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.
In the record, it is stated that Oly was bequeathed to Thomas Fowler's daughter along with his mother, Jane, his siblings (Ann, Creed, and Counsellar), and Ellender and her child.
Ann N. Branch bequeathed Collin, Paulina, Margaret, Caroline, Amanda and "Little Tom" to Ann W. Dennis and Nugent M. Reed. In the will, these enslaved people were only bequeathed to Nugent M. Reed. It was specifically stated in the will that the children of Amanda and "little Tom" stay together. In the will, there is no further mentions of the children or their relationships beyond that Amanda had an unknown number of children. In IAS book 2, Amanda and Tom's children may be Margaret and Caroline, but the way their names are transcribed makes it unclear.
Lucy McClanahan's will requested Milly and Nelson, as "elder servants," had a sufficient amount of money retained to support them "as long as they live."
Ned and the others willed alongside him 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."
Nathaniel Burwell's will mentions for the profit of his sold enslaved people to be applied to his trustee estate. (The names of the enslaved people were not recorded.)
In the IAS Book 4, the partition of the lands and other property of Edward Watts, Edmund is listed among the enslaved individuals that were bequeathed to Edward Watts's son, Col. William Watts. No value was placed on Edmund or his wife Nannie.
Michael Miller's will stipulated that after his passing, his son and daughter, George and Sallie Miller would inherit Nancy and her husband Almstead to work at the plantation. In the appraisement of the estate of Michael Miller, a value of $250.00 was placed on Nancy.
Elizabeth Riffee willed a woman named Nancy and her son John to a John Smith of Kentucky. If this John Smith of Kentucky is the same John Smith in which Nance is listed, then Nancy and Nance are likely the same person. However, there were at least 8 men named John Smith living in Roanoke around 1850, the time of these records, so this connection cannot be assumed.
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.
A value of $600.00 was placed on Milly. It is unclear who Milly was devised to, but it is possible that she was also devised to E.B. McClanahan since the rest of her family were also devised to McClanahan.