thomas Fowler's grandsons Lewis Taylor, Shelton Taylor, James Taylor, and Thomas Taylor to be divided equally between them all.
Winny and the others willed alongside her were to remain on the Chapman plantation for a year after Chapman's death to "work for a year after Chapman passes, bringing the plantation to good standing and then to all be sold."
William Richardson's will stipulated that Irena and her 5 children would be sold in a public auction by Richardson's executor, 12 months after Richardson's decease. They were sold to different people, splitting up the family.
Left Betsey, Charles, Martha Ann, Robert, Davy and Dick to his wife, Fanny W. Farly. Farly's executors to "sold" May, Claiborne, Cinder, Lucy, and Mary with their "future increases."